US09146393B2
A structured illumination apparatus includes a light modulator being disposed in a light path of an exit light flux from a light source, and in which a sonic wave propagation path is arranged in a direction traversing the exit light flux; a driving unit generating a sonic standing wave in the sonic wave propagation path by giving a driving signal for vibrating a medium of the sonic wave propagation path to the light modulator; an illuminating optical system making at least three diffracted lights of the exit light flux passed through the sonic wave propagation path to be interfered with one another, and forming interference fringes of the diffracted lights on an observational object; and a controlling unit controlling a contrast of the interference fringes by modulating a phase of at least one diffracted light among the diffracted lights in a predetermined pitch.
US09146391B2
Polarized light which is emitted from an optical fiber becomes circular polarized light bypassing through a first quarter wave plate. The circular polarized light which has entered a second quarter wave plate is converted into nearly linear polarized light which has S polarization. P polarization components are removed from the nearly linear polarized light by a polarizer, but the polarizer is not always necessary. The optical axis of the polarizer is set to be a direction which allows transmitting of S polarized light. The light that has passed through the polarizer is separated into diffracted lights by a diffraction grating, and is used as the structured illumination light.
US09146389B2
A zoom lens system that includes a first lens group including at least one lens and having a negative refractive power, and a second lens group including at least one lens and having a positive refractive power in an order from an object side to an image side, wherein the zoom lens system is configured to perform zooming by changing a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group and satisfies: 2<|f1/fw|<2.5 and 0.60<|f1/f2|<0.85, wherein f1 indicates a synthetic focal length of the first lens group, fw indicates an overall focal length at a wide angle end, and f2 indicates a synthetic focal length of the second lens group.
US09146383B2
More particularly, a wide-angle optical assembly for an IR camera is described, comprising a lens system consisting of an object-side lens (2) and an image-side lens (3), and an aperture stop (1) on the object-side of the assembly, wherein: the object-side lens (2) and the image-side lens (3) are positive meniscus lenses; all centers of vertex radii of the lens surfaces are oriented towards the object-side, defining for each lens a concave surface and a convex surface; the thickness (8) of the object-side lens (2) is larger than 0.60 EFL; the thickness (9) of the image-side lens (3) is between 0.30 EFL and 0.70 EFL; 0.95
US09146381B2
An optical image capturing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region.
US09146377B2
A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices including chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.
US09146373B2
A fiber distribution device includes a swing frame chassis pivotally mounted to a support structure. At least a first optical splitter module is mounted to the swing frame chassis. Pigtails having connectorized ends are carried by the swing frame chassis and have portions that are routed generally vertically on the swing frame chassis. An optical termination field includes fiber optic adapters carried by the swing frame chassis. The fiber optic adapters are configured to receive the connectorized ends of the pigtails.
US09146370B2
An optical cable holding device includes a central shaft section fixed to a substrate in such a way as to stand on the substrate, a plurality of flexible holding feet that are disposed in such a way as to spread radially from the central shaft section, each flexible holding foot extending from a base end on a side where the central shaft section is located, toward a side where the substrate is located and being bent in such a way as to get away from the central shaft section as the flexible holding foot gets closer to a tip which is a free end, and a plurality of cable holders that are disposed independently of the substrate at the tips of the flexible holding feet and hold an optical cable.
US09146362B2
A tool is disclosed. The tool is for inserting a ferrule alignment sleeve within a sleeve mount of a fiber optic adapter, wherein the sleeve mount defines an axial bore and radially inwardly extending fingers for retaining the ferrule alignment sleeve therewithin. The tool includes a handle and a pin extending from the handle, the pin configured to slidably receive the ferrule alignment sleeve, the pin defining longitudinal keys for mating with gaps defined between the radially inwardly extending fingers of the sleeve mount, wherein the tool can be used as a ferrule alignment sleeve insertion tool if the pin is inserted into the axial bore in a first orientation and is configured to be used as a ferrule alignment sleeve removal tool if the pin is inserted into the axial bore in a second orientation from an opposite end of the axial bore.
US09146356B2
An optical device includes, for example, an optical fiber that guides light, a first holding member that holds the optical fiber, an optical element that functions by the light guided by the optical fiber being irradiated, and a second holding member that holds the optical element. The optical device further includes an optically coupled member elastically deformed by one end portion of the first holding member and one end portion of the second holding member being inserted to optically couple the optical fiber and the optical element by being elastically deformed.
US09146349B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to an integrated optical device including: a semiconductor waveguide on a substrate; a dielectric waveguide on a substrate optically coupled to the semiconductor waveguide; and a germanium device on the semiconductor waveguide optically coupled to the semiconductor waveguide.
US09146347B2
Light diffusing optical fibers for use in ultraviolet illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including a scattering layer.
US09146338B2
The present invention relates to a reflection plate for a backlight unit in a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a reflection plate for a backlight unit in a liquid crystal display device, which is made of a thermoplastic thermal conductive resin composition having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.35 W/mK, thereby effectively solving the thermal problem of the backlight unit, and having excellent properties such as shock resistance, heat resistance, mechanical strength, and the like, as well as having excellent reflectivity, thereby improving the durability of the liquid crystal display device.Furthermore, the present invention relates to a backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device, comprising a reflection plate positioned at a lower portion of a lamp of the backlight unit for reflecting the light coming out of the lamp, a supporting rod for the lamp, and a lower plate functioning as a heat sink, wherein the reflection plate and the lower plate are made of the same material, thereby effectively solving the thermal problem of the backlight unit, and simplifying the manufacturing process.
US09146334B2
The present disclosure is related to apparatuses and methods for estimating a phase offset in earth formations. The method may include estimating the phase offset by comparing signals generated and received by a first sub, the second signal being transmitted by a second sub that has been synchronized by the signal generated by the first sub. The signals may be exchanged using a first antenna on the first sub and a second antenna on the second sub. The signals may use a selected frequency. Synchronization may take place without electrical communication between the first and second subs. The method may include compensating for a propagation delay in the signals using the phase offset. The method may include using a time stamp during the synchronization. The apparatus may include a first antenna and a second antenna on first and second subs, respectively, both configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals.
US09146332B2
An antenna system for a downhole tool has an antenna that is configured to operate at a plurality of frequencies. The tuning circuit is on the interior of the tool and shielded from borehole fluids. The tuning circuit is coupled to the antenna by a transformer circuit.
US09146330B2
Complex-valued sensitivity data structures corresponding to respective candidate survey settings are provided, where the sensitivity data structures relate measurement data associated with a target structure to at least one parameter of a model of the target structure. Based on the sensitivity data structures, a subset of the candidate survey settings is selected according to a criterion for enhancing resolution in characterizing the target structure.
US09146328B2
An apparatus for generating seismic waves includes a housing, a strike surface within the housing, and a hammer movably disposed within the housing. An actuator induces a striking motion in the hammer such that the hammer impacts the strike surface as part of the striking motion. The actuator is selectively adjustable to change characteristics of the striking motion and characteristics of seismic waves generated by the impact. The hammer may be modified to change the physical characteristics of the hammer, thereby changing characteristics of seismic waves generated by the hammer. The hammer may be disposed within a removable shock cavity, and the apparatus may include two hammers and two shock cavities positioned symmetrically about a center of the apparatus.
US09146323B1
An electronic detector module includes an array of detection crystals that emits light in response to electromagnetic radiation, and at least one detector that detects the light emitted by the crystal array and that generates an output based on the light detected. The electronic detector module also includes a power sequencing circuit including an accelerometer that detects a position of the electronic detector module, and a control circuit that provides power to the electronic detector module based on the position.
US09146310B2
An object detection device comprises an active sensor, an amplifying circuit configured to divide and amplify a sensor signal outputted from said active sensor with respect to each a plurality of frequency bands through each amplifier, and a determining unit determining the presence or absence of a detection target object by comparing an output of said amplifying circuit with a predetermined threshold value. A noise determining unit controls a switching circuit so as to turn off a switch inserted between said determining unit and an amplifier having a band pass including a noise of a particular frequency, when determining that the noise of the particular frequency is produced constantly by using an analysis result outputted from a frequency analyzer detecting intensity of each frequency of the sensor signal.
US09146308B2
The disclosure relates to measuring a distance from a mobile device to a remote surface. An energy emitter directs an energy signal onto an energy splitter, the energy splitter partitions the energy signal into a first energy beam having a first wavelength and a second energy beam having a second wavelength, a reflector array reflects the first energy beam at a first angle and the second energy beam at a second angle different from the first angle and projects the first energy beam and the second energy beam onto the remote surface, a receiver measures a first propagation time of the first energy beam reflected off of the remote surface and a second propagation time of the second energy beam reflected off of the remote surface, and a processor estimates the distance to the remote surface based on the first propagation time and the second propagation time.
US09146305B2
A subject information acquiring apparatus of the present invention includes a probe which has a plurality of elements arranged in an array which receive elastic waves propagating within a subject and converts the received elastic waves to a received signals, a first signal processing unit which uses the received signals output by the elements to calculate a first output signal corresponding to the elastic waves from a target position, a second signal processing unit which uses the first output signal for the target position to calculate a second output signal corresponding to elastic waves from the target position, and an image processing unit which uses the second output signal to generate image data for display. In this case, at least one of the first signal processing unit and the second signal processing unit uses adaptive signal processing to calculate the first output signal or the second output signal.
US09146303B2
Techniques are disclosed for producing and/or optimizing jamming codes for use in directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems. In some embodiments, Fourier analysis may be implemented to produce jamming codes which more efficiently (e.g., time efficient, power efficient) and/or more reliably (e.g., no frequency gaps) achieve optical break-lock (OBL) of infrared (IR)-seeking missiles/threats over a broad range of frequencies (e.g., short-wavelength IR, mid-wavelength IR), as compared to heritage jamming code methodologies. Some embodiments may be implemented in military/defense applications (e.g., protection of military/tactical aircraft or other vehicles); some other embodiments may be implemented in non-military/commercial applications (e.g., protection of domestic, civilian, and/or commercial aircraft or other vehicles). Some embodiments may be implemented to protect against IR-seeking air-to-air missiles (AAMs), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and/or man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS/MPADS). Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.
US09146298B2
A wireless communication system that includes a hub and multiple nodes is provided. The nodes include a wireless communication control unit that acquires, during a predetermined communication time period, a signal transmitted to the hub by a node; an RSSI calculating unit that calculates propagation information from the signal acquired by the wireless communication control unit; and an RSSI table creating unit that transmits the calculated propagation information to the hub. The hub includes a wireless communication control unit that receives propagation information transmitted by each of the nodes and an RSSI table aggregating unit that aggregates the received propagation information.
US09146287B2
Embodiments relate to xMR sensors having very high shape anisotropy. Embodiments also relate to novel structuring processes of xMR stacks to achieve very high shape anisotropies without chemically affecting the performance relevant magnetic field sensitive layer system while also providing comparatively uniform structure widths over a wafer, down to about 100 nm in embodiments. Embodiments can also provide xMR stacks having side walls of the performance relevant free layer system that are smooth and/or of a defined lateral geometry which is important for achieving a homogeneous magnetic behavior over the wafer.
US09146285B2
Methods and apparatus employing non-magnetometer navigational sensor data to assist in determining whether a change in a magnetic field detected by a magnetometer is likely due to a source of internal or external magnetic interference, and more generally, whether such interference is likely to be persistent or transient. If the magnetic field data detected by the magnetometer indicates a large change in magnetic field, but the non-magnetometer navigational sensor (e.g., gyroscope) data does not indicate a corresponding change in orientation of the mobile device contemporaneous with the change in magnetic field, then the cause of the magnetic field change may be determined as likely originating from a localized external interference source and the device may prompt the user to move away from the interference source, rather than initiating a recalibration of the magnetometer.
US09146282B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting whether a battery in an electronic device is counterfeit or defective. An actual battery characteristic profile is generated by recording the performance of the battery during use of the battery by the device. This profile is then compared to its corresponding expected characteristic profile. If the profiles are not substantially similar (i.e. if the error between the two curves exceeds a given error threshold), the battery is determined to be counterfeit or defective and responsive action is taken.
US09146273B2
An embodiment for making a check of the electric type executed on wafer for testing the correct positioning or alignment of the probes of a probe card on the pads or bumps of the electronic devices integrated on semiconductor wafer. An embodiment consists in making a current circulate in at least part of the seal ring of at least one of the above devices, and in case it has to flow in the seal ring of more devices, these seal rings are suitably interconnected to each other. Thanks to an embodiment the seal ring may also be reinforced in the angle areas of the chip, and suitable circuits may be possibly inserted in the seal ring or between the seal rings.
US09146268B2
Method and device for monitoring the status of a sheath voltage arrester of a cable system, a verification signal being supplied to a measuring loop which comprises the sheath voltage arrester and a measurement signal which is subsequently produced in accordance with the frequency-dependent impedance of the sheath voltage arrester being measured at the measuring loop in order to establish the status of the sheath voltage arrester by evaluating the measurement signal.
US09146261B2
An electronic device includes a current source for applying current, a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor configured to be connected to one of a plurality of data terminals, a voltage level detection circuit configured to detect voltage values of the plurality of data terminals, and a connected device determination circuit configured to determine a type of a power source device based on the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals detected by the voltage level detection circuit.
US09146256B2
A probe assembly for inspecting power semiconductor devices, which includes a probe block having more than one probe holding hole, more than one probe, each of which is contained in one of the probe holding holes with its outer surface being in contact with the inner surface of the probe holding hole, and which has lower end protruding from the probe block and coming into contact with the power semiconductor device on inspection, and one or more cooling units which cool the probe block. According to the probe assembly and the inspection apparatus, it is possible to inspect characteristics of power semiconductor devices accurately by suppressing temperature rises of the probes as well as the power semiconductor device under test.
US09146254B2
A dynamic sensor includes a weight having an H shape in a plan view. The weight includes a first weight portion and a second weight portion which have substantially rectangular parallelepiped shapes and are aligned in a short side direction at an interval and a bridge portion which connects the first and second weight portions and extends in the aligned direction. The bridge portion connects the first and second weight portions at an approximate center thereof in a long side direction. Supports are located in a region between the first and second weight portions where the bridge portion is not provided. The first weight portion is connected to a first support via a first beam and to a second support via a second beam. The second weight portion is connected to the first support via a third beam and to the second support via a fourth beam.
US09146248B2
A method for operating a nucleic acid sequencing instrument with movable flow cells. The method includes providing a flow cell having a flow path with an inlet port and an outlet port and filling the flow path, from the inlet port to the outlet port, with a first liquid reagent. The method also includes providing a station block having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, mounting the flow cell on the station block with the inlet port in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet passage, introducing a gaseous bubble into the inlet port, conveying a second liquid reagent from the inlet passage into the inlet port to move the gaseous bubble through the flow path and into the outlet passage and fill the flow passage with the second liquid reagent, and removing the flow cell from the station block.
US09146242B2
The present invention provides a method of measuring the levels of BLyS/APRIL heterotrimers (HT) in a biological sample, in a preferred embodiment, in serum. The diagnostic assays are useful in predicting an individual's likelihood of developing or currently suffering from an autoimmune disease, such as SLE and for methods for treating an individual clinically diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. This diagnostic test serves to predict a patient's likelihood to respond to a specific drug treatment, in particular treatment with HT antagonists, either singly or in combination with other immune suppressive drugs.
US09146239B2
There is provided a method of judging a risk of cancer recurrence based on the activity value and expression level of the first CDK, the activity value and expression level of the second CDK, and the expression levels of uPA and PAI-1 and a computer program.
US09146230B2
Methods and apparatuses for monitoring the level of glucose or other constituents in live subjects are disclosed. Stem cells are obtained from the subject and processed into cells that change their optical characteristics in response to a level of the constituent. The responsive cells are formed into clusters and implanted into in the subject's body at locations that permit optical monitoring from outside the subject's body. The implanted cell clusters are illuminated and the reflected illumination from each of the cell clusters is detected. Changes in the optical characteristics of the cell clusters that correspond to the responses of the cell clusters are identified, and the identified changes are mapped to a constituent level based on calibration data for each cell cluster. An indication of the constituent level in the subject is then output.
US09146228B2
Nanoporous polymorphic crystals of CaCO3 were used as sorbent and were applied in the dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as target analytes. After separation of the analytes on gas chromatography, they were successfully quantified with external calibration using flame ionization detection. Performance of the dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction was compared with a previously optimized solid-phase extraction technique.
US09146224B2
A canister for measuring the natural gas content of rock cores which (1) has an inner core-containment bag made of non-permeable plastic which can be flash evacuated, collapsing around the core and thus minimizing the amount of air present and improving the quality of the gas analyses and (2) which prevents the released gas from reacting with the outer canister. A procedure for using gas-sampling bags to periodically collect the gas released from the core so that (1) the volume of released gas can be measured at a later date using more convenient and precise laboratory methods, (2) the gas can be readily transported and stored, and (3) the gas can be easily submitted for analysis.
US09146215B2
An apparatus and method for inspection of tubes in a boiler is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to generate and detect guided-waves and a mechanical device adapted to reach into a tube bundle and clamp the sensor onto an interior tube selected for inspection. The mechanical device includes a housing adapted to contain the sensor and an air cylinder adapted to actuate the housing to allow the housing to clamp onto the interior tube.
US09146205B2
The present invention is related to a system and method of inspecting a weld. The weld to be inspected is subjected to a transient sonic excitation while the weld area is monitored using a remote infrared camera. The sonic excitation induces mechanical vibration, which causes heat generation at any cracks or other anomalies in the weld. The infrared camera detects any temperature differentials in the weld, indicating the presence of an anomaly. The system and method is particularly useful for welds in environments that are unsafe for extended human presence or that are crowded or otherwise inaccessible, such as with piping or other structural components.
US09146198B2
A device for combined optical and nuclear image comprises a nuclear image acquisition module and a reference image acquisition module. The reference image acquisition module has: an optical image sensor; and an optical imaging system for deflecting the optical radiation from a reference field of view to the image sensor, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a mirror for the optical radiation, which mirror is arranged between the reference field of view and the optical image sensor. On the image sensor, a respective image area assigned to at least one of nuclear partial fields of view. The optical imaging system is arranged such that the optical radiation coming from the at least one nuclear partial field of view is deflected substantially exactly to the respectively assigned of the image areas.
US09146193B2
A scatterometry target formed relative to an elevationally outermost surface of a substrate includes features having an optical property that is different from that of spaces between the features. The substrate has spaced-apart parallel elongated blocking lines having an optical property different from that of spaces between the blocking lines. The blocking lines are elevationally inward of the target features. The target features and the blocking lines overlap within a same vertical region of the substrate. Polarized electromagnetic radiation having multiple wavelengths is impinged onto the scatterometry target. Pitch of the blocking lines is less than the smallest wavelength of the impinged radiation. The blocking lines reduce spectrum variation to below a detectable level for any polarized electromagnetic radiation passing to elevationally inward of the blocking lines. Electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the scatterometry target from the impinging is detected, and therefrom a property associated with the target features and/or spaces between the target features is determined.
US09146190B2
Apparatus for inspecting product pieces in a product stream comprising a system for creating a stream of product pieces for delivery in free flight at a viewing station, first light means for illuminating the viewing station from one side with light for reflection from product therein, second light means for illuminating the viewing station from the other side with light for reflection from product therein, a scanning system for receiving light from the first and second illuminating means reflected from product pieces in the viewing station and transmitted across the viewing station, and means for activating the first and second light means alternately in first and second scanning phases to successively illuminate a product stream at the viewing station.
US09146185B2
A hardness tester includes: an image capture control portion for obtaining an image data of the surface of the sample by controlling and making an image capture portion capture an image of the surface; an impression region extracting portion that binarizes the image data, applies reduction/expansion processing to the binarized image data, applies a distance conversion processing to the reduction/expansion processed image data, and extracts a closed region corresponding to a contour of the indenter by using the distance-converted image data; an impression vertex extracting portion that estimates the vertex for measuring the impression based on a profile of the closed region and extracts a point in the binarized image data, as the vertex for measuring the impression, that agrees with a predetermined condition; and a hardness calculating portion for calculating hardness of the sample based on the vertexes for measuring the impression.
US09146183B2
The present invention relates to test weights for testing the load capacity of a crane. More specifically, the present invention provides a novel system and approach simple and efficient crane load testing using solid weights. Previous methods of testing crane load capacity often require significant time to configure and reconfigure the apparatus. The system of the present invention increases efficiency by significantly reducing this configuration time. The system comprises a plurality of stackable test weights, and a lifting fixture specifically designed for the system. A cantilever structure located on two opposing sides of the test weight enables the lifting fixture to first be quickly secured underneath of said structure, and then lift that particular unit as well as any units surmounting that unit. A novel block lock system integrated into each weight unit enables self-alignment and securing of each weight as it is placed onto the weight stack.
US09146178B2
A test facility for a vehicle having at least one tire includes an acceleration track; a test section; a return track; a guide defining a direction of travel; a slide configured to run on the guide and to guide the vehicle; a building defining an interior space; at least a part of the test facility being disposed in the interior space of the building; and, the test section being configured to be displaceable in at least one of a first direction transverse to the direction of travel and a second direction in the direction of travel.
US09146177B2
A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an error count module and a sensor diagnostic module. The error count module increases an error count when an actual air/fuel ratio is different from a desired air/fuel ratio and selectively adjusts the error count based on an actual engine speed. An oxygen sensor generates a signal indicating the actual air/fuel ratio. The sensor diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the oxygen sensor when the error count is greater than a first predetermined count.
US09146175B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting abnormal changes in play in a transmission unit configured to transfer rotational movements of a motor, having a speed of rotation that depends on a torque reference signal (Tref), to a movable mechanical unit. The device (20) comprises a first storage (27) for storing torque reference signal values for the motor at least in a time interval during which the motor is running at a steady state rotation speed, a computing unit (22) configured to retrieve measured rotation speed values (ωmeasured) of the motor during said time interval, to identify the steady state rotation speed of the retrieved rotation speed values, to calculate a frequency spectrum of the torque reference signal, to calculate the energy generated around the second harmonic of the identified steady state rotation speed in a selected frequency band of the calculated frequency spectrum, to compare the calculated energy with at least one limit value, and based thereon, to detect abnormal changes in the play, and a second storage (28) unit for storing the energy calculated at a plurality of different points in time.
US09146169B2
A condition monitoring system for a pressure vessel includes at least one vibration monitoring probe coupled to at least one pressure vessel component. The system also includes at least one computing device that includes a memory device configured to store data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe. The computing device also includes at least one input channel configured to receive the data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe. The computing device further includes a processor coupled to the memory device and the at least one input channel. The processor is programmed to determine a deterioration of the material condition of the at least one pressure vessel component by comparing at least a portion of the data associated with the at least one vibration monitoring probe with predetermined vibration parameters.
US09146167B2
A torque sensor assembly is used to measure torque in a powertrain of a motor vehicle, the powertrain including a power source and a transmission. A sensor is coupled to an oil seal housing, which is coupled to the engine. Each of the sensor and the oil seal housing has a mounting hole formed therein. The sensor is coupled to the oil seal housing, and the oil seal housing to the engine, by inserting one fastener into both mounting holes. The sensor measures an amount of torque exerted on a drive plate of the transmission. The drive plate includes a central disk, made of a magnetizable material, and an outer ring coupled to the central disk. The sensor is a magnetic torque sensor, which determines an amount of torque exerted on the central disk of the drive plate by sensing a magnetic flux passing through the drive plate.
US09146165B2
A fiber optic cable includes a strain element including a first optical fiber and an optical element including a second optical fiber. The optical element is compliantly coupled with the strain element to transfer a portion of strain experienced by the strain element to the optical element. A fiber optic cable includes a strain transfer member, a central optical fiber disposed through the strain transfer member, and a tight jacket mechanically coupling the central optical fiber and the strain transfer member. The fiber optic cable further includes a compliant layer disposed about and affixed to the strain transfer member; a peripheral optical fiber disposed in the compliant layer, such that a portion of the strain experienced by the strain transfer member is transferred to the peripheral optical fiber via the compliant layer; and a protective cover disposed about the compliant layer.
US09146162B2
A sensor arrangement for light sensing and temperature sensing comprises a first sensor input (1) for connecting a temperature sensor (11) and a second sensor input (2) for connecting a light sensor (21), in particular an ambient light sensor. A sensor switch (S3) electrically connects either the first or the second sensor input (1, 2) to an integration input (41) of an integrating analog-to-digital converter (4). A reference circuit (5) connects to the integration input (41) via a first switch (S2). A first reference input (42) of the integrating analog-to-digital converter (4) is to be connected with a first reference potential (Vb1). A counter (6) connects to an integration output (43) of the integrating analog-to-digital converter (4). And a controller unit (6) connects to the counter (6) and is designed to control the first switch (S2) depending on an integrated sensor signal (Vout) integrated by the integrating analog-to-digital converter (4).
US09146157B1
A dual band detector includes a substrate, a composite barrier, a first absorber on the substrate and on a light incident side of the composite barrier, the first absorber for detecting first infrared light wavelengths, a second absorber on the composite barrier on a side opposite the light incident side, the second absorber for detecting second infrared light wavelengths, wherein a bandgap of the first absorber is larger than that of the second absorber, wherein the composite barrier includes a first secondary barrier, a primary barrier, and a second secondary barrier, wherein the first and second secondary barriers may have a lower bandgap energy than the primary barrier, wherein the first or the second secondary barrier may have a doping level and type different from that of the primary barrier, and wherein at least the primary barrier blocks majority carriers and allows minority carrier flow.
US09146153B2
Disclosed is a photo sensor package for lighting, which is configured such that a micro control unit having a lighting control function as well as a timer function is integrated with a remote control element receiving a remote control signal of a lighting fixture. The photo sensor package includes a housing molded using infrared transmissible resin, a remote control element configured to receive an infrared signal, an amplification element configured to amplify a signal that is output from the remote control element, and a micro control unit configured to control a lighting fixture in response to a signal that is output from the amplification element. All of the remote control element, the amplification element, and the micro control unit are mounted on one lead frame and accommodated in the housing in such a way as to be integrated into a single structure.
US09146152B2
A sound focusing mechanism for generating a focused source of sound, which can be used to identify the transmission loss of an object or identify areas of acoustic or thermal leakage is disclosed. The sound focusing mechanism includes a housing having at least one wall formed from a material having high sound insulating properties. A sound generating device for generating a sound is located with a central cavity within the housing. An actuator assembly is operatively connected to the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device for selectively operating the sound generating device. The wall is configured to limit the transmission of the sound there through such that a focused beam or pulse sound is emitted from the mechanism through the opening.
US09146151B2
The present invention relates to distributed acoustic sensing using fiber-optic system. More particularly, the present invention describes use of frequency pulse labeling techniques and wavelength pulse labeling techniques for providing high bandwidth acoustic sensing in applications such as infrastructure monitoring. In one embodiment, a segmented sensing fiber is used with corresponding circulators in an architecture that controls the interrogation of each segment of the fiber. In another embodiment, a single continuous length of sensing fiber is used, but a plurality of pulse sequences with different wavelengths are used to interrogate. In both configurations, heterodyne beat frequency components are rejected by a processing scheme, resulting in a simple direct measurement of baseband phase information.
US09146149B2
A force-transmitting mechanism of a gravimetric measuring instrument, with a stationary portion, and a load-receiving portion that is joined through a force-transmitting connection to a measurement transducer that is arranged on the stationary portion. A calibration weight may be coupled to the force-transmitting mechanism in such a way as to minimize the degree to which changes of the geometry can affect the force that the calibration weight exerts on the measurement transducer.
US09146143B2
There is disclosed a flow sensor arrangement, comprising a main channel (1) for conveying a fluid, a bypass (2) connected to the main channel (1) for conveying a portion of the fluid supplied in the main channel (1), and a flow sensor (6) for measuring a flow of the fluid portion in the bypass (2). The bypass (2) branches off from the main channel (1) at an angle (α) of less than 90 degrees between an inlet section (21) of the bypass (2) and a supply section (11) of the main channel (1). By such design means, particles can be prevented from entering the bypass (2) by this adversely affecting the measurements.
US09146141B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring a pneumatic system. A number of parameters are monitored using a monitoring device connected to the pneumatic system, an energy harvesting unit configured to generate electrical energy from a gas in the pneumatic system, and a controller. The monitoring device comprises a number of sensors configured to detect the number of parameters. The controller is in communication with the number of sensors and the energy harvesting unit and is configured to process measurements for the number of parameters detected by the number of sensors and control operation of the energy harvesting unit. The number of sensors and the controller are powered by the energy harvesting unit. The monitoring device is powered using the electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting unit.
US09146139B2
A measurement device (1) for determining at least one process variable with a sensor element (2) for measuring the process variable and with an electronic component (3), the sensor element (2) being connected to the electronic component (3) via at least one electrical conductor (4) has a connection, made to be as reliable as possible, between a sensor element and the electronic component due to the provision of an adapter unit (5). The adapter unit (5) guides at least one electrical conductor (4). Furthermore, the adapter unit (5), the sensor element (2) and the electronic component (3) are configured and matched to one another such that the adapter unit (5) set a minimum distance between the sensor element (2) and electronic component (3).
US09146137B2
A fluid tank has a housing that has an upper end wall, a side wall, and a lower end wall that together define a cavity. A flexible diaphragm is connected to the side wall within the cavity and separates the cavity into an upper portion, which is sealed to contain a pressurized gas, and a lower portion, which is sealed to contain a pressurized fluid. An indicator is positioned in the upper wall of the housing and has an indicator arm and a visual indicator. The indicator arm is not visible and the visual indicator is visible with the indicator in a first position and the indicator arm is visible and the visual indicator is not visible with the indicator in a second position.
