US09217908B2
An optical modulator includes main input and output ports; first and second Mach-Zehnder modulators; a first branching waveguide optically coupling the main input port to the first and second Mach-Zehnder modulators; a first driver circuit connected to the first Mach-Zehnder modulator, the first driver circuit generating a first drive signal having a first amplitude at a first bias point; and a second driver circuit connected to the second Mach-Zehnder modulator, the second driver circuit generating a second drive signal having a second amplitude at a second bias point. The first and second drive signals satisfy at least one of a first condition and a second condition. The first condition is that the first amplitude differs from the second amplitude. The second condition is that the first bias point differs from the second bias point.
US09217905B2
A dual-gate-driven lateral pixel arrangement structure includes two horizontally adjacent primary pixel regions having each three vertically adjacent secondary pixel regions forming a grid of six secondary pixel regions, and six thin-film transistors disposed in each of the six secondary pixel areas. The structure also includes two gate lines and three data lines crossing each other and electrically isolated from each other. Each data line is connected to the source of two thin-film transistors having the gate connected to a different gate line. The two gate lines are interposed between the three secondary pixel regions or arranged along a side or opposite sides of the primary pixel regions in a first direction. The three data lines are arranged between the primary pixel regions and along a side or opposite sides of the primary pixel regions in a second direction different from the first direction.
US09217889B2
A narrow bezel LCD module, comprising: a liquid crystal panel; a backlight module having at least one plastic frame to carry the liquid crystal panel; a front frame surrounding the plastic frame to fix the liquid crystal panel and form an accommodating space formed between the front frame and the plastic frame; at least one flexible package component disposed in the accommodating space and having a flexible circuit board which electrically connects to the liquid crystal panel and a driver circuit board; and at least one guide block disposed in the accommodating space, fixed on one inner side of the front frame and having a guide slope facing the flexible circuit board. The invention can avoid the flexible package component from being curved upward and damaged.
US09217882B2
A head mounted display that is attached to an eyeglass frame for use, includes: a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a first electrical component including a display element and an eyepiece optical part that allows a user to observe a display image by the display element as a virtual image. The second unit which is a temple tip for display device having a temple connecting part to which a temple of the eyeglass frame is attachable includes a second electrical component and an attachment part in which the first unit is detachably engaged and supported. When the first unit is engaged and supported in the attachment part, the first electrical component and the second electrical component are electrically coupled.
US09217876B2
Methods and systems are described herein which produce polarization-independent full color images suitable for rear-projection television sets and other multimedia displays. The system uses illumination with R, G, B light from two different light sources for each color. A viewer wears glasses with narrowband optical filters, preferably holographic filters. The R, G, B light from the light sources is slightly offset at each of the 3 emission wavelengths, with one set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the left eye of the, and the other set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the viewer's right eye.
US09217875B1
A multi-view auto-stereoscopic display is provided. The display includes an angle-magnifying screen for magnifying the view angle of an image light beam from a projection head. The angle-magnifying screen includes a first lens unit, a central lens unit, and a second lens unit arranged sequentially. The first lens unit is configured for receiving the image light beam. The central lens unit is configured for redirecting the image light beam from the first lens unit to the second lens unit. The second lens unit is configured for magnifying the view angle of the image light beam.
US09217874B2
An image display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a display panel having at least, first pixels that display a first parallax image and second pixels that display a second parallax image; and an image conversion element. The image conversion element includes: a plurality of first electrodes arranged at a predetermined pitch; a second electrode; and a liquid crystal layer. The image display apparatus according to the present disclosure simultaneously satisfies the following conditions, wherein f is a distance from the liquid crystal layer to the first pixels or the second pixels, r is a length equal to ½ of an arrangement pitch of the first electrodes, Δn is a birefringence of the liquid crystal molecules, P is an arrangement pitch of the first pixels and the second pixels, and d is a thickness of the liquid crystal layer: f ≥ 5 P ( 1 ) Δ n < r 2 2 d · f . ( 2 )
US09217870B1
A magnifying device for magnifying selected objects for inspection in particular. The magnifying device includes a support assembly including a flexible and compressible tubular support having a length with open front and back ends and a bore extending therethrough; and a magnifying lens disposed in the bore proximate to the open front end of the tubular support and being maneuverable longitudinally and laterally relative to the back end to view an object in alignment with the open back end.
US09217869B2
An assembly and method for installing a viewing window into a single hole in a panel of an enclosure from a single side. A viewing window assembly comprises actuators and attachment members configurable to allow the attachment members to pass through a hole in a panel from a front side. Upon actuation of the actuators, the attachment members may engage one or both of the back surface of the panel and the inner edge of the hole therein in order to secure the window assembly to the panel.
US09217862B2
Systems and techniques for scanning-beam display are provided to use local dimming on the optical energy of at least one optical beam to minimize the non-uniform image brightness across the screen. This local dimming during the beam scanning can be achieved by adjusting optical energy of at least one optical beam during the scanning based on (1) the location of the scanning optical beam and (2) the predetermined distortion information at the location.
US09217859B2
Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
US09217858B2
A display substrate including a base substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of sub pixel electrodes. The pixel electrodes are formed on the base substrate, are spaced apart from each other, and are electrically connected with a plurality of transistors, respectively. The sub pixel electrodes are disposed between the pixel electrodes, and are electrically connected with a thin-film transistor (TFT). Thus, quality of an image displayed by the display apparatus may be enhanced.
US09217855B1
An optical probe system for probing an electronic device includes a sample plate configured to hold a target device comprising an integrated circuit, a temperature control chamber configured to hold a fluid to control the temperature of the target device, a first optical objective system that can collect reflected or emitted light from the integrated circuit in the target device, a rotational stage including ports that can hold the optical objective systems, a vertical translation stage that can move the first optical objective system in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the sample plate, and an x-y translation stage that can move the first optical objective system in horizontal directions. A portion of the first optical objective system is moved through the temperature control chamber to allow the first optical objective system to focus at the target device.
US09217854B2
A lens for distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis and defining an emitter plane. The lens including an emitter-adjacent base end forming an opening to an inner cavity surrounding the emitter. An inner-cavity surface includes an axis-adjacent first inner region configured for refracting emitter light rays away from the axis, a second inner region spaced from the first inner region and configured for refracting emitter light rays toward the axis, and a middle inner region joining and substantially cross-sectionally asymptotical to the first and second inner regions. The middle inner region is positioned with respect to the emitter to refract light away from the axis by progressively lesser amounts at positions progressively closer to the second inner region. The lens further has an outer surface including output regions each configured for refracting the light from a corresponding one of the inner regions such that at the outer surface light from each inner region is refracted substantially without overlapping light from the other inner regions.
US09217853B2
A divergence-changing device, comprising a ray source, a substantially telecentric arrangement, having an optical system, which has a first focal point and a first system region and a second system region, and having a ray-deflecting device, which is designed such that the beam of rays from the ray source hits the ray-deflecting device, wherein the main ray would hit/hits the ray-deflecting device at the first focal point or close to the first focal point, and that the ray-deflecting device can feed the beam of rays from the ray source to the first system region at different angles of incidence, wherein the beam of rays imaged by the first system region is deflected onto the second system region by a ray-folding device, wherein the beam of rays is imaged by the second system region such that the beam of rays hits the ray-deflecting device again and leaves the divergence-changing device with a constant position.
US09217845B2
An imaging lens includes first, second, third, and fourth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. The first lens element has a positive refractive power, and a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has a negative refractive power, and an image-side surface with a convex portion. The third lens element has an object-side surface with a concave portion. The fourth lens element has an object-side surface with a convex portion, and an image-side surface with a convex portion and a concave portion.
US09217844B2
An imaging lens module includes first, second and third optical lenses that are arranged sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, and a constant-aperture diaphragm disposed between the first and second optical lenses. The first optical lens has a positive refractive power, and the second optical lens has a negative refractive power. The third optical lens has a positive refractive power and has an object-side surface and an image-side surface, At least one of which has at least an inflection point. The imaging lens module satisfies: 0.8TL/Dg1.1, in which, TL is a length from an imaging plane to the object-side surface of the first optical lens, and Dg is a length of a diagonal line of a maximum viewing angle on the imaging plane.
US09217843B2
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened.
US09217842B2
A heliostat includes mirrors. Each mirror is supported with a frame at three points including a fulcrum and movable points. The movable points are provided with electric extendable units, respectively. The electric extendable units are separately controlled to change distances between the mirror and the frame at the movable points, thereby correcting an aberration of the mirror and always directing reflected light from the mirror toward a predetermined position.
US09217841B2
A compact camera modules has first, second, and third lens groups that move along an optical axis. A stepping motor is centered on the optical axis rather than offset from the optical axis. The motor has two coils that are fixed in place and a shared rotating magnet. The magnet is attached to a rotating guide that has slots to move the first and second lens groups as it rotates. The two coils are alternately energized to rotate the magnet, the rotating guide, and to move the first and second lens groups for zoom. The magnet has alternating thicker and thinner segments of opposite polarity. The thicker segments exert a greater force on an autofocus coil that is energized to move the third lens for the autofocus function. The same shared rotating magnet is used for both zoom and autofocus functions. A more compact design is possible using a shared magnet.
US09217827B2
An optical waveguide arrangement is provided which comprises an active ridge waveguide structure 12 formed by etching of a semiconductor substrate 1, 2, 3. There is also provided an auxiliary waveguide-like structure 8 formed on the substrate adjacent the active ridge waveguide structure 12 to control the etched profile of the active waveguide structure. The arrangement of the auxiliary structure 8 on the substrate controls the etched profile over the cross-section of the active waveguide structure 12 and along the length of the active waveguide structure 12. Advantageously, this arrangement reduces or eliminates the disadvantages associated with etch-process induced asymmetries in the shape of closely spaced waveguides.
US09217823B2
A LED light bar, a related planar light source and a method of manufacturing such light bar is provided. The light source includes a light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface; at least one light bar, on which a plurality of LEDs is disposed, wherein the light bar is disposed on a lateral side of the light guide plate, and the LEDs are disposed inside the light guide plate to output light; a reflector, which is disposed outside the second surface and reflects light; and a diffuser, which is disposed outside the first surface and scatters reflected light of the reflector. Because LEDs are pre-disposed in a mold when the light guide plate is manufactured, the LEDs and the light guide plate are integrally formed, the loss of light can be avoided, and the efficiency of the planar light source can be enhanced.
US09217822B2
This invention relates to structures for mounting LEDs, the structures being suitable for use in the manufacture of light guide devices. This invention also relates to light guide devices comprising the structures and methods of manufacture of the aforementioned. The light guide devices are suitable for use in a range of applications, particularly in connection with the backlighting of displays, for example, liquid crystal displays.
US09217819B2
A backlight unit uses conductive, chemically toughened glass as substrate and includes a diffusion layer, a light guide layer, an optical microstructure layer, a transparent layer, a reflective layer and a light source module. The integrally formed backlight unit is fabricated using photochemical lithography, printing-coating, and ultrasonic hot melt adhesion processes.
US09217815B2
In the embodiments of the invention, a double-vision backlight module and a LCD device are provided. In the embodiments of the present invention, a light-splitting prism sheet is disposed between a diffuser plate and a LCD panel for splitting light. The prism sheet is arranged such that a side having prisms thereon of the prism sheet faces the LCD panel, and thereby splitting the light and enhancing the brightness, and eventually enhancing the brightness in both left and right view areas and at the same time reducing the brightness in the central-interference area, and thus improving the double-vision effect.
US09217803B2
Computing device and method for calculating time-shifts associated with travel-times of seismic waves emitted by a source and recorded by plural seismic detectors after reflection from a subsurface structure. The method includes receiving seismic data (d) that includes plural traces related to a subsurface, wherein the seismic data (d) is in a time-space domain; transforming with a processor the seismic data (d) from the time-space domain to a radon domain; picking linear events from the seismic data in the radon domain; calculating the time-shifts associated with the picked linear events; correcting the seismic data (d) based on the time-shifts to obtain new seismic data (d′); and computing an image of the subsurface based on the new seismic data (d′). The time-shifts are calculated per trace and per event.
US09217802B2
A method can include accessing seismic data; providing a wave function that defines, at least in part, a correlation window length; generating local autocorrelation functions for the seismic data using the correlation window length; performing cross-correlations between the wave function and each of the local autocorrelation functions to provide local cross-correlation coefficient values; determining second derivatives of the local cross-correlation coefficient values to provide local second derivative values; and rendering the local second derivative values to a display. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09217797B2
Systems, sensors, and methods for high-speed image monitoring of baseplate movement in a vibrator. The systems can include a baseplate defined by an area, disposable at a ground surface to direct a seismic force into the ground surface. The system can include a reaction mass coupled to and positioned above the baseplate to generate the seismic force at the baseplate. The system can include an actuator assembly coupled to the reaction mass to vibrate the reaction mass, as well as high-speed image units directed at the area of the baseplate. The high-speed image units can include photo detectors to sense a distribution of acceleration across the area of the baseplate, and a light source emit light to be sensed by the photo detectors. The system can also include a controller coupled to the actuator assembly, that drives the actuator assembly.
US09217793B2
Apparatus and method for detecting radiation-of-interest, such as neutron radiation, employs a gas chamber, a gas that responds to ionizing particles by producing electrons and ions, a cathode that attracts ions, and a supporting layer with a conductive pathway. The conductive pathway collects electrons and responds to electrons that drift towards the conductive pathway by inducing production of further electrons and ions within the gas. The electrons that are collected at the conductive pathway and/or the ions that drift away from the conductive pathway will induce an electrical signal, which can be used to detect the radiation-of-interest.
US09217790B2
A radar apparatus transmits a high-frequency transmission signal, and receives a signal of a reflective wave reflected by a target. Given a first code sequence of a first code length, a second code sequence of a second code length which is longer than the first code sequence, and a third code sequence obtained by inverting each code of the first code sequence, a first transmission signal obtained by modulating the first code sequence, a second transmission signal obtained by modulating the second code sequence, a third transmission signal obtained by modulating the third code sequence and a fourth transmission signal obtained by modulating the second code sequence are generated in a first transmission period, a second transmission period, a third transmission period and a fourth transmission period respectively.
US09217787B2
Described is an apparatus for calibrating a position finding device, having a comparer for comparing a received radio signal pattern to a multitude of reference radio signal patterns, a determiner for determining a signal strength difference, and a determiner for determining a calibration value. The comparer for comparing is configured to select a selection subset from the multitude of reference radio signal patterns by means of a measure of matching between the received radio signal pattern and one reference radio signal pattern, respectively. Determination of the calibration value is based on the signal strength difference, and the determiner for determining the calibration value is further configured to provide the calibration value to the position finding device. Also described are a position finding device for radio-based localization, having such an apparatus for calibrating, a method of calibrating a position finding device based on radio-based localization, and a computer program for performing the method are described.
US09217783B2
A hall effect device includes an active Hall region in a semiconductor substrate, and at least four terminal structures, each terminal structure including a switchable supply contact element and a sense contact element, wherein each supply contact element includes a transistor element with a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a control terminal, wherein the second transistor terminal contacts the active Hall region or extends in the active Hall region; and wherein the sense contact elements are arranged in the active Hall region and neighboring to the switchable supply contact elements.
US09217776B2
A battery inspection apparatus includes: a battery inspection table having a plurality of inspection units each for inspecting a rechargeable battery; and a controller that is provided separately from the battery inspection table and configured to control the battery inspection table. Each of the inspection units includes: a contactor for inspection configured to contact a corresponding battery; and a measurement circuit that is connected to the contactor and configured to generate an analog measured signal by measuring at least one of a current, voltage, and temperature, based on an input from the contactor. The battery inspection table has a control board mounted, the control board being configured to convert the analog measured signal generated by each of the inspection units into a digital signal to output to a common communication cable, and the communication cable connects the control board and the controller together.
US09217773B2
This disclosure describes a reduced pin bus that can be used on integrated circuits or embedded cores within integrated circuits. The bus may be used for serial access to circuits where the availability of pins on ICs or terminals on cores is limited. The bus may be used for a variety of serial communication operations such as, but not limited to, serial communication related test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations of an IC or core design. Other aspects of the disclosure include the use of reduced pin buses for emulation, debug, and trace operations and for functional operations. In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, an interface select circuit, FIGS. 41-49, provides for selectively using either the 5 signal interface of FIG. 41 or the 3 signal interface of FIG. 8.
US09217770B2
A probe resistance measuring method includes measuring first resistances at three or more nodes by making contact at least a part of a plurality of probes of a probe unit with three or more pads for resistance measurement based on a first correspondence relation. The measured resistances are stored as a first measurement result and contact resistances of the plurality of probes of the probe unit are calculated based on the first measurement result.
US09217766B2
A device and method for measuring active and reactive powers of an alternating current includes receiving a first signal representing a current and a second signal representing a voltage, in which the current includes a phase offset with respect to the voltage, calculating an active power and reactive power based on the first and second signals, and calibrating the calculated active and reactive powers with respect to the phase offset using first and second constants, in which the first and second constants respectively correspond to a sine value and a cosine value of the phase offset.
US09217761B2
A control circuit for a switch, configured to measure the drain-to-source current of the switch is described. The control circuit is configured to control an external transistor and comprises a control pin coupled to the gate of an external transistor. The external transistor and a level shifting unit are coupled to the control pin and configured to isolate an AC current from the control pin; at a time instant subsequent to the first pulse duration, the isolated AC component of the voltage potential is indicative of a drain-to-source current through the external transistor.
US09217760B2
A current sensor includes: a lower housing; a lower magnetic core that is housed in the lower housing, and includes a first gap on which a first hall element for detection of a magnetic field is arrangeable; a central housing that detachably engages with the lower housing, and houses the lower magnetic core along with the lower housing; an upper magnetic core that is arranged on the central housing, and forms a ring structure for surrounding a conductor along with the lower magnetic core; and an upper housing that detachably engages with the central housing, and houses the upper magnetic core along with the central housing.
US09217757B2
Systems and methods for calibrating the alignment of 3-axis accelerometers in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a telematics system includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. an accelerometer, and a processor, wherein the GPS receiver is configured to determine velocity information, wherein the accelerometer is configured to determine accelerometer acceleration information along one or more accelerometer axes, and wherein the processor is configured to receive a velocity information sample using the GPS receiver, determine GPS acceleration information along one or more vehicle axes using the velocity information sample, receive accelerometer acceleration information samples using the accelerometer, and calibrate one of the vehicle axes to an accelerometer axis in the one or more accelerometer axes using the GPS acceleration information sample and the accelerometer acceleration information sample.
US09217755B2
The disclosure generally relates to method and apparatus for forming three-dimensional MEMS. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a method of controlling out-of-plane buckling in microstructural devices so as to create micro-structures with out-of-plane dimensions which are 1×, 5×, 10×, 100× or 500× the film's thickness or above the surface of the wafer. An exemplary device formed according to the disclosed principles, includes a three dimensional accelerometer having microbridges extending both above and below the wafer surface.
US09217754B2
Devices to aid in finding items, along with methods of operation of the devices. The resultant movement of an item during use, and lack of movement of an item during non-use, are exploited to alert a user to the whereabouts of the item through adaptive techniques. A device is associated with an item (e.g., attached to an item) and is configured to sense motion events corresponding to movement of the device and to track corresponding times of occurrence of the motion events. The device may adaptively determine a time interval of motion inactivity or an alert time at which to provide an indication of a current location of the device based on one or more of the motion events and the times of occurrence.
US09217749B2
Compositions and methods for producing monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives reactive against bioactive lipid targets are described. These compositions include derivatized lipids, each of which comprises a bioactive lipid that having a polar head group and at least one hydrocarbon chain (e.g., a lysolipid such as lysophosphatidic acid or sphingosine-1-phosphate) in which a carbon atom has been derivatized with a pendant reactive group; immunogens made by linking a derivatized lipid to a carrier moiety (e.g., a carrier protein, polyethylene glycol, colloidal gold, alginate, or a silicone bead); monoclonal antibodies and derivatives produced by immunizing an animal with such an immunogen; and therapeutic and diagnostic compositions containing such antibodies and antibody derivatives. Methods for making such derivatized lipids, immunogens, and monoclonal antibodies and derivatives, methods for detecting such antibodies once generated, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using such antibodies and derivatives, are also described.
US09217748B2
Described herein are assays directed to determining the level of bioavailable or free vitamin D in a blood sample in a subject. The values determined for bioavailable or free vitamin D indicate whether the subject suffers from insufficient levels of vitamin D. Also described herein are methods of treatment for vitamin D insufficiency.
US09217741B2
Phytoplankton represent a potential source of bioactive compounds. The present disclosure provides, inter alia, methods for identifying glycerolipids and apoptosis-inducing sphingosine-like lipids from virally-infected phytoplankton.
US09217729B2
An ultrasonic transducer holder with a floating head is disclosed. This transducer holder allows the waterpath of the ultrasonic signal to be maintained over a contoured surface. Maintaining a constant waterpath between a transducer and the piece being inspected allows for inspection of surfaces that normally would not be capable of inspection by prior ultrasonic transducer holders.
US09217726B2
A gas sensor control apparatus (1) for a gas sensor (2) including an electromotive force cell (24) and a pump cell (14) includes current control means (69) for feedback-controlling the pump current Ip, voltage setting means S5, S13 for setting a target voltage Vr to either of first and second target voltage Vr1 and Vr2, and constant group setting means S4, S12 for setting a group of feedback control constants to a first group Kpid1 when the target voltage is Vr1 and to a second group Kpid2 when the target voltage is Vr2. The second group Kpid2 is determined such the pump current Ip becomes stable more quickly as compared with the case where the first group of control constants Kpid1 continues to be used.
US09217720B2
An apparatus is provided for external inspection of a pipeline circumferential weld. This comprises a radiation source (5) and radiation detector (3). Both units are controllably movable around a drive band or track (7) which is fitted around the circumferential weld. To align the source with the detector the source and detector are moved with respect to each other clockwise and anticlockwise around an initial position while sampling the radiation detected at a number of positions. A position of maximum strength of the radiation signal detected can then be determined such that the center point of the radiation source may be located. The source and detector are then substantially aligned with each other and means are provided to move the source and detector circumferentially around the weld while remaining substantially in alignment.
US09217717B2
Methods and systems for enhancing the throughput of a metrology system generating measurement signals based on at least two different optical properties of the illumination light are presented. A detector having a two dimensional photosensitive area is subdivided into multiple photosensitive stripes by multiple, independent linear arrays of shift register elements located within the photosensitive area. Charge transfer from pixels within each stripe is directed to a distinct linear array of shift register elements. Each photosensitive stripe is able to resolve an optical property dispersed across the length of each stripe with relatively high resolution. In addition, the detector is able to resolve another optical property dispersed across several photosensitive stripes in a direction orthogonal to each linear array of shift registers at a relatively low resolution.
US09217713B1
A system and method is disclosed for detecting defects in the surface of a workpiece such as a fiberglass or composite part. A light source is positioned to direct light at the workpiece at an oblique angle with respect to the surface of the workpiece. At least one camera is positioned to detect light reflected from the workpiece and to generate a light signal corresponding to the reflected light. A polarizing lens is positioned between each of the at least one cameras and the workpiece. A processor is coupled to each of the at least one cameras to receive the corresponding light signals. The processor is programmed to process the light signals to detect any defects in the surface of the workpiece based on relative magnitudes of the received light signal. A video display and a printer are preferably coupled to the processor to show any detected defects.
US09217712B2
In the event of a suspected abnormality in the device, sample or reagent, a laboratory technician had to examine the abnormal reaction process data item by item, and infer the cause of the abnormality, which took effort and time in some cases. Abnormality judgment is assisted using: indicator computation means that computes an indicator indicating a feature parameter of a given waveform by applying a pre-defined evaluation formula to time series data of photometric values; relative indicator computation means that computes a value indicating a relationship of the indicator of target data to the indicator computed in the past; and indicator display means that simultaneously displays a value computed by the indicator computation means and the value computed by the relative indicator computation means. According to the present method, which is a method for assisting judgment of abnormality wherein a feature parameter of a given absorbance change is computed, it can be made easier to find certain abnormalities, and it becomes possible to attain more efficient device maintenance and improved device reliability without the addition of any new parts.
US09217700B2
A technique, including a system and a method, for measuring a fluid property using a piezo-actuated fluid dispenser, is disclosed. The technique includes generating a pressure wave in a channel in the piezo-actuated fluid dispenser using a piezo element, detecting, using the piezo element, a residual pressure oscillation in the channel caused by the generating, obtaining a resonance frequency of the pressure oscillation, and determining, using the resonance frequency, the fluid property.
US09217699B2
A method and a device for the execution of the method for the reproduction of an impact event of a projectile, with any ratio of energy and impulse, wherein a feed rate of an impress element is controlled by taking account of an alteration in velocity that is proportional to the quotient of a resistance force and a freely selected projective mass.
US09217690B2
An automotive battery module with one or more battery cells and a coolant loss detection and remediation system cooperative with coolant that is configured to provide thermal management of the battery module. Coolant levels in or around the battery module may be detected, while cooperation with a controller permits corrective action in the event that a leakage of coolant is detected. The controller senses a coolant level sensor which is located in a coolant reservoir to determine when the coolant level drops below a predetermined level. When the coolant level is determined to be low, the controller reports the low level condition and takes remedial action. The controller also has a set of enablement conditions that must be satisfied before the controller senses the coolant level sensor.
US09217687B2
A system for quickly measuring and displaying in real-time a variety of performance characteristics of IR optical components such as lenses, or the like. The system is video based and is under the control of a computer which uses a windowing software program to provide the user with a graphical user interface by which the various components of the system and test lenses may be characterized and operated on through functions available via the interface. The system has features for compensating for the presence of IR background radiation that may be present during a measurement cycle and for drift in the video imager. Thermal management features are included to minimize IR background.
US09217684B2
A passively powered gas sensor for remotely reading and transmitting a gas pressure of a system, comprising a hollow cylindrical body, a stem axially aligned and extending outwardly from a first surface of the hollow cylindrical body, a pressure sensing element in the stem, and an antenna coupled to the pressure sensing element, where the antenna is located within the hollow cylindrical body and the stem. The pressure sensing device is polled remotely by a polling device, and powered by the polling device.
US09217682B2
A torque sensor arrangement including a contactless torque sensor, in which the torque sensor is arranged on an electrically operating linear carriage is provided. A distance sensor is also arranged on the linear carriage such that it allows the distance to the object of which the torque is to be determined to be measured.
US09217677B2
A temperature measuring apparatus is provided which includes a sensor assembly made up of sensing devices which are connected together to produce an output signal correlated with the temperature of a target object. The temperature measuring apparatus determines the number of the sensing devices of the sensor assembly and corrects the output signal so as to compensate for an error in determining the temperature of the target object which depends upon the number of the sensing devices.
US09217676B2
A failure indicator for informing an observer that food in the freezer is not fit to eat comprising: a closed transparent tubular housing; a cup shaped spacer in the interior of the tubular housing for dividing the tubular housing into a fluid storage space and a failure signaling space, having a group of small apertures for allowing fluid from the fluid storage space to enter the failure signaling space when a freezer fails; an opaque label surrounding the tubular housing; and a colored fluid in the housing for signaling whether the freezer has failed and food in the freezer is not fit to eat.
US09217675B2
An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as buttons and environmental sensors. An environmental sensor may be temperature sensor for gathering temperature data associated with the environment surrounding the device. The temperature sensor may be mounted to a button member for the button. The button member may be an actuating member that moves within an opening in a device housing and that extends beyond an outer surface of the housing into the surrounding environment. The button member may be arranged so that an internal electronic switch is activated when the button member is moved within the opening. The button member may be thermally isolated from other device structures using insulating material on the button member. The button member may be formed from a thermally conductive material that transmits the temperature of environmental materials that contact the button member to the temperature sensor.
US09217671B2
The invention describes a light sensor (1) comprising a filter arrangement (11), which filter arrangement (11) comprises a number of spectral filters (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) for filtering incident light (L), wherein a spectral filter (F1, F2, . . . , Fn) is realized to pass a distinct component of the incident light (L), an aperture arrangement (12) for admitting a fraction of the incident light (L), and a sensor arrangement (13) realized to collect the admitted filtered light (L′), which sensor arrangement (13) comprises an array of sensor elements (130) for generating image-related signals (S, S1, S2, . . . , Sn) and which sensor array is sub-divided into a number of regions (R1, R2, . . . , Rn), wherein a region (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) of the sensor array is allocated to a corresponding spectral filter (Fi, F2, . . . , Fn) such that an image-related signal (S) generated by a sensor element (130) of a particular region (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) comprises information pertaining to the direction of origin and/or the spectral composition of the light passed by the corresponding spectral filter (F1, F2, . . . , Fn). The invention further describes a light sensor device (10) for determining the direction of origin and/or the spectral composition of light (L) incident at the light sensor device (10), a method of collecting incident light (L), and a method of determining the direction of origin and/or the spectral composition of incident light (L).
US09217665B2
An example apparatus may include a light source for illuminating a sample, an objective lens positioned on a light path extending from the sample, a lenslet array having a plurality of lenslets and positioned along the light path to receive light from the objective lens. The lenslet array may be positioned along the light path at substantially a Fourier plane of the sample. The example apparatus may also include a detector positioned along the light path approximately one lenslet focal length from the lenslet array. The plurality of lenslets of the lenslet array may correspond to portions of the detector. Each lenslet of the lenslet array may transmit to a corresponding portion of the detector an image of the same portion of the sample from a different viewing angle.
