US09158757B2
A system, method and computer-readable medium that previews words and commands recognized by a continuous stroke recognizer based on input into a virtual keyboard layout is presented. The system and method allows a user to see the word that will be recognized or output before the user commits the continuous stroke input to the system. Further, after recognition and output, the system presents the recognized output word and the closest word candidates in a correction display integrated with the virtual keyboard layout. Among other things, the user is provided with options to change the current output word by selecting another word candidate on the correction display, and to delete the current output word by selecting the representation of the current output word on the correction display.
US09158752B2
A data processing method includes obtaining text information corresponding to a presented content, the presented content comprising a plurality of areas; performing text analysis on the text information to obtain a first keyword sequence, the first keyword sequence including area keywords associated with at least one area of the plurality of areas; obtaining speech information related to the presented content, the speech information at least comprising a current speech segment; and using a first model network to perform analysis on the current speech segment to determine the area corresponding to the current speech segment, wherein the first model network comprises the first keyword sequence.
US09158745B2
An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in parallel with an existing Web site infrastructure is provided. The system streamlines the post-production process by automating the production of media through content generation procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed by an author within URLs embedded within Web documents.
US09158740B2
Systems and methods for speed estimation based on stride data using predictive modeling relate to portable wireless devices (202) that contain GPS or other location resources to generate position and speed data. The device (202) also incorporates an accelerometer (212) or other motion sensor. When GPS signals are interrupted, an estimation module (216) and associated logic generates a speed estimate based solely on stride frequency data from the accelerometer (212). Unlike conventional estimators, the estimation module (216) operates on a non-deterministic basis, generating an estimated speed using a joint probability distribution derived from previous speed and stride data captured while positioning signals are available. The estimation module (216) can continue to operate when GPS signals are available, and either filter the GPS speed measures for spurious signals, or further train the estimation module (216) with new position data. The estimation module (216) can also incorporate altitude measurements when estimating speed.
US09158729B1
Described are techniques for processing a request. The request is sent from a command layer to a protocol abstraction layer. The request is to perform an operation on a first object of a first object type and the request includes one or more parameters. The protocol abstraction layer selects a first of a plurality of protocols and a first of a plurality of runtime paths for processing the request. The first protocol is selected in accordance with criteria including any one or more of the first object type, the operation being requested, and the one or more parameters. The request is processed in accordance with the first protocol and the first runtime path.
US09158725B2
A store gathering policy is enabled or disabled at a data processing device. A store gathering policy to be implemented by a store buffer can be selected from a plurality of store gathering polices. For example, the plurality of store gathering policies can be constrained or unconstrained. A store gathering policy can be enabled by a user programmable storage location. A specific store gathering policy can be specified by a user programmable storage location. A store gathering policy can be determined based upon an attribute of a store request, such as based upon a destination address.
US09158723B2
A protocol adapter for in-vehicle networks that provides diagnostics, analysis and monitoring. The protocol adapter has a pass-through feature (voltage translator)/smart mode that allows the protocol adapter to emulate older boxes. Visual indicators (LEDs) indicate the pass through feature is in operation. LEDs also indicate activity on the RS232 bus between the adapter and a PC. Single color and multiple color emitting LEDs indicate a program is being executed and identify the program that is being executed. The protocol adapter supports RP1202 and RP1210, J1708 and J1939 and J1939 Transport Layer. The protocol adapter has a Real Time Clock, Standard COMM port connection, 7-32 Volt Supply and is CE compliant. The adapter can be used wirelessly.
US09158705B2
A processing device implementing stride-based translation lookaside buffer (TLB) prefetching with adaptive offset is disclosed. A processing device of the disclosure includes a data prefetcher to generate a data prefetch address based on a linear address, a stride, or a prefetch distance, the data prefetch address associated with a data prefetch request, and a TLB prefetch address computation component to generate a TLB prefetch address based on the linear address, the stride, the prefetch distance, or an adaptive offset. The processing device also includes a cross page detection component to determine that the data prefetch address or the TLB prefetch address cross a page boundary associated with the linear address, and cause a TLB prefetch request to be written to a TLB request queue, the TLB prefetch request for translation of an address of a linear page number (LPN) based on the data prefetch address or the TLB prefetch address.
US09158692B2
A method for directing cache injection based on actual system load may include providing a snooping-based fabric having two or more bus-coupled units. At least one of the bus-coupled units may be configured as an injection unit for directing cache injection. A snoop request may be transmitted from the injection unit to one or more destination units of the other bus-coupled unit. The snoop request may include an identification value having a function identifier. The function identifier may identify a destination function for the cache injection, where the destination function is configured to run on the destination unit. A snoop response may be transmitted from the destination unit to the injection unit in response to the snoop request. The snoop response may include a function response value indicating whether the function identifier matches a function indication of a snoop register for the destination unit.
US09158691B2
Systems and methods for maintaining an order of transactions in the coherence point. The coherence point stores attributes associated with received transactions in an input request queue (IRQ). When a new transaction is received by the coherence point, the IRQ is searched for other entries with the same request address or the same victim address as the new transaction. If one or more matches are found, the new transaction entry points to the entry storing the most recently received transaction with the same address. The new transaction is stalled until the transaction it points to has been completed in the coherence point.
US09158686B2
Memory system operations are extended for a data processor by an application programming interface API, including a set of operations and parameters for the operations, which provides for data compression and decompression during or in conjunction with processes for moving data between memory elements of the memory system. The set of operations can be configured to use the parameters and perform the operations of the API. The API can support moves between memory having a first access latency, such as memory integrated on the same chip as a processor core, and memory having a second access latency that is longer than the first access latency, such as memory on a different integrated circuit than the processor core.
US09158684B2
A memory module that is couplable to a memory controller hub (MCH) of a host system includes a non-volatile memory subsystem, a data manager coupled to the non-volatile memory subsystem, a volatile memory subsystem coupled to the data manager and operable to exchange data with the non-volatile memory subsystem by way of the data manager, and a controller operable to receive read/write commands from the MCH and to direct transfer of data between any two or more of the MCH, the volatile memory subsystem, and the non-volatile memory subsystem based on the commands.
US09158681B1
Systems, methods, and/or devices are used to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device in a storage system. In one aspect, the method includes, detecting an amelioration trigger, and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, including: obtaining a target capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device and a current utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, wherein the target capacity is lower than a current capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device and the current utilization corresponds to allocated logical addresses in a logical address space; in accordance with a determination that the target capacity is not greater than the current utilization, trimming at least a portion of the allocated logical addresses; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.
US09158680B2
Technologies and implementations for improving life of a solid state storage device are generally disclosed.
US09158678B2
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including first blocks configured to store an address indicating a data storage position, and second blocks configured to store the data, a first table configured to store a first address including first information and second information, the second information indicating a data storage position in the first block, and a second table configured to convert the first information into third information, the first information having a first data size by which one entry of the second table can be identified, the third information having a second data size which is larger than the first data size and by which one of the first blocks and the second blocks can be identified.
US09158677B2
A storage controller is provided that contains multiple processors. In some embodiments, the storage controller is coupled to a flash memory module having multiple flash memory groups, each flash memory group corresponding to a distinct flash port in the storage controller, each flash port comprising an associated processor. Each processor handles a portion of one or more host commands, including reads and writes, allowing multiple parallel pipelines to handle one or more host commands simultaneously.
US09158668B2
Automated techniques ensure that system central processing unit (“CPU”) power is not a bottleneck when migrating logical partitions from one system to another system or systems (e.g., in the event of a system evacuation). CPU resources needed to fully drive available bandwidth during the migration are computed. CPU resources of the system are then adjusted for the migration, which may comprise scaling down the CPU resources that are guaranteed for the executing partitions and/or adjusting relative partition variable weights to limit the amount of excess capacity that can be allocated to a partition.
US09158667B2
The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to performing logical operations using sensing circuitry. An example apparatus comprises an array of memory cells and sensing circuitry coupled to the array. The sensing circuitry is configured to perform a logical operation using a data value stored in a first memory cell coupled to a sense line as a first input and a data value stored in a second memory cell coupled to the sense line as a second input. The sensing circuitry is configured to perform the logical operation without transferring data via a sense line address access.
US09158654B1
A code verification tool verifies that code generated from a model represents all of the functionality of the model and does not contain any unintended functionality. The code verification tool may receive for examination a model or an intermediate representation (IR) of the model and the generated code or an intermediate representation of the generated code. The code verification tool may create further intermediate representations of the model and/or the generated code in order to compare the functionality presented in both.
US09158651B2
The present disclosure includes methods and systems for monitoring thread starvation. A number of embodiments include determining an amount of time a thread is not runnable, determining an amount of CPU consumption time for the thread, and determining an amount of thread starvation time based on the amount of time the thread is not runnable and the amount of CPU consumption time for the thread.
US09158646B2
Provided is an abnormal information output system for a computer system, wherein the computer system includes at least a plurality of hardware devices and a plurality of sensors for detecting operation statuses of each hardware device. The abnormal information output system includes at least a latch module connected to each of the sensors and the hardware devices, wherein the latch module is configured to latch operation status information of the hardware devices when abnormal operation of the computer system is detected; and a basic input-output system (BIOS) module embedded in the computer system and the BIOS module is connected to the latch module and configured to analyze the latched operation status information when the computer system returns to a normal operation so as to output corresponding abnormal information. Accordingly, the computer system is capable of recording a chip failure and information regarding reasons for system failure.
US09158636B2
A serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device includes a circuit board. A storage chip is arranged on the circuit board and stores a first firmware. A memory is arranged on the circuit board and stores a second firmware. A control chip is arranged on the circuit board and connected to the memory, to read the second firmware from the memory and load the second firmware in the storage chip when the first firmware stored in the storage chip is damaged. The control chip is also connected to the storage chip, to control the storage chip to read or to write data.
US09158633B2
An incremental backup system that performs the following (not necessarily in the following order): (i) making a plurality of time-ordered journal entries; (ii) determining that a corruption condition exists; (iii) responsive to a corruption condition, constructing a first incremental mirror data set that reflects a backup data set and all journal entries up to a first corrupted journal entry which is the earliest in time journal entry, of the plurality of journal entries, that is a corrupted journal entry; (iv) responsive to a corruption condition, constructing a second incremental mirror data set that reflects the backup data set and all journal entries up to the first corrupted journal entry; and (v) checking for corruption in the first and second incremental mirror data sets to determine the latest uncorrupted version of the data set.
US09158632B1
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for protecting data. This includes using a directory to identify keys in a key value database, walking through each identified key to identify values, identifying a file based on the walk through, and restoring the identified file to a storage device.
US09158628B2
Certain aspects direct to systems and methods of BIOS failover update with a service processor (SP) having direct serial peripheral interface (SPI) access to a basic input/output system (BIOS) chip of a host computer. In certain embodiments, the SP receives a failover backup image from a BIOS being executed at a CPU of the host computer through a system interface, and stores the failover backup image in the volatile memory. Then the SP monitors operation of the BIOS by receiving, from the BIOS, a notification signal. When the SP detects an error in the operation of the BIOS based on the notification signal, the SP sends a copy of the failover backup image to the BIOS chip of the host computer through the SPI to replace a current BIOS image stored in the BIOS chip of the host computer with the copy of the failover backup image.
US09158626B1
A method and system for storage checkpointing of an independent computer application. The independent computer application is launched by a coordinator; and the coordinator installs at least one of an exec interceptor and a fork interceptor. The coordinator also installs at least one file operations interceptor for all file operations and registers the independent computer application with the coordinator. The independent computer application is run and the at least one file operations interceptor is called upon encountering a file operation. The file operations interceptor logs a file event in a file operations database and passes the operation to at least one of a file system, an operating system, at least one or more device drivers, and a storage disk via a storage interface. The file operations interceptor also verifies that the file operation has been issued.
US09158615B2
A disclosed method includes: upon detecting an abnormal condition occurred in a system in which a certain command was executed, extracting one or plural commands executed within a predetermined time before the abnormal condition occurred, from among commands affecting a state of the system and executed in the system; upon detecting that a first command is inputted by a user, determining whether or not a command that matches the first command has been extracted; and upon determining that the command that matches the first command has been extracted, outputting display data representing there is a possibility that an abnormal condition occurs.
US09158612B2
In one or more of the disclosed embodiments, memory cells in a memory device are refreshed upon an indication of a fatigue condition. In one such embodiment, controller monitors behavior parameters of the cells and determines if any of the parameters are outside of a normal range set for each one, thus indicating a fatigue condition. If any cell indicates a fatigue condition, the data from the block of cells indicating the fatigue is moved to another block. In one embodiment, an error detection and correction process is performed on the data prior to being written into another memory block.
US09158604B1
Methods and devices for detecting performance-degrading behaviors include identifying a data source component that inputs data into an application executing on a mobile device, and identifying a data sink component that consumes data output from the application. Using a measured runtime control-flow parameter, a likelihood that the data source component is a critical data resource may be determined. Using the probability value, a behavior model that identifies a mobile device feature associated with the critical data resource may be updated and used to determine whether the software application is malicious. Measured runtime control-flow parameters may include a program execution distance between data source and sink components based on heuristics. Determining program execution distances between data sources and sinks may include computing call graph distances by comparing a source call stack length and a sink call stack length, or by counting method invocations or functional calls between data sources and sinks.
US09158599B2
An application comprises program code that includes API tags, which during execution of the application may be resolved to reference-able data objects. The data objects may be objects in a knowledge base. The API tags decouple the program code from the specific data contained in the knowledge base, allowing for applications that access the knowledge base to be written independently of the knowledge base; even before the knowledge base is loaded with data.
US09158598B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus, including a multi-platform capable of managing a plurality of applications, and an operating system which operates on the multi-platform, and is capable of being activated by a command of the multi-platform.
US09158597B2
Access to a shared resource by a plurality of execution units is organized and controlled by issuing tickets to each execution unit as they request access to the resource. The tickets are issued by a hardware atomic unit so that each execution unit receives a unique ticket number. A current owner field indicates the ticket number of the execution unit that currently has access to the shared resource. When an execution unit has completed its access, it releases the shared resource and increments the owner field. Execution units awaiting access to the shared resource periodically check the current value of the owner field and take control of the shared resource when their respective ticket values match the owner field.
US09158596B2
A partitioned ticket lock may control access to a shared resource, and may include a single ticket value field and multiple grant value fields. Each grant value may be the sole occupant of a respective cache line, an event count or sequencer instance, or a sub-lock. The number of grant values may be configurable and/or adaptable during runtime. To acquire the lock, a thread may obtain a value from the ticket value field using a fetch-and-increment type operation, and generate an identifier of a particular grant value field by applying a mathematical or logical function to the obtained ticket value. The thread may be granted the lock when the value of that grant value field matches the obtained ticket value. Releasing the lock may include computing a new ticket value, generating an identifier of another grant value field, and storing the new ticket value in the other grant value field.
US09158595B2
One embodiment sets forth a technique for scheduling the execution of ordered critical code sections by multiple threads. A multithreaded processor includes an instruction scheduling unit that is configured to schedule threads to process ordered critical code sections. A ordered critical code section is preceded by a barrier instruction and when all of the threads have reached the barrier instruction, the instruction scheduling unit controls the thread execution order by selecting each thread for execution based on logical identifiers associated with the threads. The logical identifiers are mapped to physical identifiers that are referenced by the multithreaded processor during execution of the threads. The logical identifiers are used by the instruction scheduling unit to control the order in which the threads execute the ordered critical code section.
US09158590B2
The present invention provides an approach for dynamically acquiring computing resources in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) based on infrastructure/computing resource needs. In a typical embodiment, a set of computing resources (needed to process a set of workloads) external to a first portion of a networked computing environment is identified. Once identified, electronic negotiations with at least one provider of the set of computing resources may be held for utilizing the provider's set of computing resources to process the set of workloads. In general, the negotiations are based on at least one resource registration (setting forth terms for utilizing the set of computing resources such as usage rates, usage limitations, etc.) associated with the at least one provider stored in at least one computer data structure. Responsive to successful completion of the negotiations, the set of computing resources will be associated with the first portion.
US09158589B2
An apparatus comprising a processor configured to migrate load from a source process running on the processor to a target process running on a peer processor in a dynamic manner by monitoring an amount of resources used by the source process, wherein the load is migrated when the amount of resources utilized by the source process exceeds a threshold. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a first processor configured to select a source process to migrate a load from the first processor based on available resources on the first processor and the source process; and a second processor configured upon receiving a migration request from the first processor to one of select and start a target process to which to migrate the load based on available resources for the second processor and the target process.
US09158588B2
Embodiments of thread binding are provided. An aspect includes generating a thread layout for an application. Another aspect includes determining a task count for the application; determining a task rank for each task of the task count; determining a thread count for each task associated with the application, wherein a thread count for a first task associated with the application is unequal to a thread count of a second task associated with the application; and indicating one or more preferred processors of a plurality of processors for each task associated with the application. Another aspect includes allocating system for each of the tasks of the application based on the thread layout. Another aspect includes affinitizing the tasks by generating child threads for each of the tasks, wherein a number of threads generated for each task corresponds to the thread count for the task in the thread layout.
US09158585B2
A computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium; and a description of a first block comprising: a definition of one or more output port groups each comprising one or more output ports; a definition of two or more input ports, the input ports receive object streams of identical length; one or more instructions for processing input data received in the input ports and for outputting processed data in the output port groups, wherein the instructions are operative to output a same number of output objects to each output port in a same output port group, whereby the output ports of the output port group are operative to output objects stream of identical length, and wherein the instructions are operative to receive a same number of input objects from each input port, whereby the input ports are operative to receive object streams of identical length; and an indication of whether there is a constant ratio between a number of items in input streams received by the first block and a number of items in output streams outputted by the first block; and wherein said description of a first block is stored on said non-transitory computer readable medium.
US09158583B1
Systems and method for the management of resource dependent workflows are provided. One or more resource control devices monitor usage of a computing resource by server computing devices. Each resource control device may direct a server computing device to proceed with a workflow or to pause processing a workflow. A resource control device may further direct a server computing device to take resource conserving actions. When a computing resource is determined to be available, a resource control device may direct a paused server computing device to resume a workflow.
US09158573B2
A transactional memory system predicts the outcome of coalescing outermost memory transactions, the coalescing causing committing of memory store data to memory for a first transaction to be done at transaction execution (TX) end of a second transaction, the method comprising. A processor of the transactional memory system determines whether a first plurality of outermost transactions from an associated program that were coalesced experienced an abort, the first plurality of outermost transactions including a first instance of a first transaction. The processor updates a history of the associated program to reflect the results of the determination. The processor coalesces a second plurality of outermost transactions from the associated program, based, at least in part, on the updated history.
US09158569B2
A method includes loading a driver component on a hypervisor of a computing system including a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) without hardware support for virtual interrupt delivery, and loading an instance of the driver component on each of a number of VMs consolidated on a computing platform of the computing system. The method also includes allocating a memory page associated with work completion by the each of the number of VMs thereto through a driver stack executing on the hypervisor, and sharing the memory page with the driver component executing on the hypervisor. Further, the method includes delivering, through the hypervisor, an interrupt from the GPU to an appropriate VM based on inspecting the memory page associated with the work completion by the each of the number of VMs.
US09158568B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to input/output (I/O) operations at a virtual block device of a storage server. Example embodiments include requesting an input/output (I/O) operation at an offset of a virtual block device of a storage server in response to a virtual machine request for an I/O operation at a virtual disk.
US09158566B2
Dynamic creation of a spatially aware emulation environment comprising Host cells of Host pages corresponding to Guest cells of Guest pages of Guest instructions. Each Host cell comprises a semantic routine for emulating a corresponding Guest instruction located at the corresponding Guest cell of the guest page.
US09158557B2
A system and method of deriving web service interfaces from form and table metadata is disclosed. The method uses a discovery subsystem to discover services that are available on an application server, retrieves the metadata descriptions of the services on the application server and uses the services discovered and the metadata descriptions to create web services interfaces such that the service is available using web services description language.
US09158552B2
Aspects of the present invention provide a method of specifying a device driver design for a board device. The method includes receiving a board device with various functional elements and on-board storage to be operatively coupled to a computing device through an interconnect. The device driver design is specified through the identification of one or more device driver parameters. The device driver parameters are to be used subsequently to customize an adaptive device driver that interfaces with the board device and each of the one or more functional elements. Device driver parameters are stored in a predetermined storage construct allocated from the board device. These device driver parameters remain stored in the storage construct until there is a need for the board device and corresponding device driver. Customizing the adaptive device driver is done after the device driver parameters have been stored and typically when a computer device starts or ‘boots”. Initially, aspects of the present invention may receive an indication that a board device and one or more functional elements associated with the board device have been attached to an interconnect and requires a device driver. Next, aspect of the present invention retrieve device driver parameters from the storage constructs and customizes the adaptable device driver into a device driver for the board device in accordance with the device driver parameters.
US09158550B2
An image of system software is installed by loading an executable image of the system software using a boot loader, where the executable image includes a kernel and a plurality of files used by the kernel. The kernel of the system software is executed to generate the image of the system software that includes a copy of the kernel. Generating the image of the system software involves the steps of generating a plurality of pointers that each point to a different one of the files, retrieving the files using the pointers, and storing a copy of the kernel and the files in a storage device from which the system software is to be booted as the image of the system software.
US09158549B2
A method for binding a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device and a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) is disclosed. The method includes: during a process of establishment of a shared key, a Network Application Function (NAF) acquires identity information of the MTC device and identity information of the UICC (101); the NAF establishes a binding relationship between the MTC device and the UICC based on the identity information of the MTC device and the identity information of the UICC, and stores the binding relationship into a binding relationship table stored by the NAF (102). An apparatus and system for binding an MTC device and a UICC and a method and system for establishing a shared key between an MTC device and a UICC are further disclosed, such that the binding relationship between the MTC device and the UICC will not be limited by the life cycle of the shared key when the binding between the MTC device and the UICC is implemented in the manner of Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA) with UICC-based enhancements (GBA-U), thus ensuring the security in use of the MTC device and the UICC.
US09158546B1
A computer program product, apparatus and associated method/processing unit are provided for utilizing a physical memory system including a first physical memory of a first physical memory class, and a second physical memory of a second physical memory class communicatively coupled to the first physical memory. In operation, one or more pages are fetched from the first physical memory using a time between an execution of a plurality of threads associated with the second physical memory.
US09158543B2
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.
US09158539B2
A microprocessor, a method for enhanced precision sum-of-products calculation and a video decoding device are provided, in which at least one general-purpose-register is arranged to provide a number of destination bits to a multiply unit, and a control unit is adapted to provide at least a multiply-high instruction and a multiply-high-and-accumulate instruction to the multiply unit. The multiply unit is arranged to receive at least first and second source operands having an associated number of source bits, a sum of source bits exceeding the number of destination bits, connected to a register-extension cache comprising at least one cache entry arranged to store a number of precision-enhancement bits, and adapted to store a destination portion of a result operand in the general-purpose-register and a precision enhancement portion in the cache entry. The result operand is generated by a multiply-high operation or by a multiply-high-and-accumulate operation, depending on the received instructions.
US09158538B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to parsing for source code porting and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for a user-extensible rule-based source code modification tool. According to an aspect of the present invention, an automated parsing tool for parsing and modifying source code is provided which supports the addition of user-defined rules, and which parses and either modifies source code or suggests modifications to source code based upon the user-defined rules. Users can also associate a user-defined or predefined modification with each rule so that upon detection of a condition satisfying the rule, the user can be presented with the modification as an option. Compound rules built by using one or more rules as preconditions to a rule are also supported.
US09158534B2
A network-based application development and distribution platform allows application developers to build, modify, and configure dynamic content applications (especially mobile applications) remotely, and without requiring manual software coding. Smart endpoints facilitate creation of distributable applications for multiple operating systems, form factors, access methods, and/or device types, while creating only a single product and associating the product with the desired endpoints corresponding to the operating systems, form factors, access methods, and/or device types. The platform also facilitates software updates, as updates can be made to the product once, rather than once for each version of the application.
US09158530B2
Assigning severity to a software update, including: receiving, by an update manager, version information for a software application from a computing system, the version information describing a version of the software application installed on the computing system; determining, by the update manager, a severity level of one or more available updates for the software application in dependence upon the version information and update version information; and providing, by the update manager to the computing system, the severity level for each of the one or more available updates.
US09158526B1
A system and method that enables an application to retrieve application update from the software vendor using one or more network connection. The application checks for updates when it is invoked by the user. The checking of updates is done by sending a request to the vendor server via one or multiple network connections. The network connection can be wired or wireless. By using multiple network connections, the update process can send and receive update data faster than using one network connections. Another aspect of the invention is if the checking for update request failed via the default or 1st network connection, the application will check for the next available network connection to send the update request. By checking for update from the vendor, the application will always have the most up to date patches, fixes, and/or new features.
US09158525B1
A system for image upgrade, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an upgrade director and a target device comprising a manager module. The upgrade director sends a first command to the manager module initiating an upgrade event. The manager module receives the first command. The manager module calculates a delay parameter. The manager module downloads an upgrade image after the delay parameter has ended. The upgrade director sends a second command to the manager module indicating that the upgrade event is to conclude. The manager module receives the second command from the upgrade director. The manager module reboots using the upgrade image responsive to the second command.
US09158513B2
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include replacing, in one or more initial source code files, each reference to a first function configured to convey system messages with a respective reference to a second function configured to convey the system messages, thereby producing respective corresponding preprocessed source code files for the one or more initial source code files. The respective corresponding preprocessed source code files are then compiled, thereby creating an executable file. While executing the executable file, a call to the second function is received, wherein the call includes a text string. A name of one of the respective corresponding preprocessed source code files storing the call to the second function is identified, and based on the identified name and the text string, a computed destination is determined for the text string. Finally, the text string is conveyed to the computed destination.
US09158496B2
A secure audio peripheral device, coupled to a computer, capable of enabling a user to use audio devices such as a microphone, speakers or headset when the device is in operational state, while giving to the user a clear visual indication that the audio devices are enabled. The device simultaneously disables the microphone; and turns off the visual indication when the device is in secure state. The operational state is activated by the user by pressing a momentary push-button switch. A timer resets the device to a secure state after a short preset time. The device has anti-tempering functionality and becomes permanently disabled if tempered with. Optionally the device is coupled to the computer via a USB port that powers a USB CODEC chip and a LED used as the visual indicator.
US09158493B2
Various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, and software to preview files packaged, or otherwise embedded, within page description language documents. Such previews may be viewed without opening a larger application typically used to view such files. Some embodiments include presenting, in a page description language document reader application, a representation of a file packaged within a page description language document and receiving a selection of the packaged file to preview the file within the page description language document reader application. Some embodiments further include selecting a utility to open the packaged file as a function of a file type of the packaged file and calling the selected utility to open the packaged file with a reference to a location where packaged file is located.
US09158492B2
There is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an image processing program causing a controller to execute: obtaining a plurality of image data; allowing the display section to display at least one print preview image; judging whether two points move away from each other or approach toward each other; and changing the value of N, in a case that it is judged that the two points move away from each other or approach toward each other. In a case that the at least one print preview image has been displayed on the display section and that the value of N is changed, the display section is allowed to display a print preview image in the particular area depending on the value of N changed by the controller.
US09158483B2
A relaying device may send, to the image processing device, first screen information for causing a first screen to be displayed on a display unit of an image processing device. The first screen may be configured to receive selection as to whether to execute a second print process or a first print process at the image processing device. The second print process may be process using print information received by the image processing device and performed prior to the second print process. The relaying device may send first print information used for the first print process to the image processing device in a case that first process-identification information is received from the image processing device. The relaying device may send second print information used for the second print process to the image processing device in a case that second process-identification information is received from the image processing device.
US09158474B2
Tape device paths, library slots and drive information are automatically collected by agents at nodes in a library cluster. The information is reported to a central server database. The central server accesses the information and maps tape devices to path information so an administrator may easily have access to configuration information for the tape device cluster. When a tape device cluster is updated, for example through changes to a device, an added device, device failure or some other reason, the change is detected and the cluster configuration is automatically updated.
US09158471B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for replicating tracks from a first storage to a second and third storages. A determination is made of a track in the first storage to transfer to the second storage as part of a point-in-time copy relationship and of a stride of tracks including the target track. The stride of tracks including the target track is staged from the first storage to a cache according to the point-in-time copy relationship. The staged stride is destaged from the cache to the second storage. The stride in the cache is transferred to the third storage as part of a mirror copy relationship. The stride of tracks in the cache is demoted in response to destaging the stride of the tracks in the cache to the second storage and transferring the stride of tracks in the cache to the third storage.
US09158470B2
A partition manager relocates a logical partition from a primary shared processor pool to a secondary shared processor pool in response to a predetermined condition, such as a hardware failure. The relocated logical partition is allocated a smaller quantity of processing units from the secondary pool than it was allocated from the primary pool. A quantity of processing units reserved for a second logical partition is identified in the secondary shared processor pool, and a portion of those reserved processing units are allocated to the relocated logical partition. The reserved processing units may be redistributed among multiple relocated logical partitions.
