US09235372B2

System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices.
US09235369B2

The invention provides a system in which, in a case where an event requiring a user operation occurs on a mobile terminal side, a printer can continue the print processing even if the terminal is moved outside the range of short distance communication by paying in advance a print fee to the printer. When the printer receives a print job from the terminal using short distance wireless communication, it charges the terminal every time one paper sheet is printed. If the terminal receives an incoming call, it transmits an advance payment request for an unprinted portion to the printer so that printing is continued even if the terminal is moved outside the range of short distance wireless communication. Upon receiving the request, the printer performs charging according to an amount indicated by the request, and continues printing of the unprinted portion.
US09235368B2

An information processing device includes a communication unit, a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to store information in a first region of the memory as a first default device corresponding to a first job mode and to store information in a second region of the memory as a second default device corresponding to a second job mode. The controller is configured to read out the first default device from the first region of the memory when receiving a first job mode processing, and transmit command data to the read out first default device. The controller is further configured to read out the second default device from the second region of the memory when receiving a second job mode processing, and transmit command data to the read out second default device.
US09235365B2

The invention relates to a method for operating a network system (2) having at least one client device (4.1, 4.2), at least one management device (16) and at least one printing device (14), comprising: provision of a first order from the client device (4.1, 4.2) for execution by the at least one printing device (14), storage of the order in a memory device (10.1, 10.2) of the client device (4.1, 4.2), transmission of an order request from the client device (4.1, 4.2) to the management device (16), wherein the order of execution of orders is managed by the management device (16), transmission of requests from the client device (4.1, 4.2) to the management device (16) at first prescribable intervals of time to determine whether the printing device (14) is available for executing the order from the client device (4.1, 4.2), and transmission of an enable signal from the management device (16) to the client device (4.1, 4.2) in response to the request from the client device (4.1, 4.2) when the printing device (14) is available for executing the order from the client device (4.1, 4.2).
US09235363B2

A client terminal includes a web page acquisition unit that acquires from a web application server a web page embedding a print control script that operates on a web browser and controls printing related to the web page, a display unit that displays the acquired web page as a displayed web page, a drawing process unit that accepts an input operation on the displayed web page and draws a result of the input operation in a specific drawing area, a print data generation unit that generates print data by converting image data written in the drawing area to a form enabling processing by a printer according to the print control script as a result of a print operation performed on the displayed web page, and a print command unit that commands the printer to print the print data according to the print control script.
US09235362B2

A printer, which is capable of receiving printing data from a host, converting the printing data into a code and executing printing based on the code, is further capable of storing the code and executing printing based on the stored code.
US09235346B2

Described embodiments provide a solid-state drive (SSD) including a media controller and a solid-state media. A control processor of the media controller determines a logical address, a transfer size, and map data based on the logical address and transfer size, associated with a read request received from a host device. Based on the logical address and a sequential zone defined based on one or more previous read requests, the control processor determines whether the received read request is a sequential read. A map data pre-fetch size is adjusted based on the transfer size of the received read request and whether the received read request is a sequential read. A corresponding portion of the map data is transferred from the solid-state media to a map cache coupled to the control processor, the transferred portion having a size equal to the adjusted map data pre-fetch size.
US09235338B1

Systems and methods of zooming and panning an image on a multi-touch enabled computing device are provided. The difference in the mean absolute deviation of consecutive move events is used to determine the scaling factor to apply, and the translation of centroids of consecutive move events is used to determine the pan gesture to apply.
US09235318B2

In one embodiment, one or more components of a user interface are arranged in a hierarchy of layers and displayed to a user. The user interface is presented according to the structure of the hierarchy. In response to a first user interaction with a component that has a parent, the display transitions from a first layer at which the component is presented to a second layer at which the parent of the component is presented, with the second layer being beneath the first layer. In response to a second user interaction with a component that has a child, the display transitions from the first layer at which the component is presented to a third layer at which the child of the component is presented, with the third layer being above the first layer.
US09235316B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for developing an analytic process. The method includes displaying, within an electronic system, a plurality of components operable to be used for designing a data analysis process. A user makes a selection of a data access component from the plurality of components. The data access component is operable for configuring access to a data source. The method further includes the user making a selection of a data selection component from the plurality of components and a data display component. The data selection component is operable for selecting data accessed via the data access component. The data display component is operable for configuring display of data based on the data selection component. Configuration data corresponding to the data access component, the data selection component, and the data display component can then be stored.
US09235312B2

Synchronized panel technology is provided. A method illustratively includes receiving indications of a first form factor and a second form factor. Content that is to be shared is identified. A first user interface is generated that includes the content and that is configured to be displayed on a computing device screen having the first form factor. A second user interface is generated that includes the content and that is configured to be displayed on a computing device screen having the second form factor. Indications of a first and second resolution are optionally received and utilized in generating the first and second user interfaces.
US09235310B2