US09217663B2
A sound velocity sensor is defined by a hermetic multi-chambered enclosure for containing flowing gases and mixtures of gases. The contained flowing gases are acoustically excited and the acoustic energy is measured over a fixed distance between a first sending end of the enclosure and a receiving end. The speed of sound of the gases are determined by comparing the energy transmitted through the flowing gases at various frequencies so as to precisely determine the resonant frequency of the gases flowing through the enclosure. In accordance with the present design, the chambers of the enclosure include internal transition shapes therebetween for optimizing the transmission of acoustic energy through the flowing gases and also enhancing one or more additional resonant modes at higher useful frequencies. The transition shapes used in connection with the sensor can be at least one of parabolic, hyperbolic, linear and exponential in nature.
US09217657B2
Device for dispensing embraces a walled, hollow housing having an inside wall surface and having an opening on a first end; a piston that sealingly engages the inside wall surface, beginning at a position away from the first end; and an actuating connection to the piston internal the housing. A material for dispensing can be supplied to the inside of the hollow housing, and dispensed through the opening by actuation and movement of the piston.
US09217654B2
A hydrocarbon-fueled hot water heater for supplying hot water includes a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a selectively activatable burner for applying heat to a volume of water between the inlet and the outlet, a sensor for sensing activation of the at least one burner, and a communication interface for communicating data corresponding to the activation of the at least one burner to a processor configured to multiply the amount of time the burner is activated by a known value corresponding to a flow rate of the burner to estimate an amount of fuel consumed by the hydrocarbon-fueled hot water heater. Other devices and methods of submetering hydrocarbon fueled water heaters are also included.
US09217653B2
A process transmitter includes at least one sensor which monitors a process variable, and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuitry coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to provide process variable data indicative of process variable values. A digital signal processor (DSP) is coupled to the A/D converter circuitry to receive the process variable data. The DSP comprises a co-processor configured to receive and perform calculations on the process variable data from the A/D converter circuitry to generate output data. Communications circuitry of the process transmitter is configured either to control communication over loop wiring which can be coupled to the process transmitter, or to control wireless communications with the process transmitter. A microprocessor, separate from the co-processor of the DSP, is coupled between the co-processor and the communications circuitry to control movement of the output data from the DSP to the communications circuitry.
US09217647B2
Systems and methods for recommending time independent or “guidebook” transit routes between an origin and a destination are provided. A score is generated for each transit route. The score can be used to evaluate and prioritize the transit routes so that one or more transit routes can be recommended to a user. The score can be computed based on characteristics of a trip duration function generated for the transit route. The trip duration function specifies a trip cost (e.g. a trip duration) for the transit route as a function of time (such as departure time or arrival time) over the time interval. The trip duration function can be a piecewise linear function with one or more linear trip segments. Each linear trip segment models the trip cost, including waiting time, of a transit trip associated with the transit route over at least a portion of the time interval.
US09217640B2
A gyroscopic system provides measurements on the basis of a vibrating gyroscope and provides a measurement signal. A periodic control signal is applied to it; in order to rotate the position of vibration, during a half period, according to a first speed profile, from a first up to a second position; and in order to rotate the position of vibration in an opposite direction during the other part of the period, according to a second speed profile, up to a third position. The measurements are based on corrected signals, each of said corrected signals, respectively for each of the vibrating gyroscopes, being obtained by; deducting the control signal from the measurement signal of the vibrating gyroscope; and taking account of errors identified on the basis of a comparison of the measurements provided by the gyroscopic system as a function of the position of vibration with reference measurements.
US09217637B2
A method for optically scanning and measuring an environment by means of a hand-held scanner for producing 3D-scans is provided. The method including providing a hand-held scanner having at least one projector and at least one camera. At least one pattern is projected onto an object in the environment with the at least one projector. At least one camera images of the object which has the pattern projected thereon is recorded with a plurality of frames. Three-dimensional coordinates of points on the surface of the object are determined from each frame in the plurality of frames. A ring closure is determined in the plurality of frames. The determination comprising the steps of forming a frustum for each frame, comparing a last frustum of the last frame with a plurality of frusta to form an intersection, and selecting a frustum having the largest intersection.
US09217634B1
Systems and methods for lap timing and counting in athletic events are disclosed. The systems and methods do not require the athlete to wear a counter/timer, a transmitter, a reflector or another kind of marker. A portable computing device with a sensor, such as a tablet computer with a camera, is positioned in an appropriate location. Data from the sensor is transformed into a time series of data, and one or more learned statistics are calculated in real time as benchmark ambient conditions. The learned statistics are essentially continuously updated and data that indicates irrelevant volatility is excluded. A detection threshold is determined and essentially continuously updated based on the learned statistics, and lap completion is determined based on the threshold. Times, lap counts, and other data are displayed on the portable device in real time.
US09217633B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for analyzing an at least partially reflective surface of a wafer or other objects, containing a holder for holding the object; an inspection arrangement arranged at a distance in the region in front of the surface to be analyzed; and a measurement arrangement for determining the distance and/or inclination of the surface for the inspection arrangement; characterized be a radiation source, the radiation of which is directed towards the surface to be analyzed at an angle; and a spatially resolving detector for receiving the radiation from the radiation source that is reflected from the surface to be analyzed, wherein the radiation source and the detector are arranged outside the region necessary for the inspection between the inspection arrangement and the surface to be analyzed.
US09217632B2
A system and method for determining a position of a communication platform involves a first communication platform and a second communication platform. The first communication platform is in communicative contact with the second communication platform, and the communication connection is a focusable communication connection. The direction and/or orientation of the focusing of the communication connection is determinable and, by determining the focusing of the communication connection, a position of the second communication platform is determinable.
US09217629B2
A displacement sensor for sensing the displacement of a movable component of a device is provided. A flexible element of the displacement sensor includes a mounting portion mounted to the device and a coupling portion spaced apart from the mounting portion. A displacement conversion mechanism is coupled to the movable component and is further coupled to the coupling portion of the flexible element. The displacement conversion mechanism is configured to convert a larger displacement of the movable component into a smaller displacement of the coupling portion of the flexible element. The flexible element is arranged such that a displacement at the coupling portion causes the flexible element to bend.
US09217628B2
An inductive detector operable to measure displacement along a path comprises: a first inductive arrangement; a second inductive arrangement; said second inductive arrangement being spaced from said first inductive arrangement and extending along at least part of the measurement path; at least one of said inductive arrangements comprises a winding which extends along at least part of the measurement path; and said winding comprising at least four loops in electrical series; wherein adjacent loops have opposite magnetic polarity; and the pitch distance of said winding varies at least once along the measurement path.
US09217624B2
A pyrotechnic device including a combustion chamber including a wall, the combustion chamber containing combustible powder; an ignition source adapted to ignite said combustible powder within said combustion chamber; wherein the wall of the combustion chamber is adapted to burst at a predetermined pressure caused by combustion of the combustible powder; wherein the combustion chamber is disposed within a launch structure beneath a projectile and wherein a preselected amount of free space volume is disposed between said combustion chamber and said projectile.
US09217617B1
An exemplary embodiment includes a molded ammunition magazine insertion guide for a bullpup pattern rifle.
US09217609B2
The invention relates to apparatus and associated methods for conversion of silicon tetrachloride (STC) to trichlorosilane (TCS). The converter features a relatively thin annular heating zone surrounding a reaction chamber. Within the annular heating zone is a heating element that has an annular conformation about the reaction chamber. The design allows high convective heat transfer, which facilitates the use of lower heating element surface temperatures, prolonging the life of the equipment, reducing capital cost by allowing use of a smaller reactor, and greatly improving heating efficiency. A heat exchanger with a plurality of heat exchanger blocks provides further efficiency.
US09217602B2
A refrigerator may include a main body, a storage chamber provided within the main body, a drawer assembly provided in the lower portion of the storage chamber, a cover shelf covering at least a part of the upper surface of the drawer assembly, a lower shelf disposed between the cover shelf and the sidewall of the storage chamber and provided with one side supported by the sidewall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out and the other side supported by the upper surface of the drawer assembly so as to be pulled out, and an upper shelf disposed above the lower shelf and provided with one side supported by the sidewall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out and the other side supported by a shelf frame mounted on the rear wall of the storage chamber so as to be pulled out.
US09217585B2
A movement mechanism for moving an interception element of a solar plant. The mechanism is mounted on a support frame and is constrained to the interception element to allow the movement thereof with respect to the support frame. The mechanism comprises a drive member which generates a motion, and a transmission kinematism which transmits the motion to a rotation shaft constrained to the interception element. The transmission kinematism comprises a first mechanical member with gears mounted rotatable on a first support and mechanically connected to the drive member, and a second mechanical member with gears engaged on the first mechanical member, mounted on a second support, and keyed to the rotation shaft. The first and the second support are pivoted to each other with respect to a determinate pivoting axis, in order to rotate around the pivoting axis, so as to bring together/distance the first and the second mechanical member.
US09217581B1
An air conditioner support includes a curb frame having side walls forming corners and a support bracket at each corner secured to end portions of the side walls. End portions of adjacent side walls are sandwiched between an inner bracket segment and an outer bracket segment and secured in place by threaded fasteners.
US09217575B2
In an air-cooling-and-heating controlling system, individual variable air volume controllers send, to an air-cooler-and-heater controller, current cooling/heating requirement information for the controlled area that is controlled by that variable air volume controller. If there is a mixing of a cooling requirement and a heating requirement in the cooling/heating requirement information that is received, the air-cooler-and-heater controller establishes a cold air temperature setting value and a hot air temperature setting value that can handle the cooling requirements and the heating requirements at that time, to perform alternating switching of a supply air temperature setting value. If a variable air volume controller that requires heating is supplied cold air, it blocks the supply of air to the controlled area. If a variable air volume controller that requires cooling is supplied hot air, it blocks the supply of air to the controlled area.
US09217570B2
An axial flow fuel nozzle for a gas turbine includes a plurality of annular passages for delivering materials for combustion. An annular air passage receives compressor discharge air, and a plurality of swirler vane slots are positioned adjacent an axial end of the annular air passage. A first next annular passage is disposed radially inward of the annular air passage and includes first openings positioned adjacent an axial end of the first annular passage and downstream of the swirler vane slots. A second next annular passage is disposed radially inward of the first annular passage and includes second openings positioned adjacent an axial end of the second annular passage and downstream of the first openings.
US09217565B2
A technique of controlling a steam generating boiler system using dynamic matrix control includes preventing saturated steam from entering a superheater section. A dynamic matrix control block uses a rate of change of a disturbance variable, a current output steam temperature, and an output steam setpoint as inputs to generate a control signal. A prevention block modifies the control signal based on a saturated steam temperature and an intermediate steam temperature. In some embodiments, the control signal is modified based on a threshold and/or an adjustable function g(x). The modified control signal is used to control a field device that, at least in part, affects the intermediate steam and output steam of the boiler system. In some embodiments, the prevention block is included in the dynamic matrix control block.
US09217560B2
An LED based illumination module includes a thermal interface surface that is coupled to a thermal interface surface of a reflector using engaging members that generate a compressive force between the thermal interface surfaces. The engaging members may be, e.g., protrusions that interface with recesses, spring pins, formed sheet metal, magnets, mounting collar, etc. The reflector may include a vented portion that is not optically coupled to the LED based illumination module to allow air to pass through the reflector.
US09217559B2
The present invention relates to a moving head light fixture comprising: a base; a yoke rotatable connected to the base; a head rotatable connected to the yoke. The head comprises at least one light source generating light. An actuator is adapted to rotate the yoke or the head. Magnetic means is attached to the axel of the actuator and generated a magnetic field, which is perpendicular to the actuator axel. A magnetic encoder is fixed in relation to the axel and provides at an axel position signal based the magnetic field is indicative of the angular position of the axel in relation to the magnetic encoder. Indication means provides an indication signal when the yoke or head is positioned at a number of predetermined angular positions in relation. Processing means are adapted to control the moving head light fixture based on the actuator axel position signal and the indication signal.
US09217557B2
Lighting apparatus may comprise elongated segments interconnected perpendicularly to form a grid light engine, each segment comprising groups of LEDs on both sides such that, when interconnected together, the grid light engine is operable to emit light inwardly to a plurality of grid squares formed by the segments. The apparatus may further comprise a back panel light engine comprising LEDs, the back panel light engine being coupled adjacent to the grid and operable to emit light from its LEDs through the grid. This architecture can allow for light from different sets of LEDs to be projected in different directions. When the different sets of LEDs emit different spectrum outputs, the light fixture can appear visually different depending upon the viewers' perspective. When the different sets of LEDs are controlled separately, visual effects such as the appearance of depth, sunrises and sunsets can be generated.
US09217547B2
A portable lamp is provided that is powered by a plurality of batteries. The lamp includes a housing having a battery compartment with a removable closure. The closure includes a plurality of electrically conductive contacts configured to contact batteries in the battery compartment. The battery compartment and the closure comprise mating alignment elements adapted to align the contacts on the closure with batteries in the battery compartment. The alignment element on the closure is configured to move relative to the closure when the closure is twisted relative to the battery compartment to connect the closure to the housing. The lamp also incorporates a valve that may be integrally formed with a sleeve on the housing.
US09217545B2
A light source device includes a first semiconductor light source, a second semiconductor light source, and a wavelength converter. The first semiconductor light source emits light in a first wavelength range. The second semiconductor light source emits light in a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range. The wavelength converter absorbs the light in the first wavelength range to emit light in a third wavelength range different from either of the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range, and transmits the light in the second wavelength range substantially entirely.
US09217541B2
A stabilization structure includes a stabilization layer on a carrier substrate. The stabilization layer includes an array of staging cavities. An array of micro devices are within the array of staging cavities. Each micro device is laterally attached to a shear release post laterally extending from a sidewall of a staging cavity. A pressure is applied to the array of micro devices from the array of transfer heads to shear the array of micro devices off the shear release posts. The sheared off micro devices are picked up from the carrier substrate using the array of transfer heads.
US09217538B2
A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume.
US09217531B2
Mounting apparatus includes a shaft member having a shaft fluidic channel therein and a shaft exterior surface. The shaft exterior surface includes a base portion and a sidewall portion forming an intersecting angle therebetween. The mounting apparatus also includes a compression member disposed across from the sidewall portion of the shaft member.
US09217530B2
A tapping sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve configured to clamp a main conduit, a gasket between the sleeve and main conduit, the gasket having a protruding aperture seal offset a distance from a branch aperture in the sleeve, the aperture seal having a first inwardly protruding portion extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main conduit, an inwardly protruding circumferential seal bead extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis from the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a main length portion having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a junction end portion between the main length portion and the first portion of the aperture seal, the junction end portion having a non-uniform thickness, the aperture seal having a non-uniform thickness, and the offset distance being non-uniform.
US09217514B1
A lock-out bracket secures the position of a shaft extending through a pneumatic actuator, the shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being operative for controlling a valve, the second end being coupled to a limit switch mounted on a limit switch bracket mounted to the actuator. The lock-out bracket includes a substantially flat base plate and a substantially flat lock-out tab substantially perpendicular to the base plate, the base plate defining an opening configured for matingly fitting over, receiving, and engaging the second end of the shaft. The lock-out tab defines a first hole adapted for alignment with a corresponding second hole defined on the limit switch bracket for facilitating the insertion of a lock shackle through the first hole and the second hole to secure the lock-out bracket relative to the actuator and prevent movement of the shaft and valve coupled to the shaft.
US09217508B2
An elastomeric or polymeric seal assembly (10) includes an annular elastomeric or polymeric sealing element (60), an internal circumferential surface of which sealingly engaging a first component (12), the sealing element abutting a radial annular face of a second component (16) and an external circumferential surface of the sealing element sealingly engaging an internal circumferential surface of a second component, a vent (92) being provided in the internal circumferential surface of the second component adjacent to the radial face, to vent the space between the external circumferential surface of the sealing element and the internal circumferential surface of the second component, an inlet to the vent being defined by an annular groove (88) in the internal circumferential surface of the second component, an annular helically wound element (94) being provided in the annular groove to prevent extrusion of the sealing element into the vent, the helically wound element being formed from a strip of material of elongate section, adjacent winds of material being spaced from one another.
US09217502B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a transmission control system that enables an operator to quickly and effortlessly shift or change gears/selections/modes, in either a sequential or non-sequential manner without incurring the undesired unloading of driveline motion, while retaining consistent launches/start offs. More particularly, an improved transmission control system with an electronic gear shifter is presented for use in a vehicle or machine having an engine and transmission with a plurality of gear ratios or selections. The system allows the operator to shift gears/selections in a normal sequential progression or a progression that skips numerical order. Thus, the vehicle or machine may be accelerated and/or decelerated at a faster and more predictable rate to achieve greater performance in certain operating conditions.
US09217501B2
A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.
US09217497B2
A push-chain includes a plurality of push-chain links, each push-chain link of the plurality of push-chain links including two strip-shaped mounting pieces disposed opposite one another and one connecting piece that connects at most half of an end face of the two mounting pieces at one side. Each of the two mounting pieces is provided with two mounting holes in the length direction. A distance between the two mounting holes is equal to half the length of the mounting piece. The mounting holes on the two mounting pieces are arranged opposite one another, and two corners on another side of each of the two mounting pieces are rounded corners allowing the push-chain to bend. Two adjacent push-chain links of the plurality of push-chain links are hinge-connected in a horizontally staggered arrangement by way of a chain pivot and the mounting holes.
US09217495B2
An automatic transmission configured with four planetary gear mechanisms, three clutches, and three brakes, which are configured to provide nine forward speeds and a reverse speed. The combination of elements results in, amongst other benefits, improved torque transfer efficiency. A first planetary gear mechanism including first to third rotary elements that form a sequence of the first rotary element, the second rotary element, and the third rotary element when arranged in an order at intervals corresponding to gear ratios in a velocity diagram. A second planetary gear mechanism including fourth to sixth rotary elements, a third planetary gear mechanism including seventh to ninth rotary elements, and a fourth planetary gear mechanism including tenth to twelfth rotary elements.
US09217490B2
Devices and methods for remanufacturing a printer cartridge component are provided. The printer cartridge component is a drum gear assembly configured for attachment to an organic photoconductor (OPC) drum configured for use in a printer cartridge. The drum gear assembly has a drum drive gear and a drive axle attached to the drum drive gear. The drive axle has a first end with teeth portions. The device has a first portion having a drive axle engagement end configured to engage the drive axle. The device further has a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion has a teeth engagement portion to engage one or more of the teeth portions of the drive axle. The first portion and the second portion are configured for assembling and disassembling the drum gear assembly.
US09217488B2
A hydro bush includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe, a rubber portion that is installed between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and stoppers that are installed at both side ends. The hydro bush further includes a liquid chamber which is formed between the outer pipe and the rubber portion, and filled with a working fluid; and a flow path which is formed between the outer pipe and the rubber portion, and connected to the liquid chamber so as to guide the working fluid when the working fluid flows, in which the flow path includes a protruding portion which is formed to protrude inward. Accordingly, a flow distance of a working fluid flowing along the flow path may be increased without increasing a size of the hydro bush, thereby securing various dynamic characteristics.
US09217484B2
A hydraulic damper (2) includes a slidable piston assembly (4) attached to a piston rod (6) to form at least one valve assembly of the damper. The damper further includes at least one chamber in which a slidable partition assembly (54) separates this chamber into an additional compression chamber (101) hydraulically connected with a main compression chamber (10) and an additional rebound chamber (91) hydraulically connected with a main rebound chamber (9, 09). The slidable partition assembly (54) comprises a piston (541) making a sliding fit with an inner surface of the chamber and at least one spring (543) supporting the piston (541). The slidable partition assembly (54) additionally comprises at least one internal piston (542) disposed slidably within the external piston (541) and supported by an internal spring (544) disposed between the internal piston (542) and the external piston (541).
US09217475B2
An uncoupling device, particularly for universal joint transmissions, is provided. The device includes a cylindrical casing, which is integral with a fork of a universal joint, having a plurality of radial slots provided on the inner circumferential surface of the casing. A pawl supporting cage is integral with a rotation shaft and includes a plurality of radial seats. The pawl is accommodated rotatably within the casing. A plurality of pawls is adapted to be accommodated in the radial seats of the cage. The pawls are adapted to pass from a coupling configuration to an uncoupling configuration. The device further includes an annular element which can move axially between a retracted position and an advanced position. The annular element includes a plurality of tongues.
US09217472B2
A seal equipped bearing assembly includes a plurality of rolling elements interposed between opposite raceway surfaces defined in respective raceway rings; a sealing member to seal a bearing space delimited between the raceway rings; and a gap formation facilitating element defined in a seal contact face in the other of the raceway rings, the gap formation facilitating element being a projection provided in a circumferential portion of the seal contact face in the raceway ring. The gap formation facilitating element is configured to render the sealing member to be a non-contact seal or to contact so that the contact pressure is approximately zero when the bearing assembly is in a rotating state. The sealing member is provided with a suction preventing device for preventing the sealing member from being sucked onto the other of the raceway rings.
US09217461B2
A lock nut system includes a nut, a keeper engagement with the nut to inhibit movement of the keeper relative to the nut, and a keeper retaining member. The keeper has a radially inner side configured to engage a shaft to inhibit rotational movement of the nut relative to the shaft when the keeper engages the nut and a radially inner side engages the shaft. The keeper retaining member is secured to the keeper and is engageable with the nut to hold a keeper axially such that keeper is engaged with the nut. A cover member is located on an opposite side of the keeper retaining member relative to the nut and engaged to the keeper retaining member to inhibit a separation of the cover member from the keeper retaining member in such that that the separation of the cover member from the keeper retaining member provides a visual indication to a user.
US09217459B2
A system for fastening a cover to a body of an explosion-proof enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device can include a first load distributing member disposed on a body flange of a body of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can also include a second load distributing member disposed on a cover flange of a cover of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can further include a fastener positioned atop the first load distributing member, where the fastener traverses the first load distributing member, the cover flange, and the body flange. Each fastening device can also include a fastener receiver positioned under the second load distributing member and mechanically coupled to the fastener.
US09217456B2
A waterproof, dustproof, breathing bolt includes a bolt body having a hollow shank with a breathing chamber and a cap member fixedly located at the top side of the hollow shank and defining therein an air passage in communication with the breathing chamber and one or a number of openings in communication between the air passage and the surroundings, and a waterproof breathing member made out of a metal material by powder metallurgy and set in between the breathing chamber and the air passage and having micro pores therein of size larger than air molecules but smaller than water molecules. Thus, the waterproof breathing member allows discharge of hot air out of the apparatus in which the waterproof, dustproof, breathing bolt is installed, but prohibits external water from entering the apparatus.
US09217448B2
An arithmetic processing portion is configured to perform a correction process for resetting an original position of the stroke position by using at least detection results of a voltage value of a first magnetic force sensor as well as a second magnetic force sensor according to the piston movement, and further not to perform the correction process to reset the original position of the stroke position by using the detection result of the first magnetic force sensor and the second magnetic force sensor right after an abutment when the piston is abutted to the stroke end based on a detection result of a stroke end abutment detecting system.
US09217446B2
A hydraulic controller includes: an accumulator connected to a main oil passage; a pressure storage use oil passage which branches off from the main oil passage and leads to the accumulator; an inlet port; a priority port; and a bypass port. The hydraulic controller includes a priority valve configured such that, at the time of storing pressure in the accumulator, of pressure oil that flows into the inlet port, the pressure oil at a flow rate for storing of pressure in the accumulator, which is a preset flow rate, flows out of the priority port, and the pressure oil at a surplus flow rate, which is a flow rate obtained by subtracting the flow rate for storing of pressure from the flow rate of the pressure oil flowing into the input port, flows out of the bypass port.
US09217440B2
A ceiling fan includes a connecting portion fixed to a ceiling, an electric motor having a rotation shaft disposed on a lower portion of the connecting portion, a temperature detector provided on a lower portion of the electric motor for detecting a peripheral temperature, and a controller for estimating a room temperature based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector and driving the electric motor according to the estimated room temperature.
US09217435B2
An appliance containing a motorized appliance pump is provided. The appliance pump includes an integrated motor. The pump is an axial flow pump operable to move fluid along a fluid passageway.
US09217416B2
The application describes a wind turbine having a control method and controller for performing predictive control of a wind turbine generator. Based on the measured instantaneous wind speed, it is known to provide control signals to a wind turbine in order to control the pitch of the wind turbine rotor blades and the speed of the generator. However, it is difficult using instantaneous wind speed measurements to achieve smooth control, due to finite response speeds of the associated electro-mechanical systems, as well as the constantly changing control system inputs. The predictive control system described in the application assumes a model of generator speed based on the values of the incident wind speed v(t) and the values of a control signal u(t) output to the wind turbine in a feed forward loop. Here, the control signal can be for one or more of controlling either the power setting of the generator, or the pitch angle of the rotor blades. The predictive controller uses a rolling time series of values for v(t) and u(t) and based on a predicted response of the generator speed w(t) optimizes the time series control signal u(t). The predicted response of the generator speed w(t) is based on model, that can be refined in real time as the wind turbine operates.
US09217413B2
The invention comprises a wind turbine optical wind sensor 10 mounted on the rotor 4 of a wind turbine, either on the blades 5 or on the hub 5. The sensor comprises a plurality of light sources, each generating respective sensor beams made up of at least two individual parallel component sensor beams. Transit times for particulate matter carried in the wind breaking the at least two component sensor beams are used to provide one or more of an indication of wind speed and/or a component of vertical wind speed. The data received from the sensor can be used in control processes for the operation of the wind turbine, particularly for temporarily pitching the rotor blades in adverse wind conditions, such as when vertical wind gusts are detected.
US09217412B2
A wind energy system comprising a wind turbine comprising a cowling surrounded by a diffuser and a plurality of inner rotor blades located inside of the cowling that rotate about an inner hub, a plurality of outer rotor blades positioned between the diffuser and the cowling that are counter-rotating relative to the plurality of inner rotor blades, a drive mechanism located within the inner rotor hub, a dynamic telescopic tower, and a tower support that connects the wind turbine to the dynamic telescopic tower.
US09217409B2
An internal combustion engine is provided with a ratchet one-way clutch between an output shaft of a starting motor and a crankshaft. The one-way clutch includes a claw piece which rotates integrally with the crankshaft, and an engagement part which rotates integrally with the starting motor and with which the claw piece engages. An electronic control device performs control for driving the starting motor when the engine is stopped to reduce the difference between the rotation speed of the engine and the rotation speed of the starting motor, that is, the difference between the rotation speed of the claw piece and the rotation speed of the engagement part.
US09217407B2
The mechanical lifter generally includes an inner lift member, an outer lift member, and a roller. The inner lift member is at least partly made of a metallic material. The outer lift member is at least partly made of a polymeric material and surrounds the inner lift member. The roller is rotatably coupled with respect to the inner lift member and is partly disposed within the inner lift member. The inner lift member is configured to move a first component in response to a force applied to the roller by a second component.
US09217403B1
A mount for a level sensor assembly in a fuel tank may include an interconnect member adapted to couple a first tube to a second tube to permit fuel flow through the first tube, the interconnect member and the second tube. The first tube is adapted to be in fluid communication with a fuel pump and the second tube is in fluid communication with fuel in the fuel tank. A bracket is coupled to the interconnect member and adapted to carry at least a portion of the level sensor assembly. In this way, the level sensor assembly may be coupled to fluid tubes associated with the fuel pump, or other tubes, as desired.
US09217397B2
A method for verifying the reliable operation of a fuel tank pressure transducer positioned within a fuel tank of a PHEV. The method detects the initiation of a refueling cycle, which leads to opening a system vent valve positioned between a carbon canister and a system vent, and opening a fuel tank isolation valve. A controller monitors fuel system pressure within the fuel tank and at the vent valve, and that device determines rates of change of the fuel system pressure within the fuel tank and at the outlet vent. Reliable operation of the fuel tank pressure transducer is indicated upon a determination that the rates of change of the fuel system pressure in the fuel tank and at the outlet vent are uniform within a predetermined range.
US09217395B2
A valve able to control an exhaust gas recirculation system of an internal combustion engine equipped with a turbine installed in an exhaust circuit of the internal combustion engine, is disclosed. The valve includes a body through which a first stream of exhaust gas tapped off upstream of the turbine can flow and through which a second stream of exhaust gas tapped off downstream of the turbine can flow. The valve is configured to control the flow of the first and second streams of exhaust gas through the valve body.
US09217393B2
An independent fuel injection system of a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, may include a cylinder head having an intake port of an engine using CNG as fuel; an intake manifold communicating with the cylinder head so as to supply external air to the cylinder head; and an injection module installed at a predetermined portion of the intake manifold adjacent to the cylinder head and injecting the CNG fuel toward the intake port.
US09217392B2
A vortex cannon based on pulse detonation engine comprises a combustion chamber, a fuel source, an oxidizer source, a purge gas source, a valve allowing delivery of fuel from the fuel source to the combustion chamber, a valve allowing deliver of either oxidizer or purge gas from the oxidizer and purge gas sources to the combustion chamber, an ignition source for the combustion chamber for initiating detonation of fuel and oxidizer, and a conical barrel outlet from the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is configured for control over the detonation front. A control system provides for varying the rate and quantity of fuel and oxidizer injected to the combustion chamber for varying the frequency and strength of pulse generation. Ring vortices may be generated either in single pulses or at high rates of fire which maintain a consistent track.
US09217383B2
Fueling to one cylinder of an engine is selectively adjusted based on a correction associated with the cylinder. An instability module increments a counter value when the correction is equal to one of a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value and was previously equal to the other one of the first and second predetermined values. The instability module selectively generates a first indicator based on the counter value. A variance of imbalance values can be determined based on samples of an exhaust gas oxygen signal. Two variances are determined: one variance with adjustment based on the correction, one without adjustment based on the correction. A variance checking module selectively generates a second indicator based on the first and second variances. A re-synchronization module re-synchronizes the imbalance values with the cylinders, respectively, in response to generation of the first indicator and/or the second indicator.
