US09146100B2
A wind turbine condition monitoring method includes the steps of generating in advance a reference curve for normal operation of a transmission chain of a wind turbine using position information, measuring position information and generating an actual condition monitoring curve; comparing the actual condition monitoring curve with the reference curve, and determining the current condition of the wind turbine from the comparison. With the proposed monitoring method, monitoring with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved with minimal or no addition of hardware, such as an A/D module; moreover, computational task is greatly reduced, so that the monitoring system can be more easily integrated into the main control system. In addition, the position measurement system is more stable than a vibration measurement system, and the monitoring result is more reliable.
US09146094B2
Measuring with a system having retroreflector targets and a laser tracker includes storing a list of coordinates for three targets and at least one added point; capturing on a photosensitive array a portion of the light emitted by a light beam and reflected off the targets; obtaining spot positions on a photosensitive array of a tracker camera from the reflected light; determining a correspondence between three spot positions on the photosensitive array and the coordinates of the targets; directing a beam of light from the tracker to the targets based at least in part on the coordinates of the first target and the first spot position; measuring 3-D coordinates of the targets with the tracker; determining 3-D coordinates of the at least one added point based at least in part on the measured 3-D coordinates of the targets and the coordinates of the at least one added point.
US09146092B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring extruded products moving in an inline extrusion process so as to affect quality control of the process by continuously measuring dimensional parameters and determining the existence of contaminants in the extrusion. The apparatus makes use of Terahertz radiation, which is adapted to provide a curtain of parallel rays of the radiation, which is scanned across the product as the product passes there-through in a linear manner. The composition of the omitted radiation received after the scanning process is subject to an imaging analysis to determine the dimensional parameters and contaminant free integrity of the extrusion process.
US09146082B2
An intelligent target comprising a target body suspended from a support structure, at least one sensor affixed to the target body that detects a hit in an area of the target body, a controller, in communication with each sensor, that records the hits detected by the sensor and the area of the target body that was hit and issues a release command when a predetermined number of hits has been reached, and a release mechanism operatively connected with the controller and which releases the target body and allows the body to fall from the support structure on receipt of the release command from the controller.
US09146080B2
A blast/impact mitigation shield includes, in one example, a first body including a damping material in a solid state and which transitions to a viscous fluid state when stressed beyond a critical stress and a second body including damping material in a solid state and which transitions to a viscous fluid state when stressed. A plunger plate has blades extending outwardly therefrom and is located between the first and second bodies.
US09146078B2
An adapter device for use in a combat training system communicates between an anti-personnel training device and a user monitoring device in a training exercise. The anti-personnel training device may be a simulated improvised explosive device including a trigger and an output arranged to output a simulated attack, for example light and sound representative of an explosion, in response to activation of the trigger. The user monitoring device, for example existing training products, such as the Stressvest™ system, the IR Tactical System™, or the MILES™ system, is worn by a user and includes an input which receives a hit signal indicative of the user being hit and an indicator output arranged to indicate the user has been hit. The adapter device has an input sensor to sense the simulated attack of the anti-personnel training device and a signal output to output a hit signal detectable by the user monitoring device.
US09146077B2
A sighting device replicates the spread pattern of pellets exiting the barrel of a shotgun. The sighting device includes a light source (preferably a laser) and a power source connectable to the light source. The device may also include a mount to attach the sighting device to a shotgun. The sighting device preferably projects a circular pattern of individual light beams wherein the circumference of the circular pattern increases as the light beams move farther from the sighting device to replicate the spread of shotgun pellets. The sighting device may also project a beam of light in the center of the pattern.
US09146074B1
A sling mount or attachment for the rear portion of a firearm is provided. The sling mount includes a cap and a base, removably coupled by screws around a buffer tube of a firearm. The sling mount further includes a connection loop positioned below the opening created by coupling the cap to the base. In some embodiments, the connection loop extends in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the buffer tube, and is centrally located underneath it. A user may attach a sling to the connection loop via a snaphook in order to accomplish a one-point or two-point sling design.
US09146073B1
A sling for suspending an archery bow from an archer's shoulder comprises a pair of retracting mechanisms, each being attached to a shoulder pad using cords. The cords balance the bow while being suspended from the shoulder pad. The sling allows a supported carry position for the bow about the upper leg and hip of the archer. When ready to shoot an arrow, as the bow is brought to the shooting position, the shoulder pad slides off the archer's shoulder allowing the retracting mechanisms to draw the sling out to an offset position. In this manner, as the bow is taken from the archer's shoulder, the sling is quietly drawn tight between the retracting mechanisms and out of the way of the archer's use of the bow.
US09146065B2
A reset apparatus for use in a firearm, comprising: a compression spring; a biasing member has a first end and a distal end wherein the compression spring is attached proximate to the first end of the biasing member; a notch disposed on the biasing member for cooperation with a trigger bar, wherein the trigger bar comprises a longitudinal axis defined by a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion is mechanically cooperated with a firearm trigger; and wherein the compression spring communicates a force through the biasing member and onto the trigger bar in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trigger bar.
US09146058B2
A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.
US09146054B2
A refrigerator having a door that includes a liquid dispensing system. A gas cylinder mounted on the refrigerator provides regulated gas flow to ports on the dispensing system. A bottle with a dispense head attached then can have liquid displaced by utilization of a valve component of the dispense head.
US09146033B2
An improved assembly for illuminating knobs on an appliance is provided. Light from a light source is positioned below a surface of the appliance to shine through a light transmissive insert in an aperture in the surface to illuminate a bottom surface of a control knob and/or part of the surface of the appliance. A fluid seal is maintained by the assembly between one side of the appliance surface where the knob is positioned, and an opposing side of the appliance surface where the light source is positioned.
US09146032B2
A toilet lighting system and method is disclosed. The lighting system can include a light source directed into a toilet waste container to seek to provide a predetermined lighting effect. One such effect can be to obscure or mask the appearance of waste in the toilet waste container, which, depending on the particular system, can render the user experience less unappealing and even entertaining, more efficient, and/or less wasteful or messy. The light source can be predetermined and mounted to provide various types of effects when material in the toilet waste container is exposed to the light from the light source. The toilet lighting system can be waterproof and capable of being exposed to high fluid pressure when pressure washed. The toilet lighting system can be powered in a number of ways, including by battery, solar, wind, geothermal, or other power supplying systems. Power supplying systems can be switched on and off in any number of ways, including by providing a strobing or intermittent lighting effect. The system can be provided in fixed or portable toilets.
US09146028B2
A linear multi-color LED illumination device is described herein as including a rotational hinge, which allows a power cable of the illumination device to enter and exit through a rotational axis of the hinge, and which does not require special tools or an independent locking mechanism to secure in place.
US09146023B2
A lighting module comprising a light source, electrical contacting means electrically connected to the light source and a heat spreader in thermal contact with the light source, the socket comprising at least a first set and a second set of socket contact means for providing an electrical interface with the electrical contacting means of the lighting module, wherein the socket is configured to retain the lighting module in a predetermined position in which electrical contact between the electrical contacting means of the lighting module and one of the first and second set of socket contact means is achieved and electrical contact between the electrical contacting means of the lighting module and the other one of the first and second set of socket contact means is prevented. A lighting module to be received in the socket and a luminaire comprising a lighting module mounted in a socket.
US09146020B2
A modular controller for a lamp allows for the easy addition of remote control to multiple lamp fixture designs. The controller housing protects circuitry from shorts and has a window included for receiving remote control signals. The window is detachable and can be re-oriented relative to the controller housing to accommodate different lamp fixture designs. The position of the sensors within the controller housing can also be reconfigured, and it is also possible to connect external sensors to the controller for situations where sensors must be placed in a tight space. In some embodiments, the lamp power supply is incorporated within the modular controller, saving space and cost, and allowing for dimming of individual lamps.
US09146019B2
This invention relates to a light guide lens adapted for guiding light emitted from a light emitting element. The light guide lens includes a base portion disposed on a light axis (L) and including a light incident surface, and a light guide portion surrounding the light axis (L) and disposed on the periphery of the base portion. The light guide portion includes an inner peripheral edge connected to the base portion, an outer peripheral edge opposite to the inner peripheral edge, and at least one light control unit connecting the inner and outer peripheral edges and having first and second light guide sections so as to form a varied light pattern.
US09146017B2
There is provided a lighting device and a method to manufacture such a lighting device. The inventive concept is based on manufacturing a lighting device on an at least partly flexible sheet assembly which is rolled into a tube, such that the light source of the lighting device is arranged within the tube. The flexible sheet assembly is arranged such that the tube provides a light mixing chamber and light exit surface for the lighting device. Thus, the tube shaped lighting device instantly delivers the necessary optical and mechanical properties for easy assembly and the functionality of a light engine.
US09146004B2
A support bracket for a cabin air compressor (CAC) assembly includes a CAC mounting portion formed substantially orthogonal to an access portion and a structural support portion. A cross-support bracket mounting portion is formed at an angle relative to the access portion. An upper lug portion is formed at an angle relative to the access portion and substantially orthogonal to an upper lug. A plurality of CAC mounting holes is formed in the CAC mounting portion. The CAC mounting holes are distributed in an arc configuration along a CAC mounting hole circle radius. A plurality of lower slotted holes and an upper slotted hole are formed in the cross-support bracket mounting portion. A ratio of the CAC mounting hole circle radius to a length defined between the lower slotted holes and the upper slotted hole is between 5.93 and 6.25.
US09145995B2
Adapter (3) for connecting a receptacle connector to a connection socket of a dialysis machine, each provided with two fluid lines, whose ends are concentric on the connector and non-concentric and distant from each other on the socket. The adapter (3) has concentric first (301) and second (302) adapter ribs, the first forming a circular chamber open towards the outside, in the bottom of which a first orifice is produced, while the second forms an annular chamber open towards the outside, in the bottom of which a second orifice is produced. The adapter also has first and second connection channels (306, 307) isolated from each other, in which the first and second orifices coming from the first and second annular chambers open out. Each channel (306, 307) includes a connecting piece (308, 309) consisting of a circular tube, for introduction into the reception elements of the coupling socket (2).
US09145991B2
A thread structure of an aerator for a water faucet, wherein based on the pitch, the major diameter and the pitch diameter of the metric and imperial threads of water faucets and the variation tolerance, universal measurements of the corresponding pitch, major diameter and pitch diameter and the variation tolerance for the aerator are calculated.
US09145988B2
A brazing ring is provided and includes ring material including an aluminum-zinc-silicon alloy having a first melting point and flux material contained within the ring material having a second melting point, which is substantially lower than the first melting point, the ring material being formed such that the flux material is exposed outwardly to a heat source and such that, upon heating, flux material melts before the ring material.
US09145970B2
There is provided a control device for an automatic transmission configured to automatically shift a transmission of a driving force of a motor in response to a driving state. The automatic transmission includes a synchromesh mechanism configured to couple gear pairs and a rotary shaft to transmit the driving force of the motor to the gear pairs and a switching apparatus configured to switch a coupling state of the gear pairs and the rotary shaft. A preload control unit is configured to operate the switching apparatus to apply a preload to the synchromesh mechanism when a shift transmission request is detected. A shift control unit is configured to operate the switching apparatus to apply a shift load greater than the preload to the synchromesh mechanism after the preload is applied to the synchromesh mechanism.
US09145966B2
An automatic transmission pump assembly includes a torque converter housing and pinion that rotate about a first axis, an idler engaged with the pinion, a gear engaged with the idler, shaft secured to the gear, and a pump rotor secured to the shaft and that rotates about a second axis offset from the first axis.
US09145964B2
The invention relates to a bevel gear wheel (1) of a bevel gear unit, each tooth (2) of which comprises a load flank (3) and a non-working flank (4), wherein the teeth (2) have a helical or spiral tooth trace, in particular a curved tooth longitudinal line, and the teeth (2), in particular the upper meshing region of the teeth, have an octoid tooth shape or a spherical involute tooth shape, and the teeth have an excess material quantity (11) on the load flanks (4) in order to reinforce the load flanks (4), in particular such that the axis (9) that runs through the tooth tip-bisecting point A1 of the tooth tip transverse line (23) and through the midpoint of the gear wheel exhibits asymmetry of the teeth (2). The invention further relates to a method for producing a bevel gear wheel (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the tooth geometry is produced by a four-axis or multi-axis method, in particular a five-axis method.
US09145962B2
A first tubular shaft is placed on a radially outer side of a countershaft. A second tubular shaft is placed on a radially outer side of the first tubular shaft. A first driven gear is provided at one end portion of the first tubular shaft and is meshed with a first drive gear. A second driven gear is provided at one end portion of the second tubular shaft and is meshed with a second drive gear. A second secondary coupling portion is provided at the countershaft. A second primary coupling portion is provided at the other end portion of the first tubular shaft. The second primary coupling portion is engageable with the second secondary coupling portion. A third primary coupling portion is provided at the other end portion of the second tubular shaft. The third primary coupling portion is engageable with the second secondary coupling portion.
US09145955B2
A reducing device having a cable or a belt and cable, providing a high reduction ratio, and including: two driving drums; two sheave wheels; at least one driving cable traveling from a first driving drum to one sheave wheel, from the one sheave wheel to the second driving drum, from the second driving drum to the other sheave wheel, and from the other sheave wheel to the first driving drum; a driven cable, including one strand which travels from a fork of the one sheave wheel to a driven wheel, and one strand which travels from the driven wheel to a fork of the other sheave wheel. The driving drums have different diameters and/or different rotation speeds so rotation thereof causes movement of the sheave wheels driving the driven cable, and rotation movement of the driven wheel. The reducing device is applicable, for example, to robots and haptic interfaces.
US09145951B2
A power transmitting apparatus for a vehicle may include a variable connecting device including a first clutch and a second clutch and selectively outputting torque of an engine through the first clutch and/or the second clutch, an input device including first and second input shafts selectively connected to the engine through the first and second clutches, and a speed output device including a first output shaft, a first speed output unit with first and second synchronizer modules, a second output shaft, and a second speed output unit with third, fourth, and fifth synchronizer modules. In the power transmitting apparatus, one seventh speed gear engaged with any one input gear on the first input shaft and another seventh speed gear engaged with any one input gear on the second input shaft are disposed on the first or second output shaft.
US09145932B2
A ratchet wheel for a tightener in the field of mechanics, which addresses the problems existing in conventional tighteners where the ratchet wheel tends to be shifted to offset or dislocate the reel. The ratchet wheel for the tightener includes a wheel body which is of a round-disk shape and has several ratchets along the edge thereof. Axial holes are set at the wheel body to pass the reel. Connecting parts are disposed at the ends of the axial holes to protrude vertically from the end face of the ratchet wheel. The connecting parts could be embedded onto the handle or support of the tightener. The ratchet wheel for the tightener is equipped with the advantages such as firm connection and high reliability.
US09145929B2
A piston subassembly for operating a clutch of a transmission including a piston, a compensation dam, wherein the piston is axially moveable with respect to the compensation dam, and a clip operatively affixed to the piston, the clip operatively arranged between the piston and the compensation dam, the clip including at least one spring element for exerting a force between the dam and the piston to pull the piston axially away from the compensation dam, wherein the compensation dam is included on a transmission shaft, the compensation dam including a radially inner flange having a slot, wherein the slot is operatively arranged to engage with a radial protrusion on the transmission shaft for forming a twist-lock between the compensation dam and the shaft.
US09145923B2
A load coupling for adjusting torsional natural frequency of a power train includes a first flange having a plurality of annularly arranged connecting holes, a second flange having a plurality of annularly arranged connecting holes and a shaft that extends between the first flange and the second flange. A threaded bore hole is defined within one of the first flange or the second flange radially outward from the plurality of connecting holes. A first threaded plug is seated within the threaded bore hole. The first threaded plug includes a turning end that is axially separated from a contact end. A second threaded plug is seated within the threaded bore hole. The second threaded plug includes a turning end that is axially separated from a contact end. The contact end of the first threaded plug is axially loaded against the contact end of the second threaded plug.
US09145919B2
A speed-reduction transmission bearing includes a first outer race and a second outer race, each having a different number of inner teeth and outer teeth and being attached to each other, rolling elements set between the first and second outer races to prevent separation between the first and second outer races in axial or radial direction, an inner race rotatably mounted within the first and second outer races, and a wave generator rotatable to push the inner race, forcing the outer teeth of the inner race to partially mesh with the inner teeth of the first and second outer race. Thus, by means of rotation of a tooth number difference, the invention achieves high reduction ratio transmission.
US09145918B2
A split rolling element guide for a bearing assembly for a balance shaft of an internal combustion engine, having two axial support faces and a plurality of axial cross members defining rolling element pockets. A plurality of radial cutouts at each pocket increase flexibility of the cage and allow for greater opening of the cage at the split portion.
US09145916B2
An axial roller bearing, in particular an axial needle bearing, having a first annular bearing disk and a second annular bearing disk that are each made of a thin-walled sheet steel and are arranged at a distance from one another on a common center axis, and a plurality of rolling elements, arranged next to one another, that roll between the axial inner sides—implemented as races—of the two bearing disks and that are held at uniform distances from one another by a bearing cage. The bearing disks are implemented as disk springs that deflect as a function of load and have races positioned at an angle, and are arranged relative to one another such that the rolling elements have low-friction point contact in the unloaded state of the axial roller bearing and only have load-bearing line contact with the races in the fully loaded state.
US09145904B2
Fluid regulator systems having reset apparatus and methods are described herein. An example reset apparatus for use with a fluid regulator system includes a first valve having an inlet to receive a loading fluid and an outlet in fluid communication with a loading chamber of a fluid regulator, and a second valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the loading chamber of the fluid regulator and an outlet in fluid communication with a vent.
US09145903B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes an accumulator having a first plate with a first plurality of holes and a second plate with a second plurality of holes. The second plate is positioned at an offset from the first plate, and the second plate is moveable relative to the first plate to adjust a fluid pressure. The accumulator also includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending between the first and second plates, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend through the first and second plurality of holes.
US09145896B2
An axial flow fan includes a first lead wire engaging portion configured to be engaged with a plurality of lead wires such that the lead wires are pulled out therefrom into an outer space defined between a first flange and a second flange of a fan housing, a second lead wire engaging portion configured to be engaged with the plurality of lead wires such that the lead wires are pulled out toward the other side in the axial direction where the second flange is positioned, and a third lead wire engaging portion configured to be engaged with the plurality of lead wires such that the lead wires are pulled out in the axial direction toward one side where the first flange is positioned. The third lead wire engaging portion is formed in the first flange at a given distance from the first lead wire engaging portion.
US09145894B2
In a magnetic coupling pump including a closed impeller, and a casing that houses the impeller in such a way that the impeller is rotatable around a rotation axis and movable in an axis direction in which the rotation axis extends, reduction in the rotational frequency of the impeller can be suppressed even if thrust balance collapses temporarily and the impeller and the casing come into contact with each other. A tapered surface (24) or (55) is formed in at least a portion of at least one of a surface (24) or (53) of the impeller (10) and a surface (66) or (86) of a pump casing (60) that faces each other in an axis direction (Da) so that the distance between both the faces varies gradually as it goes in a radial direction (Dr) perpendicular to the axis direction (Da).
US09145889B2
A scroll compressor is provided that may include a discharge cover that separates a suction space and a discharge space of an airtight container. The discharge cover may be inserted into a fixed scroll to be fixedly coupled thereto, reducing an amount of components, such as a gasket and fastening bolts required to fix the discharge cover, and an assembly time, reducing overall production costs. Also, as fastening bolts are not used, a width corresponding to a space for bolts may be reduced in the fixed scroll, whereby a phenomenon in which the fixed scroll is heated by a discharge refrigerant within the discharge space may be reduced, reducing suction loss of the refrigerant sucked into the compression chamber and improving compressor efficiency. Also, a size of the fixed scroll may be reduced, reducing a weight of the fixed scroll, and a weight of the overall compressor.
US09145887B2
An energy extraction system for a rotational surface including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis and configured to rotatably couple to the rotational surface and an energy extraction mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a cam rotatable about the rotational axis and an eccentric mass coupled to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis, the eccentric mass cooperatively formed by a first and a second section, the eccentric mass operable between a connected mode wherein the first and second sections are adjacent and a disconnected mode wherein the first and second sections are separated. The energy extraction mechanism is connected to the cam and is statically coupled to the rotating surface, wherein the energy extraction mechanism configured to extract energy from relative rotation between the energy extraction mechanism and the cam.
US09145886B2
An electric vacuum pump backup control system includes a brake on/off switch, a primary electric vacuum pump control interfacing with the brake on/off switch, a secondary electric vacuum pump control interfacing with the brake on/off switch and the primary electric vacuum pump control and an electric vacuum pump interfacing with the primary electric vacuum pump control.
US09145885B2
A reciprocating pump, actuated by an expandable material, can be used to pump well fluids from a wellbore toward the surface of the earth. The expandable material can include piezoelectric, electrostriction, magnetostrictive, or piezomagnetic material. By using the expandable material, the pump can be sufficiently small to fit in various types of tubing within a wellbore.
US09145879B2
The present invention refers to an acoustic filter for reciprocating compressor and, in special, a suction acoustic filter containing at least one inlet pipeline (21), at least one outlet pipeline (22), and at least one intermediate pipeline (42). Said acoustic filter (1) comprises at least two horizontal chambers (5, 6), wherein said chambers are interconnected by an intermediate pipeline (42), which has a superior portion (421) with a length that is equivalent to approximately 75% to 98% of the height of the first horizontal chamber (5) and an inferior portion (422) with a length that is equivalent to approximately 45% to 80% of the height of the second horizontal chamber (6).
US09145877B2
A refrigerant compressor system including a prime mover, a compressor, and an unloader device that couples the compressor to the prime mover. The unloading device includes a centrifugal clutch and an electric clutch.
US09145873B1
The geothermal energy generator system is a closed loop, binary cycle power generating plant that utilizes heat from a geothermal heat well to convert a working medium of gas, e.g., CO2, and liquid, e.g., H2O, into steam to produce energy. The geothermal energy generator system includes a medium preparation subsystem that cools recycled working medium to a predetermined temperature. The cooled working medium is selectively fed to a carbonation subsystem permitting the gas to dissolve into the liquid at the predetermined temperature. The carbonated working medium flows through a heat exchange pipe section in the geothermal heat well to produce high pressure steam and gas or hot medium. The hot medium passes through a power generating subsystem containing a primary power generating assembly, a secondary power generating assembly, and a tertiary power generating assembly arranged in series to maximize usage of heat from the working medium and produce energy.
US09145869B2
A pitch bearing is described for connecting a blade of a wind turbine to a hub of the wind turbine to allow a rotation of the blade about a longitudinal axis, which pitch bearing includes a console housing arranged at a conjunction of the hub and an end section of the blade, which console housing encloses a plurality of planar sliding surfaces arranged around an opening in the hub. Further described is a wind turbine including at least one blade attached to a hub via such pitch bearing. A method of performing maintenance on a pitch bearing is described where a part of the pitch bearing is removed while leaving the blade and the remaining parts of the pitch bearing in place; and the part is replaced after a maintenance step has been carried out.
US09145867B2
A system for installing a blade insert between a root portion and a tip portion of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The system may include a root cradle assembly configured to support the root portion of the rotor blade and a tip cradle assembly configured to support the tip portion of the rotor blade. At least one of the tip cradle assembly or the root cradle assembly may be movable relative to the other of the tip cradle assembly or the root cradle assembly to allow the tip portion to be spaced apart from the root portion after the rotor blade has been divided between the root and tip portions. In addition, the system may include an insert cradle assembly configured to support a blade insert for the rotor blade. The insert cradle assembly may be configured to be positioned between the root cradle assembly and the tip cradle assembly so as to position the blade insert between the root portion and the tip portion.
US09145864B2
A stop/start system of a vehicle can issue auto stop commands and auto start commands. An engine of the vehicle is auto stopped in response to the auto stop commands and auto started in response to the auto start commands. The stop/start system can prevent an auto stop of the engine based on a predicted stop duration for a predicted stop location for the vehicle such that the engine remains running when the predicted stop duration is less than a threshold duration and the vehicle is stopped in a vicinity of the predicted stop location.
US09145863B2
A method for controlling automatic shut off of an engine includes determining if a control system of a propulsion-generating vehicle is operating in a remote control mode or an onboard control mode. The operations of the vehicle are remotely controlled from an off-board source when the control system is in the remote control mode. The operations of the vehicle are controlled from onboard the vehicle when the control system is in the onboard control mode. The method also includes deactivating an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the control system being in or switched to the remote control mode. The AESS device automatically turns off an engine of the vehicle when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time. The AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated.
US09145850B2
Disclosed is a power system comprising a condensation injection system positioned downstream of an EGR cooler. The condensation injection system comprises a condensation pump and a condensation injector. The condensation injector is positioned downstream of the condensation pump. The condensation pump is configured to pump the condensation to the condensation injector, and the condensation injector is configured to inject the condensation into the intake gas, the intake gas being a combination of a fresh intake gas and a recirculated portion of an exhaust gas.
US09145841B2
In a low-pressure EGR system, a mechanical stopper limits a rotation range of a low-pressure EGR regulating valve at a limit opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve on its fully-open side and outside an EGR amount adjustment opening degree range of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve. After an engine is stopped, a failure detection unit rotates the low-pressure EGR regulating valve to its fully-open position to such an extent that rotation of a linking device is prevented by the mechanical stopper, and is configured to determine that a failure has occurred when an opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve detected by a low-pressure EGR opening sensor is different from the limit opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve.
US09145824B2
An engine system having a compressor coupled to an engine and supplying air to an intake manifold, a throttle controlling the supply of air from the compressor to the intake manifold, a vacuum reservoir, an aspirator having its motive section in fluid communication with the air intake system upstream of the compressor and its discharge section in fluid communication downstream of the compressor and a suction port in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir, a compressor recirculation valve having a pneumatic control chamber in fluid communication with downstream air from the compressor and in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir, a gate valve controlling the fluid communication of the pneumatic control chamber of the compressor recirculation valve with the downstream air and the vacuum reservoir, and a bleed line having a bleed valve in fluid communication with the vacuum reservoir and the pneumatic control chamber of the compressor recirculation valve.
US09145811B2
A thermoelectric generator apparatus may include a high temperature member having an exhaust pipe, a ring-shaped first heat transfer plate surrounding the exhaust pipe, and a plurality of first heat exchange pins radially extending outwards from the first heat transfer plate in a predetermined degree, a low temperature member having an internal casing surrounding the exhaust pipe, an external casing surrounding the internal casing with a predetermined gap, a ring-shaped second heat transfer plate contacting with an internal wall of the internal casing, and a plurality of second heat exchange pins radially extending inwards from the second heat transfer plate in a predetermined angle, and a plurality of thermoelectric modules being in contact with the first heat exchange pins and the second heat exchange pins so as to generate electricity using a thermoelectric phenomenon caused by a temperature gap between the first heat exchange pins and the second heat exchange pins.
US09145810B2
To homogeneously diffuse, in the exhaust gas, an additive that is fed into a device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. An upstream device for purifying exhaust gas and a downstream device for purifying exhaust gas are connected together through an exhaust pipe having a sectional area smaller than that of the upstream device for purifying exhaust gas and that of the downstream device for purifying exhaust gas, a connection passage portion is provided to connect the exhaust outlet of a catalyst in the upstream device for purifying exhaust gas to the exhaust pipe, the connection passage portion being so formed that the center axis of the upstream device for purifying exhaust gas in the direction in which the exhaust gas flows is not aligned with the center axis of the exhaust pipe in the direction in which the exhaust gas flows, injection means is arranged in the connection passage portion to inject the additive into the exhaust passage so that the additive arrives at the opposing wall surface of the connection passage portion.
US09145807B2
An SCR system comprising a reductant tank, a return passageway, and a reductant distributor. The return passageway is coupled fluidly to the reductant tank via an outlet of the return passageway. A reductant distributor is positioned at the outlet. The reductant distributor is configured to distribute spatially an undispensed portion of a reductant into the reductant tank from the return passageway.
US09145801B2
Systems and methods for acoustic feedback or resonance mitigation are provided. The systems and methods include an exhaust acoustic noise reduction apparatus having an exhaust port comprising an exhaust aperture, a first vane extending at least partially across the exhaust aperture, and a second vane extending at least partially across the exhaust aperture and intersecting the first vane, such that the first and second vanes are oriented to interfere with formation of an acoustic feedback loop and reduce an acoustic noise signature of the exhaust port.
US09145800B2
A sealing device (12) for a camshaft adjuster (1) which is driveable using a belt and has a distributing valve (8) with a piston, wherein the sealing device (12) has a first securing portion (13) rigidly arrangeable on the camshaft adjuster (1), a second securing portion (14) rigidly arrangeable on the piston side, and a flexible membrane portion (15) arranged between the first securing portion (13) and the second securing portion (14), and a camshaft adjuster (1) having a having a stator (3) which, based on a combustion engine, is driveable using a belt, and a rotor (4) with limited twistability relative to the stator (3), wherein a twisting can be effected hydraulically, and a distributing valve (8) with a piston for the purpose of freeing up or blocking the pathway for a hydraulic medium or altering a through-flow direction, wherein the camshaft adjuster (1) has a sealing device (12) of the type whose first securing portion (13) is rigidly arranged on the camshaft adjuster (1) and whose second securing portion (14) is rigidly arranged on the piston side.