A resistive touch screen controller provides two-finger gesture recognition. Current mirror circuitry, coupled to the XP/XN and YP/YN conductors, generates a screen current IL corresponding to X/y plate currents, and a corresponding mirror current IL/N. A variable resistor receives mirror current IL/N, and a resistance controller sets the resistance value R1 of the variable resistor, and monitors a variable resistor voltage VR1 based on IL/N*R1. A processor determines calibration voltages for the X and Y plates corresponding to the mirror current IL/N for X/Y voltage values of VR1 for a no touch condition, and X/Y offset voltages VOFS and HOFS of VR1 for a two touch condition. For a two touch condition, the processor determines touch resistance relative to no touch, and generates an adjusted X/Y plate resistance ΔX/ΔY based on VOFS/HOFS, and based on X/Y, determines a distance and angle between the two touches.
US09235307B2

A stylus and touch sensitive device are disclosed. The stylus includes a stylus transmitter for transmitting a stylus signal. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors, each of which is associated with a row transmitter and a row receiver. The row transmitter is adapted to simultaneously transmit row signals, each on its associated row conductor, each of the row signals being orthogonal to each other of the plurality of row signals transmitted on each other of the row conductors. The row receiver is adapted to detect the stylus signal. Column conductors are provided, each associated with a column receiver that is adapted to detect the presence of each of the row signals transmitted by the row transmitter and the stylus signal.
US09235306B2

The invention relates to an operating and display device (11) for a domestic appliance, comprising operating means for setting at least one parameter of an operating process of the domestic appliance, a light conductor part (24, 34) for conducting light, a plurality of function symbols (13, 14, 15), which each symbolize a respective selectable value of the parameter, and a lighting device (47) for backlighting the function symbols (13, 14, 15), by means of which lighting device the function symbol (13, 14, 15) associated with the presently selected value of the parameter can be optically distinguished from the other function symbols (13, 14, 15), wherein the operating means are designed as touch-sensitive operating means and have a touch-sensitive actuation surface (16), which is arranged such as to overlap with the function symbols (13, 14, 15) and thus the value of the parameter associated with one of the function symbols (13, 14, 15) can be selected by touching the actuation surface (16) in an overlap area (17) that overlaps with one of the function symbols (13, 14, 15).
US09235304B2

Disclosed is a touch panel-equipped display device capable of suppressing an increase in the number of wires and improving detection resolution. A touch panel-equipped display device includes scanning lines and detection lines. The detection lines include first main detection lines, second main detection lines, first one-side sub-detection lines, and first other-side sub-detection lines. Each of the second main detection lines is arranged between adjacent first main detection lines. The first one-side sub-detection lines are connected together, and each first one-side sub-detection lines is arranged between the corresponding first main detection line and the second main detection line adjacent to one side of the corresponding first main detection line. The first other-side sub-detection lines are connected together, and each first other-side sub-detection lines is arranged between the corresponding first main detection lines and the second main detection line adjacent to the other side of the corresponding first main detection line.
US09235291B2

In a display device with optical sensors, a mode control portion (24) determines a mode to be a normal mode in which to operate a recognition processing portion (22) or a standby mode in which to stop the recognition processing portion (22) from operating. In transition from the normal mode to the standby mode, a decimated image memory (25) stores a decimated image having a smaller number of pixels than a scan picture. The mode control portion (24) performs pixel-by-pixel comparison between the stored decimated image and an image supplied anew, which is obtained by averaging decimated images for two consecutive frames, and causes transition from the standby mode to the normal mode when the number of pixels whose difference in pixel values is greater than or equal to a first threshold is greater than or equal to a second threshold. As a result, it is rendered possible to inhibit erroneous determination and promptly detect a touch position after a quick exit from the standby mode.
US09235287B2

A touch panel apparatus includes a detector configured to detect contact or approach of an object to a panel within a detection range of the panel, a controller configured to execute the detection on the entire panel and control the detection range in accordance with a result of the detection, and an output unit configure to determine and output a position corresponding to the contact or the approach of the object within the detection range controlled by the controller.
US09235283B2

An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that may include an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device may also include deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
US09235282B2

A proximity detection device includes a display unit which has a display image surface in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix shape and a proximity operation detecting unit in which a transparent electrode for proximity operation detection is arranged to form an operation surface at a position superposed on the display image surface and a conductive film pattern forming the transparent electrode has a pitch of a linear pattern which is equal to or smaller than an arrangement pitch in one direction of the pixel electrodes.
US09235271B2