US09158469B2
A Flash based memory comprising a Flash translation layer which comprises first translation information associating a first logical address of a logical file system emulating a sectored storage medium, the logical address being a logical sector start address with a first physical address of said flash based memory. The logical file system comprises a number of logical stuffing bits expanding a logical size of data of a file stored in said Flash based memory such that the expanded logical size corresponds to an integer number of logical sectors and the Flash translation layer comprises second translation information associating a second logical address with a second physical address and depending on said number of logical stuffing bits, the file being stored in a contiguous physical address sequence starting at the first physical address and ending at the second physical address.
US09158468B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for deduplicating data mapping a plurality of file blocks of selected data to a plurality of logical blocks, deduplicating the plurality of logical blocks to thereby associate each logical block with a corresponding physical block of a plurality of physical blocks located on a physical memory device, two or more of the corresponding physical blocks being non-contiguous with each other, determining whether one or more of the corresponding physical blocks are one or more frequently accessed physical blocks being accessed at a frequency above a threshold frequency and being referred to by a common set of applications, and relocating data stored at the one or more frequently accessed physical blocks to different ones of the plurality of physical blocks, the different ones of the plurality of physical blocks being physically contiguous.
US09158467B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for a data storage library comprising a first and second drive, a first and second mobile medium, a first and second partition wherein the first partition comprises the first drive and the first mobile medium and the second partition comprises the second drive and the second mobile medium, and a combination bridge controller device. The combination bridge controller device is configurable to control first communication traffic between at least a first client and the first partition wherein the first communication traffic can comprise a first data package. The combination bridge controller device is further configurable to optionally encrypt the first data package for storage on the first mobile medium when the first mobile medium is in cooperation with the first drive.
US09158465B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing authorization control in a cloud storage system. The method comprises: receiving an access request to a file block, wherein the file block is embedded with tag data comprising at least file block authorization information; retrieving the file block; extracting the file block authorization information from the tag data; determining whether the access request matches the file block authorization information; and performing the access request if the access request matches the file block authorization information. Effective authorization control may be performed in a cloud storage system.
US09158464B2
An embodiment for object integrity service in a storage system includes generating a list of objects stored in a storage system, wherein the list of objects may list an unchecked object, and wherein the unchecked object is an object that has not been checked within a set time period, walking through the list of objects to identify the unchecked object, adding a task to a queue to check the unchecked object, and clearing the task from the queue by checking the unchecked object.
US09158463B2
For segments having the number of IOs exceeding a threshold, a data collection unit connects adjacent segments whose distance is within “s” to each other and extracts the connected segments and segments in the range of “s” from outside of the connected segments as an n_segment. A workload analysis unit then determines a target whose data is moved from an HDD to an SSD in units of n_segments.
US09158449B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a transmission processing unit (106) that performs near-field one-to-one communication with a first communication counterpart device, a reception processing unit (108), a reception data processing section (116) that acquires content information retained by the first communication counterpart device, a display processing unit (118) that performs a display process for displaying the content information acquired by the reception data processing section (116), and a display unit (302) that displays the content information.
US09158446B2
A method and apparatus for interfacing includes outputting at least one object to a display embodying a three-dimensional space and determining a radius of rotation of the at least one object, based on a distance between the at least one object and a rotation axis in the three-dimensional space. The method and apparatus further include controlling the at least one object to rotate around the rotation axis based on the radius of rotation when a rotation command for the at least one object is received.
US09158439B2
A remote-control device which allows remotely controlling parameters of a light via a console. The console actually does the controlling, but the remote-control device enables control of the light parameters by sending the information to the console. For example, the remote can be used to control preset values or to control other aspects of the console. The console may store presets associated with focus, and those presets can be changed from the remote.
US09158431B2
A method of manipulating a three-dimensional object displays a first view of a three-dimensional object on a touchscreen. The touchscreen has three-dimensional views associated with at least one pre-specified visually undelineated portion of the touchscreen. The method receives a touch input on the touchscreen in a visually undelineated portion, and determines a second view of the three-dimensional object based on the view assigned to the visually undelineated portion that received the touch input. The method displays the second view of the three-dimensional object on the touchscreen.
US09158429B2
Disclosed is a rotary input device, including: a rotary operation device; a rotation detecting section; a rotation driving section; a display control section to scroll an image under display by rotation of the rotary operation device; a judging section to judge whether the detected rotation angle reaches a critical angle corresponding to an end part of a range of the displayed image or not; and a rotation controlling section to reversely rotate the rotary operation device to an initial position or a reference position when it is judged that the rotation angle reaches the critical angle and the rotary operation is released, wherein the display control section displays the image displayed on the display section at a display position corresponding to the initial position or the reference position when the rotary operation device is reversely rotated to the initial position or the reference position.
US09158428B2
Disclosed is an operation display device including: a touch panel unit to detect a touch position; a display unit; and a display control unit to execute a display according to a first display process on the display unit when a first operation is received on the touch panel unit, and to execute both of the display according to the first display process and a display according to a second display process when a second operation including an element of the first operation is received on the touch panel unit.
US09158425B2
A touch panel includes a substrate, a touch device layer, a sensing circuit structure, and a planarization layer. The substrate includes a sensing region and a peripheral region that surrounds the sensing region. The touch device layer is disposed on the sensing region of the substrate. The sensing circuit structure is disposed on the peripheral region of the substrate, and the sensing circuit structure includes a plurality of sensing lines. The sensing lines are electrically connected to the touch device layer. The planarization layer is located on the substrate. Here, the planarization layer includes a color-resist material that has a dielectric coefficient ranging from about 3 to about 5, and the planarization layer covers the sensing lines located in the peripheral region.
US09158422B2
A human machine interface includes a capacitive touch screen having a capacitive sensor. The capacitive touch screen displays text characters and/or graphical information. A control device is rotatably coupled to a structure such that the control device is superimposed over the screen. The control device includes at least one electrically conductive element. The control device rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the screen such that the at least one electrically conductive element follows the rotation of the control device. The capacitive sensor senses a rotational position of the at least one electrically conductive element.
US09158413B2
The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effect of interference on input devices, and in particular, to the effect of unison noise on proximity sensors that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of interface by using multiple images of sensor values, where the multiple images of sensor values are captured at different times along two different axes. The multiple images of sensor values are combined to produce a modified image of sensor values, the modified image having reduced errors due to noise. This reduction in errors due to noise can improve the accuracy and performance of the input device.
US09158410B2
A method, system or computer usable program product for authenticating a fingerprint by aggregating samples on a digital touch screen including capturing multiple data samples of a finger swipe across the touch screen, wherein the touch screen is used both for fingerprint recognition and manipulation of a user interface; utilizing a processor to aggregate the multiple data samples to form a combined sample fingerprint of the finger; and responsive to detecting the combined sample fingerprint matching a predetermined allowed fingerprint, providing a signal indicating the fingerprint is authentic.
US09158409B2
The embodiments of the invention disclose an object determining method, a portable device, an object displaying method, an object switching method and an electronic device. Said method is applied to a touch sensitive portable device. Identifications of multiple objects are displayed within a display area of said portable device. Each of the identifications of said multiple objects has a first status of being selected and a second status of being unselected. Said display area has a first area, the identification of a first object is displayed in the first area, and the first object is in the first status. Said method comprises: obtaining a switch instruction; moving the identification of the first object of the first area, switching the identification of the first object from the first status to the second status, moving the identification of the second object into the first area, and switching the identification of the second object from the second status to the first status according to the switch instruction. The embodiments of the invention can simplify the steps of the user's operation.
US09158399B2
A method for performing a predefined function on a touch-based mobile device includes displaying a lock-screen image on the touch screen of the mobile device during a locked-state, wherein the lock-screen image comprises a plurality of image pieces; detecting an object on or near the touch screen at a first predefined location corresponding to a predefined image piece of the plurality of image pieces; moving the predefined image piece on the touch screen according to movement of the object; and performing a predefined function on the mobile device when the predefined image piece moves from the first predefined location to a second predefined location on the touch screen.
US09158395B2
A method and system wherein a device remotely controls a user interface being executed in a remote device, using a remote user interface. The device discovers a server that supports a remote control interface. The device receives a list of remote devices that the device can control from the server. A selection input is received to select a remote device from the list of remote devices. A device selection request corresponding to the selection input is transmitted to the server. A remote control interface corresponding to the device selection request is received from the server. The selected remote device is controlled via the received remote control interface.
US09158390B2
A mechanical actuator apparatus for an electronic device having a touch sensing surface, includes a mechanical actuator having a base for accommodating a first magnetic member, an attachment member having a second magnetic member for engaging the first magnetic member, wherein the attachment member includes a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface. The mechanical actuator further includes a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface, and a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from the touch sensing surface. The mechanical actuator can be a joystick, knob, directional pad, slider, or the like input device.
US09158380B2
Systems and methods for recognizing 3-D human motions are described. In some embodiments, the present disclosure contemplates a variety of methods and systems for recognizing a 3-D motion on 2-D planes. The 3-D human motions may include, but is not limited to, kinematic based gestures, such as clapping, spell casting, security gestures, etc.
US09158375B2
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for interactive reality augmentation, including a 2-dimensional camera (36) and a 3-dimensional camera (38), associated depth projector and content projector (48), and a processor (40) linked to the 3-dimensional camera and the 2-dimensional camera. A depth map of the scene is produced using an output of the 3-dimensional camera, and coordinated with a 2-dimensional image captured by the 2-dimensional camera to identify a 3-dimensional object in the scene that meets predetermined criteria for projection of images thereon. The content projector projects a content image onto the 3-dimensional object responsively to instructions of the processor, which can be mediated by automatic recognition of user gestures.
US09158371B2
An apparatus including a body configured for resilient contortion from a neutral equilibrium shape by a user, the body having an exterior surface that resiliently contorts in response to user actuation and defines at least part of an exterior surface of the apparatus; and electronic circuitry including at least a processor and a display, controlled by the processor on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body.
US09158358B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for intelligent multimedia-based thermal power management implemented in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are disclosed. To reduce or increase power consumption in the PCD, embodiments adjust one or more visual multimedia parameters, the settings of which contribute to power consumption associated with an overall multimedia workload. The selection of visual multimedia parameters for setting adjustment is a function of the change in user experience versus the change in power consumption that will likely result from the setting adjustment. Exemplary visual multimedia parameters for which settings may be adjusted by certain embodiments include, but are not limited to, color depth, display brightness, GPU processing resolution, image dynamics algorithm selection, resolution scaling ratios and frames per second processing rates.
US09158348B2
A system to aid in cooling an in-line memory module may include a heat spreader including a channel to accommodate the in-line memory module, thermal interface material, and a liquid-cooler block including a heat-conducting cold plate and an internal liquid channel filled with circulating cooling liquid. Also disclosed are systems employing tubes to convey cooling fluid.
US09158347B2
A mounting apparatus for a hard disk drive (HDD) which does not require screw fixings includes a bracket defining a first locating hole and a carrier. The HDD includes a pin. The carrier includes a shell receiving the HDD, a resilient connecting member, an unlocking member installed on a side of the shell, and an operating assembly. The unlocking member includes a resilient abutting plate. The operation member includes a connecting rack with rotating latching member mounted to a front end of the shell. A front end of the connecting member is mounted to the shell, a rear end of the connecting member is detachably connected the bracket. The abutting plate abuts against the pin. A block of the latching member latches in the first locating hole, and a second end of the latching member is detachably latched to the connecting rack.
US09158345B1
Techniques for managing performance of a computing system include monitoring an operating power and an operating temperature of a rack-mounted computer in a data center; determining that the operating power is at or near a threshold operating power of the computer; and adjusting the operating frequency of the computer based on the adjusted operating temperature of the computer.
US09158341B2
A portable computer includes a base, a keyboard module, a pushing assembly, a display module, and a sliding assembly. The base includes a front end and a rear end. The keyboard module includes two keyboard portions; each keyboard portion is moveably combined with the base by at least one moving structure. The pushing assembly includes two pushing elements combined moveably with the base. The display module includes a connecting end and a support portion. The sliding assembly includes a slide corresponding element disposed in the base and a sliding element pivoted on the connecting end and moved along the slide corresponding element. When the connecting end moves towards the front end with the slide element, the pushing assembly pushes and moves the moving structures by the slide element, and the two keyboard portions are separated; then the connecting end is moved through the keyboard module with the slide element.
US09158340B2
An apparatus and method for sealing a joint between a display and a housing of a hand held computer terminal is provided. The apparatus comprises a display frame. The display frame comprises a display front, a display back, and display sides. The front of the display frame comprises a recessed portion and a non-recessed portion. The recessed portion is configured to accept insertion of the display. The non-recessed portion defines at least a portion of the perimeter of the recessed portion. Fastening holes can be positioned outside the perimeter of the recessed portion. The display frame is configured to tighten to the housing and to compress the display between the display frame and the housing. The method comprises providing a display frame, assembling a display assembly, inserting the display assembly into the housing, and compressing the display between the display frame and the housing.
US09158335B2
A notebook computer is disclosed in the present invention which comprises: a screen, which is a touch screen configured to be operable via touching; a host, which is integrated in the screen; and a keyboard, which is detachably connected with the screen so that the keyboard and the screen can be in a state of being connected to each other or in a state of being separated from each other in use. When the notebook computer is used, the keyboard and the screen can be in the state of being separated from each other in use, so that the screen and the keyboard of the notebook computer are used separately. And the keyboard and the screen can be separated when needed and the notebook computer can be use by touching operation on the screen.
US09158334B2
An apparatus comprising: a flexible body comprising an arrangement for limiting flexing of the body, the arrangement comprising: a first part within the body; a second part within the body; a flexible interconnect extending at least between the first part and the second part wherein the arrangement is configured to change between a first configuration, in which a portion of the interconnect between the first part and the second part is of a variable length enabling more and less flexing of the interconnect, and a second configuration, in which the portion of the interconnect between the first part and the second part has a limited length that limits one or both of more flexing and less flexing.
US09158333B1
Constituent electronic devices such as eBook reader devices may be combined to form a composite device. Resources such as power, data, processing capabilities, network interfaces, displays, and so forth may be shared between the constituent devices. Resources may also be allocated and transferred to increase operational time of depleted individual electronic devices. Content may be presented across the constituent devices of the composite device. A relative spatial arrangement of the composite devices may be determined to facilitate the presentation.
US09158332B2
An apparatus including a first portion comprising a projection extending in a first direction; a second portion comprising an aperture extending in the first direction, where the first portion and the second portion are configured for relative movement in at least the first direction; and wherein the projection extends from the first portion in the first direction between the first portion and the second portion through the aperture and wherein the aperture surrounds the projection with clearances configured to enforce limits on relative movement of the first portion and the second portion while enabling reciprocating movement of the first portion and the second portion in the first direction towards each other and away from each other.
US09158329B2
A clock generator is provided. The clock generator includes a crystal oscillator, an inverter coupled to the crystal oscillator in parallel, a first circuit and a second circuit. The crystal oscillator has a first terminal and a second terminal. The inverter generates a first signal and a second signal at the first and second terminals of the crystal oscillator, respectively. The first circuit coupled to the first terminal of the crystal oscillator generates a first clock signal with a constant frequency according to the first signal. The second circuit coupled to the second terminal of the crystal oscillator generates a second clock signal with a variable frequency according to the second signal.
US09158328B2
Dynamic power consumption is reduced by clock gating registers that synchronize memory input signals in an embedded memory array. Where a memory enable signal associated with a memory interface input signal does not meet setup timing for clock gating input registers of the memory interface signal, a clock gate enable signal may be generated prior to evaluation of the memory enable signal. The clock gate enable signal includes all functions of the memory enable signal and additional conditions because it is generated prior to evaluation of conditions on which the memory enable signal may depend. Pre-evaluated clock gate enable signals may be generated within a processor core and used to clock gate read address registers, write address registers, data input registers, and/or CAM reference address registers of an embedded memory array.
US09158326B1
A service provider can maintain one or more host computing devices that can be accessed as host computing device resources by customers. A hosting platform includes components arranged in a manner to limit modifications to software or firmware on hardware components. In some aspects, the hosting platform may include a master latch that indicates whether the components may be configured, and the master latch may be set once and only reset upon completion of a power cycle. In another aspect, the hosting platform can implement management functions for establishing control plane functions between the host computing device and the service provider that is independent of the customer. Additionally, the management functions can also be utilized to present different hardware or software attributes of the host computing device.
US09158322B2
An apparatus, including a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), and a plurality of control nodes. Each device consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and performs a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC is disposed external to the facility, and generates a plurality of run time schedules that coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource. Each of the control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the devices. The plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and executes selected ones of the run time schedules based on latencies of last communications with the NOC to cycle the plurality of devices on and off.
US09158321B2
A linear current regulator is disclosed herein, which comprises a first amplifier, a current converter unit, a first resistor, a reference current source, a regulating unit, and a reference voltage circuit. The current converter unit converts voltage level of an non-inverting input end of the first amplifier into a regulated current and outputs it. The first resistor is coupled to an inverting input end and an output end of the first amplifier. The reference current source is coupled to the inverting input end of the first amplifier and the first resistor. The regulating unit is coupled to the reference current source and outputs a current signal for adjusting a reference current of the reference current source. The reference voltage circuit has at least two input ends. The reference voltage circuit has one input end coupled to a reference voltage and another input end coupled to the first amplifier.
US09158319B2
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device includes a first logic block having performance characteristics, a first critical path monitor (CPM) configured to monitor the performance characteristics of the first logic block, and a first CPM envelope circuit enveloping the first CPM. The first logic block is configured to operate in at least one of a first functional mode and a first scan mode. The first CPM is adapted to operate in at least one of a second functional mode and a second scan mode. The first and second functional modes use higher clock frequencies, respectively, than the first and second scan modes. The first CPM envelope circuit comprises a clock-gate circuit adapted to allow the IC device to operate in a mixed mode, wherein the first CPM operates in the second functional mode while the first logic block operates in the first scan mode.
US09158312B2
A temperature controlling device includes a setting controller, a gas valve, a burner, an inlet temperature sensor, a water meter, and an operational controller. User sets a desired temperature via the setting controller. The inlet temperature sensor senses an inlet temperature of water at an inlet of a pipe, and then operational controller calculates a difference between the inlet temperature and the desired temperature to get a total heat for heating water in a predetermined heating time and transfer the total heat into a total gas consumption, and controls the gas valve to supply gas to the burner with an amount of the total gas consumption in a predetermined heating time. After that, water should be heated to the desired temperature, and the operational controller controls the gas valve to decrease the gas supply for maintaining water temperature.
US09158310B2
A thermal control system for a data center room, for controlling an ambient temperature in the data center room to meet an ambient temperature set point, receives multiple ambient temperature votes from multiple fan controllers positioned in the data center room each for controlling fan speeds for at least one separate fan from among multiple fans each positioned within a separate system from among multiple systems within the data center room. The thermal control system sets the ambient temperature set point to a lowest ambient temperature specified in the multiple ambient temperature votes, such that the thermal control system and fan controllers operate as independent systems, but are integrated for selecting an ambient temperature that minimizes the power required for controlling a thermal environment in the data center room.
US09158307B2
A system includes a controller including a processor configured to execute a program stored in a memory of the controller to generate and transmit a first output comprising a total flow demand value to a plurality of valves communicatively coupled to the controller. Each of the plurality of valves is configured to receive a respective portion of the total flow demand value. The processor is configured to receive an input indicative of a decoupling of a first valve of the plurality of valves and to generate a second output based at least in part on the first output and a first operational characteristic of the first valve. The second output is configured to vary a second operational characteristic of a second valve of the plurality of valves to maintain the total flow demand value.
US09158305B2
A remote control system comprises a mobile object, a remote controller for remotely controlling the mobile object, and a storage unit where background images to simulate a driving room or an operation room of the mobile object are stored. The mobile object has a stereo camera, a camera control unit for controlling image pickup direction of the stereo camera, and a first communication unit for communicating information including at least images photographed by the stereo camera. The remote controller has a second communication unit for communicating to and from the first communication unit, a control unit for controlling the mobile object, and a display unit for synthesizing at least a part of the images photographed by the stereo camera and the background images and for displaying the images so that a stereoscopic view can be displayed.
US09158294B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product is provided for configuring a microgrid. A first configuration of the microgrid having a set of microgrid elements is initialized. An address for each element in the set of microgrid elements of the microgrid is verified. In response to receiving status data from the set of microgrid elements connected in a peer-to-peer network indicating a reconfiguration of the microgrid, the set of microgrid elements is re-aligned to form a second grid configuration. The second grid configuration is executed.
US09158281B2
Two original images to be recorded are prepared as data (S10). A plurality of unit regions, each having an adequate area to record interference fringes of visible light, are defined and positioned on a hologram recording surface (S20). A gradation pattern, with which appearance probabilities of two record attributes gradually change in space, is overlapped onto the recording surface, and to each unit region, one of either record attributes is assigned according to the appearance probabilities of the respective record attributes at each individual position (S30). In each unit region, to which the first record attribute is assigned, the first original image is recorded as an interference fringe pattern, a diffraction grating pattern, or a scattering structure pattern, and in each unit region, to which the second record attribute is assigned, the second original image is recorded as an interference fringe pattern, a diffraction grating pattern, or a scattering structure pattern (S40), and a record pattern is formed on a physical medium (S50).
US09158280B2
A holographic projection apparatus and a method for magnifying a virtual visibility region, for observing a reconstructed scene with at least one light modulation device and with at least one light source having sufficiently coherent light for generating a wavefront of a scene that is coded in the light modulation device. By means of imaging the wavefront into a viewer plane, it is possible to generate the virtual visibility region for observing the reconstructed scene. The virtual visibility region has at least two virtual viewer windows. In this case, the virtual viewer windows are dimensioned such that the reconstructed scene can always be observed without tracking of the viewer windows upon movement of a viewer in the viewer plane.
US09158277B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
US09158274B2
An image forming apparatus comprising: a built-in rotary driving member; a developing device detachably attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus; a developer driving part disposed at one end in a shaft direction of the developing roller and the agitation screw; a driving part duct enveloping the developer driving part of the developing device; a developer case surface duct formed along a surface parallel to the shaft direction of the developing roller and the agitation screw; and a blast fan or a exhaust fan to blow air from either the driving part duct or the developer case surface duct to each other.
US09158265B2
A high-voltage power source includes a high-voltage power source unit configured to apply high voltage obtained by superposing a high alternating-current voltage on a high direct-current voltage to a charging member, an output unit configured to output a first direct-current voltage having a first voltage value according to an externally input pulse-width modulation signal, a direct-current voltage conversion unit configured to convert the first direct-current voltage into a second direct-current voltage, a generation unit configured to boost the second direct-current voltage to generate a high direct-current voltage, a peak value detection unit configured to detect a positive peak value and a negative peak value from an alternating-current component of the high direct-current voltage, and a voltage difference output unit configured to output a third direct-current voltage having a third voltage value to the direct-current voltage conversion unit.
US09158244B1
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a transported medium using a developer containing toner and non-volatile oil, a heating unit that is arranged on a downstream of the image forming unit in a transport direction of the medium and heats the toner image on the medium to a melting temperature of the toner or higher, and a fixing unit that is arranged on a downstream of the heating unit in the transport direction, wherein the fixing unit includes a heat supply section that supplies heat to the developer on the medium, a removal section that removes the non-volatile oil from the developer to which heat is supplied by the heat supply section, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image, which is formed of the developer from which the non-volatile oil is removed by the removal section, on the medium.
US09158243B2
A fixing device includes a heating element disposed inside a flexible fusing member, a nip member disposed to contact with a surface of the flexible fusing member and to allow the flexible fusing member to slide along the nip member, a reflecting plate for reflecting radiant heat from the heating element toward the nip member, and a backup member for nipping the flexible fusing member with the nip member. The reflecting plate includes a central reflecting portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the heating element at least in a region corresponding to along a heat generating portion of the heating element, and end reflecting portions stationarily provided on both ends of the central reflecting portion. The end reflecting portions are disposed in positions longitudinally outward of the heat generating portion and each has a reflecting surface tilted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
US09158238B2
A voltage maintenance element is connected to a contact member that contacts a primary transfer surface area of an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from a plurality of image carriers between stretch members, in such a way as to prevent the electric potential of the intermediate transfer belt from varying between respective image forming stations.
US09158234B2
In a developing device, a rotation shaft is provided with a developer feeding member, a cleaning member, and a receiving portion. The receiving portion is provided downstream of the developer feeding member and upstream of a light transmitting member, provided to a wall surface of a developer accommodating chamber of the developing device, with respect to a rotational direction of the rotation shaft when the cleaning member has passed through the light transmitting member.
US09158233B2
A conveyance device includes a housing, a formation member, and a detection section. The housing has a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, and a first communication path. The first and second conveyance paths each are a conveyance path for conveying a developer. The first communication path allows a first end portion of the first conveyance path and a first end portion of the second conveyance path to be in communication with each other via a communication surface. The communication surface has a first region and a second region. The formation member forms the second region of the communication surface so that a height of the second region from a bottom portion of the first communication path is lower than a height of the first region from the bottom portion of the first communication path. The detection section detects the amount of the developer.
US09158231B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit including a developing sleeve and containing developer, and a control portion configured to control a process condition for image formation. The control portion changes the process condition for image formation when, in a case where the developing unit detected to have a developer amount smaller than a predetermined amount is removed from a main body of the image forming apparatus, the removed developing unit is remounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus.
US09158219B2
There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming section that forms a toner image on a printing medium by using plural toners including a particular toner, a fixing section that fixes the toner image which is formed on the printing medium by the image forming section, a retransporting section that transports the printing medium to the image forming section again in a state where a surface of the printing medium is the same, and a changing section that changes a fixing pressure at the time of fixing the toner image, in which the particular toner is used, and at the time of fixing the toner image, in which the toners other than the particular toner are used, when the toner image is formed on the printing medium by the image forming section and the toner image is fixed by the fixing section plural times.
US09158217B2
A toner comprising a binder resin and a wax, wherein the binder resin contains a binder resin A and a binder resin B, the binder resin A has a softening point of at least 120° C. and not more than 150° C., has a polyester unit, and has a terminal of which a first aliphatic compound having a melting point of 60° C. or more and not more than 85° C. has been condensed, and the binder resin B has a softening point of at least 80° C. and not more than 115° C., has a polyester unit, and has a terminal of which a second aliphatic compound having a melting point of 90° C. or more and not more than 120° C. has been condensed.
US09158204B2
A photolithographic rinse solution includes deionized water, and a surfactant, the surfactant including a cyclic amine group and at least one non-amine cyclic group joined to or fused with the cyclic amine group, wherein the cyclic amine group includes a ring having a carbon number of 4 to 6, and the non-amine cyclic group includes a ring having a carbon number of 5 to 8.
US09158202B2
Compositions are described that are useful for removing organic and organometallic substances from substrates, for example, photoresist wafers. Processes are presented that apply a minimum volume of a composition as a coating to the inorganic substrate whereby sufficient heat is added and the organic or organometallic substances are completely removed by rinsing. The compositions and processes may be suitable for removing and, in some instances, completely dissolving photoresists of the positive and negative varieties, and specifically negative dry film photoresist from electronic devices.
US09158198B2
Provided are photoresist compositions useful in forming photolithographic patterns by a negative tone development process. Also provided are methods of forming photolithographic patterns by a negative tone development process and substrates coated with the photoresist compositions. The photoresist compositions include one or more polymer additive that contains a basic moiety and which is substantially non-miscible with a resin component of the resist. The compositions, methods and coated substrates find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US09158190B2
System and method for applying mask data patterns to substrate in a lithography manufacturing process are disclosed. In one embodiment, a parallel imaging writer system includes a plurality of spatial light modulator (SLM) imaging units, where each of the plurality of SLM imaging units includes one or more illumination sources, one or more alignment sources, one or more projection lenses, and a plurality of micro mirrors configured to project light from the one or more illumination sources to the corresponding one or more projection lens. The parallel imaging writer system further includes a controller configured to control the plurality of SLM imaging units, where the controller tunes each of the SLM imaging unit individually in writing a mask data to a substrate.
US09158182B1
An assisting suspension arrangement for suspending a monitoring device, comprising a hook member, a blocking member, and a resilient member is disclosed. The suspension arrangement is configured to adopt an open state and a closed state. The suspension arrangement is configured such that when the monitoring device is suspended by the suspension arrangement, the hook member is adapted to carry the weight of the monitoring device and thereby to move toward the open state; and such that when the load of the weight of the monitoring device is released from the hook member, the resilient member is adapted to move the hook member toward the closed state. A monitoring device comprising such a suspension arrangement is also disclosed.
US09158181B2
A light focusing device for detachably coupling to a camera with a built-in flash. The device comprises a mount for detachably coupling to the camera; a housing coupled with the mount, the housing configured to enclose the built-in flash when the built-hi flash is an enabled position and comprising an alignment verification window; and a lens coupled with the housing such that light generated by the built-in flash is focused by the lens such that intensity of the light is increased farther away than what the built-in flash is able to do on its own. One or more spacers are included to adjust the height of the housing with respect to the flash for proper alignment.
US09158152B2
A liquid crystal display includes a backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a light guide plate, a light source module which emits light to a side surface of the light guide plate, and a housing which accommodates the light guide plate and the light source module. The light source module includes a printed circuit board on which a plurality of a point light source is mounted, and a light source fixing board which supports the printed circuit board. The housing includes a bottom portion on which the light guide plate is placed, and a fixing portion which extends from an edge of the bottom portion. An extension portion of the light source fixing board, which is adjacent to a corner of the light guide plate, and an end of the fixing portion of the housing, are coupled to a reinforcing member.