US09145793B2
A combined cycle power plant utilizes an absorption heat transformer to improve plant efficiency. A heat recovery steam generator receives exhaust from a gas turbine and generates steam for input to a steam turbine. The heat recovery steam generator includes a low pressure economizer, an intermediate pressure economizer and a high pressure economizer. The absorption heat transformer is in fluid communication with the low pressure economizer. The absorption heat transformer includes a feed water circuit that draws exhaust water from the low pressure economizer for heating by the absorption heat transformer and directs heated water to at least one of the intermediate pressure economizer and the high pressure economizer.
US09145792B2
A fixture assembly for securing at least one side rail to a shroud tile of a gas turbine is disclosed. The fixture assembly may include a first support member, a second support member, a first guide block and a second guide block. The first and second guide blocks may be formed from a material that has the same or a similar coefficient of thermal expansion as the material used to form at least one of the shroud tile and the at least one side rail. In addition, the first and second support members may be formed from a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material used to form the first and second guide blocks.
US09145788B2
A rotary turbomachine includes a rotor mounting at least one disk having an outer surface and at least one bucket extending radially from said outer surface. A stationary stator component is located adjacent the disk, and a seal plate extends from a portion of the stationary stator component. An angel wing seal extends from the bucket, thereby defining a clearance gap between the seal plate and the angel wing seal. An abradable seal element is disposed on the seal plate, and the abradable seal element and the seal plate are canted at an acute angle relative to a center axis of the rotor extending radially outwardly in a direction toward the angel wing seal.
US09145781B2
An assembly includes a fixture, first and second vanes, and an insert. The first vane and the second vane are retained within the fixture and are spaced at a distance from one another. The insert is disposed between the first vane and the second vane and the insert includes a spring that exerts a force that is applied to both the first vane and the second vane.
US09145779B2
An example turbine component cooling arrangement includes a film plate having a plurality of film channels extending from film channel entrances on a first side of the film plate to corresponding film channel exits on an opposing second side of the film plate. The arrangement also includes an impingement plate establishing a plurality of impingement channels. The impingement plate is spaced a distance from the film plate. The plurality of impingement channels are configured to direct a fluid across the distance to contact the film plate between adjacent ones of the film channel entrances. In one example, the distance from the film plate to the impingement plate is between two and four times more than diameter of one of the impingement channels.
US09145770B2
An object is to provide a scroll compressor capable of preventing degradation in performance and the occurrence of abnormal noise due to a torsional moment applied to an orbiting scroll, by utilizing the structural advantages of so-called stepped scroll compressors. In a so-called stepped scroll compressor (1), in a pair of compression chambers (16) arranged in a point-symmetrical configuration among a plurality of compression chambers (16), the volume V1 of the compression chamber (16) formed on the ventral-surface side of the fixed spiral wrap (14B) of the fixed scroll (14) when intake is cut off and the volume V2 of the compression chamber (16) formed on the ventral-surface side of the orbiting spiral wrap (15B) of the orbiting scroll (15) are different from each other.
US09145769B2
A rib support system, a rib support device, a rib support method, a method for manufacturing a rib support device, and a computer readable medium are provided as described herein. The rib support device is configured to support a mine or tunnel rib (or wall) or roof to prevent spalling, and to provide safety and long term protection of tunnel (or open) areas. The rib support device may be made from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material, or the like, that is resistant to corrosion, has superior overall performance and strength, has few (or no) sharp edges, is light weight, and is easy to handle.
US09145765B2
A pump plunger for a sucker rod pump includes an elongated plunger body having first and second plunger body ends and a longitudinal plunger body bore extending between the first and second plunger body ends, a first plunger end fitting releasably carried by the first plunger body end of the plunger body, a second plunger end fitting releasably carried by the second plunger body end of the plunger body, a first plunger seal pack sandwiched between the first plunger body end and the first plunger end fitting and a second plunger seal pack sandwiched between the second plunger body end and the second plunger end fitting.
US09145759B2
A capture basket system for use below an underdeck pipehandling machine on a drill rig. The capture basket system includes a capture basket to retain a falling object such as a pipe. The capture basket is coupled to a structure of the drill rig by an energy absorber that includes an elongated element.
US09145758B2
Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a conduit comprise a seat sleeve disposed in a housing, the housing being disposed in a tubular member. The seat sleeve comprises a seat and one or more ports in fluid communication with a seat sleeve bore. One or more seat bypass fluid flow channels are disposed in the housing and are initially placed in fluid communication with at least one of the seat sleeve ports. Landing a plug element on the seat blocks fluid flow through the seat, but fluid flow is permitted to flow through the seat bypass fluid flow channels, through the seat sleeve ports, and into the seat sleeve bore. Movement of the seat sleeve downward closes the seat sleeve ports. Thus, a plug element can restrict fluid flowing through an area of the apparatus that is larger than the plug element.
US09145743B2
A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.
US09145739B2
A cutting tool includes a tool body having a longitudinal axis and a cutting face, a plurality of blades spaced azimuthally about the cutting face and extending at least laterally through a gage region, and a plurality of cutters disposed along the blades. At least two different types of back reaming elements may be disposed on a transitional surface between the gage region of at least one blade and a connection end of the cutting tool. Alternatively, at least one back reaming element may be disposed on a transitional surface between the gage region of at least one blade and a connection end of the cutting tool, and a wear resistant material provided on or in the transitional surface.
US09145732B2
A composite covering structure for providing protection against sun and rain comprises a plurality of adjoining and overlapping swinging blades, coupled to a driving mechanism adapted, by a single operation, at first to cause the blades to gradually turn about their longitudinal axis, while being held in a same position, for providing a partial protection against sun, and then to cause said blades to slide on a horizontal plane, so as to compact said blades on a side, for uncovering the previously covered area.
US09145728B1
An electronic wall safe is intended to fit between the support beams of a typical building, bolting into the beams on either side of the safe. A panel is provided around the safe to prevent cutting into the wall to remove the safe. The safe includes numerous electronic features, which are powered by running an electrical wire to the safe, as well as battery backup. The CPU includes a connection for a telephone line, as well as wireless communication. The safe utilizes a fast-opening mechanism such as a fingerprint scanner. A panic button is provided to alert authorities and/or others on the premises of the emergency. The safe includes a mercury switch so that, if the safe is moved, then the opening mechanism will be disabled, and police will be notified. The safe includes cut wire detection circuitry. One possible variation of the safe includes a door having a shatter-resistant window, as well as internal lighting, so that the contents of the safe can be displayed or verified without opening the safe.
US09145713B1
A handle extension device for facilitating entry into a recreational vehicle or the like having an elevated door with a substantially flush outwardly pivoting door handle. The door handle extension comprises means for engaging the door handle so as to exert an outward force, and an operating handle operatively connected to and substantially below the engaging means. One embodiment employs a detachable hollow bar with an internal cable connecting the operating handle to a spring-biased lever arm configured to engage the inboard side of the pivoting handle on the vehicle door.
US09145710B2
A latch assembly is provided that includes a housing. The latch assembly also includes a latch in rotatable connection with the housing at a first axis. The latch assembly also includes a drive lug in rotatable connection with the housing at a second axis, wherein the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis on the housing. Rotation of the drive lug in a first rotational direction responsive to a striker acting on a first portion of the drive lug is operative to cause the latch to rotate in the same first rotational direction as the drive lug, such that a first portion of the latch moves in transverse relation relative to the striker to a position in which the striker extends between the first portion of the drive lug and the first portion of the latch.
US09145709B2
A driving member (44) for an outer operational device (13) of a door lock includes a base portion (440) engaged with a connection member (595). The base portion (440) includes an engagement groove (449) having teeth (450). The connection member (595) and the base portion (440) are movable between a releasing position and a push position when a handle (197) is pivoted. A pressing rod (442) is detachably engaged with the base portion (440) and includes an insertion block (446) received in the engagement groove (449), with teeth (447) of the insertion block (446) engaged with the teeth (450) of the base portion (440). The pressing rod (442) and the base portion (440) are jointly movable. The pressing rod (442) has a driving end (445) operatively connected to a pressing member (155) of a latch device (12) having a latch (124) operatively connected to the pressing member (155).
US09145708B1
A wire winder and post puller device for aiding both in the retrieval of wire such as from a fence as well as the uprooting of installed posts. The wire winder and post puller device generally includes a frame adapted to be secured to loader arms of a loader. The frame supports a wire spool assembly which is adapted to be swung into and out of place via use of a support member rotatably secured to the frame. Wire may be wound onto the wire spool assembly through usage of a winding hydraulic motor which rotates the axle. Wire may be removed by swinging out the wire spool assembly from the frame and removing its first spool wheel. A post puller assembly is also provided to aid in removing posts from the ground in combination with the wire winder.
US09145692B2
A tool and method for marking dimensions for cutting a tile include a platform with a front wall defining an x axis, a side wall defining a y axis, with the y axis being perpendicular to the x axis, and a front guideline defining an x′ axis parallel to the x axis. Also included are a plurality of extendable fingers which are manually extendable to releasably retained protracted positions. A conformable member is disposed at the distal end of each finger, and is configured to conformably match the contour of an obstruction. The platform is configured for superposed alignment with an installed tile adjacent to an area with the obstruction, and also for alignment with a loose tile to be cut. The conformable members provide a guide for marking the surface of the loose tile to accommodate the obstruction.
US09145690B2
A dark-colored siding panel product includes a shell having a layered structure. The layered structure can include a substrate comprising polyvinylchloride. The substrate may be located between inner and outer layers. The inner and outer layers may be formed from a weatherable polymer. In addition, at least the outer layer may have a CIE color unit L*<75. An insulation layer may be mounted to the shell.
US09145682B1
In a column structure, a base member is fixed onto a foundation by mortar, serving as a fixing member. First and second anchor bolts are employed as anchor members for fixing the base member. A steel column, serving as a column member in which flanges are integrally formed at both sides in a width direction of a web, is joined to the upper side of the base member. A shear resistance member is provided to a lower portion of the web, so as to be buried at least in the mortar. The shear strength of the column structure is raised by the shear resistance member.
US09145677B2
An air containment system (22) is configured to span an aisle (12) formed by two rows of racks (14,16) or by one row of racks (14) and a wall (56) to form a ceiling. The air containment system (22) includes a frame structure (24) configured to be supported by the two rows of racks (14,16) or by the one row of racks (14) and the wall (56). The air containment system (22) further includes at least one ceiling panel (30) releasably supported by the frame structure (24), and a lock assembly (64) coupled to the frame structure (24) and configured to release the at least one ceiling panel (30) upon detecting a predetermined condition. Embodiments of the air containment system (22) and methods for releasing ceiling panels (30) are further disclosed.
US09145676B2
A cast block for use in a wall is provided. The block includes: a body including a top surface and an opposed bottom surface; and a face portion extending frontwardly from the body portion, the face portion including a front surface, an upper tapered surface, and a lower tapered surface, the upper tapered surface disposed between the top surface and the front surface and the lower tapered surface disposed between the bottom surface and the front surface; wherein the front surface, the upper tapered surface, and the lower tapered surface are each patterned. Also provided is a wall formed of rows of cast blocks. Also provided is a method of forming masonry blocks for use in structural retaining walls.
US09145674B2
The invention relates to a vacuum insulation panel comprising a barrier film and a core material having a density in the range from 50 to 350 kg/m3, wherein the core material comprises a mixture of A) from 30 to 100 percent by weight of nanoporous polymer particles which have a cell count in the range from 1000 to 100 000 cells/mm, where at least 60 percent by weight of the nanoporous polymer particles have a particle size of less than 100 μm in the sieve analysis in accordance with DIN 66165, and B) from 0 to 70 percent by weight of pyrogenic or precipitated silica, and also a process for the production thereof.
US09145672B1
A system and method for attaching a deck to a structure. The system includes at least one attachment plate provided with at least one fastening component. The fastening component extends into the at least one I-joist attachment piece attached to an I-shaped structure floor joist. A connecting component extends from the at least one attachment plate to the deck ledger.
US09145668B2
The invention is for a toilet and drainage assembly comprising a bowl having an outlet pipe having an axis, and a waste depository pipe coaxial with the axis with an inlet opening. A water trap is located between the outlet pipe and the inlet opening of the waste depository pipe, and comprises a bowl connector section connectable to the outlet pipe, a waste depository connector section connectable to the inlet opening of the waste depository pipe, and an intermediate section having a nonlinear component between the bowl connector section and the waste depository section. A mechanism moves the water trap between a first position in which the nonlinear component of the intermediate section is above the axis and a second position in which the nonlinear component of the intermediate section is substantially at the axis.
US09145662B2
A mechanical system (1) includes a support (10), a tooth (20) and a device (30) for interconnecting the two components. The device includes an elastic sheath (40) having an inner cavity (48) and an outer wall (44) adjustable in a housing (14) of the support, and a key (50) adjustable in the cavity. The sheath and the key can be rotated together in a fixed manner about a pivoting axis in the housing, between an insertion configuration and a locking configuration, thereby forming a coupling connection between the tooth and the support. The inner cavity extends into the sheath along an eccentric axis that is radically staggered in relation to the pivoting axis. The inner cavity is provided with elements for rotatably securing to driving elements (59) arranged on the key. A heavy-construction machine bucket including such a system, and a method for implementing such a system are also described.
US09145660B2
A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and a control valve configured to direct fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a main relief valve movable away from a closed position to pass pressurized fluid to the tank when a pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a first threshold pressure, and a controller in communication with the pump. The controller may be configured to selectively reduce a displacement of the pump after the main relief valve has moved away from the closed position when the pressure of the fluid directed to the actuator exceeds a second threshold pressure.
US09145659B2
A ride control system uses speed, pressure, hand throttle, foot throttle and seat position information associated with a tractor-loader-backhoe to determine when to engage and disengage the ride control system for the tractor-loader-backhoe. Once the ride control system is engaged, the ride control system can be disengaged in response to either an operator command or a measured speed of the tractor-loader-backhoe being below a predetermined speed.
US09145648B2
A pulling tool includes a housing and a tube disposed within the housing, the tube configured to supply hydraulic fluid. The spike puller further includes a piston rod connected to a piston. The piston rod has a hollow axial bore, and the piston and the piston rod are axially moveable relative to the tube. The spike puller has a passage communicating fluid from the tube to the piston. The passage is contained within the housing. The passage is variable between a first configuration in which hydraulic fluid flows at a first restricted flow so as to provide a slower retraction of the piston rod and a second configuration in which hydraulic fluid flows at a second less restricted flow so as to provide a faster retraction of the piston rod.
US09145647B2
The invention relates to a switch and to a method for transporting and installing such a switch, which is equipped with longitudinal sleepers, the sleeper sections (2, 3) of which are or can be coupled in a flexurally stiff manner by means of a connecting device (16) embedded in the sleeper heads (4) so that the switch can be folded for space-saving transport. The divided longitudinal sleepers are oriented relative to each other and installed in such a way that the joints of the longitudinal sleepers are aligned along a straight line, which thus can serve as a rotational axis for folding up a side of the switch. The joints aligned on the rotational axis act similarly to a hinge band so that complete switch segments, such as a switch end part or the core region, can be folded along the line.
US09145645B2
Paperboards having improved MD and CD bending stiffness by including a paperboard binder coalescing agent to cause starch paperboard binder to coat at least some of the paperboard fibers. Also a method for preparing these improved bending stiffness paperboards by combining with an untreated paperboard fiber stream a treated paperboard fiber stream where at least some/at least a portion of the paperboard fibers are coated with a starch paperboard binder due to the coalescing action of a paperboard binder coalescing agent.
US09145643B2
A wet paper web transfer belt for transferring a wet paper web includes a wet paper web contacting surface for carrying the wet paper web. The wet paper web contacting surface is constituted by a resin layer, and the wet paper web contacting surface includes a wet paper web carrying region for carrying the wet paper web. A prescribed relation of the swelling rate in water of the resin layer and the surface roughness of the wet paper web contacting surface is fulfilled in accordance with the basis weight of the base paper of the wet paper web.
US09145640B2
A process using a multicomponent enzyme preparation to treat chips that have been crushed using a device that combines shear and compressive forces where treatment occurs mainly during decompression and reduces the specific energy consumption and/or increasing production of subsequent refining while maintaining or increasing handsheet physical properties. The enzyme preparation is to have a major endoglucanase activity, a significant mannanase activity and a slight cellobiohydrolase activity. This enzyme mixture is prepared from a genetically modified strain of Trichoderma reseii.
US09145618B2
A method for high rate assembly of nanoelements into two-dimensional void patterns on a non-conductive substrate surface utilizes an applied electric field to stabilize against forces resulting from pulling the substrate through the surface of a nanoelement suspension. The electric field contours emanating from a conductive layer in the substrate, covered by an insulating layer, are modified by a patterned photoresist layer, resulting in an increased driving force for nanoelements to migrate from a liquid suspension to voids on a patterned substrate having a non-conductive surface. The method can be used for the production of microscale and nanoscale circuits, sensors, and other electronic devices.
US09145614B2
A membrane reactor used for electrochemically converting a carbon dioxide gas into an expected product includes a cavity, a solid electrolyte membrane separator, a cathode, an anode, and a fuel cell. The solid electrolyte membrane separator is disposed in the cavity and divides the cavity into two chambers defined as a cathode chamber and an anode chamber. The cathode is disposed in the cathode chamber, and the anode is disposed in the anode chamber. The fuel cell is disposed outside the cavity to provide an electrolytic voltage. The fuel cell includes a fuel inlet, an oxidant inlet, and a reaction product outlet. The expected product includes a hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas used as a fuel is fed in the fuel inlet, and the oxygen gas used as an oxidant is fed in the oxidant inlet for the fuel cell to produce electrical power.
US09145613B2
Disclosed herein is a heat transfer fluid concentrate comprising: greater than or equal to 90 weight percent of a freezing point depressant; 16 to 80 ppm of magnesium ions; an azole compound; an inorganic phosphate; a carboxylate; and an acrylate based polymer, wherein the heat transfer fluid concentrate has a pH of 7-9.5 and the weight ratio of acrylate based polymer to magnesium ions is 1 to 25. The heat transfer fluid concentrate can be used to make a heat transfer fluid.
US09145606B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a film on a substrate in a process chamber, and removing a deposit from at least a portion of an inside of the process chamber after forming the film, wherein removing the deposit includes performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including a first process of supplying a first gas for etching the deposit into the process chamber and a second process of supplying a second gas into the process chamber so as to increase a pressure in the process chamber, the second gas being incapable of etching a member constituting the process chamber or having an etchability against the member lower than that of the first gas.
US09145598B2
A water atomized stainless steel powder which comprises by weight-%: 10.5-30.0 Cr 0.5-9.0 Ni 0.01-2.0 Mn 0.01-3.0 Sn 0.1-3.0 Si 0.01-0.4 N optionally max 7.0 Mo optionally max 7.0 Cu optionally max 3.0 Nb optionally max 6.0 V balance iron and max 0.5 of unavoidable impurities.
US09145593B2
Methods for using oligonucleotides in the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus are disclosed. The oligonucleotides of the invention have nucleotide sequences derived from the gene encoding the cytochrome P450 14 alpha-sterol demethylase (the cyp51A protein) of Aspergillus fumigatus. The oligonucleotides include primers capable of producing amplicons specific to cyp51A in polymerase chain reactions using nucleic acids isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus as templates. The oligonucleotides also include probes capable of detecting these cyp51A-specific amplicons. The oligonucleotides of the invention also include primers for nucleotide sequencing reactions to determine whether an isolate of Aspergillus fumigatus is more tolerant than wild-type Aspergillus fumigatus to a triazole.
US09145591B1
Disclosed is a method for determining the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acids in a test sample. In particular, regions of the IS6110 preferential locus (ipl) 3′-flanking region of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex genome are amplified and detected. In addition, oligonucleotides that can be used as primers to amplify the ipl 3′-flanking region and probe oligonucleotides are described.
US09145589B2
The invention provides methods and compositions, including, without limitation, algorithms, computer readable media, computer programs, apparatus, and systems for determining the identity of nucleic acids in nucleotide sequences using, for example, data obtained from sequencing by synthesis methods. A plurality of smaller flow cells is employed, each with a relatively small area to be imaged, in order to provide greater flexibility and efficiency.
US09145587B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a DNA breakpoint and agents for use therein. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for identifying a gene translocation breakpoint based on the application of a novel multiplex DNA amplification technique. The method of the present invention facilitates not only the identification of the breakpoint position but, further, enables the isolation of the DNA segment across which the breakpoint occurs. This provides a valuable opportunity to conduct further analysis of the breakpoint region, such as to sequence across this region. The method of the present invention is useful in a range of applications including, but not limited to, providing a routine means to characterize the gene breakpoint associated with disease onset in a patient and thereby enable the design of patient specific probes and primers for ongoing monitoring of the subject disease condition. In addition to monitoring the progression of a condition characterized by the existence of the breakpoint, there is also enabled assessment of the effectiveness of existing therapeutic drugs and/or new therapeutic drugs and, to the extent that the condition is a neoplasm, prediction of the likelihood of a subject's relapse from a remissive state.
US09145580B2
Compositions and methods are provided for enriching mitochondrial DNA and optionally chloroplast DNA from eukaryotic cells in a simple rapid method that provides greater than 100 fold enrichment. Affinity protein-coated substrate in a buffer is used to efficiently bind chromosomal DNA and thereby remove it from the buffer. Mitochondrial sequencing reads reveal that non-biased sequence selection providing representation of a substantial proportion of mitochondrial DNA in the eukaryotic cells analyzed.
US09145578B2
This invention provides a method for separately or simultaneously quantifying cholesterol in a total amount of HDL-C, cholesterol in an HDL subfraction of apoE-containing HDL-C, and cholesterol in an HDL subfraction of apoE-deficient HDL-C. The method comprises enzymatically and separately quantifying cholesterol in apoE-containing HDL and cholesterol in apoE-deficient HDL by adding a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a surfactant with an apoE-containing HDL response rate/apoE-deficient HDL response rate ratio of 0.7 to less than 1.3, a surfactant with an apoE-containing HDL response rate/apoE-deficient HDL response rate ratio of less than 0.7, and a surfactant with an apoE-containing HDL response rate/apoE-deficient HDL response rate ratio of 1.3 or more to a test sample, allowing cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase to react therewith, and quantifying the hydrogen peroxide generated.
US09145575B2
This invention pertains to the in vitro detection of proteases using a single peptide-conjugate nanocrescent surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes with at least nanomolar sensitivity. The probe enables detection of proteolytic activity in extremely small volume and at low concentration. In certain embodiments the probes comprise an indicator for the detection of an active protease, where the indicator comprises a nanocrescent attached to a peptide, where said peptide comprises a recognition site for the protease and a Raman tag attached to the peptide.
US09145573B2
A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
US09145569B2
The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.
US09145568B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for conveniently producing ethanol with high efficiency from a carbon source derived from a plant biomass resource or the like. The present invention relates to a method for producing ethanol, comprising a step of generating ethanol by culturing basidiomycetes belonging to the genus Phlebia with a carbon source. As carbon sources, cellulose, hemicellulose, glucose, xylose, and the like or plant biomass resources containing the same can be used.
US09145556B2
The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for inhibiting the function of target nucleic acids by sequence specific binding. The compositions and methods can be used for inhibition of micro RNAs and other relatively short non-coding RNAs.
US09145553B2
The current disclosure provides methods and kits for isolating nucleic acid from an environmental sample. The current methods and compositions further provide methods for isolating nucleic acids by reducing adsorption of nucleic acids by charged ions and particles within an environmental sample. The methods of the current disclosure provide methods for isolating nucleic acids by releasing adsorbed nucleic acids from charged particles during the nucleic acid isolation process. The current disclosure facilitates the isolation of nucleic acids of sufficient quality and quantity to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize or analyze the isolated nucleic acids for a wide variety of applications including, sequencing or species population analysis.
US09145551B2
A multifunctional polypeptide capable of hydrolyzing cellulosic materials, xylan, and mannan is disclosed. The polypeptide includes the catalytic core (cc) of Clostridium thermocellum Cthe_0797 (CelE), the cellulose-specific carbohydrate-binding module CBM3 of the cellulosome anchoring protein cohesion region (CipA) of Clostridium thermocellum (CBM3a), and a linker region interposed between the catalytic core and the cellulose-specific carbohydrate binding module. Methods of using the multifunctional polypeptide are also disclosed.
US09145549B2
Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium was engineered using a combination of directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis to hydroxylate linear alkanes regio- and enantioselectively using atmospheric dioxygen as an oxidant. Mutant 9-10A-A328V hydroxylates octane primarily at the 2-position to form S-2-octanol (40% ee). Another mutant, 1-12G, hydroxylates alkanes larger than hexane primarily at the 2-position, but forms R-2-alcohols (40-55% ee). These biocatalysts are highly active for alkane substrates and support thousands of product turnovers. These regio- and enantio-selectivities are retained in whole-cell biotransformations with E. coli, where the engineered P450s can be expressed at high levels and the expensive cofactor is supplied endogenously.
US09145548B2
The present invention provides a foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus having improved stability compared to the field isolate of the same subtype, wherein the virus comprises one or more amino acid mutations along a line of symmetry of the capsid structure. The present invention also relates to a vaccine comprising such an FMD virus and its use to prevent foot and mouth disease.
US09145546B2
The invention relates to methods of proliferating stem cells. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans to promote the growth of stem cells in ex vivo culture, while preserving their multipotentiality.
US09145539B2
A top reference photobioreactor system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible floating photobioreactor having a buoyancy tube filled with a gas that is less dense, and a ballast tube filled with a substance, such as saltwater, that is more dense, than the liquid in which the photobioreactor floats. A top reference photobioreactor method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes controlling a depth of the top reference photobioreactor by controlling a volume and/or density of ballast in the ballast tube and/or by controlling a volume and/or density of gas in the buoyancy tube.
US09145537B2
The present invention provides processes for production of wort and beer from a granular starch adjunct grist mashed-in at a temperature below the gelatinization temperature of said starch.
US09145536B2
A peroxide-containing cleaning composition with enhanced peroxide stability includes a peroxide-containing bleaching agent, at least one surfactant, an alkali metal salt in amounts sufficient to maintain an alkaline pH, a silane quaternary ammonium compound present in an amount sufficient to enhance the stability of the peroxide-containing bleaching agent, and an aqueous diluent. A method of stabilizing a peroxide-containing cleaning composition is also disclosed.
US09145532B2
Methods for extracting solute from source material, including depositing the source material including solute in canisters, introducing solvent into the canisters, exposing the source materials to the solvents for predetermined periods of time to create extract mixtures including extracted solute and recycled solvent, communicating, fluidly, the extract mixtures to an extract container. Some examples include separating recycled solvent, including heating the container to evaporate the recycled solvent, and collecting the recycled solvent in a solvent collection container in fluid communication with the extract container. Some examples include collecting recycled solvent in solvent collection containers in fluid communication with the extract containers, the recycled solvent being stored as a liquid. Some examples include removably attaching canisters in fluid communication with extract containers.
US09145530B2
Hindered amines useful as ashless TBN sources for lubricating oil compositions that are compatible with fluoroelastomeric engine seal materials, and lubricating oil compositions containing such compounds.
US09145524B2
A system includes a gasifier injector configured to inject a heat control fuel and a mixed air into a gasifier for combustion during a heat control mode. The heat control fuel is the same or different from the gasification fuel, and the system is configured to create the mixed air from independent supplies of oxygen and nitrogen.
US09145521B2
Aromatic extraction and hydrocracking processes are integrated to optimize the hydrocracking units design and/or performance. By processing aromatics-rich and aromatic-lean fractions separately, the hydrocracking operating severity and or catalyst reactor volume requirement decreases.
US09145520B2
Systems and methods for recycling waste plastic can convert the waste plastic into a form of purified crude oil that includes one or more organic molecular species and that is free, or substantially free, of impurities such as acids and metals. In some systems and methods, the plastic is heated under vacuum conditions to effect depolymerization of the plastic, which yields a vapor, and the vapor is then directly contacted with a pH adjusted solution in a vapor treatment system. In some systems and methods, a continuous batch process is employed.
US09145514B2
A temperature management indictor having simple structure is provided, which, not containing a hazardous metal, especially mercury among others, is safe and excellently durable, especially durable against light and repetition of heating and cooling cycle, is capable of indicating specific temperature ranges by means of reversible color changes, and also is able, as need be, to indicate an arrival at a specific temperature by means of an irreversible color change. A temperature management indicator 10 comprises; a reversible temperature indicating member 14 including reversible temperature indicating pigment particles devoid of mercury, which reversibly undergoes color changes at a predetermined temperature, wherein in the reversible temperature indicating member 14, the reversible temperature indicating pigment particles contain an iron-containing complex compound and are dispensed to be dispersed in a resin thereof.
US09145504B2
The invention relates to a method for improving rheological properties of an aqueous pigment slurry. In the method dispersion agent is added to an aqueous phase of a slurry comprising pigment particles or to the aqueous phase into which the pigment particles are to be added. The dispersion agent comprises styrene acrylate copolymer. The invention relates also to dispersion agent for a pigment slurry comprising a first component comprising styrene acrylate copolymer and a second component comprising a conventional dispersion agent, such as a straight-chain polyacrylate.