US09146107B2
A rotation rate sensor having a substrate including a main extension plane, force transmission elements that are movably fastened on the substrate using detection springs and a seismic mass are provided, the seismic mass being suspended over the force transmission elements, movably relative to the substrate, in such a way that the seismic mass is able to be excited, using a drive unit, to a drive vibration about a drive axis that is parallel to the main extension plane, and in response to the presence of a rotation rate that extends in parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicular to the drive axis, the seismic mass is excitable, as a result of Coriolis forces, to a detection vibration about a detection axis that is perpendicular to the main extension plane, the detection springs being connected to the force transmission elements in the region of the vibrational nodes.
US09146103B2
An optical apparatus for ranging and communication in free space comprises a rangefinder comprising a device for transmitting an optical signal to a target and a device for receiving the signals backscattered by the target. A system for optical communication in free space comprises a device for transmitting an optical signal to a remote optical receiving device. The transmitting device of the rangefinder and transmitting device of the communication system is a transmitting device common to the rangefinder and communication system and transmitting pulses of peak power greater than 50 W and shape factor less than 0.01 or a modulated continuous signal of peak power less than 10 W and shape factor equal to approximately 0.5 and the apparatus comprises a supervisor controlling the common transmitting device according to two modes, the pulse mode to perform the ranging function, or the modulated continuous mode to perform the optical communication function.
US09146101B2
The invention relates to a device for determining the position of a first shaft (10) and of a second shaft (12) that is joined to the first shaft by means of a coupling (14), with respect to each other, having a first measurement unit being placed on a circumferential surface of the first shaft and a second measurement unit being placed on a circumferential surface of the second shaft, wherein at least one of the two measurement units has means (20) for producing at least one light beam bundle (22) and at least one of the two measurement units has detection means (24, 25, 26) in order to detect the impingement position of the light beam bundle on at least one detection area (24, 25, 26).
US09146099B2
The present invention provides a method of measuring the placement of material forming a blow-molded plastic container after the container is released from a mold of a blow molder having a plurality of molds, wherein each plastic container comprises a continuous sidewall and a base, the method comprising the steps of: detecting with an infrared camera infrared light emitted from the container after the container is released from a mold; converting the detected infrared light into corresponding electrical signals; transmitting the electrical signals to a microprocessor; comparing in the microprocessor the electrical signals with stored data regarding desired material distribution forming the plastic container; and producing output information regarding the placement of material forming the container.
US09146098B2
An alignment head system (1, 31) for taking alignment data with respect to a pair of shafts (4, 5) coupled to each other by means of a coupling (6) comprises a data acquisition device (11) configured to wirelessly receive data, and alignment heads (2, 3). Each alignment head (2, 3) is configured to take alignment data with respect to the shafts (4, 5), to wirelessly send the alignment data to the data acquisition device (11), and to forward alignment data received from the other alignment head (2, 3).
US09146083B2
Converging hardened steel plates are loosely mounted in a frame, with neoprene pads between them to better absorb the noise and impact from projectiles. The upstream end of the bullet trap is a target area, and a containment chamber communicates with the downstream ends of the plates defines a throat area. A transition area connects the chamber entry with the throat area. An impact plate between them has end portions fitted loosely in openings defined by the support frame. A plurality of vanes define the cylindrical chamber, and have loosely supported ends. These vanes have edges that abut and over-lap one another so movement of adjacent vanes will occur in response to one of these vanes being struck by a projectile. These vanes are normally restrained but can move radially outwardly when hit by a projectile. The number of vanes is less than 20 degrees in the chamber.
US09146062B2
An interlocking clip heatsink mounting system (10) is provided for securing a heatsink (12) in optimal thermal contact with a chip carrier (14). The clip structure (24) includes a pair of identical interlocking clip members (28) and a spring member (26). The clip side members (28) are provided with crenellations (50) and hook wedges (62) so as to interlock in partially engaged and fully engaged modes.
US09146057B2
Annular swivel joint including an annular fixed part and an annular rotary part and having an annular trough that defines an annular volume, via which the circuits portions communicate,a stationary forward connection for receiving cooling fluid from the stationary circuit portion; a rotary forward connection for supplying cooling fluid to the rotary circuit portion; a rotary return connection for receiving cooling fluid from the rotary circuit portion; and a stationary return connection for returning cooling fluid to the stationary circuit portion;a partition dividing the annular volume into an annular external cavity and an annular internal cavity so that the forward connections are coupled via one of the external and internal cavities and the return connections are coupled via the other cavity, so that the internal cavity is at least partially surrounded by the external cavity.
US09146052B2
A refrigerator having a first storage box inserted and withdrawn like a drawer in association with a door, a second storage box seated and rolled on an upper part of the first storage box, and a roller device to enable the rolling motion of the second storage box on the first storage box. The roller device includes a first roller member mounted to the second storage box, a first roller supporting part formed at the first storage box to support a rolling motion of the first roller member thereon, a second roller member mounted to the first storage box, and a second roller supporting part formed at the second storage box to support the rolling motion of the second roller member thereon. The second storage box may be smoothly moved since the load of the second storage box is distributed to the first and second roller members.
US09146047B2
An integrated Stirling refrigerator is composed of two parts: a compressor and an expander. The compressor is composed of a shell (1), a piston (4), a leaf spring (8), a magnet (9), a coil (10), a bracket (14) and a support shelf (15). The shell (1) of the compressor includes two cylinders (11, 12), one of which is set inside the other to form a compression chamber (3). The piston (4) is connected with the leaf spring (8). The coil (10) is fixed between the inside of the shell (1) and the bracket (14), and the magnet (9) is fixed between the bracket (14) and the support shelf (15), wherein the bracket (14) and the support shelf (15) are respectively connected with the shell (1). The inside of the expander is divided into two chambers by a small piston and a regenerator (7) fixed together, that is, an expansion chamber (6) and a pneumatic chamber, and a cylindrical spring (16) is provided on the bottom of the expander. The center of the compressor is designed as a groove, and the expander is inserted into the groove of the compressor. There is a small hole designed on the bottom of the expander, which is communicated with the compression chamber (3) of the compressor. The Stirling refrigerator has the advantages of compact structure and small volume, and hence it can be widely used.
US09146043B2
A parabolic collector for the concentration of solar radiation has a reflective surface which is approximated to an ideal paraboloid and has a number of individual collectors. According to the invention, individual collectors are provided with a pressure cell with a concentrator formed from a flexible film, whereby, under operating pressure conditions, the concentrator is curved differently in a predetermined manner in a first and in a second direction for approximating the ideal paraboloid, such that the radius of curvature in the first direction is greater than that in the second direction. The production method for such a concentrator consists in the fact that the outline of the individual collectors is designed in the outline of the parabolic collector, the true dimensions of the individual collectors being determined from the intersection of cylinders positioned on the outline with the paraboloid of the parabolic collector.
US09146040B2
A humidity control system including a heat pump with desiccant coated passive heat transfer devices on both sides of the heat pump and an air circulation system for alternately directing a process air stream to be humidity controlled and a separate regenerative air stream past each side. As desiccant on one side becomes laden with moisture, the air streams are redirected to the opposite sides of the heat pump so the regenerative stream can remove moisture from the first side. Simultaneously, the air stream to be humidity controlled uses the previously regenerated desiccant on the second side.
US09146038B2
A sub-flooring panel with improved impact and/or sound deadening (ISD) properties that is adapted to adjoin other sub-flooring panels to form a sub-flooring panel assembly, includes a base body having an upper surface formed with a groove for receiving a heating/cooling element, such as hydronic piping. A sub-flooring system with significantly improved ISD properties includes the panel assembly and an underlayment assembly which comprises a plurality of stabilizing supports, each support being adjustable in height, to support at least a generally rigid board and a fiberboard on which finishing flooring or laminate may be installed.
US09146036B2
Provided is a stone burner for a fragrance lamp, which has a first socket and a base detachably connected to the first socket. The first socket has a first wall and a second wall opposite to the first wall. The base has a second socket and a body connected to the second socket. The second socket is detachably connected to the second wall of the first socket and has a hole formed in the second socket at a position proximal to the first socket and an aperture formed in the second socket at a position distal from the first socket. The hole and the aperture of the second socket are not in communication with the first wall of the first socket.
US09146021B2
A device is provided for fastening and contacting a illuminant and/or a lighting module, the device including at least one socket housing. The illuminant and/or lighting module are/is arranged in the socket housing of the device. The illuminant and/or lighting module include/s at least two contacting elements, which are arranged separately from each other on the illuminant and/or lighting module and which are each electrically contacted by a respective individual contact of the socket housing. The device includes an adapter element having at least one collective contact point, wherein at least one electrical connection is present. An individual contact of the socket housing and a contact of a collective contact point are connected by means of an electrical connection. A lamp including the device is also presented.
US09146016B2
Optics and optical devices and systems are disclosed that employ a plurality of refractive and/or reflective optical elements, such as lenses and mirrors, with different shapes to achieve a desired illumination pattern. In various aspects, a plurality of lenses in which at least two of the lenses have different boundary shapes are arranged, e.g., according to a predefined pattern, to receive light from one or more light sources and to redirect the received light to form collectively a desired far-field illumination pattern. For example, the lenses can be configured such that the far-field illumination pattern has a boundary shape that is different from the boundary shape of a far-field illumination pattern that can be provided individually by the lenses.
US09146013B2
The invention relates to a light module (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source (1, 10, 11, 100, 110), at least one reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000), and at least one lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310), wherein the light emitted by the light source (1, 10, 11, 100, 110) is formed into a light distribution by a reflecting surface (2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 200a, 210a, 2000a) of the at least one reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) and—when the light module (1) is fitted in a vehicle—is projected via the at least one lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310) into an area in front of the vehicle. According to the invention, the reflecting surface (2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 200a, 210a, 2000a) of the at least one reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) is formed in such a way that a first focal point (F1) of the reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) is located between the reflecting surface (2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 200a, 210a, 2000a) and the at least one lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310), and a second focal point (F2) is located on the side of the reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) facing away from the lens (3, 30, 31, 300, 310), wherein the reflecting surface (2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 200a, 210a, 2000a) of the reflector (2, 20, 21, 200, 210, 2000) is designed in such a way that the light pattern generated comprises at least one light-dark line.
US09146012B2
A lighting device includes a substantially cylindrical tube defining an interior and an exterior, and a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end. The first end of the tube defines a substantially cylindrical opening disposed in a plane at a first angle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the second end of the tube defines a substantially elliptical opening disposed in a plane at a second angle that is substantially non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A reflective surface is provided on the interior of the tube, and a substantially cylindrical flashing is provided about the exterior of the tube. A substantially transparent dome is coupled to the tube proximate the first end, and a diffuser is coupled to the tube proximate the second end.
US09146010B2
An ornament with a backlit film image having a substrate with an at least partially transparent portion viewable therethrough when backlit. A first end cap and a second end cap are configured to receive and retain a portion of the substrate in a substantially closed loop shape such that the first and second end caps and the substrate support one another into a substantially upright position to define an enclosure. A light source is disposed within the enclosure and positioned to illuminate the backlit film image at least partially viewable through the transparent portion of the substrate.
US09146009B2
A solar lighting apparatus includes a controlling portion, having a first conjugating surface, a button with a plurality of lights, and electrodes hidden in the controlling portion; and an energy collecting portion, having a second conjugating surface, a solar panel to absorb sunlight, and corresponding receiving holes to receive the electrodes of the controlling portion, wherein a magnetic force is generated between the controlling portion and the energy collecting portion to tightly bind these two portions, and the electrodes are attracted out from the controlling portion by the magnetic force to plug into the receiving holes to form an energy conversion circuit to convert solar energy collected by the solar panel to other forms of energy.
US09146007B2
A flow control system in an apparatus for treating a work piece controls a flow rate of treatment liquid dispensed from a liquid dispenser. The system includes a flow meter that measures a flow rate of liquid being supplied to the liquid dispenser, a controller that receives signals indicative of a flow rate measured by the flow meter, and a pressure regulator that regulates pressure of the liquid supply downstream of the flow meter based on control signals from the controller. At least two alternative liquid supply paths are provided downstream of the pressure regulator and upstream of an outlet of the liquid dispenser. Each supply path is equipped with a respective shutoff valve and provides a respectively different pressure drop to the treatment liquid.
US09146005B1
One embodiment of a portable media equipment support device comprising a hollow shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end. A manually rotatable handle is operatively mounted relative to the first shaft end and a mounting device rotational actuator is operatively mounted to the second shaft end. The manually rotatable handle is connected to mounting device rotational actuator by a drive rod internally running through said hollow shaft. A bevel gear system is internally located in said rotational actuator and used to translate motion approximately 90 degrees into a media mounting device. The media mounting device is used to secure and carry a media equipment element. The rotatable handle serves to control the motion of the drive rod and is thereby translated by the bevel gear system. This sequence of mechanical reactions is used to facilitate at least one of the panning or tilting motions of the media equipment. A locking screw connected to the head unit of the mounting device rotational actuator serves to secure the bevel gear system from rotation. Thereby allowing for said media equipment to be secured in a locked position, if desired. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US09146000B2
A water supplying extension arm for supplying water from a water source to a showerhead has an elongated hollow extension arm element extending along its longitudinal axis and having a first end connectable to the water source turnably about a horizontal axis and a second end spaced in a direction of the longitudinal axis from the first end and connectable to the showerhead. The hollow elongated extension arm element is arch-shaped and has a cross section with a shape of an ellipse having a shorter upright axis and a longer transverse axis.
US09145998B2
A system is provided that includes a fluid-tight tube, which for insertion can be introduced into the area of a gap to be sealed between two pipes of the pipeline system to be sealed. The tube is provided with a feed element for introducing a fluid, with whose aid the tube is filled and thereby increased in its volume. The feed element contains a valve, which facilitates the introduction of the fluid and at the same time prevents the outward flow via the feed element.
US09145985B2
A trapeze conduit support system includes a support bracket, and a moveable retention member, which are configured to be suspended from and carried by a pair of vertically extending support members, such as for mounting of conduits at or near a ceiling, beam, or like supporting structure of an installation. The retention member is moveable between a first, open position, wherein the conduits can be “laid in” to the support bracket, and a second, closed position wherein the retention member retains the conduits in position within the support bracket. Convenient and efficient installation of conduits is thus facilitated.
US09145981B2
A valve, includes an in-line flow passage, a shut-off mechanism, and a multi-stage throttling section disposed in the in-line flow passage. An in-line valve, includes a flow control component and a sealing component, wherein the flow control component and the sealing component are separate from one another.
US09145978B2
An adjustable fail-safe suction stop valve is provided for providing hot gas defrost in refrigeration applications. The dual position valve (10) utilizes a single solenoid (20) and a pair of check valves (60,62) in a configuration that allows the evaporator pressure to be internally equalized through the valve to an adjustable setting over the suction pressure after a defrost cycle has occurred. The intermediate stage allows for this equalization to occur in a controlled manner without the need for an equalization valve.
US09145954B2
A belt adjusting device of a printer includes a bracket, a base, a driving device, and a resisting member. The bracket includes a bottom wall and a belt placed on the bottom wall. The belt is loop-shaped. The base is slidably mounted to the bracket. The driving device is mounted to the base and includes an eccentric device engaging with the belt. The resisting member resists the driving device to enable the eccentric device to rotate to adjust the belt when the base slides relative to the bracket.
US09145953B2
A family of transmission gearing arrangements produces up to ten forward and one reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of various combinations of three or four shift elements. Each disclosed transmission includes four planetary gear sets and six shift elements. Two of the shift elements can be brakes.
US09145949B2
The present invention relates to a reducer of an electric power steering apparatus. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a damping member is provided on an outer circumference surface of a bearing bush so that impact between a worm shaft bearing and a bearing bush can be dampened, and noise generated at the time of impact can be reduced.
US09145946B2
An apparatus includes an active vibration isolation system that includes a vibration isolator, a dual fluid pump in fluid communication with the vibration isolator and a hydraulic system, wherein the dual fluid pump is configured to segregate a tuning fluid from a hydraulic fluid and an electric-hydraulic servo valve in fluid communication with the dual fluid pump.
US09145945B2
This invention relates to an active vibration isolation installation based on electromagnetic and aerostatic floatation which is essential for the super-precision measurement and manufacture. It mainly consists of an isolation platform, an intermediate sleeve and a base. The isolation platform supports any object(s) placed on the platform and is supported by the intermediate sleeve. And the intermediate sleeve is supported on the base which is fixed on the ground. This invention uses the combination electromagnetic and aerostatic floatation to achieve large bearing capacity while excellent vibration isolation performance is maintained. This invention realizes automatic control of stiffness, using closed-loop speed control methods. It is therefore conclude that this invention can impose an excellent inhibitory action on the vibration originating from surroundings and the platform itself.
US09145940B2
An electric brake system is proposed which includes an electric linear motion actuator and can generate the required braking force with high accuracy. A load sensor (30) is provided in a motion converting mechanism of the actuator which converts the rotary motion of a rotary shaft (4) to which the rotation of an electric motor (2) is transmitted to linear motion of an outer ring member (5) as an output member. The load sensor (30) detects the pushing force with which the outer ring member (5) linearly drives a driven member. With this arrangement, if the driven member is a braking member of an electric brake system, it is possible to directly detect the braking force applied by the driven member and thus to accurately generate the required braking force.
US09145938B2
A metal matrix composite (MMC), such as a brake drum, includes a preform having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers and defining a plurality of voids. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element, such as a metal, disposed within the voids of the preform. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.
US09145935B2
A brake mechanism for a hybrid transmission includes a magnetic unit and a brake plate. The magnetic unit is configured to selectively generate magnetic flux. The magnetic unit radially surrounds an axis of rotation. The magnetic unit defines a plurality of grooves. The brake plate radially surrounds the axis of rotation and includes a plurality of teeth. The brake plate is movable axially along the axis of rotation between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The brake plate is configured to rotate about the axis of rotation, relative to the magnetic unit when in the disengaged position. The teeth of the brake plate are configured to engage the corresponding grooves of the magnetic unit when in the engaged position in response to generation of magnetic flux by the magnetic unit, such that rotation of the brake plate is ceased.
US09145926B2
A torque limiting device includes a first portion connected to a first rotatable component. The first portion has a flange extending radially outward therefrom. A second portion includes a plurality of pre-loaded axial springs and is coupled to a second rotatable component. The second portion is arranged adjacent opposing surfaces of the flange. The second portion is configured to apply a biasing force to the flange to selectively couple the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component.
US09145925B2
This tolerance ring, which is for a torque transmission device, preferably has a ring body that comprises an elastic plate and is roughly a hollow cylindrical shape having a pair of edges that extend in the axial direction. The ring body has: a plurality of protrusions that are arranged along the peripheral direction and preferably protrude in the radial direction; a first region having a number of the protrusions including the pair of protrusions adjacent to the pair of edges; and that is positioned at the diametrically opposite side from the first region. The pair of protrusions has the same rigidity as one of the protrusions of the second region.
US09145905B2
A hydraulic system for a vehicle includes a first hydraulic circuit, a second hydraulic circuit, and a main actuator. The first hydraulic circuit includes a first pump having a flow outlet; a first pressure line having a pump end coupled to the flow outlet of the first pump; and a first load sensing line having a pump end coupled to the first pump and a pressure end coupled to the first pressure line. The second hydraulic circuit includes a second pump having a flow outlet; a second pressure line having a pump end coupled to the flow outlet of the second pump; and a second load sensing line having a pump end coupled to the second pump and a pressure end coupled to the second pressure line. The main actuator is coupled to the first pressure line and the second pressure line and is configured to oppose a load force. The first load sensing line is separate from the second load sensing line such that the first pump and the second pump respond independently to the load force.
US09145899B2
A pump device may include a first case provided with a circular ring-shaped protruded part, a second case provided with a circular ring-shaped stepped part into which the circular ring-shaped protruded part is coaxially inserted, an O-ring which is mounted on a circular outer peripheral face of the circular ring-shaped protruded part and is crushed between the circular outer peripheral face of the circular ring-shaped protruded part and a circular inner peripheral face of the circular ring-shaped stepped part in a direction perpendicular to an axial line of the circular ring-shaped protruded part, and a turning prevention mechanism which prevents the first case and the second case from being relatively turned to each other around the axial line when the circular ring-shaped protruded part of the first case is inserted into the circular ring-shaped stepped part of the second case to form the pump chamber.
US09145891B2
A scroll compressor is provided. The scroll compressor may include a valve and a valve spring accommodated in a housing as one module, and the housing may be directly coupled to a fixed scroll. This may simplify assembly processes of the scroll compressor. Further, a sealing recess that communicates with a middle pressure chamber may be formed at the housing, thereby forming a damping space between a high pressure space and a low pressure space. This may prevent lowering of performance of the scroll compressor due to leakage of refrigerant inside the high pressure space to the low pressure space in a normal driving mode.
US09145882B2
There is provided a micro pump, including: a channel forming substrate having an inlet and an outlet; an upper substrate connected to the channel forming substrate and having a first hole connected to the inlet and a second hole connected to the outlet; and an adhesive member disposed between the channel forming substrate and the upper substrate to bond the channel forming substrate and the upper substrate and having a first valve opening and closing the inlet and a second valve opening and closing the outlet.
US09145881B2
An electromagnetic vibrating diaphragm pump is provided with a draining structure which can easily drain water flowed into the pump without a separate member preventing inflow of water. A first communicating passage is formed at a bottom end of a partition wall between a suction chamber and a compression chamber. A bottom portion inside the suction chamber slopes down toward the passage, making its compression chamber side lower than the suction chamber side. A second communicating passage is formed at a bottom end of a partition wall between an exhaust chamber and the compression chamber. A bottom portion inside the compression chamber slopes down toward the passage, making its exhaust chamber side lower than the compression chamber side. A bottom portion inside the exhaust chamber slopes down toward the exhaust port to make the exhaust port side lower. The exhaust port slopes down to make an outlet side thereof lower.
US09145874B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for establishing plasma and using plasma in a rotating magnetic field
Systems and methods establish plasma in a rotating magnetic field. An exemplary embodiment is a plasma thruster that establishes a first transverse magnetic field with respect to a system axis of a plasma propulsion system; establishes a second transverse magnetic field oriented orthogonally to the first transverse magnetic field, wherein the second transverse magnetic field is out of phase with the first transverse magnetic field; and establishes a magnetic field aligned with the system axis using a plurality of magnet elements oriented along the system axis. A plasma containment portion defines an interior region, wherein an interior region of a plasma containment portion accommodates a plasma that is established by a rotating magnetic field component that is cooperatively established by the first transverse magnetic field and the second transverse magnetic field, and wherein the plasma is accelerated out of the plasma containment portion by magnetic forces to generate a propulsion force.
US09145870B2
The joint between the gearbox input shaft and the rotor rotation shaft is made with a banded flange that combines an interference joint between the horizontal surface of the rotor shaft (4) and the internal surface of the flange (5), with a bolted joint between the vertical surface of the flange (5) and the front surface of the body of the gearbox (4) corresponding to the low speed shaft. The interference joint adds a keyway between both surfaces with their corresponding key (9). Likewise included is an assembly method with a surface treatment at temperature T1, flange heating (5) in an oven at a temperature T2, a banding of the flange (5) on the rotor rotation shaft (4) having the keyway line up with the key (9), a subsequent cooling and finally a bolted joint between the flange (5) and the gearbox (3).
US09145865B2
An electric machine is presented. The electric machine includes a hollow rotor; and a stator disposed within the hollow rotor, the stator defining a flow channel. The hollow rotor includes a first end portion defining a fluid inlet, a second end portion defining a fluid outlet; the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, and the flow channel of the stator being configured to allow passage of a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the flow channel; and wherein the hollow rotor is characterized by a largest cross-sectional area of hollow rotor, and wherein the flow channel is characterized by a smallest cross-sectional area of the flow channel, wherein the smallest cross-sectional area of the flow channel is at least about 25% of the largest cross-sectional area of the hollow rotor. An electric fluid pump and a power generation system are also presented.
US09145861B2
When an ECM activates as powered from a generator, a decision unit determines occurrence of instantaneous interruption and reactivation of the ECM, if engine speed detected by an engine speed sensor immediately after activation of the ECM is found to be not smaller than a predetermined number of rotation Y. When occurrence of the instantaneous interruption and reactivation is actually determined, the ECM terminates operation of the engine. On the other hand, if occurrence of the instantaneous interruption and reactivation is not determined, the ECM detects, using a maximum value detection unit, a maximum value of pressure in the intake pipe detected by a pressure sensor, within a predetermined range of crank angle after activation of the ECM, stores the maximum value into a memory for later use as the atmospheric pressure, and uses it for control of fuel injection by an injector.
US09145853B2
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler for cooling exhaust gas via a coolant includes at least one channel having an inlet and an outlet, and a casing defining a cooling chamber for carrying the coolant around the at least one channel. The exhaust gas is flowable through the at least one channel from the inlet to the outlet. At least a portion of the at least one channel is variable between a fully compressed position and an uncompressed position. The casing includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet through which the coolant enters and exits the cooling chamber. The casing also includes an exhaust gas inlet from which the exhaust gas enters the at least one channel, and an exhaust gas outlet into which the exhaust gas exits the at least one channel.
US09145838B2
A dual-fuel engine has a primary fuel supply and a secondary fuel supply, the primary and secondary fuels being arranged in use to mix with each other and with air for combustion in one or more cylinders of the engine. The supply of both the primary and secondary fuels is arranged to be actively managed in accordance with a desired engine performance characteristic by an electronic controller. In one arrangement the supply of a primary fuel is arranged to be actively reduced when a secondary fuel is supplied to the engine.
US09145828B1
An internal combustion engine in the form of a frictionless turbine includes a piston and a combustion chamber with a combustion chamber wall, which is frictionless because it has no piston rings so that the pistons do not touch the combustion chamber wall. There is clearance between the piston and the chamber wall, so that no piston lubrication is provided or needed, and the absence of friction between the piston and chamber wall permits the turbine to reach very high speeds. Computer control preferably is provided to meter fuel into the combustion chamber as turbine revolutions per minute increase from starting speed to full speed to maximize engine smoothness of operation and efficiency.
US09145827B2
In an exhaust gas charger bleed valve with a valve disk by which the flow cross-section of a bypass duct, via which exhaust gas flow volume bypassing an impeller of the exhaust gas turbocharger is adjustable, the valve includes a valve disk with the exhaust gas turbocharger is adjustable, the valve includes a valve disk with a front end valve face which is formed so as to be asymmetric with respect to the valve disk attachment to a lever arm on which the valve disk is mounted.
US09145822B2
A system is disclosed for a four-stroke internal combustion engine comprising: at least two cylinders; a fuel direct injection device; a variable valve timing system; an engine controller to control valve timing according to load; wherein, below a lower load threshold, a first cylinder is deactivated, an injection of fuel takes place into a combustion chamber of the first cylinder and an inlet valve of the first cylinder is open during a compression stroke. The opening of the inlet valve during a compression stroke of the first cylinder when deactivated allows the substantially homogenous air-fuel mixture therein to escape into the intake manifold and be made available to the second and active cylinder.
US09145819B2
An exhaust module made of a thermoplastic material which is connected to a fascia or bumper of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the hybrid fascia mounted exhaust tip assembly includes a bracket. The bracket has a bracket inlet which surrounds, but is not in contact with, an exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe is free to move around as a result of the vehicle traveling over bumps in the road and around turns. The bracket also has a bracket outlet which is connected to the bracket inlet. A ring tip has a portion that slides onto a bezel portion of the bracket outlet.
US09145818B2
An exhaust gas sampling device coupled to an aftertreatment system for treating exhaust gas flowing therethrough. The exhaust gas sampling device comprises an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a sensor passage, and a sensor. The inlet passage extracts a portion of the exhaust gas from the aftertreatment system, and the portion of the exhaust gas has a physical property that that is substantially similar to an equivalent physical property of a cross section of the exhaust gas flowing through the aftertreatment system. The sensor passage is positioned fluidly between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and the sensor is in fluid communication with the sensor passage for providing a signal indicative of a property of the portion of the exhaust gas. The outlet passage reintroduces the portion of the exhaust gas back into the aftertreatment system.
US09145808B2
Disclosed is a control method for restoring temporary malfunction of an injector 8 for adding urea water 12 into exhaust gas due to adhesion of urea crystals. A passage is laid out such that the passage (suction line 14) for feed of the urea water 12 runs downward from above of and is connected to the injector 8. When the injector 8 is determined to be in malfunction, an operation of temporarily sucking back the urea water 12 in the passage (suction line 14) is interposed before the pump 13 is stopped; the pump 13 is restarted after lapse of a predetermined time to re-determine whether the injector 8 is in malfunction or not.
US09145797B2
An apparatus includes a valve and an actuator. The valve has a portion movably disposed within a valve pocket defined by a cylinder head of an engine. The valve is configured to move relative to the cylinder head a distance between a closed position and an opened position. The portion of the valve defines a flow opening that is in fluid communication with a cylinder of an engine when the valve is in the opened position. The actuator is configured to selectively vary the distance between the closed position and the opened position.
US09145794B2
In a method for increasing power plant efficiency during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads, a motive fluid is cycled through a Rankine cycle power plant having a vaporizer and a superheater such that the motive fluid is delivered to a turbine at a selected inlet temperature at full admission. A percentage of a superheated portion of the motive fluid during periods of variable heat input or at partial loads is adjusted while substantially maintaining the inlet temperature and a power plant thermal efficiency. A Rankine Cycle power plant includes a conduit circuit extending from a heat source to each of a vaporizer section and a superheater section for regulating flow therethrough of source heat fluid.