US09158149B2
A film for a backlight unit including a semiconductor nanocrystal-polymer composite film including a semiconductor nanocrystal and a matrix polymer in which the semiconductor nanocrystal is dispersed, wherein the matrix polymer is a polymer produced by a polymerization of a multifunctional photo-curable oligomer, a mono-functional photo-curable monomer, and a multifunctional photo-curable cross-linking agent, the multifunctional photo-curable oligomer has an acid value of less than or equal to about 0.1 mg of KOH/g, and a content (A1) of a first structural unit derived from the multifunctional photo-curable oligomer, a content (A2) of a second structural unit derived from the mono-functional photo-curable monomer, and a content (A3) of a third structural unit derived from the multifunctional photo-curable cross-linking agent satisfy Equation 1: A1<(A2+A3). Equation 1
US09158148B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a LCD panel and a display device, the LCD panel comprises an array substrate and a color filter substrate, the array substrate comprises a first transparent substrate, a data line and a pixel electrode disposed on an inner side of the first transparent substrate, the color filter substrate comprises a second transparent substrate, a color resin, a first black matrix and a common electrode overlaying the color resin and the first black matrix, wherein the first black matrix comprising a flat bottom layer and a protrusion formed on the flat bottom layer, the protrusion has slant surfaces near a boundary between the non-pixel region and the pixel region of the second transparent substrate.
US09158143B2
When a user operates a touch sensor panel having an LCD device outdoors or in a bright environment, light reflecting off the device can create glare. In order to reduce glare, a user can view the device through polarized filters such as polarized sunglasses. Doing so can reduce the visibility of the image displayed on the LCD. A quarter-wave retardation film can be added to the touch sensor panel's LCD device to mitigate these effects by producing circularly polarized light. However, adding a separate quarter-wave retardation film can increase the thickness and cost of manufacturing the touch sensor panel. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a touch sensor panel constructed from a base film having quarter-wave retardation properties that can produce circularly polarized light. Because the base film has the desired optical properties, a separate quarter-wave retardation film may not be needed.
US09158141B2
A thermally activated display with a temperature management feature and a cover comprising a thermochromic material generally changes from a first color to a second color. The temperature management feature can be a mattress and has a top surface. The cover is substantially flush with the top surface.
US09158106B2
The invention relates to method and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. The control matrix is formed on a transparent substrate and includes a first actuator controlled by a first switch to drive the light modulator into a first state, and a second actuator for driving the light modulator into a second state.
US09158091B2
There is provided a lens module including: a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having positive refractive power; a third lens having a shape in which an object-side surface thereof is concave; a fourth lens having refractive power; a fifth lens having negative refractive power; and a sixth lens having negative refractive power, having a shape in which an image-side surface thereof is concave, and having at least one point of inflection formed on the image-side surface thereof.
US09158090B2
A camera module includes an image sensor having a first threaded portion. A lens assembly includes an electro-active polymer (EAP) structure having a frusto-conical shape with an opening formed in the tip. A lens is secured to a lens holder that is attached to the EAP structure surrounding the opening. A first electrode is attached to a rear face of the EAP structure and extends along a side. A second electrode is attached to the rear face of the EAP structure along the tip. A base frame is attached to the base of the EAP structure. The base frame includes a second threaded portion that engages the first threaded portion, joining the lens assembly to the image sensor assembly and allowing the lens assembly to be rotated relative to the image sensor to adjust the distance between the lens assembly and the image sensor to establish a default focal distance.
US09158085B2
The lens barrel comprises a drive frame, a guide frame, and a moving frame. The moving frame includes a moving frame main body, a second cam mechanism portion, and a guide protrusion. The moving frame main body is configured to move between the drive frame and the guide frame. The second cam mechanism portion is configured to be accommodated in the first accommodation portion of the drive frame and engage to the first cam mechanism portion of the drive frame. The guide protrusion is configured to be accommodated in the second accommodation portion of the drive frame and engage to the guide groove of the guide frame.
US09158080B2
Light-coupling apparatus and methods for light-diffusing optical fibers are disclosed. The light-coupling apparatus includes a light-diffusing fiber bundle having an end section made up of tightly packed cores by removing the claddings. The spaces between the cores are filled with a material having a refractive index equal to or less than that of the cores. A light-emitting diode light source can be butt-coupled to the bundled-core end of the light-diffusing fiber bundle or can be coupled thereto via a reflective concentrator. A method of forming a flat and smooth end on a cleaved fiber that has a rough end is also disclosed.
US09158075B2
Fiber optic connectors and other structures that can be easily and quickly prepared by the craft for termination and/or connectorization in the field are disclosed. More specifically, the fiber optic connectors and other structures disclosed are intended for use with glass optical fibers having a large core. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector includes a ferrule having a bore sized to receive an optical fiber and a buffer layer at a front end face of the ferrule. Methods of making the fiber optic connectors and other structures are also disclosed. The methods disclosed allow “rough cutting” of the optical fibers with a buffer layer thereon by the craft.
US09158073B2
An optical fiber connector includes a fixing module, an optical fiber ferrule positioned at an end of the fixing module, and an optical fiber gripped in the fixing module. The optical fiber ferrule axially defines a through hole. An end surface of the optical fiber includes an arc surface. The optical fiber is received in the through hole of the optical ferrule.
US09158072B2
An optical switch configured to switch optical beams between one or more first ports and two or more second ports includes a wavelength independent beam splitter that simultaneously splits the optical beams from each of the first ports into a plurality of separate sub beams. A reflective wavelength independent switching unit selectively reflectively direct each the sub beam along respective predetermined trajectories such that predetermined sub beams are coupled between the first and second ports. The switching unit includes one independently switchable reflective element corresponding to each second port where each switchable reflective element is switchable between a plurality of preselected switching states and each switching state defines a trajectory of each of the sub beam. The beam splitter and the switching unit are configured to direct the sub beams along substantially free space trajectories unconfined to waveguides.
US09158061B2
A light source module including a light guide and a light source is provided. An end of the light guide has a light incident surface, and the other end of the light guide has at least three light-guiding branches. The light-guiding branches respectively extend along different extending directions and each light-guiding branch has a light emitting surface. The light source is adapted for providing a light beam, wherein the light beam enters the light guide through the light incident surface and the light beam exits the light guide from the light emitting surfaces.
US09158057B2
A new class of optical source having a truncated waveguide is provided, where a guided section of a light generating medium is terminated at an angle at a predetermined distance away from one end facet of the waveguide, thereby leaving a section for unguided light propagation. A truncated waveguide when implemented in combination with waveguide tilt, effective front facet reflectivity is reduced significantly to eliminate unwanted facet reflections. By extending electrical pumping in the unguided propagation section, the light in the unguided path propagates to a corresponding end facet without attenuation. The reflected light propagates freely without being intercepted by the waveguide. The principles are incorporated in different types of light generating and amplifying medium including a “double-pass” gain medium for designing optical sources having significantly high output power and negligibly small spectral modulation arising from unwanted facet reflections.
US09158056B2
A spread illuminating apparatus includes a plurality of point light sources; a printed circuit board on which the plurality of point light sources is each mounted; and a light guide plate with a light input surface facing the point light source and a light output portion that exits plane light emitted from the point light source and introduced through the light input surface, wherein the light guide plate includes an inclination portion between the light input surface and the light output portion, the inclination portion having a thickness gradually decreasing toward the light output portion side, an inclined surface of the inclination portion includes a pedestal for disposing the printed circuit board in an area except the front of the point light source, and a light-blocking member is disposed between the neighboring pedestals.
US09158055B2
A back light unit includes a light source and a light guide unit having a first surface emitting light to a display panel, a second surface facing the first surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces connecting the first surface and the second surface. The connecting surfaces includes a first side surface, a second side surfaces and a third side surface between the first side surface and a second side surface, A first included angle of the first incident surface and the first diffusion surface is equal to or greater than about 90 degree.
US09158053B2
The present invention relates to a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a liquid crystal composition including the same, and an optically anisotropic body. The polymerizable liquid crystal compound according to the present invention has not only high birefringence but also excellent coating orientation, and thus it is possible to prepare a optically anisotropic body which is thin but superior in optical properties.
US09158048B2
Disclosed are a novel diimmonium-based compound that has low light absorption in visible light region and has superior light absorption efficiency in near infrared region, and has superior durability and weatherability, and a near infrared absorption filter using the same. The diimmonium-based compound is represented by the formula 1 of claim 1.
US09158045B1
A heliostat including a mirror configured to reflect light directed towards a first surface of the mirror, the light being external to the heliostat, the first surface being opposite a second surface of the mirror. A control mechanism is connected to the mirror and configured to change at least two angles of the mirror. An inertial reference unit is in communication with the control mechanism and configured to produce a beam and use the beam to optically sample the second surface of the mirror, the beam at least reflecting from the second surface. The control mechanism is configured to use data from the beam and the inertial reference unit to control the least two angles such that a virtual beam from the inertial reference unit remains about co-aligned with a line of sight vector of the mirror when the heliostat is subjected to an exogenous disturbance.
US09158044B2
An optical film having an optically-transparent substrate, and a low refractive index layer having a thickness d on one side of the optically-transparent substrate, a polarizing plate and a display panel provided with the same, and a display provided with the same.
US09158037B2
A resin molded product includes a primary molded object molded by a primary molding die, and a secondary molded object formed to be integrated with the primary molded object by a secondary molding die, the secondary molding die including a shared molding die which shares a part of the primary molding die. The primary molded object includes a rotation regulation portion making a mutual concave-convex fit engagement at a joint portion between the primary molded object and a molding surface of the shared molding die and regulating rotation and shift of the primary molded object in circumferential directions about a center axis of the primary molded object.
US09158029B2
A multi-stage screening system for screening a container includes a pre-screening stage including a transmission X-ray device. The pre-screening stage is configured to generate constraint data associated with the contents of the container. The system also includes a screening stage including an X-ray diffraction imaging (XDI) device. The screening stage is configured to generate image data associated with the contents of the container. The system further includes a communication system coupled to the pre-screening stage and the screening stage. The communication system is configured to receive and transmit the constraint data and reconstruct at least one image of the container at least partially as a function of the constraint data and the image data.
US09158028B2
In a facility for checking large-volume goods, in particular freight goods, with an X-ray source, which emits X-rays for irradiating the goods, and with a detector arrangement aligned with the X-ray source, the detectors of the detector arrangement are designed or arranged in such a way that detector rows are produced with two row limbs which abut one another at right angles on their longitudinal sides, of which one limb is aligned parallel to the movement direction of the goods being checked, and the other is aligned perpendicular to this in the direction of the X-ray source.
US09158025B2
An apparatus and method for reducing coupling between at least one measure electrode and at least one return electrode in a logging tool in a borehole with non-conductive drilling fluid using a conductive shield disposed between the at least one measure electrode and the at least one return electrode. The apparatus may be configured to impart an electrical current into a formation and to receive a return current from the formation. The method may include using the apparatus.
US09158019B2
A technique is designed for conducting a seismic survey. The technique utilizes a plurality of vibrator arrays employed to conduct a seismic survey utilizing low frequency and high frequency vibrators in each vibrator array. The plurality of vibrator arrays continuously sweeps low frequency signals via low frequency vibrators. While sweeping low frequency signals, high-frequency vibrators emit high-frequency signals in an alternating pattern between vibrator arrays to enhance the seismic survey.
US09158018B2
Forward modeling is performed to compute a response of a target structure, the forward modeling accounting for distortion of a reflected signal from a reflector in the target structure. Waveform inversion is performed using the response of the forward modeling.
US09158016B2
A process for overcoming aliasing using a minimum weighted norm interpolation (MWNI) technique may include computing an initial, regularly interpolated model with no data gaps and computing a plurality of initial spectral weights using the initial, regularly interpolated model. The initial, regularly interpolated model is used to compute the spectral weights as initial constraints in a least-squares solution methodology. The initial spectral weights are used as initial constraints in a constrained minimum weighted norm interpolation data reconstruction. The process may further include converting the initial, regularly interpolated model into a frequency domain and computing unknown spectral weights from frequency data at each frequency slice of the initial, regularly interpolated model using Fourier transform. The process results in reducing aliasing artifacts and improving data regularization.
US09158014B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to rotate a rotatable driving member having at least one driving lobe, and to periodically contact at least one cam on a unitary driven member with the at least one driving lobe during rotation of the rotatable driving member, to set the driven member in motion. This motion can be used to launch an acoustic wave along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the driving member, where the driving member disposed completely within the driven member. The signature of the acoustic wave can be at least partially determined by the profile of the cam and the rotation rate of the driving member. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09158012B2
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for the detection and positioning of a radioactive source. In an exemplary embodiment, a detector array is placed in a four-quadrant formation to allow for self-shielding of the individual detectors from the radiation emitted by a radiation source. A further embodiment utilizes a fuzzy logic system and method to analyze the gross count response of each individual detector with respect to the other three to thereby determine a generalized location and direction of a radioactive source.
US09158007B2
A scintillation detector, especially one for a radiometric measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring a measured variable, especially a fill level of a fill substance located in a container, for covering a predeterminable measuring range as flexibly as possible in shape and length. To this end, the scintillation detector comprises two or more scintillators arranged in series relative to one another for converting thereon falling, radioactive radiation into light flashes, whose light propagates in the respective scintillator toward its ends. Arranged between the scintillators are optical coupling elements, which establish light transmitting connections between adjoining pairs of scintillators. Connected at an end of the series is a photoelectric transducer, which converts light occurring in the series into an electrical signal corresponding to a radiation intensity striking the scintillators. According to the invention, at least one of the coupling elements is a mechanically flexible element, which includes a bundle of light conducting fibers, via which transmission of the light between the two scintillators connected with one another via the fibers occurs.
US09158004B2
A radiation detection device includes a radiation detection sensor, a first integration section, a second integration section and a determination section. The first integration section obtains a first integration value by integrating values expressed by signals output from the sensor over a predetermined period of time. The second integration section obtains a second integration value by integrating amounts of change per specific time duration in values expressed by the signals output from the sensor over the predetermined period of time. The determination section determines whether or not radiation has been detected by the sensor based on a ratio of the first integration value to the second integration value.
US09157998B2
A laser radar device has a light projection part that projects light to a monitoring area outside a vehicle from a vehicle interior through a glass surface, a light receiving part that is placed a given distance away from the light projection part in a substantially horizontal direction to receive reflected light from an object outside the vehicle in the light projected by the light projection part through the glass surface, a measuring part that measures the distance to the object in the monitoring area based on timing when the light projection part projects the light and timing when the light receiving part receives the reflected light, and a light-projection shielding part that shields the light projected to an outside of the monitoring area in the light projected by the light projection part.
US09157996B1
Multiple signals are received from multiple receivers in a motion sensor. Each signal is amplified and undergoes a gain adjustment individually to generate multiple preamplified received ultrasonic signals. A separate demodulator circuit receives a different preamplified received ultrasonic signal and generates a sum of the demodulated signals and a difference between the demodulated signals. A low pass filter corresponding to a demodulator circuit removes the sum of the demodulated signals. The mixer circuit combines the difference between the demodulated signals to generate an integrated circuit. The gain of each preamplifier may be adjusted based on a sensitivity setting, target levels of the preamplifier, and a level of a preamplified ultrasonic signal, resulting in an integrated motion sign that originated from multiple signals to different receivers in the sensor housing.
US09157992B2
Various embodiments are described herein for a detector and method that perform various types of CFAR detection on radar data including knowledge-aided CFAR detection, hybrid-CFAR detection and simplified censored CFAR detection. Knowledge about the type of local environment of a Cell Under Test and the proximity of the Cell Under Test to various types of noise can be used to select particular types of CFAR detection methods or combinations thereof. In other instances, certain parameters of a CFAR detection method can be adapted based on this knowledge.
US09157978B2
When imaging for sensitivity distribution measurement is performed, a whole-body coil for both transmission and reception and a specified coil used for the present imaging are used as a reception coil, while being switched.The switching of the reception coil is performed by switching between the whole-body coil and the specified coil for each echo in the same encode step.An image created from the echo obtained by the specified coil is divided by an image created from the echo obtained by the whole-body coil to calculate the sensitivity distribution of the specified coil.The sets of data used for the calculation are almost simultaneously obtained, thus providing accurate sensitivity distribution with no influence derived from the movement of a subject.The sensitivity distribution is used to correct the image obtained by the present imaging.Alternatively, the sensitivity distribution is used for the folding operation of parallel imaging.
US09157972B2
An electrically-controlled failsafe switch is included in an MRI transmit-and-receive RF coil assembly so as to protect it from induced RF currents in the event it is disconnected from an MRI system, but inadvertently left linked to strong MRI RF fields during imaging procedures using other RF coils.
US09157966B2
An online method and apparatus for determining state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) of batteries on platforms that present dynamic charge and discharge environments is disclosed. A rested open circuit voltage (OCV) may be estimated online using a battery dynamic model along with measured terminal voltage, current and temperature. The SoC and SoH can then be determined from this estimated OCV. The apparatus and methods may estimate SoC and SoH of a battery in a real-time fashion without the need to a) disconnect the battery system from service; b) wait for a predefined rest time; or c) depolarize the battery.
US09157963B2
Method, system, and programs for calibrating battery pack voltage are disclosed. A negative terminal voltage of a cell is changed from a first to a second negative terminal voltage so that a cell voltage is changed from a first to a second output voltage. A positive terminal voltage of the cell is maintained at a substantially constant level. A differential-mode calibration parameter is calculated based on a difference between the first and second output voltages and a difference between the first and second negative terminal voltages. The negative terminal voltage of the cell is then changed from the first to second negative terminal voltage so that the positive terminal voltage of the cell is changed from a first to a second positive terminal voltage and the output voltage is changed from a third to a fourth output voltage. The cell voltage is maintained at a substantially constant value. A common-mode calibration parameter is calculated based on the differential-mode calibration parameter and a difference between the third and fourth output voltages and a difference between the first and second positive terminal voltages.
US09157960B2
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods for testing and repairing through-substrate vias in a stack of interconnected dice. In various embodiments, an apparatus is provided that includes a number of through-substrate vias to couple to one or more devices, at least one redundant through-substrate via to allow a repair of the apparatus, and a pair of pull-up devices coupled to the through-substrate vias and the redundant through-substrate via to provide a high-data value to the first end of the respective through-substrate vias. A test register is coupled the second end of each of the through-substrate vias and the redundant through-substrate via to store a received version of the high-data value. A comparator compares the high-data value with the received version of the high-data value to test the through-substrate vias for short-circuit connections.
US09157946B2
A non-resistive contact sensor assembly, includes a non-resistive contact sensor device, a first inner region of material in which the sensor device is surrounded or embedded, a boundary region, around the first inner region, that is at least partly comprised of a conducting material and that picks up electrical charge from the first inner region, a second inner region around the boundary region, an outer region around the second inner region, and at least one diode, disposed in the second inner region and connected between the boundary region through the second inner region to the outer region.
US09157943B2
A test and measurement instrument including a plurality of input ports; an acquisition system coupled to the input ports and configured to acquire frequency domain data from the input ports; a user interface configured to present frequency domain controls for at least two of the input ports; and a controller configured to adjust frequency domain acquisition parameters of the acquisition system in response to the frequency domain controls such that frequency domain acquisition parameters associated with a first input port can be different from frequency domain acquisition parameters associated with a second input port.
US09157920B2
The present invention relates to a for determining the presence, absence or amount of biologically active or inactive HGF in a sample, comprising the steps: bringing the sample in contact with a gel comprising a HGF binding component of the extracellular matrix or cell membrane, adding toluidine blue to the gel, correlating the color of the gel and/or a liquid in contact with the gel with the presence, absence or amount of biologically active HGF in the sample. It also relates to a kit of parts comprising toluidine blue and a gel comprising at least one HGF-binding component of the extracellular matrix or cell membrane, such as a proteoaminoglycan or a glucosaminoglycan, and optionally buffers, vials and sampling instruments and to a gel comprising at least one HGF-binding component of the extracellular matrix or cell membrane, such as a proteoaminoglycan or a glucosaminoglycan, toluidine blue and HGF.
US09157913B2
The invention provides peptide compositions and mixtures useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Ehrlichia antigens. The peptide compositions and mixtures comprise polypeptide sequences based on an immunogenic fragment of the Ehrlichia Outer Membrane Protein 1 (OMP-1) protein. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising such peptide compositions and mixtures useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Ehrlichia antigens and the diagnosis of monocytic and/or granulocytic ehrlichiosis.
US09157910B2
Provided herein are assays and kits useful for avoiding “prozone phenomenon” or “hook effect” and which expand the range of accurately measurable analyte concentrations.
US09157909B2
A method for assessing male reproductive health is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises screening a sperm sample for sperm DNA accelerated decondensation (SDAD), for sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and/or for delayed sperm DNA decondensation (SDD). The method is useful in the screening and clinical management of reproductively challenged human couples and for assessing reproductive health of potential sperm donors. A method is also provided for selecting an assisted reproductive technology (ART) best suited for a particular donor sperm sample. An automated method for assessing SDAD and SDD test scores is also disclosed, as well as an automated sperm processing protocol for preparing sperm for analysis of SDAD and SDD.
US09157907B2
Panels of mammalian cell samples, kits and methods of use thereof. The panels comprise samples or sets of samples of immortalized primary cells, obtained from different tissues and organs of healthy and/or diseased donors. The cell panels are useful in assays for testing effects of drug candidates, e.g. for activity and toxicity.
US09157905B2
The present invention provides a methodology that can develop a more excellent anti-cancer drug than conventional ones for various cancers. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for establishing an artificial cell, comprising treating a cancer cell with an expression vector for a foreign oncogene and then culturing the cancer cell treated with the expression vector under a condition which inhibits an expression or function of an oncogene that is inherent to the cancer cell, and an established artificial cell; a method of screening an anti-cancer drug, comprising evaluating whether or not a test substance inhibits a proliferation of the artificial cell; as well as a method for identifying an oncogene, comprising treating a cancer cell with an expression vector for a test gene and then culturing the cancer cell treated with the expression vector under a condition which inhibits an expression or function of an oncogene that is inherent to the cancer cell.
US09157904B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising Wnt antagonists and methods of treating Wnt-associated diseases and disorders, such as cancer, inducing differentiation, and reducing the frequency of cancer stem cells, as well as novel methods of screening for such Wnt antagonists. In particular, the invention discloses soluble FZD, SFRP and Ror receptors and their use.
US09157900B2
Aspects of the invention relates to a system and method for determining the efficacy of the catalyst comprising means to detect any temperature change in the catalyst when oxygen is present in the anaerobic workstation and determine the efficacy of the catalyst in accordance with the temperature change. A detectable rise in the temperature of the catalyst is indicative of a catalytic reaction to remove oxygen from the anaerobic work station. Thus, the system determines the catalyst is an active catalyst if the temperature of the catalyst rises when oxygen is present in the anaerobic workstation. The system determines the catalyst is an inactive catalyst if the temperature of the catalyst does not rise when oxygen is present in the anaerobic workstation. Further aspect of the invention relate to a system and method for determining the atmosphere of an anaerobic workstation in accordance with the efficacy of the catalyst of the anaerobic workstation.
US09157898B1
An ultrasonic occupancy sensor for detecting presence or absence of an occupant in a space includes an ultrasonic receiving circuit having a synchronous rectifier that allows the circuit to detect small-magnitude ultrasonic waves having a Doppler shift. The sensor comprises an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves at an ultrasonic operating frequency, and a controller that drives the transmitting circuit with complementary drive signals to control the ultrasonic operating frequency. The synchronous rectifier receives the drive signals from the controller and rectifies an amplified input signal to generate a rectified signal, which is filtered by a filter to generate a filtered signal. The controller receives the filtered signal and determines that the space is occupied if the magnitude of the filtered signal exceeds a threshold. The ultrasonic occupancy sensor may also include a low phase-noise oscillator circuit coupled to the controller for setting an internal operating frequency of the controller.
US09157897B2
An ultrasound transmitter including intrinsic output zeroing is disclosed herein. A transmitter for generating ultrasound signals includes a first transmitter output driver and a first transmitter input driver. The first transmitter output driver includes an N-type device serially coupled to a P-type device. The first transmitter input driver includes an N-type device serially coupled to a P-type device. An output of the first transmitter input driver is coupled to an input of the first transmitter output driver. The first transmitter output driver drives an output of the transmitter to a first voltage and the first transmitter input driver drives the output of the transmitter to a second voltage while the first transmitter output driver is disabled.
US09157894B2
Image data and E-mode images used in ultrasonic elasticity imaging may be automatically evaluated for quality to provide a single value used as operator feedback or for automatic selection of images for averaging or animation.
US09157882B2
An analytical test strip has mutually-insulated first and second electrodes arranged to define a sample-receiving chamber. Electrically-insulating layers are disposed over respective electrodes. First and second electrical contact pads are electrically connected to the first electrode, and a third pad to the second electrode. A first side of the test strip has a first electrically-insulating layer and the third pad, and a second side has the second electrically-insulating layer and the first and second pads. The third pad extends longitudinally from the sample-receiving chamber farther than does the first electrically-insulating layer. Methods for determining an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample and analytical test systems for use in the determination of an analyte in a bodily-fluid sample are also described.
US09157876B2
A method of characterizing an object includes determining a depth-wise composition of the object at a measurement site within the object. A property of the object within a region adjacent to the measurement site can, optionally, be estimated based on the determining. Another method of characterizing an object includes disposing at least a portion of an object within a measurement region of a metrology tool, aligning a feature of the object and a location of a designated measurement site within the measurement region relative to each other, and performing a performing a compositional analysis of a portion of the object occupying the measurement site. Various apparatus for performing these methods are also disclosed, as are methods of monitoring manufacturing processes based on these methods.
US09157866B2
A surface inspecting apparatus can inspect a smaller defect by using a PSL of a smaller particle size. However, the particle size of the PSL is restricted. In the conventional surface inspecting apparatus, therefore, no consideration has been taken as to how to inspect the defect of such a small particle size as is not set in the PSL which will be needed in the near future in an inspection of a semiconductor manufacturing step. The invention has a light source device for generating light which simulated at least one of a wavelength, a light intensity, a time-dependent change of the light intensity, and a polarization of light which was scattered, diffracted, or reflected by an inspection object, and the light is inputted to a photodetector of the surface inspecting apparatus. The smaller defect can be inspected.
US09157863B2
Methods are presented for separating the effects of background doping density and effective minority carrier lifetime on photoluminescence (PL) generated from semiconductor materials. In one embodiment the background doping density is measured by another technique, enabling PL measurements to be analyzed in terms of effective minority carrier lifetime. In another embodiment the effective lifetime is measured by another technique, enabling PL measurements to be analyzed in terms of background doping density. In another embodiment, the effect of background doping density is removed by calculating intensity ratios of two PL measurements obtained in different spectral regions, or generated by different excitation wavelengths. The methods are particularly useful for bulk samples such as bricks or ingots of silicon, where information can be obtained over a much wider range of bulk lifetime values than is possible with thin, surface-limited samples such as silicon wafers. The methods may find application in solar cell manufacturing.
US09157860B2
A luminescence detection system may include an excitation light source, a single element achromat, and a detector. The single element achromat may be configured to regulate the excitation light from the light source and direct the regulated light to a target, and the detector may be configured to detect luminescence generated by the target. The single element achromat may be configured to regulate the emission light from the target and direct the regulated light to a detector, and the excitation light source may be configured to direct the excitation light to the target. The single element achromat may be configured to regulate both the excitation light from the light source and the emission light from the target and direct the regulated light to, respectively, the target and a detector.
US09157853B2
A moisture sensor for detecting moisture content of an object includes a light source to emit light having an infrared wavelength that is absorbed by water; an optical system to receive the light from the light source and output linearly polarized light having a first polarization direction in a direction toward the object, and to receive light scattered from the object and output linearly polarized light having a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction in another direction other than the direction toward the object; and a photodetector to receive the linearly polarized light having the second polarization direction output from the optical system.
US09157851B2
The drug evaluation device obtains, by an attenuated reflection method using a terahertz wave, an evaluation absorption spectrum for a frequency with respect to a liquid to be evaluated. When crystalline particles are suspended in a liquid, an absorption peak having a peak area corresponding to the amount of suspension appears in its absorption spectrum. Therefore, whether or not and by what ratio crystalline particles are suspended in the liquid can be determined according to whether or not the absorption peak exists and the peak area. When amorphous particles are suspended in the liquid, the baseline of its absorption spectrum lowers according to the ratio of amorphous particles suspended in the liquid. Therefore, whether or not and by what ratio amorphous particles are suspended in the liquid can be determined according to the lowering amount of the baseline.
US09157845B2
A microelectromechanical (MEMS) nanoindenter transducer including a body, a probe coupled to and moveable relative to the body, the probe holding a removeable indenter tip, a first micromachined comb drive and a second micromachined comb drive. The first micromachined comb drive includes an actuator comprising a plurality of electrostatic capacitive actuators configured to drive the probe along a first axis, including in an indentation direction, in response to an applied bias voltage, and a displacement sensor comprising a plurality of differential capacitive sensors having capacitance levels which together are representative of a position of the probe relative to the first axis. The second micromachined comb drive includes an actuator comprising a plurality of electrostatic capacitive actuators configured to drive the probe along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, in response to an applied bias voltage, and a displacement sensor comprising a plurality of differential capacitive sensors having capacitance levels which together are representative of a position of the probe relative to the second axis. Each of the electrostatic capacitive actuators and the differential capacitive sensors comprises an electrode comb pair, each electrode comb pair including a fixed electrode comb coupled to the body and a moveable electrode comb coupled to the probe.