US09145495B2
Propylene homopolymers or copolymers containing up to 5.0 wt % of alpha-olefin units having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms other than propylene, characterized in that said propylene homopolymers or copolymers have Polydispersity Index value higher than 15, Melt Strength higher than 1.50 cN at 230° C. and Melt Flow Rate (ISO1133, 230° C./2.16 Kg) from 0.01 to 20 g/10 min.
US09145484B2
A mineral composition comprising mineral particles, said mineral particles, when in a densely compacted bed form, having a volume defined median pore diameter from 0.01 to 0.04 micrometer, and having an intruded total specific void volume of 0.1-0.3 cm3/g. A specific advantage of this composition is that it as a component in a coating, allows the passage of ink solvent into the base paper while retaining the ink molecules on the surface.
US09145483B2
A polylactide hydrosol polymer formulations suitable for thin film articles and methods of making the thin film articles are provided. The formulations and methods can be use to make articles such as gloves, condoms, catheters and the like using dip forming, and various casting processes.
US09145478B2
Prepare a polymeric nanofoam using a continuous extrusion process by providing a polymer melt of a polymer composition in an extruder, introducing carbon dioxide to a concentration above the solubility in the polymer melt, cooling the polymer melt without increasing the pressure to achieve conditions where all of the carbon dioxide is soluble in the polymer composition and then extruding the polymer composition and carbon dioxide mixture through an extrusion die so as to experience a pressure drop of at least five MegaPascals at a rate of at least ten MegaPascals per second and allowing the polymer composition to expand into a polymeric nanofoam.
US09145474B2
A convenient, practical method for forming elastomers from dual functional siloxanes that cure by a step-growth mechanism is provided. The method involves preparing a first mixture containing a first telechelic siloxane and a hydrosilylation catalyst; preparing a second mixture containing a second telechelic siloxane and a dual functional siloxane having two different polymer termini; and reacting the first mixture with the second mixture to produce the siloxane elastomer. The first and second mixtures may be stored separately until time of use.
US09145469B2
An aromatic polyester that contains one or more aromatic ester repeating units and one or more biphenyl repeating units is provided. While a wide variety of aromatic ester repeating units may be employed, the polymer is nevertheless “low naphthenic” to the extent that it contains a minimal content of repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids and naphthenic dicarboxylic acids. Despite the absence of a high level of conventional naphthenic acid repeating units, the present inventors have discovered that selective control over the type and relative concentration of the biphenyl repeating units can lead to “low naphthenic” polymers that are not only soluble in certain solvents, but also capable of exhibiting good mechanical properties. Thus, the ability of the resulting polymer to be dissolved or dispersed in various solvents can be enhanced without sacrificing performance.
US09145464B2
An aspect of the present invention is a preparation of a magnesium halide support for using as a composition of a catalyst in an olefin polymerization, wherein the magnesium halide support is a solid substance prepared by an aliphatic alcohol non-ionic surfactant, preferably is ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for the preparation of the magnesium halide support for using as the composition of the catalyst in the olefin polymerization comprising the following steps: (a) adding a magnesium halide compound into an organic solvent, and heating; (b) cooling down the mixture from (a) rapidly to the room temperature or lower in the inert organic solvent and the aliphatic alcohol non-ionic surfactant; and (c) washing the magnesium halide with the anhydrous inert organic solvent, and drying, wherein the aliphatic alcohol non-ionic surfactant is ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol.
US09145454B2
Described herein are a number of Ebola monoclonal antibodies.
US09145448B2
The invention provides a method for the isolation of haptoglobin from a sample comprising Cohn fraction V, wherein said method comprises anion exchange chromatography of said sample. The product may be further purified and/or subjected to one or more virus inactivation or reduction steps. The isolated haptoglobin may then be formulated for pharmaceutical use.
US09145447B2
The present disclosure provides an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a monomeric photoconvertible fluorescent protein, and fragments and derivatives thereof. Also provided is a method for engineering the nucleic acid sequence, a vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence, a host cell comprising the vector, and use of the vector in a method for expressing the nucleic acid sequence. The present disclosure further provides an isolated nucleic acid, or mimetic or complement thereof, that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequence. Additionally, the present provides a monomeric photoconvertible fluorescent protein encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, as well as derivatives, fragments, and homologues thereof. Also provided is an antibody that specifically binds to the photoconvertible fluorescent protein.
US09145431B2
Disclosed herein are formulations and methods of manufacture of compounds of formula (E): wherein X and Y independently represent leaving groups; and A+ is an ammonium cation.
US09145428B2
Methods for forming boronic acids, and intermediates thereof, are disclosed. The method may include mixing a 1-chloro-2-substituted-3-fluorobenzene starting material with an alkyllithium in a first reactor to form a reaction mixture. The 1-chloro-2-substituted-3-fluorobenzene starting material may react with the alkyllithium to form a lithiated intermediate. The reaction mixture may be continuously transferred to a second reactor and a borate may be continuously introduced to form a boronate. The boronic acids may be formed by treating the boronate with aqueous potassium hydroxide followed by acidification. Such methods may provide continuous formation of the boronic acids and may reduce an amount of a reactive intermediate present during processing as well as cycle times. Systems for forming the boronic acids are also disclosed.
US09145422B2
The invention provides methods for treating various conditions using derivatives of cyclopamine having the following formula:
US09145421B2
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of asenapine maleate of Formula (I), comprising: intra-molecular cyclization of the intermediate of Formula (II) to obtain the intermediate of Formula (III) using aluminium halide.
US09145410B2
Pyrazolopyridin-4-amines, pyrazoloquinolin-4-amines, pyrazolonaphthyridin-4-amines, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrazoloquinolin-4-amines, and prodrugs thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing or inhibiting cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US09145408B2
Compounds of Formula (I): where R1, R2, R5, a, and b are disclosed herein, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof (a “Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound”), compositions comprising an effective amount of a Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound, and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as pain, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound.
US09145405B2
The present invention provides an anti-Coxsackie virus oxadiazole compound as represented by formula (I), or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a preparation method, a pharmaceutical composition, and use thereof, wherein R is CH3 or CF3; R′ and R″ are respectively H, alkyl or halogen; A is O or S; n is a number from 1 to 6; X is O, S or NH; Y is alkyl, unsubstituted cycloalkyl, mono-substituted cycloalkyl, disubstituted cycloalkyl, poly-substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted aryl, mono-substituted aryl, disubstituted aryl, poly-substituted aryl, unsubstituted 5-6 membered heterocyclyl, mono-substituted 5-6 membered heterocyclyl, disubstituted 5-6 membered heterocyclyl, or poly-substituted 5-6 membered heterocyclyl. Compared to prior art, the oxadiazole compound of the present invention has excellent anti-Coxsackie virus activity, lower toxicity and high safety.
US09145389B2
A novel crystal of (R)-2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl]methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole or a salt thereof of the present invention is useful for an excellent antiulcer agent.
US09145387B2
The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US09145381B2
The present invention relates to compounds having general formula (I), i.e. poly-alkyl-bis-maltolic molecules and in particular to derivates of [(3-hydroxy-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl]-amine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and to the use thereof as anti-neoplastic drugs, in particular, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of neoplastic diseases.
US09145380B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R3, L1, L2, G1, G2, A and m are as defined in the specification and optical isomers, racemates and tautomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; together with processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. The compounds are inhibitors of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1.
US09145378B2
Processes are provided for the formation of an epoxyethyl ether or a glycidyl ether. In one embodiment, a process is provided for the manufacture of an epoxyethyl ether or glycidyl ether including reacting a vinyl ether or an allyl ether with an oxidant in the presence of a water-soluble manganese complex in an aqueous reaction medium, wherein the water-soluble manganese complex comprises an oxidation catalyst, characterized in that the water-soluble manganese complex is a mononuclear complex of the general formula (I): [LMnX3]Y (I), or a binuclear complex of the general formula (II): [LMn(μ-X)3MnL](Y)n (II), wherein Mn is a manganese; L or each L independently is a polydentate ligand, each X independently is a coordinating species and each μ-X independently is a bridging coordinating species, Y is a non-coordinating counter ion, and wherein the epoxidation is carried out at a pH in the range of from 1.0 to 6.0. The invention also relates to epoxyethyl ethers.
US09145372B2
This invention relates to pyridazine derivatives, compositions comprising therapeutically effective amounts of those pyridazine derivatives and methods of using those derivatives or compositions in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with cognitive impairment that are responsive to agonists of α5 subunit containing GABAA receptor, e.g., age-related cognitive impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), dementia, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), prodromal AD, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia and cancer-therapy-related cognitive impairment.
US09145368B2
Disclosed herein is a highly enantio- (75 to 98% ee) and diastereoselective (99 to 100% de) synthesis of functionalized pyrazolidines via tandem a-amination-Corey Chaykovsky reaction of alpha unsubstituted aldehydes.
US09145363B2
Provided are a long-lifetime organic electroluminescence device which can be fabricated in an improved yield owing to suppressed crystallization of molecules, and an aromatic amine derivative that realizes the device, i.e., a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure. Specifically provided are an organic electroluminescence device, including an organic thin film layer formed of one or more layers including at least a light emitting layer, the organic thin film layer being interposed between a cathode and an anode, and an aromatic amine derivative for at least one layer of the organic thin film layer, in particular, a hole transporting layer, the derivative having at least one such structure that a substituent in which two or more specific heterocycles are linked to each other, in particular, a substituent in which two or more specific heterocycles are linked through an aryl group is bonded to an amine through an aryl group.
US09145362B2
The invention relates to solvent compositions predominantly comprising at least one oxide of an organic sulfide, more particularly dimethyl sulfoxide, to which is added at least one odour-masking agent comprising at least one compound selected from monoesters, diesters or triesters, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and terpenes.
US09145345B2
Methods and apparatus for processing glycol according to various aspects of the present technology comprise a multi-stage treatment system that is configured to receive a feedstock from multiple waste stream sources containing glycol. A pre-treatment stage may be configured to process the incoming the feedstock and provide to a primary treatment stage a water/glycol solution that is substantially identical and allows for a primary treatment process that is not dependent upon the originating source of the glycol feedstock. A post-treatment stage may further process and purify the water/glycol solution.
US09145342B2
An object of the present invention is to provide, for the production of isobutene, a high-yielding, highly-selective, and long-term stable production process of isobutene from TBA. With respect to the production of TBA, an object of the present invention is to provide a TBA production process in which, through long-term stable maintenance of a high reaction activity, long-term continuous operation is enabled and the productivity is improved. The present invention discloses a process for producing isobutene that employs a dehydration temperature of from 200 to 450° C. in use of an alumina catalyst that contains a Na content of 0.6% by weight or less in terms of NaO2 and a Na content of 0.4% by weight in terms of NaO2, and has a specific surface area of from 200 to 600 m2/g.
US09145338B2
A method for producing a part made of ceramic matrix and ceramic fibers composite material. It comprises: the formation of a fibrous preform by intertwining threads constituted of ceramic material fibers on a contact surface of a support element reproducing the internal and/or external shape of the part to be produced; the partial densification of the fibrous preform at a temperature below the melting temperature of the material of the support element and below the melting temperature of the material of the fibers of the preform, said partial densification resulting in a consolidated fibrous preform comprising a matrix volume fraction above 5% and at the most equal to 40% of the matrix volume of the part to be produced; the removal of the support element from the consolidated fibrous preform by chemical attack of the contact surface of the material of the support element; the densification of the consolidated preform, carried out at a temperature below the melting temperature of the fibers of said preform.
US09145337B2
Provided is a fiber reinforced cement based mixed material having high tensile strength and high toughness, the mixed material comprising a cementitious composition with fast development of early strength; a small hydration heat temperature; and a small shrinkage during curing. The fiber reinforced cement based mixed material contains 100 wt. parts of cement, 5-30 wt. parts of silica fume, 30-80 wt. parts of at least one pozzolanic material excluding the silica fume, 5-25 wt. parts of limestone powder, at least one chemical admixture, water, 70-150 wt. parts of aggregate having a largest aggregate diameter of 1.2-3.5 mm, and fibers, wherein at least some of the fibers comprise a fiber having asperities formed in the surface, the fiber having asperities being formed such that a ratio (h/H) of a depth h of each of recessed portions among the asperities to a smallest cross-sectional diameter H thereof is 0.05-0.8.
US09145325B2
A method for producing a silica container having a rotational symmetry includes forming a preliminarily molded article by feeding a powdered substrate's raw material to an inner wall of an outer frame having aspiration holes with rotating the frame, and forming a silica substrate. The preliminarily molded article is aspirated from an outer peripheral side with controlling a humidity inside the outer frame by ventilating gases present in the outer frame with charging from inside the preliminarily molded article a gas mixture comprised of an O2 gas and an inert gas and made below a prescribed dew-point temperature by dehumidification, and at the same time heated from inside the preliminarily molded article by a discharge-heat melting method with carbon electrodes, thereby making an outer peripheral part of the preliminarily molded article to a sintered body while an inner peripheral part to a fused glass body.
US09145308B2
An oil spill cleanup device is described. The device includes a container and at least one flexible hollow elongated member extending from the container. The device floats in water and can be used to collect and separate oil from the contaminated water. Water is collected by the elongated member, which has several exterior one-way valves that allow contaminated water to enter the member. The contaminated water is pushed towards and into the container by the wave motions of the surrounding water. The elongated member has internal one-way valves that help to direct the contaminated water towards the container. Once in the container, the contaminated water can separate into water and oil due to differences in specific gravity. Multiple devices can be connected together to form a barrier for containing the contaminated water within a limited area.
US09145303B2
Apparatus configured to produce polysilicon by chemical vapor deposition, including a reactor vessel having an inner surface defining at least a portion of a chamber, the inner surface having a lining of quartz ceramic. The apparatus also includes a silicon substrate disposed within the chamber of the reactor vessel, the silicon substrate having a deposition surface upon which polysilicon is deposited. Methods of producing polysilicon using such apparatus, as well as methods for applying the quartz ceramic lining onto a reactor vessel, are also provided.
US09145301B2
A method for producing an aluminum nitride powder includes mixing an alumina powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 5 μm; an eutectic melting agent; and a carbon powder are mixed to obtain a mixture thereof, and reductively nitriding the mixture by firing at a higher temperature than a melting point of the eutectic melting agent, while maintaining a nitrogen ratio within a range of 60 to 85 vol % in an atmosphere of mixed gases of nitrogen and carbon monoxide until a nitriding ratio of the alumina powder reaches at least 50%.
US09145295B2
A graphene nano-sensor with a suspended graphene flake electrically connected to metal electrodes. The graphene nano-sensor is capable of detecting single molecules in an atmosphere through a change in electrical conductance through the graphene flake.
US09145283B2
A lifting apparatus having a tool, which is vertically displaceable by means of a motor and to which at least a first toothed wheel is coupled in terms of movement. The toothed wheel engages over the vertical path of displacement in a stationary toothed rack. The lifting gear includes a safety device having a blocking element which, in a locked position, stops the tool from moving in the direction of gravity, at least when the lifting apparatus is deenergized, wherein the blocking element stops the tool over the vertical path of displacement, at basically any level in any vertical position, and is held against a restoring force in an unblocking position with vertical movement of the tool, and the restoring force pushes the blocking element into its locked position, at least when the lifting apparatus is deenergized.
US09145280B2
A system for applying a tensile load, the system having: a length of continuous synthetic rope having first and second bitter ends; the continuous synthetic rope being woven with itself to create a sling; the first and second bitter ends of the rope being capable of moving relative to each other and the sling. The system may be configured such that movement of the bitter ends relative to the sling or each other is observable or measurable. Systems may be slings that provide a plurality of wraps of a continuous synthetic rope having loops at opposing ends; the plurality of wraps of continuous synthetic rope having at least three parts and being woven such that the resulting woven sling has at least three picks.
US09145264B2
A grain auger has a frame, a conveyor mounted on the frame for movement between a lowered transport position and a raised use position, and an axle with a pair of wheels to rollably support the auger. The axle has angular disposed hollow members with telescoping arms extending therefrom so that the length and height of the axle is adjustable. A cradle is provided on top of the axle, with a support block at the top of the lift assembly for nesting in the cradle when the conveyor is in the lowered transport position, to minimize the cantilever of the conveyor during transport.
US09145262B2
Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to conveyor belt tracking mechanisms with a single adjusting element and to conveyors having conveyor belts whose tracking may be adjusted in both directions using such conveyor belt tracking mechanisms. One exemplary conveyor belt tracking mechanism embodiment employs a pulley support yoke coupled to a specialized angular linkage having a linkage flexure pivot that translates linear motion into angular motion.
US09145260B2
A tire conveyance device is provided with at least two tire gripping devices spaced from each other at an interval in a front-rear direction and capable of gripping a horizontally situated tire from left and right sides of the tire in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance path along which the tire is conveyed in the front-rear direction. The front and rear tire gripping units are each provided with a pair of left and right tire support mechanisms facing each other across the conveyance path. The tire conveyance unit is also provided with a drive unit which moves the two tire gripping units together in the front-rear direction with a stroke equal to the interval between the two tire gripping devices in the front-rear direction.
US09145254B2
A medicament dispenser comprises a housing having opposing first and second walls. A connecting assembly is associated with at least one of the first and second walls to facilitate connection of the first and second walls to one another. A blister pack containing the medicament is pivotally connected to the connecting assembly so as to be rotatable about the connecting assembly and about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the first and second walls to facilitate movement of the blister pack from: i) a closed position in which the blister pack is substantially enclosed within the housing; and ii) an open position in which the blister pack is at least partially rotated from the housing.
US09145246B2
A composite package having a folded paperboard card and two plastic components shaped to interfit with one another when the package is closed. The plastic components define a space for containing one or more articles. The folded paperboard card may be a dual-panel card with two panels joined to one another along a fold line or other hinge. Each paperboard panel may define an opening to seat a plastic component. The paperboard is configured to bring the two plastic components into registration when the panels are folded together along the hinge. The plastic components may be configured to releasably interlock with one another when the package is closed. One of the two plastic components may include a shoulder that is configured to be snap-fitted or otherwise frictionally into the other plastic component. The opening may include a seat shaped to closely receive and provide a stop for the shoulder.
US09145243B2
Provided is a cup to which a transparent display is applied, the cup including a body comprising a display unit capable of showing contents in the body or displaying content; and a support being attached to or detached from the body, generating a control signal so as to control the content displayed on the display unit, and transmitting the control signal to the body.
US09145236B2
An envelope has a latching mechanism that is activated by a key to releasably secure a flap of the envelope in a closed position. The latching mechanism is located on the envelope's flap. The tip of the key fits into an aperture in the middle of the latching mechanism. Rotation of the key rotates ears on the back of the latching mechanism from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the ears align with a correspondingly-shaped opening in the front panel of the envelope, and the ears pass through the opening. Rotation to the second position rotates the ears behind the front panel such that the ears of the latching mechanism are now behind the front panel, thereby securing the opening of the envelope flap.
US09145229B2
A steel drum (1) is manufactured from steel sheet and has a cylindrical shape with at least a bottom cover (4) in a sealed connection to the cylindrical shape. The steel drum includes a pattern of corrugations (7, 8) on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical shape (2). The pattern of corrugations (7, 8) includes a plurality of corrugations (7, 8) grouped in at least one cluster (5, 6, 14), and the corrugations (7, 8) have a substantially identical shape and size. Additionally, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a steel drum (1) including: providing a steel sheet; creating a cylindrical shape from the steel sheet; creating a pattern of a plurality of corrugations (7, 8) on the cylindrical shape such that the corrugations (7, 8) are on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical shape (2) in at least one cluster (5, 6, 14), and providing each of the corrugations (7, 8) to have a substantially identical shape and size of corrugations (7, 8) in at least one cluster (5, 6, 14), and providing each of the corrugations (7, 8) to have a substantially identical shape and size.
US09145228B2
A shipping container convertible to a display tray is provided comprising: a floor panel; first and second end panels; a first positioning panel; a first side panel; and a containment panel comprising a first main portion and a first end portion extending at an angle to the first main portion. The first end portion may be located in a first notch defined at least in part by the first end panel and the first positioning panel. The containment panel is removable so as to convert the shipping container to a display tray.
US09145227B2
A packaging box includes a box and a support received in the box. The support includes a top board, a bottom board opposite to the top board, and a side board interconnecting the top board and the bottom board. The top board defines a hole and forms four limiting boards connecting to the top board and resisting against the bottom board. The limiting boards and the bottom board cooperatively form a receiving chamber. The receiving chamber comprises a standing leg formed from the bottom board. The standing leg is capable of folding relative to the bottom board and cooperatively supporting the support to position on a plane with the side board.
US09145197B2
Apparatus and methods provide for the reinforcement of various components of an aircraft utilizing vertically-oriented circumferential stringers. According to embodiments described herein, barrel skin of an aircraft fuselage may be reinforced using stringers that are vertically-oriented and circumferential. According to additional embodiments, the wing stringers of a wing can be aligned with circumferential stringers. According to further embodiments, the wing may also have one or more wing spars having an elliptical aperture. The shape of the elliptical may be configured for attachment to a fuselage so that an outer surface of the aperture is disposed proximate to an inner surface of the fuselage.
US09145194B2
Apparatuses and methods for stabilizing an outboard motor of a watercraft during transport by a towed vehicle include a body having an outer member secured to the towed vehicle and an inner member disposed within and telescopingly movable relative to the outer member, the inner member having a head usable to contact and stabilize the outboard motor. A biasing member urges the inner member toward a retracted position. The inner member includes a first portion pivotally movable relative to a second portion, between an angled and a straight position. Contact between the first portion and the outer member prevents movement of the inner member toward the retracted position.
US09145180B2
A bicycle rack has a wheel stop which has a front and back member which diverge from each other as they extend away from the vertical member, and which are connected at an acute angle to a side member. The effect of this arrangement is to incline the bicycle wheel to move to the sidewardmost position within the wheel stop such that the bicycle tilts toward the vertical member, more securely positioning it within the rack.
US09145177B2
A system that has electrically or electro-pneumatically actuated aerodynamic structures. An electric or electro-pneumatic actuator is employed, which receives signals from an existing anti-lock braking system (ABS) controller to determine when actuation occurs. Other systems are also provided that feature electric or electro-pneumatic actuation, including underbody skirts and scoops, as well as inflatable tractor-trailer gap sealing devices, adjustable tractor-trailer gap sealing flaps and inflatable trailer upper streamlining devices. Electronic control units (ECUs) for aerodynamic system control interfacing with alternate sensors for calculating speed are also provided. Satellite navigation, platooning awareness and managed pressure reserve capability can be employed with the aerodynamics ECU.
US09145174B2
At a bracket, a length in a vehicle vertical direction of a second supporting leg portion is set to be longer than a length in the vehicle vertical direction of a first supporting leg portion. A height position in the vehicle vertical direction of the second supporting portion is set to be lower than that of a first supporting portion. At the bracket, a first bent portion is formed at an upper portion of the first supporting leg portion, and a second bent portion is formed at an upper portion of the second supporting leg portion. The first bent portion and the second supporting leg portion are bent so as to be convex toward sides of moving apart from one another. A region of the first supporting leg portion and a region of the second supporting leg portion are connected by a connecting member.
US09145166B2
The momentum control apparatus includes: an optimal feedback gain obtaining part for obtaining a plurality of optimal feedback gains used when each of the plurality of actuators is independently actuated to feedback control the momentum of the controlled object; and a feedback gain setting part for extracting a minimum feedback gain out of the plurality of optimal feedback gains obtained by the optimal feedback gain obtaining part as a feedback gain of a control system.
US09145159B1
A tool sled having a body with a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface is provided and includes a flat plate and a handle. The bottom surface is symmetric about a transverse axis and passes through the body in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the sled. A flat plate in contact with the top surface along two contact lines runs across the concave surface where each contact line is parallel to the transverse axis. A handle attached to the body extends upwardly from the top surface and outwardly from the body along a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of movement of the sled.
US09145155B2
Provided is a dynamic shopping cart with collapsible walls. The shopping cart can either be used with the collapsible wall in place or in collapsed position.
US09145138B2
Disclosed is a parking assist apparatus for a vehicle. The parking assist apparatus includes: a start sensor configured to sense a starting state of the vehicle; a vehicle speed sensor configured to sense a speed of the vehicle; a gear sensor configured to sense a gear state of the vehicle; and a parking control unit configured to control driving-out of the vehicle when the starting state of the vehicle is changed from an OFF state to an ON state, the speed of the vehicle is less than a reference speed, and the gear state is “Neutral” or “Park” when a signal instructing automatic parking of the vehicle is received from a driver.
US09145135B2
The hybrid vehicle executes a diagnosis of a component related to exhaust qualities during a fuel-cut operation of the internal combustion engine and generates a fuel-cut request to execute the diagnosis. When the internal combustion engine is operated in an idle state, the hybrid vehicle feedback-controls a throttle valve opening (control parameter) such that an engine rotation speed is maintained at a target idle rotation speed, and learns a value corresponding to the control parameter as a learned value for controlling the idle operation in a state where the vehicle speed is not more than a learning permission vehicle speed and the internal combustion engine is operated in the idle state. The hybrid vehicle continues generation of the fuel-cut request until the learning of the idle operation control learned value is completed.
US09145133B2
A vehicle includes a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine (M/G) connected by an upstream clutch, and a gearbox connected to the M/G by a torque converter. A controller is configured to, in response to a Park or Neutral gear selection and an electrical power request from the M/G, operate the engine at an engine speed and an engine torque based on the request and M/G speed and torque for improved powertrain efficiency. A method is provided for controlling a vehicle. In response to a Park or Neutral gear selection and an electrical power request from the M/G, the engine is operated at an engine speed and an engine torque based on the request and M/G speed and torque for improved powertrain efficiency.
US09145131B2
A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a first rotating electric machine starting the internal combustion engine, a power control unit for operating the first rotating electric machine, a power storage device for supplying electric power to the power control unit, and a control device controlling the power control unit such that a voltage of the power storage device does not fall below a lower limit. When a change condition including a condition that the internal combustion engine is being operated is met, the control device sets the lower limit at a value lower than while the internal combustion engine is at a stop. Preferably, the change condition further includes a condition that a magnitude of voltage change of the power storage device is less than or equal to a first threshold value in addition to the condition that the internal combustion engine is being operated.
US09145125B2
A control apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine installed on the vehicle as a drive source, an electric motor installed on the vehicle as a drive source, the electric motor being configured to run the vehicle even in a condition where the engine is stopped. The control apparatus includes a controller configured to start the engine after a given delay time elapses, if a starting condition based on an operation of a driver is satisfied, the controller being configured to keep the engine stopped if the starting condition ceases to be satisfied before the delay time elapses after the starting condition is satisfied.
US09145119B2
A brake system includes a hydraulic actuating unit, which can be actuated by way of a brake pedal, a travel simulator interacting with the hydraulic actuating unit, a pressure medium reservoir under atmospheric pressure assigned to the hydraulic actuating unit, a first electrically controllable pressure supply device, a second electrically controllable pressure supply device, an electronic control unit and an electronically controllable pressure modulation device for setting wheel-specific brake pressures. The brake system preferably operates in a “brake-by-wire” mode but can also operate in a fallback mode. The second electrically controllable pressure supply device can provide boost volume during braking in a fallback mode.
US09145118B2
A system and method for conserving vacuum within a vehicle is described. In one example, a vacuum level in a working chamber of a vacuum operated brake booster is controlled so as to limit vacuum consumption.
US09145114B2
A method for ensuring a braking effect utilizes a service brake system and a parking brake system of a vehicle. The service brake system is configured to be actuated irrespective of a driver input, and the parking brake system is activated by an extraneous force, for example in an electromechanical arrangement. When a deceleration request is received, the service brake system is initially actuated. If a deceleration variable remains below a target value and the measured slip is smaller than a slip threshold value, the parking brake system is actuated in order to bring the vehicle to a standstill.
US09145102B2
A vehicle side airbag device that is capable of reducing the number of panels for configuring a side airbag. A side airbag of the present side airbag device is configured with bag shaped airbag main body section formed by double folding a single-sheet panel, and stitching together around an outer peripheral edge portion. Moreover a tether section that segments the interior of the airbag main body section into a chest chamber and a hip chamber is also formed by partially folding over, superimposing and stitching the single-sheet panel.
US09145100B2
An in-vehicle ECU is provided that minimizes electric power consumption while an internal microcomputer does not need to operate. Furthermore, a power supply IC stops supplying an operation power from a power supply output unit in a pre-OFF mode, and restarts the supply of the operation power to the microcomputer when an OR gate output signal is “H”. A CPU of the microcomputer, if, at the time of the restart of the operation power after the pre-OFF mode was set, a predetermined time has elapsed since the pre-OFF mode was set, without any change in an activation factor, which is to serve as a factor for activating the microcomputer, based on whether or not there is a temporal change in external input information, outputs a power supply control signal of “H” in order to execute a power supply stop operation for stopping supplying electric power to ECUs subjected to power supply control.
US09145098B2
The present disclosure relates to the formation of high contrast, wavelength independent retroreflective sheeting made by including a light scattering material on at least a portion of the retroreflective sheeting. The light scattering material reduces the brightness of the retroreflective sheeting without substantially changing the appearance of the retroreflective sheeting when viewed under scattered light.