US09145790B2
A pump includes: an impeller that moves fluid; a housing section, provided adjacent to a channel for the fluid, that communicate with the channel; and a controller that positions the impeller in the channel during a driving of the impeller and houses the impeller in the housing section during a stoppage of driving of the impeller.
US09145787B2
A rotatable engine component, coating and method of coating the rotatable component includes a substrate, a transitional zone applied to the substrate, and an abradable zone applied to the transitional zone. During operation of an engine in a turbine, the abradable zone is consumed upon contact with a static portion of the engine preventing damage to the rotatable component.
US09145786B2
A method for reducing clearance flow in a channel between a bucket and an enclosure of a turbine. The method includes separating a single flow in the channel into a first flow and a second flow and directing the second flow radially inward toward the bucket so that the second flow rejoins with the first flow to increase total flow onto the bucket. A turbine includes an inner casing, a rotatable shaft positioned axially within the inner casing, a plurality of buckets connected to the shaft, a first tooth projecting radially inward from and connected to the inner casing, wherein the first tooth and at least one bucket form a first fluidic channel therebetween and a second tooth connected to and in parallel with the first tooth form a radial fluidic channel. The axial fluidic channel is in communication with the radial fluidic channel to form a second fluidic channel.
US09145771B2
A disk spacer for a gas turbine engine includes a rim, a bore, a web and a load path spacer. The web extends between the rim and the bore. The load path spacer is positioned between the rim and the bore.
US09145763B1
A perforation gun which provides a means to create perforations required for the hydraulic fracturing of rock formations for the production of natural gas, oil, and other oil well fluids and further comprises a gun body assembly having an inserted carrier tube to nest shaped charge canisters with built in primers, conical liner, and explosive material. The charges are positioned in various angular patterns along various phase angles to create specifically directed perforation tunnels which puncture scalloped areas of the aforementioned gun body and subsequently penetrate through the wellbore, well casing, well cement, and into the rock formations for the release and removal of natural gas, oil, and other oil well fluids after hydraulic fracturing.
US09145762B2
Gravel pack composition containing gravel and a water-in-oil emulsion including (a) an organic continuous phase comprising 0.1 to 5 vol % of the emulsion of non-ionic or cationic surfactant and 0.25 to 3 vol % of the emulsion of sorbitan ester; (b) a dispersed aqueous phase comprising 0.05 to 3 vol % of the emulsion of a partial ester of a polyol with at least one C6 to C22 fatty acid and at least one of an acid, acid precursor, and a chelating agent; and (c) a density control agent. The fluid can display a delayed break of up to about 72 hours to enable clean-up of mud cake.
US09145760B2
Certain aspects and features of the present invention are directed to a supercapacitor device that can be disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The supercapacitor device can include a body that can be disposed in the wellbore, a supercapacitor disposed in the body, at least two terminals disposed at least partially outside the body, and an actuation mechanism. The supercapacitor stores energy. The terminals can be electrically connected with the supercapacitor. An electrical connection between the supercapacitor and the terminals can cause the energy to be discharged from the supercapacitor in response to a conductive material providing an electrical path between the at least two terminals. The actuation mechanism can selectively prevent a deployment of the supercapacitor device in the wellbore from causing a discharge of the energy from the supercapacitor.
US09145751B2
A hydraulic accumulator assembly in which a hydraulic accumulator is associated with at least one responsive unit, which is responsive to the weight of the accumulator to provide an indication dependent on the weight of the accumulator. The accumulator is in an underwater fluid extraction well facility.
US09145747B2
A method of mixing drilling fluids, the method including injecting a drilling fluid into a high shear mixing unit and processing the drilling fluid with the high shear mixing unit. The processing includes forcing the drilling fluid through a first row of teeth of a first stage.
US09145745B2
A collet assembly connects two tubular members with a rotation of an outer sleeve. The collet assembly includes a first tubular member with a grooved outer diameter end. The end is inserted into a collet having grooved inner and outer diameter surfaces, and an outer annular sleeve is threaded onto the collet. A grooved outer diameter end of a second tubular member is inserted into the collet. The outer annular sleeve is rotated relative to the collet. The rotation causes the collet to partially disengage from the outer annular sleeve and fully engage the grooves of the ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member, thereby securing the first tubular member to the second tubular member.
US09145742B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a drill string has a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. At least one blade has a cutting element with a carbide substrate bonded to a diamond working end with a pointed geometry. The diamond working end also has a central axis which intersects an apex of the pointed geometry. The axis is oriented between a 25 and 85 degree positive rake angle.
US09145736B2
A wellbore is formed by using an apparatus that may include a shaft having an end portion, a drill bit body tiltable about the end portion, and at least one actuator configured to apply a tilting force to the drill bit body.
US09145734B2
Devices and method for engaging a casing member for manipulation. A hydraulic torque locking mechanism is incorporated into a casing manipulation assembly. The hydraulic torque locking mechanism includes a clutch mechanism that is actuated using surface pump pressure from tool circulation.
US09145733B2
Adjustable ladders may include a pair of side rails having a plurality of rungs extending therebetween, and a pair of adjustable legs associated with the side rails. A pair of swing arms may include a first end pivotally coupled with a side rail, or a bracket associated with the side rail, as well as a second end pivotally coupled with an adjustable leg. The swing arm may be configured as a nonlinear structure. In one embodiment, the swing arm may include a first section that extends from a second section at a defined angle. The first and second sections may exhibit different lengths. Adjustment mechanisms may be pivotally coupled with an upper end of the adjustable legs. In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanisms may be configured such that, when actuated, they may be displaced in one direction while resisting displacement in a second, opposite direction.
US09145730B1
The security shutters for window and door openings is constructed of a guide rail that is configured to be secured above a door or window opening. A left shutter and a right shutter are rollably attached to the guide rail such that the left shutter and/or right shutter are able to slide along the guide rail in order to cover or expose the door or window opening. The left shutter and the right shutter each include at least one roller bracket affixed to a top distal edge, which includes a roller wheel distally located thereto. The roller wheel is nested inside of the guide rail such that the left shutter or right shutter is able to slide along a guide rail length.
US09145725B2
An apparatus for opening and closing a trunk for a vehicle, may include a motor unit equipped with a motor, an inner tube provided outside the motor unit to surround the motor unit, with a plurality of protrusions protruding from an outer circumference of the inner tube, an outer tube provided outside the inner tube to surround the inner tube and including a threaded groove being indented along an inner circumference of the outer tube, a bar-shaped spindle having a threaded portion on an outer circumference thereof, and coupled to the motor unit to cause the threaded portion of the spindle to engage with the threaded groove of the outer tube when the motor may be rotated, thus allowing the spindle to perform translation simultaneously with rotation, and an elastic member-wound on an outer circumference of the outer tube.
US09145717B2
A locking system is provided for a motor vehicle door. The locking system includes, but is not limited to a door lock, an internal actuation unit having a pickup that is mechanically linked to the door lock and alternately transferable into a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, actuation of the pickup is inactive with respect to the lock. The locking system further includes, but is not limited to a detection unit configured to detect an approach of a hand and also configured to unlock the door lock if a distance falls below a predefined distance to the internal actuation unit.
US09145714B2
In one embodiment, the outboard motor lock comprises an outboard motor lock bracket and an outboard motor lock securing mechanism. The bracket comprises a back plate, side plates and a lip, and may be attached to a boat hull or other surface through bracket attachment holes. The securing mechanism comprises a base and one or more securing rods. The securing mechanism can be inserted into the bracket by inserting the one or more securing rods through corresponding bracket securing holes. One or more aligned bracket locking holes and securing mechanism locking holes allow for a locking device to be passed through and lock the securing mechanism to the bracket. When the securing mechanism is inserted into the bracket after an outboard motor attaching mechanism has engaged the bracket, the securing mechanism prevents the attaching mechanism from being removed from the bracket.
US09145699B2
A cleaning robot that includes a drive motor; a housing that encloses the drive motor; a brushing element; and a transmission coupled between the brushing element and the drive motor, the transmission is arranged to convert a rotary movement induced by the drive motor to a combination of (a) a rotary movement of the brushing element about a brushing element axis, and (b) a reciprocal movement of the brushing element in parallel to the brushing element axis.
US09145698B2
A rigid frame structure has a corner retaining configuration for retaining a sheet member to an inside corner of the frame structure. First and second panel members are arranged to form the frame structure's inside corner. A gap of nominal gap width is disposed at the inside corner between a rear edge of the second panel member and a face of the first panel member. One or more retaining members partially close the gap to provide corresponding areas of reduced gap width. Each retaining member is formed on or attached to a surface of the first or second panel member that defines a first or second side of the gap without mechanical fastening to both sides of said gap. The nominal gap width is sized to receive one or more bead elements on the sheet member, and the reduced gap width traps the one or more bead elements within the gap, thereby retaining the sheet member to the inside corner.
US09145688B2
A structural reinforcement system that utilizes a lath for receiving cementitious material. Lath is affixed to support structure such as sheathing supported by studs as may commonly be found in building construction. Strip members are affixed to the lath and function as fastener guides. Fasteners penetrate the strips for affixing lath and strips to the support structure. The strips are made of a compressible material that protects the lath from damage due to impacts associated with installing the fasteners and forms a gasket-like seal around the fasteners. Strips may be used as drainage guides for directing water that may flow behind the lath. The width of the strips creates spacing between the lath and the support structure, which allows for controlling of a thickness of a base layer of cementitious material by selecting a desired width. In another embodiment, entangled filaments are used as lath material for receiving cementitious material.
US09145686B2
A dome for a skylight; said dome formed of light transmitting material; at least an internal surface of said dome provided with prismatic structures arranged so as to direct incident light from without said dome to points below a lower periphery of said dome; said prismatic structures formed as adjoining facets of a plurality of curved ridges; each of said curved ridges extending from a first upper end to a second lower end.
US09145685B2
A system is provided for mounting at least one solar panel on a roof having standing seams protruding outwardly therefrom. The system may include a plurality of panel mounting brackets each comprising first and second flanges laterally spaced apart to define a seam channel therebetween, with the seam channel for receiving a given standing seam therein when the first and second flanges are positioned on the roof straddling the given standing seam. Each panel mounting bracket may also include a vertical extension portion carried by the first and second flanges. The system may further include a plurality of clamps each configured to couple the vertical extension portion of a respective panel mounting bracket with the at least one solar panel.
US09145671B1
Modular home framing systems include a plurality of elongate rectangular vertical frame members, a plurality of elongate rectangular horizontal frame members, a plurality of connectors, and a plurality of fastening members, each of the plurality of fastening members configured to fasten any of the plurality of connectors to any of the plurality of vertical frame members and any of the plurality of horizontal frame members to any of plurality of connectors.
US09145667B1
The toilet sanitary shield for male genitalia is a device that is placed in the toilet to prevent the male genitalia from touching the walls of the toilet while in use.
US09145661B1
A control system is disclosed for a worksite. The control system may have a sensor located onboard a haul machine to generate a first signal indicative of a load of material lost, and a locating device to generate a second signal indicative of a location of the haul machine. The control system may also have a controller configured to determine a location at which the load of material was lost based on the first and second signals, and to determine a quantity of the load of material. The controller may also be configured to determine a repair needed at the worksite, to calculate a value of performing the repair, and to selectively dispatch a cleanup machine to perform the repair or to move the load of material to a stockpile location based on the value.
US09145657B2
A grading control system using an excavator is disclosed, which determines and controls an operation amount of an attachment by combining an estimated pose of the attachment and an operator's operation signal of a joystick when a working mode for grading the ground is selected. The grading control system using an excavator includes an actuator connected to a hydraulic pump, an attachment driven by the actuator, a control valve shifted to drive the actuator, an electric joystick, a pressure detection means, a means for setting a working mode, and a controller, and repeatedly performs receiving a joystick operation signal value, a pressure value of an arm cylinder, and information on whether to set the working mode, calculating an external force that is applied to the attachment by the pressure value generated in the arm cylinder if a grading mode is selected, estimating a pose of the arm by the calculated external force value, performing a signal process by filtering the pose of the arm, and calculating operation amounts of a boom and the arm by combining the estimated pose of the arm and a control signal value according to an operator's operation of the joystick and proceeding to an initial stage.
US09145650B2
A scarifier comprises skis that allow a drum assembly to contour with the concrete. Alternatively, the scarifier comprises at least two segments that are torsionally coupled to each other. Alternatively, the scarifier comprises the torsionally-coupled segments and the skis.
US09145646B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to increase paper machine performance and enhance sizing. The compositions include a sizing agent, an emulsifier, and an aqueous component. The emulsifier may be an aldehyde-functionalized polymer. The sizing agent may be selected from rosin size, an alkyl ketene dimer, an alkenyl succinic anhydride, and any combination of these sizing agents.
US09145642B2
A continuous cooking process making use of a digester, which includes therein, from a top toward a bottom of the digester, a top zone, an upper cooking zone, a lower cooking zone and a cooking/washing zone and also includes strainers provided at the bottom of the respective zones and wherein a cooking black liquor extracted from at least one of the strainers is discharged to outside a digestion system, a process for cooking a lignocellulose characterized by feeding, upstream of the top of the digester, a first cooking liquor containing an alkaline cooking liquor having a specified composition, feeding a second cooking liquor of an alkaline cooking liquor made mainly of sodium hydroxide to the upper cooking zone, and feeding a third cooking liquor of an alkaline cooking liquor similar to the second cooking liquor to the cooking/washing zone.
US09145641B2
An assembly of opposing discs or cones for a disperser where each disc or cone has mounted to it a plate or an array of plate segments with a front surface on each plate or array of plate segments and each surface has a series of bars, grooves and dams. The bars are in rows, with the rows separated by annular dams at substantially fixed radial locations, and the grooves are adjacent the bars in the rows so that the grooves form a serpentine passage extending radially between the opposing plates or array of plate segments on the opposing discs or cones. The opposing plate or array of plate segments are arranged such that the annular dams on one plate or array of plate segments face roughly the middle of the row of bars on the opposing plate or array of plate segments.
US09145638B2
The invention relates to a tire having a radial carcass reinforcement, consisting of at least one layer of metal reinforcing elements, said tire including a top reinforcement, which is covered radially with a tread, said tread being joined to two beads via two sidewalls. According to the invention, the reinforcing elements of at least one carcass reinforcement layer are metal cables which, in the so-called permeability test, have a flow rate less than 20 cm3/mn and at least 10% of said metal cables are banded by a strand consisting of multifilament textile fibers.
US09145636B2
A laundry handling apparatus having a body provided with an inlet, a door to open/close the inlet, and a hinge assembly for the door to be rotatably installed to the body. The door is provided at both sides of a rear surface thereof with a hinge installation part at which the hinge assembly is installed, and the hinge assembly is installed at one of the two hinge installation parts, thereby enabling the change of an opening/closing direction of the door in a convenient manner.
US09145631B2
Provided is a buttonhole switch mechanism of a buttonhole sewing machine including a buttonhole presser mounted on a lower end of a presser bar of the sewing machine and having a presser frame, a buttonhole switch mechanism disposed on an arm section of the sewing machine, a feed dog disposed below the buttonhole presser to move cloth, a sewing needle forming stitches in the cloth with vertical movement, a controller performing control on the movement of the feed dog and the sewing needle, a fixing member fixed to a non-movable part of a sewing machine main body, a mount supported so as to be movable in the front-and-rear direction with respect to the fixing member, an adjustment mechanism adjusting and fixing the relative positions of the fixing member and the mount in the front-and-rear direction, a lever member supported by a rotary shaft provided at the mount, and the detection switch fixed to the mount.
US09145630B2
A retractable quilt clamp apparatus is disclosed having a clamp attached to a strap, and a strap retraction mechanism attached to the strap. The strap retraction mechanism is configured to retract and retain at least part of the strap. The strap retraction mechanism includes a case, a spool, a spiral spring, and a brake. The case at least partially houses and retains the spool. The case and the spool retain the spiral spring. The strap is attached to the spiral spring, which biases the strap to be wound about the spool. The case includes a brake region for retaining and guiding movement of the brake. The brake is configured to press against the strap when in a locked position, and to allow clearance for the strap to move relative to the case when in an unlocked position. A bracket is used to attach the apparatus to a quilting frame, such as a quilting frame of a longarm quilting system.
US09145629B2
An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures. A fusible strand may be knit with the monofilament knit element. Upon heating, the fusible strand can combine and surround the monofilament strand within the monofilament knit element.
US09145624B2
The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an olefin-based polymer, and 0.01 to 100 parts by weight of a branched fatty acid and 0.01 to 200 parts by weight of a releasable active compound per 100 parts by weight of said olefin-based polymer.
US09145617B2
White bronze is electroplated from a cyanide-free tin/copper bath onto a void inhibiting layer coating a copper underlayer. The void inhibiting metal layer includes one or more void inhibiting metals.
US09145609B2
A lateral flow atomic layer deposition device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention eliminates a gas flow control plate in a conventional lateral flow atomic layer deposition device and controls shapes of a gas input part and a gas output part in a reactor cover to make a gas flow path to a center of a substrate shorter than a gas flow path to an edge of the substrate and thereby increase the amount of gas per unit area flowing to the center of the substrate. Therefore, film thickness in the center of the substrate in the lateral flow reactor increases.
US09145601B2
A composite material which expands the range of light-absorption of an original constitution material, which is formed through two or more total oxides contacting and fixing to the oxygen reduced oxides with the same composition of materials as the total oxides. The composite material can excite the light-driven reaction to achieve an enlarged absorption range of the light band. In the contacting and fixing process of the composite material, a calcination process is not required, so that the process can be applied to a substrate which is plastic or not suitable for high-temperature heating.
US09145596B1
In a process for melting metal chips, the process being of the type that uses a charge system for delivering the metal chips to a melt furnace, and of the type that uses a pre-treatment system for drying the metal chips, the improvement comprising the step of capturing an exhaust stream from the charge system, where the exhaust stream includes hydrocarbons, and combusting the hydrocarbons to produce heat that is utilized in drying the chips.
US09145592B2
A method based on species-specific molecular markers applied to a multiplex platform system is provided that permits, in a one-time assay, the qualitative and quantitative screening of multi-species populations in several dozens of environmental samples, tested in parallel, with low cost and rapid turn-around. The method identifies a specific portion of DNA, shared amongst a variety of important mold species, but with sufficient sequence differences that allow for unique identifications. Two pairs of primers, which are capable of amplifying this region across at least 38 different mold species, have been identified. Also short oligonucleotide probes have been designed specifically for each species to detect their presence and concentration in mixed species environmental samples. The method of detection of the invention can be practiced using conventional PCR reactions, followed by nucleotide hybridization assays and quantization of the hybridized biotinylated amplicons in a multiplex liquid array system.
US09145584B2
The present invention relates to in situ hybridization methods for detecting a target nucleic acid in a biological sample comprising performing one or more method steps (e.g., pretreatment, denaturation, hybridization, washes) at room temperature. The invention further relates to kits for performing such methods.
US09145577B2
The present invention is directed to a method and kit for the measurement of LPL. The method comprises several steps that effect a measurement of a level of LPL activity. The kit comprises several elements that effect the measurement of a level of LPL activity.
US09145576B2
The timing of the reaction of moisture-sensitive reagents for detecting the presence of analytes, e.g. leukocytes in urine samples, is used to detect when the reagents have been compromised by excess humidity. The ratio of light reflectance at wavelengths characteristic of the products of reaction between the reagents and the analyte and an infra-red reference dye is measured at two preset times after a urine sample has been applied to a test strip and used to determine whether the reagents have been compromised by excessive humidity. The presence of unusually dark samples is determined from the reflected light at 470 and 625 nm in order to confirm that the test strips are humidity-compromised.
US09145574B2
The subject invention provides point-of-care assays for assessing the topographical distribution of microbial biofilm and/or specific microorganisms in wounds.
US09145571B2
A method of producing human metabolites of simvastatin or lovastatin, and more particularly, a method of producing human metabolites of simvastatin and lovastatin by using bacterial cytochrome P450 BM3(CYP102A1) or mutants thereof, and a composition and kit therefor.
US09145567B2
The present invention provides isolated gene sequences involved in xylose fermentation and related recombinant yeast which are useful in methods of enhanced biofuel production, particularly ethanol production. Methods of bioengineering recombinant yeast useful for biofuel production are also provided.
US09145562B2
A variegated plant comprising a nucleic acid operatively linked to a regulatory region, the nucleic acid disrupts the expression of Cpn21. The nucleic acid is typically an antisense Cpn21 and the regulatory region may be an inducible regulatory region, a tissue specific regulatory region, or a developmental regulatory region.
US09145558B2
Provided herein are oligomeric compounds with conjugate groups. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds are conjugated to N-Acetylgalactosamine.
US09145545B2
Subpopulations of spore-like cells expressing specific cell surface and gene expression markers are provided. In one embodiment, the cells express at least one cell surface or gene expression marker selected from the group consisting of Oct4, nanog, Zfp296, cripto, Gdf3, UtF1, Ecat1, Esg1, Sox2, Pax6, nestin, SCA-1, CD29, CD34, CD90, B1 integrin, cKit, SP-C, CC10, SF1, DAX1, and SCG10. Also provided are methods for purifying a subpopulation of spore-like cells of interest from a population of spore-like cells, and methods for inducing differentiation of the isolated spore-like cells into cells of endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal origin. The spore-like cells can be used to generate cells originating from all three germ layers and can be used to treat a patient who has a deficiency of functional cells in any of a wide variety of tissues, including the retina, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, nervous system, or endocrine system.
US09145541B2
A process for capturing or concentrating microorganisms for detection or assay comprises (a) providing a particulate concentration agent that comprises gamma-FeO(OH); (b) providing a fluid sample comprising at least one microorganism strain; and (c) contacting the concentration agent with the sample such that at least a portion of the concentration agent is dispersed in the sample and at least a portion of the at least one microorganism strain is bound to or captured by the concentration agent.
US09145533B2
The present disclosure relates generally to processes for concentrating omega-3 fatty acids from a fatty acid oil mixture with an aqueous silver salt, such as an aqueous AgNO3 solution.
US09145529B2
This invention provides processes to convert biomass into energy-dense biomass for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing energy-dense biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising extracting the feedstock with steam and/or hot water to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; separating the extract liquor, to produce dewatered cellulose-rich solids; hydrolyzing the dewatered cellulose-rich solids, thereby removing a portion of the cellulose, to produce intermediate solids (with higher energy density) and a hydrolysate; drying the intermediate solids to produce energy-dense biomass; and optionally recovering fermentable sugars from the hydrolysate. The energy-dense biomass may be pelletized into biomass pellets, which may have a similar energy density as torrefied pellets from wood. The hemicellulosic oligomers may be further hydrolyzed to produce additional fermentable sugars. The fermentable sugars may be fermented to ethanol or another product.
US09145525B2
A process and method for producing liquid fuel product from hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing streams produced by gasifying solid carbonaceous feedstock and steam reforming of light fossil fuels. The gasifier syngas is treated to preferentially remove at least 99% of sulfur containing impurities and less than 50% of the CO2 to produce a treated gasifier syngas and a CO2 enriched gas. The treated gasifier syngas and the light fossil fuel conversion unit product gas are combined to form a mixed syngas that is converted into a liquid fuel product. The CO2 enriched gas is used in the gasification unit.
US09145519B2
A crosslinkable aromatic polyester that is formed by polymerizing certain precursor monomers in the presence of a biaromatic crosslinking agent is provided. The crosslinkable aromatic polyester can have a relatively high melting temperature. For example, the melting temperature of the crosslinkable polyester may be from about 200° C. to about 370° C. While having a relatively high melting temperature, the crosslinkable polyester can maintain a relatively low melt viscosity so that it can be readily removed from the polymerization reactor without solidifying therein.
US09145518B2
Finely divided solids are highly suitable for use as stabilizers for pyrocarbonic acid diesters, it being possible to use the mixtures obtained in this manner for preserving industrial materials and foodstuff.
US09145507B2
A composition including 2,4,4,4-10-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene, and also the use thereof in particular as a heat transfer fluid. The composition may include: from 1% to 99% of 2,4,4,4-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and from 1% to 99% of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene; preferably from 5% to 70% of 2,4,4,4-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and from 30% to 95% of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene; preferably from 20% to 65% of 2,4,4,4-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and from 35% to 80% of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene; preferably from 25% to 60% of 2,4,4,4-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and from 40% to 75% of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene; preferably from 28% to 51% of 2,4,4,4-tetrafluorobut-1-ene and from 49% to 72% of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene.
US09145502B2
Aqueous ink jet ink compositions can be used for ink jet printing colored or invisible images on receiver elements. These compositions contain a polymeric agent comprising core-shell polymeric particles. The core of the particles comprises a hydrophobic polymer having an acid number less than 10. The shell of the particles comprises a hydrophilic polymer having an acid number of at least 70. The weight ratio of the core to the shell is at least 50:50 and up to and including 90:10. Such compositions can be used in various ink jet printing systems including drop on demand and continuous ink jet printing systems.
US09145501B2
The invention relates to composition comprising at least one modified alkyd binder, selected from a (meth)acrylate modified alkyd binder and a vinyl modified alkyd binder, wherein the (meth)acrylate modified alkyd and the vinyl modified alkyd binder comprise at least one —C(R100)=CH2 group, wherein R100 is hydrogen or methyl; and at least one metal complex comprising a metal or a metal salt of an organic acid or inorganic anion and at least one ligand, wherein the metal is selected from Fe and Mn, and wherein said at least one ligand is a nitrogen donor ligand, selected from the group comprising monodentate, bidentate, tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate and hexadentate nitrogen donor ligands.
US09145496B2
The invention relates to a composite product. According to the invention, the composite product contains a polymer based material and an organic natural fiber material, and the organic natural fiber material has a form, and the form of fibers of the organic natural fiber material is a flake, and the organic natural fiber material in the form of the flakes has been mixed with the polymer based material. Further, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite product, a material component, a use of a composite product and a final product.
US09145490B2
The present invention relates to flame-retardant polycarbonate compositions and methods for increasing the flame-retardancy of polycarbonate compositions. An α,ω-alkoxy phenyl phenyloligosiloxane compound and an alkali metal sulfonate salt are added to the polycarbonate compositions. The addition of the α,ω-alkoxy phenyl phenyloligosiloxane compound and the alkali metal sulfonate salt produces a polycarbonate composition having a flame-retardance rating of UL 94V-0 at 2 mm thickness or less.
US09145488B2
Certain aluminum salts of organic phosphorus acids are found to have a strong effect on inhibiting the epoxy cure rate in epoxy formulations. The substances act catalytically and can be used at a low level in an epoxy formulation to adjust the reactivity of a resin formulation to give longer gel times. Compositions and methods of preparing and using the compositions are disclosed.
US09145479B2
The systems and methods described herein relate to providing mattresses with foam that is odor-free. Unpleasant odors can be reduced in foam members by including a source of cyclodextrin during the manufacture of foam. Instead of masking odors with fragrances, the systems and methods described herein reduce odors with the aid of, among other things, a cyclodextrin-water solution. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing an odor-free foam for use in a mattress is provided. The method includes solubilizing cyclodextrin in water to form a cyclodextrin solution, and adding the cyclodextrin solution to a reacting mixture of a polyol and a isocyanate to form an odor-free or reduced-odor foam.
US09145477B2
Prepare a thermoplastic polymer foam having a porosity of 70% or more and at least one of: (i) an average cell size of 200 nanometers or less; and (ii) a nucleation density of at least 1×1015 effective nucleation sites per cubic centimeter of foamable polymer composition not including blowing agent using a foamable polymer composition containing a thermoplastic polymer selected from styrenic polymer and (meth)acrylic polymers, a blowing agent comprising at least 20 mole-percent carbon dioxide based on moles of blowing agent and an additive having a Total Hansen Solubility Parameter that differs from that of carbon dioxide by less than 2 and that is present at a concentration of 0.01 to 1.5 weight parts per hundred weight parts thermoplastic polymer.
US09145468B2
A bulk heterojunction-type organic photovoltaic cell, i.e., BHJ solar cell, has a photoelectric conversion layer containing a mixture of a donor domain and an acceptor domain. The donor domain contains a polymer as a donor (photoelectric conversion material), and the polymer is obtained by reaction of a polyphenylene having a structural unit selected from moieties represented by the following general formulae (1) to (3). For example, the acceptor domain contains phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an acceptor. R1 to R8 in the general formulae (1) to (3) independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group.
US09145467B2
A composition comprises an oligomer synthesized from a multifunctional monomer, a diol, and an amino acid synthesized by reacting (i) a multifunctional monomer comprising citric acid or triethyl citrate with (ii) a diol to form a reaction product, and further reacting the reaction product with (iii) an amino acid. Examples of the diol include 1,8-octanediol, ethylene glycol, and poly(ethylene glycol). Examples of the amino acid include cysteine and serine. Further, the amino acid is linked as a side group to the oligomer backbone.
US09145462B2
The present disclosure is generally related to antibodies that bind specifically to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions comprising human single chain or full-length antibodies that bind tumor cells. Additionally the present disclosure provides methods of using the anti-GBM antibodies.
US09145461B2
The present invention provides antibodies which bind to an epitope in the extracellular domain of human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and which are capable of inhibiting the binding of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and/or thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) to CCR4. Also provided are inter alia immunoconjugates and compositions comprising such antibodies and methods and uses involving such antibodies, particularly in the medical and diagnostic fields.
US09145460B2
An isolated polypeptide is provided. The polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a human scavenger receptor, wherein the antigen recognition domain comprises at least three CDR amino acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31. Also provided are compositions which comprise the peptide and uses of same.