An input device includes a small footprint keyboard with touch pad functionality. By disposing the touchpad and the mouse keys in the lower part and surrounded by the first and the second groups, one achieves a substantial ergonomic advantage in that the frequently used QWERTY keys are accessible, while at the same time the touch pad is within reach of any finger.
US09235266B2

An electronic device includes: a reproduction section for reproducing a content item; a touch panel for detecting a user operation for changing a reproduction position of the content item; and a vibrating section for vibrating the touch panel. The vibrating section varies the vibration of the touch panel depending on whether or not the reproduction position which has been changed through the user operation detected by the touch panel is a specified reproduction position.
US09235264B2

Organizing messages received and transmitted over a network is described. In one aspect, a method includes tracking where a user is gazing as the user is composing an outgoing message on a first computer system; during a composition time period in which the user is composing the message, determining a number of times the user's gaze dwells on a displayed message after the user's gaze is directed away from the message, determining a relevance rating for the gaze areas, each gaze area associated with one of the messages based on the number of times the user's gaze dwells on the associated message; identifying, based on at least one of the relevance ratings, at least one displayed message that is related to the outgoing message; and associating with the outgoing message an identifier for at least one of the at least one displayed message that is related to the outgoing message.
US09235254B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining, in a controller of a multi-domain processor, whether a temperature of a second domain of the multi-domain processor is greater than a sum of a throttle threshold and a cross-domain margin, and if so, reducing a frequency of a first domain of the multi-domain processor by a selected amount. In this way, a temperature of the second domain can be allowed to reduce, given a thermal coupling of the domains. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09235232B2

A lightweight, weatherproof, protective enclosure for flat panel displays comprising a containing element in the form of an open, shallow rectangular prism with a regular network of shallow reinforcing depressions formed in its outer surface and a substantially transparent planar viewing element hingedly connected to the containing element such that when the viewing element is closed over, and sealed to, the containing element the protective enclosure forms a lightweight, monocoque structure with enhanced structural rigidity.
US09235230B1

A mobile device accessory can function as a cord organizer, a case for accessories and a stand for the device. The accessory is sized to conform to the size and perimeter of the mobile device. The accessory has a case frame and a foldable flat panel that can form a triangular tube having a triangular profile. The panel includes outer layers of material and a central layer of panel members that is constructed with magnets along the perimeter. The outer material is a natural, synthetic or composite elastomeric polymer and can be provided with a textured finish. In other embodiments, the tube describes a square or other polygonal shape in profile. The triangular tube can be used to store and/or organize mobile device cords. The triangular tube can become a support prop to hold the mobile device upright.
US09235219B2

A system for controlling the flow of a fluid from a source to a load includes a source. An on/off type of control valve communicates with the source. A micro-electric mechanical system communicates with the on/off type of control valve. A consuming device communicates with the micro-electric mechanical system. An electronic controller that communicates with the consuming device and the source. The electronic controller measures a change in a parameter of the micro-electric mechanical system that results from the flow of fluid through the micro-electric mechanical system to sense a flow of fluid through a micro-electric mechanical system.
US09235217B2

A flight control system for a helicopter having a main rotor and a tail rotor is provided. The flight control system includes an automatic rotor speed control being configured to transition the main rotor and the tail rotor between a high speed and a low speed based upon a plurality of received information without requiring any pilot action, the plurality of received information comprising height above ground level, knot indicated air speed, outside air temperature, barometric altitude, pressure altitude, density altitude, and an engine operational status.
US09235214B2

The illustrative embodiments provide a method for controlling a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, a dynamic condition is identified and the vehicle is controlled using a knowledge base comprising a fixed knowledge base and a learned knowledge base.
US09235210B2

A remote-controlled mobile triangle sign includes a triangle sign having at least one surface with a reflective area; a remote controller configured to transmit control signals; and a remote-controlled car. The remote-controlled car includes a power supply module; a drive motor powered by the power supply module; and a remote control receiving and execution module for receiving the control signals. The triangle sign is mounted on top of the remote-controlled car, and the remote control receiving and execution module is electrically connected to the drive motor and provides output signals.
US09235200B2

An imaging lens substantially includes six lenses, constituted by: a first lens having a negative refractive power, which is of a meniscus shape having a concave surface toward an image side; a second lens; a third lens; a fourth lens; a fifth lens having a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens having a negative refractive power, a concave surface toward the image side, and at least one inflection point in the surface toward the image side; provided in this order from an object side. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional formula.
US09235186B2