US09145091B2
An access system (10) for earthmoving equipment to allow a person to move from ground level to an elevated position, said access system having an access means (20) mounted to the earthmoving equipment via a pivot, and a retraction mechanism (50) therefor, said pivot allowing the access means to be retracted through a compound angle from a downwardly and outwardly deployed position to a retracted position generally adjacent and aligned beside the vehicle, the access means may be collapsible, such as with steps (30) pivotably mounted to the sides of the access means via secondary pivots (62).
US09145089B2
A socket joint for a mirror assembly having a first concave portion receiving a support tube that attaches to the vehicle. A pair of anchors disposed in the first concave portion extend through openings in the support tube. The anchors project outwardly from the first concave portion into the support tube. Each anchor engages an interior surface of the support tube. A fastener engages each anchor from a front side of the socket joint to clamp the support tube between the anchor and first concave portion. A central connecting post extends outward from the front side of the socket joint for cooperating with various assembly components to pivotally mount a mirror head. A second concave portion is disposed around the central connecting post which receives a complementary convex portion of the mirror head housing so that the housing can pivot on the second concave portion around the central connecting post.
US09145085B2
The present invention provides an enhanced safety signaling circuit for vehicles, in particular when a vehicle is traveling in reverse. The invention is connected to a vehicle's reverse light circuit and to signaling circuits, such as signal light circuits. The invention causes the signaling circuits to activate each time the vehicle is set to reverse. The invention can be used with existing automotive emergency flasher and reverse light circuits, or to additional light or acoustic signaling devices. The invention is designed to connect to a vehicle's existing circuits by various wire-splice connections without interfering with the normal location or operation of the existing circuits, and allows electronic components to energize the emergency flashing light circuits during the reversing process of a vehicle. The signaling can flash in an alternating pattern or simultaneously.
US09145083B2
A platform shipping rack cart for shipping rack(s) supporting glass sheets is provided. The cart may include a plurality of upwardly extending locator projections (e.g., pins) for engaging L-frame racks that hold glass sheets, so as to allow the L-frame rack(s) to be positioned and securely mounted on the cart for shipping and the like. The locator projections are arranged so that first and second L-frame racks may be provided on the cart either facing each other, or in back-to-back position, as desired. The cart advantageously allows multiple L-shaped glass racks to be stabilized on the cart and moved at a given time, and allows for loading the glass in either lengthwise or sideways orientations into vans or the like.
US09145081B2
An aircraft seat back including a composite material seat back frame element and a composite seat back diaphragm molded to the seat back frame element during a molding step to provide a composite aircraft seat back formed of a seat back frame element and a seat back diaphragm.
US09145078B2
A vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted forward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a seat back having pivoted rearward to a predetermined position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to pivot a head restraint in response to the input. Another vehicle seat controller is provided and configured to receive an input indicative of a rear seat assembly having adjusted to a slouch position. The vehicle seat controller conveys a signal to an actuator to stow a head restraint of a front seat assembly in response to the input.
US09145074B2
A seat component positioning structure includes a component of a conveyance seat; a floor having a positioning hole; and a locate pin provided in the component. The component is positioned by inserting the locate pin through the positioning hole in the floor. The locate pin includes a distal-side large diameter portion, a base-side large diameter portion, and a small diameter portion disposed between the distal-side large diameter portion and the base-side large diameter portion. When the component is fixed to the floor, a portion of the base-side large diameter portion faces a peripheral surface around the positioning hole in the floor. A resin layer is provided on a surface of the portion of the base-side large diameter portion, the portion facing the peripheral surface around the positioning hole in the floor when the component is fixed to the floor.
US09145066B2
A fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell, a traveling motor, a secondary battery, a predetermined device, an air tank, an electric air feeder, and a control unit is provided. The fuel cell is mounted to a vehicle, and at least has a pair of electrodes that pinch an electrolyte membrane, the pair of electrodes including a catalyst. The traveling motor is driven by a generated power of the fuel cell to provide a driving force to a driving wheel. The secondary battery is charged with the generated power. The predetermined device is driven by an air pressure and has a predetermined function of the vehicle. The air tank stores a compressed air for driving the predetermined device. The control unit controls (i) a charge of the secondary battery, (ii) an operation of the air feeder, (iii) an power generation and (iv) a feeding destination.
US09145062B2
A charge control device is configured to delay a charge suspension time if a battery is being heated by a battery heater when carrying out a timed charge in a charge time slot specified by a user via an interface device. This enables the battery to be charged to a target charge amount without increasing a required capacity of the battery heater.
US09145057B2
A control method for shortening a start time of an electric vehicle quickly removes electricity remaining in a system without adding a separate component. The control method includes comparing a DC-link voltage in an inverter for driving a driving motor with a first reference value in a state in which the connection between a main battery and a vehicle system is released; checking a remaining voltage in the vehicle system and comparing the checked remaining voltage with a second reference value, when the DC-link voltage in the inverter is no less than the first reference value; removing the remaining voltage by operating an electric load in the vehicle so as to consume remaining electricity in the vehicle system, when the remaining voltage is no less than the second reference value; and connecting the main battery to the vehicle system by turning on a pre-charge relay and a main relay.
US09145054B1
A modular PTO assembly and an engine system comprising a modular PTO assembly are disclosed. The modular PTO assembly is configured to be mounted and secured to a crankcase of an engine, and includes a front cover positioned on a base plate so as to define a housing. The modular PTO assembly also comprises a power input sprocket mechanically coupled to a power output sprocket via a chain. The power input sprocket is coupled to a nose of a crankshaft and is configured to rotate at an approximately same speed as the crankshaft. The power output sprocket is configured to be coupled to a shaft of an auxiliary component and to rotate at an approximately same speed as the shaft, thereby transferring power from the engine to the auxiliary component.
US09145050B2
A drive unit and a rear cushion overlap each other in a vehicle front view. Since the rear cushion is disposed to overlap the drive unit, the dimension in a vehicle width direction can be made smaller than that in the case where the cushion is disposed on the vehicle width center side of the drive unit.
US09145049B2
A vehicle includes a motive power source, a transmission, and a clutch system. The vehicle further includes a controller that causes the clutch system to generate a generally constant clutch pressure to mechanically couple the motive power source and transmission as a line pressure associated with the transmission varies.
US09145046B2
A vibration damping device including: first and second mounting members; a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting the two members; and a bracket member fit into the first mounting member. A projecting part projects outward from a circumference of the first mounting member, and includes a locking groove whose inner surface is covered by a rubber coating layer and has a locking part on its side wall inner surface. An engaging projection projecting from the bracket member is fit into the locking groove, and a projection tip surface of the engaging projection is abutted on a bottom wall inner surface of the locking groove. A side surface of the engaging projection is locked to the locking part so as to constitute a positioning member that positions the first mounting member and the bracket member to each other.
US09145037B2
Apparatus and associated methods relate to displacement-independent remote adjustable coupling of a first suspension member to a second suspension member. In an illustrative embodiment, the first suspension member may move substantially independently of any motion of the second suspension member, when in an uncoupled state. When in a coupled state, for example, the first suspension member may move in response to movement of the second suspension member. In some embodiments, the coupling between members may be performed by removing and/or stiffening one or more degrees of motion of the suspension system. For example, in some systems, a variable shock absorber may be stiffened in response to a control system signal. A remotely coupled suspension system may advantageously provide optimal suspension configuration for various riding conditions.
US09145031B2
A tire for motor vehicles, having a tread band extending around a rotation axis includes an annular central portion astride an equatorial plane of the tire, two annular shoulder portions arranged on axially opposite sides with respect to the annular central portion and two annular side portions each arranged between the annular central portion and a respective annular shoulder portion, the tread band having at least one module replicated along a circumferential direction of the tire and including at least one plurality of primary grooves inclined with respect to the equatorial plane and arranged at least on the annular portions, and at least one plurality of secondary recesses arranged mainly on the annular central portion and on at least one annular side portion, wherein a substantial disappearance of the secondary recesses determines a difference in the empty/solid ratio on the annular central and side portions between a new tire and a tire that has travelled at least 2000 km greater than 1.7%.
US09145030B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a novel ‘double kingpin’ type skateboard truck having multiple elastomeric bushings, where one or more of such bushings is an elongated bushing having two staggered mounting holes incorporated herein for the purpose of mounting the bushing upon two bolts in the double kingpin truck mechanism. The novel placement and novel form of the said bushing provides both enhanced overall stability to the truck, as well as a wider range of tension adjustability features to the double kingpin truck system. Moreover, increased shock absorption capabilities, ‘wheel wobble’ resistance and overall truck mechanism balance, permit the ‘double kingpin’ type truck to be more useable for higher speed skateboard riding purposes.
US09145027B2
A wheel bearing assembly includes an outer race in which a plurality of rows of track portions are formed at an inner side thereof; a hub that is coaxially disposed with the outer race to be rotatably disposed in the outer race; an inner race that is engaged with a portion of an outside surface of the hub to rotate together with the hub; a first roller that is interposed between the hub and the outer race to be rolled; and a second roller that is interposed between the inner race and the outer race to be rolled.
US09145013B2
A method is provided that performs, based on a schedule, the printing of a plurality of images and the print head maintenance on the first face and the second face of a continuous sheet. The method includes: sensing a unique portion unsuitable for image printing that exists on the continuous sheet; and setting a printing schedule, when the unique portion is sensed in the first face or the second face, such that an image is prevented to be printed on the unique portion and a maintenance operation of the print head is performed at a region corresponding to the unique portion on the back face of the first or second face that has the unique portion.
US09145005B2
A printer includes a device main body having a recording head, and a double-sided printing unit that forms an inverting transport path for inverting a medium fed from the side on which the recording head is located and that is configured to be mountable in and removable from the device main body. A photosensor that detects paper within the double-sided printing unit when the double-sided printing unit is mounted in the device main body detects the paper within the double-sided printing unit via an opening provided in an upper area of the double-sided printing unit.
US09145003B2
A workpiece marking device operating automatically includes a support member, a transmission member, a feeding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a driving mechanism, a positioning tool, and a marking mechanism. The transmission member conveys a workpiece, the feeding mechanism includes a driving assembly coupled to the support member and a lifting member coupled to the driving assembly. The discharging mechanism is positioned on the support member and above the transmission member. The discharging mechanism includes a driving assembly coupled to the support member and a lifting member coupled to the driving assembly of the discharging mechanism to move workpieces away after marking.
US09144991B2
A liquid storage device includes: a liquid storage having a storage chamber for storing liquid; first communication devices each for transmitting a radio wave for carrying out short distance wireless communication; a second communication device for receiving the radio wave transmitted from each first communication device; and a controller. The first communication devices are arranged in a configuration corresponding to a direction of movement of a boundary surface between a liquid stored area and a liquid non-stored area in the storage chamber. The movement is caused by increase or decrease of an amount of the liquid in the storage chamber. The storage chamber is partly interposed between the second communication device and the first communication devices. The controller detects a position of the boundary surface based on a reception status of the radio wave transmitted from each first communication device and received by the second communication device.
US09144983B2
A fluid applicator mounting device includes a main body to removeably receive a fluid applicator module. The main body includes a common fluid channel having a main input port, a main output port, a supplemental input port to provide fluid to the fluid applicator module, and a supplemental output port to output fluid from the fluid applicator module. The fluid applicator mounting device also includes an input fm member disposed inside the common fluid channel and arranged proximate to the supplemental input port to guide fluid to the fluid applicator module. The fluid applicator mounting device also includes an output fin member disposed inside the common fluid channel and arranged proximate to the supplemental output port to guide fluid from the fluid applicator module away from the supplemental output port.
US09144978B2
A printhead substrate, comprising an electrothermal transducer configured to heat a printing material, a first DMOS transistor configured to drive the electrothermal transducer, a MOS structure forming an anti-fuse element, a second DMOS transistor configured to write information in the anti-fuse element by causing an insulation breakdown of an insulating film of the MOS structure, and a driving unit consisted of at least one MOS transistor and configured to drive the second DMOS transistor.
US09144974B2
A liquid jet head includes an ejecting portion having a first head chip and a second chip which are laminated with each other, and a circuit board which outputs a drive signal for driving the ejecting portion. A first connection board electrically connects the first head chip to the circuit board, and a second connection board electrically connects the second head chip to the circuit board. A bend portion is provided in the circuit board so that by bending the circuit board at the bend portion, the first electrode terminal portion and the second electrode terminal portion are made to extend in the same direction, and face each other in the lamination direction of the head chips. The circuit board has a connecting terminal that is exposed to the outside through a window in the circuit board when the circuit board is bent at the ending portion.
US09144966B2
A roller assembly is provided for spreading and chilling a web in a printing press. The roller assembly includes a roller for chilling and spreading a web and a trolley roller contacting the roller, the trolley roller configured and arranged to impart a deflection in the roller. Also provided is a roller assembly for counteracting web loading on a roller in a printing press. This roller assembly includes a roller for transporting a web, the roller having an axis; a web wrapped partially around the roller and applying a load on the roller transverse to the axis; and a trolley roller contacting the roller, the trolley roller configured and arranged to impart a sufficient force on the roller to keep the axis of the roller linear under said load.
US09144963B2
A method for folding a fastener during a high speed manufacturing process and maintaining the fastener in a folded configuration throughout the high speed manufacturing process. The method includes obtaining an article that has a foldable fastener and moving the article in the machine direction during the high speed manufacturing process. The foldable fastener has first and second opposing surfaces, a web and at least one engaging member joined to the web. The method includes applying a frangible bonding agent to a first portion of the first surface of the fastening system; folding the fastening system such that the frangible bonding agent contacts a second portion of the first surface of the fastening system; and allowing the frangible bonding agent to cool at a temperature of less than 60° C.
US09144960B2
A device uses magnetic force generated by a magnet to intensify compaction pressure applied to a composite laminate.
US09144948B2
In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a hat stiffener. The hat stiffener has a cap. The hat stiffener further has a first web and a second web extending from opposite ends of the cap. The first web and the second web are non-linear and include at least one canted portion. The hat stiffener further has a first flange extending outwardly from a first web base portion and a second flange extending outwardly from a second web base portion.
US09144947B2
A core main body comprises first core segments having a small circumferential width and having both circumferential end surfaces as first butting surfaces, and second core segments having a large circumferential width and having both circumferential end surfaces as second butting surfaces, the core main body is formed into an annular shape by butting the circumferentially adjacent first and second butting surfaces against each other. The first butting surface comprises a parallel surface portion being parallel with a center plane in the circumferential width of the first core segment connected to radially outside of an outwardly inclined surface portion inclined so that the circumferential width increases toward the inside in a radial direction.
US09144945B2
The present invention relates to a fiber application machine, for making components out of composite materials, comprising a fiber application head, fiber storing means, and means for conveying the fibers from said storage means to the application head. The conveying means comprises first flexible tubes, that receive one fiber into its internal passage. Each flexible tube is provided with at least one longitudinal flexible blade of rectangular cross section. Each first flexible tube and its associated flexible blade are placed in a second flexible tube so that the second flexible tube holds the flexible blade substantially against the first flexible tube, while allowing relative longitudinal movement of the flexible blade in relation to the first flexible tube.
US09144940B2
A method for printing a three-dimensional part and a support structure with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system. The method includes developing a support layer of the support structure from a soluble support material with a first electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed support layer from the first electrophotography engine to a transfer medium. The method also includes developing a part layer of the three-dimensional part from an ABS part material with a second electrophotography engine, and transferring the developed part layer from the second electrophotography engine to the transfer medium. The method further includes moving the attracted part and support layers to a layer transfusion assembly with the transfer medium, and transfusing the moved part and support layers together to previously-printed layers with the layer transfusion assembly.
US09144936B2
A linear actuator includes a plastic housing having an integral flange for mounting the actuator. A stator assembly, having windings, is disposed in the plastic housing. A rotor assembly, having a permanent magnet, is mounted for rotation with respect to the stator assembly such that when the windings are energized, a magnetic field is generated to cause rotation of the rotor assembly. A shaft is restricted from rotation and is associated with the rotor assembly such that rotation of the rotor assembly causes linear movement of the shaft. Connector structure houses leads for powering the windings. The plastic housing has an annular end that captures an annular surface of the connector structure to couple the plastic housing to the connector structure.
US09144927B2
A mold rotator with a first section and a second section that are engaged approximately perpendicularly to each other to produce a base and an L-shaped platform for receiving the article. The base of the article rotator may have a curved section at the intersection of the first section and the second section and the article rotator may rotate on its curved section between a first position wherein the article rotator is supported on its first section and a second position wherein the article rotator is supported on its second section. Further, the article rotator allows an article to be safely rotated simply by lowering the article onto the article rotator so that the article rotator automatically rotates approximately 90° from a first position and a second, rotated position. The article rotator may include a stabilizing system.
US09144926B2
Provided are a functional molded article having sufficient flexibility and moldability and also sufficiently having the function of a functional particle, and a method for producing the same. The functional molded article is formed by molding a mixture containing a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance. The method for producing the functional molded article essentially comprises a step of molding a mixture of a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance, wherein the fibrous substance is obtained from a fibrous material which is formed into the fibrous substance by mechanical force applied in the process of obtaining the mixture, or essentially comprises a step of molding a mixture of a functional particle, a binder, and a fibrous substance, wherein the mixture is obtained by mixing the functional particle with the binder to form a premix and further mixing the premix with the fibrous substance or a fibrous material which is formed into the fibrous substance by mechanical force applied in the process of obtaining the mixture.
US09144921B2
The method for wire saw excavation provides a significant savings in time, effort, and expense in the cutting of a core of material from a solid substrate such as rock or concrete. A single downhole is formed, and a robotic excavator then forms a continuous, closed loop base passage at the distal end of the downhole to define the periphery of the core to be cut. When the base passage has been completed, the robotic excavator is removed and two subsurface guide pulleys are placed in the bottom of the downhole. A wire saw is passed from a first surface pulley around the first and second subsurface pulleys and back to a second surface pulley. The surface pulleys are advanced along the predetermined periphery of the core at the same rate as the subsurface pulleys, so that the saw simultaneously cuts the periphery and the bottom of the core.
US09144918B2
A field sawbuck having a tree gripper forming a top side fulcrum for holding an end of a felled tree and a tree engaging arm for pivoting the felled tree about the fulcrum to bring the felled tree to an elevated condition whereby the limbs can be removed and the tree can be conveniently cut into desired length without concern for pinching or binding the saw or having the saw blade accidentally contact a support soil for the felled tree as well a method for delivering a felled tree to a field sawbuck that can cantileverly support the felled tree during the process of removing limbs from the tree or during the process of field cutting of the felled tree into firewood lengths.
US09144909B2
A robot quick-release assembly has a first joint member and a robot component mounted thereon, the first joint member has a first coupler and a second joint member, a robot arm mounted thereon, has a second coupler, a clamp, and a locking collar. The first coupler can be coaxially aligned with the second coupler and pressed into the second joint member, and detachably connected to the second joint member. The first mechanical coupler is detachably connected to the second mechanical coupler for transferring power across the quick-release assembly. The robot component can receive an additional electrical connector, the additional electrical connector supplying power to the robot component. The quick-release assembly coupling assembly further exerts large forces with the application of a relatively small torque to the locking collar by applying a two stage wedge engagement and can further include a sequencing system.
US09144907B2
Robotic system (100) includes a processing device (512) and a plurality of robot actuators (501) to cause a specified motion of the robot (102). The processing device (512) responds to one or more user robot commands (115) initiated by a control operator input at a remote control console (108). A user robot command will specify a first movement of the robot from a first position to a second position. The processing device will compare a current pose of the robot to an earlier pose of the robot to determine a difference between the current pose and the earlier pose. Based on this comparing, the processing device will selectively transform the user robot command to a latency-corrected robot command which specifies a second movement for the robot which is different from the first movement.
US09144904B2
A system and method for controlling avoiding collisions and deadlocks in a workcell containing multiple robots automatically determines the potential deadlock conditions and identifies a way to avoid these conditions. Deadlock conditions are eliminated by determining the deadlock-free motion statements prior to execution of the motions that have potential deadlock conditions. This determination of deadlock-free motion statements can be done offline, outside normal execution, or it can be done during normal production execution. If there is sufficient CPU processing time available, the determination during normal production execution provides the most flexibility to respond to dynamic conditions such as changes in I/O timing or the timing of external events or sequences. For minimal CPU impact the determination is done offline where many permutations of programming sequences can be analyzed and an optimized sequence of execution may be found.
US09144889B2
A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second guide members toward the base portion to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.
US09144888B2
A clamping assembly is provided. The clamping assembly includes a base member having a base portion and an extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a piston that is adapted to move first and second cam fingers toward the base portion to induce first and second pins, respectively, to move first and second wedge members, respectively, in first and second directions, respectively, on the extension portion to lift a wedge coupling member relative to the extension portion. The clamping assembly further includes a shaft coupled to the wedge coupling member that is further coupled to a clamping arm.
US09144886B1
An exemplary method of processing a polycrystalline diamond element includes positioning the polycrystalline diamond element within a protective leaching cup. The protective leaching cup includes a seal region contacting a portion of a side surface of the polycrystalline diamond element adjacent a cutting face of the polycrystalline diamond element. The protective leaching cup also includes an encapsulating region surrounding a rear face and a portion of the side surface of the polycrystalline diamond element adjacent the rear face. The method includes exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond element to a leaching agent. A length of a side wall of the protective leaching cup exceeds a length of the side surface of the polycrystalline diamond element.
US09144885B2
An abrasive article can include a bonded abrasive body having abrasive particles comprising microcrystalline alumina (MCA) contained within a bond material. In an embodiment, the bonded abrasive body has a porosity of at least about 42 vol % of the total volume of the bonded abrasive body. Additionally, in an embodiment, the bonded abrasive body is capable of grinding a workpiece comprising metal at a speed of at least about 60 m/s at a material removal rate of at least about 0.4 in3/min/in (258 mm3/min/mm).
US09144882B2
A consumable component of a liquid jet cutting system is provided. The consumable component includes a body defining a conduit for a liquid jet and a signal device located on or within the body for transmitting a signal associated with the consumable component to a reader.
US09144880B2
A chemical mechanical polishing pad for polishing a substrate selected from at least one of a magnetic substrate, an optical substrate and a semiconductor substrate is provided containing a polishing layer, wherein the polishing layer comprises the reaction product of raw material ingredients, including: a polyfunctional isocyanate; and, a curative package; wherein the curative package contains an amine initiated polyol curative and a high molecular weight polyol curative; wherein the polishing layer exhibits a density of greater than 0.6 g/cm3; a Shore D hardness of 5 to 40; an elongation to break of 100 to 450%; and, a cut rate of 25 to 150 μm/hr; and, wherein the polishing layer has a polishing surface adapted for polishing the substrate. Also provide are methods of making and using the chemical mechanical polishing pad.
US09144878B2
There is provided a polishing apparatus capable of detecting uneven wear occurring on a polishing pad and detecting an appropriate replacement timing of the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus detects, every predetermined time, a value of rotation speed or a value of rotation torque of a table drive shaft for rotationally driving a polishing table or a dresser drive shaft for driving a dresser, or a value of swing torque of a dresser swing shaft for driving the dresser; calculates a change quantity thereof based on the value of the detected rotation speed, the value of the detected rotation torque, or the value of the detected swing torque; determines whether or not the change quantity exceeds a predetermined value; and notifies a user of a warning when a determination is made that the change quantity exceeds the predetermined value.
US09144873B2
The invention relates to a coding element for equipping at least one cam carrier of a rotor of a rotary press with at least one control cam element, wherein at least one coding element is provided, wherein the at least one coding element comprises fastening means by which it can be fastened to the rotor or a component connected thereto, wherein the at least one coding element has coding means by which the position of the at least one control cam element on the cam carrier is clearly specified. In addition, the invention relates to a corresponding method.
US09144866B2
Various embodiments include an apparatus for installing or removing a transition piece (TP) in a gas turbine. The apparatus can include: a control arm assembly sized to rest within an opening in the gas turbine; a guide system coupled to the control arm assembly, the guide system for transporting the TP within the opening in the gas turbine; and a counter balance coupled to the guide system, the counter balance for countering weight of the TP during the installing or the removing of the TP in the gas turbine.
US09144865B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material. One of the systems includes a gas mixing apparatus for fragmenting and mixing waste magnetic material comprising a plurality of reaction vessels, each of the plurality of reaction vessels comprising an internal liner having a plurality of openings defined therein, each of the internal liners configured to receive magnetic material and facilitate the circulation of gas around the magnetic material through the plurality of openings, and a pump and valve assembly operatively coupled to the plurality of reaction vessels to control the introduction of gas into the plurality of reaction vessels and to control transfer of gas between the plurality of reaction vessels.
US09144861B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for laser peening hidden surfaces. In one embodiment, a laser processing pen is provided, the laser processing pen comprising: an elongated member, comprising: a laser pulse entry portion; a laser pulse exit portion, wherein the laser pulse exit portion includes at least one optical lens; and at least one tape guide capable of channeling at least a non-adhesive tape overlay in proximity of the laser pulse exit portion.
US09144857B2
A welding torch includes a torch housing and, preferably, a tube bend fastenable thereto. A drive unit for feeding a welding wire is arranged in the torch housing and is formed by at least a drive roller and a pressure roller, as well as a drive motor. Part of the torch housing is designed as a component of the drive unit. A rotor, in particular a motor shaft, of the drive motor is fastened to the torch housing via a bearing or bearings to stabilize and position the rotor. A welding wire feed drive motor includes bearings, a rotor, in particular a motor shaft and a rotor winding or rotor magnets, and a stator pack, in particular stator winding or stator magnets. At least a part of the motor shaft, in particular the retention zone of a drive roller, is electrically insulated from the stator housing or base body.
US09144855B2
The use of pre-sintered soldering plates, referred to as PSPs, frequently proceeds without a continuous, cohesive soldering connection between individual grains in the sinter material and between the sinter and base material. A process soldering of prefabricated, perforated, porous or drilled plates or porous, spongy, laminar material that, can be laid full-surfaced on a base element as a plurality of tiles or as individual porous, drilled or perforated inlay elements designed contour-close on a recess in the base material is provided. To this end, the selected plate materials can be mechanically equal to the base material or otherwise set off for the particular requirements of the component insert. The solder can be offset by specific diffusible, melting-point-lowering components. A mold that has an open, continuous porosity so that melted or fluid solder can flow through from the one surface to the other surface is also provided.
US09144849B2
A toolholder for holding a plurality of types of removable cutting inserts is provided. The toolholder includes a toolholder body having an insert-receiving recess. The recess includes an insert abutment surface for abutting a corresponding insert supporting surface of an insert. The insert abutment surface includes a first portion that abuts a first insert supporting surface of a first type of cutting insert and a second portion abuts a second insert supporting surface of a second type of cutting insert.
US09144838B2
The disclosure provides a forming machine without pattern casting, including: a multi-axis motion system; a cutting system, connected with the multi-axis motion system; a driving system, driving the multi-axis motion system to move; and a machining base, wherein the machining base includes a fixing seat and a turnover mechanism, wherein the turnover mechanism is revolvably connected with the fixing seat. Since the forming machine without pattern casting of the disclosure adopts a tilting type and needs no working platform, most of the waste sand grains generated from cutting fall freely into the shakeout groove arranged below the fixing seat, and will not fly into the multi-axis motion system, and will not cause stop failure; thus the precision and service life of the forming machine without pattern casting are improved.
US09144836B2
A feeding device includes a fixing base. A motor is fixed to the fixing base. The motor has an output axle. A transmission axle is fixedly connected to the output axle. The feeding device further includes a feeding block having a side fixedly connected to the transmission axle. The feeding block has a feeding notch. The feeding notch is formed around the transmission axle circumferentially. Hence, once a slender material enters the rotational space of the feeding block, the motor drives the feeding block to rotate, whereas the slender material is pressed by the feeding notch of the feeding block and sent out as a result of the continuous rotation of the feeding block. Hence, the feeding device not only enables continuous material conveyance but also allows the slender material to be conveyed smoothly even when the slender material is slightly bent or deformed.
US09144830B2
The static eliminating and dust removing apparatus comprises a big container and a small container disposed within the big container. The big container opens at the top and bottom ends to suck the dust in upwardly and discharge the dust. The small container is of hollow cylindrical or truncated conical structure and of a construction that the cyclone and tornado are generated within the small container. Furthermore, the static eliminating and dust removing apparatus has an ion generator disposed in the small container for generating ions which is injected or introduced in the small container and a dried compressed air injection opening formed on the small container for injecting the dried compressed air into the small container to generate cyclone and tornado within the small container.
US09144829B2
A technique for organizing pathology samples includes sorting the samples into bins defined at different physical locations of a sorting apparatus, based on a set of designations applied to the samples. With such an arrangement, unorganized pathology samples may be grouped so that all the same accession numbers are grouped together for efficient filing or re-filing with reduced error. An apparatus suitable for use according to this technique includes a support structure and multiple dividers defining multiple sets of bins on the apparatus. A different set of bins is provided on the apparatus for each of the set of designations applied to the samples.
US09144826B2
A dynamic air separator for separating materials consisting of particles of different sizes into particle-size fractions. The separator includes a rotary housing and a chamber for recovering the fine particles, which is coaxially arranged in alignment with the rotary housing. The separator also includes a fan wheel positioned coaxially to the chamber for recovering the fine particles. The fan wheel is located at the end of the outlet duct for purified air from the chamber for recovering the fine particles, in order to suck in air during use and send the latter to the air-distribution chamber around the rotary housing.