US09157843B2
A testing method of bending stress and a testing apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps. A stress distribution model of a structure to be tested is built. Next, a testing sample of the structure to be tested is provided, and a force is applied on two ends of the testing sample to bend the testing sample till it breaks at a breaking point, so as to obtain a first distance between the two ends of the testing sample when the testing sample breaks, or a second distance from the breaking point to a closer end of the two ends. Next, a maximum principle stress value of the stress distribution model or a break point principle stress value at the breaking point of the stress distribution model is obtained according to the first distance or the second distance.
US09157841B2
A magnetic particle based separation and assaying method uses at least two sets of magnetic particles placed in solution within a container and characterized respectively by a coercive field e1 and e2, wherein e1 is greater than e2. The first magnetic particles with a larger coercive field e1 will be used as carrier to handle the second affinity magnetic particles having a lower coercive field e2. A magnetic particles handling method includes the step of applying an external magnetic field having a polarity and amplitude that varies with time to cause the said carrier magnetic particles to be in relative motion within the container driving thereby the affinity particles to form an homogenous suspension of particles in perpetual relative movement with the respect to the liquid.
US09157836B2
The present invention relates to a device (1) for removing a sample (24) from a coil (2), comprising at least one bottom roll unit (30, 32) for supporting the coil (2) during removal of the samples, at least one contact roll unit (40, 42) pressable against an outer surface of the coil (2), and at least one strip binding device for binding the coil (2) supported on the at least one bottom roll unit (30, 32). The present invention further relates to a device for removing a sample (24) from a coil (2), comprising a deflection device (70) for deflecting a material beginning (20) of the coil (2) from a beneath located layer (22), wherein the deflection device is so formed that the strip beginning only elastically deflected from the beneath layer (22). The invention also relates to corresponding methods.
US09157835B2
A torque sensor to which a sensor device is applied includes: a first sensor IC that detects a torque that acts on a steering shaft of a vehicle and outputs detection signals based on the detection results; and a second sensor IC that detects a torque that acts on the steering shaft of the vehicle and outputs detection signals based on the detection results.
US09157834B2
A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds.
US09157832B2
Methods and systems for estimating wear damage of a rolling-element bearing system including at least one rolling-element bearing are provided. A first number of first condition indicators representative of the wear damage of the at least one rolling-element bearing are generated. A second number of second condition indicators are generated based on the first plurality of first condition indicators. The second number is less than the first number an indication of the wear damage of the at least one rolling-element bearing is generated based on the second number of second condition indicators.
US09157828B2
A method and apparatus for differential voltage grid-based moisture monitoring of structures is provided. The method involves detecting a defect in a structural component, the structural component comprising a membrane for fluid impermeability, a deck for supporting the membrane, and a plurality of electrically conductive elements adjacent the membrane and electrically insulated from each other, by sensing the potential difference between a first element of the plurality of elements and a second element of the plurality of elements separated from the first element when there is an electrical potential between the deck and an electrically conductive fluid in contact with the first and second elements. The apparatus includes a switching circuit for connecting a voltage measuring circuit to the first and second elements, the voltage measuring circuit being operable to sense the potential difference between the first and second elements.
US09157826B2
A method and system to calibrate temperature and pressure in piezo resistive devices for non-linear sensors having two variables, where a piezo resistive device such as a piezo resistive transducer (PRT) used for example in a pressure sensor system is calibrated to calculate actual/ambient temperature and pressure even though the PRT impedance is unbalanced relative to pressure.
US09157824B2
A process fluid pressure sensing system includes a process fluid pressure transmitter and a process manifold. The process fluid pressure transmitter has first and second pressure inlets and is configured to obtain a measurement relative to pressures applied at the first and second pressure inlets and provide a process variable output based on the measurement. The process manifold is operably coupled to a process fluid and has first and second pressure outlets. A first high-pressure coupling joins the first pressure outlet of the process manifold to the first pressure inlet of the process fluid pressure transmitter. A second high-pressure coupling joins the second pressure outlet of the process manifold to the second pressure inlet of the process fluid pressure transmitter. The first and second high-pressure fluid couplings are configured to accommodate misalignment between the respective pressure outlets and inlets.
US09157814B2
Systems and methods for perturbation analysis of harmonic oscillations in the time domain according to several embodiments can include a time domain switching sensor and a resonator for imposing a first oscillation and a second oscillation on the sensor. The first and second oscillations can have the same amplitude A and period P, but can have a known phase shift. The sensor can use a time interval, which can be defined by the time between when the sensor passes a reference point due to motion caused by the first oscillation and when the sensor passes the same reference point, but due to motion caused by the second oscillation. With this configuration an improved accuracy of measurement for the system can be realized.
US09157800B2
A system and method for detecting at least one target of interest using at least two conformal filters in a dual polarization configuration. A plurality of interacted photons are collected from a sample comprising at least one analyte of interest. The plurality of interacted photons are separated into at least a first and second optical component. The first optical component is passed through a first conformal filter and the second optical component is passed through a second conformal filter. A Data set corresponding to each filtered optical component is generated and an optical computation is applied to assess at least one characteristic of the analyte.
US09157799B2
An optical wavelength dispersion device includes a first substrate; an input unit formed on the first substrate having a slit for receiving an optical signal; a grating formed on the first substrate for producing a first light beam form the optical signal for outputting; and a second substrate covered on the top of the input unit and the grating; wherein the input unit and the grating are formed from a photo-resist layer by high energy light source exposure.
US09157797B2
An avalanche photo diode detector including an avalanche photo diode, an adjustable voltage source, a current mirror coupled to the voltage source output of the adjustable voltage source and having a current measurement output, and a processor coupled to the adjustable voltage source and the current mirror. The processor implements a process of obtaining a signal current measurement from the current mirror, computing an estimate of an input optical power level from the signal current measurement and adjusting the output of the adjustable voltage source based upon on the estimate of the input optical power level.
US09157793B2
A light source and a method for its use in an optical sensor are provided, the light source including a resistively heated element. The light source includes a power circuit configured to provide a pulse width modulated voltage to the resistively heated element, the pulse width modulated voltage including: a duty cycle with a first voltage; and a pulse period including a period with a second voltage, wherein: the duty cycle, the first voltage, and the pulse period are selected so that the resistively heated element is heated to a first temperature; and the first temperature is selected to emit black body radiation in a continuum spectral range. Also provided is an optical sensor for determining a chemical composition including a light source as above.
US09157791B2
A multi-channel optical device and method of making the same are disclosed. The optical device includes a plurality of detectors on a detector mounting substrate, and a corresponding plurality of lenses on an interior surface of the optical device. Each detector detects light having a unique center wavelength. Each center wavelength corresponds to a channel of the optical device. Each lens focuses light towards a corresponding detector. Each detector has a location corresponding to a focal point of the light focused by a corresponding lens. The method of making the optical device includes placing lenses on a surface of the optical device housing, transmitting light having a plurality of center wavelengths through the lenses, determining locations on a detector mounting substrate where each light beam is focused by a lens, and placing a detector at each location.
US09157789B2
An electromagnetic wave detector that detects incident light by converting the incident light into an electric signal includes a flat metal layer formed on a supporting substrate, an intermediate layer formed on the metal layer, a graphene layer formed on the intermediate layer, isolated metals periodically formed on the graphene layer, and electrodes arranged oppositely on both sides of the isolated metals. Depending on a size of a planar shape of each of the isolated metals, light having a predetermined wavelength at which surface plasmon occurs is determined out of the incident light, and the light having the predetermined wavelength is absorbed to detect a change in the electric signal generated in the graphene layer.
US09157777B2
An electromagnetic flow meter comprises: an excitation member (5) in which a plurality of magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged spaced apart from one another along an outer circumferential surface of a flow channel (1) through which liquid metal flows, and in which a magnetic field is formed in a direction perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the flow channel (1); and electrodes (6a, 6b) provided between the magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) of the excitation member (5), for measuring the voltage generated when the liquid metal crosses the magnetic field. A pulse excitation electric-current supply device (7a) for supplying a pulsed excitation current to the excitation member (5) is provided, whereby a flow speed distribution can be suppressed from being generated in the circumferential direction of the channel (1) even when the flow speed of the liquid metal is low, and the flow rate can be accurately measured.
US09157776B2
A magneto inductive flow measuring device having a measuring tube and at least one magnet system arranged on the measuring tube, wherein the measuring tube has at least one planar area and an otherwise cylindrical lateral surface, which border the measuring tube from its environment, against which planar area the magnet system is prestressed The magnet system is prestressed against the planar area of the measuring tube by means of a screwed connection between measuring tube and magnet system and/or the magnet system is prestressed against the planar area of the measuring tube by means of a mounting clip, which is secured shape-interlocked to the measuring tube. A method for manufacturing the magneto inductive, flow measuring device is also discussed.
US09157773B2
In order to increase sensor manufacturing yield without compromising patient safety, at least one first value is determined respectively for at least one sensor feature parameter indicative of characteristics of a physiological sensor and the determined value(s) is/are stored in a predefined memory location prior to use of a physiological sensor. In response to the physiological sensor being connected to a patient monitor, at least one second value is defined respectively for the at least one sensor feature parameter and the at least one first value of each of the at least one sensor feature parameter is retrieved from the predefined memory location. Each of the at least one second value is compared with respective at least one first value and a decision is made, based on the comparison, on the acceptance of the physiological sensor.
US09157772B2
A variety of sensing assembly components, and methods of assembling, mounting, and orientating such assemblies and/or components, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a sensing assembly includes a main body including at least a housing portion, and a mounting portion protruding outward from the main body. The mounting portion includes an outer connector section including at least one electrical connector, and an intermediate section that includes an outer surface that either has substantially a shape of a polygon or is at least partly threaded, where the intermediate section is positioned in between the main body and the outer connector section. Additionally, the intermediate section has an outer diameter, the outer connector section has an outer diameter, and the intermediate section outer diameter is greater than the outer connection section outer diameter. In other example embodiments, retaining structures on portions of a sensing assembly, or bracket assembly components, are provided.
US09157760B2
Enabling a user to perceive map or route information including a status includes enabling a first user to perceive one or more features of a map and receiving condition information that reflects a condition perceived by the first user as existing relative to the one or more features based on input from the first user. Also, enabling a user to perceive map or route information includes receiving a request for a route from a second user and determining a response to the request for the route including the route based on the condition information received from the first user related to the one or more features. Further, enabling a user to perceive map or route information includes enabling the second user to perceive the route based on receipt of the response.
US09157758B2
The invention relates to a navigation device (200) comprising a display (240) for displaying a digital map to a user, a processor (210) configured to access digital map data and cause a digital map to be displayed to a user using the display, and a user interface operable by a user to enable the user to interact with the apparatus. The user interface is arranged to allow a user to provide, on the displayed digital map displayed to the user, an indication of a selected region present in the digital map which the user wishes to include or exclude from a route calculation process. The processor (210) is arranged to determine digital map data relating to the selected region indicated by the user, and to calculate a route including or excluding the region.
US09157754B2
A navigation device and a method for navigation are disclosed. A display is provided and a processor is connected to the display. The processor is configured to communicate with a database. The database stores information describing a plurality of objects in a mining environment. The processor is configured to identify a heavy equipment in the database, and identify a loading envelope for the heavy equipment. The loading envelope is at least partially determined by a location of the heavy equipment. The processor is configured to display the loading envelope on the display.
US09157753B2
When a narrow-angle branch point PA at which a road branches at a narrow angle gets closer, routes from the narrow-angle branch point to all points a-c reachable by traveling for a distance L after passing of the narrow-angle branch point in a current traveling direction. When the narrow-angle branch point is passed, processing to calculate, as a matching degree of each route, a matching degree between each of the gradients G1-G3 of routes R1-R3, which are indicated by map data, and history Ang of an inclination angle of a vehicle is performed until a route with a matching degree equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is generated or until a distance L is traveled after the passing of the narrow-angle branch point. When the route with the matching degree equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold is generated, a current position is calculated on the route.
US09157750B2
A touch panel device includes a display unit and a controller. The display unit displays, on a map or a nautical chart, a position acquired from a GNSS sensor and a symbol set on the map or the nautical chart. The controller controls, when an operation of specifying the symbol is detected, an auxiliary tool to appear on a display screen of the display unit, the auxiliary tool for recognizing a touch operation of moving the symbol.
US09157748B2
The present application provides a system and method for enabling a driver to locate a passenger. In one or more implementations, a graphical user interface is provided that is operable to send and receive information associated with passengers and vehicles. A location of a first vehicle, a location of a first passenger and a location of a second passenger are received. Information associated with the locations of the first and second passenger is transmitted and a representation of at least one of the first passenger and the second passenger and the respective location thereof is provided.
US09157745B2
Examples disclosed herein may relate to identifying up to a specified amount of points of interest nearest to an estimated position of a mobile station on a first map, selecting a second map identified by a first location context identifier associated with a first point of interest of the identified points of interest, and determining a route from the estimated position of the mobile station to a destination point using the first map and the second map.
US09157740B2
The invention relates to a micro-gyroscope for detecting motions relative to an X and/or Y and Z axis, particularly as a 3D, 5D, or 6D sensor. Sample masses are disposed uniformly about an anchor and can be driven radially relative to the central anchor. Anchor springs are disposed to attach the sample masses to a substrate, and these sample masses can be deflected both radially within and out of the X-Y plane. A sensor mass is disposed on one of the sample masses by means of sensor springs, and the sensor springs allow deflection of the sensor mass within the plane of the sample mass, and orthogonal to the radial drive direction of the sample masses. Drive elements oscillate these sample masses in the X-Y plane, and sensor elements captures the defection of the sample masses due to the Coriolis forces generated when the substrate is rotated.
US09157737B2
An altitude dead reckoning system using measurements of forward speed, a yaw angle rate and external altitude information in order to estimate an error in the acceleration due to an accelerometer bias; and an output converter configured to use the forward speed, yaw angel rate, acceleration and estimated accelerometer bias to calculate a change in altitude.
US09157734B2
An optical automatic attitude measurement device for a lightweight portable optical system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first optical device is configured to provide an attitude beam. A second optical device mechanically coupled to the first optical device to a lose tolerance. The second optical device is configured to provide a reference beam and to receive the attitude beam from the first optical device. The second optical device is further configured to obtain an attitude measurement by computing a differential measurement between the reference beam and the attitude beam in x and y planes at room temperature.
US09157730B2
A method of processing a substrate according to a PECVD process is described. Temperature profile of the substrate is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Plasma density profile is adjusted to change deposition rate profile across the substrate. Chamber surfaces exposed to the plasma are heated to improve plasma density uniformity and reduce formation of low quality deposits on chamber surfaces. In situ metrology may be used to monitor progress of a deposition process and trigger control actions involving substrate temperature profile, plasma density profile, pressure, temperature, and flow of reactants.
US09157721B1
A measuring system includes a sensor and a positioner cooperatively engaged with the sensor. The measuring system may also include a base cooperatively engaged with the positioner such that the base and positioner cooperate to selectively secure the relative position of the sensor with respect to a first and second structure. The position of one of the structures may then be changed, and the sensor may detect the relative change in position. The sensor may communicate this change in position to a controller or other component for further processing.
US09157717B1
Systems, a ballistic device, and methods of use are provided herein. The system includes at least one first ballistic device having a first payload configured to detonate, and a second ballistic device configured to track at least one of a position and a movement of an object, and enable the at least one first ballistic device to identify at least one of the position and the movement of the object. The second ballistic device includes a second payload configured to detonate.
US09157715B1
A marking projectile configured to be fired through the barrel of a firearm having rifling formed therein is provided. The marking projectile includes a polymeric base portion configured to engage the rifling of the barrel and a polymeric front shell portion coupled to the base portion. The polymeric front shell portion has a cavity formed therein for housing a marking compound and a structure configured to deform on impact and thereby release the marking compound. The marking projectile includes a metallic annular sealing component (e.g., a crimped metal ring) configured to seal the polymeric front shell portion to the polymeric base portion.
US09157714B1
A system and method for guiding a projectile is presented. A method for guiding a projectile includes storing a gas in a chamber that is attached to the projectile. The projectile has an explosive front end and a rear guidance kit consisting of a body extension and a tail boom. The chamber is located in the body extension with the control electronics. Two or more fins that are configured to stabilize the projectile while the projectile is in flight. Pulses of gas are released out of the chamber through a nozzle at the end of the tail boom to control an angle of attack to control the lift of the projectile to guide the projectile to a target while the projectile is in flight.
US09157713B1
Ammunition comprising bullets having destabilizing mechanisms that, under ballistic phase conditions, create instability in the bullets resulting in failure of the trajectory of the bullet and/or the sustainable velocity of the bullets.
US09157706B2
A shooting range target assembly and a method for moving and positioning the target in a controlled manner are disclosed. The assembly includes a conveyor line containing a carriage, a drive, a target assembly, a turning and positioning mechanism and a programmable logic for setting and controlling the movement of the carriage. Controlling the movement, positioning of the target and maintaining target position are accomplished by properly balancing a torque force applied onto a pulley wheel, a drag force applied by a detent assembly and a force applied by a brake. The assembly is configured for moving the target along the conveyor and turning it such that the front side, the back side or an edge faces the shooter.
US09157703B2
A transparent armor structure includes a layer having a first planar surface and a second planar surface of substantially the same configuration as the first planar surface. The second planar surface is located opposite the first planar surface and oriented such that it is not parallel to the first planar surface and such that corresponding locations on the first and second planar surfaces are displaced approximately 90 degrees from each other.
US09157690B2
The invention relates to a distribution system (1) for distributing a fluid (15) into a container (27) from a fluid inlet (26) of the container (27). Distribution system (1) comprises one or more guide plates that form a guide section (2) and a distribution section (3) that adjoins the guide section (2). Distribution section (3) has regions (4, 5) with openings (8, 9) for allowing fluid (17) to pass through. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger device (100) that has a container (27) with a fluid inlet (26), with at least one heat exchanger block (28) that is arranged in the container (27). A distribution system (101) according to the invention is arranged in the container (27) above the heat exchanger block (28).
US09157687B2
A heat pipe can include a microchannel heat exchanger at the heat absorbing end and another heat exchanger which is optionally also a microchannel heat exchanger at the heat sink end, with one or more pipes flowably connecting the two ends for transporting liquid working fluid to the head absorber and vaporized working fluid to the heat sink. The heat pipes may be used to cool electronic devices with rejection of heat outside an enclosure, and optionally outside a room, containing the electronic devices. The heat pipes may be used to cool photovoltaic or solar collection devices with rejection of heat to ambient air at a distance removed from the photovoltaic devices. Heat pipe systems are disclosed wherein the working fluid is a hydrofluorocarbon or a mono-chlorinated hydrofluoroalkene having a normal boiling point in a range from 10° C. to 80° C.
US09157681B2
In a silicon wafer which has a surface with a plurality of terraces formed stepwise by single-atomic-layer steps, respectively, no slip line is formed.
US09157677B2
A water filter assembly including a water filter housing and a manifold coupled to the water filter housing. The manifold includes an inlet and an outlet. Filters are disposed in the water filter housing. The water filter assembly has a door. The door is disposed on the water filter housing providing selective access to the water filter housing. The door is connected to the water filter housing to open and close to replace the plurality of filters. The water filter assembly also has a valve associated with at least one of the plurality of filters. The valve is manipulated from an opened to a closed position to close the inlet when the filters are removed from the water filter housing.
US09157675B2
A temperature controlled display device includes a body portion at least partially defining an interior space for storing refrigerated or frozen objects therein. The display device includes a frame coupled to the body portion, where the frame defines at least one opening and a door is coupled thereto for movement between a closed position and open position to permit access to the interior space through the opening. The frame includes two parallel vertical members and two parallel horizontal members. A lighting device is coupled to an interior surface of at least one of the vertical members, to illuminate the interior space. A thermally conductive member is disposed within the vertical member and extends at least partially along the length of the vertical members to transfer heat from the lighting device to an exterior surface of the vertical member.
US09157674B2
The present invention relates to a refrigerated air supply system (21) for a freezer and/or refrigerator cabinet having at least one cabinet compartment (17) at least partly defined by inner walls (16), an insulation layer at least partly enclosing the cabinet compartment. The cabinet compartment (17) has an compartment opening facing substantially upwards, which compartment opening connects the cabinet compartment (17) with the space surrounding the cabinet, the cabinet also including, a door which in one position covers the compartment opening and substantially encloses the cabinet compartment (17). The cabinet further includes a machine compartment (23) for storing at least a compressor, at least one of the inner walls (16) having a substantially horizontal shelf plane (52) where at least one of the planes (52) is being positioned vertically above the machine compartment (23).
US09157670B2
A two chamber heat transfer unit configured such that hazardous air can circulate through one of the chambers and potential ignition source components are contained in another chamber through which the gas to be heated or cooled will circulate.
US09157664B2
Support structures and systems for electrical panels, such as solar panels or collectors, and other materials and devices are described. The structures are relatively strong and lightweight and include cable management features.
US09157661B2
The invention relates to a service device for maintenance of a solar panel arrangement, comprising a service unit for maintenance of at least one surface of the solar panel arrangement, a guiding unit for guiding the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, and a driving unit for moving the service unit with respect to the solar panel arrangement, wherein the service unit comprises a first engagement section and a second engagement section, wherein the guiding unit is attachable to the first engagement section, the guiding unit being configured for direct engagement with an edge of the solar panel arrangement, wherein the driving unit is attachable to the second engagement section, and wherein the second engagement section is displaceable with respect to the first engagement section by the driving unit.
US09157652B2
A vent cover includes a body having an inner portion and a outer portion, a vent exhaust hole defined in the body through the inner portion and the outer portion, an enclosure defined between the inner portion and the outer portion; and a door movably coupled to the body, the door including a biasing portion and a door portion, the door moveable between a first position and a second position, the door in the first position at least partially covering the vent exhaust hole, the second position having a clearance between the door portion and the vent exhaust hole, the biasing portion enclosed within the enclosure of the body and including a biasing element biasing the door to the first position.
US09157649B2
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium flow control device that adjusts the flow rate of a heat medium circulating in a use side heat exchanger, temperature sensors that are disposed in an inlet-side passage and an outlet-side passage of the use side heat exchanger and that detect temperatures of the heat medium, and a controller that controls the heat medium flow control device so that a temperature difference between a detection value of the temperature sensors is equal to a first target value. A refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant flow passage of the heat exchanger related to heat medium and a heat medium flowing through a heat medium flow passage of the heat exchanger related to heat medium are in counter flow relative to one another, and the controller changes the first target value in accordance with an operation state of a refrigerant circuit.
US09157645B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a power supply, a wireless controller coupled to the power supply, the wireless controller being configured to wirelessly receive a command from a wireless thermostat of a ventilation system, the ventilation system having a vent through which a fluid passes, and a flow controller to automatically control an amount of flow of the fluid through the vent of the ventilation system based at least in part on the command received wirelessly from the wireless thermostat. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09157642B2
A virus removal device with an ultraviolet LED may be provided that includes: an operating member; an ultraviolet LED configured to irradiate ultraviolet light onto an object under an operation of the operating member; and a driving means configured to generate a driving force so that the operating member is moved.
US09157641B1
A pair of self-folding legs intended to support a door of an oven when in an open position pivot downwardly from a front surface of the door to a floor surface, thus forming a stable support system. In such a manner, heavy objects can be placed on the door surface as they enter and exit the oven cavity. The pair of legs is fastened to the front surface of the door using a high-temperature adhesive fastening method. The legs automatically pivot down as the door is opened and fold back up when the door is closed. Each leg comprises a height adjustable foot with a rubberized bottom surface to accommodate all styles and sizes of ovens to avoid damage to the floor surface.
US09157638B2
An assembly is provided with a housing, a guide sleeve, and a spring. The guide sleeve may be at least partially housed within the housing. The spring may be disposed to abut against the housing and the guide sleeve.
US09157636B2
A gas regulating fitting that ensures simple manual operation is to be created. In particular, the device is to be capable of being switched both on and off in one operation. To that end, a microswitch (12) connected to an electronic control unit is arranged on the housing (1). The microswitch is operated when a tappet (10) arranged axially to the safety pilot valve (26) and the main valve (19) is manually operated. The electronic control unit thereby receives an electrical signal whereby the gas regulating fitting is activated in its switched-off state, and the gas flow flowing through the open safety pilot valve (26) is therefore ignited, whereas the holding current flowing to the thermoelectric safety pilot valve (26) is interrupted in the switched-on state of the gas regulating fitting, and the gas regulating fitting is therefore deactivated. The gas regulating fitting can be used to ignite and regulate a gas flow flowing to a burner.
US09157635B2
A fuel distribution manifold comprises an outer shell having an inner surface. The outer shell defines an inlet for receiving fuel from a parent supply line, a base opposite the inlet, a central manifold axis that intersects the inlet, and a plurality of outlets for delivering fuel to offspring fuel lines, each outlet defining a respective outlet axis. In one exemplary embodiment, a fuel distribution manifold also comprises a center-body having an outer surface and being positioned within the outer shell wherein the outer surface of the center-body and the inner surface of the outer shell define a flow-path through which fluid flows from the inlet to the plurality of outlets. In another exemplary embodiment, at least one of the outlets is positioned adjacent to the base and oriented so that its respective outlet axis is rotated relatively to a radial direction that intersects the central manifold axis.
US09157631B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for burning a burner which has NOx reduction effects and has practical value, and a device therefore; the present invention provide A method for burning a burner in a heating furnace including a step of: periodically changing at least one of a flow rate of a fuel fluid and a flow rate of an oxidizing agent fluid which are supplied to the burner while periodically changing an oxygen concentration in the oxidizing agent fluid, thereby an oxygen ratio which is calculated by dividing an amount of oxygen supplied by a theoretical necessary amount of oxygen is periodically changed, and the periodical change of the oxygen ratio is made different from the periodical change of the oxygen concentration to cause combustion in periodically vibrational conditions.
US09157626B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a housing having a transparent portion, at least one LED positioned within the housing to emit light through the transparent portion, and a fan positioned within the housing to cool said at least one LED.
US09157625B2
A lighting fixture configured for lightweight and improved thermal management. The lighting fixture includes a metallic sheet ballast housing configured to house a ballast, and a metallic sheet reflector coupled to the metallic sheet ballast housing via an interface member. The ballast is disposed on one side of the interface member, and a light emitting source is disposed on and attached to the opposite side of the interface member. Since the primary components of the lighting fixture are made out of sheet metal (e.g., with a thickness of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 millimeter), the lighting fixture may be configured to be significantly lightweight. Additionally, since the ballast and the light emitting source are respectively disposed on and attached to the interface member between the metallic sheet ballast housing and the metallic sheet reflector, heat generated by these devices may be easily dispersed via the ballast housing and the reflector.
US09157623B2
A portable light having a transmitter configured to emit a signal, a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter, a source of electric light that includes a plurality of light modes, a power source, and a controller connected to a circuit, wherein the transmitter, the receiver, the source of electric light, the power source, and the switch are included in the circuit. The controller is configured to control the switch and a transition between or among the plurality of light modes in response to the signal received by the receiver.
US09157602B2
An optical element for a light source and a lighting system using the optical element are disclosed. In example embodiments, the optical element includes an entry surface and an exit surface opposite the entry surface. The entry surface includes at least three subsurfaces, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays leaving light source. Each of the three subsurfaces is geometrically shaped and positioned to receive light rays entering the optical element through that subsurface in order to direct the light passing through the optical element. In some embodiments the optical element includes a concentrator lens disposed in the exit surface. The optical element can also include a mixing treatment. A lighting system can include multiple optical elements, each paired with a light source such as an LED or LED package.
US09157594B2
An adjusting device for headlights has a luminous component supported on a carrier and a linear element for angling the luminous component around a horizontal and/or vertical adjusting axis, which is acting upon said component and arranged on an adjusting point, wherein in the region of the linear element, the luminous component is supported on areas of contact opposite the carrier and/or the luminous component by way of said type of deformation element such that if an adjusting force is applied onto the areas of contact in the normal direction, the deformation element is moveable together with the luminous component along an adjusting pathway running perpendicular to the normal direction.
US09157583B2
The invention provides a lighting device (100) comprising a light source (10) and luminescent materials (20). The luminescent materials (20) comprise a first organic luminescent material (120) and a second organic luminescent material (220), the light source (10) together with the luminescent materials (20) being configured to generate white lighting device light (101) during operation. The first organic luminescent material (120) degrades with time at a first degradation rate and the second organic luminescent material (220) degrades with time at a second degradation rate, wherein the first degradation rate is larger than the second degradation rate. The first organic luminescent material is configured in a first layer (130, 1020) and the second organic luminescent material is configured in a second layer (140, 1220). The first layer and/or the second layer is further configured to at least partly compensate for the difference in the first degradation rate and the second degradation rate in order to maintain the lighting device light (101) substantially white during operation time of the lighting device (100).