US09217371B2
A mid-turbine frame located in a gas turbine engine axially aft of a high-pressure turbine and fore of a low-pressure turbine includes an outer frame case, an inner frame case, and at least a first spoke connecting the outer frame case to the inner frame case. The first spoke is tightened so as to be in tension during substantially all operating conditions of the gas turbine engine.
US09217370B2
A micro-turbine engine, consisting of at least a compressor, combustor, and turbine, is a complicated fluid flow device that controls the flow rate and thermodynamic properties of a working fluid in order to generate shaft power. Existing micro-turbines are costly to manufacture because they are designed with sophisticated contours and exotic materials. The present invention discloses a method for designing a micro-turbine with stacked layers of structure, each of which is designed with vertically simple geometry such that it can be manufactured using conventional machining technology. The resulting micro-turbine is low cost compared to existing alternatives in the target range of power outputs and applications. The present invention also describes a method for connecting the micro-turbine to an electrical generator to generate power. Lastly, the method for designing the micro-turbine is applied to heat exchangers, Rankine engines, fluid mixers, and other fluid flow devices.
US09217365B2
An internal combustion engine having two banks of four piston and cylinder assemblies arranged in an inverted V configuration so that there are four pairs of assemblies each pair having cylinders with adjacent combustion chambers intercommunicated by a passage extending therebetween. Crank shaft driven pistons in said cylinders movable within the combustion chambers thereof through successive cycles each including a compression stroke followed immediately by a power drive stroke. Computer controlled fuel injectors are capable of being selectively controlled to operate either to inject fuel into (1) both cylinders of a pair to establish therein a double fire single expansion mode, or (2) into only one cylinder of a pair to establish therein a single fire double expansion mode with the one cylinder receiving the injection being alternated between the pair every predetermined number of piston cycles. A method of operating the engine as a prime mover of a vehicle having a cruise control system manually actuated to effect automatic movement of a normally manually moved accelerator pedal either in (1) a normal mode wherein the amount of fuel injected is maintained substantially that an optimum level and power variation is obtained in response to manual pedal movements by varying the relative number of injector pairs operating in modes (1) or (2) in a cruise control mode wherein all four injector pairs operate in mode (2) and power variation is obtained in response to automatic and pedal movements by varying the amount of fuel injected.
US09217363B2
A super-turbocharger utilizing a high speed, fixed ratio traction drive that is coupled to a continuously variable transmission to allow for high speed operation is provided. A high speed traction drive is utilized to provide speed reduction from the high speed turbine shaft. A second traction drive provides infinitely variable speed ratios through a continuously variable transmission. Gas recirculation in a super-turbocharger is also disclosed.
US09217362B2
A method is disclosed for controlling a two-stage turbocharger system having low-pressure and high-pressure turbochargers in line, sequentially, with an engine. The turbochargers include a low-pressure (LP) turbine and an LP compressor, and a high-pressure (HP) turbine and an HP compressor. The LP compressor feeds the HP compressor, which feeds the engine intake. The engine exhaust feeds the HP turbine, which feeds the LP turbine. The method determines a total boost pressure, which provides combustion reactant for the engine. The method calculates an LP compressor power from the determined total boost pressure, and an LP turbine flow from the LP compressor power. The low-pressure turbocharger operates at the calculated LP turbine flow. The method calculates an HP compressor power from the determined total boost pressure, and an HP turbine flow from the HP compressor power. The high-pressure turbocharger operates at the calculated HP turbine flow.
US09217356B2
A mounting includes at least one electrode producing electric fields in an exhaust gas line, a disk of electrically insulating material having inflow and outflow sides and openings for exhaust gas, and at least one electrical conductor fastened to and/or in the disk. The electrical conductor is covered by the electrically insulating material at least on the inflow side and in electrical contact with the electrodes extending toward the outflow side. Since the electrical conductor is completely surrounded by insulating material during operation, an area that must be covered by a soot layer for a leakage current to develop is increased. The leakage length increases and one or more electrodes are in the exhaust gas at the same time. The soot particles deposited on the mounting and the exhaust gas line, need to be removed less often. An exhaust line device having at least one mounting is also provided.
US09217344B2
A honeycomb filter includes a honeycomb structure and plugged portions. Partition walls of the honeycomb structure are made of a partition wall material including a plurality of aggregates containing silicon carbide or silicon nitride as a main component, and a binding material at a content of 15 to 35 mass %. The binding material is made of a material in which mullite particles as reinforcing particles may be dispersed in cordierite. A thermal expansion coefficient of the partition walls at 40 to 800° C. is 4.2×10−6 1/K or less. When a value of a stress applied to the partition wall material at 900° C. is normalized by the maximum value of the stress applied to the partition wall material, a percentage of a plastic deformation displacement in a total displacement at a normalized stress value of 0.9 is in a range of 0.3 to 10%.
US09217337B2
A forward engine mount assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a mount beam having a main body with a fore end and an aft end and a forward shackle assembly supported by the fore end of the mount beam. The forward shackle assembly comprises a first link configured to be connected to a first engine case structure and a second link configured to be connected to a second engine case structure. The first and second links are pivotally attached to each other.
US09217326B2
Systems and methods for enabling communication using two different alternative protocols on a single communication line between remote tools and control equipment used in well operations. In one embodiment, a system includes control equipment, remote tools and a communication line coupled between the control equipment and the remote tools. Each remote tool detects mode control signals on the communication line and operates alternately in either a first mode or a second mode in response to detecting corresponding mode control signals. The first mode enables two-way communication of data on the communication line according to a first communications protocol. The second mode enables one-way communication of data on the communication line from the remote equipment to the control equipment according to a second protocol. The second protocol is different from the first protocol, and may be incompatible with the first protocol.
US09217323B2
A logging while drilling (LWD) caliper includes a drill collar, at least one movable pad, a hinge coupler, a power transmitter and a power receiver. The hinge coupler couples the movable pad to the drill collar in such a way that the movable pad can move between an open position and a closed position. The power transmitter is coupled to the drill collar in such a way that the power transmitter receives power from the drill collar. The power receiver is coupled to the movable pad in such a way that the power receiver provides power to the movable pad. Also, the power transmitter is coupled to the drill collar and the power receiver is coupled to the movable pad is such a way that power is transmitted from the power transmitter to the power receiver.
US09217315B2
Subsea well template comprising a plurality of well slots arranged adjacent to a manifold reception space, said template comprising a plurality of template hatches for protection of well components, including a Xmas tree. Said hatches comprise at least a top protection cover and a side protection panel. The hatches are arranged to pivot between a closed and open position, about a pivot axis arranged at a lower end of the hatch. When in an open position, the well template exhibits absence of a framework extending up towards the top of the template.
US09217311B2
A flapper valve includes a housing, a seat movably disposed at the housing at least between a first position and a second position, a flapper movably disposed at the seat at least between a seated position and an unseated position and at least two biasing members. A first biasing member is configured to bias the flapper toward the unseated position and the second biasing member is configured to bias the flapper toward the seated position.
US09217304B2
A support device for tubular equipment, such as a liner inside a well, and methods for using the support device, the support device including two elements attached to each other. The two elements are: a) a cylindrical sleeve, made of ductile metal and having an external diameter slightly less than an inner diameter of the well or of a casing inserted into the well; and b) a set of tabs made of hard metal, which are spaced apart from each other and integral with the cylindrical sleeve. The tabs extend downwards from the cylindrical sleeve and an outer wall of the tabs is fitted with a series of notched formations, such as teeth, whereas an inner wall of the tabs has a conical form, the apex of which is turned down.
US09217298B2
A holding device insertable into a central bore of a drill string component, the central bore having a first diameter along at least part of a central portion of the drill string component and a second diameter proximate ends of the drill string component. The second diameter is lower than the first diameter. The holding device includes an elongated body forming at least partly a housing for a transmission line. The elongated body has transversal dimensions lower than the second diameter. A plurality of arcuate elements are arranged along the elongated body and distinct from and attached to the elongated body. The arcuate elements are elastically bendable so as to be able to move through the second diameter and have a largest chord greater than the first diameter in a free state so as to be able to expand within the first diameter once past the second diameter.
US09217290B2
Two sensors may be installed on a marine drill to improve measurements used for monitoring and operating the marine drill. The sensors may be installed in a differential configuration with one sensor located on a top block of the marine drill and a second sensor located on a drilling floor of the marine drill. Various calculations may be performed using measurements obtained from the two sensors such as, for example, rate of penetration of the marine drill, drilling level bubble for the marine drill, out of-straightness values for the marine drill, and vibration motion for the marine drill.
US09217288B1
A power ice screw system including an ice screw and screw adapter configured to engage the ice screw, thus enabling use of a power drill to install the ice screw in an ice feature, is described. The ice screw includes a drive head configured to engage the screw adapter. The screw adapter includes clearing ports that enable the adapter to expel ice that enters the adapter from within the ice screw hollow core. The ice screw core extends through the drive head to permit ice to flow through the ice screw and into the adapter. A cutting member resides within the screw adapter, typically disposed between two clearing ports. The cutting member can be flanked by two flanges configured to direct ice that has been disrupted by the cutting member outwardly through the clearing ports. The power drill is typically a lightweight battery powered electric drill.
US09217275B2
A man-made, molded article is provided. The article includes a profile including a planar wall, and an adjacent integral molded depression having a contoured wall extending downwardly from the planar wall. The contoured wall includes a bead portion, a cove portion, and a ledge between the bead and cove portions. The articles are stackable, one above another for transport, in a nestable relationship in which multiple contact zones are present between the contoured walls of an adjacently stacked pair of the molded articles. The contact zones include an arcuately extending contact interface zone between the bead exterior and interior surfaces. The depression has a substantially uniform thickness varying by no more than about +1 percent to about −11 percent in relation to a thickness of the planar wall. Related methods and assemblies are also provided.
US09217274B2
A gas filling apparatus comprising a lance and control unit remote from the lance is disclosed. The lance has a dispensing nozzle for dispensing gas through an aperture. The lance additionally has a manually operable switch for sending a signal to the control unit to commence dispensing of gas. The provision of the manually operable switch on the lance should result in less errors being made during the filling process, particularly where a plurality of lances are simultaneously operated by a single operator. The lance may additionally comprise a visual indicator indicating the state reached in the dispensing cycle.
US09217254B2
A suspension platform system having a work platform suspended from at least one modular mast by a hoisting system. The modular mast is composed of at least two mast units stacked vertically and attached to one another. Each mast unit has a multifunction rail including a plurality of safety engagement devices and a stabilizer guide device. The work platform has at least one mast stabilizer that cooperate with the stabilizer guide device to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform. The hoisting system includes a carriages, hoist, and mast cable. The carriage engages the associated mast so that the carriage may be conveniently slid up and down the mast.
US09217247B2
A ceiling system includes a support structure configured to be installed in a ceiling area of a variety of room types. A ceiling supported by the support structure may cover the majority of the ceiling area and may include light sources to light the room. The ceiling may be defined entirely by panels extending continuously from one end of the ceiling to an opposite end of the ceiling, arranged side-by-side with troughs in between. The panels may themselves be the light sources. Alternatively or additionally light sourced may be disposed within the troughs.
US09217245B2
A motorized drain snake includes a shank and a coiled member connected with the shank. The shank has a first end provided with a bushing which has an interior provided with a shaft hole for mounting the coiled member. The bushing of the shank is made of soft iron material. The bushing of the shank has an end face provided with a plurality of ramps. The coiled member is hollow, bendable and flexible. The coiled member is made of a metallic wire that is wound successively. The coiled member has a first end securely mounted in the shaft hole of the bushing of the shank and a second end provided with a drilling portion.
US09217237B2
The present invention aims to reduce the costs of construction machine by providing a side frame that can be shared by a plurality of construction machines of different models. A left side frame has: a cab support portion for supporting a cab; a cooler support portion provided behind the cab support portion to support a cooler; and a tank support portion provided between the cab support portion and the cooler support portion to support a tank. The tank support portion is configured to allow one of a first tank and a second tank that is different from the first tank in size in the right-and-left direction to be selectively attached to the tank support portion.
US09217232B2
A levitation system communicates fish mutually exclusively upstream and downstream, with minimal trauma to fish, in harmony with their homing instinct and natural levitation process, in discrete micro-steps aggregated in macro steps, with optimally adjusted water flows, through capsules of stations differing in elevation by 50 to 100 feet, connected through inclined conduits in series and in parallel. The process starts with electricity from a utility to pump water from the forebay to the dam crest. Water moves slowly in controlled cascades through stations from crest to the afterbay. Surplus electricity is generated as pressure is adjusted at each station. Cooler water drawn from below the surface of the forebay is blended at stations along the passageway and spent water is flushed. Energy losses are attributable mainly to attraction flow at the station a few feet above the afterbay and are mitigated by a moderate negative pressure to control flow.
US09217227B2
A safety surface for use in a designated area of a playground or other activity area includes a primary shock absorbing layer formed with a plurality of bags, and a border arranged for placement along selected edges of the designated area. The bags are sized and shaped to abut adjacent bags, with a portion of the bags arranged to abut the border. Each of the bags is filled with a plurality of pieces of a shock absorbent material, and includes one or more internal dividers arranged to divide the interior of the bag into a plurality of interior compartments. A top layer is arranged to overlie the bags and arranged for securement to the border. The top layer may be formed by discrete tiles that are joined together along seams by an elongate channel connector. The border may be formed of border sections joined at articulating joints.
US09217220B2
The embodiment relates to a dryer and a foreign material removing apparatus thereof. With the dryer and the foreign material removing apparatus thereof, the convenience of user can be maximized by separating and cleaning only a case when the foreign materials are stored in the case above a predetermined amount without the user needing to clean the filter each time the dryer is used.
US09217218B2
A laundry treating apparatus is provided that may include a cabinet provided with an introduction port for introduction of laundry, a tub arranged in the cabinet to store washing water and provided with a tub introduction port that communicates with the introduction port, a drum rotatably provided in the tub and adapted to accommodate the laundry introduced through the tub introduction port, a detergent supply module positioned at a lower portion of the introduction port to store a liquid detergent and to provide the stored liquid detergent to the tub, and a water supply device to supply washing water to the tub and to rinse the detergent supply module using the washing water supplied to the tub.
US09217215B2
Provided is a washing machine including a main body having an opening and a door assembly disposed at the opening, wherein the door assembly includes a door that opens and closes the opening and an auxiliary washing unit having an auxiliary washing space in which hand-washing can be performed, and provided to pivot about one side of the door in an inside of the door. Through this configuration, separated washing spaces can be provided and separate hand-washing can be performed. Also, pressure of washing water supplied into the washing machine can be regulated so that water supply efficiency can be improved and a flow rate of the washing water can be adjusted.
US09217211B2
Nanofibers are fabricated in a continuous process by introducing a polymer solution into a dispersion medium, which flows through a conduit and shears the dispersion medium. Liquid strands, streaks or droplets of the polymer solution are continuously shear-spun into elongated fibers. An inorganic precursor may be introduced with the polymer solution, resulting in fibers that include inorganic fibrils. The resulting composite inorganic/polymer fibers may be provided as an end product. Alternatively, the polymer may be removed to liberate the inorganic fibrils, which may be of the same or smaller cross-section as the polymer fibers and may be provided as an end product.
US09217210B2
Nanofibers are fabricated by introducing a mixture of a polymer solution and inorganic precursor into a dispersion medium and shearing the mixture. Liquid strands, streaks or droplets of the mixture are spun into elongated fibers that include inorganic fibrils. The resulting composite inorganic/polymer fibers may be provided as an end product. Alternatively, the polymer may be removed to liberate the inorganic fibrils, which may be of the same or smaller cross-section as the polymer fibers and may be provided as an end product.
US09217207B2
The present invention is directed to a method of growing thin film diamond. Since there are micro-grooves formed between internal grains of the heterogeneous substrate during lateral epitaxy growth, diamond seeds are allowed to be embedded in the micro-grooves; surface damage caused by scratching method or seeding method also can be prevented. As a result, a continuous diamond thin film with uniform thickness and high quality can be obtained.
US09217201B2
Methods of forming a layer on a substrate may include providing a substrate to a process chamber, the process chamber having a gas port, an exhaust, and a plasma port disposed between the gas port and the exhaust; providing a process gas from the gas port in a first direction such that the process gas flows across the substrate; providing a plasma such that a flow of the plasma interacts with a flow of the process gas at an angle that is non-perpendicular; and rotating the substrate while providing the process gas and the plasma, wherein a thickness profile of the layer is controlled by adjusting at least one of a flow velocity of the process gas, a flow velocity of the plasma, the angle the flow of the plasma interacts with the flow of the process gas, or a direction of rotation of the substrate.
US09217196B2
Plural spline shafts are arranged around columnar plasma, and plural spline shafts are coaxially aligned in a direction that the columnar plasma extends within a vacuum chamber. The plural coaxially aligned spline shafts are positioned so that axial gap is formed between the respective male spline sections. The axial gap of the plural male spline sections is positioned at a center of the columnar plasma in the direction that the columnar plasma extends.
US09217195B2
The present invention provides a film formation method capable of forming a favorable amorphous carbon film under a low vacuum by using a bipolar-type PBII apparatus and the amorphous carbon film to be produced by the film formation method. The film formation method is carried out to form the amorphous carbon film under a low vacuum (1000 to 30000 Pa) by using a power source for the bipolar-type PBII apparatus. There are provided inside a chamber (1) a power source side electrode (3) connected to a power source (6) for the PBII apparatus and a grounding side electrode (4) opposed to the power source side electrode (3). A base material (2) is disposed on one of the power source side electrode (3) and the grounding side electrode (4). Plasma of a noble gas and that of a hydrocarbon-based gas are generated between the base material (2) and the electrode where the base material (2) is not disposed to form the amorphous carbon film on a surface of the base material (2).
US09217188B2
The present invention provides integrated bunker storage systems for waste streams based on the composition and characteristics of waste streams. In particular, the present invention provides a process for generating individual waste streams based on a set of material characteristics. According to the system and method of the present invention, individual waste streams from wastes stored in bunkers are mixed in a given feed ratio to generate a feed stock that will produce a desired output from a chemical conversion process, e.g., gasification. Optionally, composition data regarding the feed stock can be certified to a third party.
US09217185B2
The method of reduction processing of steel-making slag, includes: a hot steel-making slag inflow process of continuously or intermittently charging, from a slag supplying container, hot steel-making slag to a molten slag layer on a molten iron contained in an electric furnace while adjusting an amount of inflow with the slag supplying container; a reducing agent supplying process of supplying a reducing agent to the molten slag layer; an electrifying and heating process of heating the molten iron and the molten slag layer through application of electric power; and a reduction process of continuing reduction processing of the hot steel-making slag in a non-oxidizing atmosphere while intermittently discharging either one or both of the molten iron or molten slag of the molten slag layer.
US09217182B2
A full process control for use with a molecular assay and a method of determine the efficacy of the molecular assay. A full process control can include a fixed cell, and specifically can include a fixed vegetative cell. A method of determining the efficacy of a molecular assay can include providing an internal control, mixing the internal control with a sample, lysing the internal control and the sample, and detecting the lysis product. The full process control and/or the internal control can be Bacillus subtilis cells.
US09217181B2
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecular structure representing the Rhesus genes locus comprising the RHD, SMP1 and RHCE genes and/or the Rhesus box(es), preferably the hybrid Rhesus box, the upstream Rhesus bar and/or the downstream Rhesus box. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the specific detection of the common RHD negative haplotypes. The invention further relates to the detection of RHD positive hyplotypes in D-negative individuals. Various mutations in the RHD gene have been identified that allow for the development of diagnostic tools. The invention also relates to oligonucleotides, that specifically hybridize to the hybrid box, preferably the breakpoint or breakpoint region or to the upstream and downstream Rhesus boxes. Additionally, the invention relates to kits comprising or employing the above recited compounds of the invention.
US09217179B2
Contemplated methods and devices comprise performing electrochemical sample analysis in a multiplexed electrochemical detector having reduced electrical cross-talk. The electrochemical detector includes electrodes that share a common lead from a plurality of leads. The sample, which may be a liquid sample, is introduced into one or more sample wells and a signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes. A response signal is measured while simultaneously applying a substantially fixed potential to each of a remainder of the plurality of leads.
US09217178B2
The invention relates to an additive which can be added to buffers used in nucleotide detection processes and improved methods of nucleic acid sequencing using the additive. In particular the invention relates to use of the additive to improve the efficiency of fluorescence-based multiple cycle nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
US09217171B2
This invention concerns a colorimetric device for detecting, in an aqueous solution of interest, a hydrolytic enzymatic activity with regard to at least one polymer of interest.This device (1) includes (i) a substrate (2) and (ii) a transparent detection layer (3), including the said polymer of interest.This detection layer (3) is adapted so that, on the one hand, after application of the said aqueous solution of interest, when it is deprived of said hydrolytic enzymatic activity, it preserves the said first thickness e, and on the other, after the application of the said aqueous solution of interest, when it includes the said hydrolytic enzymatic activity, it has a second thickness e′, thinner than the said first thickness e,and the said first thickness e and/or the said second thickness e′ of the said detection layer (3) are adapted to generate a color by an optical interference phenomenon caused by the recombining of the light beams reflected at the interfaces (4, 5) of the said detection layer (5).
US09217167B2
Provided herein are methods for generation and amplification of a single-stranded DNA circle in a single reaction vessel from a linear DNA without any intervening purification steps. The single-stranded DNA circle is generated via a template-independent single-stranded DNA ligation. Whole-genome amplification of circulating nucleic acids extracted from blood is provided. Kits for performing the disclosed methods are also provided.
US09217166B2
The present invention relates to a D-psicose 3-epimerase variant with improved thermostability by substituting an amino acid at a specific position of an amino acid sequence of a wild type D-psicose 3-epimerase. Further, the present invention provides a recombinant expression vector including a gene of the D-psicose 3-epimerase variant, and a recombinant strain transformed with the recombinant expression vector. Furthermore, the present invention provides an immobilized reactor prepared using the D-psicose 3-epimerase variant or the recombinant strain, and a method of continuously producing D-psicose using the immobilized reactor.
US09217165B2
A lactic acid-producing yeast mutant which is a mutant of a yeast prepared by introduction of a lactate dehydrogenase gene that results in lactic acid-producing ability, the mutant having, in a medium at pH 3, a lactic acid-producing ability equivalent to or higher than the lactic acid-producing ability of a parent strain of the mutant at a lactic acid fermentation optimum pH.
US09217163B2
The present invention provides a process for production of high yields of butanol by Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC 10132. The process can be completed in a shorter span of time, using batch process through manipulation of various process parameters. The process can also be used for biomass based production of butanol. This paves the way for the strategic shift of major chemical industries from the hazardous routes of biofuel production to the biological, environmentally benign one.
US09217160B2
Methods of assembling modified adenoviruses, libraries of adenoviral gene modules and compositions thereof are provided herein.
US09217157B2
Modified influenza virus NS gene segments and nucleic acid sequences encoding such modified influenza virus NS gene segments are described. In certain embodiments, a modified influenza virus NS gene segment comprises an influenza virus NS 1 open reading frame (ORF) lacking a stop codon, a heterologous nucleotide sequence, a 2A autoproteolytic cleavage site or another cleavage site, an NEP ORF, wherein the gene segment has one or more mutations in either the splice acceptor site, splice donor site, or both the splice acceptor and splice donor sites that prevents splicing of mRNA. Also recombinant influenza viruses comprising a modified influenza virus NS gene segment and the use of such viruses are described. The recombinant influenza viruses may be used in the prevention and/or treatment of influenza virus disease or as a delivery vector.
US09217150B2
The present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising: (a) a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 1; or (b) a nucleotide sequence which is the complement of SEQ ID No. 1; or (c) a nucleotide sequence which is degenerate with SEQ ID No. 1; or (d) a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% sequence identity (preferably at least 87%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity) with SEQ ID No. 1; or (e) a part of any one of (a) to (d), wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes or is a complementary to a nucleic acid molecule encoding one or more polypeptides, or comprises or is complementary to a nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more genetic elements, having functional activity in the synthesis of a polyketide-based or macrolactam molecule. Particularly the invention contemplates the modification of the nucleic acid of the invention, encoding the biosynthetic machinery for the synthesis of the polyketide macrolactam BE-14106, including expressing in a microorganism the modified nucleic acid molecule. In certain aspects the modification includes introducing, mutating, deleting, replacing or inactivating a sequence encoding one or more activities or proteins encoded by said nucleic acid molecule. Other aspects of the invention include a microorganism containing the modified and unmodified nucleic acid and recovering the polyketide-based or macrolactam molecule from said microorganism.
US09217147B2
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for blocking the effect of the intronic inhibitory splicing region of intron 7 of the SMN2 gene. The compositions and methods of the instant invention include short oligonucleotide reagents (e.g., oligoribonucleotides) that effectively target sites in the SMN2 pre-mRNA, thereby modulating the splicing of SMN2 pre-mRNA to include exon 7 in the processed transcript. The short target regions are 8-mers and 5-mers and also include the identification of a single nucleotide base that is essential for initiating a long distance stearic inhibitory interactions as well as novel targets distant from intron 7 which block the intronic inhibitory splicing of the same. These short target regions and concomitant inhibitory blocking oligonucleotides are less expensive and easier to manufacture and are small enough to cross the blood brain barrier.
US09217145B2
A bacteriophage T7 display vector for expressing and displaying an exogenous peptide, wherein the display vector comprises a polynucleotide encoding a bacteriophage T7 tail fiber protein p17 in which a hepatocyte-targeting determinant sequence is inactivated, and wherein a cloning site is contained in a coding sequence for the tail fiber protein p17 or in a coding sequence for a capsid protein p10B. Also provided are a host cell containing the display vector as described above, a bacteriophage T7 particle comprising at least one copy of a p17 protein which comprises an exogenous peptide displayed thereon, or at least one copy of a p10 protein with an exogenous peptide displayed thereon, wherein a hepatocyte-targeting determinant sequence on the bacteriophage T7 tail fiber protein p17 is inactivated. The present invention further provides a viral lysate containing assembled bacteriophage T7 particle described above, and a method for determining if a candidate peptide is a liver-targeting peptide, or for screening for liver targeting peptides.
US09217143B2
Disclosed are methods for isolating polynucleotides (e.g., RNA and DNA) from a cell-containing sample. The disclosed methods employ polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer molecules bound to the surface of binding particles to capture and isolate the polynucleotides from the samples. The polynucleotides are released from the binding particles by contacting the binding particles with a release solution having a basic pH.
US09217142B2
There is provided a culture method and a culture device for efficiently producing cells and/or cell tissue suitable for medication applications. The culture method may include a first step of adhering the cells onto the electrode layer and culturing the cells thereon. The electrode layer may be coated with an oligopeptide including a terminal amino acid, a cell adhesive sequence, and an alternating sequence to be bound to the one end side of the cell-adhesive sequence. The alternating sequence may include a plurality of acidic amino acids and a plurality of basic amino acids that are alternately bound to each other one by one. The culture method may include a second step of applying, to the electrode layer having the cells adhered thereonto, an electrical potential inducing reductive desorption of the oligopeptide, to thereby detach the cells from the electrode layer.
US09217140B2
A fungal strain Beauveria species bearing accession number MTCC 5184 is disclosed. The process for the preparation of an enzyme mix including at least one enzyme selected from, but not limited to protease, carbohydrase, and lipase from the disclosed Beauveria species and uses of the enzyme mix in various areas also disclosed.
US09217126B2
Photolabile fragrance storage substances capable of photo-induced release of odorant aldehydes and odorant ketones are described in addition to a process for long-lasting fragrancing of surfaces and a process for producing said fragrance storage substances.
US09217124B2
The invention relates to a washing or cleaning agent, wherein use thereof generates hydrogel layers surfaces, comprising a hydrogel former having a molecular weight less than 3500 g/Mol, wherein the hydrogel former is water-soluble at concentrations below the minimum gel formation concentration, wherein the minimum gel formation concentration is the concentration at which a yield point of at least 0.05 Pa is formed in a binary solution of water and hydrogel former at T=25° C., and wherein said minimum gel formation concentration lies below 2 wt % of hydrogel former, relative to the system consisting of water and hydrogel former. The washing or cleaning agents according to the invention enable the hydrophiliation of surfaces, and the specific and retarded releasing of active substances embedded in the hydrogel layers, such as aromatic substances or antimicrobial active substances, for example.
US09217105B2
A family of oxycarbonitride phosphor compositions is provided. Also provided are light emitting devices incorporating the oxycarbonitride phosphor compositions.
US09217104B2
This invention relates to compounds of general formula (R′)xZny(L)z(A)n(XR)m, where L is a bi- or multifunctional organic neutral ligand or its deprotonated form, containing at least two heteroatoms selected from N, O, S, wherein at least one of the functional groups of the ligand is selected from —OH, —SH, —NH2, —NHR, —COOH, —CONH2, —CONRH or their deprotonated equivalents; A is an inorganic anion, X is oxygen or sulfur, R′ is C1-C10 alkyl, straight or branched, benzyl, phenyl cyclohexyl or halogen, R is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, x is a number from 0 to 6, y is a number from 1 to 12, z is a number from 1 to 12, n is a number from 0 to 6, m is a number from 0 to 6, wherein x≠0, n≠0 and m≠0 at the same time and if n and m=0, then x≠z. The invention also relates to the method of preparation of these compounds and applications thereof.