US09145444B2
The invention relates to compounds and methods useful in detection and therapy of HPV-associated diseases. The invention is based on the elucidation of a mechanism by which replication of HPVs occurs in naturally infected tissues and cells. Moreover it is based on the identification of distinct epigenetic changes of the viral genome in infected cells that allows promotion of the affected cells to precancerous and cancerous cells. The invention therefore provides methods of diagnosing neoplasias and their precursor lesions as well as methods of preventing the development of malignancies or inhibiting tumor growth.
US09145442B2
Disclosed is a Fusarium strain producing novel cyclic pentadepsipeptides which are of excellent multidrug resistance-reversing activity and inhibitory activity against cancer cells. Also, novel cyclic pentadepsipeptides are provided as active ingredients of the compositions useful in the treatment of cancer and diseases associated with multidrug resistance.
US09145440B2
Novel methods of native chemical ligation are provided. The methods involve reacting a thioacid (e.g. a peptide thioacid) with an aziridinyl compound (e.g. an aziridinyl peptide) or glycosylamine under mild conditions without the use of protecting groups, and without requiring that a cysteine residue be present in the ligation product. Initial coupling of the thioacid and the aziridinyl compound yields a ligation product containing an aziridinyl ring. Optional subsequent opening of the aziridinyl ring (e.g. via a nucleophilic attack) produces a linearized and modified ligation product. Coupling of a peptide thioacid and glycosylamine yields a glycosylated peptide.
US09145437B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09145436B2
The invention provides novel compounds and compositions and methods for making and using the compounds and compositions.
US09145426B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides certain iminothiadiazine dioxide compounds, including compounds Formula (I): and tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds, said tautomeros and said stereoisomers, wherein each of W, Z, R1H, R2, R3, R4, ring A, ring B, m, n, p, and -L1- is as defined herein. The novel compounds of the invention have surprisingly been found to exhibit properties which are expected to render them advantageous as BACE inhibitors and/or for the treatment and prevention of various pathologies related thereto. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use, including Alzheimer's disease, are also disclosed.
US09145424B2
The present invention relates to the identification of compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The invention also provides methods of preparing the provided compounds.
US09145414B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof which has a Syk inhibitory effect (in the formula R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl group; A represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-C8 alkyl group, an optionally substituted C2-C6 alkenyl group, an optionally substituted C2-C6 alkynyl group, an optionally substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl group, an optionally substituted C6-C14 aromatic hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted 4- to 10-membered unsaturated heterocyclic group, or an optionally substituted 4- to 10-membered saturated heterocyclic group, or optionally forms a 4- to 10-membered unsaturated heterocyclic ring or a 4- to 10-membered saturated heterocyclic ring together with R1 and the nitrogen atom bonded thereto; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and B represents an optionally substituted unsaturated heterocyclic group).
US09145406B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparation of Dasatinib monohydrate Formula A, comprising the steps of: a) reacting the compound of Formula I with 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine (Formula II) in the presence of acetonitrile solvent, an organic base and a phase transfer catalyst; b) heating the reaction mixture at 50-80° C.; c) adding water to the reaction mass obtained in step b); d) cooling the reaction mixture to a temperature below 35° C.; e) filtering and drying the material obtained in step d); f) optionally purifying the product obtained from step e); g) isolating the crystalline Dasatinib monohydrate.
US09145393B2
Disclosed herein are arylpyridinone compounds and compositions useful in the treatment of ITK mediated diseases, such as inflammation, having the structure of Formula (I): wherein Ar, R2, R4, R5, n and X are as defined in the detailed description. Methods of inhibition of ITK activity in a human or animal subject are also provided.
US09145392B2
The invention provides novel imidazole amine compounds according to Formula (I) and Formula (II) their manufacture and use for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer.
US09145383B2
The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to molecules, including conjugated fused polycyclic molecules, that may receive excited state energy from other molecules (e.g., light-absorbing molecules) or directly from the irradiation sources. According to some embodiments, the disclosure relates to molecules, including conjugated fused polycyclic molecules, that may resolve (e.g., quench, dissipate) excited state energy, normally by way of releasing it as heat. (e.g., as heat). Conjugated fused polycyclic molecules of various structures are disclosed including Formula III: The disclosure further relates to methods of use and/or therapy using molecules of Formulas I, II, and/or III.
US09145382B2
The present invention provides an organic compound represented by the following general formula [1], the organic compound having high solubility in a polar solvent used in an EC device, high transparency in the bleached state and high stability against repetition of an oxidation-reduction reaction.
US09145367B2
The present invention relates to compound Formula (I) wherein: Formula (II) means a pyridazine, a pyrimidine or a pyrazine group, R independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a group chosen among a CN group, a hydroxyl group, a COOR1 group, a (C1-C3)fluoroalkyl group, a (C1-C3)fluoroalkoxy group, a NO2 group, a NR1R2 group, a (C1-C4)alkoxy group, a phenoxy group and a (C1-C3)alkyl group, said alkyl being optionally mono-substituted by a hydroxyl group, n is 1, 2 or 3, n is 1 or 2, R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a group chosen among a (C1-C3)alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, a COOR1 group, a NO2 group, a NR1R2 group, a morpholinyl or a morpholino group, a N-methylpiperazinyl group, a (C1-C3)fluoroalkyl group, a (C1-C4)alkoxy group and a CN group, Z is N or C, Y is N or C, X is N or C, W is N or C, T is N or C, U is N or C, for use as an agent for preventing, inhibiting or treating AIDS. Some of said compounds are new and also form part of the invention.
US09145359B2
A method is disclosed for the production of taurine in high yield by a cyclic process of reacting monoethanolamine, sulfuric acid, and ammonium sulfite in the presence of additives to inhibit the hydrolysis of 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate intermediate. The cyclic process is economical and little waste is generated.
US09145356B2
A compound of formula (I) wherein Rf is —CF3, —C2F5, or —CF2CFXCF3; X is —F, or —OC3F7; Y is —H, —Cl, or —Br; R is —OH, —(OCH2CH2)mOH, —(CH2)n(OCH2CH2)mOH, —O—C(O)—R1, —(CH2)nO—C(O)R1, —(OCH2CH2)mOC(O)—R1, —C(O)NHw(CH2CH2OH)2-w, —C≡N, —C≡CH; n is 1 to 10; m is 1 to 10; R1 is C1 to C10 alkyl; a is 1 to 5; b is 1 to 5; and w is 0, 1 or 2.
US09145351B2
An azole derivative according to the invention is represented by Formula (XI) wherein R1 denotes a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C6 alkenyl group or a C2-C6 alkynyl group; R2 denotes a C1-C4 alkyl group; each Y denotes a halogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 haloalkyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a C1-C4 haloalkoxy group, a phenyl group, a cyano group or a nitro group; and m denotes 0 to 5; when m is 2 or more, each Y may be the same or different. As a result, an azole derivative contained as an active ingredient in an agro-horticultural agent having an excellent controlling effect on diseases can be provided.
US09145348B2
An efficient process is disclosed for producing the compound of formula I, which is the CETP inhibitor anacetrapib, which raises HDL-cholesterol and reduces LDL-cholesterol in human patients and may be effective for treating or reducing the risk of developing atherosclerosis:
US09145331B2
A crystallizable glass composition containing, in % by mole in glass component composition, 40 to 70% SiO2, 5 to 35% MgO, 5 to 35% BaO, 5 to 35% ZnO, 0 to 20% CaO, 0 to 20% SrO, 0 to 5% B2O3, 0 to 2% Al2O3, and 0 to 30% La2O3+Y2O3+Gd2O3+Nb2O5+Ta2O5. Provided is a crystallizable glass composition which has fluidity suitable for bonding, has a high coefficient of thermal expansion after undergoing thermal treatment, is less likely to degrade the power generation property of the fuel cell owing to evaporation of glass components even when exposed to high temperatures for a long period, and has excellent thermal resistance after bonding.
US09145322B2
An improved system and method is disclosed for providing cooling air to mating mold halves during the entire cycle and an additional degree of cooling during the portion of the cycle when hot glass material is enclosed within mating mold halves. Countercurrent cooling air flows are established in separate arrays of cooling passages located in each mold half, with one of the cooling air flows being capable of actively cooling the mold halves over the full cycle rather than only when the mold halves are in their closed position. The cooling air flowing in the separate arrays of cooling passages allows separate timing and control of the cooling air flows supplied to the arrays of cooling passages in the molds.
US09145321B2
The manufacturing device comprises at least one mold (9) and a punch (20) displaceable between a passive position outside said at least one mold (9) and an active position inside said at least one mold (9). The punch (20) includes at least one marking portion (25) provided with at least one raised and/or recessed pattern (26) and radially displaceable by actuation means (30) into the active position of the punch (20), between a retracted position and a protruding position applied against the internal face (8) of the side wall (6) for imprinting on this internal face (8) said at least one raised and/or recessed pattern.
US09145317B2
This invention refers to a single household waste water treatment plant, based on the SBR principle that uses two tanks, one storage tank (1) and one SBR (2), allowing the significant reduction of size, and in consequence, a low consumption of power, as well as the reduction of transportation volume when several units are transferred, wherein said storage tank (1) and said SBR (2) consist of one truncated cone shape external tank and one internal tank, also with truncated cone shape, wherein the internal tank has lower diameters than the external tank, wherein bases of both tanks are concentric, upon which both tanks generate two volumes, an internal volume that corresponds to the SBR (2), and one external volumetric ring, that will correspond to the storage tank (1); wherein the SBR has in its aeration zone duct (7) supported on legs (12), wherein such duct (7) consists of a truncated cone shaped base (13), in which upper part protrudes a cylinder (14), that will extend to the minimum level and that contains some devices inside that help breaking coalescence of air bubbles, and also print a rotational direction to the upward flow inducing to a higher oxygen capturing rate conducted by biology reducing thus power consumption. On the other hand, on the bottom part of the tank, the lower shape of the duct facilitates the suspension of solids as the downward flow is directed to tank edges as a result of the addressing induced by the lower cone of the duct, which also contributes to reduce the power spent in aeration for mixing purposes (21).
US09145307B2
A water resource treating device includes an inner tube having a wind inlet section, a front low-pressure section, and a buffering section in series. The front low-pressure section has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the buffering section. An outer tube is mounted around the inner tube. A flash space is defined between the inner and outer tubes. The outer tube includes a water filling hole and a draining hole both of which is in communication with the flash space. A condensing tank is mounted in the flash space and surrounds the front low-pressure section. The condensing tank is connected to the flash space by a water inlet tube. A water outlet tube is connected to the condensing tank for draining purified water in the condensing tank. A regulator is mounted in the front low-pressure section and controls communication between the inner tube and the condensing tank.
US09145302B2
Disclosed are methods for preparing pure graphene using chemical bonding between graphite oxide and metal oxide nanoparticles, and graphene and nanoparticles having a quasi metal oxide-graphene core-shell prepared therefrom. The disclosed methods for preparing graphene allow chemical bonding and separation through a simple acid treatment process using inexpensive materials. Also, because the reaction can be carried out at low temperature, the processing cost is low. And, pure graphene with few impurities can be prepared quickly in large scale.
US09145300B1
The present invention provides an integrated process for producing a fermentation product from fossil carbon and hydrogen present in a purge gas stream resulting from a hydrogen production process. According to the invention, a purge gas stream obtained from a hydrogen production process is fermented with microorganisms in one or more bioreactors to produce the fermentation product. A fermentation exhaust gas stream from the one or more bioreactors comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or methane is then obtained and heat is generated therefrom to provide energy for a reforming unit that forms part of the hydrogen production process.
US09145296B2
A method is disclosed for storing and releasing hydrogen from a mass of transition metal borohydride particles, or a mass of mixed, transition metal and alkali metal-containing, borohydride particles where hydrogen is to be released by heating the mass of particles upon a demand for hydrogen in a hydrogen-using application. Particles of a metal hydride are mixed with the metal borohydride particles to form a mass of hydrogen storage particles. The composition and amount of the metal hydride mixed into the hydrogen storage particles serves to react with boron from the borohydride particles to form a metal boride and to suppress release of diborane as hydrogen is released from the heated metal borohydride particles.
US09145293B2
A micro-electro-mechanical system based focusing device and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The system includes: a deformable lens, multiple groups of conductive deformable crossbeams and conductive structs; and one or more fixed parts. In each group, each conductive deformable crossbeam corresponds to a conductive struct. The conductive deformable crossbeams and the conductive structs are arranged around the deformable lens and spaced from each other. The conductive deformable crossbeams are suspended in the air, their inner edges are connected with an external edge of the deformable lens and their external edges are connected with the fixed parts. The conductive structs are fixedly connected with the fixed parts and remain stationary. Electrostatic force between the conductive deformable crossbeam and the conductive struct causes the deformable lens to be stretched and rotate, thus, surface curvature and focal length are changed. The device has a small size, low power consumption and low manufacturing cost.
US09145292B2
Embodiments relate to MEMS devices, particularly MEMS devices integrated with related electrical devices on a single wafer. Embodiments utilize a modular process flow concept as part of a MEMS-first approach, enabling use of a novel cavity sealing process. The impact and potential detrimental effects on the electrical devices by the MEMS processing are thereby reduced or eliminated. At the same time, a highly flexible solution is provided that enables implementation of a variety of measurement principles, including capacitive and piezoresistive. A variety of sensor applications can therefore be addressed with improved performance and quality while remaining cost-effective.
US09145291B2
A container capable of dispensing a quantity of contents less than or equal to a set value. The container includes a main body portion, a pressurizing portion and an outflow channel, wherein the main body portion includes a space for holding the contents and a space for gas, the pressurizing portion increases the gas pressure in the space for gas, and the outflow channel communicates with the space for holding the contents to allow the outflow of the contents; it also includes a moving component in the outflow channel movable with the contents to be taken out, and a gas channel outlet moving with said moving component; on the movement track of the gas channel outlet there is an opening communicating with ambient air and in communication with the gas channel outlet; the other end of the gas channel opens in the space for gas in the main body portion.
US09145290B2
A method of using a refrigerator with a beverage dispensing system is provided. A refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet and a beverage dispenser is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, receiving an indicia from a user to dispense a beverage received through a fluid line and fluid enhancement received through a fluid enhancement line, dispensing the beverage, and circulating a cleaning fluid through the fluid line or the fluid enhancement line for cleaning after dispensing.
US09145286B2
The invention relates to a method for operating an autonomous industrial truck (1), having the following method steps: determining, by means of a measuring apparatus (6) of the autonomous industrial truck (1), whether the industrial truck potentially hits at least one obstacle (7) on the basis of the present movement of said industrial truck (1), determining that point (14) of the industrial truck (1), and determining a maximum velocity for the present movement of the industrial truck (1) on the basis of the determined distance (d), with the result that the industrial truck reliably comes to a standstill in front of the obstacle (7) on the basis of possible braking of the industrial truck (1).
US09145282B2
The invention relates to a friction brake (1), in particular for elevators, comprising at least two pivotally mounted brake levers (2), which each have a brake lining (6) and are arranged opposite each other in the form of a brake caliper. An actuator (5) is provided for actuating the friction brake (1). In order to avoid uneven loading of the opposing brake levers (2), the actuator (5) is designed in such a way that the force (FA) exerted by the actuator (5) acts substantially perpendicularly to a brake application force (FZ) exerted by the brake levers (5). Furthermore, a spreading mechanism (9, 26) is provided, by means of which the brake application force (FZ) can be regulated by the force (FA) exerted by the actuator.
US09145281B1
A skyline transfer apparatus is disclosed herein having in one embodiment a carriage. The carriage in one form comprising: at least one carriage side-plate; a plurality of skyline riding sheaves rotatably attached at near and outbound end of the carriage side-plate(s). The skyline riding sheaves ride upon a tensioned skyline during operation of the carriage. A mainline attachment point is provided at the outbound end of the carriage side-plate(s). A haul-back line attachment point is provided at the near end of the carriage side-plate(s); and a drop line extends below the carriage to support a load. A jack is also disclosed, pivotably attached to an intermediate spar. The intermediate spar supports the jack above a ground surface between a main yarder and a strongpoint. The jack comprises at least one side-plate(s) with at least one skyline supporting sheave rotatably attached to the side-plate(s).
US09145274B2
A sheet storage cassette includes a cassette base, a sheet stacking plate, a lift portion, and a pair of width adjustment cursors. At least one of the width adjustment cursors has an opposing surface facing a side edge of sheets, an opening formed in the opposing surface, a restriction member, a swing support shaft, and a first biasing member. The restriction member has an arm portion, a restriction portion selectively located at a first position where the restriction portion is retracted in an inner side of the opposing surface and a second position where the restriction portion projects from the opening, and a pressed portion extending to face an under surface of the sheet stacking plate. The swing support shaft swingably supports the arm portion of the restriction member. The first biasing member biases the restriction member in a direction of the second position.
US09145273B2
Some example vehicle restraints that include a movable barrier for selectively blocking a vehicle's RIG (Rear Impact Guard) near the dock face of a loading dock also include a spring loaded brace that helps hold the barrier in its blocking position, even when the RIG separates from the barrier. To hold the brace in its activated position where it supports the barrier, some examples of the brace include a tooth that engages a detent in a catch. The catch, in some examples, includes a tooth-engaging surface that protrudes into a circular path along which the tooth can travel relative to the barrier.
US09145267B2
A transfer device equipped with a rotating body having multiple workpiece holding units that support a holding surface holding a continuous sheet member through suction that faces outward in the radial direction of the rotation body. Between adjacent workpiece holding units, arranged in the direction of rotation, the device is equipped with bed knives that produce single sheets by sandwiching and cutting the continuous sheet member in combination with a cutter member arranged to face the outer surface of the rotation body. The workpiece holding units pivot to follow the radial direction of rotation of the rotation body and modify the long direction face of the single sheets when the rotation of the rotation body takes the workpiece holding units past the position where the cutter member is arranged. At this time, the workpiece holding units are arranged so that part of the workpiece holding units passes over a bed knife.
US09145265B2
The invention relates to a control unit for an egg conveyor belt, comprising a conveyor belt drive mechanically coupled with the conveyor belt and designed to drive the egg conveyor belt at one of at least two different speeds and an image recording unit to record an image section of the conveyor belt. An evaluation unit is coupled by means of signal technology to the image recording unit. A counting unit is designed to count all eggs detected in one image recording of the image recording unit on the image segment of the conveyor belt as stocking density, which is coupled by means of signal technology to an evaluation unit and to the conveyor belt drive, whereby the speed of the conveyor belt drive in dependence of the stocking density is controlled.
US09145258B2
A belt positioning system for positioning a movable belt entrained about a plurality of generally parallel rollers for moving in a trans-axial direction perpendicular to an axial direction in which the rollers extend parallel to each other includes a flange. The flange is operatively connected to an axial end of a specific one of the plurality of generally parallel rollers to define a contact surface therealong which extends generally perpendicular to the axial direction to contact an adjoining edge of the belt. The contact surface of the flange is spaced apart from the axial end of the roller in the axial direction.
US09145257B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for supporting a flat belt member. The apparatus includes a drum member rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising an outer support surface that generally increases in diameter from a first end region to a central region and decreases in diameter from the central region to a further end region. The central region includes a groove in the support surface which extends circumferentially around the drum member. A ring member is located in the groove.
US09145252B2
An ejecting device includes a supporting plate and a balloon member. The supporting plate includes a top surface. The balloon member is fixed on the top surface and includes a main portion and a number of ejecting portions. The main portion is configured for receiving fluid. The ejecting portions are positioned on the main portion. When the main portion is full filled with the fluid, each ejecting portion protrudes from the main portion.
US09145250B2
A protective enclosure for an electronic device such as a laptop computer or tablet computer that comprises a shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the electronic device. The shell is substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant. The inside of the shell has a hook and loop liner with shock absorbing corner bumpers having hook and loop type bases so that the bumpers may attach at any point on the liner inside the shell to accommodate electronic devices of various sizes and to secure the device inside the enclosure in a shock absorbent suspended manner. The shell may further comprise a USB connector hub for connection to the USB port of a laptop computer or PC tablet enclosed in the protective shell.
US09145247B2
Techniques for providing cost effective and tamper evident prepaid card packaging are described. By containing a relatively wide glued area by gluing two relatively tin side panels together, the resulting package is highly resistant to being slit open on an edge without the effort to open the package being highly evident. A foldover magnetic stripe panel provides additional thickness to a portion of the package typically read by a magnetic strip reader while allowing very thin side panels.
US09145245B1
A lotion saving device that includes a plurality of hollow threaded members, each of said hollow threaded members having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, a plurality of first threads disposed interiorly upon the first threaded portion and a plurality of second threads disposed interiorly upon the second threaded portion, the plurality of second threads disposed enantiomorphically with respect to the plurality of first threads, wherein an extant first lotion container is rotatably attachable to the first threaded portion and an extant second lotion container is rotatably attachable to the second threaded portion, said first lotion container thereby elevated and inverted relative said second lotion container, whereby lotion drains from the first lotion container and is collectable in the second lotion container.
US09145241B2
The present application is directed to closure assemblies, and particularly closure assemblies for closing an opening in a vessel. In particular embodiments, the closure assemblies described herein can have a first ring having a top surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises threading, wherein the first ring comprises a first flange having a top surface extending radially inward from the inner surface of the first ring a distance of FL, and wherein the top surface of the first flange is spaced apart from the top surface of the first ring by a distance FH, and wherein a ratio of FH:FL is greater than 1.
US09145235B1
A television pocket decorator including a wire frame and a covering which engages the wire frame. The wire frame is removably attached over the upper edge of a flat-screen television monitor and the covering includes a number of pockets. An individual can place a number of pictures in the pockets. The covering can also include decorations and a message, which may be a family name or a holiday greeting.
US09145232B2
A fiber or plastic based package includes: an interface adapted to attach and connect, in a detachable manner, a module to a fiber or plastic based package, the module including a wireless transmitter, and the interface including conductors for transferring package data from the fiber or plastic based package to the module. A module, system and software are also implemented in connection with the fiber or plastic based package. A smart package, its management and various applications thereof are provided.
US09145217B2
A filling device includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a dosing cylinder having a high-viscosity material arranged therein. The second component includes a workpiece carrier and a receiving carrier. The receiving carrier is moveably connected to the workpiece carrier. The movement v of the receiving carrier during the filling process is determined by both the dynamic pressure exerted by the material and by a counterforce G generated by a unit having a pressurized fluid.
US09145216B2
A spacecraft propulsion system has at least one chemical thruster, at least one electric thruster, a propellant supply arrangement that stores a propellant and a propellant conditioning arrangement configured to convert propellant into chemical species in a thermodynamic phase that can be readily ionized. The propellant is commonly supplied from the propellant storage device to each of the chemical thruster and the electric thruster. The chemical thruster has a gas generator and a high thrust accelerator; the electric thruster has a plasma generator and a high specific impulse accelerator. The propellant supply arrangement is configured to control flow of the propellant from the propellant supply arrangement to the gas generator and the propellant conditioning arrangement, and a first flow path connects propellant supply arrangement with the gas generator, and a second flow path connects propellant supply arrangement with the plasma generator.
US09145213B2
A gas turbine engine is disclosed which is capable of being reconfigured for one operating mode to another. A display is provided that permits a pilot or other operator to select between engine modes. One aspect is the ability to provide variable cooling that can be controlled by various devices. The variable cooling features can be used with devices such as cooled turbine components like vanes and/or blades. Devices can be used to reconfigure the performance and/or operability of a gas turbine engine.
US09145212B1
The present disclosure provides a parachute control system for an aircraft which comprises a sensor device, a first control device, a second control device and a drive device. The sensor device is configured for sensing flight states of the aircraft, for converting the flight states to a sensor signal, and for transmitting the sensor signal to the first control device. The first control device is electrically connected to the sensor device for receiving the sensor signal, and is configured for judging whether the aircraft is in a normal flight state based on the sensor signal. If the aircraft is in an abnormal flight state, the first control device is configured to control the parachute to open and to terminate the operation of the aircraft. The present disclosure also provides a parachute control method for an aircraft. The disclosed parachute control system and method automatically control the parachute to open and terminate the operation of the aircraft when the aircraft is in an abnormal flight state, ensuring that the aircraft may descend at a slow pace when the aircraft encounters any operation issues and preventing any damage or loss of the aircraft.
US09145210B2
An aircraft cooling system includes a first coolant stream which cools at least one first heat load and a second coolant stream which cools at least one second heat load. The aircraft cooling system is formed such that the first heat load and the second heat load are thermally coupled together. The first heat load and the second heat load can be formed by two mutually redundant aircraft components. A third coolant stream thermally couples the first heat load and the second heat load together. The third coolant stream can be cooled by a heat sink, such as the outer skin of the aircraft in a bilge region.
US09145208B2
A modular integrated galley in a passenger vehicle, including a mounting rack in the form of a vertical wall including upper, middle and lower storage areas, at least one storage slot extending laterally between the middle and lower storage areas for storing a work surface therein, and a latch for ejecting the work surface at least partially from the slot into a position for being further extended into a fully deployed position by a user. An elongate hinge that extends vertically along a mounted edge of the doors and is adapted for allowing the door to move 180 degrees of travel between its closed and open positions is also disclosed.
US09145204B2
A simple device for blocking and unblocking the locking member of an undercarriage having a breaker strut and including an unlocking device. The device comprises a rotary actuator of axis parallel to the hinge axis of the links of the stabilizing member; a crank connected to a shaft of the actuator; a pawl hinged to the end of the crank and including a step; a pin secured to and at a distance from one of the links of the stabilizing member; and return means for urging the pawl towards the pin. The actuator is actuatable between a first angular position in which the pin is in contact with the pawl facing the step while the links are substantially in alignment, and a second angular position that the crank reaches when the step of the pawl has pushed back the pin, taking the links of the stabilizer member out of alignment.
US09145202B2
A method of operating an aircraft system includes receiving flight information and trajectory intent information other than current values by an engine control system associated with an engine of the aircraft system from a flight control system associated with the aircraft system; and operating an engine associated with the engine control system using the received non-current information. An aircraft includes an engine positioned on the aircraft; a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC) communicatively coupled to the engine; and a flight control system positioned on the aircraft and communicatively coupled to the FADEC, the flight control system configured to transmit other than current values of flight information and trajectory intent information to the FADEC and to receive other than current values of at least one of engine health and parameters used to estimate engine health from at least one of the FADEC and a separate flight control center positioned offboard the aircraft.
US09145185B1
A bicycle frame includes front and rear parts, which are pivotally connected to each other by upper and bottom links, and a shock absorber. The bicycle frame is designed so that compression in the shock absorber isolates the bicycle rider from track noise. Additionally, energy loss caused by the shock absorber compression during positive acceleration is reduced.
US09145181B2
A wall-mounted bicycle rack comprising a rod-like element with a wall fixing plate, inserted in a bicycle supporting arm, in the direction of the length of the latter, the bicycle supporting arm being orientable by rotation about the main axis of the rod-like element, means being further provided for the reversible locking of the angular configuration of the bicycle supporting arm with respect to the rod-like element.
US09145178B2
A fifth-wheel hitch assembly is provided that converts a gooseneck hitch installed on a vehicle into a fifth-wheel hitch for receiving a kingpin. The hitch assembly generally includes a base assembly, a T-arm assembly for securing the gooseneck ball or gooseneck post of the installed gooseneck hitch, and a hitch head. The T-arm assembly includes a mechanism for pulling up on the gooseneck hitch, thus securing the base assembly against the vehicle bed.
US09145162B2
A collapsible steering column assembly for a vehicle comprises a shroud which surrounds a steering column shaft, a mounting bracket secured to or integral with a fixed part of the vehicle, a support bracket secured to the mounting bracket through one or more frangible connectors, a clamp mechanism which releasably secures the shroud to the support bracket, and a blocking part which is fixed in position relative to the mounting and at least in an unclamped condition of the clamp mechanism provides an additional force path between the clamp mechanism and the mounting bracket that does not pass through the support bracket. In the event that an axial load is applied to the steering assembly when the clamp mechanism is unlocked and has reached the end of its allowable travel at least some of the load is carried through the clamp mechanism and the blocking part to the mounting bracket along the additional force path.
US09145154B1
A folding wagon having a basket within which to carry articles and/or small children and a collapsible frame to enable the wagon to be folded between an expanded open configuration at which the basket is outstretched and a compact closed configuration at which the basket is collapsed. The wagon also has pairs of front and rear wheels that are spaced outwardly from the front and rear of the wagon so as to lie ahead of and behind the basket. A handle is connected to the top of the basket at the front of the wagon. When the wagon is folded to its compact closed configuration, the pairs of front and rear wheels are positioned in axial alignment to facilitate transport and/or storage. With the wagon folded, the axially-aligned pairs of wheels and the handle form a stand for supporting the wagon in an upright position.
US09145153B2
Methods, systems and computer program products estimate a departure time for a transportation user using a mobile device. A range of departure times, a user location and/or travel time to a station, and a transportation route can be received. Real-time location information for a plurality of transportation units on the transportation route can be received. One or more estimated departure times within the range of departure times can be calculated based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time location information of the plurality of transportation units for the transportation route.
US09145129B2
Data is collected related to motion of a vehicle. Based on the collected data, it may be determined that a threshold associated with motion sickness is exceeded. An adjustment for a component in the vehicle may be adjusted based at least in part on the collected data.
US09145123B2
Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, operation of a driveline disconnect clutch is based on temperature conditions of a catalyst. The driveline disconnect clutch may not be opened if catalyst temperature is greater than a threshold temperature so that the catalyst may be cooled.