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable member; a web; a mechanism; a contact portion; a plurality of displacing portions; a detecting portion; a notifying portion; a first counting portion; a prohibiting portion; and a second counting portion. The prohibiting portion prohibits an image forming process when the detecting portion detects displacement of the contact portion when the number of times of the image forming process counted by the second counting portion is less than a predetermined number. The notifying portion prompts an exchange of the web when the detecting portion detects the displacement of the contact portion when the number of times is not less than the predetermined number.
US09235171B2

Provided is a fixing device including a heating unit that includes a circularly moving heating belt, and a pressurizing roller that presses an external face of the heating belt, the fixing device fixing a toner image on a sheet onto the sheet by nipping the sheet between the heating belt and the pressurizing roller and by heating and pressurizing the sheet transported with the toner image being held.
US09235158B2

A developing device includes a developing sleeve having a plurality of grooves, and a magnetic field generating portion configured to be disposed on an inner side of the developing sleeve and including at least a drawing-up pole and a cut pole. The magnetic field generating portion is configured to form. a Fr attenuation area and a Fθ reverse area between a peak of a magnetic flux density of the drawing-up pole and a peak of a magnetic flux density of the cut pole. Fr attenuates toward the cut pole side from the drawing-up pole side in the Fr attenuation area and Fθ is oriented towards an opposite direction to a direction of rotation of the developing sleeve in the Fθ reverse area. A pitch interval of the plurality of grooves is shorter than a length of the Fθ reverse area in the direction of rotation of the developing sleeve.
US09235157B2

A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.
US09235156B2

A layer thickness regulating member includes: an opposing portion having an opposing surface to a peripheral surface of a developer carrying member; and a layer thickness regulating portion, projected from the opposing surface toward the developer carrying member, for regulating a layer thickness of a developer carried on the developer carrying member. The layer thickness regulating portion is integrally molded with the opposing portion. The layer thickness regulating member is, after being molded in a metal mold, separated by being pushed from a side opposite from the opposing portion of the layer thickness regulating member when the layer thickness regulating member is separated from the metal mold.
US09235155B2

Provided is an image forming apparatus that includes a first image forming section configured to form an auxiliary layer, a second image forming section configured to form an image layer, and a controller. The first and the second image forming sections each include an image supporting member configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof and a developer supporting member configured to support, on a surface thereof, a developer. The controller is configured to control the first and the second image forming sections to allow a first velocity and a second velocity to be different from each other. The first velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the first image forming section, and the second velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the second image forming section.
US09235151B2

A magnetic toner containing: magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin and a magnetic body; and inorganic fine particles, as described in the specification, present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles. A coverage ratio A of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles, as described in the specification, and a coverage ratio B of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles each of which is fixed to the magnetic toner particles' surface, as described in the specification, have prescribed values and a prescribed relationship in the magnetic toner. The alumina fine particles and/or titania fine particles are present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles as described in the specification.
US09235149B2

A toner T1 develops an electrostatic latent image, the toner T1 having relieved charge-up characteristics, improved development characteristics, and improved transfer characteristics. The toner T1 may ensure high charge stability against environmental condition changes, and an appropriate amount of charges at a high printing speed, may reduce background contamination on a photoreceptor, may prevent undesirable fusing onto a blade even after prolonged printing, and may have high transfer efficiency and high image uniformity. The toner T1 may have effective flowability and transportability, and may have good storage stability, so as to be unlikely to cause blocking when stored for an extended time.
US09235146B2

A photoconductor, which contains an electrically conductive support, and at least a photoconductive layer provided over the electrically conductive support, wherein the photoconductive layer contains a compound represented by the following general formula (1): where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkoxy group, or an aralkyloxy group; n, a, b, c, and d are each independently an integer of 1 to 4 and m is 1 or 2; and a plurality of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 or R6 may be the same or different when n, m, a, b, c, or d is an integer of 2 or greater.
US09235143B2

A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a projection light source, a heating light source, a catoptric projection lens and a reflecting switching element, which can be arranged outside of the projection lens and can be displaced between a first position and a second position via a drive. Only the projection light can enter the projection lens in the first position of the switching element, and only the heating light can enter the projection lens in the second position of the switching element.
US09235141B2

An inspection apparatus measures a property of a substrate including a periodic structure. An illumination system provides a beam of radiation with an illumination profile including a plurality of illuminated portions. A radiation projector projects the beam of radiation onto the substrate. A detector detects radiation scattered from the periodic structure and separately detects first order diffracted radiation and at least one higher order of diffracted radiation of each of the illuminated portions. A processor determines the property of the substrate from the detected radiation. The plurality of illuminated portions are arranged such that first order diffracted radiation arising from one or more of the illuminated portions are not overlapped by zeroth order or first order diffracted radiation arising from any other of the illuminated portions. Furthermore, the plurality of illuminated portions are arranged such that first order diffracted radiation arising from the one or more of the illuminated portions are overlapped by at least one of the higher orders of diffracted radiation arising from any other of the illuminated portions.
US09235140B2