US09217101B2
An encapsulated composition for polymerization includes an initiator composition for initiating a polymerization reaction, and a capsule prepared from an elemental metal or fusible alloy having a melting temperature from about 20° C. to about 200° C. A fluid for polymerization includes the encapsulated composition and a monomer. When the capsule melts or breaks open, the initiator is released.
US09217100B2
Disclosed herein is a chiller apparatus containing refrigerant characterized by said refrigerant being HFO-1336mzz that is trans isomer or primarily trans isomer. These chillers may be flooded evaporators or direct expansion evaporators, which utilize either centrifugal or screw compressors. Also disclosed herein are methods for producing cooling comprising evaporating trans-HFO-1336mzz in an evaporator in the vicinity of a body to be cooled, thereby producing cooling. Also disclosed herein is a method for replacing HFC-236fa or CFC-114 refrigerant in a chiller apparatus, said method comprising providing HFO-1336mzz to said chiller apparatus in place of the replaced refrigerant; wherein said HFO-1336mzz is trans isomer or primarily trans isomer.
US09217095B2
The organic-inorganic complex of the present invention is made using an organic-inorganic complex-forming composition containing the following components a) to c): a) at least one organic silicon compound represented by the formula (I) RnSiX4-n and in which a molar ratio of an organic silicon compound in which a solubility parameter of R (SP1) obtained by a Fedors' estimation method is smaller than a solubility parameter of an electromagnetic ray-curable compound (SP2) obtained by the Fedors' estimation method and a difference between the SP1 and the SP2 is 2.0 or more (Si1) to an organic silicon compound in which SP1 is smaller than SP2 and a difference between the SP1 and the SP2 is less than 2.0 or an organic silicon compound in which SP1 is larger than SP2 (Si2) (Si1:Si2) is within the range of 8:2 to 10:0, and/or a condensate of the organic silicon compound; b) an electromagnetic ray-curable compound; and c) metal compound particles.
US09217092B2
An inkjet recording method, containing: applying a stimulus to an inkjet recording ink to jet the ink, to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the ink contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and a surfactant, and has a predetermined surface life time as measured by a maximum bubble pressure method and a predetermined static surface tension, wherein the recording medium contains a support, and a recording layer provided at least one surface of the support, where the recording layer contains a cationic resin in a predetermined amount, and is a medium for a concealing postcard where the recording medium is folded to bond a surface of the recording layer to face each other with an adhesive after information is recorded on the surface of the recording layer, in which the surface of the recording layer has a predetermined 10-sec Cobb size degree.
US09217091B2
An inkjet recording ink, including: water; a water-soluble solvent; a pigment; and a phosphate group-containing copolymer, wherein the phosphate group-containing copolymer includes a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following structural formula (1): wherein, in the general formula (1), R1 represents either of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group; and M+ represents any of an alkali metal ion, an organic ammonium ion, an organic amine ion and a hydrogen ion, one-half or more of the M+ in the copolymer is an alkali metal ion, an organic ammonium ion or an organic amine, and the remainder is a hydrogen ion:
US09217086B2
A method of fabricating an anti-reflective optically transparent structure includes the steps of providing an optically transparent substrate having a first refractive index and a first surface; and forming an anti-reflective layer within the first surface of the transparent substrate. The anti-reflective layer is made by forming a nano-scale pattern within the first surface defining a subwavelength nano-structured second surface of the anti-reflective layer including a plurality of protuberances having a predetermined maximum distance between adjacent protuberances and a predetermined height for a given wavelength such that the anti-reflective layer includes a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index to minimize light diffraction and random scattering therethrough. The predetermined height is approximately equal to a quarter of the given wavelength divided by the second refractive index. One of nanosphere lithography, deep ultra-violet photolithography, electron beam lithography, and nano-imprinting may be used to form the anti-reflective layer.
US09217080B2
The present invention concerns microcapsules comprising a capsule core and a capsule wall, the capsule wall being constructed from 30% to 90% by weightof one or more C1-C24-alkyl esters of acrylic and/ or methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or maleic acid (monomers I), 10% to 70% by weightof a mixture of divinyl and polyvinyl monomers (monomers II), the fraction of polyvinyl monomers being in the range from 2% to 90% by weight based on the monomers II, and also 0% to 30% by weightof one or more miscellaneous monomers (monomer III), all based on the total weight of the monomers, a process for their production and their use in textiles, bindered building materials and heat transfer fluids.
US09217077B2
A sulfur-crosslinkable rubberizing mixture for strengthening elements in motor vehicle pneumatic tires comprises 70 to 100 phr (parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of total rubbers in the mixture) of natural rubber, up to 30 phr of at least one polybutadiene, 40 to 70 phr of at least one carbon black and a bonding system. Further, motor vehicle pneumatic tires are disclosed that comprise the sulfur-crosslinked rubberizing mixture. The key conflict between tear propagation resistance, stiffness and heat build-up is solved by virtue of the carbon black being a nanostructured carbon black with a rough surface.
US09217076B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an emulsion coagulant which can be used to quickly coagulate a tire puncture sealing material in an extremely low temperature environment. The emulsion coagulant of the present invention is an emulsion coagulant comprising: component (A) having a particle size of from 35 to 100 μm and comprising at least one type selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, and silicon oxide; propylene glycol alginate; and component (B) comprising at least one type selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium chloride, calcium acetate, and urea; the amount of component (B) being from 3 to 30 mass % of the total amount of component (A), propylene glycol alginate, and component (B); and the emulsion coagulant being used to coagulate a tire puncture sealing material comprising an emulsion.
US09217073B2
A polyester resin composition having improved transparency, flame retardancy and hardness, and a method for preparation thereof are provided. The composition includes organo-modified nanoclay and a phosphorous-based flame retardant added to a polyester resin. The nanoclay is homogeneously dispersed in the polyester by melt compounding.
US09217069B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing a water repelling surface or imparting hydrophobicity onto a surface comprises applying a polymer-based coating composition. The water repelling surface or the hydrophobic surface imparted by the present method has at least 90° of water contact angle. The water repelling surface or the hydrophobic surface imparted by the present method is preferably on a concrete surface. The present method imparts hydrophobicity onto surfaces that are durable without an additional primer layer between the surfaces and the coating composition.
US09217067B2
Provided is a method that can improve formability and blow moldability of a foamed parison as compared with conventional production method and can produce a polypropylene-based resin foamed blow-molded article having excellent uniformity of wall thickness over a wide range of its density. The method comprises kneading a polypropylene-based resin with a physical foaming agent, extruding the thus obtained foamable molten resin through a die to obtain a foamed parison in a softened state, placing the foamed parison between molds and then blow-molding the foamed parison and is characterized in that the polypropylene-based resin comprises a polypropylene-based resin (A) satisfying specific requirements (1) to (3) and a polypropylene-based resin (B) satisfying a specific requirement (4), when the polypropylene-based resins (A) and (B) are each subjected to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in which an oscillation strain is applied thereto at a temperature of 190° C., and that the mixing ratio by weight (A:B) of the resin (A) to the resin (B) is in the range of 100:0.5 to 100:5.
US09217065B2
Fiberglass mats, binder compositions, and methods for making the same are provided. The fiberglass mat can include a plurality of glass fibers and an at least partially cured binder composition. The binder composition, prior to at least partial curing, can include a first copolymer modified by reaction with one or more base compounds. The first copolymer can include one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, one or more unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, or a combination thereof, and one or more vinyl aromatic derived units. The first copolymer can have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 500 to about 200,000. The first copolymer can be present in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt %, based on a combined weight of the first copolymer and the one or more base compounds.
US09217058B2
A method of preparing a polyacetal comprising polymerization of a mixture comprising a plurality of at least one bis-acetal monomer in the presence of an acid catalyst that promotes the metathesis of the acetal units. The bis-acetal can be formed from an acid catalyzed exchange between a mono-acetal monomer with a diol. The formation of the bis-acetal and the polyacetal can be carried out simultaneously. The diol can be isolated from a biorenewable source and the ultimate polyacetal is a degradable or biodegradable polymer.
US09217055B2
A process for coating a metallic surface of an aircraft. The process includes applying to the metallic surface a composition that polymerizes to form a polyurea having a tensile strength of more than 3500 psi and at least 700% elongation. The polyurea can be formed from an A-side and a B-side, where the weight percents of components for the A-side are: from about 30 to about 65 percent of polyisocyanate; from about 15 to about 70 percent of a polytetramethylene ether glycol; diluent, from 0 to about 20 percent; where the weight percents of components for the B-side are: from 35 to about 40 percent of one or more aromatic diamines; from about 20 to about 70 percent of one or more amine terminated polyether polyols.
US09217051B2
The present invention provides resin particles including polymer obtained of a monomer mixture containing a monofunctional (meth)acrylic ester monomer, a monomer represented by a general formula (I); CH2═C(R1)—COO—(CH2CH2O)n—CO—C(R1)═CH2 (I) where R1 is a hydrogen or a methyl group and n is an integer from 1 to 4, and a monomer represented by a general formula (II); CH2═C(R2)—COO—(CH2CH2O)m—CO—C(R2)═CH2 (II) where R2 is a hydrogen or a methyl group and m is an integer from 5 to 15. The resin particles have a volume average particle diameter of 5 to 50 μm, a recovery rate of 15% or more to less than 30%, and a compression strength (MPa) that provides a multiplication product in the range of 24.5 to 60.0 obtained by multiplying the compression strength and the volume average particle diameter (μm).
US09217049B2
Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers having a melt index less than 50 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 4 to 20, a density from 0.90 to 0.945 g/cm3, and a substantially constant short chain branch distribution. These polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing a boron bridged metallocene compound with a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group.
US09217046B1
The mechanical properties of urea formaldehyde resins may be improved by incorporating therein polyvinyl alcohol. The polyvinyl alcohol may be incorporated during pre-mixing, mid mixing, and/or post mixing of the resin components. Resins prepared using polyvinyl alcohol are particularly desirable in articles requiring improved mechanical strength and water resistance, as compared to similar resins prepared without the polyvinyl alcohol such as shingles.
US09217044B2
Provided are dispersions which comprise more than about up to 55 percent by weight or more of an organic peroxide which is normally solid in an anhydrous liquid phase such as dibutyl maleate or dioctyl adipate, with about 5% by weight or more fumed silica to provide a thixotropic, storage stable organic peroxide paste. Addition of about 5 weight % or more of fumed silica was found to result in the formation of a shear thinning anhydrous dispersion of organic peroxide which was storage stable.
US09217033B2
The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to Glypican-3 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding Glypican-3 antibodies, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the Glypican-3 antibodies are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Glypican-3 antibodies are also provided. Methods for detecting Glypican-3, as well as methods for treating various Glypican-3-related conditions, including hepatocellular cancer, are disclosed.
US09217030B2
The present application discloses humanized 1H7 antibodies. The antibodies bind to human alpha synuclein and can be used for treatment and diagnosis of Lewy body disease.
US09217025B2
The present invention relates to chimeric transmembrane immunoreceptors, named “zetakines,” comprised of an extracellular domain comprising a soluble receptor ligand linked to a support region capable of tethering the extracellular domain to a cell surface, a transmembrane region and an intracellular signalling domain. Zetakines, when expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes, direct T cell activity to those specific cells expressing a receptor for which the soluble receptor ligand is specific. Zetakine chimeric immunoreceptors represent a novel extension of antibody-based immunoreceptors for redirecting the antigen specificity of T cells, with application to treatment of a variety of cancers, particularly via the autocrin/paracrine cytokine systems utilized by human maligancy. In a preferred embodiment is a glioma-specific immunoreceptor comprising the extracellular targetting domain of the IL-13Rα2-specific IL-13 mutant IL-13(E13Y) linked to the Fc region of IgG, the transmembrane domain of human CD4, and the human CD3 zeta chain.
US09217020B2
Efficient and muscle-specific gene expression can be obtained with constructs containing two or more copies of USE and/or ΔUSE fused to the minimal promoter of the TnISlow gene. USE is a small (about 160-bp) upstream enhancer of the TnISlow gene that confers slow-twitch muscle fiber specificity. ΔUSE is generated from a 100-bp deletion at the 5′ end of USE. ΔUSE confers expression in slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. The strength and relatively small size (less than 600-bp) of these constructs make them useful for gene therapy applications.
US09217015B2
The present invention relates to a compound of the formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same, a method for treating or preventing a viral infection using the same.
US09217013B2
In its various embodiments, the invention provides myelin basic proteins and fragments of that interfere with the fibrillization of peptides implicated in the amyloidoses, especially the amyloid-b eta peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease (“AD”) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (“CAA”). Some embodiments provide methods of identifying additional interfering fragments. Others provide methods of identifying substances that modulate the interference. Further embodiments provide methods of preventing amyloidoses, especially AD and CAA by administering myelin basic proteins or fragments thereof.
US09217012B2
Disclosed herein are compounds that selectively inhibit members of the PTP family of enzymes. Synthesized compounds demonstrated selective inhibition of TC-PTP. Also provided are methods of using the compounds and formulations containing the compounds. Also described is a fluorescence-tagged combinatorial library synthesis and screening method. And methods of using these compounds to effect enzyme activity both in cells and in vitro as well as method of using these compounds to treat diseases in human and animals.
US09217007B2
Described herein are novel platinum-based compounds having the formula: and methods of using platinum-based compounds in the treatment of diseases, such as cancer, that are associated with cells expressing solute transporter proteins.
US09217003B2
A process for preparing 6,6′-((3,3′-di-tert-butyl-5,5′-dimethoxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-2,2′-diyl)bis(oxy))bis(2,4,8,10-tetramethyldibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphepine) is provided.
US09216998B2
The present invention is directed to tricyclic indole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by endothelial lipase, for example, cardiovascular disorders.
US09216995B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel integrase inhibitor. The present invention relates to a novel compound having an antiviral effect, more specifically, a pyridone derivative having HIV integrase inhibitory activity, and a medicament containing the same, in particular, an anti-HIV agent. The compound of the present invention has integrase inhibitory activity and/or cell proliferation inhibitory activity against viruses, in particular, HIV and drug-resistant strains thereof. Thus, the compound is useful in preventing or treating various diseases, viral infections (for example, AIDS), and the like in which integrase participates.
US09216987B2
The invention provides a chroman derivative represented by the following Formula (I) that enables the production of an SMTP compound having a desired structure: wherein, in Formula (I), each of Y1 and Y2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, or a halogen atom; each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or a carbamoyl group; L represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms; each X independently represents a hydroxy group or a carboxy group; and n represents an integer from 0 to 2.
US09216971B2
The invention provides compounds of the formula: in salt or zwitterionic form or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1-6, a, Z and Q are as defined in the specification. These compounds are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to, for example, treat pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US09216964B2
The invention provides a method, compounds and compositions for modulating the activity of the hedgehog signaling pathway. In particular, the invention provides a method for inhibiting aberrant growth states resulting from phenotypes such as Ptc loss-of-function, hedgehog gain-of-function, smoothened gain-of-function or Gli gain-of-function, comprising contacting a cell with a sufficient amount of a compound of Formula (I).
US09216950B2
The present invention provides new compounds of formula I, II or III, which have Src homology-2 containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) agonist activity. Also provided are treatment methods using the compounds of formula I, II or III.
US09216949B2
Ketoxime- and amide-functionalized nanomaterials. The nanomaterials including a nanomaterial comprising a carbon nanotube or a carbon nanofiber. At least one ketoxime group coupled to a first location on the nanomaterial, and at least one amide group coupled to a second location on the nanomaterial.
US09216947B2
Different polymorphs of bromfenac sodium may be prepared and interconverted using crystallization/recrystallization, drying and/or hydration techniques.
US09216945B2
Disclosed is a method of making a 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine by nucleophilic aromatic substitution.
US09216943B2
The present application provide processes for the preparation of fingolimod and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, process for the purification of fingolimod hydrochloride and process for the preparation of amorphous fingolimod hydrochloride.
US09216935B2
The present invention relates to an improved and sustainable process for producing 3-methyl-3-pentene-2-one which is used in the synthesis of fragrance ingredients for perfumery applications.
US09216930B2
The invention provides a continuous process for manufacturing an essentially neutral phosphorus/potassium rich fertilizer from basic chemical commodities. The fertilizer is a freely-flowing particulate solid.
US09216928B2
A refractory object can include a beta alumina. In an embodiment, the refractory object is capable of being used in a glass fusion process. In another embodiment, the refractory object can have a total Al2O3 content of at least 10% by weight. Additionally, a Mg—Al oxide may not form along a surface of the refractory object when the surface is exposed to a molten glass including an Al—Si—Mg oxide. In a particular embodiment, a refractory object can be in the form of a glass overflow forming block used to form a glass object that includes an Al—Si—Mg oxide. When forming the glass object, the glass material contacts the beta alumina, and during the flowing of the glass material, a Mg—Al oxide does not form along the beta alumina at the surface.
US09216919B2
A microbial electrolysis cell having a brush anode is described. A method of producing products, such as hydrogen, at the cathode of the microbial electrolysis cell is also provided. The microbial electrolysis cell is configured in a cylindrical shape having an anode, cathode and anion exchange membrane all disposed concentrically. A brush anode spirally wound around the outside of the cylindrical microbial electrolysis cell is described. The method may include sparging the anode and/or cathode with air in some cases. In addition, CO2-containing gas may be injected into a cathode chamber to reduce pH is some cases.
US09216918B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of wastewater by electrochemical reactions. More particularly, an Electro-Reaction Unit (ERU) is disclosed. The ERU is provided with at least one electrolytic cell comprising a pair of self-cleaned electrodes for purifying wastewater. Along with electro-reactions, electrodes of the ERU are submitted to passivation, i.e. coverage with an oxide layer. The present invention provides a solution for alleviating passivation with a self-cleaning system comprising hard elements, confined in a cage and movable therein, for bombardment of the electrodes and rupture of the oxide layer. The present invention further provides a related process.
US09216916B2
In accordance with one embodiment, a process is described for a water treatment process in which water produced from a fuel production process is treated with recycled biochar. In accordance with one aspect, process water is passed through activated carbon generated by the biomass pyrolysis and gasification. In accordance with another aspect, the process water is treated to expel gaseous compounds within the process water. In this manner both inorganics, light organics and heavy organics can be removed from the process water. No fermentation is involved.
US09216905B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for gasifying or liquifying coal. In particular, the method comprises reacting a coal with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process.
US09216904B2
A process and apparatus are provided for treating sulfur-containing waste, resulting in recovered pure sulfur and a sulfur-free ash for landfilling. In regards to a process, a sulfur-containing waste is heated in a receptacle at between 120 and 160° C. to obtain a mixture including raw molten sulfur. The process optionally separates solids, by rough screening, from the mixture and transfers the mixture, following optional screening, to a separating reactor heated at between 450 and 500° C. to create sulfur vapor and sulfur-free solid phase. The process transfers the sulfur vapor to a condenser cooled to between 120 and 140° C. to obtain molten sulfur and transfers the solid phase to a cooling conveyor, with the solid phase being collected as ash for landfilling. The process further removes gases from the condenser with an off-gas cleaner and collects from the condenser essentially pure sulfur.
US09216901B2
One object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing hydrogen which is able to simply produce hydrogen which is clean energy without using ammonia as used in the background art and which is very high in safety. The method for preparing hydrogen of the present invention is characterized in that hydrogen is generated by introducing mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) and calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] into water and allowing them to react with water. Here, it is preferable that a temperature of water is from 50 to 100° C., and a molar ratio of mayenite to calcium hydroxide is 1/9.
US09216898B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the first substrate, wherein the second substrate has at least one opening penetrating through the second substrate, and the at least one opening defines a plurality of conducting regions electrically insulated from each other in the second substrate; a carrier substrate disposed on the second substrate; an insulating layer disposed on a surface and a sidewall of the carrier substrate, wherein the insulating layer fills the at least one opening of the second substrate; and a conducting layer disposed on the insulating layer on the carrier substrate and electrically contacting with one of the conducting regions.
US09216895B2
A refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet formed with at least one refrigerated compartment, and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet. A vented exhaust conduit is provided at least partially within an interior of the door and defines a pathway in fluid communication with an environment exterior of the cabinet. A water heater includes a heating element located at least partially within the vented exhaust conduit and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator, wherein heat generated by the heating element can escape through the pathway of the vented exhaust to the environment exterior of the cabinet. A hot water dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense hot water supplied from the water heater into a receiver vessel. A method of dispensing hot water is also provided. The method utilizes at least two distinct, user-initiated steps to permit the dispensing of hot water.
US09216894B2
A drinking water server includes a raw water storage unit that stores raw water containing chlorine and a cover that defines an inner space of the raw water tank by blocking an upper opening of the raw water tank; a purification unit that receives and filters the raw water and discharges the filtered raw water as purified water into a purified water tank which stores or discharges purified water in response to closing or opening of the purified water discharge path; a drinking water storage unit in which a drinking water discharge path is provided and which stores or discharges purified water in response to closing or opening of the drinking water discharge path by a float valve body based on an amount of the purified water by floating on the purified water, an inner space of the drinking water tank (40) being closed; and an air tube portion that communicates between the raw water tank and the drinking water tank.
US09216887B2
The present disclosure relates to a canister connection apparatus designed to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to an external system.
US09216886B2
A refuelling stand that is lightweight and easily portable which includes a funnel; a support for the funnel, which is optionally collapsible, and a conduit which is removably attached to the end of the funnel. The conduit can he made of flexible material which may be rolled up for storage alongside the support or may be formed of inflexible tubing. The refuelling stand may also include at least one stabilizing dement. The refuelling stand is designed to be a free-standing apparatus which is not intended to be permanently or semi-permanently affixed. In addition, the refuelling stand can be entirely disassembled in the form of a kit which further includes instructions for use. The refuelling funnel stand is designed to be suitable for delivering fuel from a hand-held fuel can into the fuel tanks of, for example, watercraft, lawnmowers, snowblowers and the like.
US09216882B2
A heat sink includes a first part on which a control device is attached, a second part on which an electronic component is attached and that is arranged to be opposite to the first part, and plural air passages provided between the first part and the second part for allowing air to pass. Plural plate-like members are arranged between the first part and the second part, and the air passage is formed by a space enclosed by the first part, the adjacent partition member, and the second part.
US09216873B2
Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus including an intermediate processing tray on which a sheet conveyed by a discharge roller is stacked, a proximal aligning plate and a distal aligning plate moving in a sheet width direction for aligning the sheet conveyed onto the intermediate processing tray, and a finisher controller for moving and controlling the proximal aligning plate and the distal aligning plate to align, when a sheet having a length in the sheet conveyance direction shorter than a predetermined length in the sheet conveyance direction is conveyed, the sheet at a position shifted nearer to a take-out port side A in the sheet width direction than a position in the sheet width direction at which a sheet having a length in the sheet conveyance direction equal to or more than the predetermined length in the sheet conveyance direction is aligned.
US09216869B2
For continuously singling value documents from a value document stack, the value document stack is lifted and fed toward the singler. For controlling the feed of the value document stack, an image of a side of the value document stack is recorded and evaluated, in order to recognize the edges of the individual value documents. The feed of the value document stack is controlled in dependence on the number of value document edges which are ascertained in the recorded image. If the number of value document edges cannot, or not sufficiently, be ascertained, additionally a brightness of the image in this image portion is ascertained. Upon the singling of the value documents imaged in this image portion the feed of the value document stack is controlled in dependence on the brightness ascertained in this image portion.
US09216866B2
Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth idler shafts, and further include a first movable idler shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable idler shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable idler shaft to the second movable idler shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable idler shafts.
US09216859B2
The present disclosure provides belts (chains or brick-laid) having rod retains provided by way of an end module and a link cap for easier disassembly. The outer link end of the end module is altered to be narrower and furnished with a connecting structure. A separate link cap piece is produced, providing a corresponding connecting structure suitable to connect to the outer link end of the end module such that the width of the outer combined pieces is substantially the same as the other link ends of the belt. The link cap may be furnished with an opening allowing for assembly with a pivot rod.
US09216855B2
A lid for a container includes an upper panel portion and at least one connector extending rearward of the upper panel portion. A lip extends downward of the upper panel portion. A plurality of vent openings are molded into the lid. Some of the vent openings may be formed through the lip. Some of the vent openings may be formed through a substantially vertical front surface of the lid below a flange to prevent rain from entering the openings.
US09216854B2
Disclosed is a cartridge for retaining a mass of, for example, ground coffee, that includes a cup, a filter, and a cage that supports the filter inside the cup.
US09216851B2
A medical dispenser for storing and dispensing electrodes includes a housing having a front member and a back member, at least one electrode strip disposed between the front member and the back member of the housing and an actuator mounted to the front member of the housing and adapted to engage the at least one electrode strip. The electrode strip includes a strip member and a plurality of electrodes mounted to the strip member. The actuator is movable relative to the front member such that movement of the actuator results in corresponding movement of the at least one electrode strip to dispense an electrode from the housing. The actuator may be adapted to engage an electrode of the at least one electrode strip. In one embodiment, the actuator is adapted to engage a male terminal of the electrode.
US09216850B2
The package supports a plurality of consumable products. The package is a blister package having a plurality of consumable products housed in a blister tray and covered with a rupturable sheet. The sheet overlies the open surfaces of the blister tray and includes rupturable locations formed thereon for permitting passage of the product therethrough.
US09216846B2
A device and system for temporarily sealing an orifice in a beverage container lid comprising a plug (10, 110, 210, 310) having an upper surface (14, 114, 214), a body portion (12, 112), and a lower surface (16, 116, 216), said body portion adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in the orifice to provide a temporary seal thereof, and an external member (20, 120, 220) located on the upper surface of the plug configured to allow a user to grip the plug for ease of removal from the orifice.
US09216844B2
A container for alcoholic or non alcoholic beverages has a container body for accommodating a beverage, and a camera attached to the container body, for making pictures, as well as for storing, printing, and projecting the pictures.
US09216842B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to stackable systems for use on countertops, as travel systems, or anywhere the items contained therein are desired for use. The stackable systems may be used to contain body lotions, crèmes, powders, perfumes, soaps, washes, gels, body scrubs (such as salt or sugar grain-based scrubs), shampoo/conditioner or any other substance to be dispensed. The systems may also feature one or more dispenser features at the front, top, or bottom of a unit in the stackable system. Embodiments also relate to dispenser systems for use in connection with shower curtains or other surfaces.
US09216837B2
A food tray includes a front wall with a distal end and a proximal end, and a rear wall with a distal end and a proximal end. A first sidewall extends between the distal end of the front wall and the distal end of the rear wall, and a second sidewall that extends between the proximal end of the front wall and the proximal end of the rear wall. The front wall, rear wall, first sidewall, and second sidewall define an opening through which an item is placed in the food tray. The first and second sidewalls each define a slot and an extension extending above the slot. A lid member extends from a top edge of the front wall and defines a pair of tabs that engage the slots defined by the first and second sidewalls when the lid is folded over the opening. The top edge of the front wall is configured to cause the lid member to open when the first and second sidewall extensions are pulled apart.
US09216828B2
An interface device for attaching mobile equipment (1) to an aircraft structure (5) comprises at least an attachment arm (6) and is subject to traction along a main axis of said equipment.The interface device comprises at least one fitting (2) secured to the structure (5), the fitting (2) and the attachment arm (6) having attachment means that coordinate together to offset the tensile stress and that comprise: means to hook a first end of the arm (7) to a first end of the fitting (8), a locking device (9) that coordinates with the hooking means to lock the first end of the arm (7) to said first end of the fitting (8), attachment means to attach a second end of the arm (10) to a second end of the fitting (11).
US09216827B2
An Environmental Control System may use an electronic air treatment system to control humidity in an aircraft. The electronic air treatment system may use an electronic charging system and a separation system. A turbine rotor may drive a power generating stage to provide high voltage power to the electronic charging system. The charging stage may charge airflow passing through to repel liquid particles away from the airflow. Liquid droplets may be collected and centrifugally flung toward a periphery of the separation system. The liquid particles may be collected outside of the airflow, which may be allowed to pass through the separation system and out to a destination in the aircraft without the collected liquid.
US09216825B2
A chiller for an aircraft galley is disclosed having a housing defining an interior space, the housing including dividers to segregate the interior space into separate chambers. The chambers are enclosed by a pair of doors on a front of the housing that allow a user to gain access to the chambers, a first door providing access to at least one chamber and a second door providing access to at least one different chamber. A side door is also provided that permits access to at least one chamber, wherein at least one chamber is not accessible through said side door.
US09216823B2
The wing flapping mechanism (100) includes a main frame (110), a pair of opposite wings (120) laterally projecting from the main frame (110), and a linkage arrangement to convert rotation of a motor (150) into a three-dimensional cyclic wing motion of each of the wings (120). The linkage arrangement includes torque-transmitting couplings extending from inside the main frame (110) into the wing structures (122) to transmit an alternating pivoting motion, created as a result of the rotation of the motor (150), to the distal end of a corresponding third torsion-responsive tube (140, 144′″). Each torque-transmitting coupling extends inside a shoulder joint (130), a first torsion-responsive tube (132, 144′), an elbow joint (134), a second torsion-responsive tube (136, 144″), a wrist joint (138) and the third torsion-responsive tube (140, 144′″) of the corresponding wing structure (122).
US09216819B2
A wheel design is provided for an aircraft landing gear wheel that is configured to maximize the space available within a landing gear wheel well to support a motor driver assembly that drives the aircraft wheel when the aircraft is on the ground. The wheel includes inboard and outboard support walls that are spaced apart a selected distance along the wheel axle so that the motor driver assembly components are substantially completely contained within the wheel space defined by the support walls. The preferred motor driver assembly includes an electric motor and a gear and clutch assembly operatively connected to the wheel to drive the wheel and move the aircraft on the ground. The wheel and motor driver assembly described herein may be retrofitted in an existing aircraft wheel without changing existing landing gear components, including tires, piston, and axle.