US09145115B2
Disclosed is a vehicle control apparatus which can prevent the deterioration of drivability. The ECU can set a control accelerator opening degree to be converted when a control permission condition is established. The control accelerator opening degree is equal to or larger than an accelerator lower limit which is larger than an idle determination value for determining an automatic stopping of an engine by an eco-run. The control accelerator opening degree thus set can prevent the drivability from being deteriorated without the automatic stopping of the engine being caused even if the accelerator opening degree is converted to reduce the torque of the engine with the establishment of the control permission condition.
US09145108B2
Disclosed is a pretensioner for an occupant restraint. The pretensioner is designed to be used in conjunction with an inertial reel that locks the occupant restraint when detecting an adverse event. The pretensioner acts to remove slack in the webbing of the restraint and thereby safely secure the occupant once the reel is locked. The pretensioner described herein includes a rack that is initially held in place by a shear pin. Upon being activated, the rack is forced to a fully extended orientation, whereby the shear pin is severed. A deceleration ramp in included beneath the rack to slowly bring the rack to a stop at the end of the stroke.
US09145106B2
In a webbing-winding device, a tension acting on a webbing is smaller when a pretensioner-mechanism is actuated than when a force-limiter mechanism is actuated, thus, projection dimensions of a first claw and a second claw can be made smaller than projection dimensions of second contact portions. A total of contact areas of first contact portions and the second contact portions with a body portion is larger than a total of contact areas of the first claw and the second claw with the body portion. Accordingly, the first claw and the second claw are caused to insert through an insertion hole from the lower side of a stay to attach. Since the projection dimensions can be made smaller, an amount of deflection of the protector can be made smaller. Therefore, the protector can be held on the stay reliably to allow the protector to be attached to the stay easily.
US09145105B2
A seatbelt buckle structure having: a buckle portion which a tongue plate, through which a seatbelt is inserted, is reattachable; a hollow boot portion; at whose distal end portion the buckle portion is installed; and that supports the buckle portion in an erect state by rigidity of the boot portion; a webbing portion provided at an interior of the boot portion; that connects a vehicle body and the buckle portion; that makes movement, in a vehicle vertical direction, of the boot portion possible; and that, when external force from above is inputted to the buckle portion, moves the boot portion and the buckle portion downward in the vehicle vertical direction; and an elastic member that is provided at the interior of the boot portion; that connects the boot and webbing portions; and at which elastic energy accumulates when external force from above is inputted to the buckle and boot portions.
US09145103B2
An airbag is housed in a housing area in the shape of a folded-up body which is obtained as a result of folding the airbag by bringing the lower edge close to the upper edge and elongated in a front and rear direction. A displacement-preventing means is provided at a peripheral portion of the airbag constituting an outer peripheral edge of the airbag for preventing a tape member wrapped around the folded-up body from supping against the folded-up body. The means is formed at an upper end region of the peripheral portion which will be an upper edge of the airbag at deployment and at least either in front of or at the rear of the tape member. The means is comprised of a recessed region or a projecting region that is formed on the airbag itself so as to be engageable with an end edge of the tape member.
US09145101B2
The present invention relates to the securing of a garnish in a vehicle. The garnish is disposed over the airbag and secures to one or more apertures in the vehicle. The garnish includes a cover, which hides the airbag before it is deployed. A tether is attached to the cover. The tether extends from the cover, and includes a flexible securing portion which is received in the vehicle aperture. When the airbag deploys, the garnish is displaced. Displacement of the garnish, and deployment of the airbag, is enabled by the flexible securing portion, which deforms in response to the airbag, thereby allowing deployment while maintaining attachment of the cover to the vehicle.
US09145096B2
A system for mounting an implement onto a vehicle includes a mounting plate with a first and a second bearing surface, a locator opening and a detent-receiving opening. A mounting fixture is configured to be attached to an accessory such as a snowplow blade. The mounting fixture includes a first hook configured and disposed so as to engage the first bearing surface and a second hook configured and disposed so as to engage the second bearing surface. A locator projection extends from the mounting fixture and is configured to engage and pass through the locator opening. A detent member extends from the mounting fixture and is configured to pass through the detent-receiving opening and releasably engage the plate.
US09145095B2
According to one embodiment, a bicycle support apparatus and method is provided. The bicycle support apparatus can support a bicycle in a horizontal or vertical direction. The bicycle support apparatus can also be secured to any horizontal, vertical, or any angular face. Still further, the bicycle support apparatus can be mounted onto a moveable object, such as an automobile. Slideably secured to an elongated member of the support apparatus is a bicycle fork securement member and a bicycle bottom bracket pad. The securement member secures the fork of the bicycle, and the bicycle bottom bracket rests on the pad. Such securement can be vertically, horizontally, stationary, or moveable configurations.
US09145092B1
A side entry system for a vehicle having at least four doors includes a running board coupled to an exterior surface of the vehicle. A first step is included at or within a door sill of a rear passenger door. The first step is positioned above the running board. A second step is formed adjacent to the first step and is included in an interior of the vehicle. The second step is positioned above the first step. The running board, the first step, and the second step are configured to assist standing entry into a passenger pod of the vehicle through the rear passenger door. A roll cage is coupled to the vehicle and is attached to a rear bumper of the vehicle. The passenger pod extends aft of a rear taillight of the vehicle and includes a passenger seat positioned at least mostly aft of the rear taillight.
US09145084B2
A clamp assembly adapted for attachment to a tubular beam includes first and second grips, with each grip having and at least four curved fingers projecting radially from the central portion and curving generally in the same direction to respective distal ends. The grips are secured together in a complementary relationship with the distal ends of the fingers of the first grip aligning with the distal ends of the fingers of the second grip to define a first generally cylindrical aperture extending through the fingers in a first direction and a second generally cylindrical aperture extending through the fingers in a second direction. The first cylindrical aperture has a diameter that substantially corresponds to the diameter of the tubular beam to which the clamp assembly is to be clamped. The clamp assembly generally includes a flange for attaching auxiliary equipment to the clamp assembly.
US09145082B2
A mobile power supply housed within a wheeled trailer which can be towed to various locations, particularly remote locations, for providing electrical power as needed for operating equipment or for charging of batteries or other electrical supply devices at such remote locations. The apparatus includes a unique trailer design including venting means for preventing the accumulation of hydrogen normally associated with high power battery operation, particularly charging thereof and therewith, by monitoring hydrogen at all times within the trailer interior and selectively passively and actively venting the interior environment when hydrogen levels are high or whenever necessary. A unique roof design is included for gathering hydrogen near the upper portion of the interior roof construction adjacent to a venting outlet to facilitate expelling thereof.
US09145080B2
Embodiments may include a vehicle seat having a seatback and a headrest. The headrest has a first headrest portion, a second headrest portion and an elastic portion. The first headrest portion is connected to the seatback. The second headrest portion is arranged closer to an occupant than the first headrest portion. The second headrest portion is movable relative to the first headrest portion. The elastic portion generates an elastic force so as to restore the second headrest portion to an initial position when the second headrest portion moves from the initial position.
US09145071B2
A vehicle seat, in particular to a motor vehicle seat, having a base structure (3) that is to be connected to the vehicle structure (S) and a backrest (10) that can be moved relative to the base structure (3) by kinematics, such as to transfer the vehicle seat (1) from at least one usage position allowing a person to sit down to a non-usage position or to another usage position. A multi-bar linkage, in particular a four-bar linkage (V), exists at least temporarily, which linkage controls the kinematics. A leaf spring (30) is provided in the vehicle seat. The leaf spring forms a gear element of the multi-bar linkage in the relaxed extended state thereof.
US09145068B2
An adjusting means for adjusting two vehicle parts relative to each other, in particular for the longitudinal setting of a vehicle seat is provided. The adjusting means comprising an adjusting gear unit arranged on a first vehicle part and a spindle arranged on a second vehicle part, which extends in longitudinal direction, is in engagement with the adjusting gear unit and along which the adjusting gear unit is movable for adjusting the first vehicle part relative to the second vehicle part. There is provided a reinforcement part which supports the adjusting gear unit with respect to the first vehicle part in the longitudinal direction of the spindle such that due to the reinforcement part with forces introduced in the longitudinal direction from the first vehicle part into the adjusting gear unit the adjusting gear unit is supported with respect to the first vehicle part with a higher rigidity than with forces introduced against the longitudinal direction.
US09145065B2
A motor vehicle has a structure (1) for accommodating an electrical energy storage means and having power electronics (2) for an electric machine of the motor vehicle. In such a motor vehicle, there is provision according to the invention that the power electronics (2) are integrated into the structure (1). Such a vehicle is defined by a small installation space requirement, a low weight and a low degree of expenditure on assembly.
US09145047B2
A mounting arrangement for a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain comprising an engine operable to produce a torque about a torque axis and the mounting arrangement comprising: a primary coupling connected at a primary mounting point of the powertrain and configured to securely couple the powertrain to a structural member of the vehicle; and, connected between the powertrain and one or more structural members of the vehicle: a pair of pitch control struts configured to substantially inhibit movement of the powertrain in directions perpendicular to the torque axis; and a roll control strut configured to substantially inhibit rotational motion of the engine about the torque axis; wherein the pitch control and roll control struts are connected to the powertrain and the one or more structural members of the vehicle at strut mountings configured to compliantly resist movements of the powertrain about the primary coupling in a direction parallel to the torque axis.
US09145043B2
An open roof system for a vehicle comprises at least first and second movable elements, each movable between a retracted and a deployed position. At least two drive cable assemblies transfer the motor torque to said movable elements. The drive cable assemblies comprise a flexible first part having first and second ends, the first part being driven by a motor. The first end portion of the flexible first part connects to one of the first and second movable elements, and a first guiding channel guides the second end. The drive cable assembly further comprises an elongated second part, guided in a second guiding channel to one of the first and second movable elements and connected thereto. During at least part of the operation, the elongated second part moves substantially in the same direction as an end portion of the first part of the cable assembly.
US09145042B2
Different kinds of air conditioning apparatus may be easily produced in accordance with specifications, even in a vehicle assembly factory, and costs of transport and administration of air conditioning units, storage space in the vehicle assembly factory and suchlike may be reduced. The air conditioning apparatus includes an expansion valve with a pressure adjustment screw and an air conditioning unit. A mounting space to which the expansion valve is mounted is provided at a unit case of the air conditioning unit, and an opening portion is formed in a wall portion around the mounting space. The opening portion is for insertion of a tool that turns the pressure adjustment screw. A setting of pressure of the expansion valve is carried out by the tool being inserted through the opening portion around the mounting space of the expansion valve and turning the pressure adjustment screw of the expansion valve.
US09145034B2
Embodiments relate to indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMSs) and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) signals. In embodiments, information from the ABS Hall signal is obtained in analog form, before pulse forming. The information can be analyzed for a resonance frequency within the ABS sensor. In some embodiments, the digitized information can be modulated onto the conventional ABS wheel speed clock signal for transmission to and analysis by the indirect TPMS electronic control unit (ECU). According to embodiments, additional information about higher-order harmonics of the wheel rotation can be provided to the TPMS ECU, which can then calculate a more accurate estimation of tire pressure while reducing warning latency.
US09145033B2
A method and system for indirect tire pressure monitoring of tires of a vehicle is described. The method may include providing a tire classification database indicating at least one classified tire type. The method may also include determining a vehicle tire type for the vehicle on the basis of vehicle data in including information on at least one tire currently used with the vehicle, and determining whether the vehicle tire type can be associated to one of the at least one classified tire type. The method may also include, in the case an association is determined, monitoring tire pressure according to the associated classified tire type.
US09145026B2
A paint tray accessory and assembly provides a membrane cover for use with a paint tray and paint roller of conventional manufacture. The membrane cover comprises a first frame member, a second frame member and a fluid regulating membrane. The membrane is flexible and stretchable which provides means for more evenly coating the sleeve of a paint roller during use of the assembly. The membrane also provides a tractive surface for the paint roller sleeve. The frame members are configured to retain the membrane within the frame members and to protect the membrane during use. The first frame member is intended to remain in position while the second frame member is flexibly rotatable relative to the first frame member at the points of certain “breaks” between the two frame members, also considered a “hinged” point.
US09145022B2
Provided is an image recording method having high transfer efficiency. An image recording method includes an intermediate image-recording step of recording an intermediate image by applying ink to an intermediate transfer body and also includes a transfer step of transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium by heating the intermediate image to a transfer temperature. The ink contains polymer particles having a softening point not higher than the transfer temperature and at least one of a compound represented by Formula (1) and a compound represented by Formula (2).
US09145021B2
A ribbon includes a substrate film, wherein the film comprises a tensionable material; and an ink disposed on the ribbon. A length of the ribbon includes portions that have been tensioned to provide a code readable from the ribbon by measuring the tension over the length of the ribbon.
US09145019B2
The invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring marking elements of a marking head. The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises a detector for recording detected information on the marking elements, and a control and evaluation unit that is adapted to determine whether the marking elements carry out marking operations based on the detected information. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring marking elements of a marking head.
US09145000B2
A printing apparatus including a tape drive for transferring a tape carrying a marking medium, and a printhead which is operable to transfer marking medium from such a tape to print an image, the tape drive including a pair of tape spool supports, upon one of which a supply spool is mountable and upon a second one of which a take up spool is mountable, each tape spool support being drivable by a respective motor, the tape drive further including a controller to control each of the motors, wherein the tape drive is operable to position a tape adjacent the printhead such that a spacing between adjacent portions of tape from which ink is removed in successive printing operations is less than 0.5 mm.
US09144999B2
A method of detecting a reduction in tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool (15) and a second spool (17) by a tape drive (11), the tape drive (11) having a motor control system (25) which includes two DC motors (16, 18) and a controller (24) for controlling the operation of the motors (16, 18), the tape drive (11) also having two spool supports (12, 14), each of which is suitable for supporting a spool (15, 17) of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors (16, 18), the method including storing a value relating to the current required to be supplied to each motor (16, 18) to maintain tension in the tape, and comparing a value relating to the current being supplied to each of the motors (16, 18) during tape transfer with the respective stored values.
US09144995B2
An image forming apparatus configured to form a plurality of dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets includes: a recording head configured to eject the ink droplets of a plurality of colors including similar colors, which are colors of which densities or hues are equal to each other; a transporting unit configured to relatively move the recording head and the recording medium; a head driving circuit configured to perform a driving control of the recording head based on a control signal; and an image processing unit configured to convert an input image signal into a control signal to be supplied to the head driving circuit in a manner so that the dots of the similar colors are formed to be overlapped at a same position at a lower rate in a low density gradation range and at a higher rate in a high density gradation range.
US09144993B2
An apparatus includes an inkjet assembly having inkjet nozzles through each of which ink flows at a nominal flow rate as it is ejected from the nozzle onto a substrate. Ink is held under a nominal negative pressure associated with a characteristic of a meniscus of the ink in the nozzle when ejection of ink from the nozzle is not occurring. The apparatus includes recirculation flow paths, each flow path having a nozzle end at which it opens into one of the nozzles and another location spaced from the nozzle end that is to be subjected to a recirculation pressure lower than the nominal negative pressure so that ink is recirculated from the nozzle through the flow path at a recirculation flow rate. Each recirculation flow path has a fluidic resistance between the nozzle end and the other location such that a recirculation pressure at the nozzle end of the flow path that results from the recirculation pressure applied at the other location of the flow path is small enough so that any reduction in flow rate below the nominal flow rate when ink is being ejected is less than a threshold, or a change in the nominal negative pressure when ink is not being ejected is less than a threshold, or both.
US09144992B2
An object is to directly detect the emptiness of a solvent cartridge being mounted. An emptiness detection unit body includes a light transmissive tube which constitutes part of internal piping of a printer body, a light emitter, and a light receiver. The light transmissive tube is composed of a transparent tube, typically, a glass tube or a fluororesin (PFA) tube. The light emitter and the light receiver are arranged to face the light transmissive tube. The light transmissive tube is filled with a solvent supplied from the solvent cartridge. On the other hand, the light transmissive tube is filled with gas when the solvent cartridge is empty. The emptiness of the solvent cartridge is detected by a change in the amount of light received by the light receiver associated with the change in the light transmissive tube.
US09144987B2
A plurality of pressure chamber space sections are formed at an interval therebetween on a pressure chamber substrate. The shortest distance between an opening edge of one pressure chamber space section and an opening edge of the other pressure chamber space section of adjacent pressure chamber space sections in a joining surface of a pressure chamber substrate to a communication substrate is 50 μm or more. A recess section is formed to be separated from an ink flow path in a region interposed between these opening edges. At least one of the shortest distance between the opening edge of one pressure chamber space section and the recess section and the shortest distance between the opening edge of the other pressure chamber space section and the recess section is 30 μm or less.
US09144986B2
There is provided a recording apparatus including: a printer main body which has a liquid ejecting head that ejects ink to a paper sheet and performs recording; a supply cassette which is insertable into and extractable from the printer main body and can accommodate the paper sheet; and a liquid accommodation portion which can accommodate the ink that is supplied to the liquid ejecting head. The liquid accommodation portion is installed in the supply cassette.
US09144984B2
The present disclosure describes a compound slot, and systems and methods of forming the compound slot. An example of a compound slot includes a wafer, where the compound slot includes a trench along a long axis of the compound slot and on a top surface of the wafer, where the trench passes through an initial portion of a total depth of the wafer. A number of openings pass through a remaining portion of the total depth of the wafer, where at least a retained portion of a bottom of the trench is present around a perimeter of each of the number of openings.
US09144975B2
A piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer and electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is 3 μm or less in thickness. The piezoelectric layer is made of a piezoelectric material containing a perovskite compound including bismuth manganate ferrate and barium titanate. The piezoelectric layer is preferentially oriented with the (110) plane. A full width at half maximum of the X-ray diffraction peak attributed to the (110) plane is 0.24° or more and 0.28° or less.
US09144967B2
A piezoelectric actuator has a satisfactory electrical connection of a common electrode and a surface electrode without increasing the size of the piezoelectric actuator, as well as a liquid discharge head and a recording device. The piezoelectric actuator includes: a ceramic substrate which is long in one direction and includes a vibrating plate, a common electrode disposed on the vibrating plate and a piezoelectric ceramic layer disposed on the common electrode and having a plurality of first through holes connected to the common electrode; a plurality of individual electrodes disposed in a region of the piezoelectric ceramic layer opposed to the common electrode; and a plurality of first surface electrodes respectively disposed inside a plurality of the first through holes in the piezoelectric ceramic layer and on a circumference of a plurality of the first through holes.
US09144964B2
A process for making a lithographic printing plate enables a one-bath processable lithographic printing plate having excellent printing durability, ink laydown and resistance to staining during printing. The process includes a step of producing a negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor having, above a support, a photopolymerizable photosensitive layer containing a vinylcarbazole compound-derived monomer unit-containing acrylic polymer and/or a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer, a step of image-wise exposing the negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor, and a step of developing the exposed negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor by means of a developer having a pH of 4 to 10, comprising (Component A) a compound represented by Formula (I) and/or Formula (II) below and (Component B) water, and having an organic solvent content of less than 5 mass %. The process does not comprise a washing step or a gumming step before or after the development step.
US09144962B2
A graphene-polymer layered composite and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. A graphene-polymer layered composite includes polymer layers surrounding a graphene sheet, and may include numerous polymer layers and graphene sheets in an alternating stacked configuration. The graphene-polymer layered composite has the characteristics of a polymer in that it provides flexibility, ease of manufacturing, low manufacturing costs, and low thermal conductivity. The graphene-polymer layered composite also has the characteristics of graphene in that it has a high electrical conductivity. Due to the low thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity, the graphene-polymer layered composite may be useful for electrodes, electric devices, and thermoelectric materials.
US09144949B2
A molding tool for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced plastic aerodynamic aircraft component, which aircraft component, in order to form several bays arranged on the inside and delimited by an outer skin and spars arranged spaced apart from each other, in each case includes a multi-part mold core that matches the shape of the respective bay, wherein to conform to local skin reinforcements and/or spar reinforcements that extend into at least one of the bays, the multi-part mold core includes four or five core parts, of which two core parts comprising a triangular cross section are arranged along opposing edges of the bay, which edges interact with two or three core parts that fill the space between the two triangular core parts, which space extends diagonally relative to the bay.
US09144946B2
A method for precisely controlling the volume of a product such as a tire tread or tire that is placed into a mold is provided. This method includes providing a tread or tire that is built upon a portable mold core by laying a series of layers on the portable mold core. The outer diameter of the lire tread or lire is initially built to be purposely smaller than the interior surfaced of the mold in order to prevent any interference from occurring between the mold and the tire tread once the tire tread and core are placed within the mold and the mold is closed. The weight of the tire tread or tire is measured to see if the volume of the tire tread or tire is within acceptable parameters to fit within the mold. If not, additional material is added to the tire or tire tread.
US09144944B1
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for manufacture of a composite rotor blade spar having non-uniform wall thickness. Tooling for manufacturing include a first mold defining a first mold surface and a second mold comprising a rigid layer and a heated layer secured to the rigid layer and defining a second mold surface. A plurality of heating elements embedded in the second mold are activated according to a plurality of different temperature progressions effective to cure portions of the uncured composite blade spar positioned between the first and second mold surfaces coextensive with each heating element of the plurality of heating elements. In some embodiments, the second mold defines a root portion and first and second branch portions. A shear web is placed between the first and second branch portions and is bonded to a blade spar skin surrounding the second mold during curing of the blade spar skin.
US09144943B2
A fiber filling box divided into compartments by slotted divider walls, preferably comb-like divider fences with vertical tines extending downwardly from a top frame, is lowered onto an air-permeable conveyor over at least one vacuum box in a fiber filling station. A multi-axis controlled nozzle blows fiber material to different depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. The divider fences allow continuous intertwining of fibers between adjacent compartments, but sufficiently contain the fibers to maintain well-defined boundaries between different fiber depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. Hold-down plates are lowered onto the fiber material, the fiber filling box is lifted away, and then the hold-down plates are lifted to release a shaped fiber mass, which is then heated and compacted in a heating station to form a fiber preform. The hot fiber preform is then molded, compressed and cooled in a molding station to produce a molded fiber component.
US09144942B2
The present invention is a method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic molding including, in the following order, the steps of: forming a preform laminate fixed to a molding die by laminating a plurality of preforms each including a dry fiber fabric and a fixing resin, the preforms being laminated through the fixing resin formed on a surface of the dry fiber fabric and including a partially-cured thermosetting resin exhibiting tackiness at a room temperature; impregnating the dry fiber fabric, provided in the preform laminate fixed to the molding die, with a liquid thermosetting resin; curing the liquid thermosetting resin and the fixing resin to form a fiber-reinforced plastic molding; and demolding the fiber-reinforced plastic molding from the molding die.
US09144935B2
A film stretched uniaxially in the transverse direction selectively is obtained by preventing a phenomenon that the film is stretched also in the longitudinal direction in stretching the film in a direction transverse to the conveying direction.A film F is stretched in the transverse direction while being gripped with clips 2 each having a corrugated upper teeth part (holding member piece) 12 and a corrugated lower teeth part (holding member piece) 11. Furthermore, the film F is shaped into a wavy form using corrugated gripping members 6a and 6b and stretched in the transverse direction while being held with the clips 2 having the holding members.
US09144923B2
Front feet are provided at a lower part of a cutting-machine main body via a foot holder. Furthermore, a slider positioned on a front side relative to the front feet is provided at the lower part. When a workpiece to be cut is to be cut by a blade, the cutting-machine main body is tilted so as to let the blade go down. When the cutting-machine main body is tilted, a state where the front feet are in contact with the workpiece is switched to a state where the slider is in contact with the workpiece. Then, by moving the cutting-machine main body forward while sliding the slider on the workpiece, the workpiece is cut by the blade. In the cutting operation, the front feet can get away from the workpiece. Therefore, damage of the front feet can be prevented, and the running cost can be suppressed.
US09144922B2
The invention relates to a shank bit for a road milling machine or the like, having a bit head and a bit shank, the bit shank comprising a first cylindrical segment that is indirectly or directly adjacent to the bit head, and the bit shank comprising a second cylindrical segment that, facing away from the bit head, is indirectly or directly adjacent to the first cylindrical segment, and the diameter of the second cylindrical segment differing from the diameter of the first cylindrical segment. In a shank bit of this kind, improved utilization properties result from the fact that the first cylindrical segment has a diameter in the range between 18 mm and 30 mm, and an extent in the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the bit shank less than 30 mm.
US09144917B1
Lengths of an optical fiber may be broken apart from one another while a cross-sectional region of the optical fiber is in a state of multi-axial compressive stress, and the multi-axial compressive stress extends across the optical fiber. The breaking can include propagating a crack across the optical fiber. The crack can be positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the cross-sectional region so that the multi-axial compressive stress restricts the crack from penetrating the cross-sectional region. At least a portion of the optical fiber may be in tension during the breaking.
US09144914B2
A shaving razor having a cartridge containing a razor blade coupled to a monolithic yoke. The yoke is formed from a single piece of material possibly by injection molding. The yoke has a bridge and a pair of cross pieces each coupled to the bridge by a living hinge. The cartridge is coupled to the cross pieces and spans between the cross pieces.
US09144911B2
A hair clipper has a base housing, a secondary housing cover, and a rotary motor or vibrator motor secured between the base housing and the housing cover. The rotary motor has a shaft and a cam secured to an end of the shaft, and the vibrator motor has a drive arm with a drive finger. A cam follower is operably connected to the cam or drive finger on a top side. The top side of the cam follower also has an elongated guide rail that is operably secured to a guide channel in a blade guide, which in turn is secured to the base housing. A reciprocating blade is operably secured to the bottom side of the cam follower, and a stationary blade is secured to the base housing adjacent the reciprocating blade.
US09144908B2
A manipulator device has an arm portion and a hand portion The hand portion includes one or more finger portions that manipulate a target object. Each finger portion includes a slip sensor and multiple contact sensors, with at least one contact sensor at a position proximate to the slip sensor and at least another contact sensor at a position remote from the slip sensor. When the contact sensors at the positions remote from the slip sensor detect contact of the target object and the contact sensors arranged at the positions proximate to the slip sensors do not detect contact, a position of the finger portion is moved by a distance corresponding to the distance between the contact sensors detecting contact of the target object and the contact sensors arranged at the positions proximate to the slip such that a detecting position of the slip sensor is coincident with a position of the target object.
US09144906B2
A method for making use of an automated system with a robot, including the following steps: (i) a management controller (12) authorizes the extraction of a pallet (2) and communicates information to a safety controller (11) concerning the extraction authorization, (ii) a series of presence detectors (7) sends initial height information (HLP) for a pallet (2) on which products (10) are arranged to the safety controller (11), (iii) the safety controller (11) generates reference information based on the initial information received, (iv) the presence detectors (7) send current height information for the pallet (2) to the safety controller (11), and the safety controller (11) compares the current height information to the reference information. If the current information does not correspond to the reference information, then a robot (5) is stopped and/or the safety measures of the enclosure (1) are applied.
US09144899B2
The roll claw is a complementary tool with a purpose of using less stress force to do work. The roll claw is configured with a rounded head and a claw end. The roll claw has a square portal that accepts a ratchet or pull handle of various sizes, and a round portal that accepts a chain link of any make where a tension strap with a hook can be attached. The roll claw uses leverage to reduce the stress force to perform certain work.
US09144893B2
A socket includes a hole having a hexagonal cross section and defining six abutting sides and an included angle between any of the two adjacent abutting sides. Any of the two opposite abutting sides spaced at a first distance. Any of the two opposite included angles spaced at a second distance. The socket has first, second, and third sections having first, second and third external diameters, respectively. The second external diameter is smaller than the first external diameter and the third external diameter is smaller than the second external diameter, respectively. A difference between the second and third external diameters is not less than a difference between the first and second distances. A drive bit is mounted to the second end of the socket.
US09144890B2
A bar clamp having a ratchet for fastening a clamped work piece is provided with a fixed jaw carrier at a front end of a slide bar; a moveable jaw carrier moveably put on the slide bar and including a transverse channel distal the slide bar, and a gear adjacent to the channel; a shaft partially disposed in the channel and including two parallelepiped ends; two cam members each including a rectangular hole complimentarily put on one parallelepiped end; a control lever including two fitting members disposed in tunnels and each including a rectangular hole complimentarily put on one parallelepiped end, a pivot hole, and a pin; a ratchet assembly including a spring actuated trigger mounted on the control lever, and a link secured to the trigger and including a pawl member in gear engagement with the gear; and a bifurcation member including two opposite curved slots.
US09144883B2
In accordance with some embodiments, an abrasive article is provided. The abrasive article includes a carrier. The abrasive article further includes a matrix layer on the carrier. The matrix layer includes a copper-titanium-tin alloy, wherein the copper-titanium-tin alloy includes from about 70 wt % to about 90 wt % of copper, from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of titanium, and from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of tin. The abrasive article also includes at least one abrasive particle partially embedded in the matrix layer. The abrasive particle includes carbon.
US09144859B2
A method is provided for welding in an automated way a sphere onto a metal sheet. The method includes the following steps: providing a sphere; providing a first electrode; picking up the sphere by use of the first electrode; providing a metal sheet; providing a second electrode; pressing the metal sheet and sphere together such that the sphere is pressed against the metal sheet by the first electrode, and the metal sheet is pressed against the sphere by the second electrode; and welding the sphere and the metal sheet together by generating a welding current between the two electrodes.
US09144858B2
A plasma generating system is provided. The plasma generating system includes: a pair of electrodes having distal ends; an electrode holder holding the pair of electrodes; a gate having a surface on which the electrode holder is slidably mounted and adapted to be controlled by sliding the electrode holder on the surface; and a resilient member secured to the gate and adapted to generate a force to close the opening. The distal ends are adapted to move into an opening of the gate as the electrode holder slides along a direction on the surface and adapted to generate an electric arc to thereby ignite plasma in a gas.