US09157579B2
Disclosed is an LED assembly having an omnidirectional light field. The LED assembly has a transparent substrate, LED chips, and first and second electrode plates. The transparent substrate comprises first and second surfaces facing to opposite orientations respectively. The transparent substrate has a via hole tunneling therethrough, which is formed with conductive material to provide a conductive via. The LED chips are mounted on the first surface. The first and second electrode plates are formed on the first and second surfaces respectively. The light emitting diode chips and the conductive via are electrically connected in series between the first and second electrode plates.
US09157578B2
The present invention relates to a gas supply device having a compact configuration that enables prevention of vaporized gas by requisite minimum heating means from being liquefied again and an installation area to be considerably reduced. The gas supply device is provided with: a tank configured to retain material liquid; and a mass flow controller that is connected to an inside of the tank through a first valve unit, and controls a flow rate of gas resulting from vaporizing the material liquid, in which inside an outer wall of the tank, an internal flow path is formed, and the internal flow path is provided with a generated gas lead-out line provided with: a first valve flow-in flow path connecting the inside of the tank and a first inlet port; and a first valve flow-out flow path connecting a first outlet port and an introduction port of the mass flow controller.
US09157576B2
A lubrication device including a tank of fluid lubricant to be dispensed to a user position, a component for raising the pressure of the lubricant, a device for regulating the flow rate of a pressurized lubricant, and a distributor for enabling the lubricant flow to be conveyed to the user position with regulated flow rate. The regulating device including a body provided at least with one feed channel and one outflow channel put into communication by an aperture within the interior of which a valving element is movable provided with a perimetral lateral surface in which at least one window is provided in communication with a free end of the valving element.
US09157571B2
A tracking band comprises a magnetic tape and mounting tabs that secure the magnetic tape within a band clamp. The mounting tabs protrude radially inwardly toward a center region defined by the band clamp. The magnetic tape is precision-coded with a sequence of magnetic poles. The tracking band may be disposed within an annular recess of a rotating shaft of a heliostat. The tracking band may rotate with the rotating shaft. The shaft may be coupled with a mirror such that the mirror and rotating shaft rotate concurrently. As the tracking band rotates with the rotating shaft, the tracking band may pass by an encoder head, which may read the magnetic tape and relay information regarding the angular position of the mirror from the magnetic tape to a control system. The tracking band may thus provide altitude and azimuth position information for the mirror to a control system.
US09157562B2
A positive swivel fitting provides for a system flow transmitting portion and a separate lock-down portion. The flow transmitting portion is configured to be receivable within the lock-down portion. When the flow transmitting portion is properly and “positively” positioned, then the lock-down portion can be secured and the position of the flow transmitting portion is maintained, thus making alignment with other parts of the flow device variable. The fitting can be used within any air, other gas or liquid flow system.
US09157561B2
A wet connection system including a first connector configured to connect to a first control line. The first connector including at least one first pathway arranged to fluidly communicate with the first control line, and a biased movable plug movable within the first connector; and, a second connector configured to connect to a second control line. The second connector including a second pathway in fluid communication with the second control line and a biased sleeve movable within the second connector; wherein the first and second connectors are each pressure balanced to prevent internal control line pressure. External borehole pressures from moving the plug and sleeve from their biased positions blocking the respective first and second pathways in the disconnected condition of the wet connection system. Mating of the first connector with the second connector moves the movable plug and the sleeve against their bias to fluidically couple the first and second pathways in a connected condition of the wet connection system. Also included is a method of pressure balancing a hydraulic wet connection system in a downhole environment.
US09157557B2
A gas distribution assembly includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe, defining a gas supply chamber therebetween. Furthermore, the gas distribution assembly includes a unit for supplying compressed gas to the gas supply chamber, a first end connection connecting first ends of the outer pipe and of the inner pipe, and leaving an orifice of the first end of the inner pipe open outwards, a second end connection connecting second ends of the outer pipe and of the inner pipe, and leaving an orifice of the second end of the inner pipe open outwards. The inner pipe includes a first pipe member including the first end of the inner pipe and a second pipe member including the second end of the inner pipe, which pipe members are in telescopic engagement with each other.
US09157555B2
An apparatus for extending a pipe through a wall. The apparatus includes a ball joint through which at least one pipe extends, an inner pipe, which extends through the ball joint and through which a fluid material may transfer, a housing unit, which substantially surrounds the ball joint and comprises resin bonding surfaces that that seal the housing unit to the ball joint, and a flange unit, which affixes to the housing unit and comprises resin bonding surfaces that seal the flange unit to a wall. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the inner pipe and a line orthogonal to the wall through which the pipe extends is in the range of between about 0 and 20 degrees.
US09157554B2
A “boltless” locking arrangement for secure attachment of a boss to a fixed structural part is shown. The boss has a central axis and is extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the structural part when the parts are assembled. The arrangement includes two substantially radially extending, when viewed relative to the central axis, action surfaces provided in the external surface of the boss, and at least one annular plate configured body made up by individual segments. The at least one annular plate configured body is at its radially inner, but external portion designed to co-operate, or engage with, at least one of the respective two action surfaces, and at its radially outer, but internal portion and on opposite side, is abutting the fixed structural part.
US09157551B2
A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs.
US09157548B2
A hands-free faucet control device includes a water valve assembly and a foot pedal assembly. The water valve assembly includes a housing with two input ports and two output port configured to be attachable in series with a hot water pipe and a cold water pipe. A valve includes two through holes and is movable in the housing between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the two through holes are in alignment with the two input and output ports. In the closed position the two through holes are not in alignment with the two input and output ports. A spring is biased against the valve keeping the valve in the closed position. The single valve reduces costs, increases reliability and simplifies ease of installation. The foot actuated faucet can also be configured to remain in the down/on position through various mechanical structures.
US09157534B2
A diaphragm valve features a valve body having a fluid flow channel with a weir portion to control the flow of fluid through the fluid flow channel; a diaphragm that responds to a closing or force to make sealing contact with the weir portion to interrupt said flow, or to release the sealing contact with the weir portion to allow the flow; a compressor configured to apply the closing or force in order to interrupt or allow the flow; and two studs configured to: couple the compressor and the diaphragm together, attach to the diaphragm to provide attachment points on the diaphragm on each side of the weir portion, and respond to the closing or opening force so the attachment points on both sides of the weir portion cause the diaphragm to make sealing contact with the weir portion or cause the sealing contact to be released.
US09157532B2
A hydraulic seal arrangement for a rotating machine, the hydraulic seal arrangement comprising: a hydraulic seal; and an annular reservoir (16) fluidly coupled to the hydraulic seal; wherein the annular reservoir (16) is arranged to retain fluid from the hydraulic seal when the machine is shutdown and to return the retained fluid to the hydraulic seal under centrifugal force after the machine is restarted.
US09157531B2
The seal comprises a casing made of two portions (1, 2) crimped into one another with an accurate hermetic position adjustment at interfaces (15, 6b) and a composite structure comprising inside the casing an advantageously flexible and resilient core (24) and a winding (20) of brush bristles. This structure directly extends facing internal faces (9, 10) facing each other in the casing, which compresses the same and has an arcuate shape having a slightly higher radius of curvature. The composite structure is held at an accurate position, firmly but free of constraint.
US09157517B2
A harmonic drive includes a first flexible gear and a second flexible gear disposed around the first flexible gear and coaxial with the first flexible gear. A first ring gear meshes with the first flexible gear, and a second ring gear meshes with the second flexible gear.
US09157513B2
A rack guide unit includes a closure member secured to an external opening end of an accommodation portion of a housing, and a rack guide. Coned disc springs that urge the rack guide toward a rack shaft are interposed between the closure member and the rack guide. A protrusion of the closure member is passed through the coned disc springs and inserted in a recessed portion of the rack guide. An O-ring held in an accommodation groove formed in the outer periphery of the protrusion, at a position closer to the distal end of the protrusion than the coned disc springs are, functions as a retaining protrusion that restrains the coned disc springs from coming off the protrusion. For example, the coned disc springs and the closure member constitute a subassembly formed in advance.
US09157508B2
An industrial gear mechanism with a bevel gear stage having a-bevel gear and a bevel pinion in engagement therewith. The bevel gear and the bevel pinion are surrounded by a gear mechanism housing having bearing seats for a bevel gear shaft and a bevel pinion shaft. A first and a second bevel pinion shaft bearing are arranged in an O-arrangement, with the first bevel pinion shaft bearing arranged on a first end of the bevel pinion shaft facing the bevel pinion and the second bevel pinion shaft bearing arranged on a second end of the bevel pinion shaft remote from the bevel pinion. A gearwheel of a spur gear stage on the drive side is arranged axially between the first and second bevel pinion shaft bearings in fixed rotative connection with the bevel pinion shaft and in engagement with a drive pinion of the spur gear stage.
US09157501B2
A vehicle wheel weight for attachment to a wheel rim comprises a mass portion formed of nonlead material and a clip. The clip has an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim and an attachment portion juxtaposed to the mass portion. In addition, an injection molded outer casing surrounds the mass portion. The mass portion and the attachment portion of the clip are embedded in the casing, but the extended portion of the clip extends outwardly from and is external to the casing.
US09157498B2
An efficient energy accumulation element comprising a compression spring which uses end caps and flexible rope to pre-compress the spring for using in actuators and other devices. The efficient energy accumulation element is independent of external surfaces or end construction of the spring. The accumulation and release of energy happens noiselessly.
US09157497B1
A torsional joint assembly formed from a substantially planar material sheet comprises a plurality of contiguous segments. The contiguous segments include at least two, substantially parallel hinge segments, each being coupleable to a loading structure; and at least a first connecting element connecting the hinge segments one to another, the connecting element extending substantially orthogonally to the hinge segments.
US09157493B2
The present invention relates to a mechanical system with a one-way clutch, for example a pulley for a motor vehicle alternator, comprising a first element and a second element which are able to move one with respect to the other in rotation about a central axis and delimit an annular housing radially to the central axis, a one-way clutch device arranged in the annular housing, and at least one rolling bearing arranged in the annular housing. The mechanical system is characterized in that the rolling bearing is an angular-contact bearing and comprises at least one pressed ring comprising means of attachment of the rolling bearing to the first element or the second element. The invention also relates to an alternator comprising such a mechanical system configured as a pulley with a one-way clutch.
US09157489B2
An adjuster is disclosed, to be placed “in-line” to a clutch disengagement system. The adjuster provides a means for lifting the pressure plate above the clutch pack without significantly affecting the operation or feel of the clutch disengagement system to the operator. Such an adjuster is particularly well suited for use with an automatic centrifugal clutch incorporating a friction disk that expands when rotated above a threshold speed.
US09157488B2
A clutch apparatus including a compressive force boosting member for biasing a presser plate in a direction to compress friction plates between a pressure bearing plate and the presser plate upon accelerated rotation of a clutch inner member. A movable cam member is formed independently wherein the machinability thereof is enhanced. A compressive force boosting member includes a cam mechanism. The movable cam member is separate from a clutch inner member and a movable spring retainer member for movement independent of said clutch inner member in response to accelerated rotation of the clutch inner member. A pressure bearing plate is fixed to a clutch inner member rotatable relatively to an output shaft. A plurality of bosses extending through a presser plate have respective ends affixed thereto. A back torque limiter member has a cam mechanism disposed between a clutch inner member and an output member.
US09157484B2
A rotating shaft has: a first shaft member that includes a rail member and a first connecting portion which is disposed at the rail member; and a second shaft member that includes a slider which is movably installed to the rail member, a tubular unit which is secured to the slider, and a second connecting portion which is disposed at the tubular unit. The slider includes a plurality of roller type rolling elements. The plurality of roller type rolling elements includes: first roller type rolling elements which roll along a rolling path and when torque in a first direction is inputted, transfer running torque between the slider and the rail member; and second roller type rolling elements which roll along a rolling path and when torque in a second direction, which is opposite of the first direction, is inputted, transfer running torque between the slider and the rail member.
US09157479B2
A synthetic resin-made cage plate to retain rollers lies between guideway members. The smaller pitch between the adjacent rollers in a cage results in the greater number of the rollers lying in a preselected length of the cage to get heavier load-carrying capacity. A holder to receive a pinion is molded integrally with the cage plate. The rollers are retained in openings in the cage plate at a tilt such that their rotating axes are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the raceway surfaces and also tilting at 45 degrees relative to major surfaces of the cage plate. The openings on their contour edges have bearing lips to retain end surfaces of the rollers. The cage plate has flanges extending lengthwise on its' widthwise opposite edges and bulging sidewise out over the major surfaces of the cage plate to render the cage plate tougher to warp or bend.
US09157478B2
A plain bearing of a shaft, in particular of an electric-motor drive unit of a motor vehicle, contains a first plain bearing part that surrounds the shaft and a second plain bearing part connected axially to the first plain bearing part. The thermal expansion coefficient of the second plain bearing part is greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the first plain bearing part.
US09157477B2
A linear motion guide device includes a slider slidably attached onto a guide rail, two dust caps oppositely attached to end portions of the slider respectively and each having a channel formed between two legs for slidably engaging with the guide rail, and each having a lip portion directed toward the guide rail for wiping the engaging surface of the guide rail, and the lip portions of the legs of the dust caps each include an inner flange directed toward the slider and each include a number of notches and a number of projections formed in the inner flange of each of the legs and offset from each other for wiping the lubricating fluid into the notches of the legs respectively.
US09157476B2
A double parallelogram linear flexural system and method includes a first stage extending in a direction of movement, and a pair of parallelogram flexures extending from the first stage to distal ends configured for being grounded. A second stage extends parallel to the first stage, with another pair of parallelogram flexures extending between the stages, wherein the stages and parallelogram flexures form a double parallelogram. A linkage is disposed between, and resiliently coupled to, the stages. Linkage guiding flexures extend divergently from the linkage, to distal end portions configured for being grounded. The linkage guiding flexures define a notional triangle having a base extending between the distal end portions, and sides extending through proximal end portions to a notional apex defining a center of rotation for the linkage. The linkage is entirely within the double parallelogram, while constraining the stages to oscillate at the same frequency and phase.
US09157475B2
A contamination-resistant bearing assembly includes an outer ring mounted within a housing and an inner ring rotatably supported from the outer ring. Inboard and outboard seal structures are disposed within a bearing space defined between the rings and prevent contaminants from entering a rolling element lubrication zone. A surface seal may also be included to protect the spherical interface between the housing and outer ring. The improved structure allows dynamic alignment of the bearing assembly when acted on by outside forces and also allows for extended operation under maintenance free conditions with no need for relubrication.
US09157474B2
A bearing can include a ball member, a race, and a liner located on an interior surface of the race, the liner having a first surface bonded to an interior surface of the race, the liner having a second surface that is adjacent to the ball member. The bearing also includes a wafer having a wear surface that is aligned with the second surface of the liner, the wafer being an electrically conductive member. Operational wear of the liner can be calculated by comparing a measured resistance of the wafer to an original known resistance of the wafer.
US09157468B2
An apparatus for preventing a threaded nut from unscrewing from a threaded bore of a device. The threaded nut has a circular periphery containing a plurality of apertures. The apparatus has a body with a first pin configured to insert into one of the apertures of the threaded nut, and a retainer that releasably holds the first pin within the aperture.
US09157454B2
A flow straightener device for a turbomachine including an inner shell ring and an outer shell ring surrounding the inner shell ring, at least one out of the inner shell ring and outer shell ring having first orifices; at least two flow straightener vanes each including, at least at one same first end, an attachment platform having second orifices positioned facing the first orifices; the at least two vanes being assembled with at least one of the inner shell ring and outer shell ring by at least one first device of attachment introduced into the first orifices and the second orifices. The flow straightener device includes a covering platform covering the at least one first device of attachment.
US09157452B2
A radial fan wheel comprising vanes (2) which are inclined against the rotational direction (8) (radial impeller inclined towards the rear), the outer edge regions (14, 7) of the top and bottom disks (3,4) projecting past the effective diameter (DAs) of the vanes. The diffusion space thus established between the bottom and top disks (1,3) and the effective and outer diameter (Das, DN) of the vanes enables the kinetic energy of the fluid to be effectively converted into static pressure). The cross-section of the diffusion space is thus embodied in such a way that it expands radially outwards in a rectangular or trapezoidal manner
US09157449B2
In a multi-blade centrifugal fan including an impeller (7) rotatably disposed in a casing and composed of a disc-shaped hub (8), a plurality of blades (9), and an annular shroud (10), the blades (9) are curved in a concave shape on a pressure side in a cross-section perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the impeller (7) and have a curved shape that is backward-swept near a leading edge (9C) thereof and that is forward-swept near a trailing edge (9D) thereof, the inner diameter of the cascade of blades (9) increases gradually from the hub (8) toward the shroud (10), and the diameter of a maximum-curvature position (9B) where the curvature of the curved shape is maximized increases gradually from the hub (8) toward the shroud (10).
US09157442B2
A fan with integrated vibration absorbing structure includes a fan frame, a hub-blade assembly, and at least one vibration absorber. The fan frame includes a base and at least one side wall formed around the base, and the hub-blade assembly is arranged in the fan frame. The at least one vibration absorber is provided on the at least one side wall to project therefrom for absorbing vibration produced by the fan during the operation thereof. Therefore, with the vibration absorbers integrated into the fan frame, it is no longer necessary to provide any additional vibration-absorbing member while upgraded vibration-absorbing effect can be achieved. Meanwhile, the fan can be more conveniently mounted at reduced mounting cost.
US09157437B2
A rotary compressor includes an oiling mechanism that contains a vertical fitting hole formed on a countershaft portion in the lower part of the rotating shaft, and an oil pipe having an inlet port at the lower end and an opening at the upper end. The upper part of the oil pipe is press-fitted into the vertical fitting hole. The oiling mechanism further contains a pump vane having a vane portion and a base portion. The vane portion is twisting processed and inserted into the vertical oil hole to provide a space. The base portion is fixed into the lower part of the oil pipe that has an inner diameter smaller than the width thereof.
US09157421B2
A system of efficiently and safely generating and storing energy from the weight and motion of a moving vehicle across a roadway. It is a object of the present invention to transform energy in the form of pressure, weight, or movement, for example, produced by moving vehicles into air pressure, store it, and subsequently convert the energy into the type of usable energy typically desired by cities, municipalities or private entities. In an embodiment, pressurized air is utilized. In another embodiment, magnetoelectric energy is utilized.
US09157414B2
A wind energy apparatus is made up of a plurality of modular wind energy devices or units. Each unit has a housing and at least two turbines mounted on the housing. Each of the turbines has a blade set extending upward from the housing. Each blade set has a vertical axis extending upward in relation to the housing. Each of the turbines has a generator connected thereto, each generator being disposed in the housing, and having a rotor and a stator. Each turbine is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing, and mounted to the rotor so that they rotate together. Each housing has a positive connector and negative connector on each side of the respective unit. The units, when placed together, connect their respective poles, positive and negative, together completing a circuit. Therefore, one may connect multiple units together.
US09157405B2
A control test device for testing a dual starter system has a first and a second starter. Each starter has a starter electrical interface including a starter start signal interface and a starter status signal interface. The control test device includes a first and a second communication interface for communicating a test signal to the first and second starter respectively. Each communication interface includes an electrical interface for interfacing with the first and second starter electrical interface. The test signal includes a start signal and a status signal. The start signal interfaces with one of the first and second starters start signal interface. The status signal sends a simulated status of the other one of the first and second starters to the one of the first and second starters start interface. A switch mechanism commands the start signal to one of the first and second starters.
US09157388B2
Various methods and systems for an engine driving an electrical power generation system are provided. In one embodiment, an example method for an engine driving an electrical power generation system includes adjusting an engine speed in response to a relationship between oxygen and fuel while maintaining a power transmitted to the electrical power generation system.
US09157386B2
To more reliably realize both improvement in fuel economy at the time of travelling of a vehicle and maintenance operation, a vehicle travel control for performing control at the time of travelling of the vehicle starts an engine when activation of an actuator of a pre-crash safety system is predicted when an engine is stopped causing a vehicle, which travels by power generated by the engine, to travel through inertia in an aim of reducing fuel consumption amount. Power is thus generated in an alternator arranged in the engine, so that supply amount of electricity can be increased.
US09157383B2
A system, method and computer program for simulating vehicle energy use is provided. Drive cycle data collected during real-world driving of at least one vehicle is received by at least one computing device, and engine torque information associated with the real-world driving of the at least one vehicle is also received. Vehicle payload mass of the at least one vehicle is estimated based at least partly on the respective received engine torque information, and energy use of the at least one vehicle is estimated based at least partly on the respective drive cycle data, the respective torque information, and the estimated vehicle payload mass.
US09157381B2
A valve train assembly for an engine comprising cylinders, each comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet valve. A camshaft comprises a peripheral contour. A valve stroke adjusting device comprises a control shaft comprising control contours. An intermediate lever arrangement comprises an intermediate lever comprising a working curve which cooperates with a swivel lever, and an engagement element connected to a control contour. Each intermediate lever is connected to the peripheral contour. A transmission arrangement provides that an intermediate lever arrangement and a swivel lever arrangement is associated with each gas inlet valve. A control contour for an idle range is similar to a control contour for a full-load range. A control contour for a part-load range of a gas inlet valve of a shut-off cylinder comprises a section different to a control contour for a part-load range of the gas inlet valve of a remaining cylinder.
US09157372B2
A series battery start controller for starting an aircraft turbine engine and method thereof is provided, wherein the battery series start controller connects two batteries in series when an aircraft engine starter is engaged to provide a higher voltage to start the aircraft engine and to provide adequate operational voltage to aircraft engine instruments and other aircraft electrical systems, and wherein the battery series start controller reconnects the batteries in parallel when the electrical load drawn by the starting aircraft engine decreases and the supplied voltage to the aircraft rises to a predetermined threshold.
US09157371B2
A fuel control module for a gas turbine engine and method of installation. The fuel control module includes a first frame unit, a second frame unit, a fuel path, and a fuel controller components. The first frame unit and the second frame unit include features for installation in multiple installations and/or multiple configurations.
US09157369B2
A method and system for integrating a power plant and a post combustion carbon capture plant such as a solvent based absorption-regeneration process plant. Electricity is produced by a boiler feeding steam to one or more turbines. The flue gas from the boiler is fed to a waste heat recovery unit which captures heat and provides it to the post combustion capture plant where it can be used in a stripper interstage heater as a supplemental heat for solvent regeneration. Additionally recovered heat can be also integrated with the power generation plant by transferring it to the boiler feed water heating system. Part of the electricity that is generated is also fed to the post combustion capture plant where it will be used to power unit operations therein.
US09157368B2
The disclosed turbine engine includes a fan nacelle surrounding a fan and including an inlet arranged upstream from the fan. The inlet includes an inlet surface having a boundary layer flow. A flow control actuator is in fluid communication with the inlet surface. A boundary layer sensing device is associated with the inlet surface for detecting a boundary layer condition at the inlet surface. A controller is in communication with the flow control actuator and the boundary layer sensing device. The controller is programmed to command the flow control actuator in response to the boundary layer sensing device detecting an undesired boundary layer condition. In this manner, the flow control actuator generates a desired boundary layer condition.
US09157359B2
Technologies are generally described for recovery of energy from engines. The described technology may be applied to systems, methods, and/or apparatuses. An example exhaust energy recovery apparatus (50) may include at least one thermal to electrical energy conversion element (60) having at least one side for thermal coupling along a substantial length (34, 35, 36) of an exhaust duct (30) for a combustion engine. The example apparatus (50) may also include a cover (52) located over at least a portion of the exhaust duct (30) adjacent to the at least one energy conversion element (60). A channel (53) may be formed between the cover (52) and an exterior portion of the exhaust duct (30), the channel having at least one inlet (54, 56) for admission of cooling fluid.
US09157356B2
A method for operating a motor vehicle diesel engine having an exhaust emission control system is provided. The emission control system includes an oxidation catalytic converter, a particle filter, and an SCR catalytic converter, in which the exhaust gas that is discharged from the diesel engine is passed through the oxidation catalytic converter before passing through the particle filter and the SCR catalytic converter. A regeneration of the particle filter with thermal soot burn-off is occasionally carried out, during which the diesel engine is operated at an air-fuel ratio having a lambda value (λ) of at least approximately 1.0, and air is added to the exhaust gas after it exits the oxidation catalytic converter and before it enters the particle filter air, so that soot deposited on the particle filter is burnt-off.
US09157350B2
To provide a configuration that can discharge condensed water remaining in an exhaust gas passage in an engine in which a catalyst is placed in the exhaust gas passage. An engine system (100) is an engine system having an engine (10) in which a catalyst (6) is placed in an exhaust gas passage (31). The engine system (100) has a determination device (81a) for determining whether or not the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water condensed from exhaust gas in a cold state and remaining in the exhaust gas passage (31) when the engine (10) is started, and an operation continuing device (81b) that allows operation of the engine (10) to continue when it is determined that the catalyst (6) is immersed in the condensed water so that a discharge operation time Te exceeds a required time.
US09157337B2
A power receiving device including: a power receiving coil configured to receive power when a power feeding device supplies the power via a magnetic field; an alternating-current power supply configured to apply an alternating voltage to the power receiving coil; and a foreign matter detecting section configured to generate an amount of change in impedance of the power receiving coil from a current induced in the power receiving coil to which the alternating voltage is applied and the alternating voltage, and detect foreign matter between the power receiving coil and the power feeding device on a basis of the amount of change.
US09157330B2
A layout of a blisk includes two inserts housed between the bulb of the blade and the wall of a groove in a disk to compensate for variations in inclination between the overhanging faces of the groove and the upper faces of the bulb at their central part. This construction makes it possible to select blades for which upper faces of the bulb are slightly inclined relative to the radial direction, which facilitates their construction from a composite material.
US09157323B2
An oscillatory rotary engine comprising a toroidal housing having an intake port and an exhaust port. The housing supports an output shaft and a plurality of stacked rotors are disposed within the housing and coupled to the output shaft. Each rotor includes a plurality of pistons disposed in spaced relation to each other about a circumference of the rotor. A resilient coupler connects the rotors to the output shaft. Preferably, the coupler comprises a plurality of nested spiral cuts extending through the rotor. Each piston may include a pawl that is operative to engage ratchets located around the housing, thereby allowing rotation of each rotor in only one direction. The oscillatory rotary engine may further include a compression bypass port that is operative to relieve intake air pressure during compression, whereby the engine has a compression ratio that is less than its expansion ratio.
US09157316B2
A method and apparatus for estimating a pressure transition zone in a borehole is disclosed. A parameter indicative of formation fluid pressure at a plurality of borehole depths is measured. A global trend of the parameter is determined over a first depth interval and a local trend of the parameter is determined over a second depth interval. A relation is determined between the global trend and the local trend, and the pressure transition zone is determined from the determined relation between the determined global trend and the determined local trend.
US09157309B1
A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the system receives feedback information from a drilling rig and calculates an estimated position of a drill bit in a formation based on the feedback information. The system compares the estimated position to a desired position along a planned path of a borehole. The system calculates multiple solutions if the comparison indicates that the estimated position is outside a defined margin of error relative to the desired position. Each solution defines a path from the estimated position to the planned path. The system calculates a cost of each solution and selects one of the solutions based at least partly on the cost. The system produces control information representing the selected solution and outputs the control information for the drilling rig.
US09157306B2
A treatment fluid for treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprises: a base fluid, wherein the base fluid comprises a hydrocarbon liquid; and a gellant, wherein the gellant: is a polymer; and is activated at an activation temperature, wherein the thermal activation of the gellant causes the treatment fluid to become a gel. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation includes introducing the treatment fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation is penetrated by a well, wherein at least a portion of the well has a bottomhole temperature greater than or equal to the activation temperature, and wherein the step of introducing comprises introducing the treatment fluid into the portion of the well.
US09157304B2
A hydrocarbon resource recovery system for a laterally extending wellbore in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an electrically conductive well pipe extending within the laterally extending wellbore. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may further include an RF transmission line coupled to the RF source and extending alongside in parallel with an exterior of the electrically conductive well pipe within the laterally extending wellbore. The RF transmission line may be coupled to the electrically conductive well pipe to define an RF antenna for heating the hydrocarbon resources within the subterranean formation.
US09157293B2
A system including, a mineral extraction component, a conduit fitting coupled to the mineral extraction component, a floating seal insert disposed in the conduit fitting. The floating seal insert including a feature configured to tune a fluid dynamic characteristic along a liquid flow path through the conduit fitting and the floating seal insert. Furthermore, the fluid dynamic characteristic can be shockwaves, flow rate, turbulence, etc.
US09157292B2
A valve comprises a housing including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a neutral chamber. In addition, the valve comprises a stem disposed within the housing. Further, the valve comprises a first valve member at least partially disposed in the first chamber and connected to the stem and a second valve member at least partially disposed in the second chamber and connected to the stem. The first valve member has a closed position seated in a first annular valve seat and an open position spaced apart from the first valve seat. The second valve member has a closed position seated in a second annular valve seat and an open position spaced apart from the second valve seat. Moreover, the valve comprises a biasing member configured to bias the second valve member to the closed position and the first valve member to the open position.