US09216818B1
An impact protection apparatus is provided, comprising a gas container configured to hold a compressed gas and an inflatable member configured to be inflated by the gas and function as an airbag of a movable object, such as an aerial vehicle. A valve controls flow of gas from the container to the inflatable member in response to a signal from a valve controller. The valve and valve controller are powered by an independent power source than one or more other systems of the movable object. A safety mechanism may also be provided that, unless deactivated, prevents inflation of the inflatable member.
US09216816B2
A system to control flight of an aircraft includes a rotor blade, an actuator operably associated with the rotor blade, a controller operably associated with the actuator, and a flight control system. The flight control system having a subsystem adapted to modify a flight control limit of the aircraft based upon detection of an impending hazardous flight condition and a display showing available flight control limits provided by modification of design control limits based upon the detection of the impending hazardous flight condition. The method includes generating the control limits, modifying the control limits based upon the impending hazardous flight condition, and displaying the displacement of actuator position relative to the displayed control limits thus cueing the pilot as to the cyclic stick or pedal inputs required to increase the control margin from the impending hazardous condition.
US09216814B2
A wing includes an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape and a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface. The lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. A method of morphing a wing includes morphing a lower surface between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. The lower surface curves toward the upper surface in the stowed shape and curves away from the upper surface in the deployed shape.
US09216810B2
A frame of a fuselage section of an aircraft that receives external loads, such as the rear section that receives the loads of the tail planes, comprising a first sector configured specifically to withstand these external loads and a second sector along the remaining perimeter of the fuselage, said first sector comprising the following structural elements a) a foot piece to be joined to the fuselage skin; b) a head piece; c) a web comprising one or more fitting-pieces for receiving said external loads and a plurality of X-shaped pieces joined by its ends to said foot piece and said head piece; and d) two connecting pieces of the ends of said foot piece and said head piece with the second sector of the frame.
US09216808B2
An aeronautical vehicle that rights itself from an inverted state to an upright state has a self-righting frame assembly has an apex preferably at a top of a central vertical axis. The apex provides initial instability to begin a self-righting process when the vehicle is inverted on a surface. A lift and stabilization panel extends across an upper portion of said frame to provide lift, drag and/or stability. A propulsion system can be located within a central void of the frame assembly and oriented to provide a lifting force. An electronics assembly is also carried by the self-righting frame for receiving remote control commands and is communicatively interconnected to the power supply for remotely controlling the aeronautical vehicle to take off, to fly, and to land on a supporting surface. The frame provides self-righting functionality and protection of elements carried therein.
US09216804B2
Pod drive which can be fitted to a vessel and which is provided with an electric motor which drives a propeller shaft which is likewise provided in the housing of the pod drive and is connected to a propeller which is situated outside the latter. It is proposed to use a fast-rotating electric motor in combination with a reduction gearing for driving the propeller shaft. The mounting of the propeller shaft is made particularly stable by mounting it on both sides of the electric motor. The reduction gearing may include a planetary system. The electric motor may be fitted next to the hollow propeller shaft. In this case, several electric motors can be arranged around the central propeller shaft. It is also possible to make the rotor of the electric motor hollow and to fit the propeller shaft inside the latter.
US09216790B2
A vehicle includes a stop element supported on a first support portion which is provided on any one of a link mechanism, a body frame, a right shock absorbing device, and a left shock absorbing device at a first end portion thereof so as to turn about a support axis of the first support portion, a lock caliper supported on a second support portion which is displaced relative to the first support portion and which is provided on any one of the link mechanism, the body frame, the right shock absorbing device, and the left shock absorbing device and which is configured to change a frictional force with the stop element, and a guide member which guides a middle portion or a second end portion of the extended member to the lock caliper. A turning angle of the stop element relative to the first support portion based on a turning operation of a first cross member and a second cross member relative to the body frame is smaller than a turning angle of the first cross member or a turning angle of the second cross member relative to the body frame based on the turning operation.
US09216787B2
An electric vehicle, such as an electric scooter, includes a seat that is adjustable for riding in a seated or leaning riding position. The electric vehicle also includes a removable battery pack that includes the controls for the vehicle. The electric vehicle also includes a storage tub with an expandable storage area depending upon the position of the seat.
US09216781B2
Configurations are provided for vehicular robots or other vehicles to provide shifting of their centers of gravity for enhanced obstacle navigation. A robot chassis with pivotable driven flippers has a pivotable neck and sensor head mounted toward the front of the chassis. The neck is pivoted forward to shift the vehicle combined center of gravity (combined CG) forward for various climbing and navigation tasks. The flippers may also be selectively moved to reposition the center of gravity. Various weight distributions allow different CG shifting capabilities.
US09216772B2
An instrument panel subassembly for a motor vehicle has a cross beam providing a main structural support for the subassembly. An instrument panel substrate is mounted to the cross beam. A steering shaft assembly has an upper end with a swivel connection to the substrate and has a lower end for coupling to a steering gear assembly. A closeout trim panel comprising an elongated strip is mounted to the cross beam and has a snap-in retainer slot positioned to temporarily retain the steering shaft assembly prior to final coupling to the steering gear assembly at a substantially fixed position. The fixed position is spaced away from a final position of the steering shaft assembly when coupled to the steering gear assembly, and the retainer slot flexes to permit manual insertion and removal of the steering shaft assembly.
US09216767B2
A subframe (1) designed as a cross member for a vehicle includes two side members (2) and a stiffening structure (3) between the two side members (2), wherein the side members (2) are designed substantially as hollow profile pieces and have at least one predetermined buckling point (18, 19) in the form of a curvature in the longitudinal extension direction of the side members (2). In order to improve this subframe (1) so that it ensures good mechanical properties such as strength, rigidity, acoustics and reinforcement of the body while driving, and absorbs sufficient deformation energy in the event of a crash, and nevertheless can be produced easily and cost-effectively with a low component weight, the side members (2) have at least one bead (16, 17) extending in the longitudinal direction of the side members (2) in the area of the designed buckling point (18, 19).
US09216761B2
The yoke device comprises a rotary pad (10), the inner periphery (11) of which is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery (12) and is applied against the back of the rack, which is thus pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion. The rotary pad (10) is rotationally biased and positioned by a backlash compensation mechanism (17) with spring means. This mechanism comprises a rotating movable stop (21), including gearings (24, 25) having staggered teeth that engage with the notches (26, 27) of a push member (19). The staggered gear teeth comprise, on one sector, a pilot gearing (24) having planar teeth (28) provided with a protrusion (29) and, in another sector, at least one gearing (25) having planar teeth (30) with no protrusion.
US09216758B2
A brake and steering arrangement on a tractor comprising a substantially vertically extending structural support column for connection at a lower end to a floor of a tractor cab and carrying means to support a steering wheel at its upper end. A single cylinder is supported within the column. A first braking circuit operates left and right rear brakes and a second braking circuit operates a cardan brake, characterized in that braking circuits are connected to a single cylinder mounted on the steering column in the tractor cab and wherein said steering column comprises a valve unit, so that the brakes are operable by two pedals.
US09216737B1
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting discrete actions by traveling vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of autonomously controlled vehicles by performing a behavior analysis on mobile objects in the vicinity of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, an autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting and tracking nearby vehicles and is able to determine when these nearby vehicles have performed actions of interest by comparing their tracked movements with map data.
US09216729B2
The present invention relates to a hybrid module with fastening means for fastening, for example, detachable fastening, of the hybrid module with a torque transfer device, such as a torque converter or a clutch, such as a dual clutch, where the hybrid module includes a drive shaft that can be connected to an internal combustion engine and can rotate around a rotary axis and an electric motor with a stator, a rotor, and a power take-off component that can be connected to the rotor and where the torque transfer device has a transfer component for connecting to the hybrid module, where the fastening means axially secure the power take-off component with respect to the transfer component and can produce the connection between fastening means and transfer component.
US09216728B2
A method of carrying out coasting downshifts that involve an interlocking shifting element in an automatic transmission having a torque converter lockup clutch. At the beginning of the coasting downshift, positive action is taken on the torque. The method including the steps of, at the beginning of the coasting downshift, the torque converter lockup clutch is fully or partially disengaged so that the drive-train is fully or partially decoupled from the drive aggregate, and action upon the torque is carried out in such manner that the engine rotational speed only falls below the turbine rotational speed once the synchronous point for the interlocking shifting element is reached.
US09216727B2
A method for operating a multi-mode powertrain system includes executing a selection scheme to evaluate operating the powertrain system in a plurality of candidate powertrain states including a one-motor electric vehicle (EV) range responsive to an output torque request. A respective minimum cost for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate powertrain states including the one-motor EV range is determined. A preferred powertrain state is selected as one of the candidate powertrain states including the one-motor EV range that is associated with a minimum of the respective minimum costs. The powertrain system is controlled in the preferred powertrain state responsive to the output torque request.
US09216724B1
A brake maintenance indication system having a first portion determines the brake cylinder pressure and a second portion that is configured to determine the intended brake cylinder pressure based on the difference between the brake pipe pressure and the emergency reservoir pressure. The intended brake cylinder pressure is preferably determined to be 2.5 times of the difference between the brake pipe pressure and the emergency reservoir pressure. In the event of brake cylinder over-pressurization or under-pressurization, an indicator is flagged, thus identifying the presence of a problem with the braking system.
US09216689B2
A system includes a camera mounted to a vehicle, a display in communication with the camera and configured to display an image detected by the camera, and a side mirror assembly. The side mirror assembly includes a side mirror moveable between a recessed position and a deployed position, and an actuator configured to deploy the side mirror into the deployed position. The system includes a status detector configured to detect a negative operational status of the camera, and, when the negative operation status is detected, cause the actuator to deploy the side mirror into the deployed position.
US09216682B2
Apparatus and methods for towing and recovery of an automotive vehicle, for example in situations where an obstacle positioned between the tow truck and the recovered vehicle must be cleared in order for the recovery to be successful, include a head unit held securely to the tow truck, an automotive ski placed into secure contact with a recovered vehicle, and a lift platform used in combination with a conventional wheel lift of a tow truck.
US09216675B2
A vehicle armrest assembly includes a vertically operable armrest. A door frame is coupled to the armrest and the armrest assembly includes an adjustment mechanism that selectively positions the armrest between a plurality of vertical positions relative to the door frame. A control is in communication with the adjustment mechanism. An interior door trim is configured to slidably engage a recess defined in the armrest. The recess positions the door trim distal from a substrate of the armrest.
US09216673B2
A seat position adjustment assembly including an anchor plate from which a plurality of slide bearings extend slidably received in guide slots formed in a slide plate enabling seat position adjustment and which can also function as a seat mount. Each bearing includes a slide bearing having a slide plate receiving channel and a retainer engagement channel receiving a keeper disposed between the anchor and slide plates anchoring the slide bearing to the anchor plate. Each keeper releasably engages the slide bearing, can straddle the bearing, can function as a spacer spacing the slide plate from the anchor plate, and can function as an upholstery retainer clip that holds part of an outer cover against the anchor plate. A seat latch arrangement can be disposed between the anchor and slide plates releasably retaining a seat removably coupled by the slide bearings to the slide plate in a desired seat position.
US09216666B2
The invention relates to a seat rail for a motor vehicle seat, consisting of a lower rail and an upper rail shiftably mounted thereon, with at least one attachment part of the upper rail fabricated of sheet metal for fixing a seat or a safety belt. At least one marginal edge of the attachment part is blunted and solidified by an embossment.
US09216662B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for maximizing energy efficiency of an electric drive system including an electric motor and a load. In the method, the torque characteristics of the system can be selected from two types of behavior: linear and quadratic behavior of a torque of the motor in respect to a rotational speed of the motor. The method gathers a plurality of data points and with which behavior the data points correlate best. The torque characteristics to be used are determined on the basis of the correlation, and the motor is controlled on the basis of the determined torque characteristics. The apparatus implements the method.
US09216658B2
A voltage detection apparatus includes first to third circuit boards are provided on first to third battery packs of a battery system respectively. The first circuit board includes a first voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the first battery pack, a control portion controlling the first voltage detection portion, and a first insulation device which connecting the first voltage detection portion with the control portion. The second circuit board includes a second voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the second battery pack, and a second insulation device connecting the second voltage detection portion with the control portion. The third circuit board includes a third voltage detection portion connected in series with the second voltage detection portion and detecting a voltage of the third battery pack. The control portion controls the second and third voltage detection portions.
US09216657B2
An EVCS equipped with an accelerometer to detect seismic events. Upon sensing a catastrophic environmental event, the EVCS is automatically disconnected from the main utility power source. A controller powered by a backup or alternate power source inside the EVCS monitors the seismic activity, and upon sensing the seismic event is over, the EVCS automatically performs a startup check. If utility power is present and the self-check passes, the EVCS resets and provides power from the main utility to the charging connector. If the EVCS is operable but utility power is unavailable, the EVCS switches to a generator or a UPS. The EVCS can provide multiple power outlets, including USB outlets, and emergency lighting. The EVCS can also be retrofitted or constructed with a communications interface for communicating status and operational information following a seismic event.
US09216656B2
A vehicle charging port locking device has a charging port and a locking mechanism. The charging port has an engaged part that engage an engaging part of a charging connector for supplying power from an external power source to the charging port when in an engaged state. A restraining member is movably mounted between a locked state in which release of the engaged part is restricted by movement of the restraining member in a locking direction to prevent the engaging part from being released from the engaging state, and an unlocked state in which release of the engaging part is permitted by movement of the restraining member in an unlocking direction that is opposite the locking direction. The restraining member can be moved in the unlocking direction by operation of an exposed part that can be operated from beneath the hood of the vehicle.
US09216654B2
An electric vehicle charging apparatus is disclosed. The electric vehicle charging apparatus has a housing having a front cavity, rear cavity, and a separating wall having a common electrical passage, wherein the rear cavity is formed by sidewalls with one sidewall having a slot formed therein. A power cord passes through the common electrical passage in the separating wall, and the power cord is configurable to provide a number of electrical connection options, such as an “outside cord option” and a “rear mount option.” Methods of configuring the electric vehicle charging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
US09216642B2
The invention relates to an actuator device for torque transmission equipment such as a clutch, e.g. a friction clutch or dog clutch, or a brake, comprising at least two electric motors, wherein the rotors of the electric motors are kinematically coupled together via a summation gear, and the summation gear has an output side which is coupled to an actuator of the torque transmission equipment in such a way that a state of the actuator can be set as a function of a relative rotation between the two rotors.
US09216630B2
A water shield for a door of a vehicle. The water shield includes a sheet of a water impervious material configured to be attached to an inboard panel of the door and extend over an access opening in the inboard panel. A cover of expanded foam is directly attached to the sheet to fit over the access opening in the door. A perimeter portion of the cover circumscribes the access opening. The cover is secured, around the access opening, to the inboard panel, resulting in sealing of the access opening and mass dampening of the inboard panel.
US09216628B2
An idle management system for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the idle management system includes an auxiliary power storage unit for the storage of electrical power. The idle management system includes an environmental package adapted to interconnect with a vehicle environmental package to regulate the climate within a vehicle compartment of a vehicle. The environmental package may be in electrical communication with the power storage unit to receive electrical power therefrom. A controller may be in communication with the power storage unit to derive electrical power therefrom, and the controller may be in communication with the environmental package to regulate the operation thereof. The idle management system may draw electrical power from the power storage unit to be operable with an engine in an engine OFF condition.
US09216627B2
A torsion beam for an anti-roll bar of a motor vehicle is provided having a main body which is produced from a carbon fiber material, and at least one non-metallic bearing layer which is applied on the main body in order to form one sliding bearing side of an anti-roll bar bearing. As a result of the protection of the main body provided by the bearing layer against abrasive wear in the anti-roll bar bearing, the main body can be produced from the carbon fiber material, with the result that a lightweight and durable anti-roll bar for driving stability of a motor vehicle is made possible.
US09216620B2
An air maintenance tire includes an air inlet housing affixed to the inner liner of a tire. An elongate sidewall air pumping passageway is incorporated within a first tire sidewall. An elongate air tube is contained within the first sidewall and has an elongate elliptical internal air passageway. The air tube is configured having a substantially on-side mushroom-shaped sectional shape extending radially into the first tire sidewall formed by a radially inward tube cap and a radially outward tube stem. Inlet and intake conduits connect into sockets of the inlet housing and a pressure regulating valve system within the inlet housing controls pressurized air flow from the tube internal air passageway into the tire cavity.
US09216611B2
A vehicle wheel, including: a peripheral rim with a radially outboard spoke bed and an apex region radially inboard from the spoke bed portion; a central hub with a hub flange; and a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, with a first portion connected to the spoke bed and a second portion connected to the hub flange. The apex region includes a first apex portion and a second apex portion adjacent the first apex portion and a seam between the first apex portion and the second apex portion. Including a spanning element to span across said seam to retain said first apex portion to said second apex portion.
US09216607B2
The present invention relates to screen printing plate for a solar cell in which an electroconductive paste is used to simultaneously print a bus bar electrode and a finger electrode, the screen printing plate characterized in that the opening width of a finger electrode opening of the screen printing plate is less than 80 μm and a bus bar electrode opening of the screen printing plate has a closed section. The use of this screen printing plate makes it possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing solar cells, prevent the connecting section between the bus bar electrode and the finger electrode from breaking without causing an increase in shadow loss or compromising the aesthetic quality of the solar cells, and manufacture highly reliable solar cells with good productivity.
US09216605B2
The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed. The process comprises the coating of a cylindrical support body with a polymer material comprising a high-coercivity permanent-magnetic powder as a filler material, and magnetizing or engraving the seamless outer cylinder surface to form on the cylinder a repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern.
US09216603B1
A method of generating a test pattern for use in identification of a z-axis distance between a printhead and a substrate in a three-dimensional object printer includes forming a first predetermined test pattern on a substrate with the printhead and generating image data of the first test pattern. The method further includes identifying cross-process direction offsets of marks in the image data of the first test pattern and generating second test pattern data for the printhead using only a portion of the ejectors in the printhead and not including a mark from at least one ejector in the printhead with a cross-process direction offset that is less than another cross-process direction offset of at least one ejector in the portion of the ejectors.
US09216598B2
A feeding apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a feeding section which feeds sheets in a feeding orientation; a feed tray which has a first tray to load some of the sheets, and a second tray provided above the first tray to load the rest of the sheets, and which is movable relative to the apparatus main body along the feeding orientation; and a guide which guides the sheets by contact with the sheets fed by the feeding section. At an end portion of the first tray on the downstream side in the feeding orientation, a first projective portion is formed to project upward and have a supporting portion capable of supporting the second tray on its upper end, and a second projective portion is formed to project upward from a different position from the first projective portion in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding orientation.
US09216597B2
At least one of processing units is capable of being pulled out of a main body of an apparatus during the occurrence of a sheet conveyance jam. A first cutter and a second cutter are arranged in the vicinity of the processing unit. The first cutter is configured to cut the sheet on an upstream of the processing unit. The second cutter is configured to cut the sheet on a downstream thereof. When the processing unit is pulled, the sheet is cut on the upstream and downstream of the processing unit.
US09216595B1
A print media moving apparatus includes a vacuum assembly positioned immediately upstream relative to a roller. The vacuum assembly has a multiple vacuum manifolds forming an arcuate surface including three sections with the second section located between the first and third sections. The arcuate surface includes an extremum in the second section. The roller, having a diameter and rotational axis, includes three sections with the second section located between the first and third section as viewed along the rotational axis. The diameter of the roller in the first and third sections is greater than in the second section. The three sections of the vacuum assembly correspond to the three sections of the roller such that the contour of the arcuate surface causes the print media, after leaving the vacuum assembly, to contact the first and third sections of the roller prior to contacting the second section of the roller.
US09216588B2
A functional amine release agent displaying reduced coefficient of friction as compared to standard silicone oils, the release agent comprising a polydimethylsiloxane oil and a functional amine selected from the group consisting of pendant propylamines and pendant N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl; wherein the concentration of functional amine to polydimethylsiloxane oil is approximately less than 0.0006 meq/g. According to certain embodiments, the functional amine release agent is operable to impart a coefficient of friction of about 0.3 or more to the print media, resulting in improved finishing and converting equipment interaction.
US09216587B2
A liquid circulation part has a recovery path where a liquid flows into a retaining part from a first head and a second head. The recovery path has a first merging point where the liquid flowing from the first head and the liquid flowing from the second head are merged, a first recovery path part where the liquid flowing from the first head flows into the first merging point, and a second recovery path part where the liquid flows from the first merging point. The cross-sectional area of the second recovery path part, orthogonal to a direction of flow of the liquid in the second recovery path part, is greater than the cross-sectional area of the first recovery path part, orthogonal to the direction of flow of the liquid in the first recovery path part.
US09216585B2
A liquid storage container supplies ink to a printer which consumes the ink, and includes a liquid storage body which includes a liquid lead-out port communicating with the printer and a filler port formed to pour the liquid to the liquid storage container, an auxiliary holding member which is mounted to be slidable to a side in which the filler port is formed, and a memory unit holding member which is detachably configured to the auxiliary holding member and includes a memory unit.
US09216565B2
A film application system having multiple foil application stations. Each foil application station has a support for an elongated plastic component (typically vinyl) having an input and an output side. A drive moves successive elongated components along a path through the application station from the input side to the output side as decorative foil is applied to a surface of the component. A properly positioned and oriented transfer head applies heat and pressure to the elongated film as the component moves through the application station. The disclosed system must accommodate different style and shape components corresponding to different style windows, doors, or sashes. A backing fixture that is configured to support a given configuration component is positioned to support the component as the component moves through the application station in a region of the transfer head.
US09216548B2
The invention is directed to a process for the treatment of plastic material comprising a) providing a liquid; b) contacting the plastic material with the liquid; c) keeping the plastic material in the liquid at Tb−25° C. to Tb of the liquid, wherein Tb is the boiling point of the liquid at the applied pressure; and d) removing the plastic material from the liquid. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the use of a liquid for the treatment of plastic material and to a plant for treating plastic material with a liquid.
US09216541B2
Building panels 1, 1′ provided with a mechanical locking system including a tongue 30, at first edge 4a of a first building panel 1, cooperating with a tongue groove 20, at a second edge 4a of an adjacent second building panel 1′, for vertical locking of the building panels and a method for producing such building panels 1, 1′. The method includes the step of forming the tongue of material of the first edge. The insertion groove (40) may have a sidewall (60) at a third edge (5a), which is adjacent the first edge (4a), and may be open at a fourth edge (5b), which is opposite the third edge.
US09216539B2
According to one embodiment, an imprinting apparatus includes an ejecting unit, a stage, a moving unit, and an observation unit. The ejecting unit ejects and drips a hardening resin material onto a substrate to be processed. The substrate to be processed is placed onto the stage. The moving unit relatively moves the ejecting unit and the stage. The observation unit observes the dripped hardening resin material and the pattern with the state in which the dripped hardening resin material and the pattern are overlaid on a plane, before the template is brought into contact with the hardening resin material.
US09216532B2
An injection mold assembly for injection molding an object includes a first mold tool having a first tool surface and a second mold tool having a second tool surface. The first and the second tool surfaces are cooperatively configured to define a mold cavity between the tool surfaces for an injection molding of an object. The first mold tool has a tool element with a first side that has the first tool surface, and with a second side opposite the first side. Multiple fins extend from the second side of the tool element. A base supports the fins. The tool element, the fins and the base define a coolant flow cavity at the second side of the tool element. A method of designing the mold assembly is also disclosed.
US09216528B2
A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.
US09216523B2
The present application discloses a method of shaping a working material (12) into an article, consisting of two primary stages: (a) in the absence of added heat, consolidating and shaping the working material into a pre-form shape using a dynamic hydroforming process that employs a rigid, male-shaped tool (32) and a non-rigid, female-shaped tool (23, 24, 26); and (b) in the presence of added heat, further consolidating and shaping the working material into the final shape using at least one additional rigid forming tool (50).
US09216514B2
The invention features a razor for dispensing a fluid during shaving. The razor includes a handle, a razor cartridge, and a fluid dispensing member joined to the cartridge. The handle includes a cavity for housing a fluid and a manually-actuated pump to displace the fluid from the cavity through a connector port flowpath to an opening at the proximal end of the handle. The razor cartridge includes a cartridge connecting structure attached to the housing and an aperture that extends from the rear surface to the front surface of the housing. The fluid dispensing member is disposed in the cartridge connecting structure and includes a converging flowpath that is in fluid communication with the connector port flowpath and the aperture in the housing.
US09216511B2
A workpiece turning-over device includes a support base and two moving arm assemblies oppositely positioned on the support base. Each moving arm assembly includes a rotation member on the support base, a moving arm connected to the rotation member, a spur gear pair, and a bevel gear pair. The spur gear pair includes a first spur gear fixedly sleeved on the moving arm, and a second spur gear rotatably connected with the rotation member and meshing with the first spur gear. The bevel gear pair includes a first bevel gear non-rotatably connected with the rotation member, and a second bevel gear non-rotatably connected with the second spur gear and meshing with the first bevel gear. The two rotation members are rotated in opposite directions.
US09216510B2
A method for controlling one or more remote vehicles may comprise manipulating remote dexterous manipulators, translating movement of the remote dexterous manipulators into movement of the one or more remote vehicles, and providing a sliding work window allowing control of the one or more remote vehicles' entire range of motion without sacrificing control resolution.
US09216504B2
A power tool that includes a housing, a motor, a pair of motor bearings, a transmission, an output spindle and front and rear spindle bearings. The motor is received in the housing and includes a stator and an output shaft that extends through the stator. The motor bearings support the output shaft for rotation relative to the housing and are disposed on opposite ends of the stator. The transmission is driven by the motor and includes an input pinion that is mounted to the output shaft for rotation therewith. The output spindle is driven by the transmission. The front spindle bearing is mounted to a front end of the output shaft radially between the housing and the output shaft. The rear spindle bearing is mounted to a rear end of the output spindle and a portion of the rear spindle bearing rotates with the output shaft.
US09216500B2
Tool (11) for simplified attachment of hose over a nipple, comprising two separate tool parts (12, 13) which each has a free end (121, 131) with a curved profile forming a convex side (126 resp. 136) and a concave side (127 resp. 137) arranged to be inserted into a tube end when the convex sides are equally oriented on both tool parts. At a distance from their free ends the tool parts each has an operating handle (123, 133) enabling rotation of the second tool part (13) of the tool 180 degrees in relation to the first tool part (12) thereby bringing the concave sides (127, 137) of said free ends of the tool parts to face one another. Method for use of the tool is also comprised.
US09216497B2
A torque wrench comprising: a body, an extension, a torque mechanism, a handle, and a positioning torque mechanism. The positioning torque mechanism includes a pressing cap, a clutch ring, and a spring. The pressing cap has a boss and an orifice, the orifice has plural shoulders, between two spaced shoulders is defined a recess, the pressing cap has an elongated hole and a peg. The clutch ring has plural teeth and plural first limiting projections, each first limiting projection has a tilted end portion, and between two spaced first limiting projections is defined a first limit notch, the handle includes a hollow locking member, and the locking member has at least one protrusion, each protrusion has a tilted second limit notch and an inclined edge, between two spaced protrusions is defined a third limit notch; the spring has two ends abutting against the clutch ring and the fixing member.
US09216491B2
A manufacturing method is provided. The manufacturing method includes forming one or more grooves in a component comprising a substrate. Each groove extends at least partially along the substrate and has a base, a top and at least one discharge end. The manufacturing method further includes forming a crater, such that the crater is in fluid connection with the respective discharge end for each groove, and disposing a coating over at least a portion of an outer surface of the substrate. The groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. The coating does not completely bridge each of the one or more craters, such that each crater defines a film exit. A component with cratered film exits is also provided.
US09216490B2
A guard device includes a fastening element defining a central opening and configured to be fastened onto a collar of a power tool, a guard portion extending from the fastening element and configured to surround at least a portion of a tool holder extending from the collar, a braking element pivotably supported on the fastening element and including a frictional engagement surface that is configured to be pivoted against the collar so as to apply a frictional braking force against the collar when the power tool is in an operating state, and an actuating element moveably supported on the fastening element and configured to pivot the braking element such that the frictional engagement surface is positioned in contact with the collar. The frictional engagement surface is configured to increase the braking force applied to the collar in response to a braking state of the power tool.
US09216489B2
A chemical mechanical polishing pad is providing containing a polishing layer having a polishing surface; and, an endpoint detection window; wherein the endpoint detection window comprises a reaction product of ingredients, comprising: an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer having 2 to 6.5 wt % unreacted NCO groups; and, a curative system, comprising: at least 5 wt % of a difunctional curative; at least 5 wt % of an amine initiated polyol curative having at least one nitrogen atom per molecule and an average of at least three hydroxyl groups per molecule; and, 25 to 90 wt % of a high molecular weight polyol curative having a number average molecular weight, MN, of 2,000 to 100,000 and an average of 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups per molecule. Also provide are methods of making and using the chemical mechanical polishing pad.
US09216486B2
The invention relates to a method for processing a plastic part by using a lathe system and comprises the following steps: rotating the plastic part mashing of a tools cutting edge with the plastic part, generating a gaseous and a liquid flow, whereby the chip, which is lifted of the plastic part, is first surrounded by the gas flow and subsequently by the liquid flow Moreover the invention relates to a lathe system to carry out the said method which comprises a rotatable workpiece receptacle, a tool fitted with a tool cutting edge, and a chip removal device. The chip removal device is fitted with a gas flow generator, having a gas nozzle which points towards the tool and with a liquid flow generator having a liquid channel configured below the tools cutting edge.