A lithographic apparatus having an optical column capable of projecting a beam on a target portion on a substrate held by the substrate support. The optical column may have a self-emissive contrast device to emit the beam. The optical column may include a projection system to project the beam onto the target portion. The target portion has a height in a scanning direction of the substrate and a tangential width mainly perpendicular to the scanning direction, wherein a scanning speed of the substrate in the scanning direction divided by the height substantially corresponds with a rotating speed of the optical column or a part thereof divided by the tangential width of the target portion.
US09235139B2

An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
US09235138B2

A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the one or more meniscus pinning features, wherein the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.
US09235135B2

An exposure apparatus includes a first mark-forming unit further upstream than an irradiation region for exposure light in a direction of conveyance of a member to be exposed. A mark for meandering detection is detected, and a detection unit detects the mark for meandering detection in a direction intersecting a direction of movement of the member to be exposed. A second mark-forming unit is moved so as to negate an amount of meandering by the member to be exposed, computed on the basis thereof, and an alignment mark is formed rectilinearly in a relative fashion with respect to the member to be exposed. This enables highly accurate, stable exposure whereby, even in a case where the member is supplied continuously, an alignment mark for mask position adjustment can be changed in accordance with the meandering of the member to be exposed and the position of the mask with respect to the member to be exposed can be accurately adjusted.
US09235132B2

A lithography method based on the projection of cells, notably direct-write electron-beam lithography. One of the main limitations of the methods of this type in the prior art is the writing time. To overcome this limitation, according to the method of the invention, the size of the cells is increased to the maximum aperture of the lithography device. Advantageously, this size increase is obtained by modifying the size of the apertures of the projection stencil level closest to the substrate to be etched. Advantageously, a strip is added to the outside of the block to be etched onto which is radiated a dose calculated to optimize the process energy latitude. Advantageously, this strip is spaced apart from the edge of the block to be etched. Advantageously, the projected cells are not adjoining.
US09235131B2

An optical imaging device, including an imaging unit and a measuring device. The imaging unit includes a first optical element group having at least one first optical element, which contributes to the imaging. The measuring device determines an imaging error, which occurs during the imaging, using a capturing signal. The measuring device includes a measurement light source, a second optical element group and a capturing unit. The measurement light source emits at least one measurement light bundle, The second optical element group includes an optical reference element and a second optical element, which guide the measurement light bundle onto the capturing unit, to generate the capturing signal. Each second optical element has a defined spatial relationship with a respective one of the first optical elements, The second optical elements differ from the first optical elements. The measuring device determines the imaging error with the capturing signal.
US09235119B2

A method that forms a film of photoresist composition on a substrate and exposes a first and second region of the film to radiation through a first and second mask having a first and second image pattern, respectively. The photoresist composition includes a polymer comprising at least one acid labile group, a photosensitive acid generator capable of generating a first amount of acid upon exposure to a first dose of radiation and of generating a second amount of acid upon exposure to a second dose of radiation, and a photosensitive base generator capable of generating a first amount of base upon exposure to the first dose of radiation and of generating a second amount of base upon exposure to the second dose of radiation. The photosensitive acid generator includes (trifluoro-methylsulfonyloxy)-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboximide (MDT), N-hydroxy-naphthalimide dodecane sulfonate (DDSN), or a combination thereof. The photosensitive base generator includes a quaternary ammonium salt.
US09235098B2

A reflective color display may include a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer facing each other. An electrochromatic layer may be formed on the first electrode layer. The electrochromatic layer may include an electrochromatic material that is structured to display a color, to appear black, or to become transparent according to a voltage applied thereto. An electrolyte layer may contact the electrochromatic layer. The electrolyte layer may be located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. A reflective layer may be disposed on the second electrode layer.
US09235096B2

A system including a cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLC) display device and an erasing device. The display device (e.g., a writing tablet, liquid crystal paper) is inductively coupled to the erasing device for inductively erasing an image on the display device. Also featured is a ChLC display device that can be inductively erased.
US09235094B2

In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device comprises a pixel electrode including a first main electrode disposed between a first line and a second line and extending like a belt in a first extending direction. A first counter electrode includes a second main electrode extending like a belt in the first extending direction, a second counter electrode having a third main electrode extending like a belt in the first extending direction. The second and third main electrodes are disposed on both sides of the first main electrode, and an initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel with a direction passing through an interstice between the first end side of the first main electrode and the second line, and through an interstice between the second end side of the first main electrode and the first line.
US09235093B2