US09157285B2
An offshore universal riser system may include a valve module which selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through a flow passage extending longitudinally through a riser string. An anchoring device may releasably secure the valve module in the passage. A method of constructing a riser system may include the steps of installing the valve module in the passage, and installing at least one annular seal module in the passage. The annular seal module may prevent fluid flow through an annular space between the riser string and a tubular string positioned in the passage. Drilling methods may include injecting relatively low density fluid compositions into the annular space, and selectively varying a restriction to flow through a subsea choke in a drilling fluid return line. The riser string, including housings for the various modules and external control systems, may be dimensioned for installation through a rotary table.
US09157278B2
An apparatus for use in a wellbore is described. The apparatus includes a load, a motor coupled to the load to provide mechanical power to the load and an alternator directly coupled to the motor driving the motor. The apparatus further includes a switch between the alternator and the motor that in a first position connects the alternator to the motor in a first configuration that rotates the motor in the clockwise direction and in a second configuration that rotates the motor in the counterclockwise direction.
US09157272B2
An expandable and contractable shade assembly includes at least a first column of cell structures aligned vertically one above another and a second column of cell structures also aligned vertically one above the other. The second column of cell structures can be positioned offset and nested with the first cell structures such that each second cell structure may be positioned in between two adjacent of the first cell structures. One or more lift cords may be encased or contained within the first cell structures. The first cell structures not only have lift cords but also provide the product with added integrity.
US09157271B2
A dual composition spline for screen framing adds a stabilizing top plate to a round spline body for improved ease of installation using a wide flat roller. The plate is generally rectangular and is made of a relatively high Durometer material, which makes it much harder than the usual material used in screening splines. The holding portion (body) is more like a typical round spline with a relatively low Durometer material which is resilient to hold the screen in a frame channel. The plate and body are connected lengthwise to make a unitary spline.
US09157264B2
A device for sliding door leaves with co-planar closure, particularly for furniture, includes a bracket system for connection with each one of the door leaves. A first pair of wheels is associated with the bracket system in a downward region. The device includes elements adapted to force the closure arrangement of at least one of the door leaves.
US09157238B2
The invention relates to a process for sealing an above-ground or underground construction. In particular it involves the use of non-reactive hot melt adhesives and flexible polyolefin films. This procedure in particular has the advantages that good and long-lasting adhesion can be achieved very quickly, and that in particular by using polyolefin strips coated with non-reactive hot melt adhesives, insulating strips can be obtained simply which are non-tacky at room temperature and can be processed and bonded easily at the construction site.
US09157233B2
Disclosed herein is an insulated thermal mass concrete wall (100) constructed using a system (10). The system (10) comprises an outer insulation layer (12) and an inner drywall layer (14) spaced apart from the outer insulation layer. Vertical frame members, formed from several frame member modules (16) that are connected one on top of another, extend between the outer insulation layer (12) and the inner drywall layer (14) to interlock the insulation and drywall layers and maintain a space there between for receiving uncured concrete (18), in which conduits (19) for services can be embedded.
US09157226B2
A method for increasing hydraulic capacity of a gravity sewer system includes installing a receiving structure within or proximate to at least a portion of the gravity sewer system. The receiving structure has at least one fluid inlet opening, at least one liquid outlet opening, and at least one gas outlet opening. The method further includes evacuating at least some of any gas within the receiving structure through at least one gas outlet opening to create a vacuum within the receiving structure. The method further includes receiving a flow of at least liquid through the at least one fluid inlet opening of the receiving structure and into the receiving structure. The method further includes discharging at least some of the liquid from the receiving structure through the at least one liquid outlet opening of the receiving structure.
US09157225B2
A flush toilet which includes: a bowl portion having a waste-receiving surface, a rim and a recess; a first rim spout portion which spouts flush water toward a front end of the bowl portion so as to form a swirl flow; and a second rim spout portion which spouts flush water so as to form a swirl flow having a same flow direction as that of the swirl flow formable by the first rim spout portion. The bowl portion is configured to allow flush water spouted from the first rim spout portion to form a major stream which flows from the front end of the bowl portion into the recess, and allow flush water spouted from the second rim spout portion to flow into the recess from a lateral side of the bowl portion and then merge with the major stream M.
US09157223B2
A lavatory system includes a basin configured to receive at least one faucet, the basin defining a primary drain passage and first and second overflow drain passages; and an overflow adapter configured to be mounted to a rear surface of the basin, the overflow adapter defining an adapter passage such that when the overflow adapter is mounted to the basin, fluid received by way of the first overflow drain passage is directed through the adapter passage between the overflow adapter and the rear surface of the basin and to the second overflow drain passage.
US09157222B2
A three-position, circularly-shaped, height-adjustable overflow drain is disclosed. A circular back plate includes a bottom half opposite a top half, and is configured to be attachable to an overflow elbow. A first aperture is located in the bottom half of the back plate. A second aperture is located in the top half of the back plate. A rotatable handle comprises an outer cylindrical portion including a center plate. A third aperture is located in the center plate. The first, second and third apertures are aligned along a common radius, wherein the rotatable handle is rotatable to align either the first and third apertures, the second and third apertures, or no apertures. A cover plate is disposed within the rotatable handle and attached to the circular back plate forming an annular gap between the cover plate and the outer cylindrical portion.
US09157216B2
A hydraulic shovel calibration device is adapted to calibrate parameters in a hydraulic shovel including a current position computation unit configured to compute a current position of a working point included in a work tool of a hydraulic shovel based on a plurality of parameters that indicate dimensions and swing angles of a boom, an arm, and the work tool. The hydraulic shovel calibration device includes an input unit and a calibration computation unit. The input unit is configured and arranged to input working point position information indicating coordinates of a working point included in a work tool of the hydraulic shovel at a plurality of positions which are measured by an external measurement device. The calibration computation unit is configured to compute calibration values of the parameters based on the working point position information input into the input unit.
US09157215B2
A computer-based method for displaying an implement payload weight to an operator of a vehicle is provided. The method includes calculating an implement payload weight at a lift position, displaying, at a first location on a monitor, the calculated implement payload weight, determining an accuracy of the calculated implement payload weight, and displaying, at a second location on the monitor proximate to the first location, an accuracy indicator based on the accuracy of the calculated implement payload weight.
US09157204B2
A system and method to provide water and sediment flow through a rock jetty, which includes a plurality of collection components mounted along a forward face of the rock jetty, each collection component having a plurality of flow pipes to receive water carrying sediment; a principal flow pipe to receive flow from the plurality of flow pipes and to carry water and sediment a predetermined distance to deposit at the rear of the jetty; a continuous trough mounted on the jetty forward face to efficiently capture water and sediment at entrances of the plurality of flow pipes; and a filter screen covering the entrance of the trough to allow water and sediment to flow into the trough and to prevent large rocks and other debris from entering. Sections of principal flow pipe may be removed when sufficient quantity of sediment has been deposited, so that additional sediment can be deposited.
US09157195B2
Procedures and devices for the formation of retraction joints in works of concrete. The devices are made of a material for separating concrete and have a configuration that comprises: a) A vertical wall (15, 15′) in its top portion that is planned to be placed underneath the surface fissure line of the retraction joint on the top face of a surface of the concrete; b) Two prismatic surfaces (17, 17′) equal on their bottom part deployed on alternate sides with respect of the vertical wall and configured for the formation of entries and exits imbricated between adjacent slabs forming the faces of support (21, 21′) of one slab over the other at angles of between 0° and −10° with respect of the horizontal plane. The procedures are based on the insertion of the devices in fresh concrete in the position planned for each retraction joint using a machine.
US09157180B2
A drying-ironing combined machine. The machine includes a supporting body (1), a pillar (4) located on the supporting body (1), a drying unit (2) and an ironing unit (3). The drying unit (2) comprises a drying rack member (21), a hood (22) supporting body on the drying rack member (21), and a heating member (23). A venting port (232) of the heating member (23) is in a sealed communication with an air inlet (225) of the hood (22). The drying unit (2) has a clothes drying region formed on one side of the pillar (4). The ironing unit (3) comprises an ironing device and a clothes hanger (331). The ironing unit (3) has an ironing region formed on the other side of the pillar (4). The drying-ironing combined machine allows for drying and ironing of clothes to be performed simultaneously without interference with each other, thus improving the capability of the machine in handling dry and wet clothes, increasing convenience of use, reducing operational difficulty during use, preventing energy wastage, allowing for a reduced footprint, and being particularly applicable in use in room having limited space.
US09157175B2
There is provided a fly sewing machine. A fly supply unit is configured to supply flies to a transfer passage. A fly transfer unit is configured to transfer and send the fly supplied by the fly supply unit toward the downstream side thereof. A chain feed unit is configured to feed a slide fastener chain onto the flies sent by the fly transfer unit. An auxiliary conveyance unit is configured to press the flies and the slide fastener chain which are overlapped by the chain feed unit from above or below, and to send the flies and the slide fastener chain toward the downstream side thereof. A sewing machine part is configured to stitch together the flies and the slide fastener chain sent by the auxiliary conveyance unit.
US09157170B2
A method of producing a grown single crystal diamond substrate comprising: (a) providing a first diamond substrate which presents a (001) major surface, which major surface is bounded by at least one <100> edge, the length of the said at least one <100> edge exceeding any dimension of the surface that is orthogonal to the said at least one <100> edge by a ratio of at least 1.3:1; and (b) growing diamond material homoepitaxially on the (001) major surface of the diamond material surface under chemical vapour deposition (CVD) synthesis conditions, the diamond material growing both normal to the major (001) surface, and laterally therefrom.
US09157168B2
Provided is a vitreous silica crucible which can suppress inward sagging and buckling of the sidewall effectively even when time for pulling silicon ingots is extremely long. According to the present invention, provided is a vitreous silica crucible for pulling a silicon single crystal, wherein the crucible has a wall comprising, from an inner surface toward an outer surface of the crucible, a transparent vitreous silica layer having a bubble content rate of less than 0.5%, a bubble-containing vitreous silica layer having a bubble content rate of 1% or more and less than 50%, a semi-transparent vitreous silica layer having a bubble content rate of 0.5% or more and less than 1.0% and having an OH group concentration of 35 ppm or more and less than 300 ppm.
US09157161B1
A thin film with multiple binding functionality can be prepared on an electrode surface via consecutive electroreduction of two or more aryl-onium salts with different functional groups. This versatile and simple method for forming multifunctional surfaces provides an effective means for immobilization of diverse molecules at close proximities. The multifunctional thin film has applications in bioelectronics, molecular electronics, clinical diagnostics, and chemical and biological sensing.
US09157154B2
A treating solution for forming on a surface of either zinc or a zinc alloy a hexavalent-chromium-free trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating which has an even black appearance and satisfactory corrosion resistance. The treating solution has a long treating-bath life. Also provided is a method of forming a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating. The aqueous treating solution, which is for forming a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating on zinc or a zinc alloy, contains trivalent chromium ions, a phosphoric ester and/or phosphorous ester, and a sulfur compound. The method is a method of chemically treating zinc or a zinc alloy which comprises using the aqueous treating solution to chemically treat the zinc or zinc alloy at a solution temperature of 10-60° C., whereby a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating is formed on the zinc or zinc alloy. Furthermore provided is a coated zinc or zinc alloy metal which comprises zinc or a zinc alloy and, formed thereon, a black trivalent-chromium chemical conversion coating formed by a chemical treatment with the aqueous treating solution.
US09157151B2
The present invention generally provides an apparatus and method for eliminating the “first wafer effect” for plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing a chamber after the chamber being idle for a period of time. The method comprises a cleaning step followed by a season step and a heating step adapted to the length of the idle time.
US09157149B2
A first compound having an atom in an oxidized state is reacted with a bis(trimethylsilyl) six-membered ring system or related compound to form a second compound having the atom in a reduced state relative to the first compound. The atom in an oxidized state is selected from the group consisting of Groups 2 to 12 of the Periodic Table, As, Sb, Bi, Se, and Te.
US09157147B2
The invention relates to a test glass changing system (10) for selectively coating and optically measuring a test glass (24, 24″) in a coating chamber (1) of a vacuum coating installation (3). In the coating chamber, a movable turntable (2) is used to guide substrates (7) on a path through a stream of a coating material. The test glass changing system (10) comprises a test glass holder (8, 8″) with a test glass plate (26) for holding the test glass (24, 24″), and a cover (28, 28″) for selectively covering the test glass plate (26). The test glass changing system (10) also comprises a rotary apparatus (34) for rotating the test glass plate (26) about an axis (51) which is oriented approximately parallel to the axis of rotation (5) of the turntable (2). The test glass holder (8, 8″) can be positioned on the turntable (2) and removed from the coating chamber (1) in the form of a unit.
US09157140B2
Metal components with a protective coating containing silicon and a process for forming such protective coatings. The protective coating is formed by applying a silicon-containing fluid composition to the metal component as a silicon-containing layer and then heating the silicon-containing layer to a temperature exceeding 400° F.
US09157139B2
A component is provided for use in a turbine comprising: a substrate formed from an alloy, and an erosion resistant protective structure mechanically coupled to a portion of the substrate for protecting the substrate portion from erosion caused by a fluid. The erosion resistant protective structure may be formed from a shape memory alloy.
US09157135B2
The present invention provides a high-temperature lead-free solder alloy which has no variation in strength of the soldered portion and has an excellent balance between strength and soldering properties, and a method for producing the alloy. The present invention relates to a lead-free jointing material made of an alloy of two elements A and B selected from elements other than Pb, wherein the element A has a melting point higher than a melting point of the element B, wherein the alloy is an alloy which has a room-temperature stable phase composed of the element B and a room-temperature stable phase AmBn composed of the elements A and B (provided that m and n are specific numerals in accordance with an alloy constituting a stable phase at room temperature) and satisfies AxB1-x (provided that 0
US09157134B2
A homogenous brazing material essentially consisting of relatively low amounts of silver and nickel together with copper, zinc, and other constituents is provided. The brazing material has a working temperature exceeding 630° F. and is preferably between about 1250° F. and 1500° F. The brazing material preferably has about 30 percent by weight of silver, about 36 percent by weight of copper, about 32 percent by weight of zinc, and about 2 percent by weight of nickel. The addition of nickel in the above-specified amount improves resistance against interface corrosion in aqueous solutions, aids in the strength of the alloy, and provides improved wettability on ferrous and non-ferrous substrates. The brazing material may also include a flux, such as a core or a coating.
US09157122B2
The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and monitoring the efficacy of treatment of a cancer. More particularly, the methods of the invention comprise detecting an enhanced degree of chromatin modification within Chromosome 2 of the human genome from about map position 2q14.1 to about map position 2q14.3 in a sample derived from a subject. The methods include detecting an enhanced level of methylation, or detecting an enhanced level of modification of a histone positioned within the chromatin within the region of about 2q14.1 to 2q14.3 of Chromosome 2. The methods also include detecting a modulated level of expression of a gene within the region of about 2q14.1 to 2q14.3 of Chromosome 2. The gene may be selected from the group consisting of DEAD box polypeptide 18 (DDX18), translin (TSN), v-ral simian leukaemia viral oncogene homolog B (RALB), secretin recepto (SCTR), engrailed homolog 1 (EN1), macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 4 (PTPN4), insulin induced gene 2 (INSIG2), inhibin beta B (INHBB), GLI-Kruppel family member 2 (GLI2), FLJ10996, STEAP3, diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI), MGC10993, erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 like 5 (EPB41L5), FLJ14816, transcription factor CP2-like 1 (TFCP2L1).
US09157116B2
High throughput methods are used that combine the features of using a matrix-type microfluidic device, labeled nucleic acid probes, and homogenous assays to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The high throughput methods are capable of detecting nucleic acid analyes with high PCR and probe specificity, producing a low fluorescence background and therefore, a high signal to noise ratio. Additionally, the high throughput methods are capable of detecting low copy number nucleic acid analyte per cell.
US09157107B2
A method of producing a compound originating from a polysaccharide-based biomass includes at least one of a saccharification step that produces a sugar solution containing a monosaccharide and/or an oligosaccharide from a product obtainable by hydrolyzing the polysaccharide-based biomass; a fermentation step that ferments the sugar solution containing the monosaccharide and/or oligosaccharide originating from the polysaccharide-based biomass; and a treatment that removes a fermentation inhibitor with the use of a separation membrane having a glucose removal rate and an isopropyl alcohol removal rate which simultaneously satisfy the following relationships (I) and (II) when a 500 ppm aqueous glucose solution at pH 6.5 at 25° C. and a 500 ppm aqueous isopropyl alcohol solution at pH 6.5 at 25° C. are respectively permeated through the membrane at an operation pressure of 0.5 MPa, prior to the saccharification step and/or in the step prior to the fermentation step: Glucose removal rate≧80% (I) Glucose removal rate−Isopropyl alcohol removal rate≧20% (II).
US09157106B2
Provided is a polynucleotide including, from the 3′ terminus of the polynucleotide to the 5′ terminus of the polynucleotide, a first region including a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence of a portion of a target nucleic acid; a second region including a nucleotide sequence identical to a nucleotide sequence of a portion of the target nucleic acid; and a third region including a nucleotide sequence that self-hybridizes to form a stem-loop structure, and compositions, kits, and methods related thereto.
US09157093B2
Presented herein is a SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, for reducing sympodial index in plants having a sympodial index of 3 or more. Also presented herein are methods for providing plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular S. lycopersicum, having a reduced sympodial index including the steps of introducing into the genome of said plants a promotor sequence in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plants a gene construct, such that the sympodial index of the plant with the promotor sequence or gene construct is reduced as compared to the plant without said promotor sequence or gene construct, and to plants obtainable by said methods.
US09157082B2
Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of ApoCIII mRNA and protein in an animal. Also provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for increasing HDL levels and/or improving the ratio of TG to HDL and reducing plasma lipids and plasma glucose in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate any one or more of cardiovascular disease or metabolic disorder, or a symptom thereof.
US09157071B2
A modified Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), which has a portion of gD (glycoprotein D) of the glycoproteic envelope deleted and a heterologous single chain antibody inserted in place of such deleted portion; the modified HSV is capable of infecting cells through receptor HER2/ErbB2 but not through receptors HVEM/HveA and nectin1/HveC; uses of the modified HSV and a process of the preparation thereof are also disclosed.
US09157065B2
The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of organs which are degenerative and/or in the pathological state by means of the use of cells, which are phenotypically stably differentiating or differentiated but not necessarily ultimately predetermined with respect to development, from a donor organ selected according to the principles of the opposite cell differentiation program (OCDP) and also to the use of cells of this type for the treatment or for the production of a drug for treatment of the same. Furthermore, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical agents comprising suitable phenotypically stable cells, cells of a first organ which is different from the second organ with respect to organ type thereby being used, which, in the normal physiological state with respect to a predetermined set of expressed genes and/or phenotypical properties, have opposite properties to the second cells in the normal physiological state.
US09157058B2
Compositions and methods and apparatus for growth and maintenance of microorganisms and/or bioprocesses using one or more gases as electron donors, electron acceptors, carbon sources, or other nutrients, and for a bioprocess that converts hydrogen and carbon dioxide, or syngas, or producer gas into lipid products, bio-based oils, or other biochemical products.
US09157057B2
The present invention relates to a mutant of Monascus purpureus NTU 568, a nucleotide sequence for Monascus purpureus NTU 568 and primers for nucleotide sequence of Monascus purpureus NTU 568, wherein the Monascus purpureus NTU 568 having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 2 or SEQ ID NO 3 is deposited with Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany) on Nov. 18, 2013, with the accession number of DSM 28072. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence for NTU 568 and the primers for the nucleotide sequence are proposed in order to facilitate the person skilled in Monascus purpureus filed capable of carrying out the strain (mutant) identification of the NTU 568 according to the present invention. Moreover, the person skilled in Monascus purpureus filed can also rapidly complete the strain (mutant) identification of the NUT 568 by using DNA molecular marker technology, without culturing any isolated Monascus purpureus strain or live Monascus purpureus bacteria.
US09157051B2
A cleaning composition comprising a liquid salt, and a hydrogen bond donor for the liquid salt, and a surfactant. Also a method of cleaning using the cleaning composition.
US09157050B2
A detergent composition with a superior drying performance is provided comprising a surfactant according to the formula: Formula (I)) Wherein n=0-5 and m=10-50; or formula (2): R1O(AlkO)xM(OAlk)yOR2 wherein R1 and R2 are independently a branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated, and possibly hydroxylated, alkyl radicals with 4 to 22 carbon atoms. wherein Alk is a branched or unbranched alkyl radical with 2-4 carbon atoms; wherein x and y are independently an integer between 1 and 70; wherein M is an alkyl radical selected from the group CH2, CHR3, CR3R4, CH2CHR3, CHR3CHR4; and wherein R3 and R4 are independently branched or straight chain, saturated or unsaturated, alkyl radicals with 1 to 18 carbon atoms.
US09157044B2
A bearing lubricant composition includes a base oil containing an ester compound (α) represent by the general formula (1), and has a pour point of −30° C. or lower and a viscosity index of 150 or more. [wherein, A1 is a C3-8 linear or branched alkylene group; and at least one of Xa and Xb is a C2-20 linear or branched alkyl ether group, or when it is not an alkyl ether group, it is a C5-13 linear or branched alkyl group.]
US09157039B1
The present invention relates to a process for obtaining simultaneously several compositions comprising fatty acid alkyl esters (biodiesel), glycerol formal and fatty acid glycerol formal esters.
US09157036B2
A system and method for producing fuels and lubricant basestocks from gas oil boiling range feeds is provided. Desulfurization and conversion stages are used to form fuel and lubricant products. The product from a desulfurization stage can be fractionated, and a portion of the fractionated bottoms can be used as an input feed for a conversion or hydrocracking stage. The configuration can advantageously allow for reduced amounts of catalyst in the conversion stage.
US09157027B2
A compound represented by formula (1), a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal display device are described. In formula (1), for example, the ring A1 and the ring A4 are phenylene or cyclohexylene; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 6 carbons; L1 is a single bond; s and t are 0; and P1, P2, P3 and P4 are a polymerizable group.
US09157023B2
The invention relates to a light-emitting device comprising at least a substrate, an anode, a light-emitting layer and a cathode whereby the light-emitting layer contains an iridium complex IrL3 and whereby at least two ligands L are a dibenzoquinoline. The invention relates in particular to the complexes Ir(dibenzo[f,h]quinoline)2(pentane-2,4-dionate) and Ir(dibenzo[f,h]quinoline)3 which emit light with a wavelength of λmax=545 nm and λmax=595 nm respectively.
US09157016B2
Modified polyphenol binder compositions and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the binder composition can include at least one unsaturated monomer and at least one polyphenolic compound. The polyphenolic compound can include a lignin, a tannin, a novolac resin, a modified phenol formaldehyde resin, bis-phenol A, humic acid, or any mixture thereof.
US09157013B2
A solid dry to the touch at ambient temperature structural adhesive which can be cured at elevated temperature and which can be molded at an intermediate temperature is provided as well as the use of the adhesive for bonding metals.
US09157011B2
A polishing composition contains colloidal silica. The colloidal silica satisfies the expression A×D×E×F≧350,000 where “A” denotes the average aspect ratio (dimensionless) of the colloidal silica, “D” denotes the average particle diameter (units: nm) of the colloidal silica, “E” denotes the standard deviation of the particle size (units: nm) of the colloidal silica, and “F” denotes the volume fraction (units: %) of particles having a diameter of 1 to 300 nm in the colloidal silica. The volume fraction of particles having a diameter of 1 to 300 nm in the colloidal silica is 90% or greater.
US09157003B2
New methods for preparing carbon nanotube films having enhanced properties are provided. The method broadly provides reacting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and compounds comprising a polyaromatic moieties in the presence a strong acid. During the reaction process, the polyaromatic moieties noncovalently bond with the carbon nanotubes. Additionally, the functionalizing moieties are further functionalized by the strong acid. This dual functionalization allows the CNTs to be dispersed at concentrations greater than 0.5 g/L in solution without damaging their desirable electronic and physical properties. The resulting solutions are stable on the shelf for months without observable bundling, and can be incorporated into solutions for printing conductive traces by a variety of means, including inkjet, screen, flexographic, gravure printing, or spin and spray coating.
US09157002B2
A process for preparing a pigment dispersion including melting a phase change ink carrier and an optional dispersant at a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 170° C. in a jacketed vessel comprising a jacket surrounding an immersion mill or basket mill attachment and a dispersion blade attachment disposed within the jacketed vessel; mixing the melted phase change ink carrier and optional dispersant with a dispersion blade in the jacketed vessel; adding a pigment to the melted, mixed phase change ink carrier and optional dispersant in the jacketed vessel; wetting the pigment; after pigment wetting, reducing the pigment particle size using an immersion mill or basket mill attachment in the jacketed vessel; and discharging the pigment dispersion.
US09157001B2
A coating composition for an image transfer member in an aqueous ink imaging system is disclosed that comprises a hydrophilic composition and a surfactant. The hydrophilic composition can be a polyvinyl acetate-based composition.
US09156996B2
A method for coloring powders is provided that includes mixing a base powder and non-incorporated pigments. A colored powder composition having a base powder particle and at least a partial shell of non-incorporated pigments about the base powder particle is also provided. Articles having a coating of the colored powder composition are also provided.
US09156993B2
A pretreatment agent was provided for ink jet textile printing. The pretreatment agent contains a polyvalent metal compound, an anionic resin emulsion, a fluorinated water and oil repellent, and water.
US09156989B2
A method for preparing a surface modified organic pigment includes the steps of a) reacting the organic pigment in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent with a surface modifying reagent to form a surface modified organic pigment; and b) washing and drying the surface modified organic pigment; wherein the surface modifying reagent is represented by Formula (I): wherein, X is selected from the group consisting of O, S and N—R3; Y is selected from the group consisting of —O—, and NR4; R1 to R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a -aralkyl group, an alkaryl group, and an aryl group and s heteroaryl group; with the proviso that when Y—R1 is different from OH that at least one of R2 to R4 is substituted by at least one functional group having a pKa between 2.5 and 9.
US09156981B2
Moisture-curable compositions are provided which comprises a moisture-curable silylated resin, a flexibilizer and at least one curing catalyst. The cured compositions possess enhanced elongation and tear properties, and are highly suitable for applications such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, gaskets, industrial rubber goods, and the like.
US09156980B2
The present invention relates to a biodegradable composition comprising at least one polymer of natural origin and at least one aliphatic-aromatic copolyester obtained starting from mixtures comprising aliphatic diols, polyfunctional aromatic acids, and at least two aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, at least one of which is long chain. Said composition combines improved biodegradability, excellent mechanical properties, a high level of industrial processability, limited environmental impact as well as stability of physical properties under the influence of environmental factors.
US09156969B2
The present invention relates to a conjugated diene based polymer comprising a monomer unit derived from at least one conjugated diene selected from 1,3-butadiene and isoprene and a monomer unit derived from a compound represented by Formula (1): wherein n represents an integer of 0 to 5; R11, R12 and R13 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
US09156968B2
The present invention relates to a diene rubber composition reinforced with an inorganic filler comprising a thermoplastic polymer bearing, at at least one end, a silanol or silyl ether functional group. The presence of the functional thermoplastic polymer makes it possible to improve the compromise of performances, which are the handling and the grip, of a tire having a tread that is based on such a composition.
US09156967B2
A rigid material for heat-insulation and/or buoyancy, consisting of a mixture of: (a) a matrix of a uniform cross-linked elastomeric polymer mixture and a liquid insulating plasticizer compound and (b) hollow balls dispersed in the matrix. The insulating plasticizer compound being selected from among compounds from inorganic or vegetable oil, and being a material, the phase of which does not change at a temperature of −10° to +150° C., the weight proportion of the insulating plasticizer compound in the matrix being at least 50%. The hollow balls, dispersed in the matrix are at a volumetric proportion of at least 35% of the total volume of the mixture of the balls with the matrix. The rigid insulating material can be used for the insulation and/or buoyancy of an underwater pipe or underwater-pipe element.
US09156960B2
Disclosed is a dust separating and carrier returning device, which comprises: an outer raw material transfer passage (1) and an inner carrier returning passage (2), and a sieve cage (4) with one end thereof connected with the raw material transfer passage (1) and the other end sealed; a spiral conveyer belt is provided between the sieve cage (4) and the carrier returning passage (2), with the two sides thereof connected to the inner wall of the sieve cage (4) and the outer wall of the carrier returning passage (2); and the end of the spiral conveyer belt is connected to the rear port of the carrier returning passage (2) via a guide plate (5). The above device achieves the dedusting of the carrier during the transmission process and the returning of the dedusted carrier to another working circle, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing the number of manufacturing process steps which in turn reduces the process cost.
US09156958B2
The invention relates to a thermoplastic polymer composition that contains polyamide and comprises an excellent compromise of properties, in particular mechanical properties, and a high fluidity at the molten state. The invention particularly relates to a composition containing at least a high-fluidity linear polyamide and optionally fillers such as glass fibers, and to a method for making such a composition.
US09156955B2
A method of producing a coagulated latex composite. A coagulating mixture of a first elastomer latex and a particulate filler slurry is flowed along a conduit, and a second elastomer latex is introduced into the flow of the coagulating mixture.