US09216483B2
A screw device, for screws to a workpiece, comprises a platform, a feeding mechanism, a transferring mechanism, and a mechanism. The transferring mechanism is mounted on the platform and communicating with the feeding mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a mounting plate, a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly, and a pneumatic sucker. The mounting plate is fixed on the platform. The first driving assembly is mounted on the mounting plate. The second driving assembly is fixedly connected to the first driving assembly. The pneumatic sucker is mounted on an end of the second driving assembly adjacent to the platform, and is located near an end of the first transferring member, the first driving assembly driving the second driving assembly and the pneumatic sucker to move along an axis of the pneumatic sucker. The second driving assembly drives the pneumatic sucker to rotate.
US09216481B1
A method of creating an arbor mounting hole in a blade. The arbor mounting hole is created by making a first model of an arbor mounting hole that fits onto the asymmetrical mounting arbor. The first model has a first long flat edge and a first center of rotation. A mirror image of the first model is used to create a second model. The second model has a second long flat edge and a second center of rotation. The first model and the second model are superimposed so that the first center of rotation aligns with the second center of rotation and the first long flat edge aligns with the second long flat edge. The superimposition creates a compound model. A symmetric arbor model is formed about the compound model. The symmetric arbor model is cut into the blade.
US09216477B2
Nebulizer ampoules are labelled by laser-marking or laser-engraving data on a film to produce a data film and affixing the film onto a nebulizer ampoule using a non-migratory adhesive.
US09216473B2
A friction stir spot welding tool and a self-piercing riveting tool are disclosed for joining parts. The parts are clamped between a head and anvil support of the friction stir spot welding tool or the self-piercing riveting tool. A plurality of clamping and heating modules are attached to an attachment fixture on the head and the anvil support that heats the area around the pin of the friction stir spot welding tool or self-piercing riveting tool prior to and during the joining operation.
US09216471B2
An arc welding apparatus comprising a conductor tube defining an internal passageway is disclosed. The conductor tube further defines an external surface profile and a distal end portion. The conductor tube is configured to engage a sleeve having inner and outer surface profiles. The inner surface profile is configured to abut the external surface profile of the conductor tube, and the outer surface profile comprises an engaging portion.
US09216469B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method to form a pattern of solder bumps. A solder paste is applied a plate comprising a pattern of holes, where each hole is partially filled by a piston attached to a movable stage. The remainder of the holes are filled by applying a force to the solder paste with a first solder paste application tool. A second solder paste application tool then removes excess paste from the front surface of the plate. The solder paste is then disposed onto a surface of a substrate by moving the movable stage, which fills a larger portion of each hole with a piston, forces the solder paste out of each hole, and forms pattern of solder paste on the surface of the substrate. The pattern of solder paste is then subjected to additional processing to form a pattern of solder bumps.
US09216462B2
A rotary cutting tool, having a longitudinal axis, includes a forward cutting portion and a rearward shank portion. The cutting portion includes a peripheral surface that has a plurality of flutes recessed therein. The plurality of flutes extend helically along the longitudinal axis and form a plurality of cutting teeth. Each cutting tooth includes a cutting edge at a rotationally leading edge thereof and a chip-splitting arrangement located at the cutting edge. Each chip-splitting arrangement includes two grooves. The two grooves interrupt the cutting edge and diverge, relative to each other, therefrom in the peripheral surface on opposite sides of an associated plane that is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
US09216461B2
A cutting body for a metal-working machine tool includes a cutting portion extending from a body portion. The body portion is configured to fine-tune the position of the cutting portion. The body portion includes an inner sub-portion and an outer sub-portion disposed between the inner sub-portion and the cutting portion. The outer sub-portion includes adjacent first and second sections. The first section is configured to elastically bend, extends between the inner sub-portion and the cutting portion, and comprises a face adjacent the second section. The second section includes a biasing surface and a biasing sub-portion configured to hold a biasing member. When the biasing sub-portion is moved due to biasing of the biasing member against the biasing surface, the first section is configured to bend and thereby change position of the cutting portion extending therefrom and allow fine-tuning thereof.
US09216460B2
A coolant-hole equipped drill includes a drill main body, a cutting edge portion which has a tip flank, a chip discharging groove provided with a front groove wall surface and a rear groove wall surface, a cutting edge formed at a ridge line portion where the front groove wall surface and the tip flank intersect with each other, a land portion formed between the chip discharging grooves adjacent to each other in the rotating direction, and a coolant hole drilled at the land portion and opened at the tip flank. The coolant hole includes a front hole wall surface, a rear hole wall surface, and an outer-circumference hole wall surface.
US09216458B2
An adjustable insert cutting angle cutting tool comprising a tool holder having a cartridge receiving pocket, an insert cartridge clamped the cartridge receiving pocket by a clamping member, and a cutting insert removably retained in the insert cartridge. The clamping member is operated by a separate fastening member. The cutting insert has at least one operative cutting portion, and the insert cartridge is oriented in a cartridge receiving pocket of the tool holder so that the operative cutting portion encounters a workpiece at an insert cutting angle. The clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one clamping zone, and the same at least one clamping zone makes contact with a non-planar clamped surface of the insert cartridge for different values of insert cutting angle. The insert cutting angle is increased or decreased by reorienting the insert cartridge in the tool holder, following release of the fastening member.
US09216456B2
A surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material and a coating film formed on the base material. The coating film includes at least one TiB2 layer. The TiB2 layer includes Cl together with TiB2. This surface-coated cutting tool is characterized in that assuming that in the TiB2 layer, a first region represents a region having a thickness of 0.5 μm from an interface on the base material side, and a second region represents a region having a thickness of 0.5 μm from an interface on the coating film surface side, an atomic ratio Cl/(Ti+Cl) between Ti and Cl is higher in the second region than in the first region.
US09216451B2
A method of casting a component (42) having convoluted interior passageways (44). A desired three dimensional structure corresponding to a later-formed metal alloy component is formed by stacking a plurality of sheets (18, 20) of a fugitive material. The sheets contain void areas (22) corresponding to a desired interior passageway in the metal alloy component. A ceramic slurry material is cast into the three dimensional structure to form either a ceramic core (34) or a complete ceramic casting vessel (38). If just a ceramic core is formed, a wax pattern is formed around the ceramic core and an exterior ceramic shell (38) is formed around the wax pattern by a dipping process prior to the removal of the fugitive material and wax. An alloy component having the desired interior passageway is cast into the casting vessel after the fugitive material is removed.
US09216450B2
A method of manufacturing a side frame mold for casting a side frame of a railway car truck includes forming a drag and a cope portion of a mold from a casting material to define an exterior surface of a drag portion and cope portion, respectively, of the side frame. The mold includes a portion for casting the pedestal jaw of the side frame. The drag and the cope portions are then cured.
US09216449B2
A system for crimping a first component onto a second component includes a first portion and a second portion facing the first portion. The system also includes at least one actuator configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion to compress a die disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The compression of the die causes the first and second components located in the die to be crimped together. The system also includes a controller connected to the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to determine a value associated with an amount of deflection of the first portion while crimping and determine whether to stop the movement of the first portion based on the determined value.
US09216441B2
An adjusting assembly adjustably coupling (1) a hand grip to a barrel of a water jetting gun or (2) a shoulder stock to a supply tube of a water jetting gun. The adjusting assembly includes a cam pin. The cam pin (1) couples to said grip and is proximate the barrel or (2) couples to the shoulder stock and is proximate the supply tube. A knob is rotatably coupled to the cam pin.A water jetting gun has a body with an access port leading into a valve cartridge chamber. An adaptor extends through said access port. In the operable state, the adaptor is removable from the body by a person gripping a head of the adaptor with its hand and unscrewing the adaptor by hand without the aid of a hand tool.
US09216438B2
The present invention relates to a diamond screening apparatus, comprising: a working platform comprising a working plane; a conveyer disposed on the working plane of the working platform for carrying a diamond matrix unit; an image capture device forming one or a plurality of captured images in different regions of the diamond matrix unit; a display device; and an image recognition module, which is electrically connected to the image capture device and the display device, performs a geometric feature parameter analysis on the captured images to determine one or a plurality of risk diamonds of the diamond matrix unit.
US09216430B2
A system includes an air cap configured to mount to a head of a spray device, wherein the air cap comprises at least one air passage having a curved flow path. A system may include a spray head having a first curved air passage that turns inwardly toward a central axis of the spray head, and a second curved air passage that turns inwardly toward the central axis of the spray head, wherein the first and second curved air passage are configured to direct first and second air flows inwardly toward a spray to shape the spray. A system may include a spray device having a liquid passage leading to a liquid outlet, and a curved air passage that gradually curves toward an air outlet.
US09216424B2
A fluid distributor has a component configured for selective rotation about a central axis of the fluid distributor, a fluid input, a first fluid output, and a second fluid output, wherein rotation of the component in a first direction about the central axis alternates selection between the first fluid output and the second fluid output and at least one of (1) the component is configured to rotate about the central axis by at least 360° in the first direction and such rotation of the component about the central axis provides at least four alternations between selection of the first fluid output and the second fluid output and (2) selection of the second fluid output is the next available fluid output for selection in response to rotating the component about the central axis away from a position of the component in which the first fluid output is selected.
US09216423B2
The present invention relates to a separator and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a centrifugal separator for the cleaning of a gaseous fluid. A centrifugal separator is provided as comprising a housing defining an inner space, and a rotor assembly for imparting a rotary motion onto a mixture of substances to be separated. The rotor assembly is located in said inner space and is rotatable about an axis relative to the housing. The rotor assembly comprises an inlet for receiving said mixture of substances, an outlet from which said substances are ejected from the rotor assembly during use, and a flow path for providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, wherein the outlet is positioned more radially outward from said axis than the inlet.
US09216413B2
The invention relates to a microfluidic apparatus for producing a volume flow that is uniform over time in a metering process. In various solution processes or reaction processes it is essential to have a specified given volume flow or mass flow of fluid available to ensure reliable dissolution of the reagent or ensure that the reaction takes place. In microfluidic apparatus in which separation of particles from a fluid, particularly blood, is carried out through a membrane, the volume flow through the membrane decreases continuously. In order to achieve a uniform volume flow during metering, it is envisaged that first of all a reservoir is filled from a first channel, so that the contents of the reservoir can then be fed to the metering process by opening a fluid stop. The emptying of the reservoir takes place with a uniform volume flow of 0.05 microliters per second to 10 microliters per second.
US09216408B2
Disclosed here are material formulations of use in the conversion of exhaust gases, where the formulations may include Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn), Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum and combinations thereof.
US09216405B1
A rotary enthalpy exchange wheel having a rotatable wheel with air passageways extending from a front side to a back side for passing air streams therethrough. The wheel has a rigid substrate which is coated or laminated with a desiccant composition having a sulfonated block copolymer. The sulfonated block copolymer has at least one end block A and at least one interior block B, wherein each A block contains essentially no sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups and each B block is a polymer block containing from about 10 to about 100 mol percent sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups based on the number of monomer units.
US09216404B1
A system and method of filtering comprising adsorbing a toxic chemical using a metal-organic framework (MOF) compound that has been post-treated with fluorocarbons using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The toxic chemical may comprise any of ammonia and cyanogen chloride. Furthermore, the toxic chemical may comprise any of an acidic/acid-forming gas, basic/base-forming gas, oxidizer, reducer, and organic gas/vapor. The toxic chemical is physically adsorbed by the MOF compound. Moreover, the toxic chemical interacts with unsaturated metal sites within the MOF. Additionally, the MOF compound may comprise any of Cu-BTC, MOF-177, and an isoreticular metal-organic frame work (IRMOF) compound. The MOF compound may comprise a metal-carboxylate bond. Additionally, the MOF compound may be unstable in the presence of moisture.
US09216401B2
Reactors for carrying out a chemical reaction, as well as related components, systems and methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a reactor is provided that includes a furnace and a crucible positioned for heating by the furnace. A downtube is disposed at least partially within the interior crucible along an axis. At least one structure is coupled with the downtube and extends substantially across the cross-sectional area of the interior volume taken in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. A plurality of holes is formed in the structure enabling fluid flow therethrough. The structure coupled with the downtube may include a lower body portion and an upper body portion coupled with the lower body portion, wherein the plurality of holes is formed in the lower body portion adjacent to, and radially outward from, a periphery of the upper body portion.
US09216398B2
A system comprising: a plasma production chamber configured to produce a plasma; a reaction chamber vaporize a precursor material with the plasma to form a reactive mixture; a quench chamber having a frusto-conical surface and a quench region formed within the quench chamber between an ejection port of the reaction chamber and a cooled mixture outlet, wherein the quench region configured to receive the reactive mixture from the ejection port, to cool the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture, and to supply the cooled mixture to the cooled mixture outlet; and a conditioning fluid injection ring disposed at the ejection port and configured to flow a conditioning fluid directly into the reactive mixture as the reactive mixture flows through the ejection port, thereby disturbing the flow of the reactive mixture, creating turbulence within the quench region and cooling the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture comprising condensed nanoparticles.
US09216397B2
A microencapsulation process is improved by adding a stabilizing agent that contains one or more catalytic organo-metal oxide materials, such as metal soaps. This functions as a crosslinker by causing unsaturated bonds in the microcapsule walls to react, thereby stabilizing the microcapsules against the effects of additives to coatings that, otherwise, degrade the functionality of thermochromic or photochromic materials at the microcapsule core.
US09216387B2
A method and a system for process parameter control of a liquid composition in a reverse electro-enhanced dialysis (REED) system comprising at least two Reverse Electro-Enhanced Dialysis (REED) membrane stacks, wherein the direction of the electric field within any one membrane stack is reversed at asynchronical intervals of time relative to the current reversals for any other membrane stack.
US09216379B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus to remove unwanted water moisture from industrial, commercial and home shop compressed air systems. The invention removes water through the process of thermal condensation. The reduced temperatures are generated by utilizing the Joule-Thompson effect through the manipulation of the pressure or pressures generated by the attached air compressor
US09216372B1
A sulfur trap provides separation of elemental molten sulfur from a process stream comprising a mixture of sulfur and associated tail-gases. The sulfur trap comprises a vertically-oriented cylindrical wall having a chamber for receiving the process stream, a float positioned in the chamber, the float attached to a float end of a lever, a nozzle insert attached to the distal end of the lever, and a lever fulcrum positioned intermediate the lever float end and the lever nozzle insert end. The float, lever, nozzle insert and outlet are constructed to allow the float position to control nozzle insert engagement of the outlet, particularly to close the outlet when the float is elevated by molten sulfur and to disengage from the outlet to allow discharge flow of liquid sulfur at a determined level of sulfur within the chamber.
US09216367B1
An improved fluid separator and tester having a vessel, an adjustably buoyant float member, an external surge tank, and a gas vent connected to the fluid separator having a float and gas valve assembly, the improvement comprising a set of risers set to equal height, at least one valve to redirect fluid flow to test flow meters, and a spill preventer having a connection to a vertical gas valve, a housing, at least one internal freely movable float, upper float seat adapted to receive a float to seal and prevent the escape of particulates while allowing the venting of gas, a float support means, and discharge means for expelling the contents, whereby the improvements provide increased accuracy in determining a volume of each type of input fluid during operations, allow for the assessment of proper operation of the meters, and prevent environmental contamination in the event of system malfunction.
US09216365B2
A waste resource treatment method and device include pyrolysis desorption treatment elements having one or more pyrolysis desorption chambers connected in parallel. Sub-temperature fractionation treatment elements having a low-temperature fractionating pipe and a plurality of higher-temperature or high-temperature fractionating pipes for fractionating a gas at different temperature ranges are connected to the pyrolysis desorption chambers, respectively. The fractionating pipes are connected to sub-temperature resource recycling treatment elements for treating the gas at different temperature ranges, respectively. The sub-temperature resource recycling treatment elements are connected to refrigeration-liquefaction treatment elements and to adsorption exhaust treatment elements. The gas produced at different temperature ranges during a heating process performed inside the pyrolysis desorption chambers undergoes a resource recycling treatment and then is collected by refrigeration-liquefaction, and eventually undergoes adsorption exhaust treatment, such that various hazardous substances are sorted before applying to a resource application or undergoing further treatment.
US09216361B2
A method for fabricating an artificial skin such as for use with a robotic assembly. The method includes providing a mold assembly with an exterior mold and an interior core. A cavity is defined between inner surfaces of the exterior mold and exterior surfaces of the interior core, thereby defining a shape and thickness of a skin. A surface of the interior core includes offsets or standoffs extending outward from the interior core surface. The method further includes positioning a sheet of reinforcement material over the surface such that the sheet contacts the offsets. The method includes pouring material for the skin system into the mold to occupy the cavity between the exterior mold and the interior core. The method includes disassembling the mold assembly and removing the skin with the sheet of reinforcement material embedded within the skin at an offset distance from a surface of the skin.
US09216359B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a repositioning mechanism adapted for use with a swing and configured to permit a child support to be secured a forward-facing position and one or more side-facing positions. In particular, the repositioning mechanism is configured to maintain the child support's center of gravity in the same lateral position in both the forward-facing and side-facing positions, as well as to effect longitudinal movement ensuring the child support remains longitudinally proximate to its point or points of support, such as a point of rotation.
US09216356B2
An integrated gaming system for managing gameplay, and tracking and awarding rewards, across multiple gaming platforms; which connects an integrated gaming application, executing on a gaming device, in a browser, or a general computing devices; with an integrated gaming server, which can communicate with a number of connected external gaming servers. Furthermore disclosed is a computer-implemented integrated gaming method for reviewing reward levels, reviewing available games, playing games and obtaining rewards. The rewards can be additional games access, physical items, monetary awards, or the right to participate in events with celebrities, well-known athletes, or notable game players.
US09216350B2
An information processing apparatus for performing a competition game based on a game result determined from fighting information for each of a plurality of users in accordance with a predetermined rule. The fighting information is generated based on images input by the plural users. The information processing apparatus includes: an input unit inputting a picture drawn by the user as the image; a generation unit generating the fighting information used in the game based on an amount of features of the image input from the input unit; and a performing unit performing the game based on the fighting information for the plural users generated from the generation unit.
US09216342B1
A grip-it golf system for releasably supporting a golf glove and for maintaining the golf glove in a readily accessible location includes the golf glove, a supporting member, a connector, and a female snap on the interior surface of the connector. The method includes releasably coupling the female snap of the connector to the male snap of the golf bag and releasable coupling the female loop fastener of the glove to the male hook fastener of the connector so that the weight of the connector will hold the glove against the golf bag elevationally beneath the coupled male and female snaps for securement purposes and for drying when the golf bag, connector, and golf glove are moving, as on a golf cart.
US09216340B2
The invention is a pivot device for use with baseball training devices. The pivot device is removable and replaceable to allow it to be cleaned to maintain proper functioning of the pivot device and/or to be replaced when the pivot device is worn out.
US09216336B2
This invention includes a golf tee portion with a shaft and two ends. One end of that portion includes a ball receiving end and one end includes a cavity portion for receiving a magnetic material. There is a cylindrical ball marker portion that goes between the golf tee portion and the base and is attracted to both. Last there is a grounded cylindrical base with two ends. One end can include a stem or series of stems so it can adhere in the ground, and one end is equipped with two cavities. One cavity is larger for placing a magnetic material which is attracted to the golf tee portion, and the removable ball marker, and a smaller cavity for magnetic material so the material in the larger cavity is held but removable. This design allows less friction on golf drives, and dual usage as a ball marker on the green.
US09216328B2
A wedge type golf club head with improved performance characteristic is disclosed herein where at least a striking surface of the wedge type golf club head is coated with a polymer coating to decrease the coefficient of friction as well as create a hydrophobic surface to remove dirt and debris. More specifically, the present invention discloses a wedge type golf club head with a hydrophobic polymer coating that creates a contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees as well as decreases the coefficient of friction to be less than about 0.1.
US09216318B2
A resistance training device comprising a mounting device, the mounting device configured to removably mount onto a game table, a resistance article configured to be operably attached to a game table rod that extends into a game space of the game table, the resistance article having a thickness that tapers from a minimum thickness to a maximum thickness, wherein the resistance article extends through a non-uniform opening of the mounting device, wherein a resistance is gradually increased during rotation of the resistance article is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US09216315B1
An exercising device includes two hollow shells (10) combined with each other, one grip (20) mounted on each of the hollow shells, and one weight module (30) mounted in each of the hollow shells. Thus, the hollow shells can be combined together and separated from each other to function as a weighting ball, a push-up aid device and dumbbells, so that the exercising device has multiple functions to perform diverse exercising and bodybuilding motions.
US09216306B2
A filter element 12 that includes a fluid inlet 16, a fluid outlet 17 that is in fluid communication with the inlet 16, a filter media 40, 42 through which the fluid passes when moving from the inlet 16 to the outlet 17, and a plenum 38 that comprises continuous filaments 66 that are bonded to each other at points of filament intersection 68. The plenum is easy to manufacture, is resistant to compaction when contorted, and exhibits a low pressure drop as air is distributed across the filter media.
US09216299B2
A method of treating a pathologic legion, such as an intravascular thrombus, is disclosed. The method comprises providing a guide wire and catheter with at least one inductive element within a blood vessel to a distal location associated with the pathologic lesion; and providing electromagnetic energy via at least one inductive element to the pathologic lesion to cause thrombolysis. Medicated magnetic particles can be endovascularly localized and concentrated to the vascular territory affected by the pathologic lesion.
US09216289B2
A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition.
US09216287B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for measuring and treating dysphagia may comprise: one or more dysphagia measuring sensor units attached to the neck of a patient; one or more electrical stimulation electrode units attached to the neck of the patient to provide electrical stimulation to the neck of the patient in accordance with the dysphagia signal sensed by the dysphagia measuring sensor units so as to resolve the dysphagia; and a control unit which controls the dysphagia measuring sensor units and the electrical stimulation electrode units. Accordingly, the apparatus for measuring and treating dysphagia according to the one embodiment of the present invention has the dysphagia measuring sensor units, and the electrical stimulation electrode units which provide electrical stimulation to the neck of the patient in accordance with the dysphagia signal sensed by the dysphagia measuring sensor units so as to resolve the dysphagia, thus simultaneously enabling convenient measurement of the dysphagia and treatment of the dysphagia using the electrical stimulation electrode units.
US09216284B2
Insertion tools, lead assemblies, kits, and methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes. In some embodiments, an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal, dissecting end includes a structure configured to receive or engage a structure on a lead assembly. Some embodiments include a lead assembly having an end including a structure configured for engaging the distal end of an associated insertion tool. Some embodiments include kits or systems including both an insertion tool and a lead assembly, each having a structure for engaging the other. In these embodiments, the engaging structures may take several forms including threads, small posts, circular or semi-circular receiving members, and/or a slot. Some embodiments also include methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes with the assistance of an associated insertion tool, wherein the cardiac device electrodes are associated with a lead assembly having an end configured to engage a distal, dissecting portion of an associated insertion tool.
US09216283B2
A multi-area pacing lead implantable in a target vein of the coronary network for stimulating a left cavity of the heart, comprising an electrically conductive microcable (12), an electrically insulating outer coating, and carrying at its distal end a free active portion containing a plurality of separate denuded areas forming a network of active stimulation electrodes (14, 16), intended to contact the wall of target veins. The active free portion has a proximal corrugated portion carrying a first set of electrodes (14), a distal corrugated portion carrying a second series of electrodes (16) and an intermediate portion (20) that traverses an anastomosis (22) connecting the ends of two veins (VA, VPL). Both sets of electrodes (14, 16) can thus be placed in two different veins, defining two remote stimulation areas.
US09216278B2
The invention relates to a Luer lock connection comprising a Luer cone and a threaded sleeve surrounding said cone, the threaded sleeve being fitted on the base of the Luer cone so that it is rotatable along the longitudinal axis of said cone, wherein clamping means are provided between the threaded sleeve and the base of the Luer cone, said means being designed in such a way that when a female part is fitted onto the Luer cone, clamping between the threaded sleeve and the base of the Luer cone is achieved by rotating the threaded sleeve or the female part in the threaded sleeve (4).
US09216265B2
A respiration appliance (10), system (40), and method (62, 72, 86) for supporting the airway of a subject (12) as the subject (12) breaths. The flow of gas from the lungs of the subject (12) during exhalation is leveraged to provide support to the airway. In particular, a body (14) that encloses one or more external orifices of the subject (12) provides a resistance differential between inhaled gas flows and exhaled gas flows that supports the subject's airway.
US09216262B2
The invention relates to a device for implementing a system for detecting the observance by a patient of an oxygen-therapy treatment involving an oxygen supply, and for recording the data of said treatment and transmitting said data. The invention also relates to the use of said device, and to a method for tracking the observance of an oxygen-therapy treatment.
US09216259B2
A pulmonary drug delivery device having one or more vortexing elements which impart beneficial flow characteristics to an inspiratory air flow carrying a medicament into the patient's lungs.
US09216255B2
A needle assembly (2) for a drug delivery device (1) comprises a needle seal (3), a needle retainer (4) and a needle (5). The needle retainer (4) secures the needle (5) against displacement with respect to said needle retainer (4) when a dose of drug is being delivered. The needle seal (3) is configured to push onto the needle retainer (4) after delivering the dose of the drug, thereby unlocking the needle (5) from the needle retainer (4).
US09216253B2
A flip-open multi-pack assembly is provided which can contain a plurality of new pen needles, such as through the provision of a rectangular or tube-shaped shaped, hinged shell housing, wherein new pen needles can be stored in a plurality of user accessible openings each having a sterility barrier formed, for example, by covers that cover the non-patient end of the openings in which the new pen needles are contained. Used pen needles can be returned and stored in openings accessible by rotatably opening the shell housing. One or more of the openings within first and second opposite ends of the housing shell can be provided with a slidable internal holder within the device and are configured to releasably secure the inner shield of the new pen needle, and to then be pulled forward when the new pen needle is removed and lock at a forward position, and thereby create an interior space, accessible from an opposite end when the hinged housing is opened, for a used pen needle to be inserted and stored.
US09216251B2
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device. The medicament delivery device may include an operation member configured to act on a medicament container for expelling a medicament. The device may be configured to hold the operation member in a pre-tensioned state. The device may include an activation member configured to interact with the operation member to release it from the pre-tensioned state. The device may further comprise feedback. For example, the feedback may include generating an audible and/or tactile and/or visual signal indicating that the medicament has been completely expelled.
US09216245B2
The invention provides a manual breast pump which can be disassembled and assembled easily for cleaning purposes, and which can readily modify a negative pressure during expression of milk generated by a lever-type operating section. A breast pump having an accommodating vessel for collecting breast milk, a breast pump main body, and an operating section attached to the breast pump main body and for deforming a negative pressure generating member installed on the breast pump main body, wherein the operating section has a lever form and includes an engagement opening as an engaged section for engaging with an engaging section provided on the breast pump main body, and the engagement opening is selectively engaged with engaging sections in a plurality of positions provided midway on an extending section erected in a pillar shape as one portion of the negative pressure generating member.
US09216239B2
The present invention relates to intra-lumenal drug delivery devices. The device, such as a stent, is coated or impregnated with a pharmaceutical agent suitable for use in treatment of restenosis, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer. Suitable pharmaceutical agents include vasodilators and chemotherapeutics.
US09216231B2
The invention relates to a sterilization apparatus (10) and to a method for the sterilization of an object (7) by a gaseous or liquid fluid comprising: a sterilization chamber (8) in which the object (7) is positioned, at least an acceleration device (2) for accelerating the fluid to a predetermined flow-speed, at least a filter device (3) for separating particles from the fluid, characterized in that the sterilization apparatus further comprises at least an orifice device (4) providing a plurality of openings, and a control apparatus for determining the flow-speed of the fluid on the basis of a pressure difference (Δp).
US09216226B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds and medical devices activated with a solvophobic material functionalized with a first reactive member and methods of making such compounds and devices.
US09216225B2
The present invention provides phosphonate compounds and methods of preparing the phosphonate compounds so as to allow, for example, increased capability to modify nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery applications.
US09216214B2
This invention provides improved replication-competent adenoviral vectors. The improved vectors have both a hybrid regulatory unit that provides for high level transgene expression. The vectors can be use, e.g., for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.
US09216210B2
The invention includes Clostridial neurotoxin derivatives containing at least two light chain endopeptidase domains, and nucleic acids encoding such Clostridial neurotoxin derivatives. In preferred embodiments, the invention includes methods and compositions for the treatment of inflammatory disorders (such as arthritis); chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain through the use of such Clostridial neurotoxin derivatives, including those derived from an intact BoNT/A having an LC/E-derived endopeptidase joined to the LC/A endopeptidase.
US09216199B2
Described herein are manufactured dietary supplements that contain a phospholipid extract derived from eggs, where the extract contains phospholipid-docosahexaenoic acid derived from eggs, folate, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, calcium, iron, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, iodine, and magnesium.Described herein are manufactured dietary supplements that contain a phospholipid extract derived from eggs and the extract contains two forms of phospholipid-docosahexaenoic acid derived from eggs. One form of phospholipid-docosahexaenoic acid is phosphatidylcholine-docosahexaenoic acid, and another form of phospholipid-docosahexaenoic acid is phosphatidylethanolamine-docosahexaenoic acid. And the phospholipid extract has less than about 3% by weight of free triglycerides.