This disclosure provides a display apparatus which includes a substrate, first TFTs, scan lines and data lines connected to the first TFTs, and second TFTs for controlling inspection-use display signals; wherein each of the second TFTs includes: a first gate electrode disposed on the substrate; a first insulation layer disposed on the first gate electrode; an active unit disposed on the first insulation layer and having a source electrode electrically connected to one of the data lines, an active layer including an oxide semiconductor, and a drain electrode; a second insulation layer disposed on the active unit; and a second gate electrode disposed on the second insulation layer; wherein the first TFTs, the scan lines, and the data lines are disposed in a display area on the substrate, and the second TFTs are disposed in an area other than the display area on the substrate.
US09235088B1

The LCD panel includes a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode and an opaque area, and a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The opaque area is located within a vertical projection area projected by the first electrode. A protrusion structure is disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode. The protrusion structure is located within a vertical projection area projected by the opaque area. An alignment film is coated on a surface of the protrusion structure such that each liquid crystal molecule in the liquid crystal layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode has a pretilt angle. Through the above method, the present invention can increase the light transmittance, and reduce the number of the mask and the cost.
US09235078B2

The present invention provides a curvature adjustment structure of a curved liquid crystal display device, which includes: a backplane (1) and at least one bracing assembly (3) fixedly mounted to the backplane (1). Each bracing assembly (3) includes a first bracing member (31) in contact engagement with the backplane (1), a second bracing member (33) opposite to the first bracing member (31) and distant from the backplane (1), and a cooling chip array (35) arranged between the first and second bracing members (31, 33). The cooling chip array (35) includes a plurality of cooling chips (2). Each of the cooling chips (2) includes a heat absorption surface (22) and an opposite heat dissipation surface (24). The heat absorption surface (22) and the heat dissipation surface (24) of each of the cooling chips (2) are respectively in engagement with the first and second bracing members (31, 33), whereby through energizing the cooling chip array (35), the first and second bracing members (31, 33) are respectively caused to undergo thermal expansion and contraction to achieve curving and deformation of the bracing assembly (3) so as to forcibly change the curvature of the backplane (1).
US09235073B2

A display device includes a display device main body including a display panel provided on a circumferential portion thereof with an electrode unit and a dummy electrode unit, a chassis housing the display device main body, a source driver FPC configured to be electrically connected to the electrode unit and supply an electric signal to the display panel, and a flexible fixing board connected to the dummy electrode unit and fixed to the chassis.
US09235061B2

A retention mechanism according to an embodiment includes a fixed part including a magnet, and a movable part opposed to the fixed part. A plurality of rolling elements are provided between the fixed part and the movable part, and the movable part is movable in a plane direction. A magnetic material which forms, in combination with the magnet, a magnetic spring is provided on the movable part. The magnetic spring generates a magnetic attraction force which attracts the movable part to the fixed part. The magnetic material is extended along a direction in which magnetic poles of the magnet are arrayed.
US09235058B2

A polarization three-dimensional display and method comprise a liquid crystal panel, with an array substrate and a color filter substrate opposing each other, the color filter substrate including a plurality of black matrix strips disposed on a side of it facing the array substrate; and a liquid crystal layer; a phase difference structure, located on a light-exiting side of the panel, a plurality of patterned phase difference diaphragms are arranged on the phase difference structure; a plurality of light-shielding strips, disposed on a side of the array substrate away from the liquid crystal layer, projections of the plurality of light-shielding strips on the phase difference structure cover boundary lines of the patterned phase difference diaphragms on the phase difference structure, and projections of the plurality of black matrix strips on the phase difference structure cover boundary lines of the patterned phase difference diaphragms on the phase difference structure.
US09235055B2

A light source assembly including a light source part, a light guide plate and a light-condensing sheet. The light source assembly generates light and includes at least one light source. The light guide plate includes an incident surface to which the light is incident, an opposing surface which is opposite to the incident surface, and an exiting surface which emits the light, and has a thickness which is gradually increased from the incident surface to the opposing surface. The light-condensing sheet includes a plurality of reverse prism patterns which protrude toward the exiting surface, extend along an arc of a circle, and are arranged in a concentric circle structure.
US09235053B2

A device for beam shaping includes a heat dissipation body having an upper side with a planar section and a plurality of laser elements next to one another on the planar section of the upper side that respectively emit a ray bundle having a fast-axis divergence and, perpendicular thereto, a slow-axis divergence. A reflection element is arranged such that the ray bundles of the individual laser elements extend parallel to one another and at an elevation angle of greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the planar section after exactly one reflection at the associated reflection element. The reflected ray bundles are stacked in the optical path downstream of the reflection elements in a first plane perpendicular to the beam direction and a connecting line, lying in the first plane, of the centers of the reflected ray bundles extends perpendicular to the direction of the slow axis.
US09235029B2