US09144853B2
The invention relates to a multi-edged machining tool for the post-machining or precision machining of bores. The tool has at least one cutting insert with a pre-determined nominal diameter measurement and with cutting edges that are distributed substantially uniformly around the periphery, in addition to a guide body assembly that is axially offset in relation to said edges. The guide body assembly can be an integral component of a substantially cylindrical guide body that consists of a solid carbide. In some embodiments, said guide body forms at least n helical guide ribs which are equidistant around the periphery and which have a nominal diameter substantially smaller than the nominal diameter measurement of the cutting insert by a value equating to double the dimension of the lubricant gap that is formed during the operation of the tool.
US09144851B2
A cutting insert according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with two opposite first surfaces, and a peripheral surface extending between the two first surfaces. A first cutting edge is formed on an edge of one first surface of the two first surfaces. A rake surface associated with the first cutting edge extends on the one first surface. A second cutting edge is formed on an edge of one second surface of two opposite second surfaces in the peripheral surface. A rake surface associated with the second cutting edge extends on the one second surface. The second cutting edge has a different function from the first cutting edge.
US09144840B2
The present invention provides an electromagnetic stirrer uniformly applying an electromagnetic force to each casting mold. The electromagnetic stirrer of the present invention includes a pair of electromagnetic coils including a casting mold(s) between them, wherein an inner winding is applied to outside of each of two of tooth provided to a core of each of the pair of electromagnetic coils, an outer winding is applied to outside of the inner windings, ways of applying current to be applied to the windings are changed depending on the distance of the electromagnetic coils, and the number of the casting molds n, the external size φ, and the width of each of the electromagnetic coils W are defined as n×φ
US09144825B2
A screening machine includes wall members, screen assembly guide members, a screen assembly and a compression assembly. The screen assembly includes a frame with a plurality of side members and a screen supported by the frame. The compression assembly is attached to at least one wall member and forms the screen assembly into a concave shape.
US09144822B2
A method is provided for joining a filler material to a substrate material. The method includes melting the filler material within a melting chamber of a crucible such that the filler material is molten. The crucible has an outlet fluidly connected to the melting chamber. The method also includes holding the filler material within the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a first pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible, and releasing the filler material from the melting chamber of the crucible by applying a second pressure differential across the outlet of the crucible to deliver the filler material to a target site of the substrate material. The second pressure differential has a different value than the first pressure differential.
US09144820B2
Provided is an ejection amount correction method and an applying apparatus, which can correctly measure the amount of an applied droplet and accurately correct the ejection amount. In an ejection amount correction method for measuring the amount of a liquid material ejected from a nozzle and correcting the ejection amount of the liquid material, a mirror is set near an application target surface at a predetermined angle with respect to the application target surface, an image of a droplet formed on the application target surface is picked up from a side through the mirror, the volume of the droplet is calculated based on the picked-up image of the droplet, and the ejection amount is corrected based on the calculated volume. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
US09144818B2
A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed.
US09144810B2
An atomizing nozzle assembly (1) for pneumatically operated cleaning equipment with a nozzle body (2), in which a nozzle pipe (12) can rotate in bearings, is improved with regard to safe function and long service life to the effect that a disc section (24) of a stop element (23) arranged on the inlet side of the nozzle pipe (12) has a smaller outer diameter (26) than the inner diameter (27) of the inlet end (4) of nozzle housing (2) so that an annular gap (28) remains between disc section (24) and nozzle housing (2) through which compressed air (14) can flow and compressed air (15) passes through two bearings (9, 10) for the rotary nozzle pipe (12) helping to remove dirt from the bearings.
US09144806B2
An optically-induced dielectrophoresis device includes a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a first patterned photoconductor layer, a first patterned layer, a second substrate, a second conductive layer, and a spacer. The first conductive layer is disposed on the first substrate. The first patterned photoconductor layer is disposed on the first conductive layer. The first patterned layer is disposed on the first conductive layer. The first patterned photoconductor layer and the first patterned layer are distributed alternately over the first conductive layer. Resistivity of the first patterned photoconductor layer is not equal to resistivity of the first patterned layer. At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is pervious to a light. The second conductive layer is disposed on the second substrate and between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacer connects the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09144795B2
Provided is a catalyst article for simultaneously remediating the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and gaseous hydrocarbons present in diesel engine exhaust streams. The catalyst article has a soot filter coated with a material effective in the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of NOx by a reductant, e.g., ammonia.
US09144793B2
The present invention discloses an alumina carrier for a silver catalyst, a process for preparing the alumina carrier, a silver catalyst made from the alumina carrier, and a use of the silver catalyst in the production of ethylene oxide by the oxidization of ethylene. The alumina carrier comprises alumina and promoters, as well as titanium silicate molecular sieve(s); and therefore, has an improved catalytic activity.
US09144784B2
Disclosed is a swellable, sorbent material formed of a sol-gel composition having a porous matrix and a sorbent property modifier intermixed with at least a portion of the porous matrix. The sorbent property modifier modifies a sorbent property of the sorbent material when compared to the same sorbent property of the corresponding, unmodified sol-gel composition.
US09144780B2
A reactor design and configuration and a process for the catalytic dehydration of propanol to propylene where the reactor train is comprised of a multi-stage single reactor vessel or multiple reactor vessels wherein each stage and/or vessel has different length, internal diameter, and volume than the other stages and/or vessels and in addition the stages and/or reactor vessels are connected in series or in parallel arrangement, preferably used with an improved means of introducing the propanol feedstock and a heat carrying inert gas to the improved reactor train.
US09144771B2
An apparatus for filtering airborne radioactive iodine is provided. The apparatus includes a housing defining an interior space and comprising an inlet for receiving air and an outlet for discharging the air; and a composition placed in the interior space for trapping airborne radioactive iodine between the inlet and the outlet. The composition comprises one or more salts selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal chloride and an alkaline earth metal chloride. A method of filtering airborne radioactive iodine is further provided. The method includes providing the foregoing apparatus at a nuclear facility and blowing air to flow from the inlet to the outlet and contact the composition placed in the interior space, whereby airborne radioactive iodine is trapped in the interior space.
US09144766B2
A method of capturing and sequestering a gas species from a fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas is disclosed. The method includes the step of providing an apparatus having a vessel adapted to be pressurized and a hollow fiber membrane contained in the vessel and having a sorbent embedded therein. The method further includes the steps of subjecting the hollow fiber membrane to a flow of flue gas, removing one or more gas species from the flue gas with the hollow fiber membrane, and regenerating the sorbent contained in the hollow fiber membrane.
US09144756B2
The current invention provides compositions, which are useful as stationary phases for a variety of chromatographic applications, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and solid-phase extraction (SPE). The compositions provide both strong aromatic and hydrophobic interactions with components of a sample. Moreover, the invention provides compositions of new silanes, their immobilization on a solid substrate, such as silica, to form new stationary phases.
US09144753B2
Aromatic extraction and hydrocracking processes are integrated to optimize the hydrocracking units design and/or performance. By processing aromatic-rich and aromatic-lean fractions separately, the hydrocracking operating severity and/or catalyst reactor volume requirement decreases.
US09144751B2
Systems for extracting solute from source material, including solvent source containers configured to store solvent, canisters in fluid communication with the solvent source containers and configured to contain the source material, extract containers in fluid communication with the canister and configured to fluidly receive extract solution from the canisters, heating elements thermally coupled with the extract containers. Some examples include solvent collection containers configured to receive post-extraction portions of the solvent from extract containers. In some examples, solvent collection containers are in fluid communication with solvent source containers and are configured to fluidly receive the post-extraction portion of the solvent and direct a portion of the post-extraction solvent to the solvent source containers. Some examples include a plurality of detachable canisters. Some examples include coolant thermally coupled with solvent collection lines configured to transmit post-extraction portions of solvent to solvent collection containers.
US09144744B2
Example apparatus and methods concern an improved immersive experience for a video gamer that is provided by controlling a game based on the three dimensional location and orientation of a control and display device held by or otherwise associated with the gamer. The location is determined from data comprising a three dimensional position and an orientation of a portion of a player in a three dimensional space associated with a computerized game. The facing and rotation of the device is determined as a function of both the location of the device and the orientation of the device. The orientation may be determined by data from motion sensors in or on the device. Example apparatus and methods control the computerized game based, at least in part, on the position of the device, the facing of the device, and the rotation of the device.
US09144738B2
Subject-data-to-be-collected representing an element to be collected is generated or selected, when a server and any one of a plurality of hand-held information terminals cooperate with each other to perform predetermined information processing by using data transmitted and received between the server and the one of the plurality of hand-held information terminals. Each of the plurality of hand-held information terminals transmits to and receives from another one of the plurality of hand-held information terminals, the subject-data-to-be-collected. Thus, pleasure of collecting the subject-data-to-be-collected by communication among the hand-held information terminals, is provided.
US09144735B2
Systems and methods for human hand gesture recognition through a training mode and a recognition mode are disclosed. In the training mode, a user can move a handheld device with a hand gesture intended to represent a command. Sensors within the handheld device can record raw data, which can be processed to obtain a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features, which is stored in a database and associated with the intended command. The process is repeated for various hand gestures representing different commands. In the recognition mode, the user can move the handheld device with a hand gesture. A computer system can compare a set of values corresponding to a set of discrete features derived from the hand gesture with the sets of values stored in the database, select a command with the closest match and displays and/or executes the command.
US09144732B2
A playing card provided with identification code which is arranged along opposed long sides of the card and mutually symmetrically. Each code comprises at least six code fields of essentially equal size that occupy a significant area of the rim area of the respective edges of the card. According to a preferred embodiment, the codes are provided in that the surface of the entire playing card is reflective of ultraviolet light, where the surface has been de-masked to define the code fields.
US09144725B2
A putter-type golf club head having a face insert comprising a metal sheet and a urethane backing is disclosed herein. The metal sheet, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes extending through the entire thickness of the sheet and having a specific size and spacing, and the urethane backing has a hardness that optimizes performance of the face insert, and thus the putter.
US09144724B2
An iron type golf club head body has a back portion with a recess defined by a perimeter wall therein, and the recess having a back surface for attachment of an adjustable medallion. In a set of golf irons, the recess areas are progressively larger as the irons get shorter in length. In lieu of providing a different size medallion for each club head in a set of irons, the adjustable medallion is designed to use one medallion to accommodate an entire set of irons. The medallion consists of top and bottom pieces that can slide to an either small size or an expanded size. An area between the pieces creates a gap that will vary in width depending upon the size of the club head.
US09144722B2
Embodiments of golf club heads with optimized characteristics presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US09144718B2
A golf club head with an improved Moment of Inertia (MOI) is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a releasable hosel mechanism that is leaner and more lightweight, it allows a significant amount of weight to be saved from the hosel portion of the golf club head and used to improve Center of Gravity (CG) location of the golf club head; which contributes to the improvement of the MOI of the golf club head.
US09144709B2
The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor provided physical resistance in conjunction with a game system, such as a video game system, where the exercise system provides real physical resistance to a user interface. Results of user interaction with the user interface are integrated into a video game, such as running on a game console. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system provides actual physical interaction with a resistance device as input to the game console and game run thereon.
US09144698B2
A valve actuation mechanism has a plurality of links. Each link has a proximal end and distal end, and the links are disposed adjacent a valve member. The actuation mechanism also has at least one roller connected to the distal ends of at least two links. The roller contacts a surface of the valve member. In addition, at least one pivot for each link is present in the valve, wherein each pivot is positioned on the proximal end of each of the plurality of links.
US09144696B2
A kit and method is disclosed to facilitate the transferring of a prosthetic appliance to the skin of a wearer. The kit includes first and second transfer portions, which may be provided in combined form. The first transfer portion includes a prosthetic appliance and a release film. The second transfer portion includes a transfer substrate, an adhesive layer and a release coat therebetween. The second transfer portion may include a seal layer disposed between the adhesive layer and the release coat. The kit may include a package portion which may non-adhesively restrain the other components so as to protect and display the prosthetic while enabling the package portion to be opened without causing damage to the remainder of the kit. A method for producing the kit is disclosed and involves the use of a cavity mold and respective retainer plate to produce the requisite transfer portions.
US09144687B2
Timing channel circuitry for controlling stimulation circuitry in an implantable stimulator is disclosed. The timing channel circuitry comprises a addressable memory. Data for the various phases of a desired pulse are stored in the memory using different numbers of words, including a command indicative of the number of words in the phase, a next address for the next phase stored in the memory, and a pulse width or duration of the current phase, control data for the stimulation circuitry, pulse amplitude, and electrode data. The command data is used to address through the words in the current phase via the address bus, which words are sent to a control register for the stimulation circuitry. After the duration of the pulse width for the current phase has passed, the stored next address is used to access the data for the next phase stored in the memory.
US09144684B2
Aspects of the invention are directed to advanced monitoring and control of medium voltage therapy (MVT) in implantable and external devices. Apparatus and methods are disclosed that facilitate dynamic adjustment of MVT parameter values in response to new and changing circumstances such as the patient's condition before, during, and after administration of MVT. Administration of MVT is automatically and dynamically adjusted to achieve specific treatment or life-support objectives, such as prolongation of the body's ability to endure and respond to MVT, specifically addressing the type of arrhythmia or other pathologic state of the patient with targeted treatment, a tiered-intensity MVT treatment strategy, and supporting patients in non life-critical conditions where the heart may nevertheless benefit from a certain level of assistance.
US09144681B2
A neuromimetic device includes a feedforward pathway and a feedback pathway. The device operates in parallel with a suspect neural region, coupled between regions afferent and efferent to the suspect region. The device can be trained to mimic the suspect region while the region is still considered functional; and then replace the region once the region is considered dysfunctional. The device may be particularly useful in treating neuromotor issues such as Parkinson's disease.
US09144679B2
In one embodiment, a method for defining a stimulation program for electrical stimulation of a patient, the method comprising: providing a single screen user interface that comprises a first plurality of controls and a second plurality of controls, the first plurality of controls allowing selection of multiple stimulation parameters for a plurality of stimulation sets, the second plurality of controls allowing selection of multiple stimulation parameters defining burst stimulation and tonic stimulation; receiving user input in one or more of the second plurality of controls; and automatically modifying parameters for one or more stimulation sets in response to receiving the user input in one or more of the second plurality of controls and modifying values displayed in one or more controls of the first plurality of controls according to the modified parameters, the modified parameters reflecting a stimulation program that includes an interleaved pattern of burst stimulation and tonic stimulation for delivery to the patient.
US09144676B2
A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure.
US09144662B2
The various embodiments herein relate to a boosting catheter for positioning through a conventional guiding catheter into the vasculature of a patient, the boosting catheter having a distal tubular member and a proximal elongated shaft coupled to the distal tubular member.
US09144658B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling an exhalation valve based on pressure and/or flow measurements during exhalation. The disclosure describes novel exhalation valve controls for ventilating a patient.
US09144655B2
A mask is disclosed that has a gas outlet which is quiet and provides for a diffused outlet flow of gases. The outlet is preferably a slot formed between a hollow body and cover over said hollow body. The mask also preferably extends and seals under a user's chin in use.
US09144645B2
A novel one-piece fluid reservoir assembly for use in conjunction with an insulin infusion pump. The single piece fluid reservoir assembly includes a barrel body, a male luer fitting integral with the barrel body, a sealing surface integral with the barrel body, the sealing surface for sealing against the pump housing when the fluid reservoir assembly is inserted into the pump housing. Further, the barrel includes, as part of the one-piece fluid reservoir assembly, threads for engagement with threads on an opening in the fluid pump so that the fluid assembly can be inserted into the fluid pump, engage the threads and rotation therewith will locate the fluid reservoir assembly within the pump. Thereafter, a piston in the pump may be incrementally advanced to act upon a plunger in the barrel assembly to force a fluid within the barrel assembly through the male luer fitting and through a conduit engaged therewith to a remote infusion set.
US09144643B2
The preset invention provides a liquid injector in which, when an injection time period and an injection rate are entered as an injection condition, a condition image having a horizontal width corresponding to the injection time period and including the injection rate as text data is displayed in a condition screen with its vertical axis representing the injection rate and its horizontal axis representing the injection time period at a vertical position in association with the injection rate and a horizontal position in association with the injection time period. The operator easily understands instinctively the injection condition from the horizontal width and the position of the condition image, and since the condition image includes the injection rate as text data, the operator can check quickly the numerical values. Thus, the liquid injector can be provided which allows simple entry and review of the injection condition.
US09144628B2
A prosthetic device made of a first specific type of polyarylene, taken alone or in combination with a second specific type of polyarylene, featuring some unexpected advantages such as a very high strength and stiffness, good elongation properties, high chemical resistance, good biocompatibility as well as an outstanding impact resistance.
US09144627B2
The invention provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object. The invention also provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of biological laboratory ware. The invention further provides a method of attaching cells to an object. The invention even further provides for a method of preparing an object for medical implantation. The invention also provides for an article with attached cell, and for an article for medical implantation. Improvements result from the application of gas-cluster ion beam technology and from the application of neutral beam technology, wherein neutral beams are derived from accelerated gas-cluster ion beams.
US09144626B2
A paste is provided from which bone cement can be formed, which is to the largest extent possible bubble-free and has a high impact strength. The paste includes (i) 15-50 weight percent of at least one mono-functional, hydrophobic methacrylic acid ester, (ii) 40-85 weight percent of at least one filler, (iii) 0.01-4 weight percent of at least one radical initiator soluble in the methacrylic acid ester (i) and having at least one peroxide group, (iv) 0.01-4 weight percent of at least one radical initiator soluble in the methacrylic acid ester (i) and having no peroxide groups, (v) 0.000001-3 weight percent of at least one accelerator soluble in the methacrylic acid ester (i) and capable of forming radicals from the radical initiators according to (iii) and (iv), (vi) 0.001-5 weight percent of at least one halide salt, and (vii) 0.2-3 weight percent of at least one cross-linking agent.
US09144616B1
The present invention provides compositions and methods for sanitization or sterilization of, or reduction or elimination of microbes from, PFR material, in particular material for use as an animal bedding. In another aspect, the invention provides sanitized or sterilized material, and especially animal bedding material, prepared using the described compositions and methods.
US09144608B2
An improved method for stimulating electrical activity in an eye is provided. Provided is a technique for implanting small, nanometer-sized photoactive devices into an eye to improve electrical activity within an eye or mitigate degradation of electrical response in damaged eyes.
US09144607B2
Recombinant influenza virus proteins, including influenza capsomers, subviral particles, virus-like particles (VLP), VLP complexes, and/or any portions of thereof, are provided as a vaccine for influenza viruses. The invention is based on the combination of two vaccine technologies: (1) intrinsically safe recombinant vaccine technology, and (2) highly immunogenic, self-assembled protein macromolecules embedded in plasma membranes and comprised of multiple copies of influenza virus structural proteins exhibiting neutralizing epitopes in native conformations. More specifically, this invention relates to the design and production of functional homotypic and heterotypic recombinant influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) comprised of recombinant structural proteins of human influenza virus type A/Sydney/5/94 (H3N2) and/or avian influenza virus type A/Hong Kong/1073/99 (H9N2) in baculovirus-infected insect cells and their application as a vaccine in the prevention of influenza infections and as a laboratory reagent for virus structural studies and clinical diagnostics.
US09144601B2
Provided is a skeletal muscle regeneration promoter for a muscular disorder or myopathy comprising a chondroitinase as an active component, which skeletal muscle regeneration promoter enhances, when administered into a muscular fiber of a mammal with the muscular disorder or myopathy, the regeneration of such a muscular fiber. The above-mentioned chondroitinase degrades chondroitin sulfate that is present at the outer perimeter of the above-mentioned muscular fiber; and thereby inhibition of the regeneration of the muscular fiber by the above-mentioned chondroitin sulfate disappears, which makes it possible to enhance the regeneration and enlargement of such a muscular fiber.
US09144597B2
A method of treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, with LGF administered systemically.
US09144594B2
This invention relates generally to the treatment of cathepsin or dynamin mediated diseases, such as proteinuria, cancer, and cognitive disease and related products. Diagnostic and other assays are also provided, as well as methods for podocyte cell gene transfer.
US09144591B2
Disclosed herein is a method for treating an androgen-stimulated disease in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject a composition containing an effective amount of an inhibitor of IκB kinase subunit α activity. The composition can also be administered to a subject at high risk for prostate cancer as a method for reducing the subject's risk thereof. A further method relates to identifying a modulator of transcriptional activity regulated by IκB kinase subunit α. Still another method relates to determining the IκB kinase subunit α-regulated transcriptional activity regulated by in a non-human mammalian test subject.
US09144587B2
Methods are also provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US09144586B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.
US09144582B2
A granulate mixture suitable for regenerating a bone contains at least one expandable particle and at least one nondeformable particle. The at least one expandable particle contains a swelling agent. The swelling is enclosed by a biodegradable sheathing or be a biodegradable casing. Three-dimensional callus distraction may be accomplished by introducing the granulated mixture into a bone defect.
US09144581B2
Compositions of reducing agents and carriers for producing a stable negative oxidation reduction potential in consumable materials are disclosed and claimed. Compositions of the invention find use in enhancing the hydration and anti-oxidant value of consumable materials such as foods, beverages and cosmetics, for example. Compositions of the invention also find use in water treatment, agricultural and scientific research applications. Methods for using and making the compositions are also within the scope of the invention.
US09144574B2
The present invention relates to compositions, such as bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost, and methods to reduce fat in the body of an individual, for example, by topical administration, injection, and/or implantation of such compositions.
US09144566B2
The present invention provides for compositions, medicaments, and methods for treating or alleviating the symptoms of dry eye syndrome or chronic dry eye. More specifically, the present embodiments provide for medicaments consisting of tocopherol or tocotrienol eyedrops. A single topical administration of tocopherol or tocotrienol eyedrops in the eyes of a subject suffering from dry eye alleviates symptoms for at least one day. In particular, the eyedrop medicament consists of α-tocopheryl acetate; α-tocopheryl acetate and about 0.5% aqueous component; or α-tocopheryl acetate, about 2.5% tocopherol emulsifier, and about 20% to about 30% aqueous excipient.
US09144564B2
The present invention provides for a formulation manufactured by a process comprising: admixing at least one elastomer with a first dispersant to form a gel; admixing a second dispersant with the gel; and admixing at least one active, such as ascorbic acid, with the gel to form a delivery system with an active in the formulation retains its stability, functionality and aesthetics.
US09144560B2
The present invention relates to the use of selected active principles of a natural origin in substitution of extract from Boehmeria Nipononivea for regulating the trophism of hair follicles and the production of sebum on the skin and its use in alopecia, with considerable practical advantages and with respect to the safety profile.The composition of the invention is based on an association of omega 6 polyunsaturated acids and rutin in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09144559B2
A solid pharmaceutical composition containing pregabalin is described. The composition includes a matrix forming agent and a swelling agent and is suitable for once daily oral administration. Exemplary matrix forming agents include mixtures of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and exemplary swelling agents include cross-linked polymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone.
US09144555B2
Compositions comprising hydroxytyrosol-containing formulations and treatment regiments comprising hydroxytyrosol and/or oleuropein and chemotherapeutic agents are disclosed. Compositions and/or regiments may optionally include the administration of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. Methods for using these compositions and treatment regimens for treating subjects for diseases, such as a malignancy, and for inducing or enhancing angiogenesis, treating or preventing oxidative stress, for treating or preventing high glucose-induced dysfunction, treating or preventing chemotherapy-induced dysfunction, and for improving cell viability are provided. Various methods for use of the hydroxytyrosol compositions for inhibition of lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) in various cancers are also provided.
US09144553B2
The invention provides transdermal delivery systems, medical kits, and methods for using the transdermal delivery systems and kits for medical applications, such as delivery of contraceptive agents to control fertility.
US09144541B2
Provided are a novel titania fine-particle composite which has high transparency, high stability, and high ultraviolet-absorbing power and excellent redispersibility, and skin-care external preparations which contain the titania fine-particle composite and exert high ultraviolet protective effect. The titania fine-particle composite can be produced by adding one or more selected from among carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid derivatives represented by general formula (1), and polymers containing the carboxylic acids or carboxylic acid derivatives as a constituent monomer to an aqueous acid dispersion of titania fine particles, and neutralizing the resulting dispersion with an alkali to form a titania fine-particle composite composed of titania fine particles functioning as cores and the carboxylic monomer or polymer deposited on the surface of the cores. In the titania fine-particle composite, titania fine particles functioning as cores have a high degree of crystallization and the intermolecular interaction between titania fine particles and the carboxylic monomer or polymer is strong. Therefore, the titania fine-particle composite can be uniformly dispersed in a dispersion medium to attain high transparency and high stability. Further, skin-care external preparations which exert high ultraviolet protective effect can be produced by adding the titania fine-particle composite.
US09144533B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of an adhesive bond between (a) the surface of dental subframes based on high-performance polymers, and (b) dental composites, byA at least creating retentive anchoring by means of mechanical pre-treatment of the surface of each subframe;B application of a low viscous, or free-flowing adhesive agent containing a monomer mixture of polymethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, at least one bifunctional methacrylate-based cross-linking monomer, initiator(s), and optionally stabilizers and other additives, including (i) wetting of the surface, (ii) penetration into the depressions which are present, and (iii) formation of a dispersion layer or a film; C at least partially curing the dispersion layer or the film in step B; and D applying a dental composite or an opaque onto the product in step C.
US09144523B2
In a disposable diaper in a developed state where a front cover sheet and a rear cover sheet are separated from each other to be developed, as distance in a left-right direction from an absorbent body increases, a lower edge of the rear cover sheet goes away from an upper edge of the rear cover sheet and then goes toward the upper edge. A leg elastic member is bonded on the rear cover sheet along its lower edge, in left and right of the absorbent body. As above, the lower end portion of the rear cover sheet is convex downward in each of left and right of the absorbent body, and lower portions of hips of a wearer are wrapped with the lower end portions. It is therefore possible to suppress leakage of excrement from the lower portions of hips of the wearer.
US09144518B2
An apparatus comprises a gauze layer comprising a gauze material, a first area, a gauze first side and a gauze second side. The gauze first side is configured to at least contact and cover a user's eyelid area where the gauze material mitigates irritation of the user's skin. A paper layer comprises a paper material, a paper first side and a paper second side. The paper first side comprises an adhesive area being configured to extend beyond the first area for removably joining to the user's skin. A tape layer comprises an opaque flexible material, a third area, a tape first side and a tape second side. The tape first side comprises an adhesive. The third area is at least as large as the first area. The gauze layer, the paper layer and the tape layer are combined to form a sleep mask.
US09144512B2
Apparatus for reducing obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and/or nasal drainage. One apparatus includes an upper member fitting the interior and exterior surfaces of a user's upper dentition, and a lower member fitting similarly adjacent a user's lower dentition. The lower member includes molar extensions projecting away from the lower member. The upper member includes upper molar extensions projecting away from the upper member and toward the lower molar extensions so that when the user bites or clenches, the upper right and lower right extensions impinge on one another in substantially overlapping fashion, as do the molar upper left and lower left extensions. The upper and lower members have an anterior shape to form a gap sufficient for the user's tongue to extend into the gap, and each molar extension may include a magnet. Methods of using the apparatus and kits to reduce sleep apnea, snoring, and/or nasal drainage.
US09144510B2
The present embodiments provide systems and methods for deploying at least a portion of a stent. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cannula having an outer surface, and at least one coiled member having proximal and distal ends and a plurality of turns disposed therebetween. One of the proximal and distal ends of the coiled member is secured to the outer surface of the cannula, and the other of the proximal and distal ends of the coiled member is unsecured relative to the outer surface of the cannula. A portion of a stent is looped around the unsecured end of the coiled member. Rotation of the cannula causes the portion of the stent to disengage from the coiled member. The end of the coiled member that is secured relative to the cannula is secured using at least two securing members.
US09144504B2
A four-component artificial intervertebral disc may provide six degrees of movement: flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, axial deflection, and anterior/posterior translation. The disc may include a superior endplate, a superior core, an inferior core, and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may include a concave mating surface, and the inferior endplate may include a spherical mating surface. The superior endplate may roll across the superior core to provide flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The superior endplate may twist or rotate atop the superior core to provide axial rotation, and the superior endplate may slide over the superior core to provide anterior/posterior translation. The superior core may be connected to the inferior core, and the inferior core may be connected to the inferior endplate. The inferior core may be made from a flexible material that may enable the artificial disc to expand or compress vertically.
US09144503B2
A spinal implant comprises a first member defining a longitudinal axis and including a wall that defines an axial cavity and at least one lateral opening configured for disposal of an instrument. A second member is configured for disposal with the axial cavity and includes a wall having an axial surface disposed along a thickness thereof. The axial surface defines at least a portion of an axial opening and includes a plurality of gear teeth disposed therealong. The instrument is engageable with the teeth to axially translate the second member relative to the first member. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.
US09144502B1
A spinal interbody device includes a compliant inner dampener in combination with outer shells. An inner dampener includes a rim with pillars and heads coupled to a complementary structure of the outer shells.
US09144499B2
A knee prosthesis system has a tibial component with frame with medial and lateral openings to receive the medial and lateral bearing components. The bearing components have distal surfaces that are exposed when assembled with the frame and pegs extending distally from the distal surfaces. The system optionally includes a tibial base plate with elongated curved receptacles to receive the pegs and allow the frame and bearing component assembly to rotate when mounted on the base plate. Different thicknesses of bearing components can be selectively locked onto the frame. Different sizes of tibial components have commonly sized, shaped and positioned elements so that multiple sizes of tibial components can be mounted on the same prepared tibial surface.