US09144813B2
A pump-type cosmetics container is not subject to the risk of a foreign substance entering into a nozzle, due to a moving path through which content is discharged during use that is selectively open by means of an opening/closing bracket, and to the risk of change in quality of the content inside the moving path, by means of a counteraction of a control protrusion pressing a locking protrusion thereby re-aspirating the content remaining inside the moving path, after pumping using a double spring.
US09144797B2
A process for regenerating catalysts that have been deactivated or poisoned during hydrogenation of biomass, sugars and polysaccharides is described, in which polymerized species that have agglomerated to catalyst surfaces can be removed by means of washing the catalyst with hot water at subcritical temperatures. A feature of the process regenerates the catalysts in situ, which allows the process to be adapted for used in continuous throughput reactor systems. Also described is a continuous hydrogenation process that incorporated the present regeneration process.
US09144792B2
Disclosed are a catalyst comprising (A) an aluminosilicate molecular sieve comprising a ferrierite phase and (B) a hydrogenation metal component, and a hydroalkylation process using the catalyst. The catalyst and the hydroalkylation process can be used in the production of phenol and/or cyclohexanone from benzene hydroalkylation.
US09144789B2
A diesel exhaust gas purification catalyst contains a substrate, and a catalyst layer formed on the substrate. The catalyst layer contains a carrier, a noble metal and/or an oxide thereof supported by the carrier, and a composite oxide of cerium and one or more Group III and/or Group IV elements. The diesel exhaust gas purification catalyst when in use is disposed on an upstream side of an exhaust gas stream with respect to a denitration catalyst.
US09144787B2
A composition comprising an extruded inorganic support comprising an oxide of a metal or metalloid, and at least one catalytically active metal, wherein the extruded inorganic support has pores, a total pore volume, and a pore size distribution, wherein the pore size distribution displays at least two peaks of pore diameters, each peak having a maximum, wherein a first peak has a first maximum of pore diameters of equal to or greater than about 120 nm and a second peak has a second maximum of pore diameters of less than about 120 nm, and wherein greater than or equal to about 5% of a total pore volume of the extruded inorganic support is contained within the first peak of pore diameters.
US09144781B2
Provided is a fuel processing device including: a combustion unit equipped with a heat source; a desulfurization unit for extracting a sulfur component from the source gas; a reforming unit for generating, from the desulfurized source gas, a hydrogen-containing gas having hydrogen as a main component thereof; and a low-temperature conversion unit equipped with an exothermic catalyst for reducing the impurity concentration in the hydrogen-containing gas. The reforming unit and the desulfurization unit are configured so as to surround the combustion unit, and are disposed concentrically in the given order facing outwards from the combustion unit. The present invention further includes a preheating passage which is connected to the desulfurization unit, and which is provided to a bottom part of the combustion unit via a heat insulation material, such that the source gas is preheated by heat from the combustion unit.
US09144769B2
One aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising a single-stage conversion of NO and/or NO2 in a first stream to one or more mineral acids and/or salts thereof by reacting with nonionic gas phase chlorine dioxide ((ClO2)0). Another aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising first adjusting the NO and NO2 concentrations in a first stream to a molar ratio of about 1:1, and then reacting with an aqueous metal hydroxide solution (MOH). Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus that can be used to carry out the methods disclosed herein. The methods disclosed herein are unexpectedly efficient and cost effective, and can be applied to a stream comprising high concentration and large volume of NO and/or NO2.
US09144768B2
A fuel system includes a fuel tank, a vent tank fluidically connected to the fuel tank ullage, the vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere and the interior of the vent tank, and a catalyst disposed in the duct, wherein the catalyst is adapted to deplete one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct by catalytic reaction. Also, a method for depleting one or more reactive components of gas in the fuel system, includes depleting one or more reactive components of gas flowing through the duct using the catalyst.
US09144765B2
Reactor systems are provided that comprise a purification zone comprising an absorbent which comprises silver, an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and a support material having a surface area of more than 20 m2/g, and a reaction zone comprising a catalyst, which reaction zone is positioned downstream from the purification zone.
US09144764B2
Horizontal duct scrubbing systems for removing particulate matter from a gas are disclosed. The horizontal scrubbing systems may receive a particulate-containing gas stream (e.g., containing PM10 and/or PM2.5 particulate matter), and remove at least some of such particulates by spraying liquid droplets co-current to the flow of the gas stream, where the liquid droplets have a volume median droplet diameter (DV0.5) of from 240 microns to 600 microns. The scrubbing system may be substantially free of flow deflection members between a liquid inlet manifold and a demister. The system may be remove at least 50 wt. % PM10 and/or PM2.5 particulate matter from the gas stream.
US09144762B2
There is provided a honeycomb filter including a honeycomb base material including a porous partition wall parent material; plugged portions arranged in open frontal areas of predetermined cells in an end surface on an inflow side of the fluid, and open frontal areas of the remaining cells in an end surface on an outflow side of the fluid; and a porous collecting layer disposed on the surface of the partition wall parent material in the remaining cells. In a cross section orthogonal to an extending direction of the cells, a shape of the cells is a rectangular shape, and a thickness of a portion of the collecting layer which is positioned in each of corner portions of each of the cells is from one to three times that of a portion of the collecting layer which is positioned in the center of each of sides of the cell.
US09144750B2
A method of replacing a first dispersion medium, in a starting slurry composed of the first dispersion medium and either terephthalic acid crystals or isophthalic acid crystals, with a second dispersion medium, and apparatus therefore. The starting slurry is tangentially fed to a vertically extending cylindrical portion of a cyclone-shaped nozzle disposed at an upper portion of a replacement tank of a dispersion medium replacement apparatus, from a tangential direction of the cylindrical portion, and moves circularly along an inner wall of the cylindrical portion. The slurry circularly moving is then discharged from an opening which is disposed at a vertically lower end of the cylindrical portion and dispersed in a second dispersion medium which is fed from a lower portion of the replacement tank.
US09144749B2
A toy building system comprising building elements with coupling means for releasably interconnecting building elements, the toy building system comprising function building elements with such coupling means and each having a function device adapted to perform a controllable function and an energy source for providing energy to the function device for performing the controllable function, each function building element comprising a light sensor for receiving visible light encoding a control signal; and a control circuit connected to the light sensor and to the function device and adapted to decode the received control signal and to control the controllable function responsive to the decoded control signal.
US09144746B2
A toy set is disclosed herein the toy set including: a first object configured to transmit a plurality of codes wirelessly, each of the plurality of codes being transmitted at a different predetermined power level; a second object configured to detect the plurality of codes, the second object providing one of a plurality of audio outputs when at least one of the plurality of codes is detected by the second object; and wherein the one of the plurality of audio outputs is selected by determining which of the plurality of codes detected by the second object has a weakest predetermined power level.
US09144739B2
A method, computer system, and computer program product to assign player-entries in an online card game. The method commences by receiving preference parameters corresponding to a player, then receiving a player command corresponding to the player to fold out of a current hand of a particular game. For alacrity of play and for supporting a large number of concurrently open tables for an online player to play a large number of games, the method proceeds to identify an open table that satisfies player preference parameters. The preferred game and/or the player's preferred seating arrangement can be determined by using a second preference parameter. The method can respond to a fold-out command by the player and can open a new table on the basis of the player's preference parameters.
US09144734B2
An interactive amusement game in which players collect projectiles emitted randomly from a centralized location. A preferred embodiment has a centralized location constructed in the shape of a garbage can which randomly ejects plastic flies through apertures in the housing lid. Players surround the centralized location with plastic fly swatters constructed with non-permanent adhering means that attach to the flies emitted from the centralized location.
US09144730B1
A skateboard truck comprising a hanger pivotably mounted to a base, the hanger having a central aperture extending through opposite sides and a kingpin passing through the hanger central aperture. The truck includes a first and second bushing received on the kingpin, a first bushing seat receiving a portion of one of the first and second bushings and a second bushing seat receiving a portion of the other of the first and second bushings. The first and second bushing seats have different wall configurations. The hanger may be mounted to permit the first bushing to deform, rotating the hanger with respect to the base to a degree when subject to a force offset from the axis of the kingpin. The hanger may be reversibly mounted to permit the first bushing to deform, rotating the hanger with respect to the base to a different degree when subject to the same force.
US09144719B1
An adjustable assembly includes a shaft, a club head having a hosel portion with a hosel opening, a hosel insert, a shaft adapter, and a fastener. The hosel insert is secured to the hosel portion and includes at least one pawl. The hosel portion or the hosel insert includes a first set of projections. The adapter extends about a first longitudinal axis and includes a second set of teeth aligned with the hosel insert, and a third set of projections for selectable engagement with the first set. Each tooth includes first leading and trailing surfaces. The first leading surface is shaped to enable rotational movement of the adapter about the axis with respect to the hosel insert in a first rotational direction. The first trailing surface is shaped to selectively engage the pawl to inhibit rotational movement of the adapter in a second rotation direction, opposite the first direction.
US09144713B2
A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The ratio of the volume Ve of the core 4 to the volume of a phantom sphere of the golf ball 2 is equal to greater than 76%. The ratio (Co/Ce) of an amount of compressive deformation Co of the center 10 to an amount of compressive deformation Ce of the core 4 is greater than 2.0 but less than 3.0. The ratio (Vo/Ve) of the volume Vo of the center 10 to the volume Ve of the core 4 is equal to or greater than 0.01 but equal to or less than 0.13.
US09144710B1
A climbing device for a removable attachment to a column member, such as a tree, includes a body having a pair of spaced contact surfaces. The body also includes a pair of spaced and elongated retention apertures that are configured to receive a flexible retention member, such as a strap, therethrough. The retention member initially retains the climbing device to the column member, such that the contact surfaces are urged against the column member. In addition, the retention members are spaced apart such that their top portions are spaced further apart than their bottom portions. Thus, as the climbing body is forced downward along the column member, the distance between the spaced retention apertures increases, causing the circumferential distance traversed by the retention member to increase, thus drawing the retention member taut.
US09144703B2
An exercise machine may comprise a plurality of weights arranged in a stack, a stem, and a plurality of weight selector switches mounted to the stem. Each weight selector switch of the plurality of weight selector switches may be positioned and configured to selectively couple a corresponding weight of the plurality of weights to the stem. A method of manufacturing a weight selecting device may comprise providing a stem, and mounting a plurality of weight selector switches to the stem.
US09144694B2
A medical imaging and therapy device is provided that may include any of a number of features. The device may include a Histotripsy transducer, a generator and controller configured to deliver Histotripsy energy from the transducer to target tissue, and an imaging system. In some embodiments, a method of treating tissue with Histotripsy energy comprises positioning a focus of a histotripsy transducer on a target tissue, delivering histotripsy energy from the histotripsy transducer through a bone aberrator, forming a histotripsy bubble cloud on the focus, and preventing the formation of secondary histotripsy bubble clouds without implementing an aberration correction algorithm.
US09144692B2
Pharmaceutical compositions for transdermal administration of neurotoxins to a patient include a neurotoxin, such as a botulinum toxin, and an enhancing agent that facilitates absorption of the neurotoxin through the skin of the patient and does not eliminate the bioactivity associated with the neurotoxin. The pharmaceutical compositions are topically applied on a patient, and may be provided in a transdermal patch.
US09144691B2
A modulator for use in a radiation system with directional radiation beams respectively collimated into radiation fields, including a plurality of displaceable radiation attenuating elements arranged in at least one row, the radiation attenuating elements being configured to attenuate portions of a radiation beam inside the radiation field according the position of the radiation attenuating elements, and wherein each radiation attenuating element is respectively attached to a substantially radiolucent member, and a driver operable to store motion profiles and to respectively drive the radiation attenuating elements in directions generally perpendicular to the radiation beam via the substantially radiolucent members, wherein the respective motions of the radiation attenuating elements are according to corresponding motion profiles, and wherein a motion profile relates position and/or velocity of the radiation attenuating elements to time and/or irradiation level.
US09144688B2
The disclosure herein is directed toward systems and methods for pairing two or more devices into a wireless network and transferring data between two or more electro-stimulation devices. Specifically, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include pairing two or more devices into a network configuration using, in part, a pairing device to distinctly identify the devices to be paired and to pair the identified devices into a network. Moreover, the systems and methods disclosed herein may include transferring data between two or more devices using, in part, one or more electro-stimulation contacts for electro-stimulation therapy and using, in part, the same one or more electro-stimulation contacts for transferring data between two or more devices.
US09144686B2
Embodiments relate to an implantable cardiac system, including a housing, electronic circuitry for controlling one or more of power management, processing unit, information memory and management circuit, sensing and simulation output. The system also includes diagnosis and treatment software for diagnosing health issues, diagnosing mechanical issues, determining therapy output and manage patient health indicators over time, a power supply system including at least one rechargeable battery, a recharging system, an alarm (or alert) system to inform patient of energy level and integrity of system, communication circuitry, one or more electrodes for delivering therapeutic signal to a heart and one or more electrodes for from delivering electrocardiogram signal from the heart to the electronic circuitry. The power sources can include rechargeable batteries. The housing can include receptacles that receive a probe that mechanically and electrically connects to circuitry to recharge the device and receive data from the device.
US09144685B2
An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.
US09144677B2
A vestibular prosthesis system is described which includes an external movement sensor that is attachable a patient's head for generating an external movement signal. A fail-safe sensor is configured to detect movement of the one or more external movement sensors relative to the head and generate a corresponding relative motion signal. And an implant processor also is implantable under the skin and in communication with the fail-safe sensor and the external transmitter for generating an implant stimulation signal based on the external movement signal and/or the relative motion signal to electrically stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by the patient.
US09144674B2
Disclosed are several embodiments of a battery-less piezo-electric defibrillation system (2) comprising external piezo-electric defibrillator (4) and at least one electrode (5) connected thereto. The system includes a piezo-electric generator (6) connected to direct cardiac access—(5), or indirect subcutaneous electrode assemblies (30). The piezo-electric generator (6) is energized by a spring-driven striker element (8) and produces electrical pulse for defibrillation. The direct cardiac access electrodes (5) engage the heart muscle directly via the intercostal space. Alternatively, indirect subcutaneous electrodes (34a) are positioned under patient's skin.
US09144667B2
A prosthetic valve delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a prosthetic valve within an existing valve is disclosed. The delivery system includes a stented prosthetic valve having a balloon-expandable stent portion with a prosthetic valve disposed therein and at least one self-expanding stent portion. The delivery system further includes a dual balloon catheter having a first balloon on which the stented prosthetic valve is disposed during delivery and a second balloon. Upon delivery within the existing valve, the self-expanding stent portion contacts the existing valve and the first balloon expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a first diameter such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a first stage deployment configuration. The second balloon then expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a second stage deployment configuration being fully deployed within the existing valve.
US09144666B2
Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices are prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlayer balloon, encasing the web with a matrix material to form an assembly, and inserting the assembly into a preformed outer layer balloon to form the composite balloon.
US09144660B2
Under one aspect of the present invention, a catheter includes an elongate member; a plurality of septa configured to define a plurality of lumens along the elongate member; and a plurality of slits defined through the elongate member, each slit configured to provide fluidic communication between an environment about the catheter and a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens, at least one slit having a different length than at least one other slit.
US09144657B2
One or more anesthetic vaporizers may be fluidly connected to the anesthetic delivery machine via a vaporizer mounting bar. The vaporizer mounting bar may include multiple vaporizer mounting positions. Each vaporizer includes interlock pins that extend when the vaporizer is opened and prevent the vaporizer from being opened when pushed in. When a first vaporizer is opened, its interlock pins may extend and cause the interlock pins of adjacent vaporizers, and vaporizers within a chain of interlock pin connections, to be pushed in, preventing the other vaporizers from being opened simultaneously with the first vaporizer. In various embodiments, a paddle system may translate the extension of an interlock pin from one vaporizer to the interlock pins of each of the other vaporizers in the direction of the extension, including the interlock pins of vaporizers in non-adjacent and non-chain positions.
US09144656B2
A breathing mask arrangement includes a mask frame, a sealing device provided to the mask frame, a forehead support device movably mounted to the frame for adjustable movement with respect to the frame, and a rotatable adjustment knob operatively associated with the forehead support device such that rotative movement of the adjustment knob is adapted to cause relative movement between the forehead support device and the frame.
US09144651B2
Described are a dose counter (200) for use with an inhaler (5), and an actuator (20) for use with or as part of a dispenser. Further described is a dispenser containing a dose counter.
US09144648B2
An injector for injecting medicament in a patient. The injector includes a container comprising a fluid chamber containing a first volume of a medicament, and an injection conduit associated with the fluid chamber for defining a fluid pathway therefrom to inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the injection conduit to an injection location. The injector also includes a firing mechanism associated with the fluid chamber for expelling the medicament from the fluid chamber through the injection conduit, and a volume-control mechanism operable to control a fraction of the first volume of medicament that is injected when the firing mechanism is actuated to inject the medicament.
US09144647B2
The present invention relates to a time delay indicator (1) for an injection device for administering a drug into the body of a subject user wherein the time delay indicator is configured for indicating after administration that a dose of the drug actually has been administered and for maintaining this indication until lapse of a pre-determined time interval. The time delay indicator is based on a magnetic liquid (6) being physically moved by a magnet (10).
US09144641B2
A dialysis system includes an extracorporeal circuit including a dialyzer; a dialysis fluid circuit including a first balance chamber, a second balance chamber, a fresh dialysis fluid pump in fluid communication with first and second fresh compartments of the first and second balance chambers, respectively, the first and second fresh compartments in fluid communication with a fresh dialysate fluid inlet of the dialyzer, and a spent dialysis fluid pump in fluid communication with first and second spent compartments of the first and second balance chambers, respectively, the spent dialysis fluid pump also in fluid communication with a spent dialysis fluid outlet of the dialyzer; and wherein the system is configured to run a priming sequence that uses (i) at least one of the fresh and spent dialysis fluid pumps and the first and second balance chambers to pump dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid circuit and (ii) at least one of the fresh and spent dialysis fluid pumps to pump dialysis fluid through the dialyzer and into the extracorporeal circuit.
US09144638B2
A bearing assembly for use in a blood pump includes a first component that has a convex bearing surface and a first outer surface proximate the convex bearing surface. The bearing assembly includes a second component that a concave bearing surface and a second outer surface proximate the concave bearing surface, the concave bearing surface being configured to receive the convex bearing surface. A plurality of grooves are defined through the convex bearing surface and first outer surface or through the concave bearing surface and the second outer surface.
US09144636B2
A surgical suction device is disclosed that includes a suction tube having a first longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a guide tube that is substantially coextensive with and parallel to the suction tube, and has a second longitudinal axis, a proximal opening, and a distal opening; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end; and a junction conduit having a proximal opening and a distal opening; wherein the stylet is disposed along the second longitudinal axis and encircled by the guide tube, and the proximal opening of the junction conduit is in contact with the distal opening of the suction tube and the distal opening of the guide tube such that the distal opening of the junction conduit is in fluid communication with the suction tube, and urging the stylet through the guide tube along the second longitudinal axis through the junction conduit translates the distal end of the stylet to the distal opening of the junction conduit.
US09144635B1
A bulb syringe has a hollow spheroidal bulb which is split into two separate hemispheroidal portions transaxially defining an upper portion and a lower portion. The separate hemispheroidal portions are joined at a transaxial juncture of the upper and lower portions, and are able to be separated for disinfecting and later rejoined. One of the upper and lower portions extends into an elongated tubular spout terminating at an opening which is in communication with an interior volume of the spheroidal bulb. The tip of the spout is able to be positioned within the nostrils of an infant or small child. The two portions may be joined by molded-in mechanical threads or by an external circumferential strip with barbs that penetrate overlapping walls of the bulb at the joint between upper and lower portions but does not fully puncture the bulb.
US09144631B2
The invention relates to implants which are based on a biodegradable thixotropic compound having pseudoplastic properties and which can be injected subcutaneously or intradermally into the fibrous tissue. The inventive implant comprises microparticles of at least one biocompatible ceramic compound which are suspended in a vector fluid containing at least one hyaluronic acid-based compound and at least one biodegradable thixotropic compound having pseudoplastic properties. The invention also relates to a kit for the extemporaneous use of such implants, the production of said implants and the use thereof in order to fill wrinkles and/or fine lines and/or cutaneous depressions and/or scars.
US09144630B2
The present invention relates to a composite comprising a structural part, a porous part, and at least two interconnecting parts arranged at a distance from each other and extending from the structural part to the porous part, thus connecting them to each other. The implant is characterized in that each interconnecting part is in the form of a band having a length, a width and a height, the width and the height both being independently at most 20% of the length of the band, and in that at least one of the interconnecting parts is at least partially embedded into the structural and porous parts.
US09144629B2
Compositions including crosslinked collagen and bioactive glass having an average pore size of at least 100 microns and methods of preparation thereof.
US09144618B2
Sanitizing seat surfaces in a location being related to seating, such as a transportation vehicle includes a passenger area of the location. There are multiple rows of seats. A sanitization device includes a mobile body configured to travel along the aisle of the passenger area. An arm extends from the sanitization device laterally from the mobile body across the seats, and a source of UV radiation mounted on the sanitization device is directed across the seats exposing surfaces in the passenger area to UV radiation.
US09144612B2
A dermatological composition containing an association of peroxidized lipids; and zinc in mineral form or zinc compound compatible with dermatological use, formulated for topical application on the skin or the mucous membranes, is disclosed compatible with dermatological use. The composition may be used as a medical device to assist in healing and/or reconstitution of a damaged epidermis and/or to act as an analgesic agent on the skin or the mucous membranes, in particular in the treatment of the symptoms of herpes, pruritus, itching, irritations, eczema, burns, and most particularly in the treatment of labial or genital herpes.
US09144596B2
The invention features compositions and methods that are useful for the treatment of neoplasia by reducing base excision repair (BER). Such compositions are useful, for example, for enhancing the efficacy of known chemotherapeutics, such as DNA alkylating agents. In particular, the invention features agents that mimic the interaction of APC with pol-β. Such agents reduce the activity of long patch- and single nucleotide-base extension repair pathways.
US09144585B2
Provided are methods of isolating an extracellular matrix from mesenchymal progenitor cells which are characterized by a reduced differentiation ability into an adipogenic lineage as compared to adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Also provide isolated extracellular matrix and hybrid devices comprising electrospun elements and extracellular matrix which can be used for various tissue regeneration, repair and reconstruction surgeries.
US09144584B2
The invention provides for compositions and methods for making and using adipose-derived stem cells for treating non-human mammals for various medical conditions.
US09144573B2
The present invention generally relates to prostaglandin transport. More specifically, the invention is directed to compounds that inhibit prostaglandin transport and subsequent COX-2 induction, and methods relating thereto.
US09144571B2
Methods of using Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antagonists are provided.
US09144570B2
A therapeutic method is provided comprising treating a mammal subject to hypoxia with an amount of 2(R,S)-D-ribo-(1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroxybutyl)thiazolidine-4(R)-carboxylic acid (RibCys) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof effective to both maintain, restore or increase both the ATP levels and the glutathione (GSH) levels in said tissue.
US09144568B1
Methods of treatment using bendamustine formulations designed for small volume intravenous administration are disclosed. The methods conveniently allow shorter administration time without the active ingredient coming out of solution as compared to presently available formulations.
US09144563B2
The present invention relates to the use of a liposomal preparation for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition and the use of such a composition for the treatment of “triple receptor negative” breast cancer.
US09144532B1
An inflatable baby pacifier and a method of operating same, the inflatable baby pacifier comprising a two-sided skin contacting plate that supports a gas pump, a valve, and an adjustable pneumatic nipple; the gas pump being supported on one side of the two-sided skin plate; the adjustable pneumatic nipple forming a hollow interior, the adjustable pneumatic nipple being supported on an other side of the two-sided skin plate; the valve connects the gas pump to the hollow interior; wherein the gas pump is capable of sending a gas through the valve into the hollow interior.
US09144530B2
A device for compressing an extremity of a user includes a wearable support member operable to be worn on the extremity of the user. The device also includes a plurality of chamber members that are arranged across and coupled to the support member. The chamber members each have a respective chamber therein. The chamber is at least partially defined by a base wall that is disposed adjacent the support member, a side wall that is attached to and that extends away from the base wall, and a top wall that is attached to the side wall and that is spaced away from the base wall. Furthermore, a foot pump member is operable to be disposed underneath a foot of the user. The foot pump member is operable to change a pressure inside the chambers as a result of being stepped upon by the user.
US09144521B2
A disposable diaper has a central slit formed along the lengthwise direction L so that the absorber can be curved to be convex in the inward direction, and a pair of side slits formed along the lengthwise direction L so that the absorber can be curved to be convex in the outward direction. An average total weight of a water absorbent polymer at the central portion CT and the side edge portion SL, SR is smaller than an average total weight of the water absorbent polymer at the middle portion ML, MR.
US09144514B2
A hands-free lactation aid and soothing garment can be used for simultaneous warm and cool therapy. Therapeutic cozies can be used in conjunction with a camisole or nursing camisole, bra, or nursing bra or apparel, can be inserted into a cozy cover for use with an adjustable neckband. With the appropriate breast cozies, breast pumping or nursing can occur simultaneously with warm/cool therapy, and a privacy shield attaches easily. An additional neck therapy insert can be used to sooth a sore neck, while an additional nipple soother can be attached to the center of the cozies to provide simultaneous warm and cold therapy to the effected area.
US09144508B2
A highly compressible stent is described. The stent includes a plurality of circumferentially offset and interconnected undulating rings having intermediate struts disposed between at least some of the undulating ring struts.
US09144488B2
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; and a plurality of sensor modules attached to the shell and positioned at a distance from each other, each of the plurality of sensor modules oriented to detect one or more analytes in a fluid adjacent to the shell, wherein each of the plurality of sensor modules includes a unique identifier and is configured to utilize energy transmitted from an external source.
US09144484B2
A method of treating a patient includes providing an implantable vessel filter including a plurality of legs and a center-post, inserting the filter into a delivery assembly, and deploying the filter at a desired location in a patient's body. One or more of the legs may have a hook at a distal end thereof and the center-post includes a grooved distal section to receive the hooks. The filter legs transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration during deployment.
US09144476B2
A three-axis acceleration sensor is mounted to a body of an electric toothbrush. A CPU detects the three-dimensional attitude of the body based on an output from the acceleration sensor and, based on the attitude of the toothbrush, estimates which portion is being brushed. Then, the CPU performs control for switching between operation modes (such as the rotational direction of a motor and the frequency of vibration of the brush) according to the estimated portion being brushed.
US09144474B2
An orthodontic appliance includes a telescopic assembly with an end tube and a telescopic member. A distal connector secured to the end tube at a generally distal end of the telescopic assembly. An end cap engages the distal end of the end tube. A spring is secured to the end cap and extends coaxially within the cover and the end tube. The spring is configured to impart a biasing force against the distal end of the telescopic member.
US09144468B2
A fastening element for a penis enabling connecting to a penis extension device provided with a supporting element as well as a fixing element for the penis, the supporting element being connected to a cover so as to be movable, the cover being moveable between an open and a closed position, and when the cover is in the closed position, the supporting element together with the cover forms a tubular hollow body having a proximal end and a distal end.
US09144461B2
A therapy planning and image guidance and navigation for an interventional procedure are combined in one system. The system includes: a radio frequency ablation therapy planning component (1) capable of creating an initial treatment plan, adjusting the treatment plan to take into account data received during a procedure and transferring a treatment plan to a navigation component, a navigation system component (2) to guide an ablation probe (6) and a feedback sub-system (3) for determining actual ablation probe positions/orientations and actual ablation size/shape via imaging (4) and/or tracking (5) systems, and enabling exchange of information between the planning component and the navigation component. By combining and integrating procedure planning and navigation, and by providing feedback from the navigation component back to the planning component about actual electrode position and orientation and ablation volume, complex procedures can be carried out more accurately, efficiently, and potentially with better clinical outcomes.
US09144456B2
In a surgical instrument, a reciprocating element controls jaw opening and closing as it moves over a first range of motion and cuts tissue clamped between the jaws as it moves over a second range of motion. A first control input controls the reciprocating element's motion over the first range of motion, and a second control input controls the reciprocating element's motion over the second range of motion. As a result, over control by the first control input will not result in inadvertent tissue cutting.
US09144455B2
A surgical system and associated method for sealing the passageway of a fluid-carrying vessel with a diameter up to 5 millimeters comprises an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power, a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a pair of end effectors disposed at a distal end of the surgical instrument. The system also includes a power control circuit for controlling the delivery of radio frequency energy to the vessel through the end effectors, wherein the delivery of the radio frequency energy to the vessel comprises, raising the output current to a range below 1.75 Amperes RMS and the output voltage to a range below 135 Volts RMS. Radio frequency energy is applied to the vessel for a period of time while the power is held approximately constant. The flow of radio frequency energy is terminated when the impedance of the vessel being sealed reaches a predetermined level.
US09144432B2
A medical instrument for cutting biological tissue, a cutting module having a blade, wherein the cutting module is inserted into a hand-held module, the cutting module is detachably fixed in the hand-held module.