An imaging lens substantially consists of, in order from an object side, five lenses of a first lens that has a positive refractive power and has a meniscus shape which is convex toward the object side, a second lens that has a negative refractive power and has a meniscus shape which is concave toward the object side, a third lens that has a meniscus shape which is convex toward the image side, a fourth lens that has a positive refractive power and is convex toward the object side, and a fifth lens that has a negative refractive power and has at least one inflection point on an image side surface.
US09235027B2

An optical image capturing system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element and the third lens element have refractive power. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface, wherein at least one inflection point is on at least one surface thereof. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface. The surfaces of the fifth and the sixth lens elements are aspheric. The optical image capturing system has a total of six lens elements with refractive power.
US09235023B2

Various techniques are disclosed for providing systems and methods for orienting one or more lenses or other optical elements in a lens sleeve. For example, a system may include a lens sleeve defining an interior lens cavity. A plurality of lens positioning features extend from the lens sleeve adjacent the interior lens cavity. A first lens is secured in the lens cavity at a first position relative to the lens sleeve. A first set of the lens positioning features are located at a second position relative to the lens sleeve, and a second set of the lens positioning features are located at a third position relative to the lens sleeve. A second lens engages either the first set or the second set of the plurality of lens positioning features depending on a desired distance between the first lens and the second lens.
US09235022B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for thermally managing electronic devices using dynamic optical components are provided. At least one of the reflectance and the transmittance of incident electromagnetic radiation of a dynamic optical component on an electronic device may be adjusted based on a detected variable device characteristic of the device, such as a temperature of a device component. By adjusting the reflectance and/or the transmittance of the dynamic optical component, different portions of the incident electromagnetic radiation may be directed from the dynamic optical component for changing the variable device characteristic.
US09235020B2

An electro-optical connector assembly includes a first data connector for arrangement on a first device and a second data connector for arrangement on a second device, the first and second data connectors being for communicating data through free space between the first device and the second device and, a first power connector for arrangement on the first device and a second power connector for arrangement on the second device, the first and second power connectors being for providing wireless power transfer between the first device and the second device.
US09235018B2

An optical communications card is provided that has multiple parallel optical communications modules mounted on one or both sides of the card. A plurality of the optical communications cards can be edge-mounted and/or mid-plane mounted in an optical communications system such that the cards are electrically connected to a motherboard PCB. Because the spacing, or pitch, between the edge-mounted or mid-plane mounted cards can be very small, the cards can be mounted with very high density to provide the optical communications system with very high bandwidth.
US09235009B2

An optical connector of an embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing member made up of two half sprit members engaged with each other, the fixing member applying external pressure, toward an optical fiber combining section of a spring push, to a protection tube which covers a stair part of an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber combining section. The fixing member securely fixes the protection tube to the optical fiber combining section. As such, it is possible to provide a general-purpose optical connector having a high reliability that an optical fiber cord is unlikely to come off from the optical connector.
US09235006B2

Described herein is an optical channel monitor (100), including a plurality of input ports in the form of optical fibers (102) disposed in a vertical “port displacement” dimension. Each fiber (102) inputs a respective optical beam (103) having a plurality of individual wavelength channels. A lens (104) collimates each beam and converges the beams in the port displacement dimension to a focal plane (105). The collimated and converged beams are incident onto a rotatable micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirror (106), which selectively directs each optical beam onto a wavelength dispersion element in the form of a grism (108) at a predetermined angle (denoted by φ) in a horizontal “dispersion” plane. The grism (108) spatially separates, in the dispersion plane, the wavelength channels contained within each optical beam (103) by diffraction. The angle at which each channel is diffracted is controlled by the angle φ.
US09234996B2

A liquid crystal display device includes an LED, a liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate, a chassis, a frame, a board attachment member, an LED board, and a holding member. The chassis is arranged on an opposite side of the light guide plate from the liquid crystal panel. The frame is arranged on a display surface side of the liquid crystal panel and in contact with the chassis. The frame and the chassis hold the liquid crystal panel, the LED, and the light guide plate therebetween. The board attachment member is mounted on the chassis and spaced apart from the frame. The LED board is in contact with the board attachment member and includes the LED mounted on a plate surface thereof. The holding member sandwiches the board attachment member and the LED board so as to hold the LED board to the board attachment member.
US09234995B2

An illuminating device includes one or more light sources that output light, a translucent light guide member having one or more side surfaces and a light output surface, and a lens sheet positioned over the light output surface of the light guide member and including a first array of lenses and a second array of lenses extended in directions intersecting each other. The light source is positioned to have an optical axis substantially in agreement with a normal direction of the side surface of the translucent light guide member, and the first array or the second array of the lenses which is extended in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light source has a surface area in a range of from 20% to 50% with respect to a total surface area of the first and second arrays of the lenses.
US09234988B2