US09156954B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of silicone in water emulsions by emulsion polymerization. The emulsion contains particles of an organopolysiloxane polymer having an average particle diameter of less than 1 μm. The method comprises: —combining a silanol end-blocked organosiloxane starting polymer, water, and a surfactant; said starting polymer having a viscosity of at least 2 Pa·s preferably at least 2.5 Pa·s preferably at least 3.5 Pa·s preferably at least 4 Pa·s and up to 150 Pa·s; —emulsifying the starting polymer by agitating or shearing the ingredients; —polymerizing the starting polymer to form a longer chain silanol end-blocked organopolysiloxane polymer; wherein at least a portion of said polymerizing step is performed at a temperature of less than or equal to 16° C. preferably less than or equal to 15° C.
US09156949B2
A polymeric material with a variable modulus of elasticity is described herein. The polymeric material described herein is useful for forming implantable medical devices (e.g. ophthalmic lenses, breast implants, and body augmentation devices). In addition, medical devices formed from the polymer material can be used to controllably release a therapeutic agent. Also, the polymeric material may be used to prepare topical compositions or other applications or devices where control of a mechanical property such as material modulus is important.
US09156946B2
Novel oligomers and polymers derived from the reaction of benzoxazine compounds with a mixture of thiol compounds and amine compounds are disclosed. The compositions are useful in coating, sealants, adhesive and many other applications.
US09156945B2
A polymer is characterized by a repeat unit represented by Structural Formula (I): or a copolymer thereof. A crosslinked polymer characterized by a repeat unit represented by Structural Formula (II), (III), (IV) or (V): or a copolymer thereof, wherein at least one such repeat unit of a first polymer strand is crosslinked with at least one repeat unit of a second polymer strand by at least one bridging unit, the first and second polymer strands and the repeat unit being components of the crosslinked polymer.
US09156941B2
Polyester compositions composed of (a) titanium-catalyzed polyesters containing the residues of terephthalic acid, cyclohexanedimethanol, and ethylene glycol; and (b) at least one chelating phosphorus species and/or reaction products thereof, represented by the structure: The polyester compositions are characterized by having superior color and/or clarity.
US09156934B2
The present invention relates to a process comprising the steps of reacting a reactive mixture comprising at least one silicone-containing component, at least one hydrophilic component, and at least one diluent to form an ophthalmic device having an advancing contact angle of less than about 80°; and contacting the ophthalmic device with an aqueous extraction solution at an elevated extraction temperature, wherein said at least one diluent has a boiling point at least about 10° higher than said extraction temperature.
US09156933B2
The application describes a method of preparing a polymer that includes: mixing in an aqueous solution comprising water and a water-soluble alcohol: a vinyl-based monomer having a sulfonic acid functional group, a bifunctional vinyl-based cross-linking agent, and a polymerization initiator, to form a reaction solution, where the monomer and the cross-linking agent are soluble in the reaction solution; and polymerizing the monomer and cross-linking agent to form the polymer. The application further describes a polymer that includes a polymer backbone comprising sulfonic acid functional groups; and crosslinks comprising alcohol functional groups.
US09156919B2
In a method of removing alkylene halogenohydrin from a cellulose ether the cellulose ether is provided, water is added to the cellulose ether and subsequently alkylene halogenohydrin and water is removed from the cellulose ether by evaporation. Alternatively steam or a steam mixture can be sparged across or through the cellulose ether to remove halogenohydrin from the cellulose ether.
US09156911B2
This disclosure relates to apelin antigen-binding proteins and methods of using the apelin antigen-binding proteins. The antigen-binding protein may comprise an antibody to apelin and can be used to treat pathological conditions involving angiogenesis. The pathological conditions can comprise cancer or retinopathy and/or retinopathy-related complications.
US09156906B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides glycopeptides (or carbohydrate-peptide conjugates) comprising TACAs that direct against (e.g., bind specifically to) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) or helper T cells for, e.g., CTL- or T-helper-based immunotherapy of carcinomas, and methods for making and using the glycopeptides of the invention. In one embodiment, the invention provides novel glycopeptides comprising tumor-derived carbohydrate or tumor-derived epitopes that specifically bind to major histocompatibility (MHC) class I molecules on cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) or MHC molecules on helper T cells, and methods for using same, e.g., as a vaccine, including a pan-cancer vaccine.
US09156901B2
The invention provides materials and methods for promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain, and in the treatment of diabetes and associated metabolic disorders. In particular, the invention provides novel acylated glucagon analogue peptides effective in such methods. The peptides may mediate their effect by having increased selectivity for the GLP-1 receptor as compared to human glucagon.
US09156900B2
The present invention aims to provide a novel undifferentiated state-control agent that maintains and/or improves an undifferentiated state of undifferentiated cells. CCL2 or a protein containing a functional domain thereof is used as the undifferentiated state-control agent. By culturing undifferentiated cells in the presence of the control agent, it is possible to maintain and/or improve an undifferentiated state of the undifferentiated cells. Examples of the undifferentiated cells include embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). The origin of the cells is not particularly limited, and may be a human, mouse, or the like, for example.
US09156894B2
NMB1870 is a protein in Neisseria meningitidis. Three families of NMB1870 are known. To increase the ability of a NMB1870 protein to elicit antibodies that are cross-reactive between the families, NMB1870 is engineered. Sequences can be substituted from one NMB1870 family into the corresponding position in another family. Proteins of NMB1870 sequences from different families can be joined to each other.
US09156889B2
A peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence expressed by the following SEQ ID NO: 1, an amino acid sequence expressed by the following SEQ ID NO: 2, an amino acid sequence expressed by the following SEQ ID NO: 3, an amino acid sequence expressed by the following SEQ ID NO: 4, or any combination thereof: (SEQ ID NO: 1) ALGDSLYGAASLN; (SEQ ID NO: 2) MTVDNPASTTNKDKLFSVWK; (SEQ ID NO; 3) PGAVPEK; and (SEQ ID NO: 4) STKDLTTY.
US09156887B2
Non-natural albumin binding domains, polynucleotides encoding thereof and methods of making and using these domains and polynucleotides are useful in controlling the half-life of therapeutic molecules for patients.
US09156883B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide novel binding molecules for factor VIII and factor VIII-like proteins. Preferred binding molecules of the present invention exhibit not only distinct characteristics for binding of the target factor VIII polypeptides but also specific and desirable characteristics for release (elution) of the target polypeptides. Especially preferred binding molecules according to the invention are short polypeptide sequences, characterized by a stable loop structure.
US09156878B2
Described herein are compounds, methods of making such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and medicaments comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat androgen receptor mediated diseases or conditions. The present invention provides therapies and therapeutic regimens for the treatment of prostate cancer.
US09156867B2
The present disclosure relates, inter alia, to compositions and methods for treating viral diseases and cancer. There are disclosed lipophilic antiviral and anticancer acyclic nucleoside phosphonate diesters, preparation thereof, and methods of using the compounds to treat viral diseases and cancer.
US09156865B2
The present invention relates to a novel delivery system for delivering therapeutic agents into living cells, and more particularly, to novel chemical moieties that are designed capable of targeting and/or penetrating cells or other targets of interest and further capable of binding therapeutic agents to be delivered to these cells, and to delivery systems containing same.
US09156854B2
The invention relates to novel maytansinoid compounds having sulfoxide linkers and more specifically to novel maytansinoid compounds of structural formula (I) and (II). The invention also provides conjugates of the maytansinoid compounds linked to a cell-binding agent. The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.
US09156851B2
Provided herein is a photocurable dianhydrohexanehexol derivative, a method preparing the same, and a composition including the same, for example, to a photocurable compound derived from environmentally friendly biomass, the compound having a structure where a 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPM) functional group prepared by reacting a biomass derived dianhydrohexanehexol (1,4:3,6-dianhydro-d-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, DHH) compound under an optimal reaction condition is combined, a preparing method thereof, and a photocurable composition comprising the photocurable compound.
US09156850B2
Enediyne compounds having a structure according to formula (I), where R0, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are defined herein, can be used in chemotherapeutic drugs, especially in conjugates, for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
US09156847B2
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of the following compounds: where R1, R1a and R2a have the definitions in the description, as well as a process to prepare other intermediates that may be useful to synthesize downstream products, especially compounds that are useful as medicaments, for instance Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitors such as ibrutinib. Also disclosed are other processes, other intermediates and compounds per se.
US09156845B2
The present invention provides novel 4,5-disubstituted-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives of Formula I, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the specification. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I and to use of the compounds in the treatment of diseases associated with LRRK2, such as neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease, cancer, Crohn's disease or leprosy.
US09156844B2
Compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of neutrophil elastase, wherein A is C—R1 or N; —X1—X2— is CR15═N— or —NR19—CO—; and R1-R6, R15, R15 and R19 are as defined in the claims.
US09156842B2
The invention concerns a new process for preparing 3-[(4S)-8-bromo-1-methyl-6-(2-pyridinyl)-4H-imidazo[1,2-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester or 3-[(4S)-8-bromo-1-methyl-6-(2-pyridinyl)-4H-imidazo[1,2-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4-yl]propionic acid methyl ester benzene sulfonate (P) which comprises reacting 3-[(S)-7-bromo-2-((R and/or S)-2-hydroxy-propylamino)-5-pyridin-2-yl-3H-benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-3-yl]-propionic acid methyl ester of formula (EM) with an oxidizing agent and optionally treating the reaction product under acidic conditions, such as to produce the compound of formula (F) or the compound (P), and new compounds useful as starting material or as intermediate for performing that process.
US09156827B2
An anticancer agent comprising a compound represented by the formula (I) [R1 represents hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group and the like; R2 and R3 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R4 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkylsulfonyl group and the like; R5 represents hydrogen atom or a substituent; represents a single bond or a double bond; R6 and R7 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R8 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; A represents —O—, —S—, or —CH2—; D represents —C═ or —N═; X represents methylene group, —O—, or —CO—; Q represents —N═ or —C(R8)═; and Y represents a heterocyclic group or amino group], which shows a superior inhibitory activity against pim-1 kinase.
US09156812B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a crystalline form of 6-[(4S)-2-methyl-4-(naphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl]pyridazin-3-amine. The present disclosure also generally relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline form, as well of methods of using a crystalline form in the treatment of depression and other conditions and methods for obtaining such crystalline form.
US09156811B2
The present invention relates to N-heterocyclic sulphonamide compounds, in particular pyrazole sulphonamide compounds, and their use as N-myristoyl transferase inhibitors.
US09156809B2
This disclosure is directed to compound of formula (1): wherein R1 is a C7-18 alkyl, R2 is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl, each R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 is independently hydrogen or a C1-6 alkyl, a is 2-3, and b is 0-1, its method of preparation and uses thereof in water-borne coating compositions, cleaning compositions, fragrance, and personal care compositions.
US09156803B2
Continuous flow systems and methods produce succinic anhydride by a double carbonylation of ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide and at least one catalyst. In some embodiments, the double carbonylation occurs using a single catalyst. In other embodiments, a first catalyst is used to promote the first carbonylation, and a second catalyst different from the first catalyst is used to promote the second carbonylation. The succinic anhydride is isolated from the product stream by crystallization and the catalyst is recycled to the reaction stream.
US09156800B2
The present invention relates to compound of formula (I), their method of preparation and use thereof in particular in the fields of optoelectronic, photonic, photovoltaics and biology.
US09156799B2
Provided herein are isotopically enriched arylsulfonamides, for example, of Formula I, that are useful for modulating CCR3 activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a CCR3-mediated disease, disorder, or condition.
US09156797B2
This invention relates to the use of benzimidazole derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide 3′ OH kinase family (hereinafter PI3 kinases), suitably, PI3Kα, PI3Kδ, PI3Kβ, and/or PI3Kγ. Suitably, the present invention relates to the use of benzimidazoles in the treatment of one or more disease states selected from: autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multiorgan failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, transplantation rejection, graft rejection and lung injuries. More suitably, the present invention relates to PI3Kβ selective benzimidazoles compounds for treating cancer.
US09156788B2
Disclosed herein are modulators of TRPV3 of formula (I) wherein G1, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, G2, Z1, Ra, Rb, u, and p are as defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also presented.
US09156784B2
The invention relates to sulfmimidoyl- and sulfonimidoylbenzoyl derivatives of the general formula (I). In said formula (I), R, R′, X, W and Z represent radicals such as hydrogen, organic radicals such as alkyl, and other radicals such as halogens. Q represents a cyclohexandionyl-, pyrazolyl-oder isoxazolyl radical.
US09156769B2
Improvement in separating lower carboxylic acids from aqueous streams via liquid-liquid extraction with pressurized liquefied propylene and/or propane, wherein carboxylic acid is transferred from the aqueous phase into the liquid solvent phase (extract). The extracted carboxylic acids are recovered as a liquid concentrate by evaporating off the propylene and/or propane solvent from the extract at mild temperatures.
US09156768B2
The present process separates acrylic acid from a composition containing acrylic acid and at least one accompanying product. The process first involves contacting the composition with an aqueous liquid stream to give a liquid solution of acrylic acid, accompanying product, and water. The water then forms an azeotrope with an entrainer, which is added to the solution. Distillation then separates the solution into an overhead product containing the azeotrope and a bottom product containing acrylic acid and accompanying product. The overhead product is separated into water and entrainer and the bottom product is separated in a distillation column into acrylic acid and accompanying product. The process provides a way to remove high- and low-boiling products with a small number of distillation columns.
US09156763B1
A photocatalyst comprising silver orthophosphate (Ag3PO4) is used for selective and exhaustive conversion of alcohols into their corresponding carbonyl compounds; namely, benzyl alcohol, 4-methoxy benzyl alcohol and/or cinnamyl alcohol with >99% yield. The reactions were carried out in double distilled water at room temperature and pressure under sunlight-type excitation. Oxidation of alcohols is selective and Ag3PO4 may be active for a variety of other essential oxidation reactions.
US09156761B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyetherols by catalytic ring-opening polymerization, wherein at least one nitrogen-containing cyclic precatalyst compound is used.
US09156758B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a compound comprising a perfluorinated alkyl group moiety from a carbonyl compound. Typically, the process includes contacting a carbonyl compound with a silane compound in the presence of a fluorohydrogenate ionic liquid under conditions sufficient to produce a compound comprising a perfluorinated alkyl group. The silane compound includes a perfluoroalkyl group.
US09156755B2
The conversion of diols to mono-alcohols as fuel blendstocks. In one embodiment hydrotreating processes are described that selectively convert glycols to mono-alcohols that can be blended as biofuels. Both NiMo and CoMo catalysts are active for the reaction and reaction conditions can also impact the selectivity of mono-alcohols.
US09156728B2
The present invention relates to fabrics, composites, prepregs, laminates, and other products incorporating glass fibers formed from glass compositions. The glass fibers, in some embodiments, are incorporated into composites that can be adapted for use in high energy impact applications such as ballistic or blast resistance applications. Glass fibers formed from some embodiments of the glass compositions can have certain desirable properties that can include, for example, desirable electrical properties (e.g. low Dk) or desirable mechanical properties (e.g., specific strength).
US09156726B2
Provided is a tempered glass substrate formed by a float method, comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein a compression stress value of the bottom surface is larger than a compression stress value of the top surface.
US09156718B2
A system for treating a fluid in a container. The system includes an included airlift tube and active air input into the tube. The air is supplied by a pump that is external to the tank and sized in accordance with the size of the tank. The system is arranged to promote the generation of suspended growth bacteria. The bacteria are provided by an air supply that is diffused in the tube wherein the air carries naturally occurring bacterial spores. The airlift tube includes one or more inlet ports located below an air diffuser. The tube may be located on the floor of the tank, suspended from the ceiling of the tank or arranged to float within the tank. A plurality of tubes may be used together to treat fluids in containers larger than standard septic tanks. A pH neutralizing device may form part of the system.
US09156713B2
Manually operated continuous flow type drinking water disinfector using concentrated solar radiation
The present invention of manually operated continuous flow type concentrated solar drinking water disinfector improves the effectiveness and productivity of disinfection of drinking water for individual families or small communities, without using conventional fossil fuel derived heat or electricity or solar photovoltaic electricity, by clarifying the feed water with alum, aerating it manually, preheating it in solar water preheater and then while flowing as a thin stream exposing it directly to solar radiation without an intervening glass or plastic container material, with solar radiation incident on top side of pre-heater section and on top side of solar UV section intensified with mirrors and while the disinfector unit which is mounted on a trolley, is manually oriented towards the sun intermittently.
US09156712B2
A thermal desalination process comprising: introducing a feed solution into a thermal separation unit, distilling the feed solution in the thermal separation unit to produce a distillate stream and a residual stream having a higher solute concentration than the feed solution, contacting a portion of the residual stream from the thermal separation unit with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, contacting the opposite side of the selectively permeable membrane with a portion of the feed solution, such that water flows across the membrane to dilute the residual stream by direct osmosis, and introducing at least a portion of the diluted residual stream into the thermal separation unit.
US09156710B2
A method of wastewater treatment comprises: providing waste water to a vessel within a solar collector; and superheating the waste water under pressure within the vessel using solar energy of the solar collector, thereby to provide oxidation conditions from said solar energy to oxidize organic matter. The water may then be passed to a flash chamber to vaporize and leave behind a brine with dissolved salts.
US09156709B2
A magnetic resonator is provided which has a support structure and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted thereto for rotation about respective axes of rotation which are generally parallel one to another. Drive means are coupled to the roller assemblies to rotate each of the roller assemblies about its respective axis of rotation relative to the support structure. Each roller assembly houses a plurality of magnets disposed along respective axes of the roller assemblies. The plurality of magnets are grouped in a plurality of first and second arrangements with a first arrangement being interspersed between a pair of second arrangements. At least one of the first and second arrangements incorporates a pattern or shape based on sacred geometry.
US09156706B2
Disclosed herein is method for preparing LEV-type zeolites from FAU-type zeolites in fluoride media using an N-methyl quinuclidinium cation as a structure directing agent.
US09156697B2
A method for manufacturing a large-area carbon nanotube film is provided. A helical-shaped substrate having a smoothly curved surface configured for growing carbon nanotube film thereon is provided. The helical-shaped substrate is fixed in a reactor chamber using a supporter. The helical-shaped substrate gradually increases along an axis of the reactor chamber, and the supporter is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor chamber. A catalyst layer is formed on the smoothly curved surface of the substrate. A carbon nanotube film is grown on the smoothly curved surface of the helical-shaped substrate by a chemical vapor deposition process.
US09156691B2
The present invention is directed to modifications of bitumen and heavy oil upgrading and refining processes to synthesize synthetic crude oil and other valuable synthesized hydrocarbon products in an efficient manner along with the production of commercially valuable co-products from by-products formed by the upgrading process.
US09156684B1
Methods for manufacturing multiple top port, surface mount microphones, each containing a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone die, are disclosed. Each surface mount microphone features a substrate with metal pads for surface mounting the package to a device's printed circuit board and for making electrical connections between the microphone package and the device's circuit board. The surface mount microphones are manufactured from a panel of unsingulated substrates, and each MEMS microphone die is substrate-mounted. Individual covers, each with an acoustic port, are joined to the panel of unsingulated substrates. Each individual substrate and cover pair cooperates to form an acoustic chamber for its respective MEMS microphone die, which is acoustically coupled to the acoustic port in the cover. The completed panel is singulated to form individual MEMS microphones.
US09156680B2
A three-dimensional printing technique can be used to form a microphone package. The microphone package can include a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the first side of the housing. A second electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the second side of the housing. The first electrical lead and the second electrical lead may be electrically shorted to one another. Further, vertical and horizontal conductors can be monolithically integrated within the housing.
US09156673B2
One example includes an integrated circuit including at least one electrical interconnects disposed on an elongate are extending away from a main portion of the integrated circuit and a microelectromechanical layer including an oscillating portion, the microelectromechanical layer coupled to the main portion of the integrated circuit.
US09156671B2
A cooler having a fountain type dispenser that includes a cooler body, a cooler lid and a liquid pump mechanism that is designed to dispense liquid from the cavity of the cooler body. The cooler lid includes at least one pump opening through a body of the cooler lid, the liquid pump mechanism includes a top portion and a bottom portion, an electric pump and a power supply designed to power said electric pump. The electric pump is designed to draw liquid into the bottom portion and to the top portion when the electric pump is activated.
US09156663B2
A device for detecting and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane includes a turntable steelwork construction comprising a counterweight cylinder; a sensor which is arranged in the region of a connection between the counterweight cylinder and the turntable steelwork construction; and a computational unit (8), wherein the sensor is connected to the computational unit, and the computational unit comprises a logic which determines a weight of a counterweight which can be connected to the turntable steelwork construction from data which are captured by the sensor and transmitted to the computational unit.
US09156662B2
A system with an apparatus that moves on wheels along a track defined by rails, and comprises two opposite sides carried by two or more wheels. The apparatus comprises detectors, at least one detector in either side of the apparatus in a known spatial connection with a wheel for generating to the control unit a signal that represents a measured lateral distance of a specific part of the wheel from a rail. Signals received from detectors are associated with position data that represents a specific position along the track where the lateral distance of the specific part of the wheel from the rail was measured. Signals received from detectors in spatial connection with wheels in opposite sides of the apparatus are used to generate an indication that represents temporal dimensional compatibility of the apparatus and the track. An effective tool for advanced monitoring interoperability of the apparatus and the track.
US09156656B2
A stair lift for transporting a load includes a longitudinal guide having a first side running surface and a second side running surface opposing the first side running surface; and a carriage which is transportable along the guide and provided with rollers for guiding the carriage along the guide. The rollers include a first roller having a first roller peripheral friction surface which is in frictional engagement with the first side running surface for guiding the carriage along the guide and a second roller having a second roller peripheral friction surface which is in frictional engagement with the second side running surface for guiding the carriage along the guide. The first roller friction surface is provided with a first roller member, and the first side running surface is provided with a longitudinal first side running surface member which fits complementary with the first roller member.
US09156651B2
A tubing reel assembly including a drive assembly, a swivel assembly, a reel, and a stand. The drive assembly includes a drive assembly adapter that connects the reel and the drive assembly, a drive assembly mount that connects the drive assembly and the stand, and a rotational power source. The swivel assembly includes a swivel assembly adapter that connects the reel and the swivel assembly, a swivel assembly mount that connects the swivel assembly and the stand, a bearing, and a hydraulic swivel. The reel includes recessed hubs that allow the overall width of the tubing reel assembly to be reduced, and the recessed hubs are used for connecting the drive assembly to the reel and the swivel assembly to the reel.
US09156640B2
a sheet processing apparatus comprises a main body side guiding module, a first movable module, a second movable module and a connection module. The main body side guiding module guides a sheet. The first movable module moves to a second position to open the conveyance path through motion from a first position opposite to the main body side guiding module, towards a first direction. The second movable module holds a detachable processing module for carrying out a given processing on the sheet, and moves integrally with the first movable module from the first position to the second position. The connection module connects the second movable module with the first movable module in such a manner that the second movable module can move to a third position to expose the processing module through motion from the second position in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US09156639B1
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying guide configured to guide a sheet which is conveyed by a conveying roller and a driven roller, a pressing spring configured to press the driven roller toward the conveying roller, a holding portion configured to be provided to be rotated about a shaft center of the driven roller and to receive a pressing force of the pressing spring, and a supporting portion configured to support the driven roller in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction to abut on or be separated from the conveying roller. The holding portion includes a facing portion which is disposed to face the conveying guide. The facing portion is separated from the conveying guide in a state where the driven roller abuts on the conveying roller. The facing portion abuts on the conveying guide when the driven roller is separated from the conveying roller.
US09156635B2
An image forming device includes a housing; a sheet tray; an image-forming unit; a conveying unit; and a switching mechanism. The sheet tray is detachably housed in the housing. The image-forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet tray. The conveying unit includes a first roller and a second roller configured to nip and convey the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit to the image-forming unit. The switching mechanism is disposed between the sheet tray and the conveying unit and configured to bring the first roller and the second roller to be in peripheral contact with each other in conjunction with a loading operation of the sheet tray into the housing and separate the first roller and the second roller in conjunction with an unloading operation of the sheet tray from the housing.
US09156623B1
An automated tie plate placement system preferably includes a vibratory feeder, at least one vertical translation guide, at least one knock down device, at least one rotary orientation device, at least one bottom orientation device and a programmable logic controller. The vibratory feeder is preferably mounted to a support frame of a hi-rail vehicle. The plurality of tie plates in the vibratory feeder are vibrated into the at least one vertical translation guide. A vertical guide extends past a vertical exit of the vertical translation guide. The knock down device is positioned above the vertical guide. The rotary orientation device rotates the tie plate to place a field end in front. An entrance of the bottom vertical guide may be located adjacent to the rotary orientation device. The programmable logic controller receives inputs from a plurality of sensors and actuates a motor and a plurality of actuators.
US09156622B1
A sweep conveyor extends along a bin floor between a sump pivot about which the conveyor rotates, and an outer end adjacent the bin wall. During the conveyor's orbit about the floor, flights at the conveyor bottom sweep across the floor toward the sump pivot, whereby bin material in front of the conveyor is swept into a sump. The conveyor is preferably made in modular sections connected end-to-end, whereby different sections are combined to construct conveyors having different lengths and capabilities. Some sections are preferably hinged together, allowing different sections to adopt different inclinations as they travel about a non-level floor. The flights are preferably provided on a belted chain riding on sprockets at opposite ends of the conveyor, and the chain is not supported by idler sprockets along its length, allowing the chain (and its flights) to sag under gravity so the flights ride along the bin floor.
US09156618B2
The present disclosure relates to a plastic, modular and self-engaging bristle brush (2), comprising a set of runners (6) including a pair of opposing guiding and self-centering ends projecting from the perimeter of the brush (2), said runners (6) being distributed such that the ends of runners (6) of contiguous brushes (2) can be fitted together by overlapping one another, and in that said runners (6) include at their guiding and self-centering ends articulated attachment means (7) for the articulated attachment of contiguous brushes (2) for self-engagement, turning the set of multiple brushes (2) into a cutting mat (1) which in turn forms an endless conveyor belt, said articulated attachment means in turn being provided with articulating drive shafts (8) that can engage drive elements (9) housed in multiple positions of a support table (5).
US09156617B2
A belt conveyor system for creating an overland material transport assembly on a ground surface comprises a frame configured for transportation over the ground surface, a plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections, a head pulley assembly mounted to the first end of the frame, a tail pulley assembly mounted to one of the conveyor belt support sections, and a conveyor belt. The frame includes first and second elongate rails, each of which have a first support surface and a second support surface spaced from the first support surface. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are supportable on the frame in a transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are accordion-folded relative to one another and are generally perpendicular to the first and second elongate rails. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are movable to a material transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are unfolded to be generally parallel to the first and second rails. The belt conveyor is carried by the head pulley assembly, the plurality of conveyor belt support sections and the tail pulley assembly.
US09156616B1
A debris collecting chute device facilitates the collection of debris while repairing sheetrock on a ceiling surface. The device includes a tube having an open top end, an open bottom end and a perimeter surface coupled to and extending between the open top end and the open bottom end. The open bottom end of the tube is configured for positioning over an open top of a waste receptacle. An attachment member has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of the attachment member is coupled to the open top end of the tube. The lower surface of the attachment member is configured for attaching to a ceiling surface surrounding a damaged area of the ceiling surface.
US09156613B2
The invention is directed to the mitigation of nuisance insects, predominantly common flies and wasps, attracted to and gathering in discarded food, spills and related waste in garbage receptacles. A solar-powered, programmable or programmed dispenser of an aerosol agent releases the aerosol agent into the waste receptacle at selected intervals. The solar panel acts both as a power source and as a dusk-to-daylight sensor to turn the dispenser system off at night when insect populations are less troublesome but on in the morning to clear any accumulated insects and prepare the receptacle for use during the day. The dispenser system of the invention reduces the exposure of visitors to stings suffered by both patrons of a given establishment as well as the sanitation workers providing for a more enjoyable recreational experience and workplace.
US09156606B2
The invention described herein provides a modified material is a packaging material in which, at least one side, the product contact side, has been modified to sequester ions in order to prevent the ions from being available to promote degradative reactions in biological or chemical products such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals, cosmetics, paints and chemicals. The invention described herein also includes methods of making the packaging materials and methods of using the packaging materials for preserving the integrity of biological and chemical compounds.
US09156604B2
A cigarette packet substantially having the shape of a parallelepiped and containing a group of cigarettes includes an outer case formed by two larger lateral walls, respectively a front wall and a rear wall, and by two smaller lateral walls or sides, by a lower wall or base and by an upper wall or lid. An inner case is inserted in the outer case. The outer case includes a projection for controlling the lid, the projection being interposed between the front wall of the outer case and a front wall of the inner case and moveable between a first position in which the lid is closed and a second position in which the lid is open. A mechanism is provided for reciprocal engagement of the projection and the inner case for partially extracting the group of cigarettes from the outer case.
US09156602B1
Stored material is dispensed in a spray by defining a chamber and arranging the stored material and pressurized material within the chamber. A conduit passageway is arranged such that a conduit inlet is arranged within the chamber and a conduit outlet is arranged outside of the chamber. An adjustment system comprising an actuator member and first and second adjustment members is provided. The actuator member is arranged to define at least a portion of the conduit passageway. The first and second adjustment members are supported on the actuator member such that the conduit outlet is defined by a first surface of the first adjustment member and a second surface of the second adjustment member. Moving the first and second adjustment members relative to each other alters a cross-sectional area of the conduit outlet and thereby varies a flow of stored material along the conduit passageway at the conduit outlet.