US09216198B2
The present disclosure describes compositions providing for controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) and methods for production of these compositions. In some embodiments, the compositions may include a biodegradable polymer and a nitric oxide-releasing material at least partially encapsulated by the biodegradable polymer. Nitric oxide-releasing materials may include, for example, diazeniumdiolates and nitric oxide contained within a zeolite, metal-organic framework or other porous material. In general, the compositions are spun into a porous fiber, which may be further annealed by heating in order to densify the fiber. Annealing may prolong the NO release profile. Medical devices containing the compositions described herein are also contemplated by the present disclosure. Medical devices include, for example, textiles, bandages and articles of clothing.
US09216188B2
The present invention provides hydrogels and compositions thereof for vocal cord repair or augmentation, as well as other soft tissue repair or augmentation (e.g., bladder neck augmentation, dermal fillers, breast implants, intervertebral disks, muscle-mass). The hydrogels or compositions thereof are injected into the superficial lamina propria or phonatory epithelium to restore the phonatory mucosa of the vocal cords, thereby restoring a patient's voice. In particular, it has been discovered that hydrogels with an elastic shear modulus of approximately 25 Pa are useful in restoring the pliability of the phonatory mucosa. The invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive hydrogels.
US09216184B1
A composition for regulating male sexual function includes at least one amino acid selected from a group consisting of L-Glutamic acid (glutamate), L-Arginine, glycine, L-aspartate, L-carnitine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamine and/or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, such as any of monosodium-L-glutamate monogidrate, L-potassiumarginine, L,-ammoniumaspartate, L-arginine HCl, sodium-L-tyrasine, lithium aspartate, in the amount of 1-1000 mg, preferably 10-300 mg; at least one vitamin, in the amount of 1-500% of a daily recommended dose, preferably 10-200%; and at least one chelated compound of a formula: acid-Me-acid.nH2O, wherein Me is a metal chosen from any of Ca, Mg and Zn, wherein the acid is a dicarboxylic acid anion chosen from the group consisting of succinic acid, fumaric acid or aspartic acid, and wherein n=0-8. The composition increases testosterone level in a body of a male mammal.
US09216183B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of post-chemotherapeutic hypotrichosis. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the use of compositions comprising bimatoprost for the treatment of post-chemotherapeutic hypotrichosis which may be applied before, during and after receiving chemotherapeutic treatment.
US09216182B2
The invention relates to compound of the formula I (I) or a salt thereof, wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification; to its preparation and to medicaments comprising it for treating diseases connected to the inhibition of H3 receptor.
US09216181B2
The present disclosure relates to a method to stimulate endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation in a subject which method comprises administering to a subject an effective amount of an H1 receptor antagonist, whereby endogenous BMP-2 up-regulation is stimulated in said subject. Also provided is a pharmaceutical formulation including an H1 receptor antagonist present in an effective amount to stimulate BMP-2 up-regulation in a subject and a kit.
US09216179B2
Sodium 2-(5-bromo-4-(4-cyclopropylnaphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)acetate is described. In addition, pharmaceutical compositions and uses of such compositions for the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions are described.
US09216171B2
Methods of inhibiting ischemia-related and ischemia-reperfusion-related injury are provided. Remote administration of a C-fiber activator or TRPV1 agonist or remote electrical stimulation and activation of TRPV1 reduces ischemia-related tissue damage in subjects at risk for ischemia-related tissue damage. In aspects of the invention, remote application of a TRPV1 agonist inhibits ischemia-related cardiac tissue damage. Methods of inhibiting cardiac tissue damage by topically administering the TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin are provided.
US09216169B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising candesartan or ester thereof and chlorthalidone, and use thereof, wherein the weight ratio of candesartan or ester thereof to chlorthalidone is 5.3:1 to 1:6.25. The pharmaceutical composition has a synergistic antihypertensive effect, and can enhance the antihypertensive effect and extend duration of antihypertension.
US09216168B1
Therapeutic compositions comprising substituted imidazole or imidazolium compounds may be used for a number of medical purposes, such as treatment of undesirable conditions or diseases, including disease or conditions related to bone, cancer, and/or pain.
US09216167B2
Compositions comprising ketorolac tromethamine at a therapeutically effective concentration of less than 0.5% are disclosed herein. Methods of treating or preventing ocular pain using said compositions are also disclosed herein.
US09216164B2
Beneficial and synergistic effects for alleviating joint pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis have been found using a mixture of fish oil and fish oil derived, choline based, phospholipid bound fatty acid mixture including polyunsaturated EPA and DHA either alone or in combination with other active constituents, including astaxanthin and polymeric hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan) in an oral dosage form.
US09216156B2
The present invention relates to a virosome-like vesicle comprising at least a gp41-derived antigen or an analogue thereof, said gp41-derived antigen being located to the external surface of and/or encapsulated inside said vesicle and being in a convenient configuration for conferring said virosome-like vesicle with an ability to induce an immune response against a gp41 protein or a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
US09216152B2
Compositions and methods of making and using of microparticle compositions that provide faster flow or improved injectability through smaller or small-diameter needles have been developed. Notably, the microparticle compositions can be successfully delivered or administered through smaller-diameter needles than other microparticle compositions prepared from biocompatible or biodegradable polymers including, for example, poly(lactide), poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polycaprolactone, or poly-3-hydroxybutyrate. The microparticle compositions can exhibit a higher solids loading for a given needle size and/or faster flow through needles than other microparticle compositions. Further, blending or mixing the polymer of the microparticle composition with other polymer formulations can enhance the injectability of the resulting formulation.
US09216148B2
Provided are a novel compound having skin-whitening, anti-oxidizing and PPAR activities and a medical use thereof, and the compound has skin-whitening activities for the suppression of tyrosinase, and accordingly, is useful for use in skin-whitening pharmaceutical composition or cosmetic products; has anti-oxidant activities, and accordingly, is useful for the prevention and treatment of skin-aging; and has PPAR activities, and in particular, PPARα and PPARγ activities, and accordingly, is useful for use in pharmaceutical compositions or health foods which are effective for the prevention and treatment of obesity, metabolic disease, or cardiovascular disease.
US09216147B2
A mild cosmetic cleansing agent includes in a suitable carrier a) 1 to 6 wt. % of at least one anionic surfactant of the following formula (I), in which R1 denotes a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl residue having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, at least one of the residues R2 to R5 denotes a C1-C4 alkyl residue, and the other residues independently of one another denote a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkyl residue, and M+ denotes an ammonium, alkanolammonium or metal cation, b) 2 to 10 wt. % of at least one amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant and c) 0.5 to 10 wt. % of at least one non-ionic surfactant and/or at least one non-ionic emulsifier, selected from at least one of the following groups of alkyl (oligo)glycosides, amine oxides and/or glycerol mono- and/or di(C6-C24) carboxylic acid esters, wherein the stated amounts relate to the total weight.
US09216144B2
A hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors by light diffraction including (a) coating the hair with a material comprising a polymer, (b) pressing the hair with a pressing device including one or more surfaces, and (c) forming a secondary nanostructured surface pattern on the hair that is complementary to the primary nanostructured surface pattern on the one or more surfaces of the pressing device. The secondary nanostructured surface pattern diffracts light into dispersed colors that are visible on the hair. The section of the hair is pressed with the pressing device for from about 1 to 55 seconds. The polymer has a glass transition temperature from about 55° C. to about 90° C. The one or more surfaces include a primary nanostructured surface pattern.
US09216142B2
Absorbable microspheres comprising a copolymer formed from greater than 80 to about 99 mole percent D,L-lactideg, L(−)-lactide, D(+)-lactide, or meso-lactide and combinations thereof, and about 1 to less than 20 mole percent of a different second monomer selected from the group consisting of p-dioxanone and trimethylene carbonate and combinations thereof, said microspheres having a particle size ranging from about 5 to 2000 microns. Also described herein are formulations comprising such absorbable microspheres.
US09216136B2
An apparatus for administering pain relief has at least one quartz crystal disposed proximate an energizable vibratory element in a support structure for positioning the quartz-crystal-and-vibratory-element combination proximate the head region of an individual. A pair of support structures each having a quartz-crystal-and-vibratory-element combination is mounted upon a shoulder harness in spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another. An energizable lighting structure having a substantially linear series of illuminating elements is disposed in an arced relationship with respect to the quartz-crystal-and-vibratory-element combination. In a method of administering pain relief the apparatus is positioned proximate the head region of an individual, and the vibratory element and the lighting structure are both energized.
US09216127B1
A decorative burial vault includes a decorative top surface substrate having a decorative graphic thereon, the substrate being attached to the top surface of the burial vault or a carapace attached to the burial vault.
US09216123B2
A central bed having a single longitudinal bed frame and a bed section mounted to the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical axis between a home position aligned with the bed frame and an away position and with a lower leg bed section that is movable away from the central bed section to enable rotation of the central bed section.
US09216122B2
A therapeutic support device includes a bladder having one or more independently inflatable compartments, each including a plurality of inflatable cells. When inflated, each inflatable cell forms a contact node that may support a user or another object disposed thereon. The inflatable compartments can be alternately inflated and deflated such that contact pressure can be applied to and relieved from corresponding portions of the user's body in an alternating manner.
US09216117B2
An absorbent article having improved handling of liquid and improved intake and retention of liquid loadings during use. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of moisture in contact with a wearer's skin and can provide a feeling of softness on the skin of the wearer.
US09216113B2
A hearing protection earpiece having a shell shaped according to conform to the user's concha and ear canal and having an open hollow lateral portion to be inserted into the user's concha and a medial portion to be inserted into at least an outer portion of the user's ear canal, wherein the medial portion of the shell is axially adjacent to the lateral portion of the shell, wherein the lateral portion of the shell forms part of an open portion of the earpiece and the medial portion of the shell forms part of a closed portion of the earpiece, wherein the earpiece provides for a mechanical sound attenuation of at least 10 dB averaged over the audible frequency range, and wherein the lateral portion of the shell has a wall thickness of not more than 3 mm and is shaped to cover at least half of the concha area.
US09216107B2
Described herein are delivery devices and methods of using the devices for delivering an ocular implant into a suprachoroidal space without use of a goniolens. The delivery device includes a handle including a channel extending from a proximal end of the handle to a distal end of the handle, an applier coupled to the handle, the applier including a blunt distal tip and an elongate, flexible wire insertable through a fluid channel of an ocular implant, and a fiber optic image bundle reversibly inserted through the channel such that the fiber optic image bundle extends to a region proximal to the blunt distal tip of the applier.
US09216101B2
A dual taper stent protector having a first stent covering region configured to cover a stent without substantially engaging the stent, a second covering region, and an engagement region for engaging a product mandrel removably disposed within a catheter shaft, and first and second tapered regions connecting the first stent covering region and the second stent covering region and the second covering region and the engagement region respectively, and to methods of making and using the same.
US09216096B2
According to some embodiments, a method for promoting spinal fusion using a spinal implant comprises providing a spinal implant, wherein the spinal implant comprises an anterior wall, a posterior wall and two lateral walls configured to extend between the anterior wall and the posterior wall. In some embodiments, the spinal implant further comprises at least one internal chamber generally positioned between the anterior wall, the posterior wall and the two lateral walls, wherein the internal chamber being is adapted to receive at least one graft and/or other fill material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the graft and/or other fill material delivered into the internal chamber is configured to exit through the one or more of the openings of the anterior wall.
US09216090B2
A humeral component of a prosthesis comprises a stem module for fixing the prosthesis into a bone. A joint adapter can be attached, preferably under different angles to the stem module. The joint adapter holds a liner having a recessed spherical cavity, which is the cup of the joint. The joint adapter has an inner surface and a circumferential groove. The liner has an outer surface including a circular recess. This circular recess preferably is concentric to the major body diameter of the liner for interfacing with the circumferential groove of the joint adapter. Furthermore, the liner has a radial slit, which allows compression of the liner for easy insertion and removal. This allows inserting different liners with different sizes thus allowing to try out different sizes to find the best size for the patient. When the best size has been identified, a final liner without a slit may be inserted.
US09216089B2
Methods of surgically preparing a patient's tibia are disclosed. Some methods include positioning a guide tower on a surgically-prepared proximal surface above an opening of a medullary canal of the patient's tibia, attaching a stem trial to a lower end of an offset tool that is sized to be received in the guide tower, and advancing the stem trial through the guide tower and the surgically-prepared proximal surface into the medullary canal. The method may include moving the guide tower to a desired offset orientation on the surgically-prepared proximal surface and advancing a reamer through the guide tower into the medullary canal. The method may also include positioning a tibial base trial on the surgically-prepared proximal surface based on the desired offset orientation.
US09216086B2
An adjustable provisional component for an implantable medical device comprises a first portion mountable to a first part of a patient, and a second portion coupled to the first portion, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion is adjustable to select a value of a first geometric parameter of the adjustable provisional component.
US09216085B2
A method of repairing an articular cartilage defect with the partial joint resurfacing implant includes surgically creating an opening in the articular cartilage defect site. The method also includes obtaining a partial resurfacing implant which is implanted into the opening. The partial resurfacing implant includes a top articulating portion, an implant fixation portion, and a locking mechanism. The implant fixation portion including an upper segment coupled to the top articulating portion and a bone interfacing segment configured to facilitate insertion into the articular cartilage defect site. The method further includes the bone interfacing segment being inserted into the opening with the top articulating portion and adjacent articular cartilage being positioned to each other to facilitate motion and load transfer over the defect site. Another method of repairing an articular cartilage defect with a partial joint resurfacing implant and a partial joint resurfacing implant are also disclosed.
US09216084B2
Disclosed herein are patient-specific craniofacial implants structured for filling bone voids in the cranium as well as for simultaneously providing soft tissue reconstruction and/or augmentation for improved aesthetic symmetry and appearance. Pterional voids or defects generally result from a chromic skull deformity along with a compromised temporalis muscle or soft tissue distortion from previous surgery. When muscle atrophy occurs in the pterion, temporal hollowing generally results where there would be soft tissue but for the atrophy. The patient-specific temporal implants herein are configured to have an augmented region adjacent the temporal region of the cranium in order to account for and correct any such temporal hollowing.
US09216072B2
To provide an economical and sanitary drug-containing personal hygiene implement that is easy to produce and manage, and has an excellent portability even when both personal hygiene implement and drug are used away from home.The drug-containing personal hygiene implement includes a bottle body in which a drug is stored, a personal hygiene body which has a shaft section and a distal-end personal hygiene section, protrudes to a distal-end side of the bottle body, and is used to implement care of a human body, and a passage provided on a distal-end section of the bottle body and guiding the stored drug to the personal hygiene body, the implement being characterized in that opening operation makes it possible for the drug to flow through the passage in the bottle body.
US09216070B2
A user-guided configuration routine for use with a remote catheter guidance system configured to calibrate of one or more medical devices of the remote catheter guidance system with minimal user input. The user-guided configuration routine being configured to determine the appropriate configuration steps from diagnostic data received from the remote catheter guidance system or from a user.
US09216051B2
An electrosurgical assembly is disclosed having an electrosurgical instrument, a detection device for detecting a predetermined constituent of the atmosphere in the region of a treatment site and a treatment unit, which can be connected to the instrument and a current generator for providing RF energy. The treatment unit includes a mechanism for influencing the treatment process depending on an output signal of the detection device.
US09216048B2
The present disclosure describes a device and methods for safely and accurately placing screws into bones with a powered driving device. By employing multiple layers of fail-safe features and image-guidance systems, the powered driving device provides safe, accurate, and efficient screw placement. That is, the powered driving device may continuously monitor a screw advancement and placement and may automatically shutdown when improper placement is detected. Monitoring placement may be conducted by a microcurrent-monitoring system, by an image-guidance system, or by any other appropriate sensory system. Additionally, upon detecting that screw insertion is complete, the powered driving device may be automatically shutdown. As screw placement is continuously simulated by image-guidance in real time, multiple redundant verification steps are eliminated, providing highly accurate screw placement while decreasing clinician error, device contamination, and surgical time, the decreased surgical time associated with decreased patient-recovery time and associated medical costs.
US09216047B2
A cable tensioning apparatus and method are provided for positioning and tensioning a surgical cable to skeletal tissue or to implants. The invention is most applicable for securing surgical cable and/or orthopedic implants to bone in orthopedic surgery. A linearly translated drive rod attached to cable is driven by a friction drive to create tension on the surgical cable.
US09216046B2
A manifold has at least one manifold aperture extending therethrough and selectively placed in fluid communication with a fluid source. An insertion structure has at least one interior cavity at least partially defined by a structure shell and is selectively placed in fluid communication with a corresponding manifold aperture. The insertion structure is configured for selective placement in a penetrating relationship with a patient tissue below a surface of the patient tissue. At least one shell perforation extends through the structure shell and places the interior cavity in fluid communication with a surrounding ambient space. At least one fluid path extends from the fluid source, through the manifold aperture, into the interior cavity, through at least one shell perforation, and at least one of a proximate relationship and a contacting relationship with the patient tissue beneath the outer surface thereof. A fluid is directed along the fluid path.
US09216045B2
A bone screw and method of producing the same is described. The method of producing a bone screw includes forming a one-piece headless screw body out of a rigid metallic foam that is entirely porous throughout and defines a plurality of inter-connected pores having a size of about 30 to about 500 microns in diameter. The method includes providing at least one thread on an external surface of the screw body, and forming a bore extending through an entire axial length of the screw body, the bore forming a cannula that defines an annular radial wall thickness of the screw body. The method further includes disposing the inter-connected pores throughout the radial wall thickness of the screw body such as to allow for bone in-growth through the full radial wall thickness and into the cannula.
US09216029B1
This application presents a bifurcated, optimally-angled surgical forceps. In one example, this surgical forceps may enable a more natural maneuver for initial clamping of the vas deferens through the scrotal skin. This may be more comfortable for users and easier to maintain, and may provide greater tactile surface contact between the thumb and vas deferens. This device also may provide the surgeon with an entire segment of vas deferens upon which the vasectomy may be performed, thus reducing the need for frequent repositioning of instruments. The device may also be applied to other surgical procedures that may benefit from the features of the device and where a section of a tubular anatomical structure may need clamping at two points along its length. Examples include blood and lymphatic vessels, ducts of the digestive system, and large nerves or nerve bundles.
US09216025B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US09216013B2
A shaft assembly is provided for interconnecting at least one rotatable drive shaft of a hand-held electromechanical surgical device, and an end effector actuatable by an axial drive force. The shaft assembly includes a flexible drive cable rotatably supported in an outer tube, the flexible drive cable includes a proximal end operatively connected to a respective rotatable drive shaft of the hand-held surgical device. The flexible drive cable being off set a radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the outer tube. The shaft assembly includes an articulation rod at least partially slidably supported in the outer tube, and an articulation link having a proximal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the articulation rod and a distal end pivotally connected to a distal neck housing. The articulation rod being off set a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the outer tube.
US09216007B2
Embodiments for providing a plurality of slice images are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby output ultrasound data; and a processing unit configured to form volume data based on the ultrasound data, set a reference slice, a reference point and a window on the volume data based on input information of a user and set a sagittal view for measuring a thickness of a nuchal translucency (NT) of a fetus on the volume data.
US09216003B1
A universal dental digital sensor holder has a bite block connected to a rod that has a connector which is used to flexibly attach a sensor holder so as to allow rotational movement of the sensor relative to the bite block and multiple sensor holders are removably connected to the connector so that they can be used to obtain different radiographic projection views due to their differing configurations for holding the intraoral sensor in the patient's mouth. The bite block can have an opening formed in it fitted with a sleeve to allow access to a tooth located beneath the opening in the patient's mouth. A cable protector can be formed in the rod adjacent an anterior bite surface so that an intraoral sensor cable can be held adjacent the rod and at least partially protected from one or more teeth biting the anterior bite surface.
US09215997B2
A method for diagnosing or treating disease associated with a gut or intestinal tract includes collecting samples of gut microbiota from along an intestinal tract of a patient; perturbing the intestinal tract of the patient; and obtaining a response of the perturbing the intestinal tract of the patient. The method can be implemented using one or more capsules designed for introducing stimuli into the gut or intestinal tract, observing the response to the stimulus, and treating the gut or intestinal tract in view of the response to the stimulus and further in view of acquired empirical data compiled into a database.
US09215995B2
Embodiments of the invention provide amperometric analyte sensors having multiple related structural elements (e.g. sensor arrays comprising a working, counter and reference electrode) and algorithms designed for use with such sensors. While embodiments of the innovation can be used in a variety of contexts, typical embodiments of the invention include glucose sensors used in the management of diabetes.
US09215993B2
The invention concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body, the lancet needle movable relative to the lancet body and the lancet body composed, in the area of the tip of the lancet needle, of an elastic material in which the tip of the lancet needle is embedded, and an analytical test element connected to the lancet body. The invention also concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body in the form of a hollow body in the area of the tip of the lancet needle and surrounds the tip of the lancet needle, the lancet needle movable relative to the lancet body and the hollow body composed at least partially of an elastic material, and an analytical test element connected to the lancet body. The invention concerns a process for manufacturing an analytical device.
US09215991B2
Characteristics of a user's heart are detected. In accordance with an example embodiment, a ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensor is used to detect heart characteristics of a user, and provide a BCG output indicative of the detected heart characteristics. The BCG output is further processed using data from one or more additional sensors, such as to reduce noise and/or otherwise process the BCG signal to characterize the user's heart function.
US09215990B2
In Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) the reconstruction requires the knowledge of a so called system function. This function describes the relation between spatial position and frequency response. For reasonable resolutions and field of views the system function becomes quite large, resulting in large acquisition times for the system function and high memory demand during reconstruction. The present invention proposes to reduce the size of the system function matrix by making use of structural properties of the matrix. Such properties are, for instance, spatial symmetries reducing the number of columns and identical responses at different frequencies reducing the number of rows. In other embodiments the matrix can be transformed to a sparse representation using appropriate base functions.
US09215989B2
An ambulatory medical device including a plurality of electrodes configured to be disposed at spaced apart positions about a patient's body, an electrode signal acquisition circuit, and a monitoring circuit. The acquisition circuit has a plurality of inputs each electrically coupled to a respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes and is configured to sense a respective signal provided by a plurality of different pairings of the plurality of electrodes. The monitoring circuit is electrically coupled to an output of the acquisition circuit and is configured to analyze the respective signal provided by each of the plurality of different pairings and to instruct the acquisition circuit to select at least one of the plurality of different pairings to monitor based on at least one of the quality of the respective signal, a phase difference between the respective signal and that of other pairings, a position of electrodes relative to the patient's body, and other criteria.
US09215983B2
A novel contrast mechanism for imaging blood flow using magneto-motive optical Doppler tomography (MM-ODT), Optical Coherence Tomography, and Ultrasound. MM-ODT, OCT, and ultrasound combined with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field detects erythrocytes moving according to the field gradient.
US09215977B2
A device for examining an eye of a subject including a camera detachably mounted on a camera mounting unit. The camera includes an illuminating source, which generates illuminating radiation for irradiating the eye thereby enabling the camera to generate a plurality of images of the eye. The device also includes a first lens assembly detachably mounted on an adjustable lens holder and selected to focus the illuminating radiation towards the eye as well as focusing radiation reflected from the eye towards an entrance pupil of the camera. An extendible support arm supports the camera and the adjustable lens holder at a first distance between the camera and the first lens assembly. Subsequent to adjusting the first distance to correspond to a diopter value of the selected first lens assembly, the illuminating source irradiates the eye and subsequent thereto the camera generates the plurality of images of the eye.
US09215972B2
An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus includes an operation control unit which controls a black image acquiring operation, in which the operation control unit controls an imaging unit and an illuminating unit in such a manner the imaging unit conducts an image acquiring operation in a state the illuminating unit does not conduct an illuminating operation. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus also includes an average calculating unit which calculates the average value of pixel value in a predetermined determining area, and a black image determining unit, which determines whether the image information acquired by the image acquiring operation is the black image by comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value. The image information determined as the black image by the black image determining unit is transmitted, as the black image information, to an external apparatus by radio.
US09215969B2
A scanning endoscope system includes: a fiber that guides illuminating light from a light source; a first actuator provided on a side of the fiber and expands/contracts according to an applied voltage, thereby swinging the fiber; a second actuator disposed at a position facing the first actuator across the fiber and expands/contracts according to an applied voltage, thereby swinging the fiber; a drive signal output section applying a first voltage for setting a reference position of the fiber where the first actuator is in a contracted state, to the first actuator, and applying a second voltage for setting the reference position of the fiber where the second actuator is in a contracted state, to the second actuator; and a controller that in order to change the reference position of the fiber, controls the drive signal output section to change at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage.
US09215966B2
In one embodiment, an element 106 transform, with a voltage, non-polarized light into plane polarized light with an arbitrary plane of polarization. A synchronizer 112 gives the plane of polarization control element 106 an instruction to rotate the plane of polarization, thereby getting the plane of polarization of the illumination rotated and casting that polarized light toward the object. At the same time, the synchronizer 112 sends a shooting start signal to an image sensor 110, thereby getting video. The synchronizer 112 performs these processing steps multiple times. A captured video signal is sent to an image processing processor 108, where LL, RR and CC images are separately generated as images of light rays that have passed through left and right polarizing areas and the central non-polarizing area and left and right parallax signals are generated and sent to a 3D display section 122.
US09215964B2
A vacuum system is described for endoscopic intracavity, intraluminal or intracorporeal vacuum therapy, for aspirating body fluids, wound secretions or gases from a hollow volume, such as a body cavity, a hollow organ, a tissue abscess or an intestinal lumen, particularly in the production of a temporary endoscopic closure of an intestinal lumen. Based on this, many embodiments of an endoscopy arrangement are described.
US09215957B2
A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.
US09215951B2
A toaster having a body portion engageable over a housing with slots sized for bread passage therethrough aligned with cavities on said house sized to accommodate the bread for toasting. Individually controlled heating elements on each side of each cavity to allow users to independently control the amount of toasting of each side of each inserted piece of bread. The exterior of the body is preferably porcelain to provide resistance to heat transference to the body of the user and to provide a plurality of colors available for the housings.
US09215950B2
A portable grill assembly includes a grill grate, a fire tray, the fire tray including a plurality of holes, a plate configured to be secured to the fire tray, a gap created between the plate and the fire tray to enable a uniform flow of oxygen to pass through the gap on all sides of the fire tray into the holes and a grid pattern extending upward from the fire tray to elevate a fuel over the holes, and a support stake. The support stake includes at least one coupler to secure multiple sections of the support stake, the coupler includes a lip to prevent movement of sections of the support stake relative to the coupler. The support stake is configured to secure and position the fire tray a distance above the ground and to secure and position the grill grate a distance above the fire tray.
US09215948B2
One variation of an apparatus for cooking includes: a housing including a first section configured to be immersed in fluid within a cooking container and a second section adjoining the first section; an annular knob arranged over the second section; a position sensor arranged within the second section and configured to detect rotation of the magnetic element; a display arranged on the housing and configured to display a cooking parameter selected through rotation of the annular knob; a heating element arranged within the first section; a circulator arranged within the housing and configured to draw fluid, in the cooking container, along the heating element; and a controller configured to control the heating element and the circulator according to a temperature of the fluid measured by the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining the fluid within a predetermined range of temperatures including the selected temperature.
US09215947B2
The present invention relates to a brewing apparatus for brewing by extraction from a portion capsule, having a first brewing-chamber element and a second brewing-chamber element, wherein the first brewing-chamber element can be moved between a loading position, in which the first and the second brewing-chamber elements are spaced apart from one another in order for the portion capsule to be introduced, and an extraction position, in which the first and the second brewing-chamber elements have been advanced towards one another in order to form a substantially closed brewing chamber for the portion capsule, wherein the brewing apparatus is designed such that the orientation of the portion capsule remains substantially constant as it is transferred from the loading position into the extraction position.
US09215941B1
A frame assembly for displaying a flat article and a combined frame assembly and flat article. In one aspect, the frame assembly comprises a frame, a coupler, a backer panel, and a window panel. The frame comprises a floor structure, a wall coupled to the floor structure, a locking feature on the wall, and a coupling member. The coupler comprises a retaining member and a mounting member. The coupler is coupled to the coupling member of the frame by interaction between the mounting member of the coupler and the coupling member. The retaining member of the coupler protrudes into a display cavity of the frame for retaining a flat article by the retaining member extending into an opening in the flat article. The window panel is positioned in the display cavity of the frame and the locking feature retains the window panel within the display cavity.
US09215939B2
A display fixture has a bin with multiple sections. A clip attached to a back panel of the bin has an aperture for receiving a fastener to fasten the bin to a peg board. A back support is mounted to the bin and has a downwardly extending leg that is sized to fit between the peg board and a back surface of a base that the display fixture is seated upon. The bin includes a lower tier of product sections defined in part by a front panel and has a lower sign support with two legs attached to the front panel and a lower label holder connected between the two legs such that there is an open space defined between the two legs and between a top of the front panel and a bottom of the lower label holder. The bin also includes an upper tier of product sections.
US09215919B2
A dispenser includes a deformable roller and a housing having a reservoir for containing a product, such as a cosmetic product or a medicinal product. The deformable roller comprises a napped roller over molded to, and encasing, a roller pin. Both the napped roller and the roller pin may be formed of materials that are suitable for an injection over-mold manufacturing process. The deformable roller disposed configured for applying product to a body and for deforming and tangentially mating and/or un-mating with an orifice of a reservoir of the housing for sealing and/or un-sealing the reservoir.
US09215915B2
A mobile storage unit is disclosed. The mobile storage unit includes a rigid exo-skeletal frame and a flexible storage bag that couples to the rigid exo-skeletal frame while within an open storage region framed by the exo-skeletal frame. The mobile storage unit also includes a top seat portion and stabilizing features that extend and retract from the rigid exo-skeletal frame to support the mobile storage unit in the upright position. The mobile storage unit can also include a monitoring device for transmitting signals that are used to determine the location of the mobile storage unit.