US09144492B2
Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets of a particular shape that improves bending character without requiring a long length valve. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises a leaflet frame, a plurality of leaflets that are coupled to the leaflet frame, where each leaflet has a free edge and a base. The base of each leaflet is truncated in which the leaflet in cross section shows a line in an alpha plane onto the leaflet frame.
US09144491B2
A method for modifying the refractive index of an optical polymeric material. The method comprises continuously irradiating predetermined regions of an optical, polymeric material with femtosecond laser pulses to form a gradient index refractive structure within the material. An optical device includes an optical, polymeric lens material having an anterior surface and posterior surface and an optical axis intersecting the surfaces and at least one laser-modified, GRIN layer disposed between the anterior surface and the posterior surface and arranged along a first axis 45° to 90° to the optical axis, and further characterized by a variation in index of refraction across at least one of at least a portion of the adjacent segments and along each segment.
US09144490B2
The invention provides chip packaging and processes for the assembly of retinal prosthesis devices. Advantageously, photo-patternable adhesive or epoxy such as photoresist is used as glue to attach a chip to the targeted thin-film (e.g., parylene) substrate so that the chip is used as an attachment to prevent delamination.
US09144489B2
Breast implants including sensor modules and related methods are described herein. Breast implants include those with: a shell configured to be substantially filled with a viscous material; at least one fluid-permeable cover, the cover completely enveloping the shell; a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell, the sensor modules oriented to detect one or more analytes in a fluid between the shell and the cover, the sensor modules positioned at a distance from each other, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier; and at least one power source operably attached to the plurality of sensor modules.
US09144483B2
A fixation device can be delivered to the body of a patient by coupling the fixation device to a delivery instrument at a head of the fixation device. Engaging the fixation device to the delivery instrument at the fixation device's head allows the fixation device to be secured to a tissue and/or ligament of the patient. The fixation device can be a sling for placement around the bladder neck of a female patient.
US09144481B2
A package for a dental material comprises a compartment for holding a first substance of the dental material and an open reservoir at least partially formed by a wall of the package. The package is adapted such that the compartment and the reservoir are connectable for fluid communication. The reservoir accommodates a second substance of the dental material retained at a surface of the reservoir wall. The package preferably enables easy mixing of the dental material from the first and second substance, thus preferably facilitate a preparation and use of the dental material.
US09144477B2
A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. The electric motor includes a drive shaft. When the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop. The drive assembly is coupled between the drive shaft and the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
US09144467B2
A method of transmitting controller motion from a robotic manipulator to a surgical instrument includes rotating a plate included in the robotic manipulator. The plate has a driving surface that bears against an inner gimbal of a gimbal assembly included in the surgical instrument. The plate is rotated about a center of motion that coincides with an intersection of two rotational axes of the gimbal assembly.
US09144463B2
A handpiece and method of use for laser-assisted liposuction for melting, disrupting, and removing cellulite and adipose tissue. Electromagnetic energy is used to selectively melt or disrupt cellulite and adipose tissue and ablate the collagen in the constricting bands of connective tissue that causes the dimpled appearance of cellulite and adipose tissue, while avoiding damage to the surrounding fatty cells.
US09144460B2
A catheter tip electrode has a tissue contacting surface which electrically conducts RF energy to the tissue and is more thermally conductive than adjacent non-electrically conductive coating or cover which prevents RF conduction to the tissue contacting that surface. The tip electrode has a shell with a nonablating hollow proximal neck portion and a distal ablating portion defining a fluid chamber, and a plug-like support member which is configured with a fluid channel on its outer surface so a fluid passage is provided between the member and the neck portion for convective or direct cooling of the nonablating neck portion and nonconductive tubing covering it.
US09144453B2
A multi-mode electrosurgical apparatus for use in cold plasma applications, electrosurgical cutting, electrosurgical coagulation and mechanical cutting is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus includes a housing having a passage extending therethrough, an electrically conducting tube being disposed in the passage of the housing; an insulating outer tube disposed around the electrically conducting tube coupled to the housing, the electrically conducting tube being movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing and outer tube; an electrically conducting blade coupled to the distal end of the electrically conducting tube, and a transformer assembly disposed on a proximal end of the housing, the transformer assembly including a first transformer and a first switch for selectively coupling the first transformer and an external second transformer to the electrically conducting tube for providing electrosurgical energy thereto.
US09144446B2
A bone filler mixing and delivery device includes a mixing section adapted to mix components to form bone filler. A syringe barrel is coupled to the mixing section and has an opening through which the bone filler can be dispensed. A controllable portal can be manipulated to open a flow path between the mixing section and the syringe barrel. A plunger assembly is adapted to extend telescopically in an axial direction through the syringe barrel to dispense the bone filler through the opening.
US09144445B2
Device and method for degassing and dispensing bone cement that can be used to produce a bone cement that is largely free of air inclusions. The device contains a dispensing tube (1) that comprises at least one section (2,3) that is permeable to gas, but impermeable to bone cement. The bone cement is being moved along the gas-permeable section which causes the gas present in the bone cement to flow through the gas-permeable material.
US09144444B2
A medical implant assembly includes a polyaxial bone anchor having a shank, a receiver, a lower compression insert with surfaces for closely receiving an elongate connecting member and a dual closure structure that may include a single flange or helical flange. The dual closure structure independently engages the connecting member and the lower compression insert. A threaded capture connection of the bone anchor includes a shank upper surface exclusively engaging the lower compression insert and a retainer threadably attached to the shank and spaced from the upper surface, the retainer configured for polyaxial motion with respect to the receiver prior to locking.
US09144430B2
A surgical forceps includes: an insertion portion including, an internal space formed along a longitudinal axis, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion; a grasping portion provided at the distal end portion of the insertion portion; an operation rod having one end and the other end and arranged in the internal space of the insertion portion, the one end being connected to the grasping portion; an operation portion provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion and connected to the other end of the operation rod, the operation portion being configured to operate a movement of the grasping portion; and a portion to be operated provided in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, and connected to the operation rod such that the operation rod is movable according to an operation by an external force.
US09144429B2
A dynamic sensing method and apparatus employs microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) surgical sensors for gathering and reporting surgical parameters pertaining to a drive mechanism of a surgical device, such as speed, rotation, torque and other characteristics of the surgical device. The surgical device employs or affixes the surgical sensor on or about a surgical device for detecting electromechanical characteristics during the surgical procedure. The surgical procedure disposes the medical device in the surgical field responsive to the drive mechanism of a shaver or other endoscopic instrument inserted in a surgical field defined by the surgical procedure.
US09144426B2
A pelvic implant assembly (100) comprising a support portion (128) and an extension portion (124), a self-fixating tip (10, 120) connected to the extension portion, the self-fixating tip comprising a base (12) comprising a proximal base end (14) and a distal base end (16), the proximal base end being connected to the extension portion, the base comprising an internal channel (18) extending from the proximal base end and at least partially along a length of the base toward the distal base end, a fixed lateral extension (20) extending from the base.
US09144424B2
A method of connecting a suture to a bone including the steps of inserting at least one suture anchor into the bone, and disposing a suture loop about a crossbar of the suture anchor in such a way that when a proximally directed force is applied to the suture loop, a free end of the crossbar engages a transverse edge of the body of the suture anchor to limit proximal motion of the crossbar and capture the suture loop.
US09144420B2
A non-invasive endometrial sample collector has an outer body of absorbent material configured for insertion into a vaginal cavity of a patient such that a distal end of the body is positioned proximate a uterine cervix of the patient. The collector has an internal collection assembly disposed within the outer body of absorbent material. The internal collection assembly includes a funnel having an opening at the distal end of the outer body configured to face the uterine cervix when the outer body is positioned in the vaginal cavity, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the funnel. During a menstruation cycle of the patient when endometrial tissue cells are shed within menstrual fluid that passes through the uterine cervix, or during any type of normal or abnormal bleeding episode, at least a portion of said fluid is directed to the reservoir via the funnel under the force of gravity.
US09144417B2
A touchpad controller for a componentized intravascular ultrasound system is disclosed for acquisition and display of intravascular information in a catheter lab environment. The system includes a patient interface module (PIM) adapted to hold a catheter having an imaging probe located near a distal end, a control panel, a monitor for displaying images and patient data, and a processing unit. The touchpad controller facilitates use beneath a sterile drape and sensitivity to gloved touch. Furthermore, the touchpad controller is sized for handheld use during an imaging session. A rail mount facilitates easy attachment of the touchpad controller alongside a patient table.
US09144413B2
The present invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is capable of displaying an elastic image, enabling an accurate and easy identification of tissue characteristics of a diagnostic part. Elasticity data regarding a test object is obtained based on a received signal of an ultrasonic probe, and an elastic image representing a distribution of the elasticity data of the test object is generated. A display mode setting means sets a display mode of the elastic image in such a manner that a different tissue can be identified based on a value of the elasticity data. In this case, the display mode is differentiated by the value of the elasticity data within one tissue. With this configuration, the tissue characteristics of the diagnostic part are identified by the elasticity data, and displayed in a different display mode, thereby displaying an elastic image identifiable accurately and easily.
US09144410B1
A variable aperture X-ray collimating device that fits over existing intraoral radiographic sensor positioners enables clinicians to provide radiation protection for their patients while allowing the flexibility to accommodate various commercially available positioning kits. In addition, the variable aperture allows for easy accommodation of various sensor sizes.
US09144409B1
An MRI compatible stretcher has a plurality of non-magnetically susceptible and electrically conductive metal members in physically overlapping sections, each having electrically non-conductive spacers separating the overlapping sections to prevent electrical conductivity there between. The insulators break electrical conductivity and thereby prevent the formation of large and continuous metal current loops, while the overlap ensures continuous metal strength and integrity. In particular embodiments, flanges terminate longitudinally extensive metal members, and the electrically non-conductive spacers separate the flanges from adjacent metal members. Fasteners secure the flanges, spacers and adjacent metal members together.
US09144407B2
An image obtaining unit obtains a three-dimensional image, which is formed by a plurality of tomographic images obtained by carrying out tomographic imaging of a subject, and a part information obtaining unit obtains information of a result of part recognition of the subject contained in the three-dimensional image. A menu specifying unit specifies, from a plurality of menus used to display the three-dimensional image, a menu depending on a part based on the information of the result of part recognition, and a display control unit displays the specified menu on a display unit.
US09144406B2
A configuration and an associated operating method for tomosynthetic fluoroscopy utilize an x-ray emitter and with an x-ray detector. The configuration further contains a mounting device, which is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis and about which the x-ray emitter is arranged such that the optical axis of the x-ray emitter is directed to the x-ray detector and that, in the case of a rotation of the mounting device, the focus of the x-ray emitter describes a circular path. An advantage offered by the invention lies in ensuring robust tomosynthetic fluoroscopy.
US09144384B2
A method, a system and an apparatus for remotely monitoring a cardiac condition in an individual in which there is provided a non-invasive, mobile and portable solution including hardware, software, and a back-office application allowing an autonomous and smart remote monitoring. Two-way communication is provided between the cardiac monitoring apparatus and a monitoring center, which allows sending of data of the patient being monitored to the monitoring center, as well as allowing the monitoring center or a clinician to request a new exam on demand.
US09144376B2
In a sensor system for determining the control signal supplied to the ciliary muscles of an eye for adjusting the focal length of the lens of an eye, a contact element of an electrically non-conductive material and provided with sensors is disposed on the cornea of the eye so that the sensors are arranged in contact with an annular area of the cornea next to the ciliary eye muscles so as to be able to sense the focal adjustment signals supplied to the ciliary muscles and the sensed adjustment signals are supplied to a signal processing unit which provides a control signal to a lens system with adjustable focal length for adjusting the focal length thereof depending on the focal adjustment signals of the ciliary eye muscles.
US09144375B2
For the pre-operative calculation of the power of an intraocular lens, three input parameters are needed: the axial length of the eye (AL), the refractive power of the cornea, and the distance between the front of the cornea and the back focal plane of the intraocular lens, the so-called effective lens position (ELP). The invention shows a novel approach to the determination of the ELP.
US09144364B2
In a wet sheet, hydrophobic outer layer sheets are disposed on both sides of the hydrophilic inner layer sheet impregnated with cleaning solution. Each of intermediate layer sheets is folded over so as to form a space having an opening. End portions of the inner layer sheet are inserted into the spaces of the intermediate layer sheets. The inner layer sheet can come in contact with the outer layer sheet via a space between the intermediate layer sheets. With such a construction, sufficiently high frictional force acts between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet.
US09144360B2
An autonomous mobile robot system for bounded areas including a navigation beacon and an autonomous coverage robot. The navigation beacon has a gateway beacon emitter arranged to transmit a gateway marking emission with the navigation beacon disposed within a gateway between the first bounded area and an adjacent second bounded area. The autonomous coverage robot includes a beacon emission sensor responsive to the beacon emission, and a drive system configured to maneuver the robot about the first bounded area in a cleaning mode in which the robot is redirected in response to detecting the gateway marking emission. The drive system is also configured to maneuver the robot through the gateway into the second bounded area in a migration mode.
US09144357B2
Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) including: a housing (100) defining a dust container reception compartment (108) that has a dust container reception opening (110) in an outer surface (102) of the housing; a dust container (200) configured to be removably receivable inside the compartment (108) via the dust opening, such that, in an operationally received condition, an outer push surface (208) of the dust container is flush with the outer surface of the housing, while in a removably received condition, the push surface (208) protrudes outwardly from said outer surface (102) of the housing; and a push-push mechanism (300) configured to maintain a received dust container in said operationally received condition when the push surface is pushed inwards into the housing and released a first time, and to force the dust container from said operationally received condition into the removably received condition when pushed inwards and released a second time.
US09144352B2
A sheet product dispenser includes a sheet product feed mechanism coupled to an electric motor, the sheet product feed mechanism moving a sheet product out of the dispenser during a dispense cycle; and a control unit controlling the sheet product feed mechanism or electric motor or both to move the sheet product with an increasing speed or acceleration or both during a portion of the dispense cycle.
US09144343B2
A beverage cartridge system is adapted to brew a beverage through a brewer having a holder adapted to receive the cartridge system. The holder may have a deep well with one or more needles therewithin to pierce through the bottom of the cartridge system when inserted into the well. The cartridge system may include a short cup and a tall cup, where the tall cup is taller than the short cup to pack more beverage grind. The cartridge system may include a filter within an outer cup. The bottom of the filter may be deep enough to be juxtaposed to the bottom of the cup. The filter may be formed from a material that is substantially resistant to piercing by the needle within the holder such that when the outlet needle pierces through the bottom of the cup, the outlet needle raises the filter at a point of contact, and the filter substantially resists the outlet needle from piercing through the filter during a brewing process.
US09144342B2
A pod disposal system has a pod holder for holding a coffee pod; a moveable chamber including an engaging member for engaging with the coffee pod, and an ejector operably connected to the engager for disengaging the coffee pod from the engager, An actuator moves the moveable chamber between an engaging position, in which the engager engages with the coffee pod, an intermediate position, in which the moveable chamber moves the coffee pod out of the pod holder, and a disengaging position, in which the ejector disengages the coffee pod from the engager, thereby disposing the coffee pod.
US09144341B2
Two chamber parts are pressed against each other in a sealing manner in order to receive a capsule. In an open position, the capsule can be held in an intermediate position between the chamber parts by a positioning unit having mutually opposite guide sections for guiding the capsule on mutually diametrically opposite sections of the capsule collar in order to hold the capsule in the intermediate position. The insertion section is formed as a hinged guide and the opposite guide section as a release guide. The release guide has a recess formed in such a way that the capsule can be rotated out of the intermediate position around the hinge guide and can be released from the release guide. Before reaching the closed position, the capsule is freed from the release guide in first and second movement phases by being acted on by one of the chamber parts.
US09144340B2
A privacy curtain assembly includes a main curtain portion. The main curtain portion includes a first side, a second side, and oppositely disposed leading edges located between the first and second sides. The privacy curtain assembly also includes at least one cleanable, wipable panel that is permanently affixed to one of the leading edges of the main curtain portion. The at least one panel is configured to be cleaned while permanently affixed to the main curtain portion.
US09144339B2
The invention discloses a device for putting a sock or a shoe on or off. The device includes a long rigid arm with a distal end and a proximal end. The device includes a sleeve with its proximal end coupled to the distal end of the arm and a distal end of the sleeve including one or more tongues spaced apart by valleys that define sides of each tongue. At the proximal end of the arm is a right angle handle being broadly curved in a partly hooked shape, followed by a reverse bend to provide a short reverse end hook.
US09144338B1
A strap shaped coiled mandrel of resilient material, which mandrel is expanded against the connected elastic base (connected bra straps) of a bra whereby the mandrel with bra held thereon can be slid down over a females shoulder to position the bra on the breasts, and wherein releasable stop means are provided on the mandrel for adjusting and temporarily maintaining the circumferential dimension of the coiled mandrel and bra base thereon.
US09144328B2
Interactive transparent touch screen doors for wine cabinets are disclosed. An interactive touch screen door for use with a wine cabinet having a refrigerated compartment and a rack in the refrigerated compartment to hold bottles of wine provides access to the refrigerated compartment and includes a transparent touch display embedded in the door having a size at least corresponding to a portion of the refrigerated compartment intended to store wine, and a controller operatively connected to the transparent touch display configured to provide information associated with wine stored in the cabinet on the transparent touch display.
US09144324B1
A device for helping babies learn to walk properly consists of a wheeled frame that surrounds the baby, a harness that affixes to or more closely envelopes the baby, and an elastic support extending from the frame to the harness to bias the harness, and thus the baby, centrally within the frame. A braking mechanism prevents mobility except when the baby stands and balances, thus inspiring the baby to actually walk, and developing the baby's sense of balance and walking muscles.
US09144322B2
Embodiments disclose a secondary, supplemental, extra, etc. support system to help a parent secure an infant to the parent, wherein the supplemental support system is designed for comfort and flexibility. While a plurality of potential hazardous situations may arise while a parent is holding an infant, such as dropping, choking, circulation impairment etc., embodiments may limit, reduce, or eliminate the hazards and injuries to the infant and/or parent.
US09144319B2
A seating unit having a foldable bed includes: a base with an internal cavity and a rear wall; a foldable bed that includes separate and distinct head, intermediate and seat sections, wherein in a folded position, the intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and positioned in vertically stacked relationship, and the head section is generally vertically disposed and positioned adjacent the rear wall of the base, and in an unfolded position, the head, intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and in serial alignment with each other; and a bed folding mechanism that is attached to the base and the head, intermediate and seat sections that controls the movement of the bed between the folded and unfolded positions.
US09144315B1
An adjustment device has a foot ring, a first positioning unit, a second positioning unit and a tightening collar. The foot ring has a mounting tube. The first positioning unit and the second positioning unit are mounted in the mounting tube and respectively have an inner threaded portion. The inner threaded portions are connected with each other to form a tapered threaded structure. The tightening collar is tapered and engages with the threaded structure formed by the inner threaded portions. The tightening collar and the positioning units match each by a taper ratio. Therefore, the adjustment device can be assembled around a leg tube firmly.
US09144312B2
A portable collapsible stool has at least three legs including separable upper and lower parts releasably formed together by telescopic joint connections and biased into connected engagement by elastomeric cords. Each of the legs is connected to another of the legs intermediate for mutual pivotal movement between a collapsed condition wherein the legs are disposed in generally parallel relation to each other and a set-up condition wherein the legs are spread apart at the upper and lower ends thereof and cross each other intermediate the ends. A seat member with a pivotal upper portion mounted on the upper ends of the legs is disposed in a seating position when the stool is in its set-up condition, and a panel assembly connected to the legs proximate the lower ends thereof provides lateral, anti-splay reinforcement for the legs to increase the carrying capacity of the stool.
US09144310B2
Apparatuses and methods for connecting office furniture components are disclosed. One embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that attaches a vertical panel adjacent to and extending upward from the top of a second vertical panel, the bracket forming two channels having openings in opposite directions. Another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that holds two vertical wall panels together, the bracket including a U-shaped member and an L-shaped member connected to one another to form an S-shaped member. Another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that receives the edge of a panel in a channel between the two pieces and includes a contact surface between the two pieces that is angled to increase the pressure exerted on the panel. Still another embodiment includes a two-piece bracket that holds a shelf atop a wall panel and includes an L-shaped member and a T-shaped member that connect to form a Π-shaped member.
US09144308B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a first unit including an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material; a first supporting portion for supporting the first unit at three points consisting of a first foot provided adjacent to a side of a bottom of the first unit, a second foot, and a third foot provided adjacent to an opposite side of the bottom; a second unit provided below the first unit; a second supporting portion, provided at a bottom of the second unit, for supporting the second unit by at least four foots; and a connecting portion for connecting the first unit and the second unit with respect to an up-down direction so that the opposite side of the bottom of the first unit is inclined depending on inclination of the side of the bottom of the first unit with respect to a horizontal surface.
US09144306B2
A tool hanger has a rail and multiple hanging blocks. The rail is an elongated bar and has at least one hole. The hanging blocks are mounted slidably on the rail and are adjustable in distances between the hanging blocks on the rail. Each hanging block has a hanging body, an arm, a hook and an escaping recess. The hanging body has a sliding slot being slidably mounted on the rail. The arm protrudes from the hanging body and has a cylinder. The hook is attached to the arm. The hook is attached to the arm. The escaping recess is formed in the bottom surface at the free end of the hook to form an escaping segment on the free end of the hook and having a depth smaller than that of a segment of the hook opposite to the free end.
US09144304B2
A bookcase system is provided. The bookcase system includes at least adjacently arranged two bookcase units. Each of the bookcase units further includes a first RFID reader having an antenna and placed on a first lateral side of the bookcase unit. The bookcase unit further includes a separating structure placed between two of the adjacently arranged bookcase units. The separating structure may further include at least three metal plates forming a three-layer stacked structure, and a lateral side of each of the metal plates is larger than half of a wavelength of an operating frequency of the antenna. And books are placed along a direction parallel to the lateral side.
US09144302B1
A modular activity tray system is provided for elderly, infirmed and other users whereby a variety of tops can be interchangeably positioned in the tray for entertainment, crafts, hobby work, eating or other uses. The tray system and method provides advantages over conventional devices as a cushion, tray and top combine in easy to assemble manner. The tray system features a variety of tops which can be removed and exchanged for other tops to allow the user to practice various manual skills. A cushioned base can be releasably fastened to the tray for use in the lap or removed for use of the tray system on a table or the like. Playing games, writing letters of the alphabet, completing jigsaw puzzles and other activities can be selected to allow each user to practice various physical and mental skills.
US09144297B2
Disclosed herein is a rotating toothbrush including: a handle provided with a lever; a head part having bristles implanted on a lower surface thereof and a shaft vertically provided on an upper surface thereof; an operating rod provided in the handle and operated in conjunction with the lever to move linearly in a length direction of the handle; a tilting member rotatably supporting the shaft and pressed when the operating rod moves forward, thereby being tilted at a predetermined angle in an upward direction together with the head part based on a tilting axis; and a rotation driving member connected to the operating rod and the shaft to rotate the shaft when the operating rod moves forward, thereby allowing the head part to form a T shape with the handle. Therefore, the head part is tilted at a predetermined angle in the upward direction when the head part forms the T shape with the handle, such that bristles reach lower portions of lower front teeth, thereby making it possible to prevent generation of tartar as much as possible.
US09144293B1
A duck or game call organizer includes a band to be worn on the duck hunter's body and several retractors located along the band. Each retractor provides a line to connect a respective call device so that the user may select a call device, extend it from the band and operate it, and release it. The retractor then retracts the call device to the band. The band may provide a cradle for each retractor to orient or align the call device in a predetermined position when it retracts.
US09144289B2
The present invention relates to a wrinkle-removing apparatus. When the wrinkle removing apparatus of the present invention adopting a vacuum suction system is tightly applied to the shallow wrinkles on a forehead or to deep wrinkles, a vacuum is created by means of the elasticity of the wrinkle-removing apparatus, in order to strongly suck and pull wrinkles outwardly from the skin. Repeated use of the apparatus with the above-described condition enables a substance such as subcutaneous fat or collagen to replace the wrinkles at the back surface of the wrinkled skin when wrinkles are pulled outwardly from the skin, and finally, skin wrinkles are removed even when the apparatus is no longer used.
US09144281B2
Receptacle device built into a bag. In one example embodiment, a receptacle device is configured to be built into a bag. The receptacle device includes a frame and a first set of electrical receptacles rotatably attached to the frame. The frame defines an interior side and an exterior side. The first set of electrical receptacles is configured to be rotated with respect to the frame between being exposed on the exterior side and being exposed on the interior side.
US09144278B2
Embodiments described herein are related to a reusable grocery bag with a set of disposable liners coupled to an inner surface of the reusable grocery bag. Embodiments disclosed herein utilize disposable liners to reduce, limit or eliminate the spread of bacteria and germs while a consumer is shopping for various items. In embodiments, the disposable liner may be comprised of biodegradable materials.
US09144277B2
An expandable and collapsible purse for insulating and carrying cans or bottles or other selected items within coverable pouches or pockets formed on the inside and/or outside or the purse. The storage cavity includes pockets to store other selected items. A continuous integral cover or sleeve extends upward from the top edge which can be folded inwardly over the inner pockets and contents on the inside of the purse or folded outwardly over the outer pockets surrounding the outer surface of the purse. After the containers are stored in the pockets, the sleeve can pulled down over the inner wall pockets or over the outer wall pockets to cover and further insulate the containers. The purse preferably has a carrying strap or straps and contains a zipper, snaps or hook and loop fasteners to close the top opening when the sleeve is pulled down over the pockets.
US09144255B1
Designs and methods are provided for a reversible, textile-based tactical article. In one embodiment the tactical article comprises a textile based panel perforated with an array of slots arranged in vertical and horizontal, spaced apart rows. The panel may be adapted for attaching accessories to either side by lacing a strap through a row of the slots and through webbing loops on the accessory positioned between the slots. One side of the panel may have a first appearance, and the other side a second appearance that is different from the first appearance.
US09144251B2
The present invention relates generally to functional sweetener compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different functional sweetener compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and at least one functional ingredient, such as a mineral. The present invention also relates to functional sweetener compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the functional sweetener compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like favor profile.
US09144250B2
This invention relates to a nutritional formulation comprising an n3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA), a prebiotic fiber and a probiotic bacterial strain which ingredients act together in a synergistic fashion to promote catch-up growth in young mammals whose growth has been retarded because the young mammal has been subjected to physical or mental stress.
US09144248B2
The use is described of a compound of Formula (I) As a flavoring or flavoring mixture for imparting, modifying and/or enhancing one, two or all the taste impressions umami, kokumi and salty. Flavoring mixtures, vegetable extracts and preparations according to the invention and associated uses and methods are also described.
US09144238B2
The present invention relates to active compound combinations, in particular within a fungicide composition, which comprises (A) a thiazolylisoxazoline of formula (I) and a further fungicidally active compound (B). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants or crops, to the use of a combination according to the invention for the treatment of seed, to a method for protecting a seed and not at least to the treated seed.
US09144235B1
An adjustable climbing stand system with a fully rotating seat to enable a user to hunt for prey from a tree. The system comprises a primary platform (bottom) with a tree interface. The primary base platform receives a primary sliding platform. The primary sliding platform comprises a collapsible seat mount, and a seat with a rotating base. The system comprises a secondary platform (top) with a tree interface. The secondary base platform receives a secondary sliding platform. The primary platform is located on a tree trunk and the secondary platform is located on the tree trunk above the primary platform.
US09144233B2
A pest control system for bed bugs or similar crawling pests. The system includes at least one intercept wall extending generally perpendicularly to the plane on which the pests are traveling for directing the pests to interact with a trap or a treatment zone. The effect of the intercept wall may be enhanced by provision of at least one substantially smooth guide surface positioned adjacent the intercept wall. When pests come into contact with a smooth surface they experience difficulty in traversing it. This causes the bugs to cling to the more textured surface that they are already traversing. The intercept wall is preferably placed in the direct path of the transition line between the textured surface and the smoother guide surfaces and forces the pests to interact with an adjacent trap or treatment zone.
US09144232B2
Pyrotechnic device (1) intended for the destruction of animals digging tunnels, such as moles by the firing of a pyrotechnic charge (2), comprising means (3) for detecting the animal and an electrical firing circuit (4) comprising a firing contactor (5) driven by the detection means (3). The pyrotechnic device (1) comprises: a first housing (6) intended to be installed on the ground (28), electrically connected to the pyrotechnic charge (2), and comprising the detection means (3), a second housing (7) intended to be installed on the ground at a distance from the first housing (6) to which it is linked via wired connection means (8), and comprising first means (9) for breaking the electrical firing circuit (4) making it possible to selectively break or establish the continuity of a first section (10) of the electrical firing circuit (4).
US09144229B2
Transgenes encoding exogenous antibodies are stably integrated into donor cells and are present in the somatic tissue of chimeric birds. The transgenes encode exogenous antibodies and are preferably expressed in the oviduct for collection in the egg. Tissue specificity is provided by selecting the content of the transgene accordingly. Birds whose genome is comprised of transgene-derived exogenous antibody-encoding DNA express exogenous antibodies having desirable chemical properties with increased therapeutic utility compared to antibodies derived from bacterial expression systems.
US09144224B2
Disclosed are compositions of matter and a method of manufacturing that may be used to create animal litter that detects health conditions with feline animals. For example, feline urine detection may be performed by color generation when a feline animal urinates on the litter composition. The color generation properties of the litter may be used to indicate diabetic conditions, and urinary tract infections. The litter may be highly absorbent and efficient for waste removal purposes.