US09156601B2
An application material extruding container has a filling member including a filling area filled with an application material, a piston inward inserted to the filling member in a rear end of the filling area, and a hole portion arranged in the filling member. A front end surface of the piston is arranged in front of a rear end of an opening of the hole portion when the piston is at a backward moving limit, and a part of the application material is flowed out of the filling area while passing through the hole portion. When the piston is assembled in the filling member, the piston is inward inserted to the filling member while securely discharging an air between the application material and the piston out of the filling area via the hole portion, until the application material is flowed out of the filling area via the hole portion.
US09156587B2
A consumer packaged good includes a case, a plurality of translucent vessels vertically stacked within the case, a beverage stored in each of the plurality of the vessels and a barrier sealed to each vessel for containing the beverage in the respective vessel. The case includes a base wall and at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base wall. The plurality of translucent vessels are surrounded by the sidewall. Each vessel includes an opening for drinking from the vessel and a base surface for supporting the vessel on an associated support surface. The barrier seals to each vessel for covering the opening and containing the beverage in the respective vessel. The barrier is peelable from the vessel without destroying the vessel to provide access to the beverage stored in the vessel.
US09156586B2
The invention generally relates to a pallet or other flat platform having one or more, preferably two, perpendicular dividers secured to the surface of the flat platform and each other in a stable manner. Gas cylinder(s) are set in an upright position on the same surface of the flat platform as the divider(s). The cylinder(s) are secured, generally by steel bands or nylon straps, to the divider(s) and/or the flat platform surface.
US09156579B2
A carton for holding a product. The carton having a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel and a second side panel. A tear away panel in at least one of the plurality of panels, the tear away panel providing access to the interior. A hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels and at least one tear line extending at least partially across at least one of the plurality of panels. The at least one tear line dividing the carton into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion configured to be pivotable at the hinge between an open position allowing access to the interior and a closed position with the first portion at least partially overlapping the second portion.
US09156575B2
A load packaging system includes a bag feeder for pulling a length of bag material, a mechanism for cutting and sealing the bag material to form a bag with a first sealed end, and a gripping device for opening the bag. The system also includes a load pusher for pushing the load into the bag, a package sealer for sealing a second end of the bag, and a labeling device for printing and applying one or more labels onto the load.
US09156555B2
A desk assembly includes a desk top pivotably connected to a seat or the armrest of the seat, and includes an angle adjustment unit and a positioning portion. The desk top is flat and suitable for books or magazines put thereon. A rack is pivotably connected to the desk top and has a positioning unit. The rack is pivoted and positioned relative to the desk top so that the board-like electronic device such as cellular phone or board-like computer can be supported on the rack.
US09156553B1
Aircraft mission equipment (e.g., an electrical equipment cabinet) comprising a base plate equipped on a bottom with a plurality of air casters that provide flotation mobility. When the equipment is being loaded in or unloaded from an aircraft, the actuated air casters provide a plurality of air cushions. The total lift force produced by the air cushions is sufficient to float the equipment above and out of contact with the floor, thereby improving ease of handling and reducing point loads on the floor structure. Portions of the air distribution system that provides pressurized air to the air casters on the bottom of the base plate are structurally integrated into the base plate of the mission equipment.
US09156549B2
A lift device is disclosed that can be used to provide vertical lift to an aircraft or other vehicle. The lift device can include a fan that produces an airflow and a vane box that can direct the airflow. In one form the fan can be oriented at an angle relative to a reference plane in the aircraft. In another form the vane box can be oriented at an angle. The vane box can be structured to provide a maximum flow area between an aft flow vector and a forward flow vector.
US09156548B2
A rotor assembly for helicopter vehicles for stabilizing the aircraft and thus providing an easy way of controlling pitch and roll of the aircraft by respectively associated magnetic actuators. The rotor assembly comprises a rotor with two flexible rotor blades, a rotor head rotationally coupled to the rotor shaft, a rotating swash plate, with at least three fly bars extending therefrom. The swash plate is rotationally coupled to the rotor shaft and adjusted to tilt in all directions relative to a plane perpendicular to the rotor shaft. The rotor head is hinged to the rotor shaft in one direction so that the rotor head and the rotor blades jointly are not able to tilt around their transversal axis. The coupling between the rotating swash plate and the rotor head provide synchronized tilt movements between the rotor head and the rotating swash plate around the longitudinal axis of the rotor head.
US09156544B2
A rotary system including a yoke having an opening forming a bridge for receiving a spoke extending therethrough. A rotor blade couples to the spoke and a pitch horn positioned outside the opening pitches the rotor blade during flight. A bearing assembly attaches the spoke and the pitch horn to the bridge and control blade forces exerted against the hub assembly during flight.
US09156538B1
A method and apparatus for operating an aircraft. The aircraft is flown. A skin panel is held on a support structure. The support structure has flanges on a number of edges of the support structure, the flanges being substantially orthogonal to the edges. The support structure also has openings into the support structure substantially orthogonal to the flanges. First connecting structures on clips are connected to the flanges and positioned such that an opening in each clip is aligned with one of the openings in the support structure. The skin panel is positioned such that the clips are received in holes in the skin panel. Fasteners are attached to the second connecting structures such that the support structure holds the skin panel.
US09156537B1
A watercraft propulsion system includes a normal watercraft operating unit, a joy stick watercraft operating unit, a control unit, a control mode switching unit, and a detection unit. The normal watercraft operating unit includes throttle levers and a steering wheel. The throttle levers are used to adjust outputs of at least two propulsion machines mounted to a hull. The steering wheel is used to adjust rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines. The joy stick watercraft operating unit includes a joy stick. The joy stick is used to move the hull in at least each of front, rear, left, and right directions. The control unit is configured and programmed to control the outputs and the rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines in a normal mode in accordance with an operation of the normal watercraft operating unit or a joy stick mode in accordance with an operation of the joy stick watercraft operating unit. The control mode switching unit is configured to output a control mode switching instruction to the control unit when the control mode switching unit has received a switching operation of the control mode.
US09156529B2
A method of making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of a) image-wise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a light or heat sensitive coating on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and b) processing the precursor consecutively with a first solution and a second solution thereby removing the coating from the support in the non-printing areas. The first and second solutions are provided by a cascade system such that the second solution overflows into the first solution and the first solution overflows into a container to be further treated as waste, and the second solution is regenerated by adding a replenishing solution or a mixture of replenishing solutions at a rate of at least 5 ml/m2 of treated precursor and at most 30 ml/m2 of treated precursor.
US09156525B2
A front derailleur is attachable to a bicycle with a frame in which a fixing bore is provided. The front derailleur basically includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member has an attaching bore for attaching the base member to a fixing bore of a frame by a fastening member. The chain guide configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The base member is disposed with respect to the chain guide such that at least a part of the attaching bore is disposed in front of the chain guide and above the chain guide while the front derailleur is in a state in which the base member is attached to the frame.
US09156516B2
A two-wheel battery-powered vehicle having a platform, two wheels connected to the platform, a battery-powered wheel drive driving the two wheels, an attachment connected to the platform, and a sensor device arranged in the platform. A person standing on the platform and engaging the attachment moves the platform into an angle position corresponding to a body position of the person. Based on the angle position of the platform relative to a horizontal position, the sensor device controls the wheel drive such that the wheel drive, by acceleration or deceleration, keeps the vehicle and the person standing on the platform in a balanced position. The attachment has a leg support device for at least one leg of the person standing on the platform in order to keep the platform at a desired angle position. The leg support device is adjustable.
US09156503B2
A mounting structure of a fender side cover, which is mounted between fenders disposed on both sides of a vehicle, a car body, and a hood hinge may include a hinge pin extending in a vehicle width direction on a side portion of the hood hinge, a rear mounting portion formed at a rear of the fender side cover and mounting the fender side cover to the hinge pin so as to be rotationally and laterally movable, and a front mounting portion formed on a front side of the fender side cover and inserted into a fender through-hole formed in the fender to couple the fender side cover to the fender, in which the fender side cover is mounted on the fender regardless of the type of the hood hinge and is moved along with the fender.
US09156493B1
A steering apparatus includes a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of a housing, the surface being opposed to each rack end in a vehicle width direction. The collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of a rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load from the corresponding rack end, and a shock absorbing member provided in an inner peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling by abutting of the rack end.
US09156489B2
A sliding sleeve blank for producing a sliding sleeve for a steering spindle shaft of a motor vehicle steering spindle and the motor vehicle steering spindle assembly are provided. The sliding sleeve blank has a cylindrical form and has a section on one end, which has a collar, from which winged webs extending away radially extend in the direction of the second end. The sliding sleeve blank is a cold impact extrusion component, which, at the section has a preliminary toothing system extending over one part of the length of the section.
US09156488B1
There is provided in a preferred embodiment a mounting brace assembly for securing a steering column member to a vehicle cross-support member in a position braced against a vehicle cowl top. The assembly includes a cowl top bracket for engaging the vehicle cowl top, and a mounting base arm extending longitudinally along a base axis from a first axial end portion to a second axial end portion. The base arm includes an anchor flange sized for generally upward mated insertion in at least part of a flange receiving slot. The cowl top bracket is coupled to the base arm proximal to a vehicle forward end, and includes a load transfer portion shaped for juxtaposed abutment with a load bearing portion of the vehicle cowl top. Contact between the cowl top bracket and the vehicle cowl top transfers rotational bearing forces from the assembly towards the vehicle cowl top.
US09156484B2
A device and a method operate decentralized functional units arranged in an industrial installation. The device contains a superordinate control system which interchanges information with the decentralized functional units using data messages, and a data transport network having a number of network access points. The superordinate control system is coupled to the data transport network via at least one network access point. The device further has communication units which are connected to a network access point and provide the decentralized functional units with access to the data transport network, and an energy transport network to which the decentralized functional units are connected and which supplies the decentralized functional units with electrical energy. A number of intelligent energy stores are connected to the energy transport network and consume energy and/or output energy in accordance with the super ordinate control system and/or at least one of the other energy stores.
US09156483B2
A method includes, responsive to a determination that a first vehicle system to be received in a vehicle yard is longer than a length of a receiving route of the vehicle yard that is designated for receiving the first vehicle system, processing a first movement plan to generate a revised movement plan. The first movement plan governs movement of the first vehicle system and one or more second vehicle systems in a transportation network that includes the vehicle yard. The revised movement plan is generated based at least in part on a designated time restriction for the first vehicle system to travel to and be received within the vehicle yard on the receiving route. The method also includes controlling at least one of the first vehicle system or at least one of the one or more second vehicle systems based on the revised movement plan.
US09156478B2
A gondola car has a body for lading carried on an underframe. The underframe includes a center sill and cross-bearers. The car has deep side beams having top chords, side sills, and side sheets. The lower portion of the car includes tubs that seat between the cross-bearers. The car may have an internal volume of more than 8000 cu. ft. The car may have rotary dump claw sockets. The car has opposed internal and external stiffeners aligned at the longitudinal stations of the cross-bearers. The internal stiffeners may be triangular cantilevers extending upwardly inside the side sheets. The side sheet lies intermediate the stiffeners and their flanges. The top chords may be wider in cross-section than the side sills. The side sills may define torque tubes that co-operate with the sidewall stiffeners and the top chords to resist lateral deflection. The car may include a false deck, or dog-house at one end to accommodate the brake reservoir and brake valve, such that the car is longitudinally asymmetric.
US09156477B2
A control system includes an energy management system and an isolation control system. The energy management system generates a trip plan that designates operational settings of a vehicle system having powered units that generate tractive effort to propel the vehicle system. The energy management system determines a tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and a demanded tractive effort of a trip. The energy management system identifies a tractive effort difference between the tractive effort capability of the vehicle system and the demanded tractive effort of the trip and selects at least one of the powered units based on the tractive effort difference. The isolation module remotely turns the selected powered unit to an OFF mode such that the vehicle system is propelled along the route during the trip by the powered units other than the selected powered unit.
US09156471B2
A vehicle has front and rear seats and an air conditioning system. There is an auxiliary control accessible from the rear seat for adjusting the air conditioning system. A rear entry door has a child locked state and a child unlocked state. There is a lock control element accessible from the front seat for setting the child locked state. The lock control element is coupled to the air conditioning system for selectably defeating the auxiliary control. Thus, the activation by a driver/parent of a rear-door child protection door lock system is also used for locking out child access to a rear air conditioning unit.
US09156456B2
A brake system and a valve device for a brake system are provided which provide at least partial front brake actuation in the event of a failure in the front brake pneumatic supply circuit. The valve device may be configured as a biased orifice double check valve which permits compressed air flow from the front brake pneumatic supply circuit to a front brake actuator during normal brake operation, but in the event of lack of sufficient front brake pneumatic pressure permits compressed air to be supplied to the front brake actuator from a rear brake pneumatic supply circuit, as well as permitting compressed air in the front brake actuator to be ventilated back through the rear brake pneumatic supply circuit when the brake is released.
US09156455B2
The invention relates to an assembly including a pressure medium reservoir and a manually actuable master cylinder, in particular for a hydraulic motorcycle brake system, wherein the pressure medium reservoir is connected permanently to the master cylinder by at least one pressure medium connection, wherein the master cylinder has at least one pressure chamber, which can be connected to wheel brakes. According to the invention, provision is made for a protection device to be arranged in the region of the pressure medium connection, the device preventing air from penetrating into the pressure chamber and allowing air to escape in the direction of the pressure medium reservoir.
US09156449B2
A brake system of a rail vehicle, having at least one brake actuator with at least one brake disk and at least one brake lining, which interacts with the brake disk, for generating a braking force. Also disclosed is a sensor device to measure the time profile of at least one variable, representing fluctuations in the friction conditions between the wheel or wheel set assigned to the brake actuator and the rail and/or between the brake disk assigned to the brake actuator and the at least one brake lining, and to output a signal dependent on the measured variable to a control device which adapts the braking force generated by the brake actuator as a function of the deviation of the time profile of the measured variable from a predefined or expected time profile of the variable.
US09156439B2
An automatic opening and closing apparatus of an opening and closing member for a vehicle includes an opening and closing member driving portion, a receiving portion configured to receive a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter and indicating identification information for identifying the vehicle, a non-contact detection sensor including a detection range that is specified to an inner side than an outermost position of the vehicle in a direction towards an outer side of a vehicle interior from the opening and closing member in a state where the opening and closing member is closed, and a control portion configured to control the opening and closing member driving portion in a case where the non-contact detection sensor detects an object in a state where the identification information is correlated to the vehicle on a basis of the radio signal received from the radio transmitter.
US09156437B2
Disclosed is a remote start system for a vehicle which activates a timer configured after a vehicle is remote started when a door of the vehicle is opened. After activating the timer, a fob (e.g., a keyless remote) is searched and certified once a driver's door is closed, a brake is operated, or a predetermined time has elapsed without any operation of the vehicle. Once the fob is certified, the vehicle is converted from a remote start mode to a normal mode. If, however, the fob is not certified the remote start is terminated.
US09156433B2
A four-point seat belt device includes right and left lap belts to press the hipbone of a passenger sitting in a seat, two shoulder belts to press both shoulders of the passenger, a driving unit to perform winding of the lap belts and the shoulder belts, and a latching detecting unit to detect a state in which the lap belts and the shoulder belts are latched via a buckle. The driving unit controls the lap belts in the case that the latching detecting unit has detected latching.
US09156430B2
A system for activating a triggering element for a passenger protection unit includes: a high-side control circuit establishing a first connection from an energy source to the triggering element, a low-side control circuit establishing a second connection of the triggering element to ground, and a regulating device regulating a firing current for the triggering element). A firing mode is selected as a function of a connected triggering element. In a first firing mode, a first firing current having a first time characteristic is generated for an ohmic triggering element, and in a second firing mode, a second firing current having a second time characteristic is generated for an inductive triggering element.
US09156426B1
A head rest is mountable on a vehicle seat back with at least one hollow support bar. The support bar is adjustable to adjust the height of the head rest relative to the seat back. An airbag is located in the head rest and a connection is provided in the hollow head rest support bar between the airbag and an airbag system component in the seatback.
US09156425B1
An airbag can include a first portion disposed closest to the passenger seat upon deployment, and configured to be rolled to form a cylindrical configuration having an axis that is perpendicular to a vehicle's longitudinal axis. The first portion can include a serpentine section disposed closest the vehicle's longitudinal axis and configured to be folded in a serpentine manner along the cylindrical configuration's axis. The first portion can include a rolled section that is spaced further from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle than the serpentine section. The airbag can include a second portion disposed closer to the instrument panel than the first portion and including a tether that is rigidly connected to the vehicle. The second portion can be disposed further from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle than the serpentine section, but at approximately the same distance from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle as the rolled section.
US09156422B1
An active bolster protects a passenger in an automotive vehicle during a crash event. An interior trim panel has a front wall with a front surface facing the passenger and a back surface including a plurality of closed bonding tracks spaced laterally across the panel. A plurality of bladder walls each has an outer flange bonded to a respective bonding track, a plurality of pleats disposed annularly adjacent the respective outer flange and defining a respective extension length, and central mounting towers attaching the respective bladder wall to a reaction structure. A plurality of micro gas generators are each mounted to a respective bladder wall for inflating the respective bladder walls. Inflation causes unfolding of the respective pleats while the trim panel deploys away from the reaction structure by a non-uniform distance resulting from a bladder wall having a pleat extension length not equal to another laterally-spaced bladder wall.
US09156419B2
A bumper attachment structure includes a flange of a bumper fascia provided with a guide portion protruding therefrom and a flange of a fender panel having an insertion hole into which the guide portion can be inserted. The bumper attachment structure also includes an attachment bracket having a groove in which the guide portion can be housed and an insertion fitting portion in which a tip portion of the attachment bracket can fit.
US09156414B2
Roof clip for attaching accessories to the panels of vehicles, designed to be inserted in an opening made in said panels, the clip being assembled to the modular roof system, along with the accessory, and secured by a screw, in which there is a base having a hole with a screw thread, openings in said base, and side wings, the fold of which provides a surface for contact with said panel, and also flanges for removing said clip from said panel, comprising the superposition of a lower base with said intermediate base, keeping said screw thread of said intermediate base aligned with the lower hole in said lower base.
US09156409B2
A device for hanging items of clothing on a vehicle seat part, such as a backrest (1a), a head restraint 1(d) or head restraint holder (1c) of a vehicle seat (1) has a fastening hook (4e, 40e) for hanging the clothes hanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40b′, 40c′), the fastening hook being movable between an inoperative position, in which the fastening hook (4e, 40e) is entirely or partially accommodated in the clothes hanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40b′, 40c′) or bears against the latter, and an operative position, in which the fastening hook (4e, 40e) protrudes out of the clothes hanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40b′, 40c′) to such an extent that the clothes hanger (4a, 4b, 4c, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40b′, 40c′) can be hung on a wardrobe bar.
US09156405B1
A supplemental step assembly for a vehicle having a vehicle step includes a step which has a first end and an opposite second end. A first side member has a first step end which is connectable to the first end of the step, and an opposite first vehicle step end which is connectable to the vehicle step, the first step end being offset from the first vehicle step end. A second side member has a second step end which is connectable to the second end of the step, and an opposite second vehicle step end which is connectable to the vehicle step, the second step end being offset from the second vehicle step end. The supplemental step assembly can be connected to the step of the vehicle in either an upward projecting direction or a downward projection direction. The supplemental step assembly provides an additional step which reduces the vertical step height and facilitates entry of the vehicle.
US09156404B2
A tubular frame section directly or indirectly attached to the vehicle and a mirror unit, attached by a clamping connection to the tubular frame section, whereby the mirror unit in interconnection to an adapter is attached to the tubular frame section. The adapter, which is torque-proof, displacement-resistant and coupleable with a fastening section of the mirror unit, can balance the diameter difference between the fastening section of the mirror unit and the tubular frame section. An inner contour of the adapter is designed so that the adapter can be connected in a form lock for the accurate attachment of the mirror unit to the tubular frame section in such a way that a longitudinal movement of the adapter on the tubular frame section is hindered and the degrees of freedom of the adapter are at least limited in the circumferential direction of the tubular frame section.
US09156400B2
A steering wheel has an airbag apparatus mounted on a core metal via a horn switch mechanism for activating a horn device. The horn switch mechanism includes a supporting member that is formed of an electrically conductive material, supported on the core metal, and extends rearward, a slider that is formed of an insulating resin material, is disposed outside the supporting member to be slidable with respect to the supporting member, and urged rearward by an urging member, a cap member that is formed of an insulating resin material and covers at least a rear end of each of the supporting member and the slider, and a movable side contact that is formed of an electrically conductive metal material and disposed between the cap member and the slider. The horn switch mechanism is configured to activate the horn device.
US09156394B2
An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.
US09156393B2
A rack and method for storing tie-down chain ratchet binders on a surface. The rack includes a base that preferably is mounted on a truck wall. A first finger is provided on the base and a first recess is defined therein. The first recess is configured so that the shaft of a chain ratchet binder is receivable therein. The rack further includes a second finger spaced laterally from the first finger and defining a second recess therein that is aligned with the first recess. The shaft of the binder is received in the first and second recesses and is supported by the first and second fingers. The rack is able to store a plurality of chain ratchet binders vertically spaced from each other and may lock the binder to the rack.
US09156392B2
This invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for adjustable support of an extension of a vehicle cargo bed. The apparatus provides a range of horizontal, vertical, diagonal and angular adjustment of a vehicle cargo bed extension deck so as to accommodate a wide variety of differently designed and dimensioned vehicles and provides other features promoting reliability and safety while minimizing unwanted vibration during use.
US09156387B2
A door trim assembly includes an armrest, a pull-cup unit, and an attachment structure. The attachment structure has a first portion with a first flange, a second portion with two second flanges on opposing sides of the first flange, and an attachment member engaged with the at least one first flange and the at least two second flanges. The first and second portions are respectively coupled to one each of the armrest and the pull-cup unit, which may prevent separation during and after a crash event.
US09156386B2
An armrest assembly may include a base member, an armrest member, and a brake mechanism. The armrest member may be linearly movable relative to the base member between a first position and a second position. The brake mechanism may include first and second brake members. The first brake member may be fixed relative to the base member. The second brake member may be movable with the armrest member relative to the base member and may be movable relative to the first brake member between an engaged position restricting relative movement between the armrest member and the base member and a disengaged position allowing relative movement between the armrest member and the base member. The first and second brake members may be engageable with each other at any of an infinite number of positions between the first and second positions.
US09156384B2
A vehicle seat includes a load sensor that is configured to measure a load applied from an occupant and that has a rod extending therefrom, a seat cushion frame that includes right and left side frames that extend along a front-rear axis, and a bracket member attaching the load sensor to at least one of the right and left side frames. A lower surface of the at least one side frame has a concave part opening downward. At least a part of the load sensor is lower than the concave part, and the load sensor is closer to a center of the vehicle seat than the concave part.
US09156383B2
A locking unit (10) for a vehicle seat (1) includes a pivotally mounted rotary latch (20) for locking to a bolt (12), and a detent (30) which secures the locking unit (10) in the locked state in the event of a crash, in which the rotary latch (20) supports itself on a first contact point against the detent (30). The rotary latch (20) also supports itself on a second contact point in the event of a deformation of the latch (20) in the event of a crash. The second contact point is provided on the detent (30).
US09156380B2
A vehicle seat having an upwardly-foldable seat cushion that includes an engagement piece projecting from the rear end of the seat cushion and an under cover below the seat having an upper panel portion having an upwardly sloped surface. A forwardly-and-rearwardly extending guide groove formed in that upper panel portion which allows the engagement piece to be moved therein, without its contact with the upwardly sloped surface of the upper panel portion, when the rear end of the seat cushion is slidingly brought to a lower end of a set back. Ribs are formed in a bottom surface of the guide groove. The guide groove allows forward-and-rearward movement of the engagement piece therein, so that the engagement piece can be pressed against and frictionally engaged with the lower end of the seat back, without being caught by the upwardly sloped surface of the upper panel portion.
US09156367B2
An electric vehicle charging station that supports delayed charging overrides. In one embodiment, to support delayed charging override in an electric vehicle charging station that requires authorization, after authentication is successful (e.g., the electric vehicle operator is authorized) and the electric vehicle is detected (e.g., the charging cord has been plugged into the charging port of the electric vehicle), the charging station begins a plug out timer for the electric vehicle operator to unplug the charging cord from the charging port of the electric vehicle and then begins a plug-in timer for the electric vehicle operator to plug the charging cord back into the charging port of the electric vehicle. If the electric vehicle operator does so within the periods of the timers, the charging session will not end and the delayed charging will be overridden.
US09156354B2
A driver assistance system for a vehicle is provided. The driver assistance system includes a detecting device, which is designed to detect driving data that characterize the driving state of the vehicle, and a controller, which is designed to process the driving data detected by the detecting device and, if predetermined driving data are present, trigger a braking device to perform autonomous braking of the vehicle. The controller is also designed such that if driving data that indicate an imminent collision with an obstacle are detected, the function of the detecting device is monitored. If the detecting device no longer provides any driving data or plausible driving data to the controller, a continuation of the autonomous braking is triggered, at least until the vehicle has been decelerated to a specified speed.
US09156344B2
A powertrain has an engine with a crankshaft. The powertrain includes a planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third member. The first member is connected for common rotation with an input member. A first clutch is selectively engageable to operatively connect the crankshaft with the input member. A second clutch is selectively engageable to ground the input member with a stationary member. An electric motor/generator has a rotor operatively connected for common rotation with the second member. An output member is provided, with a set of intermeshing gears configured to transfer torque from the third member to the output member. A first gear pair and a second gear pair are operable by engagement of a first synchronizer and a second synchronizer, respectively, to provide two different fixed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US09156343B2
An electrolytic capacitor reformation system for a vehicle includes an electrolytic capacitor, a motor driver module, a switching device, a resistor, and a switching control module. The electrolytic capacitor receives power from a battery of the vehicle. The motor driver module receives power from the electrolytic capacitor and drives an electric motor of the vehicle. The switching device and the resistor are connected in series in a current path between the battery and the electrolytic capacitor. The resistor limits current flow through the current path. The switching control module selectively transitions the switching device to a closed state to reform the electrolytic capacitor.
US09156341B2
A battery holding structure for an electric work vehicle equipped with a battery-driven electric motor includes a plurality of battery cases, a base frame and a plurality of pillars. The battery cases respectively have a bottom wall and front, rear, right and left sidewalls. The battery cases respectively accommodate a plurality of batteries aligned in a lateral direction. The battery cases are stacked in a vertical direction. The battery cases are installed in a rear part of the base frame. The rear sidewalls of respective ones of the battery cases are fixed to the pillars. The pillars are respectively fixed at bottom end portions thereof to a rear end portion of the base frame and extending upwardly.
US09156339B1
A hail cover for a vehicle is provided having a deformable, inflatable body member with attachment straps and an inflation tube extending therefrom. The body member has a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough. The body member is placed over top portions of a vehicle and secured thereto with the attachment straps. Once secured a user can enter their vehicle and inflate the cover to create a protective layer for the vehicle while safely inside of the vehicle. The plurality of apertures provide for a fluid-dynamic structure to the cover to assist with stabilizing the position of the cover during turbulent winds.
US09156337B2
A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable panel, a guide rail, a first sliding member, a second sliding member, the movable panel being configured to be shifted to a tilt-up state in a case where the first sliding member moves in a front direction in a fully closed state of the movable panel and to be opened while being maintained in the tilt-up state in a case where the first sliding member moves in a rear direction after moving further in the front direction, and a holding mechanism configured to stop the second sliding member in a state where the engagement between the first sliding member and the second sliding member is released and to cause the second sliding member to be movable in the engagement state in a case where the first sliding member moves in the rear direction.
US09156336B2
A retractable enclosure for open sided golf carts and/or recreational vehicles. Golf cart retractable enclosures have roll-back doors which coil into housings and onto a tube within each housing for storage. The roll-back door panels are made up of sheets of flexible transparent plastic and or flexible opaque fabric material. Each roll-back door panel has an upper side edge which is received in a horizontal upper track extending from the front vertical post to the roll-back panel housing. The tubes are rotated by either electric motors and or springs in one direction to open and store the roll-back doors and rotated in an opposite direction to close the roll back doors.
US09156333B2
The invention relates to a system for the heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning of a motor vehicle passenger compartment. The system includes at least one heat exchanger through which there flows a heat-transfer fluid. The system is equipped with at least one means for pumping the heat-transfer fluid at a flow rate of between 40 1/h and 200 1/h, in such a way that a temperature difference of the heat-transfer fluid between an outlet and an inlet of the heat exchanger is greater than 45° C.
US09156322B2
A charge cable device includes: a cable having one end detachable from a power source or another charge cable device and an electric power line for supplying electricity to a vehicle from the electric power source or another charge cable device; a charge connector on the other end of the cable detachable from a charge inlet of the vehicle; a cable connector detachable from further another charge cable device to connect between further another charge cable device and the electric power line; and a controller. When the cable connector is not attached to further another charge cable device, the controller controls to supply electricity from the one end of the cable to the charge connector. When the cable connector is attached to further another charge cable device, the controller controls an electric power supply amount of electricity to the charge connector and to further another charge cable device.