US09215912B2
In a sliding fastener, a fastener element is adhered at a predetermined pitch. The fastener element includes: a close-contact portion; and first and second engaging/disengaging portions which are respectively disposed on the first and the second tape surface sides of the close-contact portion. The close-contact portion has a first close-contact surface and a second close-contact surface which are respectively disposed in one direction and the other direction along the tape length direction. In addition, the pitch is set smaller than a sum of a dimension between the first and the second close-contact surfaces and a dimension between the first and the second close-contact surfaces. As a result, it is possible to make an element row rigid in a line in a more firm manner when a left and right element rows are coupled.
US09215911B1
A belt buckle with a storage compartment uses a typical box frame buckle architecture with a storage compartment hingedly attached to a back side of the box frame on a side opposite a grab bar of the box frame. The storage compartment articulates between a closed position against the box frame and an open position. In the closed position, a pin is removably received within a receiver in order to secure the compartment in the closed position. When the storage compartment is in the closed position, pivot posts that hold the grab bar are within the storage compartment and the grab bar partially overlays an open side of the storage compartment.
US09215910B2
The present invention describes a dispenser of protective covers for the sole of a shoe. The sole covers are disposed on a sheet that is placed within the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a series of roller supports that are adapted to position the sheet of solve covers onto an exposed platform. A user steps the exposed platform in order to apply the cover to the user's footwear and remove the sole cover from the sheet. The top of the sole cover includes an adhesive that enables the cover to adhere to the sole of the user's shoe, thereby enabling a user to walk around the house while reducing the likelihood that the user would spread dirt therein.
US09215904B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a helmet having magnetic coupling is provided. In a particular embodiment, the helmet includes at least one protective layer configured to cover at least a portion of a user's head and a pad coupled to a back plate, a back plate coupled to a protective layer, a back plate comprising a magnet.
US09215903B2
A device for use with a helmet in contact sports, which includes a curved body connected with the helmet and configured for disposal along a front part of a user's neck. The body includes: (i) planar first and second surfaces, the first surface having a curved portion to generally conform under the user's chin; and (ii) a third surface that is curved along the front part of the user's neck and configured to be spaced from but does not contact the user's neck. The device is configured to absorb an impact force and resist the user's neck from moving forward during a sports collision. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09215902B2
Visors formed from a pliable and flexible material, such as but not limited to EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) having patterns of through-holes and partial cutouts for allowing accessories such as labels, charms, badges, puncture tool and sunglass/eyeglass supports and the like, to be plugged into the holes and cut-outs and easily removable and interchangeable with other accessories. A removable rear head strap be attached to the visor, having a plurality of holes with fasteners to adjust the strap to different head sizes.
US09215901B1
A method and apparatus of an eyelash application system can include: a cartridge having a handle, a seat, and a cartridge mating structure; an eyelash strip attached to the seat of the cartridge; and an applicator having a top arm with a clamping pad, the clamping pad including an applicator mating structure configured to interlock with the cartridge mating structure.
US09215898B2
A shin guard for combat sports is provided having increased protect for the wearer and the opponent. The shin guard has sleeve for surrounding the lower leg of the wearer and a front padding attached to the sleeve with a top portion reversibly secured which covers and hides a closure system. The shin guard may also have a calf reinforcement.
US09215897B2
Laminates are described having a durable outer film surface for use in making lightweight liquidproof articles of apparel, such as outerwear garments. A method of making the laminate and a lightweight outerwear garment having an abrasion resistant exterior film surface is described.
US09215886B2
A method for making a food product with a low acrylamide content having organoleptical properties comparable to traditional food products. Potatoes containing a low reducing sugar concentration are used to make potato flakes. Dextrose is added to the low reducing sugar potato flakes to increase the total reducing sugar concentration.
US09215875B2
Thiazolyl oxime ethers and hydrazones of the formula (I), in which the symbols A, L1, L2, Y, W, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings given in the description, and also agrochemically active salts thereof, and their use for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi, and also methods for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi and processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I).
US09215870B2
This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”): and processes associated therewith.
US09215866B1
A method is disclosed for treating bedbug infestations, that involves filling the lower portions of the void spaces inside a wall with a thick and stable foam, to form a foam barrier inside the walls, allowing the foam barrier to collapse over time to coat portions of the interior of the wall with residual foam. The foam may contain a non-repellant pesticide, but certain foams are effective in treating bedbugs even if the foam does not contain any pesticide.
US09215862B2
An applicator (1) has handles (2, 4) which on closing together will engage an animal tag with the animal's ear but at which time a control member (28) will engage with a linkage (6) to trip the linkage (6) into a jaw-open position. Once the handles (2, 4) have been released the linkage (6) will again be returned to its normal position primarily under the bias of a spring (25).
US09215859B2
A pet stroller having a frame assembly and a cloth platform enclosure connected to a platform enclosure member that defines a base and a sidewall of a pet seating area. Upper and lower canopy bars are pivotably connected to the rear pivot blocks that are pivotable to extend or retract a canopy over the pet seating area. A cloth canopy assembly is connected to the handle and the upper and lower canopy bars, and has a cutout exposing a front portion of the lower canopy bar. An over-center latch assembly is connected to the platform enclosure member in a position aligned with the cutout on the canopy assembly. The over-center latch is movable to a latched position in which it clamps the lower canopy bar to the platform enclosure member to form an enclosed pet seating area.
US09215846B2
The invention relates to a multi-process machine for the felling and further processing of trees, which is arranged to be suspended on the boom of a loader device with the aid of a pivot. The suspension device of the multi-process machine includes a rotator attached to the arm of the suspension device as well as a transverse frame pivot in its lower part, for supporting the frame of the operating unit, and an operating device. The suspension device further includes a wide-angle mechanism between the operating device and the said frame, for enlarging the rotation created by the length of stroke of the operating device.
US09215844B2
A vacuum collector assembly comprises a mountable hitch having support posts connected to one another by horizontal supports and a hinge mechanism for connecting to a trailing carriage. The trailing carriage includes a lift assembly and an engine support frame for mounting thereon an engine operating conjunctively with an impeller assembly for developing negative pressure within a blower housing that is connected in between a receptacle hood and a lawn cutting deck. The engine support frame generally extends outwardly from a pair of vertical columns each having ends connected to support runners for situating atop thereof a pair of receptacles holders suited for receiving receptacle bins utilized in storing collected debris. The lift assembly comprises side arms functioning with a trailer jack having internal gearing made operable by an extension rod and handle assembly to facilitate rotation thereof that effects lifting and lowering of the trailing carriage apart and away from the mountable hitch to allow for wheeled transport and storage of the vacuum collector assembly.
US09215843B2
A conversion kit for automating a foldable and unfoldable grain tank extension for an agricultural combine is provided. The conversion kit includes a first bracket assembly for attaching to a first grain tank extension, a second bracket assembly for attaching to a second grain tank extension and a control actuator. The control actuator extends between and is operatively connected to the first and second bracket assemblies for moving the first and second brackets between a folded position and an unfolded position. A torque rod assembly extends between and is operatively connected to third and fourth grain tank extensions. The torque rod assembly is rotatable to pivotally move the third and fourth grain tank extensions between a folded position and an unfolded position.
US09215839B2
An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame configured for attachment to a tow bar that is movable in a direction of travel. A proximal end of a swing-arm is coupled to the attachment frame, and an opener disk is mounted to and offset from a distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow. A deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is mounted between the distal end of the swing-arm and the opener disk. The deflecting disk has a top peripheral edge spaced away from a top peripheral edge of the opener disk. A support bracket is attached as a cantilevered structure depending from the proximal end of the swing arm and extends in a space between the top peripheral edges. A tube is routed long the support bracket for dispensing a material into the furrow.
US09220181B2
An electrical room housing electrical and electronic apparatus for operating and controlling electrical motors of an industrial equipment is disclosed. The electrical room includes a cooling device with a first heat exchanger which is arranged with a first set of channels through which is conducted a first flow of air drawn from inside the electrical room. Warm air from inside the electrical room is circulated through the first heat exchanger of the cooling device and returned to the electrical room in a closed loop, and the air temperature in the electrical room is controlled dependent on a setpoint of between 24-40° C. A method for controlling the cooling device to cool the electrical room and one or more computer programs arranged for controlling the cooling device are also described.
US09220179B2
In one embodiment, a power cell chamber for a drive system includes moveable and fixed portions. The moveable portion includes a rectifier stage to rectify an input signal received from a secondary winding of a transformer to provide a rectified signal and an inverter stage having a plurality of switching devices to receive a DC signal and output an AC signal. This moveable portion can be slidably adapted within a cabinet of the drive system. In turn, the fixed portion includes a DC link having at least one capacitor to receive the rectified signal and provide the DC signal to the inverter stage.
US09220176B2
On a typical motherboard the processor and memory are separated by a printed circuit data bus that traverses the motherboard. Throughput, or data transfer rate, on the data bus is much lower than the rate at which a modern processor can operate. The difference between the data bus throughput and the processor speed significantly limits the effective processing speed of the computer when the processor is required to process large amounts of data stored in the memory. The processor is forced to wait for data to be transferred to or from the memory, leaving the processor under-utilized. The delays are compounded in a distributed computing system including a number of computers operating in parallel. The present disclosure describes systems, method and apparatus that tend to alleviate delays so that memory access bottlenecks are not compounded within distributed computing systems.
US09220170B2
A motor starter module is provided, the module according to the present disclosure including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) substrate configured to communicate with and control the magnetic contactor, a mechanism part operating in association with an operation of the magnetic contactor, and an upper case covering the PCB substrate and an outer case of the mechanism part, whereby the magnetic contactor can be locally and directly driven, and controlled via communication to reduce a line cost, to shorten an operation time and to promote maximization of spatial utilization.
US09220168B2
A wiring board with a built-in electronic component includes a core substrate having the thickness not exceeding 300 μm and having a cavity having an opening on a surface of the core substrate, an electronic component having the thickness not exceeding 300 μm and accommodated in the cavity of the core substrate, and a laminated structure formed on the surface of the core substrate and including an insulation resin layer and a wiring layer such that the laminated structure is covering the opening of the cavity of the core substrate and the electronic component accommodated in the cavity of the core substrate. The electronic component has an insulation material body and an electrode formed on a surface of the insulation material body, and the wiring layer of the laminated structure is formed such that the thickness of the wiring layer is set smaller than the thickness of the electrode.
US09220167B2
A wiring substrate includes a first wiring structure, a second wiring structure stacked on an upper surface of the first wiring structure, and an outermost insulating layer stacked on a lower surface of the first wiring structure. The outermost insulating layer covers a part of a bottom wiring layer of the wiring layers forming the first wiring structure. The second wiring structure has a wiring density higher than that of the first wiring structure. A volume ratio V1/V2 is from 0.8 to 1.5, where V1 represents the volume of the wiring layers forming the entire second wiring structure, and V2 represents the volume of the bottom wiring layer in the first wiring structure.
US09220158B2
The present invention relates to a method for providing an ambience light effect in a cinema comprising a cinema display screen arranged on a front wall of the cinema and a plurality of light sources, comprising receiving first and second image content to be sequentially displayed on the cinema display screen, determining at least one of a color and intensity for the second image content, determining a second set of control data for controlling the plurality of light sources to emit an ambient light effect based on at least one of the color and intensity for the second image content, and associating the second set of control data with the first set of image content. Advantages with the invention include the possibility to provide an improved ambient lighting experience by using the “extra space” specifically available in a cinema, e.g. walls, floor and ceiling.
US09220147B2
Luminaire with a sensor that varies its activation in response to the presence or absence of objects
A luminaire (1a, 1b) and a method for controlling a luminaire are disclosed. The luminaire (1a, 1b) comprises a light source (2) and an ultrasonic sensor (3). The ultrasonic sensor (3) detects the presence and direction of movement of a person (4) with respect to the light source (2). A controller modifies a lighting parameter emitted from the light source (2) depending on whether a person (4) is moving towards or away from the light source (2).
US09220146B2
A driver circuit for a lighting apparatus includes a current regulator configured to supply a load current to a load, and a control circuit coupled to the current regulator and configured to receive a dimming control signal and to linearly vary an amplitude of the load current in response to the dimming control signal.
US09220145B2
An illumination system detects a peak value of a voltage of a transformer supplying an LED module by analyzing the current value of the voltage and an on-time of the voltage. Based on the detected peak value, a property of the illumination system is adjusted.
US09220140B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting driver is provided, which includes a bridge rectifier, multiple LED sections, multiple shunt regulators, a weighted current mirror array, a mean power integrator, and a reference generator. The bridge rectifier provides a rectified sinusoidal voltage. The LED sections are coupled in series and coupled to the rectified sinusoidal voltage. Each shunt regulators regulates a shunt current flowing out from the LED sections according to a current reference value. The weighted current mirror array provides a plurality of copy currents. Each copy currents tracks the conduction time of one shunt regulator and also tracks the instantaneous output power of the LED sections. The mean power integrator provides a mean power value by integrating the copy currents. The reference generator provides the current reference values. Each current reference values is directly proportional to the difference between a mean power reference value and the mean power value.
US09220127B2
A wireless network system includes a plurality of devices operating on the basis of incompatible and different standards. At least one of the devices comprises a standard identifying module configured to identify standards on the basis of parameters inherent and different in the respective standards.
US09220126B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a number of user equipments operating in a cellular network. The method comprises receiving an indication that a rise-over-thermal (RoT) measured in a cell is above a threshold. In response to reception of the indication, it is determined (52) if a user equipment, which is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, state CELL_DCH and served by the cell, has a low data activity in the uplink According to the method, a user equipment, which is in the RRC state CELL_DCH, is served by the cell and is determined to have a low data activity in the uplink, is triggered (54) to change state to a RRC state CELL_FACH. Thereby the contribution of the user equipment to the RoT of the cell may be reduced and it may be possible to avoid dropping users due to congestion control in case of unacceptably high RoT in the cell.
US09220123B1
A first mobile device receives, from each of a plurality of other mobile devices, information related to the availability of at least one network resource provided by at least a first network offered for sharing by the respective other mobile device. The first mobile device also receives a request from a second mobile device to access the network resource provided by the first network shared by at least one of the plurality of other mobile devices. The first mobile device selects at least one of the other mobile devices to share the network resource provided by the first network with the second mobile device. The first mobile device communicates to the second mobile device peer-to-peer network connection information of the selected at least one of the other mobile devices.
US09220122B2
A set of allowed discovery cycles is stored in a radio network access node, the set consisting of a minimum discovery cycle and integer multiples thereof and each discovery cycle defining only one interval for discovery. The access node transmits in a cell an indication of a specific discovery cycle selected from the set. The access node configures at least one user equipment in the cell with a measurement gap chosen to overlap a subframe for discovery within the one interval for discovery of a different discovery cycle of the set that is in use in a neighbor cell.
US09220109B2
A method of allocating resources in a cellular radio communication network including user equipments and a cluster composed of local access points to the network covering a microcell. For each local access point, the presence of user equipments in a coverage zone of the microcell associated with the local access point is determined. A local coverage message specifying equipments determined as present in the microcell coverage zone is generated. A global coverage message by aggregation of the local coverage message of each local access point in the cluster is generated. At least one operating parameter of a local access point in the cluster is modified as a function of the global coverage message. For each local access point in the cluster, an activity state of the user equipment is determined and a field in the local coverage message is entered accordingly with data representing the activity of the equipment.
US09220096B2
Provided are a method and device for downlink control channel allocation in a wireless communication system. A base station allocates e-PDCCH (enhanced physical downlink control channel) to one slot in a subframe, and transmits a DMRS (demodulation reference signal) after allocating the DMRS to one of the slots for the e-PDCCH.
US09220088B2
A method in a base station for selecting a set of transport format schemes for a cell is provided. The set of transport format schemes shall be used for a radio transmission from a communication device to the base station. The base station is serving the eel! comprising the communication device. The communication device is unsynchronized for transmission to the base station. The base station specifies (201) a plurality of sets of transport format schemes. Each set of transport format schemes is associated to a respective guard time, which guard time is a time margin required to compensate for the communication device being unsynchronized for transmission to the base station. After determining (203) a required guard time as the maximum timing advance value used in the cell the base station selects (204) one set of transport format schemes from the plurality of sets of transport format schemes to be available for the cell. The set is selected such that its associated guard time matches the determined required guard time in the cell.
US09220086B2
Systems, method, and devices are provided for transmitting data. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of communication modules, each of the plurality of communication modules configured to transmit data using a different communication method; establishing, with the plurality of communication modules, a plurality of simultaneous respective communication links to a remote terminal; selecting, based on a switching criterion, at least one of the plurality of simultaneous respective communication links to be used to transmit data; and transmitting data via said at least one of the plurality of simultaneous respective communication links selected based on the switching criterion.
US09220083B2
A method is disclosed for paging of a terminal having a first subscriber identity (IMSI1) attachable to a first mobile communication network (101) and a second subscriber identity (IMSI2) attachable to a second mobile communication network (201). The method is performed in a controller node (213; 600) of the second mobile communication network and involves registering (310, 410) the terminal's second subscriber identity (IMSI2) as attached to the second mobile communication network (201), followed by registering (320, 420) an auxiliary paging address (422) for the terminal's second subscriber identity. Then, a need to page the terminal's second subscriber identity is determined (330), and the terminal's second subscriber identity is paged (340). The paging involves sending (240) an auxiliary paging message (442) to the registered auxiliary paging address, and the auxiliary paging message is adapted for delivery to the terminal's first subscriber identity (IMSI1).
US09220080B1
A method and system that account for one or more propagation-time components in a transmission path between a base station and a wireless terminal in a coverage area being served by the system. One such component is in the base station equipment between the radio that serves a wireless terminal and the antenna element that radiates and/or receives electromagnetic signals that involve the terminal. Another component of the transmission path is the one or more paths over which a radiated signal travels between the base station antenna element and the wireless terminal. By accounting for these propagation components through the use of measurement data provided by possibly a large number of wireless terminals, a disclosed location engine is able to derive adjusted measurements that are more representative of the propagation-time characteristic being measured by the individual terminals. These adjusted measurements can then be used to estimate the location of a wireless terminal more accurately.
US09220078B1
A method for synchronizing a clock of a frequency originator device (FOD) and a clock of a frequency receiver device (FRD), the method including disposing an information storage device at a known distance from the FOD, wherein a broadcast frequency of the FOD and the known distance are configured to be stored in the information storage device; obtaining by the FRD, the known distance between the FOD and the FRD and the broadcast frequency of the FOD; receiving a broadcast of the FOD by said FRD at the broadcast frequency according to the FRD's clock time at T2, wherein the broadcast was made at time t1 according to the FOD's clock time; calculating a time of flight (TOF) based on the known distance and the broadcast speed; and incorporating a time correction=T2−(t1+TOF) in calculations of TOF between the FOD and the FRD.
US09220077B2
An uplink synchronization processing method, a User Equipment (UE), and a base station are provided. The method includes: receiving a component carrier (CC) uplink synchronization indication message sent by a base station, where the uplink synchronization indication message carries identification information of one or multiple newly configured CCs; sending synchronization signaling to the base station when knowing that the uplink synchronization needs to be executed on all or a part of the one or multiple newly configured CCs corresponding to the identification information; and receiving a time advanced (TA) adjusting message that is sent by the base station according to the synchronization signaling, and applying a TA value carried in the TA adjusting message to the CC on which the uplink synchronization needs to be executed.
US09220068B2
A power saving method, apparatus and communication terminal are provided to reduce power consumption of a communication terminal and prolong standby time by reducing the number of wakeup times of the communication terminal in a standby state. The method includes: acquiring use time of each function of a communication terminal in one sampling cycle; executing a statistical algorithm on the use time of each function of the communication terminal to separately obtain a duration of frequent use of each function of the communication terminal in the sampling cycle; and correspondingly activating each function of the communication terminal in the duration of frequent use of each function. Embodiments of the present invention are used for power saving of the communication terminal and relate to the field of wireless communication.
US09220063B2
Disclosed is a method of wireless communication for use by a device and the associated device. The method includes receiving a data transfer schedule and determining that the data transfer schedule includes an isochronous traffic stream for the device. After the determining, the method includes extracting an allocation period of the isochronous traffic stream from the data transfer schedule, determining a wakeup schedule for the device having a sleep interval based on the allocation period, and entering a power save mode using the wakeup schedule. The method may further include determining that the data transfer schedule does not include an isochronous traffic stream for the device. After this determining, the method may include requesting a wakeup schedule of a source device, and determining the wakeup schedule for the device having the sleep interval based on the wakeup schedule for the source device entering a power save mode using the wakeup schedule for the device.
US09220057B2
An operator selecting apparatus and a method for selecting a home operator for each communication device in a group. A first selecting unit of the operator selecting apparatus selects, for each quality-oriented communication device in the group, a candidate operator out of a plurality of the candidate operators that is determined based on the quality information to provide the best quality of service to the communication device. The second selecting unit of the operator selecting apparatus then selects, for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication devices assigned to the each candidate operator as a result of the selection by the first selecting unit, a candidate operator out of the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
US09220046B2
Various methods for wireless communication in a device with co-existed/co-located radios are provided. Multiple communication radio transceivers are co-existed/co-located in a user equipment (UE) having in-device coexistence (IDC) capability, which may result in IDC interference. For example, the UE is equipped with both LTE radio and some ISM band applications such as WiFi and Bluetooth modules. In a first method, the network identifies IDC capability by UE identification (e.g., UE ID). In a second method, the UE intentionally performs cell selection or reselection to cells in non-ISM frequency bands. In a third method, the UE signals the existence of ISM band applications via capability negotiation. In a fourth method, the UE signals the activation of ISM band applications by signaling messages (e.g., RRC message or MAC CE). Under the various methods, the UE and its serving eNB can apply FDM or TDM solutions to mitigate the IDC interference.
US09220045B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for regulating frequent handovers by mobile devices between adjacent femtocells. In one aspect, the method includes determining if a mobile device is experiencing frequent handovers between femtocells, classifying frequent handovers based on cause (e.g., ping-pong between the two femtocells or high speed mobile device crossing a number of femtocells, etc.), and determining one or more remedial actions for regulation of frequent handovers based on the number of frequent handovers and their classification.
US09220038B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to determine if a measurement event is satisfied by one or more detected cells and to correspondingly advise the network to facilitate consideration of whether a handover or cell reselection procedure is desired. The network may, in turn, determine whether the detected cell(s) that satisfied the measurement event are appropriate to be considered in conjunction with a handover or cell reselection procedure, such as by being in the same public land mobile network (PLMN) as opposed to being in a different PLMN and/or cells that are barred or reserved for operator use. Thus, the network may take advantage of opportunities for handover or cell reselection offered by a detected cell, while still insuring that handover or cell reselection procedures remain limited to cells that are appropriate.
US09220037B2
A radio resource control (RRC) message is received by a radio resource control (RRC) device of a user equipment (UE). The RRC message notifies the FDD UE of a high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) inter-Node B cell change. A reordering buffers of a medium access controller-high speed (MAC-hs) is flushed in response to the receiving the RRC message. A status report is generated for each acknowledge mode (AM) RLC instance mapped to the HS-DSCH by a radio link control (RLC) device after the MAC-hs flushes the reordering buffer. Each status report indicates missing AM RLC packet data units (PDUs). The RRC device sends a “TRANSPORT CHANNEL RECONFIGURATION COMPLETE” message on a DCCH after the RLC device generates each status report.
US09220032B2
Logic may implement a hierarchical data structure for traffic indication mapping to facilitate transmissions for wireless communications devices. MAC sublayer logic may generate and transmit or receive and interpret management frames such as beacon frames with a partial virtual bitmap in a traffic indication map element based upon the hierarchical data structure for traffic indication mapping. The traffic indication map element may comprise a number of contiguous blocks encoded with the same encoding scheme, allowing the number of contiguous blocks to be included in the TIM element without repeating a block offset field value and a block control field value for each of the contiguous blocks.
US09220030B2
The present invention discloses a method of a terminal to reduce interference between cells in a multicell system. In more detail, the method includes: receiving information on at least one adjacent base station from a serving base station; receiving a reference signal from the at least one adjacent base station on the basis of the information on the at least one adjacent base station; measuring interference for each transmitting antenna of the at least one adjacent base station by using the reference signal; and transmitting interference information on the each transmitting antenna to the serving base station.
US09220027B1
A wireless end-user device has a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) modem. A network service activity control policy set has a policy element that associates multiple Internet activity access controls with at least one end-user application. One or more processors receive a first type of request from applications, to use the networking stack, and a second type of request from applications, to change the power control and/or network connection state of the WWAN modem. The processors determine whether to apply the Internet activity access controls to the first type of request and the second type of request. Accordingly, certain end-user applications can, when specified policy conditions apply, be prevented from consuming bandwidth by affecting the modem state, and can also be prevented from using the packet networking stack to communicate data, even when the modem state would allow such.
US09220007B2
The present disclosure describes techniques for using varying MAC addresses to provide wireless access point MAC address privacy. A wireless access point may be configured to generate a random (or pseudo-random) MAC address to use on a wireless-side interface (and SSID broadcast), rather than using the burned-in MAC address. The wireless access point may be further configured to periodically change the wireless-side MAC address with a newly generated one whenever user-configurable triggering conditions are satisfied. As a result, a MAC address learned by a wi-fi sniffing device becomes obsolete shortly after being learned and cannot be used to correlate the actual location of the access point with the MAC address for any significant period of time.
US09220004B2
A radio unit configured to connect to a baseband processing unit includes a transformation unit configured to obtain uplink time domain signal data and transform the uplink time domain signal data into uplink frequency domain signal data; and a compression unit configured to compress the uplink frequency domain signal data by using a compression algorithm.
US09220002B2
Methods and apparatus for providing useful data in association with a high-priority call such as an emergency call. In one embodiment, the data comprises a data (e.g., an MSD or FSD) embedded within one or more real-time protocol packets such as RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) packets, that are interspersed within the voice or user data stream (carried in e.g., RTP packets) of an emergency call. Apparatus and methods are described for transmitting the data portion reliably from the initiating terminal (e.g., an in-vehicle system) to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), by using the same transport connection as the user data.
US09219996B2
A method of routing multicast traffic, suitable for use in a network comprising a router node connected to a first data network and to a second data network, the router node having a capability to route multicast traffic from the first and second data networks to a user equipment, is provided. The method comprises: receiving a first message from the user equipment at the router node, the first message requesting membership of a first multicast group having a first multicast address; and inhibiting receipt of multicast traffic having the first multicast address from at least the second data network by the user equipment, dependent upon a determination as to whether the first message may relate to a multicast address in the first network.
US09219989B2
In a particular embodiment, a method includes requesting, at a first communication device, location information from multiple communication devices. The method also includes recording, at the first communication device, a particular location coordinate received from a closest communication device of the multiple communication devices. The method further includes adjusting the particular location coordinate based on triangulation data associated with the closest communication device.
US09219981B2
An aspect includes providing distributed data in a close proximity notification system using a transceiver that includes an antenna and a processing device. The processing device includes a memory for storing instructions that when executed by the processing device result in the transceiver: discovering wireless mobile devices within a proximity range of the transceiver; initiating communication between the transceiver and one or more of the wireless mobile devices; exchanging data with the one or more of the wireless mobile devices, the exchanging including receiving a request for information from one of the one or more of the wireless mobile devices; based on receiving the request for information, identifying a retrieval location of at least a subset of the requested information; and transmitting the at least subset of the information or an identifier of the retrieval location to the wireless mobile device.
US09219980B2
According to an aspect, a method for providing assistance to a user of a mobile device includes receiving a signal from a short-range wireless communication transmitter. The signal includes an identification code, and the receiving is by a mobile device of a user located within the space. The signal is processed on the mobile device and includes: determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device; and identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal. The processing of the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks. Based on the processing, information that includes an address of a security system is retrieved using the mobile device. The mobile device is monitored for inputs and based on receiving a security request, the security request is transmitted to the security system.
US09219968B2
Methods and systems are disclosed to monitor a media device. An example method includes attempting to detect a transition in a digital audio signal output by a port of the media device. If the transition is detected, the example method includes determining the media device is in an on state. If the transition is not detected, the example method includes determining the media device is in an off state.
US09219961B2
In an exemplary information processing system including a plurality of sound output sections, the positional relationship among the plurality of sound output sections is recognized. In addition, a sound corresponding to a sound source object present in a virtual space is generated. The output volume of the sound for the sound source object is determined, for each sound output section, in accordance with the positional relationship among the plurality of sound output sections, and the generated sound is outputted in accordance with the output volume.
US09219959B2
Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.
US09219958B2
Systems and methods for acoustic echo cancellation with wireless microphone and speaker systems are described herein. In one embodiment, an acoustic echo canceller is provided that can, among other things, cancel an acoustic echo component of an audio signal that is produced when an audio signal transmitted to a remote speaker on a lossy wireless link is picked up by a remote microphone and transmitted back to a base station on a lossy wireless link.
US09219957B2
Limiting the sound pressure level presented to the listener's ears by one or more headphones, using processing capabilities of a personal media device. Headphones, coupled to audio signals from a personal media device, include a sensor to measure the sound pressure level presented to the listener's ears, and provide that measure to the personal media device. The personal media device, optionally aided by one or more analog circuits, adjusts the audio signal so that the sound pressure level is maintained within a recommended range.
US09219954B2
The horn structure (22) is composed of a vertical array of horn pairs (26A-26G) arranged in stacked relationship to each other. The horns (27L and 27R) of each pair have entrance openings (40L and 40R) at the same elevation and disposed side-by-side to each other. The mouths (50L and 50R) of the horn pairs are in directional alignment with each other and stacked vertically on top of each other.