US09144427B2
An exemplary surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include having an endocutter having an end effector; inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening; engaging tissue with the end effector; stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector; releasing the tissue from the end effector; and repeating the engaging, stapling, cutting and releasing within the body of the patient on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient while maintaining the end effector within the body of the patient. Another exemplary surgical method of treating a plurality of discrete tissue structures within the body of a patient in which an incision has been made may include having an endocutter that holds a plurality of staples; inserting the distal end of the endocutter through the incision in the patient; and transecting a plurality of the discrete tissue structures with the distal end of the endocutter, without withdrawing the distal end of the endocutter through the incision in the patient and without inserting additional staples into the endocutter.
US09144423B2
A tissue retention system to assist in maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient includes a flexible anchor pad having a pad length and a pad width. The anchor pad may include a pad body with an adhesive surface thereon, the adhesive being configured to selectively adhere to a patient's skin. The anchor pad also may include an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. The tissue retention system also may include a flexible tension member having a second attachment surface.
US09144422B2
A surgical access assembly includes an access port, a seal anchor and a sealing adapter. The access port includes proximal and distal rings and a sleeve defining a passage therethrough. The sleeve extends between the proximal and distal rings. The seal anchor is adapted to be at least partially disposed in the access port. The sealing adapter includes proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion is configured and dimensioned to engage the seal anchor in a sealing relation therewith. The proximal end portion is configured and dimensioned to engage a least a portion of the distal ring of the access port in a sealing relation therewith, wherein the sealing adapter is transitionable between a first state in which the sealing adapter has a first diameter and a second state in which the sealing adapter has a second diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter.
US09144415B2
The carotid artery plaque properties are quantitatively determined by a carotid artery echo whereby predicting incidence of cerebral infarction or myocardial infarct. A method includes obtaining, coloring, and displaying steps. In the obtaining step, the integrated amounts per unit time of echo signals corresponding to pixels of an echo image of carotid artery plaque are obtained. The signals are obtained when the image is obtained by an IBS method. In the coloring step, the relationship between ranges and colors is referenced. The available full range of the integrated amount is previously divided into the ranges. The colors are assigned to the ranges. The pixels are classified into the ranges in accordance with the integrated amounts corresponding to the pixels. The pixels of the image are colored in colors corresponding to the ranges of the pixels. In the displaying step, the colored echo image is displayed on a display portion 30.
US09144414B2
The present invention relates to a method for quantifying drug delivery with the characteristic of measuring the signal intensity of peripheral vessels with a contrast-enhanced ultrasound to quantify the drug delivery at a target site. The present invention can be used for quantifying UTMD (ultrasound triggered microbubble destruction) targeted drug delivery, also for qualifying the unreleased amount of the long-acting drug in the tested object, and for helping setting the treatment schedule for ultrasound disruption of blood-brain barrier.
US09144412B2
Among other things, a communication system and technique for transferring information between a stationary unit and a rotating unit of a computed tomography (CT) system is provided. A transmitter is configured to map digital data to an analog signal by selecting, from at least three signal configurations, a signal configuration associated with the digital data, and to generate an analog signal according to the selected signal configuration. A receiver of the communication system is configured to decode an analog signal by comparing characteristics of a signal sample to at least three possible signal configurations, and to identify a digital code word that corresponds to a signal configuration (of the at least three possible signal configurations) that matches characteristics of the signal sample. In this way, in a CT application, more than 1-bit of data may be communicated per analog signal, allowing more data to be communicated faster.
US09144404B2
Among other things, at least two different independent providers of body composition management services are enabled to have online access through respective graphical user interfaces to body composition information and plans that are associated with respective clients of the providers and that are stored on the server. The graphical user interfaces are different for different independent providers. At least some of the information and plans associated with the clients of the different independent providers are stored in a common format in a common database maintained by the server.
US09144402B2
A technology to grasp a state of a human being more accurately is provided. The technology is provided with means for acquiring a time-series waveform of a frequency from a time-series waveform of a biological signal sampled from the upper body of a human being and for further acquiring a time-series waveform of frequency slope and a time-series waveform of frequency fluctuation and for applying frequency analysis to them. In the frequency analysis, a power spectrum of each frequency corresponding to a functional adjustment signal, a fatigue reception signal, and an activity adjustment signal, respectively, determined in advance is acquired. Then, a state of a human being is determined from a time-series change of each power spectrum. The fatigue reception signal indicates a degree of progress of fatigue in a usual active state and thus, by comparing it with degrees of predominance of the functional adjustment signal and the activity adjustment signal as their distribution rates, a state of a human being (relaxed state, fatigued state, state in which sympathetic nerve is predominant, a state in which parasympathetic nerve is predominant and the like) can be determined more accurately.
US09144397B2
A method of determining a thermal signature from thermal data associated with a body section is disclosed. The method comprises: segmenting the thermal data into a plurality of segments, and calculating a set of locations defining a contour, each location being central with respect to picture-elements associated with one segment, thereby determining the thermal signature based on the contour.
US09144396B2
An apparatus and a method of analyzing constituents of gas in an oral cavity and exhaled breath is disclosed. The apparatus for analyzing the constituents of gas in the oral cavity and exhaled breath according to the present invention includes a filter to filter the outside gas by adsorbing polar molecules and non-polar molecules in the outside air and by removing water in the outside air in order to use the outside gas as carrier gas. The apparatus can also include a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the flow of a carrier gas; a sensor for detecting components of the exhaled breath; a pump to draw the gas in the oral cavity or the exhaled breath and the carrier gas and discharge the gases to the outside; a control unit for controlling the components of the apparatus; and a display device to display results calculated by the control unit.
US09144395B2
A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connector section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.
US09144392B2
A contrast imaging method e.g. of the T2* weighted “BOLD” type is adapted by use together with an oxygen challenge to provide imaging for the assessment of the metabolic responses of tissue over a period of time the method utilizing three components, oxygen, deoxyhaemoglobin, and oxyhaemoglobin together with time, to provide four variable parameters which allows oxygen to be used as a metabolic marker that can be utilized in an imaging evaluation of soft tissue and organs, e.g. in the study of viable tissue and organ function or dysfunction, which allows utility in diagnosis and assessment of conditions such as cancer, dementia, circulatory disorders, and autoimmune disorders.
US09144388B2
Portable systems and methods for obtaining an electrocardiogram reading include a portable device having first and second electrodes with differing impedances. Computer instructions instruct a processor of the portable device to output instructional information relating to placement of the electrodes, receive confirmation of the positioning, and calculate lead values using readings from the first electrode, the second electrode, or combinations thereof, such that multiple bipolar and precordial leads can be measured. Augmented leads can be extrapolated using a known geometric relationship and the bipolar lead measurements. An electrocardiogram reading can be calculated from the lead measurements, then output, stored, transmitted, or combinations thereof. An alert response can be generated if the electrocardiogram reading deviates from selected threshold parameters.
US09144386B2
A physiological signal detection device includes at least one electrode pad, a base layer, and at least one water absorption unit. The electrode pad is positioned on a top surface of the base layer. The electrode pad and the base layer form a first receiving compartment therebetween. The water absorption unit is positioned in the first receiving compartment. The water absorption unit has a top engaging the electrode pad, and the water absorption unit has a bottom engaging the base layer.
US09144383B2
A device and methods for the non-invasive manipulation and detection of target objects such as cells, pathogens, microparticles, and nanoparticles in vivo using an external magnetic field are described. In one aspect, a device and method for capturing and detecting intrinsically magnetic target objects or target objects labeled with at least one magnetic particle within the area of interest using an in vivo flow cytometer are described.
US09144382B2
A non-invasive method of producing a three-dimensional cardiac electrogram characteristic map for use in catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia includes receiving left ventricle three-dimensional image data of a patient's heart; segmenting a left ventricle image of the patient's heart based on the left ventricle three-dimensional image data into scar tissue, normal myocardium tissue and left ventricle cavity regions; determining scar tissue thickness and normal myocardium tissue thickness for a plurality of portions of the left ventricle image of the patient's heart; receiving predetermined data that associate a value of at least one electrogram characteristic to each scar tissue thickness and each normal myocardium tissue thickness for the plurality of portions of said left ventricle image of said patient's heart; and generating the three-dimensional cardiac electrogram characteristic map of the at least one electrogram characteristic corresponding to the left ventricle image of the patient's heart based on the predetermined data.
US09144366B2
The use of a container in an automatic dishwasher. The container is shaped such that it has a maximum width of less than 40 mm.
US09144365B1
A system for feeding washing racks to an entrance of a washer, comprising: a directionally alternating transfer conveyor positioned at, and able to communicate said washing racks with, said entrance of said washer; said conveyor having a first receiving mode, a second receiving mode, and a discharge mode; and a pre-wash enclosure substantially surrounding said conveyor and including a first and second door, said first and said second door each actuable between an open position and a closed position; and a pre-wash selective water flow interior of said pre-wash enclosure and directed generally toward said conveyor.
US09144358B2
A motor, fan and dirt separating means arrangement for a vacuum cleaner, the arrangement comprising: a motor with a drive shaft; a fan coupled to the motor for generating air flow; and a dirt separating means located in a cleaning path of the air flow, the cleaning path being between a dirty air inlet and the fan, wherein the motor is located in a cooling path of the air flow, the cooling path being between a clean air inlet and the fan, wherein the air flow through the cleaning path is substantially greater than through the cooling path in normal operating conditions and wherein the cleaning path and the cooling path of the air flow combine substantially at the fan inlet. A vacuum cleaner comprising the motor, fan and dirt separating means arrangement.
US09144349B2
A pot rack comprising at least one track member having spaced-apart rails with at least an upper rail surface having a ferromagnetic property and at least one hook member having a lower hook portion for releasably engaging a kitchen utensil, and an upper cap portion of a dimension greater than a spacing between the rails wherein the cap portion includes a magnetic member which is magnetically attracted to the upper rail surface of each of the rails and a shank portion interconnecting the upper cap portion and the lower hook portion. A hook member for use on a slotted ferromagnetic rail comprising a head portion, an integral shank portion and a hook portion extending from the shank portion, said head portion having magnetic means associated therewith to establish a magnetic attraction between the head portion and the rail.
US09144336B2
Provided herein are protective spout covers adapted to couple to the universal dispensing spout of a food pouch, such as a baby food pouch. The protective spout covers may be formed from a flexible elastomer and may grip the spout securely via one or more gripping lips adapted to engage a corresponding groove on the universal spout. When so coupled, the protective spout cover may cushion the spout to protect the user's mouth and lips from injury. The protective spout cover also may include a food regulating valve that may control the flow of food from the pouch. The protective spout cover also may include a cap member to keep the protective spout cover clean when not in use, a gripping ring to facilitate use of the cap, and may have a size and durometer hardness sufficient to prevent the device from being a choking hazard.
US09144335B2
A vessel with powered display portion, powered by heat differential from a liquid in the vessel, and a thermoelectric generator. Heat from the liquid is used to generate electricity using a thermoelectric generator in thermal contact with the liquid, and a heat sink or radiator. Cold liquid in the vessel can also be used to generate electricity, by the difference in temperature outside the vessel. The powered display may be made of flexible material and can include LEDs, OLEDS, LCD, luminous tubing, fiber optics, or other light emitting structures.
US09144334B2
A dual-chamber teapot configured for stovetop preparation. In one embodiment, the dual-chamber teapot includes an exterior body portion defining a cavity and an interior body portion housed in the cavity. The teapot also includes a spout projecting outward from the exterior body portion. An inner chamber is defined by the interior body portion and an outer chamber is defined between the exterior body portion and the interior body portion. The inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber and the outer chamber is in fluid communication with the spout.
US09144313B2
A seating mat providing enhanced grip and posture correctional features includes an upper surface for supporting a user when seated and an array of flexible papillae extending from the upper surface and positioned around a focus area on the upper surface. Each papilla includes a tapered projection with a curvature such that at the tip end of each projection the longitudinal axis of the projection lies at an acute angle relative to the upper surface. The papillae are positioned such that all the tips are directed towards the focus area. The shape and positioning of the papillae encourage a user to reference themselves centrally on the focus area and tend to grip the user's thighs to prevent slipping.
US09144311B2
A chair having an integrally molded chair back and seat that move together upon reclining movement of a user. The seat includes a series of glides that travel along a glide track mounted to a fixed support frame. A bias spring, connects the support frame to the seat and chair back to urge the seat and chair back into an upright position. The chair includes a pair of ganging arms that are movable between a storage position and an operative position. In the storage position, the ganging arms are concealed within a bottom cover. When in the extended, operative position, the ganging arms allow multiple chairs to be ganged together.
US09144303B2
An end support unit for supporting the ends of at least one front and one rear cross beam including: a front support post having a column of slots along its length for receiving at least one slot engaging member of the front cross beam; a rear support post having a column of slots along its length for receiving at least one slot engaging member of the rear cross beam; an upper brace fixedly extending from the upper end of the front support post to the upper end of the rear support post; a lower brace fixedly extending from the lower end of the front support post to the lower end of the rear support post; and a diagonal brace extending diagonally between the front support post and the rear support post.
US09144301B2
A lifting column preferably, for height adjustable tables, includes a guide (5) and a drive unit (9), the guide (5) including at least a first member (5a) and a second member (5b), the members (5a, 5b, 5c) being arranged mutually telescopically relative to each other. At the end of the first member (5a) from which the second member (5b) can be displaced sliders are arranged on an internal side thereof. At the end of the second member (5b) extending into the first member (5a) sliders are likewise arranged on the outside thereof. In a first plane the sliders have a first, a large, prestressing between the first member (5a) and the second member (5b), while the sliders in the second plane have a second, a small, prestressing between the first (5a) and second member (5b). Thus, a good dampening of vibrations of the table is achieved in case of exposure to horizontal forces.
US09144300B2
An article of furniture has a main body, a floor-engagement frame, a plurality of non-rolling floor-engagement members connected to the floor-engagement frame, and a plurality of rollers that are also connected to the floor-engagement frame. These rollers do not engage the floor when the article of furniture rests upon the floor in an ordinary state of usage but do engage the floor when the article of furniture is tilted at least fifteen degrees. The article can further comprise a pedestal that pivotally couples to the floor-engagement frame and that supports a table surface. A user interface can control a latch that holds the table surface perpendicular to the pedestal. Another user interface can control a latch that holds the table surface at a present vertical height when latched.
US09144298B2
An oral care implement having a fluid dispensing system for dispensing an oral care fluid. In one embodiment, the oral care implement may be a toothbrush including a handle, a neck and a head containing a plurality of tooth cleaning elements. Embodiments of the toothbrush further include a removable container or reservoir including a collapsible bladder that holds the oral care fluid. The bladder is in fluid communication with one or more fluid dispensing outlets disposed in the head. A manually actuated pump disposed in the handle provides the motive force for dispensing the fluid.
US09144271B2
An eyeglasses clip includes a first receiving end and a second stabilizing end. The first receiving end can attach to an external anchoring point and receive at least one temple arm of a pair of eyeglasses. The second stabilizing end can be distinct from the first receiving end and can receive the at least one temple arm. Additionally, the eyeglasses clip can receive the at least one temple arm such that the rotational and latitudinal movement of the at least one temple arm is limited.
US09144268B2
An article of footwear or another product may incorporate a pressure chamber that includes (a) a bladder at least partially formed from a polymer material that is sealed to enclose a pressurized fluid and (b) a strand wound around the bladder and secured to the bladder. In manufacturing the pressure chamber, a bladder with an elongate configuration may be formed. A strand is wound around the bladder, and the strand is secured to the bladder. When incorporated to a sole structure of the article of footwear, for example, a portion of the bladder that includes the strands may be exposed at an outer surface of the sole structure.
US09144262B2
A running shoe design focused on the heel section of running shoes used in, for example, T2 transition phase of the sport of triathlon. A heel counter portion of the shoe is a retractable flap. The flap retracts to an open position at a 45 to 90 degree angle awaiting the unhindered insertion of the runner's foot without any need for the runner to bend or sit. Immediately after the foot is inserted, the flap is closed with a pressing forward action by the athlete's other foot. The flap and the sides of the shoe are coated with adhesive, velcro-like materials. A variation of the foregoing uses a heel counter cut from the center top to the midsole area at the bottom, resulting in an acceptable size opening for uninhibited foot insertion when the flap (or strap) portion of the heel counter is set in the open position.
US09144256B2
An article of apparel comprising: a pocket, the pocket comprising an opening to permit insertion and removal of an electronic device, the pocket further comprising at least one raised portion, wherein when the electronic device is located in the pocket, at least one operational control button of the electronic device is positioned adjacent the at least one raised portion.
US09144253B1
Various embodiments of garments for use in conjunction with knee pads are disclosed. In one embodiment, the knee pads can be integrated into the garment. The garment can include leg gathering devices for positioning the knee pads over the knees of the wearer when the knee pads are needed. Releasing the leg gathering devices, on the other hand, allows the pants to drape normally. In an alternative embodiment, a knee pad can be provided that can be releasably attached to a garment. In this embodiment, the garment can include a plurality of engaging devices for attachment to the knee pad. The engaging devices can be positioned at different heights for allowing vertical adjustability.
US09144241B2
A pesticidal composition comprises a synergistically effective amount of an acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor compound and a pesticide selected from N-(3-chloro-1-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-((3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)thio)propanamide (I), N-(3-chloro-1-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-N-ethyl-3-((3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)sulfinyl)propanamide (II), or any agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. A method of controlling pests comprises applying the pesticidal composition near a population of pests. A method of protecting a plant from infestation and attack by insects comprises contacting the plant with the synergistic pesticidal composition.
US09144236B2
A decoy, typically used for hunting fowl, having a hollow body including a head, a tail and a pair of feet. The decoy includes a pair of wings mounted to the body of the decoy for multi-axis movement. A drive mechanism typically including an electric motor and a power source is positioned within the hollow body. A pair of crank members connects to the electric motor and extends outwardly from the body. A pair of link members connect the wings to the crank members whereby rotation of the crank members enables cyclic movement defined by up/down and fore/aft motion of the wings.
US09144231B1
A pest control dispersal spray system for a building preferably includes a reservoir having a cavity housing a pest control agent. The reservoir has a discharge mechanism selectively expelling the existing pest control agent outwardly and away from the reservoir while the reservoir remains at a stationary position. A discharge nozzle may be attached to the reservoir and may be in fluid communication with the cavity. A plurality of interconnected tubes may be located exterior of the reservoir and may be in fluid communication with the discharge nozzle. In this manner, activation of the discharge mechanism causes the existing pest control agent to flow through the cavity, egress the reservoir via the discharge nozzle, and thereafter travel along the interconnected tubes such that the existing pest control agent is dispersed outwardly from the interconnected tubes while the reservoir remains stationary.
US09144230B2
A hydrodynamic body for a fish lure rotates in the water causing the bait hook attached to the rear of the body to mimic the movements of a prey animal. The rotational motion is created by a combination of fins and wing design of the body. The body has a nose up configuration when the fish is not on the hook. When a fish takes the hook the drag caused by the fish causes the body to ‘trip’ from a nose up position to a horizontal position thereby tensioning the lure line so that the fish cannot escape the hook.
US09144228B1
Methods of reef construction are disclosed that include exposing a man-made scaffold to environmental conditions such that bivalve organisms grow on the man-made scaffold for a duration sufficient to create a scaffold having two generations of bivalve attachment. Certain methods involve moving the biologically accreted scaffold to a second location to serve as a reef or breakwater after substantial growth of bivalve organisms has occurred.
US09144227B2
A leash that allows any individual to control a pulling dog without risking injury or walking in an unsafe manner. The disclosed leash maximizes body mechanics and basic pulley/lever principles to achieve more strength. The leash comprises a cuff that preferably wraps around a user's arm above the elbow. Attached to the cuff are a few feet of leash material that freely runs through an O-ring and ends in a handle. Attached to the O-ring are another few feet of leash ending with a clip that can go to a dog collar. When the dog pulls, the user pulls the handle. The resulting force goes through the O-ring, which acts as a pulley and on to the arm cuff and back of the arm, utilizing stronger shoulder and back muscles. Therefore the user is able to pull back with a lot more force than is obtainable with a typical leash.
US09144220B1
Non-dehiscent sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) (IND) designated Sesaco 37 (S37) is herein disclosed. Its degree of shatter resistance, or seed retention, makes S37 suitable for mechanized harvesting and for selection for sesame crop growth in most geographical locations.
US09144207B1
A wheat variety designated XW10V, the plants and seeds of wheat variety XW10V, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety XW10V with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety XW10V with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety XW10V. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety XW10V and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09144203B2
A linear irrigation system includes a linear irrigator movable in a first direction along a path of travel and including plural towers supporting a truss assembly extending laterally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path of travel. The truss assembly carries a plurality of sprinklers connected to a water supply pipe. A plurality of hydrants are spaced along the water supply pipe, each hydrant having a valve, and a pair of laterally adjacent trolleys are mounted on an elongated frame for movement in two opposite directions, each trolley having a docking station and hydrant valve actuator, the docking stations resiliently suspended from said trolleys for movement in at least three mutually perpendicular directions and adapted to engage and disengage, successively, the plurality of hydrants on the supply pipe extending below and between the pair of trolleys. The trolleys and docking stations may be carried on a mobile cart or incorporated into the linear irrigator.
US09144202B2
Methods of treating agricultural fruit crops of the genus Musa having a mother plant and an adjoined offspring, or daughter plant, involve implanting at least one nutrient component into a pseudo stem of the mother plant after harvesting fruit from the mother plant. The nutrients implanted into the pseudo stem of the mother plant after harvesting are then available to the daughter plant more efficiently than nutrients applied to the soil.
US09144197B2
Improved headers of a combine harvester are disclosed. The headers include structure in the form of upper and lower infeed conveyors which cooperate to maintain compressive contact with a flow of crop material that is being conveyed by the belts to the header outlet regardless of the flow characteristics of the mat of material being conveyed. The result is a consistent flow of crop material being passed through the header which results in more efficient harvester operation and more productive crop yield.
US09144187B2
An agricultural row unit includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame. A linkage assembly is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the linkage assembly relative to the attachment frame. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the linkage assembly for urging the linkage assembly downwardly toward the soil. A hose connection manifold is mounted adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder for circulating hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic source and the hydraulic cylinder. The hose connection manifold has a plurality of ports including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve port, the inlet port being adapted to receive an inlet hose, the outlet port being adapted to receive an outlet hose, and the valve port being adapted to receive an end of a hydraulic control valve.
US09148982B2
Methods and coolant distribution systems are provided for automated coolant flow control for, for instance, facilitating cooling of multiple different electronic systems. The methods include, for instance, automatically controlling coolant flow to a plurality of coolant circuits, and for a coolant circuit i of the coolant circuits: automatically determining the heat load transferred to coolant flowing through coolant circuit i, and automatically controlling coolant flow through coolant circuit i based on the determined heat load transferred to the coolant. The different coolant circuits may have the same or different coolant flow impedances, and flow through the different coolant circuits may be controlled using different heat load-to-coolant ranges for the different circuits.
US09148975B2
An electronics chassis has many removable boards on sleds that are interconnected by a honeycomb interconnect structure. Interconnect boards in Y-planes and Z-planes are orthogonal to each other and form cells. Cooling air flows through the cells in an X direction, parallel to surfaces of the interconnect boards. The removable boards have connectors that mate with an edge of Z-divider interconnect boards. Fans blow air through the cells in the honeycomb structure unimpeded since no boards are perpendicular to the airflow. Notches in the rear of the Z-divider boards provide airflow equalization allowing closer spacing of fans to the honeycomb structure. A sled carrier honeycomb structure is placed in front of the honeycomb interconnect structure to guide sleds into position. Sled carrier dividers are offset from the Z-divider boards to allow removable boards to align with Z-divider boards in the Z-planes, parallel to airflow.
US09148971B2
A component built-in module of the present invention includes: a substrate which includes a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of electronic components which are mounted on the top surface of the substrate; a resin which seals the top surface of the substrate; and a reinforcing plate which is bonded to the bottom surface of the substrate. The reinforcing plate and the resin are bonded to each other.
US09148965B2
A display module and an electronic device are provided. The display module includes a housing, a pivot rod, and a flexible circuit board. The housing has a connection portion, wherein the connection portion has a connecting hole. The pivot rod is partially disposed in the connecting hole. The flexible circuit board includes a first transmission section, a second transmission section, and a connecting section that connects the previous two sections. The connecting section is disposed in a traverse direction with respect to the extending directions of the first transmission section and the second transmission section and wraps around the pivot rod with the traverse direction as an axial direction, wherein the connecting section is at least partially disposed in the connecting hole such that the first transmission section is in the housing and the second transmission section is outside of the housing.
US09148959B2
Power is supplied on a circuit board assembly by attaching a drum core inductor to a circuit board. The drum core inductor has a first winding wound around the drum core inductor. The first winding has first and second ends coupled to the drum core inductor. A bobbin is attached to the circuit board. The bobbin has a second winding wound around the bobbin. The second winding has first and second ends coupled to the bobbin. The drum core inductor and the bobbin are attached to the circuit board. The drum core inductor is inside an opening of the bobbin. The drum core inductor and the bobbin are detached from each other. A power switch coupled to the first winding is switched to control a transfer of energy from an input power source through the first and second windings to a load coupled to the second winding.
US09148957B2
A wiring substrate (11) includes: a substrate; and, formed upon the substrate, a plurality of wiring lines, a plurality of circuit elements, and a plurality of connecting terminals (51) connected via the plurality of wiring lines. Each of the plurality of connecting terminals (51) includes a pair of protrusion parts (50), forming a depression part (60) between the pair of protrusion parts (50), and a depression electrode (52) that is disposed in the depression part (60) and that at least partially covers each protrusion of the pair of protrusion parts (50).
US09148956B2
A base substrate includes an insulator board comprising through holes penetrating between two opposed principal surfaces, penetrating electrodes provided within the through holes, and intermediate layers sandwiched between inner surfaces of the through holes and the penetrating electrodes and having surfaces with smaller concavities and convexities than those of the inner surfaces at the penetrating electrode sides.
US09148948B2
An electronic control device includes a substrate, component-mounted wires disposed on the substrate, electronic components mounted on the respective component-mounted wires, a common wire disposed on the substrate and coupled with each of the electronic components, and an interrupt wire coupled between one of the component-mounted wires and the common wire. The interrupt wire melts in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent. The interrupt wire includes a first wire section and a second wire section shorter than the first wire section. The first wire section and the second wire section is coupled with each other at a predetermined angle that is determined so that one of the wire sections is coupled with the common wire and the other is coupled with the one of the component-mounted wires.
US09148940B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an x-ray image from an x-ray imaging apparatus using a digital radiography receiver installed as a retrofit connection apparatus to adapt the x-ray imaging apparatus for use with the digital radiography receiver by using a receiver interface channel to communicating signals to and from the digital radiography receiver, using an operator actuated switch cover for at least an expose operator action of a manual operator control that is configured to generate at least an input expose signal, where the operator actuated switch cover is configured to resist the generation of the expose signal by the expose operator action of the manual operator control until a reset of the DR receiver is initiated and acknowledged.
US09148936B2
Aspects provide photo-control receptacles having contact terminals via which control signals can be communicated. In one aspect, a photo-control receptacle is provided. The photo-control receptacle includes an interface having a neutral conductor and a line voltage conductor. Each of the neutral conductor and the line voltage conductor can form a first electrical connection for providing power to a photo-control via alternating current. The photo-control receptacle also includes one or more additional contact conductors adjacent to the interface. The one or more additional contact conductors can form a second electrical connection for providing control signals to the photo-control.
US09148933B2
The present invention discloses a power supply circuit for multi-path light-emitting diode (LED) loads. The two ports of the second diode are connected in parallel with the first switch tube, and the two ports of the forth diode are connected in parallel with the second switch tube. The conduction mode of the second and forth diodes is controlled by controlling the switch status of the first and second switch tubes. When the system is on a normal state, the first and second switch tubes are both switched off. When the load output of any path needs to be turned off, the corresponding switch tube should be controlled to switch on, which makes the diode connected in parallel with the switch tube short-circuited. The present invention can avoid a strong impulse current produced in filtering capacitor when the load of any path is directly short-circuited. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the current stress in circuits, improve the reliability of circuits, and reduce the cost.
US09148922B2
Exemplary embodiments provide for power conversion for solid state lighting coupled to a first switch, such as a dimmer switch. An exemplary apparatus includes a switching power supply and a first adaptive interface circuit. The first adaptive interface circuit may include a resistive impedance coupled in series to a reactive impedance. The apparatus may also include a second adaptive interface circuit including a second switch coupled to the reactive impedance. The second adaptive interface circuit is configured to conduct current from the first switch in a second current path. At least one of the first and second adaptive interface circuits may be configured to damp oscillation when the first switch turns on.
US09148917B2
A load driving device includes a switch element configured to generate an output voltage to a load from an input voltage depending on an ON/OFF operation thereof, a switch controller configured to control the ON/OFF operation of the switch element such that a feedback voltage obtained by subtracting a dropped voltage of the load from the output voltage and a predetermined reference voltage are maintained to be consistent, and a variable current source configured to perform ON/OFF controlling of a driving current flowing to the load in response to a driving current control signal. When the switch element is in an ON state at an OFF timing of the driving current, the switch controller maintains the switch element in the ON state thereafter, and turns off the switch element when the ON period of the switch element reaches a predetermined period.
US09148915B2
An automobile LED driving device includes a current setting portion to set multiple reference currents independently from one another for multiple respective current setting resistors connected externally, a current controller to select one of the multiple reference currents based on a control signal provided from outside, and an output transistor to control an output current to an automobile LED connected externally based on the reference current selected by the current controller.