US09144217B1
A wheat variety designated W030578B1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W030578B1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W030578B1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W030578B1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W030578B1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W030578B1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09144214B1
A novel sorghum variety designated PHOO3VQKT and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a plant that comprise crossing sorghum variety PHOO3VQKT with another plant. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHOO3VQKT through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the sorghum seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid sorghum seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the sorghum variety PHOO3VQKT or a locus conversion of PHOO3VQKT with another sorghum variety.
US09144213B1
A wheat variety designated W010425E1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W010425E1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W010425E1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W010425E1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W010425E1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W010425E1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09144211B1
A novel maize variety designated X13D093 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13D093 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13D093 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13D093, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13D093. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13D093.
US09144210B1
A novel maize variety designated X13D043 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13D043 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13D043 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13D043, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13D043. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13D043.
US09144208B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1M52 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M52 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M52 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M52 or a locus conversion of PH1M52 with another maize variety.
US09144206B1
A cultivation system made up of multiple units, with each unit having an upper root compartment, a lower solution compartment, and a base. A growing solution is conducted into each unit via a supply conduit in the base and sprayed into the root compartment, after which it is drained into the solution compartment and then into drain conduits in the base.
US09144204B2
Some embodiments provide an interface unit interfacing with an irrigation controller, comprising: a housing; a controller configured to instruct an interruption of a watering schedule executed by the irrigation controller, the interruption based on one or both of sensed temperature and sensed rainfall amount, and based on one or both of user entered temperature and rainfall threshold parameters; a switching device coupled with the controller, and configured to cause the interruption in response to signaling from the controller; and a user interface comprising: a plurality of user input devices configured to provide signaling to the controller based upon user's engagement, and configured to allow the user to define the temperature and rainfall threshold parameters; and a user display comprising a display screen; wherein the controller is configured to cause the display screen to display a plurality of pictorial representations that in combination convey whether irrigation is being interrupted.
US09144200B2
A pre-cutter tine has a relatively wide working face which is pitched or canted relative to a plane extending vertically to an axis of rotation of a pre-cutter rotor carrying a plurality of the tines arranged helically about the axis. The pitched working face of adjacent tines acts to support the crop being cut as the pitched working faces advance the crop toward the pre-cutter knives which are spaced such that the working faces of adjacent tines pass on opposite sides of a given knife. The working faces of the tines may be pitched such as to cause the engaged crop to be conveyed inwardly as well as to the rear by the tines.
US09144199B2
An articulated harvesting head load sensor arrangement is provided that includes two harvesting head sections (102, 104, 106) that are coupled with a first pivot pin (162) that is a load pin.
US09144196B2
A mower drive wheel incorporating an edging plate including a number of different blade edge profiles for assisting in edging various types and thicknesses of grass or turf. The drive wheel can be reconfigured so that a one piece edging plate is replaced by a plurality of individually attachable blades. A modified walk behind powered mower is also disclosed and which integrates an adjustment mechanism for modifying a rotary turning speed of the edging drive wheel. A secondary drive wheel disconnect linkage is included and the main blade housing of the mower can also exhibit a widened profile to facilitate vacuum intake of the edging debris.
US09148981B2
Disclosed is both a method and apparatus for delivering cooling air to an electronics rack in a data room in an energy efficient manner. The present apparatus provides directionally delivered cooling air to an electronics rack with usage rates up to 90%. The tiles utilize angled directional vanes for delivering the cooling air. The tiles both conserve energy and increase the overall possible power usage for each cabinet. The tiles greatly increase the cooling efficiencies in the data room and conserve energy.
US09148980B2
A rack system is disclosed. The racks and the computer systems included within the racks have a shallow configuration. The racks are placed next to one another in a back-to-back configuration in which the backs of each of the racks are adjacent to one another. All of the user-accessible components of the computers system face toward the front of each rack. The heated air from each of the computer systems is expelled in the space between each of the racks. The space between each of the racks is relatively narrow, as there are no user-accessible components between the racks. The racks are coupled to one another with a bar that may include at least some spring action to accommodate some movement of the racks toward or away from one another without the tipping of either rack.
US09148977B1
Audio-Video Equipment Stand, suitable for supporting audio and video equipment constructed from a metal alloy type material, is dominated by four vertical support columns which provide support to the audio-video equipment stand shelves, are characterized by their size material make up and the unique support device bound to the audio-video equipment stand shelves, are visually well proportioned reflecting their ability to accommodate a wide variety of audio and video equipment, with the addition of sub frame and support bracket configurations, enable the housing of the audio-video equipment stand shelves, in addition, the audio-video equipment stand has the provision for engaging the connectivity requirements of audio and video equipment, courtesy of the connection options integrated into the audio-video equipment stand, thus enabling all forms of supported audio and video equipment to receive power, ensuring correct operation of all audio and video equipment.
US09148973B2
An electronic device includes a bottom plate, an installation board, a circuit board, a battery, and a power supply control module. The power supply control module includes a control member and an activating member, and the activating member is pressed against the control member when the electronic device is assembled. So long as the control member remains pressed by the activating member, a flow of electrical power from the battery to the circuit board is permitted. When the electronic device is disassembled, the disassembly moves the activating member away from the activating member and cuts off the power from the battery to the circuit board, to avoid electrical short circuits or other damage that might otherwise occur if the flow of electrical power was maintained during disassembly.
US09148970B2
A power supply module adapted to supply power to a peripheral device includes a power supply and an output-structure detachably assembled to the power supply and electrically connected between the power supply and the peripheral device. The height of the output-structure relatively to the bottom portion of the power supply is adjustable and the power supply, output-structure and the peripheral device together form a concave combination-structure. As a result, by using a separated output-structure in the invention, the power supply is able to maneuverably adjust the interconnection position of the peripheral device and the power supply through the second circuit board. Meanwhile, the power supply has a larger usable space therein.
US09148969B2
A process for manufacturing silver nanowires is provided, comprising: providing a silver ink core component containing ≧60 wt % silver nanoparticles dispersed in a silver carrier; providing a shell component containing a film forming polymer dispersed in a shell carrier; providing a substrate; coelectrospinning the silver ink core component and the shell component depositing on the substrate a core shell fiber having a core and a shell surrounding the core, wherein the silver nanoparticles are in the core; and, treating the silver nanoparticles to form a population of silver nanowires, wherein the population of silver nanowires exhibit an average length, L, of ≧60 μm.
US09148968B2
When a housing of a waterproof main terminal is fixed onto the outside surface of a case with a screw, a through hole is sealed with a seal surface of a packing pressed onto the outside surface of the case. Furthermore, the elastic force of the packing placed so as to be in tight contact with the whole circumference of the terminal ensures high waterproofing performance between the terminal and the housing, so the one packing can perform waterproofing both between the case and the housing and between the terminal and the housing.
US09148967B2
An electronic device 100 includes: a first casing 101; a second casing 102; a hinge mechanism 120 having an opening and closing axial-component 126 and an inverting axial-component 128; and a support assisting section 150. The support assisting section 150 includes: an axial-component 141 on an extended line of the opening and closing axial-component 126 in a normally opened position; and an axial-component receiving section 151 that supports the axial-component 141 on a wall surface of a recess 156 in the normally opened position. The recess 156 is open on at least one of a front side and a rear side in the axial-component receiving section 151. The second casing 102 is rotated about the inverting axial-component 128, and the axial-component 141 is moved into or out of the recess 156 through the side on which the recess 156 is open.
US09148961B2
A solar cell panel is discussed. The solar cell panel includes a plurality of solar cells each including a substrate and an electrode part positioned on a surface of the substrate, an interconnector for electrically connecting at least one of the plurality of solar cells to another of the plurality of solar cells, and a conductive adhesive film including a resin and a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in the resin. The conductive adhesive film is positioned between the electrode part of the at least one of the plurality of solar cells and the interconnector to electrically connect the electrode part of the at least one of the plurality of solar cells to the interconnector. A width of the interconnector is equal to or greater than a width of the conductive adhesive film.
US09148954B2
A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body and an outer electrode. The ceramic body includes first and second principal surfaces, first and second lateral surfaces, and first and second end surfaces. The outer electrode is provided on the first principal surface. The outer electrode includes an underlying electrode layer containing Cu and glass, and a Cu plating layer. The underlying electrode layer is disposed on the first principal surface. The Cu plating layer is disposed on the underlying electrode layer. The Cu plating layer is thicker than the underlying electrode layer.
US09148949B2
A method of manufacturing an electronic textile (1) comprising the steps of: providing a textile carrier (2) comprising a plurality of conductor lines (6a-b); releasably attaching (101) the textile carrier (2) to a rigid support plate (20); providing (102) a conductive substance on the textile carrier (2) in a pattern forming a plurality of sets of connection pads (5a-b) on the textile carrier (2), each set of connection pads defining a component placement position for placement of an electronic component (3), and each set of connection pads (5a-b) comprising a connection pad overlapping one of the conductor lines, the connection pad having a connection pad length (Lcp) in a direction parallel to the conductor line and a connection pad width (Wcp) in a direction perpendicular to the conductor line, wherein the connection pad width (Wcp) is at least one percent of an extension (Wtc) of the textile carrier (2) in the direction perpendicular to the conductor line; automatically placing (103) electronic components (3) at the component placement positions; curing (104) the conductive substance to attach the electronic components (3) to the textile carrier (2), thereby forming the electronic textile (1) and removing (105) the electronic textile from the rigid support plate.
US09148932B2
A dimmer switch uses different fade rates when turning on or off lighting load depending on a device used to adjust the lighting load. For example, the dimmer switch uses a first fade rate when turning off a lighting load in response to an actuation of a local actuator or accessory switch and uses a second fade rate faster than the first fade rate when turning off the lighting load in response to an actuation of a connected three-way switch may be provided. The dimmer switch may slowly turn off the lighting load in response to an actuation of the actuator to provide an aesthetically pleasing reduction in the intensity of the lighting load. When a user actuates the three-way switch to turn off the lighting load, the dimmer switch quickly reduces the intensity of the lighting load to approximately zero percent as may be expected by the user.
US09148931B2
The present invention extends to independently programmable lights for use in gloves and to gloves that incorporate such lights. Each independently programmable light of the present invention can include a programmable controller that stores logic for controlling the light such as by changing the color emitted by the light or the on/off pattern of the light. The user of the glove can modify the logic within the programmable controller to customize the functionality of the light. These modifications can be made by connecting the programmable light or a dedicated control unit that connects to each programmable light to another computer system to transfer new or updated logic to a programmable controller for controlling the lights in a custom manner.
US09148928B2
There is provided a light emitting diode driver capable of improving power efficiency by using a resistor having a low power consumption rating while controlling an LED channel so that it has constant brightness stably. The light emitting diode driver includes: a power supplying unit converting an input voltage into a predetermined driving voltage so as to supply the driving voltage to an LED channel; and a driving unit amplifying a detection voltage detected based on a current from the LED channel by a predetermined gain and controlling the current flowing through the LED channel so that the amplified detection voltage has a level equal to that of a predetermined reference voltage.
US09148927B2
A light emitting element drive apparatus capable of outputting the lowest voltage satisfying drive conditions and having high light emitting efficiency and low power loss, and a portable apparatus using the same, comprising an LED drive apparatus to which LEDs of different drive voltages required for emitting light are connected in parallel and driving one or more LEDs, wherein the LED drive apparatus 10 has drive circuits connected to the corresponding LEDs among a plurality of LEDs and driving the corresponding LEDs with luminances based on set values and power supply circuits for deciding a drive voltage value required for the highest light emission among one or more LEDs driven to emit light based on drive states of drive circuits (for example terminal voltages of the current source) and supplying a drive voltage having at least the decided value to LEDs in parallel.
US09148912B2
A disinfecting and tidying device for a quilt includes a heating housing and a disinfecting unit. The heating housing includes a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover and the bottom cover respectively include a frame and heating members configured in the frame. Portions of the frames of the top cover and the bottom cover adjacent to the open are curved. The disinfecting unit is located in the heating housing. The disinfecting unit and the heating housing together define a disinfecting room for accommodating the quit. The disinfecting unit is a hollow structure and includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of disinfecting members. Ends of the upper plate and the lower plate adjacent to the open are connected with each other in a curved manner. The disinfecting and tidying device can be used to disinfect, dry and tidy the quilt easily and conveniently.
US09148909B2
The disclosure provides a mobile terminal, comprising: a fixed network access control module, configured to connect mobile terminal with analogue subscriber line and notify central processor that the mobile terminal is connected with fixed telephone network when analogue subscriber line is connected with analogue subscriber line interface, a frequency shift keying processing module, configured to identify the signaling from the analogue subscriber line, then send the signaling to the central processor, and to identify the signaling from the central processor, and then send the signaling to the analogue subscriber line, a call processing module, configured to extract the voice signal from the analogue subscriber line and send the voice signal to the voice output device of the mobile terminal to be played, and send the voice signal from the user to the analogue subscriber line, a mobile communication module, and a central processor.
US09148908B2
A method, wireless device and computer program product for expanding the coverage of a cellular network. A wireless device (e.g., cellular telephone) is able to communicate with a base station in a cell of the cellular network over a non-cellular interface via another wireless device in the cell through the use of multi-hopping. A wireless device may request permission to communicate with the base station over a non-cellular interface via hopping off another wireless device when its signal strength is below a threshold. Alternatively, a wireless device may receive a request to communicate with the base station over a non-cellular interface via hopping off the wireless device that sent the request when that wireless device has excess capacity in its bandwidth with the base station. By enabling wireless devices to communicate with a base station in such a manner, the effective coverage area of the cellular network is expanded and the effective capacity of the cellular network is improved.
US09148906B2
A User Equipment (UE) configured for multi-group communications is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE detects a plurality of cells. The UE also determines to use multiple groups of one or more cells. The UE further determines a primary secondary cell (PSCell) for a non-primary cell (non-PCell) group based on UE-specific radio resource control (RRC) signaling. The UE additionally receives information using the multiple groups.
US09148893B2
Techniques for managing the load of an access channel in a wireless communication system are described. In an aspect, the load of the access channel may be controlled by having each terminal regulates its use of the access channel (e.g., its rate of system access) based on a rate control algorithm (e.g., token bucket). The rate control algorithm may maintain information on past activities of a terminal and may regulate the use of the access channel by the terminal based on its past activities in order to control the access channel load and achieve fairness. The system may determine at least one parameter value for the rate control algorithm based on load conditions and may broadcast the at least one parameter value to terminals. Each terminal may regulate its use of the access channel based on the at least one parameter value received from the system.
US09148884B2
A mobile station (MS) receives in a sub-frame a first and second PDCCH, where the first PDCCH indicating a first PDSCH transmission on a first downlink component carrier (DCC) and the second PDCCH indicating a second PDSCH transmission on the second DCC, determines a first PUCCH resource based on a control channel element (CCE) of the first PDCCH and a second PUCCH resource based on a CCE of the second PDCCH when the first PDCCH and the second DCC are received in the sub-frame and transmits control information on HARQ using a single PUCCH resource (selected from the first and second PUCCH resource), where the first and second PUCCH resource are mapped on a single uplink component carrier corresponding to the first DCC, and the control information on HARQ includes information indicating an ACK or a NACK for each of downlink transport blocks transmitted on the first and second PDSCH.
US09148882B2
A user equipment (UE) in a communication system, and a method thereof. The method includes establishing; by a user equipment (UE), a first data connection associated with an access point name (APN); receiving, by the UE, a session management back-off time value when a request of a bearer resource modification or a bearer resource allocation for the established first data connection is rejected; starting, by the UE, a session management back-off timer according to the session management back-off time value, the session management back-off timer being associated with the established first data connection; if the UE receives a deactivate bearer context request message indicating that reactivation is requested, stopping the session management back-off timer if the session management back-off timer is running; and establishing, by the UE, a second data connection associated with the APN after stopping the session management back-off timer.
US09148876B2
A radio communication apparatus receives control information on one or more control channel elements (CCEs) with consecutive CCE number(s). The radio communication apparatus first-spreads a response signal with a sequence defined by a cyclic shift value that is determined among a plurality of cyclic shift values from an index of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), which is associated with a first CCE number of the one or more CCEs, and second-spreads the first-spread response signal with an orthogonal sequence that is determined among a plurality of orthogonal sequences from the index. One of cyclic shift values used for an orthogonal sequence is determined from an index of the PUCCH, which is associated with an odd CCE number, and another one of the cyclic shift values used for the same orthogonal sequence is determined from an index of the PUCCH, which is associated with an even CCE number.
US09148874B2
Radio transmission is performed even to a communication party whose bandwidth that can be used for transmission and reception is limited without having an influence of an offset of a DC component. A radio transmitter applied to an OFDMA communication system in which a plurality of different terminals performs communication using OFDM signals at the same time that includes a mapping part that allocates transmission power to each subcarrier, and also selects a subcarrier to which minimum power of the transmission power to be allocated is allocated and modulates transmission data in units of communication slots to output the modulated data; and a transmission part for transmitting radio signals including the modulated data using each of the subcarriers.
US09148871B2
Systems, methods, and devices for acknowledging communications from a plurality of devices for acknowledging communications from a plurality of devices are described herein. In some aspects, a group ACK includes a bitmap indicating whether a communication has been received from each of a plurality of apparatuses within a previous period. The previous period may comprise a time period since a previous ACK. In some aspects, group ACKs are transmitted pursuant to a schedule. For example, group ACKs may be transmitted a scheduled time after transmitting a beacon. In some aspects, a bitmap indicating whether a communication has been received from each of a plurality of apparatuses within a previous period may be transmitted in a beacon.
US09148870B2
A mobile communications radio receiver for multiple radio network operation includes an RF unit configured to generate a first down-converted signal from a radio signal received from a first radio network and a second down-converted signal from a radio signal received from a second radio network. Further, the mobile communications radio receiver includes a paging indicator channel demodulator configured to demodulate during a first period of time a paging indicator channel of the first radio network based on the first down-converted signal and for demodulating during a second period of time a paging indicator channel of the second radio network based on the second down-converted signal.
US09148868B2
A method, an apparatus, and a system for a location update are provided. When detecting that a location update needs to be performed in a first mobile communication network, a request message including instruction information is sent to a mobile management device in the first mobile communication network, so that the mobile management device in the first mobile communication network sends a request message to a mobile management device in a second mobile communication network when executing the location update, so as to trigger the mobile management device in the second mobile communication network to reset a periodic update timer, which implements that a location update of a single-card dual-standby user equipment is synchronously performed in the first mobile communication network and in the second mobile communication network.
US09148863B2
A mobile communication device configured for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network, and a controller module receives a message with an extension registration period only for the M2M communications from the service network via the wireless module and periodically performs a registration procedure according to the extension registration period only for the M2M communications.
US09148861B1
Methods and systems are disclosed that may help a base station to adjust forward-link data rates in a given sector based on transmission-power variations in neighboring sectors. An exemplary method involves a base station that serves a first sector: (a) determining a respective transmission power for each of two or more channels of a second sector, (b) detecting a transmission-power difference between at least two of the channels of the second sector, and (c) in response to detecting the transmission-power difference: (i) determining a data rate control (DRC) adjustment for the first sector based at least in part on the transmission-power difference; and using the determined DRC adjustment to determine a forward-link data rate for at least one access terminal in the first sector.
US09148860B2
A method and device for transmitting a power headroom report (PHR) by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system supporting a plurality of carriers. The method includes transmitting, to an eNode B (eNB), a power headroom report (PHR) related to the plurality of carriers configured for the UE. The power headroom report (PHR) comprises a first type power headroom (PH) and a second type power headroom (PH). While the first type power headroom (PH) is calculated for a power headroom report (PHR) related to a primary carrier and a non-primary carrier, the second type power headroom (PH) is calculated for a power headroom report (PHR) related to only the primary carrier. The second type power headroom (PH) is calculated for case of simultaneous transmission of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).
US09148856B2
A particular method includes transmitting a fetch trigger frame from a station to an access point. The method includes entering a power save mode at the station until a determination at the station that a fetch time associated with the station has elapsed. The access point is configured to communicate with one or more other stations during the fetch time. The method further includes, in response to the determination, exiting the power save mode and receiving one or more data frames from the access point at the station after exiting the power save mode.
US09148854B2
A method and system for saving power in a peer-to-peer group owner. The group owner uses an adaptive absence method for deciding the absence of the group owner based on the amount of data traffic in the network. The group owner periodically sends period of absence information with dynamic values to client devices, informing them of the dynamically changing period of absence.
US09148835B2
A communication networks including a plurality of small cell providing air interface infrastructure functionality is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of inter-small cell communication in accordance multiple air interfaces supported within individual small cells. Additionally, aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of intra-small cell communication in accordance with communication networks implementing multiple small cells. In other aspects, small cells coordinate handovers through the use of a controller, or by leveraging wireless connections created between the small cells. In further aspects, the small cells enable the utilization of multiple air interface standards within a small cell.
US09148834B2
A method for managing handover of a mobile station from a macro cell to a femto cell comprises selecting a candidate set of target femto cells from a plurality of femto cells by applying a plurality of different filters, each filter filtering by at least one femto cell attribute. The filters may be applied successively and arranged to remove all but the most likely candidate target femto cells from further consideration.
US09148832B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may obtain a measurement of a radio condition from a radio frequency signal received at a first antenna and enable receive diversity for further measurements of the radio condition when a metric of the radio condition does not meet a predefined threshold value. A probability of occurrence of an out-of-service state may be reduced by measuring the radio condition using further measurements using receiver diversity. The further measurements of the radio condition may be based on whether one version of the signal has greater energy than the other versions of the signal. The further measurements of the radio condition may obtained by combining received versions of the signal utilizing combination diversity to obtain a combined signal strength/energy.
US09148821B2
A service manager intended to be positioned in a telecommunications network implementing a satellite and one or more user networks, the communication protocol relying on the 3G standard or implementing TFT and PDP rules, comprises at least the following modules: a link configuration module which contains one or more static configurations that can be modified by a user, an external-events manager module, a traffic detector module, a configured-TFTs traffic detector plugin, a TFTs management module, a Secondary PDP context management module.
US09148819B2
A sub-frame is generated for each MSDU to be aggregated in an A-MSDU and the sub-frame is stored in place in memory. For each sub-frame, an MSDU descriptor identifying the memory location of the sub-frame is stored in a queue. When a transmit opportunity for an MPDU arises, a DMA engine sequentially transfers the components of sub-frames stored in memory to a PHY layer using a list or other sequence of DMA descriptors obtained from at least a subset of the MSDU descriptors. Thus, these MSDU descriptors allow the aggregation of A-MSDUs to be initiated while the MSDUs are in place in the same memory in which they were initially stored.
US09148814B2
Explicit congestion notification (ECN) data that is utilized in a core portion of a cellular communication network has known issues associated with a first use scenario and an infrequent use scenario. A probe comprising probe data and a data structure for storing certain ECN data can be transmitted in order to mitigate these issues. Transmitting the probe in response to a communication session being established with a device of a network can mitigate the first use issue. Transmitting the probe in response to expiration of a probe timer in connection with a network traffic idle period can mitigate the infrequent use scenario.
US09148812B2
A method includes performing, responsive to entry into a cell, with a selected interval a number of measurements during a time period. The method also includes ceasing, after expiration of the time period, to perform the measurements that were performed responsive to the entry into the cell. The selected interval may be a maximum interval during which a measurement should be performed. Another method includes determining information to be used by a user equipment to perform, responsive to entry by the user equipment into a cell, a number of measurements using a selected interval during a time period. This other method includes signaling the information to the user equipment. Apparatus, computer program products, and systems are also disclosed.
US09148802B2
A system and method for automatically providing an indication of network delay is disclosed. Software integrated into a user device is configured to identify one or more network delay indications with respect to an HTTP communication made over a network communication path, and automatically performing a network diagnostic test in response to the one or more network delay indications. The network diagnostic test generates connection information for the network communication path, and the user device provides the connection information for display to a user in a web browser.
US09148795B2
Reporting methods well suited for reporting control information in a wireless system are described. A wireless terminal reports information to a serving base station, e.g., a base station attachment point, according to a reporting schedule. The reporting schedule includes a plurality of different types of fixed type information reports which communicate information of a type dictated by the reporting schedule. The reporting schedule also includes flexible reports at predetermined locations within the reporting schedule. The wireless terminal selects the type of report to be communicated in the flexible report, e.g., as a function of a report prioritization operation. Information identifying the wireless terminal's report type selection for the flexible report is jointly coded along with the report body information and communicated in the same dedicated control channel segment. The reporting schedule repeats over time. In some embodiments there are more fixed reports than flexible reports in one iteration of the schedule.
US09148794B2
Upon receipt of sounding signals from a plurality of communication devices including a communication partner device, an evaluation value processing unit calculates an evaluation value indicative of a characteristic of a transmission path based on the sounding signals from the plurality of communication devices. A transmission scheme setting unit sets, based on the evaluation value, adaptive array transmission that achieves both null steering and beamforming or beamforming dedicated transmission as a transmission scheme to the communication partner device.
US09148792B2
This disclosure is directed to a dynamic certification system. In general, a device may transmit a request message to a cloud spectrum broker/licensed shared access (CSB/LSA) controller requesting certification for operation in shared wireless spectrum. The device may then receive a response message containing information on available certifications for operating in the shared wireless spectrum. If at least one available certification is determined to be usable by the device, then, depending on the system configuration, the device may claim an available certification (e.g., by obtaining an electronic certification document, token, etc.) or may request to use an available certificate, which may be confirmed by the CSB/LSA controller. The device may then operate in the shared wireless spectrum based on conditions set forth in the certificate.
US09148789B2
It is provided a solution for controlling interference in a cellular telecommunication system. An interference controller of the cellular telecommunication utilizes interference level information received from another cellular telecommunication system in controlling interference towards a target cell suffering from high interference which degrades the grade of service in the target cell. The interference level information comprises information on levels of interference between neighboring cells of the other cellular telecommunication system. The interference controller analyzes the received interference level information and controls communication links in cells of the cellular telecommunication system determined to cause the highest interference towards the target cell. The cells determined to cause the highest interference towards the target cell are determined from the received interference level information.
US09148772B2
A mobile device has several ways to determine position, some of which rely on interaction with the network. Once mobile device establishes a call, the call may remain on the network access technology and band over which the call was established, even if the call requires services not supported by the network access technology and/or band. So, when a call requires a position determination (e.g. emergency call), the mobile device selects a network access technology and band which will potentially improve the probability and accuracy of position determination, even if interaction with the network is not required because other position determination techniques (e.g. GPS) may be available.
US09148768B2
A communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention includes a brainwave sensing device that has sensors positioned on a user which can wirelessly communicate the mental state(s) of the user through a signal conditioner to portable electronic device. Subsequently, when the portable electronic device receives signals from a communication system, such as a call or a message, the calls or messages can be either be allowed or interrupted and stored depending on the mental state of the user. Thus, by using the mental state of the user, the portable electronic device can control the communication between the device and a telephone or message system to prevent interruptions during periods of intense focus, for example. In addition, this application provides methods for operating the communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention.
US09148752B2
Techniques are presented herein to coordinate ranging exchanges between base stations in order to enable any number of wireless devices in the vicinity of the base stations to obtain signals associated with ranging exchanges between base stations, time-of-departure report messages transmitted by the base stations to each other and time-of-arrival report messages transmitted by the base stations to each other, for use in computing the location of the wireless devices. Based on the multi-channel time-of-arrivals computed for the wireless device with respect to each base station, the multi-channel time-of-arrivals contained in the time-of-arrival report messages transmitted between base stations and the known locations of the base stations, a physical location is computed for the wireless device.
US09148748B2
A method and apparatus for triggering at least one machine type communications (MTC) application using at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a triggering message including a device trigger (DT) and a maximum delayed response time value from a core network entity (CN), storing the DT in the WTRU, initiating a timer in the WTRU set to the maximum delayed response time value, and on a condition that the timer expires, the WTRU transitioning to a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode and dispatching the DT to the MTC application.
US09148747B2
A communication apparatus capable of executing a wireless communication includes an identification unit, a display unit, a notification unit, and a connection unit. The identification unit identifies a communication partner of the wireless communication. The display unit displays, if an external apparatus which is the communication partner of the wireless communication is identified by the identification unit, a confirmation screen for allowing a user to confirm whether to execute the wireless communication with the external apparatus. The notification unit notifies, if the confirmation screen is displayed by the display unit, the external apparatus that the user is confirming whether to execute the wireless communication. The connection unit executes, if the user issues an instruction via the confirmation screen to execute the wireless communication with the external apparatus, connection processing for executing the wireless communication with the external apparatus.
US09148737B2
A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid (1) and an external device (2). The external device (2) continuously sends short range power-off commands (4) to the hearing aid (1). Under normal operation of a hearing aid, the range is too short to power-off the hearing. When the hearing aid (1) is placed in close proximity of the external device (2), the hearing aid is within range (3) and will consequently power-off. The method further provides a method of controlling a hearing aid.
US09148733B2
A hearing aid includes: a cue filter having an input that is provided with an output from the BTE sound input transducer; an adaptive feedback canceller configured to provide an output modelling a feedback path between the output transducer and the BTE sound input transducer, wherein the output modelling the feedback path is provided to a subtractor for subtraction of the output modelling the feedback path from the output of the BTE sound input transducer to obtain a difference, the subtractor outputting the difference to the cue filter; and a feedback and cue controller connected to the adaptive feedback canceller and the cue filter, wherein the feedback and cue controller is configured to control the cue filter to reduce a difference between an output of the ITE microphone and a combined output that is obtained using at least the cue filter.