US09148913B2
A backlight module is provided, which includes a first coil, a first driving circuit, a second coil, a rectifying circuit and a light emitting unit. The first driving circuit is electrically connected to the first coil for controlling the first coil to produce a first magnetic field. The second coil is disposed on a transmission direction of the first magnetic field corresponding to the first coil for receiving the first magnetic field and providing a first induction voltage according to the first magnetic field. The rectifying circuit is electrically connected to the second coil for converting the first induction voltage into a first driving voltage. The light emitting unit is electrically connected to the rectifying circuit to provide a backlight according to the first driving voltage.
US09148911B2
The present disclosure is directed to a safety circuit for use in textile heating devices, such as heating pads, heating blankets, and the like. The safety circuit provides a system for checking/verifying the integrity of the controller, which can shut off power to the textile heating device if the controller has lost integrity.
US09148905B2
A wireless communication system includes a first wireless communication apparatus, a second wireless communication apparatus, and a third wireless communication apparatus which operates as a control station of controlling the first and second wireless communication apparatuses. The third wireless communication apparatus receives data from the first wireless communication apparatus using a first slot, and sends the received data to the second wireless communication apparatus and an acknowledgment of reception of the data to the first wireless communication apparatus using a second slot.
US09148895B2
Mobility of firewall rules for clients moving among bridge AP nodes in a wireless network. APs operate in bridge mode. A wireless client C is associated with a first AP. As part of that association, the first AP establishes and maintains personal firewall rules and state for client C. When wireless client C associates with a second AP in the L2 domain, the second AP sends session request to other APs. This may be in the form of a multicast message. Optionally, the second AP may send a unicast message to the first AP indicating that client C has associated with the second AP. APs receiving the multicast session request message for client C check their tables to see if they have stored firewall or other state for client C. APs having storied firewall or other state for client C send session response messages to the second AP containing stored firewall sessions and other state for client C. When the second AP receives a session response, it sends an acknowledgement to the AP which sent the response. When the AP, such as the first AP, receives the acknowledgement, it may remove all stored state for client C. If the second AP receives session response messages for client C from multiple APs, it acknowledges each, and creates session entries and state using the oldest rules in the session response messages. Flags may be logically ORed together.
US09148892B2
A communication device capable of transmitting data on a communications channel, the communications channel capable of being shared with a number of stations, the communication device being configured to determine a back-off period, the back-off period being a period of time for which the communication device delays transmission of data after determining that the communications channel is idle, wherein the communication device is configured to determine the back-off period in such a way as to favor a decrease in the back-off period in response to an increase in the number of stations.
US09148886B2
A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes receiving an assigned starting point index and an assigned reference signal bandwidth for a reference signal. The reference signal is then transmitted multiple times, beginning at an initial resource block that is associated with the assigned starting point index and in accordance with the assigned reference signal bandwidth, across a shared channel.
US09148885B2
The invention relates to systems and methods of operating a wireless network including allocating and assigning frequency channels using a dynamic and distributed process. For example, a network node in an ad hoc wireless network will assign frequency channels to one or more of its transceivers based on at least one of a list of allowed frequency channels and a neighbor-frequency channel list.
US09148880B2
Disclosed is a method for transmitting control information on uplink multi-antenna transmission from a base station and the method includes: transmitting DCI that schedules uplink transmission of a first data block and a second data block through a PDCCH; receiving the first and second data blocks scheduled by the DCI; transmitting information indicating ACK or NACK for the received first and second data blocks, respectively, by using a first PHICH for the first data block and a second PHICH resource for the second data block; receiving a retransmission for a negative-acknowledged data block; and transmitting information indicating ACK or NACK of the retransmission of the negative-acknowledged data block by using the first PHICH resource when the number of negative-acknowledged data blocks is not identical to the number of data blocks that the PDCCH indicates.
US09148878B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detecting and sending control signaling, a user equipment, and a base station. The detecting method includes: obtaining, by a UE, a transmission mode of a data channel configured by a base station; determining, by the UE, a first DCI format and a second DCI format that are corresponding to the transmission mode, where PDCCH information corresponding to the first DCI format is transmitted in a precoding-based mode, and PDCCH information corresponding to the second DCI format is transmitted in a single-antenna port mode or transmit diversity mode based on non-precoding; and detecting, by the UE and in a subframe, PDCCH information corresponding to the first DCI format and the second DCI format according to a mode in which the PDCCH information is transmitted.
US09148875B2
A method of exchanging data in a communications network is provided. A control channel channelization code is assigned for transmitting user specific data channel allocation information to a particular mobile station (MS). The data channel allocation information indicates which part of the transmission time interval (TTI) available for data can be used by that particular MS. The control channel channelization code is shared in a TDMA fashion between the MSs during the TTI in a proportion equal to that in which the data channel channelization code is shared between the MSs such that each MS is allocated a share of the control channel channelization code in that part of the TTI. The control channel channelization code is then transmitted in a part of the TTI corresponding to that in which the data channel channelization code is transmitted for a particular MS.
US09148873B1
A wireless network includes a first station and a second station. The first station includes a media access control circuit configured to provide a frame of data to be transmitted on a communication channel, and a physical layer device configured to receive the frame of data and transmit the frame of data on the communication channel. The frame of data is transmitted according to a first short interframe space (SIFS) or a second SIFS, and the first SIFS has a duration that is different from that of the second SIFS. The second station is configured to determine whether the first station transmitted the frame of data according to the first SIFS or the second SIFS and transmit a response to the frame of data based on the determination of whether the first station transmitted the frame of data according to the first SIFS or the second SIFS.
US09148867B2
In a wireless communication apparatus, data transmitted from at least one wireless transmitter is received by direct wireless communication, and its wireless reception condition is detected. Relation reference information setting two or more relations between the wireless reception condition on a reception of transmitted data and location information of the transmitter is stored. Relative distance information of a relative distance between the transmitter and the apparatus is measured. Relation information indicating a relation between the wireless reception conditions and the relative distance information is generated. A relation between the location information and the relative distance information is determined by comparing the relation reference information and the relation information. A current location of the apparatus is determined on the basis of the relation between the location information and the relative distance information and a current wireless reception condition.
US09148849B2
The coverage, connectivity and communication (C3) protocol method for wireless sensor networks is an integrated and energy-efficient protocol for Coverage, Connectivity and Communication (C3) in WSNs. The C3 protocol uses RSSI to divide the network into virtual rings, defines clusters with clusterheads more probably at alternating rings, defines dings, which are rings inside a cluster, uses triangular tessellation to identify redundant nodes, and communicates data to sink through clusterheads and gateways. The protocol strives for near-optimal deployment, load balancing, and energy-efficient communication. Simulation results show that the C3 protocol ensures partial coverage of more than 90% of the total deployment area, ensures 1-connected network, and facilitates energy-efficient communication, while expending only ¼th of the energy compared to other related protocols.
US09148831B2
Methods and apparatus for using a location of a mobile station (MS) and information about neighbor base stations (BSs) to assist network entry and initialization, scanning, and/or handover operations are provided. The location of the MS may be ascertained by determining the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the MS internally or by receiving the location from, e.g., a GPS device external to the MS. The information about neighbor BSs may be retrieved from a BS information database based on the location of the MS. The BS information database may reside within the MS, be broadcast periodically to the MS in an effort to update the MS's internal database, or be stored in the network operator's database. Knowledge of the MS's location and information about neighbor BSs may reduce the time spent during network entry, scanning, or handover, and thereby, power consumption; and may increase the bandwidth usage efficiency.
US09148824B2
Packet Switched (PS) handover based Circuit Switched Fall Back (CSFB) of a mobile station is controlled from an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) cell to a target Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) cell or a target GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) cell in a PS domain. A network node receives a handover request from a SGSN. A PLMN ID associated with the SGSN is identified. A set of PLMN IDs transmitted as system information by the target UTRAN cell or the target GERAN cell is identified. A PLMN ID index is generated to indicate an association between the PLMN ID associated with the SGSN and one of the PLMN IDs of the set. The PLMN ID index is communicated toward the mobile station for use during PS handover based CSFB. The mobile station embeds the PLMN ID index in a Location Area Update (LAU) message, and transmits the LAU message to a target BSS/RNS of the GERAN/UTRAN cell for use during the PS handover based CSFB.
US09148817B1
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for routing signaling traffic. One embodiment takes the form of a method that involves a networking device determining that a level of signaling traffic intended for a group of one or more destinations is greater than a threshold level, and responsive to the signaling traffic being greater than the threshold level, the networking device lowering a priority assigned to signaling traffic intended for the group of one or more destinations. The networking device may output the signaling traffic intended for the group of one or more destinations with the lowered priority.
US09148810B2
A method for providing a status of a wireless network, including: receiving a wireless signal from an access point and status information of the access point; determining processing capacity information of the access point based on the status information of the access point; and displaying wireless network information with respect to the access point, the wireless network information including the processing capacity information of the access point and signal strength information of the received wireless signal.
US09148808B2
A system and method for testing an adaptive RF system in an emulated RF environment using a feedback control module to efficiently and accurately evaluate the performance of the RF system under test in the search space.
US09148806B2
Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception.
US09148803B2
A plurality of wireless channels link a transmitter and a receiver, each channel corresponding to a different transmit-receive antenna pair. Channel state information is estimated for the plurality of wireless channels by grouping the plurality of channels into one or more groups, each group including the channels associated with two or more collocated transmit and/or receive antennas. A set of delay tap values is iteratively estimated in the time domain for each group of channels so that the channels included in the same group are associated with the same delay tap values. A frequency domain channel response of each of the channels included in the same group of channels is estimated based on the set of delay tap values estimated for the group.
US09148800B2
In a wireless network node, the MAC protocol is implemented through an extended finite state machine executed by the node. The operation of the wireless network node is changed by establishing a wireless connection between the present wireless network node and a remote wireless network node. One or more data packets containing a coded extended finite state machine corresponding to a specific MAC protocol are sent through the wireless connection from the remote wireless network node to the present wireless network node. An activation command from the remote wireless network node to the present wireless network node is sent through the wireless connection for activating the specific MAC protocol. This may be done during normal operation of the present wireless network node.
US09148799B2
A wireless terminal (30) capable of operating in a discontinuous mode and method for operation facilitate measurements pertaining to position of the wireless terminal (30). A measurement request message from a radio access network (28) indicates that measurements are to be performed by the wireless terminal on downlink signals transmitted by the base station or by the base station on downlink signals transmitted by the base station. As a result of or after receiving the message, operation of the wireless terminal (30) changes from a discontinuous mode to a modified mode to facilitate performance of the measurements. Relative to the discontinuous mode at least one of following are shortened or eliminated in the modified mode: (i) the non-reception periods, and (ii) the non-transmission periods.
US09148796B2
A resilient antenna disturbance detector is provided. A signal generator generates an unclonable integrity test signal. The antenna reflects a signal in response to the integrity test signal. A comparator determines whether the reflected signal matches the integrity test signal and a controller signals the disturbance of the antenna to a monitoring device if the energy level of the reflected signal is greater than a predetermined threshold and the reflected signal matches the integrity test signal. The detector provides the advantage of preventing an external receiver and transmitter from predicting and transmitting the integrity test signal to the antenna to interfere with disturbance detection. Also provided is a security system with resilient antenna disturbance detection.
US09148793B2
Upon receipt of an RLF Indication message indicating a failure in a handover where a radio base station eNB10-1 is the handover source from the other radio base station eNB, the radio base station eNB10-1 can recognize that its coverage is not adjusted appropriately by referring to the RLF Indication message. Moreover, the radio base station eNB10-1 can adjust coverage appropriately by expanding the radiation area of the antenna 101 whose radiation area is directed toward the other radio base station eNB being the handover target, among the antennas 101 included in the radio base station eNB10-1.
US09148783B2
A method of managing data in an electronic token includes an initial step of storing a first data into the electronic token and into a secured site. Secret data, intended to be initialized in the electronic token, is identified. Instructions and a subset of the first data are also identified, wherein the subset allows the secret data to be rebuilt by applying the instructions. A reference identifying the subset is sent to the electronic token. In the electronic token, the secret data is rebuilt from the first data and the reference by applying the instructions.
US09148782B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing location information of a User Equipment (UE) in a communication system including the UE, a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Center (SLC), and a SUPL Positioning Center (SPC). The method includes receiving, by the SLC, a request for the location information of the UE from a requester; notifying, by the SLC, the UE that the location information has been requested; transmitting, by the SLC to the SPC, a pseudo IDentifier (ID) for securing a connection between the SPC and the SLC; receiving, by the SLC from the SPC, the location information of the UE with the pseudo ID, the location information of the UE being calculated by the SPC, based on a positioning measurement measured by the UE; and transmitting, by the SLC, the location information to the requester.
US09148781B2
Techniques are provided for wireless transmission of data packets based on client associations. A data packet may be received at a wireless access point. It may be determined if at least one client associated with the wireless access point should receive the data packet. The data packet may be wirelessly transmitted if it is determined that there is a client that is associated with the wireless access point that should receive the data packet.
US09148778B2
Disclosed is a method of activating a mobile terminal from mobile network side and a mobile application gateway system. The method comprises: receiving, by a mobile application gateway, a request for activating the mobile terminal, the request including an unique identification number of the mobile terminal; querying, by the mobile application gateway, a HLR for address of a SGSN where the mobile terminal is located; returning, by the HLR, the queried address of SGSN to the mobile application gateway; sending, by the mobile application gateway, the request for activating the mobile terminal to the SGSN; issuing, by the SGSN, a request to the mobile terminal, requiring the mobile terminal to issue a mobile terminal initiated PDP context activation request. The method enables an instant messaging user at a mobile terminal to automatically open an IP connection if there is any message to be received after the IP connection is closed.
US09148776B1
A cellular service provider network includes a subscriber database that associate identifiers from the cellular mobile devices (e.g., IMSIs stored within SIM cards of the devices) with layer three (L3) network addresses currently assigned to the cellular mobile device by the cellular network for providing data service to the cellular mobile devices. The subscriber database further stores identifiers for wireless local area network (WLAN) interfaces of the cellular mobile devices. The cellular service provider network includes a server coupled to a layer two (L2) network having a plurality of wireless access points. In response to access requests from the cellular mobile devices over the L2 network, the server queries the subscriber database of the cellular service provider network and assigns the network addresses to the cellular mobile devices by matching L2 network addresses specified within the access requests with the identifiers of WLAN interfaces stored in the subscriber database.
US09148762B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a method and system for providing a user of a mobile device with a set of applicable legal, company policies or safety information based on the global positioning system (GPS) position of the mobile device and a set of predefined policies. The mobile device may be any of several devices including, but not limited to, a cell phone, tablet, or other electronic device. The provided set of applicable legal, company policies or safety information can comprise various information including, but not limited to, restrictions on the use of a cell phone, potential fines for cell phone use, potential dangers, personal protective equipment requirements, prohibitions, guidelines and the like.
US09148759B2
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for performing automated events using a multi-wireless detection device service platform. For example, in one embodiment, a method for performing automated events in an office environment is disclosed. The method may include logging, by the office management system, a user onto a network data processing system located within an office within the office environment using an account associated with the user in response to receiving a notification message from a wireless detection device. In one embodiment, the communication between the wireless detection device and the office management system to log the user onto the network data processing system located within the office is performed in response to a user-initiated request that indicates that the wireless device is within the office.
US09148743B2
A system and method for wirelessly configuring vehicle electronics prior to delivery of the vehicle to a customer. The method carried out by the system includes (a) receiving a notification at a central facility indicating that a vehicle has been delivered to a dealership; (b) receiving a data message from a vehicle telematics unit installed on the vehicle while the vehicle is in a logistics mode (LM); and (c) terminating the logistics mode and/or initiating provisioning of the vehicle telematics unit using the established data connection.
US09148738B1
System and methods for characterizing interest points within a descriptor are disclosed herein. The systems include generating a set of interest points related to an audio sample. A set of gradients relating to respective interest points in the set of interest points can be generated. A set of descriptors can then be generated based upon the set of interest points and the set of gradients and used in comparison to reference descriptors to identify the audio sample. The disclosed systems and methods provide for an audio matching system robust to pitch-shift distortion by using gradients that characterize the time-frequency neighborhood around an interest point rather than solely relying on interest points themselves. Thus, the disclosed system and methods result in more accurate audio identification.
US09148724B2
An audio conferencing system has a base station, a speaker and one or more mobile microphones, and it operates to receive audio information from both a far-end audio source and a near-end audio source and to process the audio information for transmission to a far-end audio conferencing system. At least one of the mobile microphones has a motion detection device and operates to send detected motion information to the base station. The base station operates to control the processing of audio information it receives from the microphone according to the detected microphone motion information.
US09148723B2
A miniature electronic shotgun microphone, which is used to receive a sound source from a specified direction, comprises a pick-up member, an A/D (Analog/Digital) conversion unit, and a digital signal processor. The pick-up member includes a first pick-up unit, a second pick-up unit separated from the first pick-up unit by a first distance, and a third pick-up unit separated from the second pick-up unit by a second distance; the first distance is greater than the second distance. The first pick-up unit, the second pick-up unit and the third pick-up unit respectively receive the sound source and output an analog signal. The A/D conversion unit and the digital signal processor process the analog signals, and convert them into a directional digital acoustic signal. Thus, the directional digital acoustic signal has a maximum pick-up frequency. Thereby is decreased grating lobes and spatial aliasing.
US09148722B2
A host device for use with a removable peripheral apparatus having a microphone, and to the biasing circuitry for said microphone. The host device may have a device connector for forming a mating connection with a respective peripheral connector. A source of bias is arranged to supply an electrical bias to a device microphone contact of the device connector via a biasing path. A capacitor is connected between a reference voltage node and a capacitor node of the biasing path. A first switch is located between the capacitor node and the device microphone contact. Detection circuitry detects disconnection of the peripheral connector and device connector; and control circuitry controls the switch to disable the biasing path.
US09148713B2
According to at least one embodiment, a television includes a housing further including a pair of corner portions and an enclosed space on an inner side thereof, a pair of speaker boxes housed in the enclosed space in vicinities of the corner portions, a pair of speakers housed in the speaker boxes respectively in a direction which crosses a thickness direction of the housing, and each of the speaker boxes further includes a first duct to guide sounds from a first side of the respective speaker to the respective first opening portion and a second duct to guide sounds from a second side of the respective speaker towards the enclosed space.
US09148709B2
The present disclosure is directed towards a sensor interface module that delivers a supply voltage to a plurality of sensors, and which exchanges data signals between the plurality of sensors and a control unit (e.g., an ECU). The sensor interface often employs a single-bit comparator (or a coarse analog to digital converter (ADC), e.g., a 2-bit or 3-bit ADC) to track signals to be exchanged between the sensors and controller over the sensor interface. Compared to power hungry ADC with more bits (e.g., 32 bit ADC), the single-bit comparator/coarse ADC limits hardware complexity and power consumption. In addition, in some embodiments the sensor interface module can include an estimator and assist comparators to speed up the tracking ability of the sensor interface module. In this way, techniques provided herein facilitate reliable, low-power communication between a control unit (e.g., an ECU) and its corresponding sensors.
US09148702B1
A device is disclosed that includes an interface component configured to generate a user interface for playing and requesting videos and a reception component configured to receive a subset of videos from a set of videos in accordance with a video streaming session having a preset duration of time and play the subset of videos for the preset duration of time via the user interface. The device further includes a request component configured to request an increase to the preset duration of time of the video streaming session by a segment of time after reception of a video included in the subset of videos, wherein in response to the request, the reception component is configured to receive the subset of videos for an amount of time including the preset duration of time plus the segment of time and play the subset of videos for the amount of time.
US09148701B2
Systems and methods are provided for ranking assets relative to a group of viewers. A group is formed by a user by selecting a number of different viewer preference profiles or automatically by the system as a function of analyzing similarities among viewer preference profiles. Individual preference values are computed for each viewer in the group relative to an asset. A group preference value is then computed by performing a function on the individual preference values. A display is generated that represents the individual preference values and the group preference value relative to an asset. Based on the information provided in the display, the asset most relevant to the group may be selected.
US09148698B1
Systems, methods, and media for controlling a presentation of media content are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, methods for controlling a presentation of media content, the methods comprising: causing the presentation of the media content to begin; measuring an elapsed time of the presentation of the media content; determining a first threshold based on at least one of: a characteristic of a person; a characteristic of a current point in time; and a characteristic of the media content; determining if the elapsed time of the presentation has met the first threshold; and ending the presentation in response to determining that the elapsed time of the presentation has met the first threshold.
US09148697B2
A system and circuit for television power state control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power management circuit is coupled to a television and interposed between a video feed and an image display engine as well as between an audio feed and a speaker. The power management circuit selectively alternates the television between three states: powered ON/operating state (first state); power standby state (second state); and no/low power state (third state). Utilized with a television in a commercial application, the system and circuit are employed to provide accelerated turn-on time to receive an image for user interaction, while providing sufficient control to maintain energy power savings.
US09148685B2
A system and a method for using the system for targeted commerce in network broadcasting are provided. The system includes an interface device configured to receive a multimedia stream from a network, wherein the multimedia stream includes a close captioning string and wherein the interface device is further configured to process the multimedia stream by providing advertisements in the multimedia stream according to a correlation between the close captioning string and a plurality of vendor keywords; and a viewing device configured to receive the processed multimedia stream and display to a viewer.
US09148683B2
Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for allocating content elements addressed for a content opportunity in a transport stream within a household-addressable media network. A content opportunity may include an advertising slot in a programming stream. The content elements may include advertising content configured to be run during the advertising slot. The advertising slot may be transmitted in a programming stream providing television programming and the advertising content may be provided in a commercial feed. The media network may be configured to transmit various content formats, such as high definition (HD), standard definition (SD), and variations thereof. Systems may be configured to allocate the highest profile corresponding content elements if there is sufficient resources available. If sufficient resources are not available, the system may allocate lower profile versions of the content elements.
US09148662B2
Provided is a video encoding apparatus, including a signal separator to separate a differential image block into a first domain and a second domain, based on a boundary line included in the differential image block, the differential image block indicating a difference between an original image and a prediction image with respect to the original image, a transform encoder to perform a transform encoding with respect to the first domain using a discrete cosine transform (DCT), a quantization unit to quantize an output of the transform encoding unit in a frequency domain, a space domain quantization unit to quantize the second domain in a space domain, and an entropy encoder to perform an entropy encoding using outputs of the quantization unit and the space domain quantization unit.
US09148643B2
Systems, apparatus, interfaces, methods, and articles of manufacture for enhancing media with supplemental content are provided.
US09148641B2
Information concerning an imaging place is acquired from a map information acquisition portion, and the acquired information related to the position is multiplexed with video image information to be recorded in a recording medium. The information related to positions separated at the time of reproducing is displayed by being superimposed onto a video image so that it is possible to switch from/to display/non-display. Further, the information related to a position is input by an operation portion, and the time corresponding thereto is taken from the multiplexed file, thereby making it possible to start reproduction from a part in which a specified position is imaged. It is therefore an object of the present invention to record the information related to the imaged place together with a video image, and to be able to switch from/to display/non-display of the information related to the place. Additionally, it is an object to perform control of reproduction based on the information related to a place.
US09148639B2
In one embodiment, graphics frames are received, where each graphics frame includes one or more regions where pixels depict graphics that represent an on screen display (OSD) used to interact with a programmable multimedia controller, and a background region where pixels are set to the one or more predetermined colors. Further, video images are received, where at least some of the video images correspond to the plurality of graphics frames. Mixed images are created by mixing the graphics frames and the corresponding video images, the mixing to, where pixels of the graphics frame are not set to the one more predetermined colors, blend a color of at least some of the pixels of the graphics frame with a color of pixels of a corresponding video image, and, where pixels of the graphics frame are set to the one more predetermined colors, pass pixels of the corresponding video image.
US09148633B2
A control unit calculates the color temperature using at least a first visible light signal and a near-infrared signal when the amount of the near-infrared signal is larger than a predetermined amount. The first visible light signal is a signal generated by photoelectrically converting visible light. The near-infrared signal is a signal generated by photoelectrically converting near-infrared light.
US09148627B2
A system and method for Internet video conferencing is provided. The method includes, generating a facilitator user interface on a display associated with a facilitator user device comprising a plurality of participant icons corresponding to a plurality of participant user devices for a conference, forming a plurality of subgroups comprising a first subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices and a second subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices, generating a participant user interface on each screen display associated with the first subgroup and the second subgroup for controlling interaction with a respective subgroup, linking each participant user device within the first subgroup with a second video signal, linking each participant user device in the second subgroup with a second video signal and intercommunicating between the first subgroup at the participant user devices without intercommunicating to the second subgroup.
US09148625B2
A method for transition control in a videoconference comprises receiving a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras, displaying a first video stream of the plurality of video streams, detecting a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams, determining a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream, and selecting a display transition based on the transition category for displaying the transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.
US09148622B2
A frame-rate converter reduces halo artifacts along edges of moving objects. Halo artifacts occur on interpolated frames where a moving object covers and uncovers pixels along its edges. Motion estimation among three original frames produces hybrid direction motion vectors that are bi-directional for background and objects, but are unidirectional for covered and uncovered regions, since motion vectors with large matching errors are deleted. Covered regions in the interpolated frame are detected as intersecting only a forward but no backward hybrid motion vector. Bi-directional motion estimation from the hybrid motion vectors of two original frames produces refined motion vectors for the interpolated frame. Refined motion vectors in the covered regions are deleted and replaced with hybrid motion vectors from the original frames. Hybrid motion vectors from the original frames are assigned to the critical covered regions rather than using interpolated vectors in the covered regions, reducing halo artifacts.
US09148619B2
A system and method provide a soundtrack recommendation service for recommending one or more soundtrack for a video (i.e., a probe video). A feature extractor of the recommendation service extracts a set of content features of the probe video and generates a set of semantic features represented by a signature vector of the probe video. A video search module of the recommendation service is configured to search for a number of video candidates, each of which is semantically similar to the probe video and has an associated soundtrack. A video outlier identification module of the recommendation service identifies video candidates having an atypical use of their soundtracks and ranks the video candidates based on the typicality of their soundtrack usage. A soundtrack recommendation module selects the soundtracks of the top ranked video candidates as the soundtrack recommendations to the probe video.
US09148614B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for supporting a touch-enabled video wall are provided. In one embodiment, a video wall support system may include a first frame of support members (12) to support an array of monitors (16) and a second frame of monitors (18) to support a touch-enabling optical system (40, 42). The first frame of support members (12) may support the array of monitors (16) such that display screens of the monitors (18) are substantially aligned in a first plane. The second frame of support members (14) may support the touch-enabling optical system (40, 42) such that the touch-enabling optical system (40, 42) may detect a user touch location through a second plane formed by the second frame of support members (14). This second plane may be substantially parallel to the first plane. The second frame of support members (14) may be disposed a distance from the first frame of support members (12).
US09148612B2
Apparatus and methods are described for allowing users to access channels of a receiving device using custom channel identifiers rather than content provider assigned channel identifiers. A receiving device receives a first set of channel identifiers assigned by a content provider for a plurality of channels. The receiving device further receives a second set of custom channel identifiers identifying the plurality of channels. At least a portion of the first set of channel identifiers maps to the second set of channel identifiers. The user provides user input specifying one of the second identifiers to access and the receiving device correlates the user input to a corresponding first identifier to determine the selected channel the user desires to access.
US09148608B2
A video entertainment system includes a master handset electronic device for generating a first control signal, receiving a second control signal, and processing the first control signal and the second control signal, to generate and transmit a video data; and a slave handset electronic device for generating and transmitting a second control signal to the master handset electronic device.
US09148605B1
A sensing device is provided. The sensing device includes a plurality of pixel groups and a readout circuit. The pixel groups are arranged on a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns to form a pixel array. The pixel groups include a first pixel group and a second pixel group which are arranged on the different rows and the same column. The readout circuit is coupled to the pixel groups. When the first pixel group is triggered to perform a readout operation to generate a first sensing signal, the second pixel group performs a coupling operation to generate a reference signal. The readout circuit performs a subtraction operation based on the first sensing signal and the reference signal to generate a first readout data corresponding to the readout operation of the first pixel group.
US09148604B2
A method for reading a pixel, including at least two integration periods, at least one of said periods including at least one integration sub-period, wherein an output value of the pixel is determined by taking into account the amounts of photogenerated charges contained in the pixel at the end of each of said periods and the amount of photogenerated charges stored in a photodiode of the pixel beyond a threshold during said at least one sub-period.
US09148601B2
An improved complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor for time delay and integration imaging is provided that utilizes rolling shutter pixels. Columns of rolling shutter pixels in the CMOS image array are provided with a space between adjacent pixels to provide synchronization with movement of the subject in the along track direction. Preferably, the physical offset between the pixels is 1/Nth of a pixel pitch for a column having N rows.
US09148589B2
A device (e.g., an image capture device, or camera) includes a sensor and a filtering apparatus. Incident light received by the device includes visible spectrum light and infrared light. The filtering apparatus can alternately filter out the infrared light while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the visible spectrum light, and filter out the visible spectrum light while allowing the sensor to be exposed to the infrared light. For example, the filtering apparatus can include a shutter that, when in a first position, filters out the infrared light and, when in a second position, filters out the visible spectrum light. In particular, the shutter can be a rotating shutter that includes a visible spectrum pass filter in one sector and an infrared pass filter in another sector.
US09148582B2
An image processing apparatus, system, and method to automatically determine a plurality of image acquisition settings for an scene; acquire a set of images of the scene, the set of images including multiple images acquired with a distinct plurality of the determined image acquisition settings; and generate a single image by combining the acquired set of images.
US09148567B2
Methods and devices for controlling the number of consecutive images captured in a burst operating mode are described. In one example embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method implemented by a processor of an electronic device. The electronic device has a camera module. The camera module is configured to temporarily capture a number of consecutive images to an image buffer when operation of the camera module is triggered. The method includes: obtaining motion data from a motion sensor on the electronic device; and based on the motion data, controlling the number of consecutive images captured by the camera module when operation of the camera module is triggered.
US09148562B2
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US09148561B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises a capturing unit which captures an image; a detection unit which detects an object from the captured image; a generating unit which generates a luminance distribution of the captured image; a calculating unit which calculates, based on the luminance distribution, an exposure amount used when performing autoexposure bracketing that captures a plurality of images at different exposures; a determining unit which determines whether or not to perform the autoexposure bracketing using the calculated exposure amount; and a correcting unit which corrects the calculated exposure amount based on feature information of the object detected by the detection unit.
US09148560B2
According to the present invention, the first and second phase difference pixels are arranged on the pixel lines in the first direction in the color image that is thinned during imaging of a moving image including that for live view display. Therefore, even during moving image taking, phase difference AF can be accurately performed. Furthermore, the pixel values at the pixel positions of the first and second phase difference pixels in the thinned color image can be accurately acquired on the basis of the pixel values of the surrounding pixels. Accordingly, reduction in the image quality of the taken image (still image or moving image) due to the phase difference pixels can be prevented or alleviated. Furthermore, the pixel values can be accurately acquired on the basis of the pixel values of the surrounding pixels during simultaneous processing.
US09148554B2
In this invention, an image pickup unit for endoscope including an image pickup device includes, in an optical black region of the image pickup device, a phase reference pixel region in which a pixel that outputs a signal capable of being used for phase adjustment of the video by receiving light is disposed, and an optical axis of an objective optical system member having an image circle which is narrower than an effective pixel region of the image pickup device is arranged at a position closer to the phase reference pixel region with respect to a center of the effective pixel region such that light transmitted through the objective optical system member can reach the phase reference pixel region.
US09148549B2
An image processing apparatus and image processing method according to the present disclosure are characterized to obtain N number of image data regarding a same object, each N number of image data consisting of a plurality of pixels; remove noise data of among N number of pixel data regarding pixels in a same location, from the N number of image data; and generate an image of the object using data excluding the noise data.
US09148544B2
A system, process, and computer program product are provided for scanning a document with a hand-held device. An approach for scanning the document includes the steps of sampling one or more values from an array of sensors integrated into a hand-held device, determining whether the device has moved at least a threshold distance, and sampling one or more additional values from the array of sensors.
US09148540B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that can specify the cause and the part of an electrical failure with an inexpensive configuration and facilitate the maintenance by a user or an administrator. Power is supplied to function units in the image forming apparatus and a value is detected by a power detection unit. A state of the image forming apparatus is specified by a first control unit that can determine, based on the specified state and the detected value, whether or not there is an electrical failure. If there is a determined electrical failure, the power is supplied separately to the function units so that the first control unit can specify an electrically failed part based on a state of the image forming apparatus estimated at the separate supply and the detected value, and can notify a user or an administrator of the specified failed part.
US09148538B2
An image scanning apparatus is provided with a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet, which are spaced from each other. A width of the first inlet is wider than that of the second inlet. A first guide is defined in the housing, connected to the first inlet and the outlet and has first and second guide surfaces opposing each other. A second guide is defined in the housing, connected to the second inlet and a confluence position, and has third guide and fourth guide surfaces opposing each other. The confluence position is defined in the second guide surface, the third guide surface is defined on the second guide surface side of the second inlet side with respect to the confluence position, a driven roller exposing from the third guide surface, and a scanning unit arranged between the confluence position and the outlet.
US09148533B2
A processing instruction device includes a memory, a display instruction data acquisition unit, a display controller, an operation data acquisition unit, and a processing instruction unit. The memory stores management data and condition data. The display instruction data acquisition unit acquires display instruction data. The display instruction data is data for giving an instruction to display an image including an operator corresponding to each of the one or more pieces of processing instruction data selected from among one or more pieces of processing instruction data stored in the memory. The operation data acquisition unit acquires operation data indicating an operation of a user from an operation device that receives a user operation. The processing instruction unit instructs at least one of the image forming device, the imaging device, and the data communication device to perform a processing operation in accordance with processing instruction data corresponding to the one operator.
US09148525B2
An image testing apparatus compares output image data of an image which has been output onto a recording medium and original image data which has been read from an original and is used to output the image onto the recording medium, and determines an output state of the image. The image testing apparatus includes an output mode obtaining part configured to obtain an output mode designated by a user; a testing item setting part configured to set, according to the output mode obtained by the output mode obtaining part, an item for which the output state of the image is changed, as a testing item; and a testing part configured to test the output state of the image for the testing item which is set by the testing item setting part.
US09148521B2
In one particular aspect a method for categorizing a user of a communication service as a churner or non-churner is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining call data for the user. Next, the call data is used to determine a value (v1) for a graph parameter for the user, the graph parameter being one of: (a) an out-degree parameter, (b) a Shapley Value parameter, (c) a proximity prestige parameter, and (d) closeness centrality parameter. Next, the determined value (v1) is used to determine a churn value (cv). The churn value (cv) is then used to categorize the user as a churner or a non-churner.
US09148520B2
An apparatus comprising a decision circuit, a detector circuit and a processing circuit. The decision circuit may be configured to generate a confirmation signal in response to a first lock signal and a second lock signal. The detector circuit may be configured to generate the first lock signal in response to a filtered version of an input signal being above a threshold. The processing circuit may be configured to generate the second lock signal in response to a power signal received from the detector circuit. The processing circuit generates the second lock signal by analyzing the rising edge of a frequency power envelope of the power signal.
US09148516B1
Examples of associating user information from social network sites with a conference call application may include a series of operations. One example operation may provide receiving a command to share at least one social networking application with a scheduled conference call and accessing an application programming interface (API) of the social networking application, and sharing user profile information with a graphical user interface (GUI) application of the scheduled conference call corresponding to the command to share the social networking application.
US09148512B1
A call handling platform receives a call placed by a caller to a calling number. The call handling platform computes an experience score for the caller using measurements of a subset of data points based on an interaction of the caller with an interactive voice response (IVR) module during the call. The experience score reflects a numerical measure of a level of satisfaction of the caller in interacting with the IVR module. The call handling platform compares the experience score to a predetermined threshold that indicates a minimum level of caller satisfaction, and determines that the experience score indicates that the caller has a lower level of satisfaction than the minimum level of satisfaction. Conditioned on this determination, the call handling platform routes the call to a human agent at a call center, along with enabling the agent to perceive a representation of the experience score.
US09148510B2
A system for displaying information on multiple mobile devices whereby the information displayed for each device is determined by the device's physical location in relation to other devices physical locations. The information may be graphic, text, numerical or audible.
US09148504B2
The present disclosure relates to a method, a node, a system and a computer program for input impedance measurements in the form of return loss measurements, such as single-ended line testing. The disclosure also relates to a communication system having a near-end terminal and at least one far-end terminal. The near-end terminal is capable of communicating instructions to the far-end terminal in order for the near-end terminal to perform echo impulse response measurements on subsequent states of impedance for comparing, analyzing and for enabling improved localization of faults.
US09148503B2
A handheld wireless communication device includes features to send and receive text messages. The handheld wireless communication device is further equipped with a microprocessor configured to run software programs on the device such as text message management program. The text message management program displays a listing of a plurality of received text messages on a display screen and differentiates at least a portion of the display-listed plurality of received text messages using an icon associated with at least one text message and wherein said icon corresponds to a domain address of the associated text message.
US09148502B2
A portable multimedia playback apparatus, a portable multimedia playback system, and a method for controlling operations thereof are disclosed. The method for controlling an operation of the portable multimedia playback apparatus having a display unit for displaying an image corresponding to a played-back multimedia content and a controller for outputting a display signal to the display unit to display the image corresponding to the played-back multimedia content on the display unit, includes receiving a signal from a mobile terminal capable of executing a phone application, determining status information about the mobile terminal from information included in the received signal, and outputting a display signal from the controller to the display unit such that an image corresponding to the determined status information is displayed on the display unit.
US09148497B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a display module having a base member, an emissive component, and a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a first end and an opposite second end. The base member is proximate the first end. The emissive component is mounted on the second end. The second end of the flexible circuit is disposed between the base member and the emissive component.
US09148495B2
Techniques are described for assigning and changing communication protocols for a pair of processing elements. The communication protocol determines how the pair of processing elements transmits data in a stream application. The pair may be assigned a communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP or a protocol that uses a relational database, shared file system, or shared memory) before the operator graph begins to stream data. This assignment may be based on a priority of the processing elements and/or a priority of the communication protocols. After the operator graph begins to stream data, the pair of processing elements may switch to a different communication protocol. The decision to switch the communication protocol may be based on whether the pair of processing elements or assigned communication protocol is meeting established performance standards for the stream application.
US09148490B2
A method for adapting quality of service to dynamics of a wireless telecommunications network is provided. The method includes collecting data relating to operation of an element in the network, wherein the collected data comprises radio-frequency (RF) data relating to operation of the network. The method also includes pre-calculating, from the collected data, a dynamic operational characteristic of the network, wherein the pre-calculating includes pre-calculating from the collected data to obtain a geometrical determination based on a geographical location of a wireless communications device within the network. The method further includes making available the pre-calculated characteristic of the network to an application of the device using the network, including storing the characteristic at a pre-calculation server accessible by the device so the device can selectively retrieve the characteristic, and updating the characteristic at a frequency based on a trigger related to volatility of the RF data being collected.
US09148486B2
A slave resource router may receive a client request. The slave resource router may be the nearest representation of an Anycast IP address in a network to a client sending the client request in the network. The slave resource router may then determine that the slave resource router has been authorized to cache content for a delivery service corresponding to the client request. Next, the slave resource router may determine that content corresponding to the client request is cached locally in a blind cache. Then the slave resource router may provide the client with the content from the blind cache.
US09148478B2
Structures and methods are disclosed for verifying integrity of peer-supplied content in a peer-to-peer content distribution system, for example, to verify that content supplied from a sending peer node to a receiving peer node corresponds to the content that was requested by the receiving node.
US09148467B1
A system and method for emulating a multitude of different user agents on a server-side is disclosed herein. On a server-side, an acceptable user agent string for receiving full content from the web-site with a browser sniffing agent is identified. The acceptable user agent is emulated by transmitting a HTTP request with the acceptable user agent string, allowing for access to the full content of the web-page of the web-site.
US09148465B2
In one embodiment, a method receives a software upgrade package for a management computer and main computer. The management computer upgrades software of the management computer using the software upgrade package where the upgrading replaces an image of the software of the management computer with an image from the software upgrade package. Upon upgrade of the management computer, the management computer initiates an upgrade of the main computer. The main computer withdraws use of the services, and upon the withdrawing, the management computer reboots the main computer. Then, the main computer upgrades software of the main computer using the software upgrade package upon rebooting where the upgrading replaces an image of the software of the main computer with an image from the software upgrade package. Upon the upgrading, the main computer restores the use of the services.
US09148463B2
A multimedia transceiver apparatus continuously generates a model of a video scene, and then uses the generated model to estimate missing sections (e.g., image frames) of the video stream by morphing and/or modifying available uncorrupted video data based on the model. By estimating the missing sections, the subjective quality of video under error conditions (e.g., image frame loss, image frame corruption, video signal interruption, etc.) is improved.
US09148462B2
A method is provided for controlling content playback by a terminal in a content delivery system. The method includes receiving streaming content from a service provider, the streaming content including zone information of each zone and an associated identifier of each zone for identifying a terminal's operation mode, determining the terminal's operation mode depending on the identifier, and controlling playback of the streaming content in a zone corresponding to the zone information according to the determined operation mode.
US09148448B2
Systems and methods for establishing a security-related mode of operation for computing devices. A policy data store contains security mode configuration data related to the computing devices. Security mode configuration data is used in establishing a security-related mode of operation for the computing devices.
US09148446B2
According to one embodiment, a transparent security gateway is coupled between a client end station (CES) and a web application server (WAS). The security gateway monitors an encryption protocol handshake between the CES and the WAS to capture, using a provided private key of the WAS, a generated symmetric key to be used for an encryption layer connection. Using the captured symmetric key, the security gateway receives an encrypted connection record of the encryption layer connection, decrypts the encrypted connection record to yield a plaintext connection record, modifies the plaintext connection record, encrypts the modified plaintext connection record using the symmetric key, and transmits one or more packets carrying the encrypted modification plaintext connection record instead of the received encrypted connection record such that neither the CES or WAS is aware of the modification of the encrypted data.
US09148443B2
Methods and systems for securing remotely-operable devices are provided. A security device can receive a plurality of commands to control a remotely-operable device in a remote environment. At least one command in the plurality of commands can include command data that is related to the remotely-operable device. The security device can receive a plurality of responses to the plurality of commands. The security device can process the plurality of commands and the plurality of responses to determine a signature related to an operator that issued the plurality of commands for the remotely-operable device. The security device can determine an identity of the operator based on the signature. The security device can generate an identity report that includes the identity of the operator.
US09148442B2
A system inserts at least one notifying identifier in the computer system. The at least one notifying identifier provides execution information associated with the computer system. The system receives execution information from the at least one notifying identifier, the execution information identifies details associated with a traffic flow on the computer system. The system then generates a signature based on a deterministic link provided by the execution information provided by the at least one notifying identifier. The signature is utilized to prevent further damage caused to the computer system by at least one attack.
US09148424B1
Systems and methods for account security are provided. In one example embodiment, a first login request including a username and a password is analyzed to identify a first internet protocol (IP) address and a first request time associated with the first login request. A login history comprising login request data for the server computer is analyzed to identify a plurality of usernames, wherein each username of the plurality of usernames is associated with a corresponding login request from the first IP address within a threshold time period of the first request time. In response to determining a login success ratio is below a threshold login success ratio and a number of unique usernames in the analyzed data is above the unique username threshold, the system automatically performs a security action.
US09148416B2
A method is disclosed for providing physical access credentials to a client device. The method may include receiving a request for a physical access credential, where the first request includes at least one user access credential and at least one physical access point identifier. The method may also include determining whether the request should be granted based at least in part on the at least one user access credential. The method may further include, in response to determining that the request should be granted, sending the physical access credential associated with the physical access point.
US09148409B2
Upon providing (101) message content (such as a remote control instruction) to be transmitted, and in conjunction with provision (102) of a plurality of different transmission characteristics (as correspond, for example, to different types of transmission) and a corresponding plurality of correlated recovery identifiers (103), a particular transmission characteristic is selected (104) and used to transmit (105) a joint message. n particular, in a preferred approach, the selected transmission characteristic (106) is used when transmitting at least a portion of the message content portion of the joint message while another part of the joint message carries the recovery identifier to thereby facilitate selection of an appropriate reception technique by a receiver when receiving the joint message.
US09148407B2
An agent on a device within a network receives a request to access a resource outside the network. A first encrypted connection is established between the device and the agent, and a second encrypted connection is established between the agent and the resource, to facilitate encrypted communication traffic between the device and the resource. The agent sends a policy request to a network appliance within the network, the request specifying the resource. The agent receives a policy response indicating that the resource is associated with one or more security policies of the network. Traffic passing between the device and the resource is selectively decrypted and inspected depending on the security policies.
US09148405B2
A multifactor authentication (MFA) enforcement server provides multifactor authentication services to users and existing services. During registration, the MFA enforcement server changes a user's password on an existing service to a password unknown to the user. During normal usage when the user accesses the existing service through the MFA enforcement server, the MFA enforcement server enforces a multifactor authentication enforcement policy.
US09148398B2
Systems and methods of providing notifications are described herein. A user account for which a request to provide content is received is identified. Responsive to identifying the user account and the content requested, one or more notifications to be provided along with the requested content is identified. Each of the notifications has a corresponding notification type identifier that indicates a type of notification. A priority level for each of the notifications is determined responsive to a global prioritization policy and the corresponding notification type identifier. The priority level for each of the notifications can be determined by identifying the notification type identifier for each notification, identifying a priority level that matches the notification type identifier and assigning the notification the identified priority level.
US09148385B2
Communicating among stations in a network includes, from each of multiple stations in the network, transmitting information indicating which other stations from which that station is able to reliably receive transmissions. A schedule for communicating among the stations is determined based on the information from the stations and transmitting the schedule over the network. The schedule includes a plurality of time slots during which respective contention groups of stations are assigned to communicate using a contention-based protocol.
US09148374B2
An Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) packet processing method. a communication system and a device are disclosed. The method includes: receiving an ARP packet, and judging the type of the ARP packet; when the ARP packet is an ARP request, responding to the ARP request if an entry corresponding to the ARP request is found in a local ARP table; and when the ARP packet is an ARP response. reporting the ARP response if an entry corresponding to the ARP response is found in the local ARP table and a reporting parameter in the entry indicates permission of reporting; or discarding the ARP response if no entry corresponding to the ARP response is found in the ARP table.
US09148367B2
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a first packet of a connection between a client and a server. The first packet is tagged with a tag comprising a member id of a service node in a service cluster that includes a plurality of nodes having distinct member ids. The method can also include mapping the member id to the service node in a tag-to-node map; receiving a second packet of the connection, where the second packet is tagged with the tag comprising the member id; determining the service node from the tag-to-node map; and forwarding the second packet to the service node.
US09148364B2
A method, apparatus, and machine readable storage medium is for management of an Inclusive Provider Multicast Service Interface (I-PMSI) tunnel for forwarding traffic for a given multicast flow is disclosed. Aspects of the method comprise: upon expiry of an S-PMSI_DELAY interval timer, switching the multicast flow from the I-PMSI tunnel to a Selective Provider Multicast Service Interface (S-PMSI) tunnel only if the number of active Source-to-Leaf (S2L) paths exceeds a defined first threshold of a number of S2L paths and otherwise resetting the S-PMSI_DELAY interval timer. Other aspects provide for switching the multicast flow from the I-PMSI tunnel to the S-PMSI tunnel only if the number of PE nodes associated with the S-PMSI tunnel interested in the multicast flow does not exceed a defined a second threshold. Other aspects, in the case of the S-PMSI tunnel being active, further comprise steps of switching the multicast flow from the S-PMSI tunnel to the I-PMSI tunnel if the number of S2L paths on S-PMSI in bypass exceeds a third defined threshold.
US09148361B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for routes separation in ASON services, wherein the method comprises: calculating a route between each of different calls or each of different services of a same call in an automatic switched optical network (ASON); wherein if there are enough network resources, then set the routes of the respective services to be independent from each other; and if there are not enough resources, then set the routes of the respective services to be partially overlapped or completely overlapped. According to the technical solution provided by the present invention, the problem in relevant art that the routes carrying each of the services cannot be sufficiently separated or the network resources cannot be sufficiently used is solved, thus not only multiple services using the same path can be avoided but also the situation that routes cannot be found while there are enough resources can be avoided.
US09148359B2
This invention relates to methods for correlating at least one media path and a signaling session of a packet-switched network and to an implementation of these methods in hardware and software. To overcoming one or more of the limitations and challenges on the correlation of signaling plane and media plane of services, the invention defines a key, which can be used for correlation of media streams and signaling sessions. The invention is based on a signaling probe identifying new services and associated media paths of the media plane by detecting their corresponding signaling sessions and determining for each service a signaling session identifier. The signaling probe registers the signaling sessions and their media paths at a correlation unit using the signaling session identifiers as a key, which allows a media probe to query the correlation unit for respective signaling session identifiers that correspond to media paths detected in the media plane traffic.
US09148355B2
A first calculator calculates, for each combination of the physical machines, a network distance representing magnitude of load during communication between one of a plurality of physical machines and another physical machine. An acquisition unit acquires communication permission information representing that a newly operated virtual machine is permitted to communicate with which virtual machine among a plurality of virtual machine already operated in any one of the plurality of physical machines. A second calculator calculates, for each of the plurality of physical machines, a network cost representing magnitude of load of the network system during communication between the communication-permitted virtual machine and a new virtual machine, when one of the plurality of physical machines operates the new virtual machine on the basis of the network distance and the communication permission information. A determination unit determines which physical machine is to operate the new virtual machine, using the calculated network cost.
US09148354B2
An apparatus (100), a method (200) and a computer program (910) are provided for monitoring a connectivity service in a transport network (170). The apparatus (100) comprises an obtaining unit (120), adapted to request and obtain, for the connectivity service, a Service Definition and Measurement Points, MPs. The Service Definition comprises a set of measurable parameters. The obtaining unit (120) is further adapted to request and obtain a mapping of each of the measurable parameter(s) to Operation Administration and Monitoring function(s), OAM function(s), of the connectivity service. The obtaining unit (120) is further adapted to request and obtain a mapping of the measurable parameter(s) and OAM-function(s) to which tool(s) to use for measuring the measurable parameter(s) of the connectivity service. The apparatus (100) further comprises a measuring unit (130), adapted to perform measurement of the measurable parameter(s) between the Measurement Points using the tool(s).
US09148352B2
A method for debugging network activity involving receiving, by HCA, a packet stream comprising multiple packets, comparing a packet header of each of the packets to a trigger condition to determine whether the trigger condition has been met, after the trigger condition has been met, comparing each packet header of the packets to one or more trace filters stored in the HCA to identify matching packets, duplicating one or more portions of the matching packets and storing the duplicated portions of the matching packets in a trace buffer, where the trace buffer is located in the HCA and is dynamically repurposed from a payload RAM to the trace buffer when a corresponding port of the HCA for transmitting or receiving the packet stream is set to trace mode, and stopping the trace and copying the one or more portions of packets from the trace buffer to host memory.
US09148348B2
A method of generating a plurality of potential network topologies is provided herein. The method includes receiving parameters that specify a number of servers, a number of switches, and a number of ports in the switches. The parameters are for configuring a network topology. The method also includes generating one or more potential network topologies comprising the set of potential network topologies, for each of a number of dimensions. The number of dimensions is based on the number of switches. The method further includes determining that the set of potential network topologies is structurally feasible. Additionally, the method includes determining an optimal link aggregation (LAG) factor in each dimension of each of the set of potential network topologies.
US09148345B2
A system includes a plurality of modules, a backplane communicatively coupled to the plurality of modules, a plurality of links defined between the plurality of modules over the backplane, and a link management system configured to dynamically manage parameters associated with each of the plurality of links. A link management method includes, for a system, defining a codebook for each module, device, and interconnect in the system, the codebook includes data describing physical link topologies and configuration parameters associated therewith, for initializing a link in the system, obtaining appropriate codebooks for each segment in the link, calculating an overall link loss for the link based on data in the appropriate codebooks, and obtaining configuration parameters for the link based on the overall link loss.
US09148335B2
A device can connect to a network over a first interface to configure and obtain an IP address. To communicate with nodes in a second network, over a second interface, the IP address can be validated by a trusted third party. The validation can include conducting a return routability test to validate a Prefix of the IP address. Cryptographically Generated Address verification can be utilized to verify the validity of an Interface Identifier included in the IP address. If the IP address is validated, the trusted third party can include the address in a verification ticket, which can also include a signature of the trusted third party. The device can provide the verification ticket to nodes in the second network as authentication of the device.
US09148332B2
A request to store a data object is received at a hosted storage service. The request includes the data object and an associated object reference. The object reference configured to enable retrieval of the data object from the hosted storage service. The data object is stored at the hosted storage service in association with the object reference. The data object is sent from the hosted storage service to a content delivery network node such that the data object is cached in and retrievable from the content delivery network node using the object reference.
US09148327B1
A fragmentation channelizer has a transmitter channelizing filter bank that fragments a continuous spectral span of a signal input into discrete spectral channels. The discrete spectral channels coincide with available bandwidth segments of a communications channel. A receiver has a receiver filter bank that inputs the discrete spectral channels after transmission over the communications channel and de-fragments the discrete spectral channels into a reconstructed continuous spectral span of the signal input so as to generate a signal output corresponding to the signal input.
US09148324B2
The present disclosure is a novel utility of a software defined radio (SDR) based Distributed Antenna System (DAS) that is field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation-independent), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a DAS utilizing one or more Daisy-Chained Rings of Remote Units. The present invention enables a high degree of flexibility to manage, control, enhance, facilitate the usage and performance of a distributed wireless network such as Flexible Simulcast, automatic traffic load-balancing, network and radio resource optimization, network calibration, autonomous/assisted commissioning, carrier pooling, automatic frequency selection, frequency carrier placement, traffic monitoring, traffic tagging, pilot beacon, etc. As a result, a DAS in accordance with the present invention can increase the efficiency and traffic capacity of the operators' wireless network.
US09148317B1
Briefly, some embodiments of the invention may provide devices, systems and methods of in-phase and quadrature mismatch analysis and correction. For example, a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may include re-encoding an estimated symbol of an input signal having an in-phase component and a quadrature component, based on an analysis of a mismatch between said in-phase component and said quadrature component.
US09148313B2
A transmitter for providing channel equalization that includes a first driver and second driver having a high pass filter. The first driver generates a first output signal representing a digital input signal. The second driver generates a second output signal representing a high pass filtered version of the digital input signal. The first and second output signals are summed to provide a third output signal that is channel equalized for transmission over a channel.
US09148301B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive the execution status of a user application, and to transmit the state of a dynamic user status indication, based on the execution status, to a user status reporting application. The state may be changed according to a system administration policy configuration. In some embodiments, activities include changing the state of a dynamic user status indication (included as part of a user status reporting application) based on the execution status of a user application. Changing the status may be conducted according to a user-specified configuration policy or a system administration policy configuration. Further activity may include transmitting the state to at least one additional application to enable display of the state across a network. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09148299B2
In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.
US09148298B2
An apparatus comprising a chip comprising a plurality of nodes, a first plurality of links connecting the plurality of nodes in a first ring network having a first topology, and a second plurality of links connecting the plurality of nodes in a second ring network having a second topology, wherein the first topology is different than the second topology.
US09148291B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for utilizing network coding for multi-resolution multicast is presented. A network source partitions source content into a base layer and one or more refinement layers. The network source receives a respective one or more push-back messages from one or more network destination receivers, the push-back messages identifying the one or more refinement layers suited for each one of the one or more network destination receivers. The network source computes a network code involving the base layer and the one or more refinement layers for at least one of the one or more network destination receivers, and transmits the network code to the one or more network destination receivers in accordance with the push-back messages.
US09148284B2
A computer-implemented authentication method allows a user having a personal electronic device (PED) to login to a recipient system. The user establishes an account on an authentication server, provides personal information to the PED, and uniquely identifies the user's PED. The authentication method establishes a unique token ID for the user. Upon interacting with the recipient system, the user is prompted for his token ID. The recipient system communicates with the authentication server to request the user's information. The authentication server sends an authentication request to the user's PED, which prompts the user for a decision to proceed or not. The user, if deciding to proceed with authentication, selects a subset of the user's personal information that is then sent to the recipient system by the PED, the recipient system authenticating the user thereby.
US09148279B2
An arrangement is described which reduces the number of phase locked loops (PLLs) required in a typical high speed serial interface system. A reference clock is sent from a transmitter on a main board to a receiver on a system board, which employs a PLL that also drives a transmitter on the system board. The transmitter on the system board transmits a data signal to a receiver on the main board which does not require a PLL. Rather, the receiver on the main board is clocked with a static-phase, master reference clock, and the phase of the reference clock sent from the main board is controlled so as to achieve synchronism of the data signal received by the main board receiver using the static-phase, master reference clock. In this way, each high speed serial interface loop between the main board and the individual system boards is controllably adjusted in phase, compensating for interconnection path lengths and providing synchronism between the received signal and the common, static-phase, master reference clock which supplies all the main controller board receivers.
US09148278B1
Systems and techniques for oscillator control are described. A fixed or controlled oscillator feeds a plurality of evenly spaced tap points multiplexed to an output by a multiplexer. A phase change control circuit changes the multiplexer to a new tap point one phase tap at a time, with the change being made when an oscillator clock edge will not be repeated to an output. The phase change control circuit determines when to change the multiplexer setting based on the overflow of an accumulator, which is continuously summing an increment value. The sign of the accumulator increment value determines the direction of the multiplexor updates. The resulting output signal from the multiplexor is a new output frequency related to the oscillator frequency and the accumulator increment value. With a plurality of multiplexer controlled outputs and corresponding phase change control circuits, a plurality of output frequencies can be created from one oscillator.
US09148273B2
A method according to an embodiment of the invention includes receiving and transmitting signals over a time division duplex (TDD) communication path. Signals are received over the TDD communication path via a first portion of a first frequency band. The first frequency band is adjacent to a second frequency band and to a third frequency band. The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band and from the third frequency band. A first frequency division duplex (FDD) communication path can be operable in the second frequency band. A second FDD communication path can be operable in the third frequency band. Signals are transmitted over the TDD communication path via a second portion of the first frequency band that is different from the first portion of the first frequency band.