A microlens substrate will warp when an oxide film is formed and annealed before forming a mask in order to adjust the etching rate of wet etching. Accordingly, a film exerting a stress that cancels out this warping is formed upon a microlens. This film functions as an optical path length adjusting layer.
US09234977B2

A method to perform a marine seismic survey includes obtaining marine seismic data corresponding to a subterranean formation under a water surface. The marine seismic data is generated from an underwater seismic sensor that is subject to an interference effect. The method further includes generating, by a computer processor and using a deconvolution operation, corrected marine seismic data based at least in part on the marine seismic data to compensate for the interference effect, and generating, by the computer processor, a marine seismic survey result based at least in part on the corrected marine seismic data.
US09234972B2

Apparatus and techniques for measuring seismic parameters, such as ground force, of a seismic vibrator used for generating seismic signals through a geological formation are provided. The seismic vibrator has a base plate positionable adjacent a ground surface of the geological formation. A sensor pad may be provided with an optical cable positionable between the base plate of the seismic vibrator and the ground surface of the geological formation, a laser for passing a light through the optical cable, and a detector for detecting disturbances in the laser light whereby a ground force applied to the ground surface may be determined.
US09234968B1

In one embodiment, a material includes at least one metal compound incorporated into a polymeric matrix, where the metal compound includes a metal and one or more carboxylate ligands, where at least one of the one or more carboxylate ligands includes a tertiary butyl group, and where the material is optically transparent. In another embodiment, a method includes: processing pulse traces corresponding to light pulses from a scintillator material; and outputting a result of the processing, where the scintillator material comprises at least one metal compound incorporated into a polymeric matrix, the at least one metal compound including a metal and one or more carboxylate ligands, where at least one of the one or more carboxylate ligands has a tertiary butyl group, and where the scintillator material is optically transparent and has an energy resolution at 662 keV of less than about 20%.
US09234965B2

A pressure sensor can be implemented on a network device to minimize vertical positioning errors of the network device in an indoor environment. A reference altitude and a reference pressure associated with an access point in the indoor environment are received at the network device via a communication network. A pressure is determined at the network device in the indoor environment. An altitude of the network device associated with the pressure at the network device in the indoor environment is calculated based, at least in part, on the pressure at the network device, the reference pressure, and the reference altitude. A position of the network device in the indoor environment is determined based, at least in part, on the altitude of the navigation device and location information received from at least the access point.
US09234961B2

A radar device is provided, which includes a receiver for transmitting a pulse-shaped radio wave and receiving a corresponding reflection signal as a reception signal, a Doppler processor for generating Doppler processed signals that are signals obtained by separating the reception signal according to Doppler frequencies or signals obtained based on the signals separated, an improvement level calculator for calculating a signal improvement level by comparing an amplitude value of the reception signal with amplitude values of the Doppler processed signals, a signal synthesizer for synthesizing the reception signal and the Doppler processed signals based on the signal improvement levels, and a display processor for generating a radar image based on the synthesized signal.
US09234959B2

A method for providing position determination assisting data comprises repetitions of establishing (210) of a cell relation configuration for a user equipment and performing (212) of a high-precision position determination for the user equipment. Results of the determinations belonging to the same cell relation configuration are clustered (214) in separate clustered results. An area definition is associated (220) with the clustered results by enclosing (221) the clustered results by a polygon, shrinking (222) the polygon by moving corners towards a contraction point and defining (223) the area definition as a shrunk polygon comprising a predetermined fraction of the clustered results. The contraction point is selected to be situated within the clustered results. The method also comprises creating (230) of position determination assisting data comprising a relation between the cell relation configurations and the associated area definitions. An arrangement for providing position determination assisting data is also presented.
US09234956B2

A transmission beam control unit 8 changes a main beam direction of a radar transmission beam every predetermined number of transmission periods. A radar transmitting unit Tx transmits a radar transmission signal using the radar transmission beam of which the main beam direction has been changed. In a radar receiving unit Rx, an estimation range selection unit 22 selects an estimation range of the direction of arrival of a reflected wave signal by limiting the estimation range to the approximate transmission beam width on the basis of the transmission beam width of the radar transmission beam and the output from the transmission beam control unit 8. The direction-of-arrival estimation unit 23 estimates the direction of arrival of the reflected wave signal on the basis of phase information between a plurality of antennas according to the selected range.
US09234941B2

There is provided a low-cost electronic control unit that is capable of performing its hardware check every start and stop of the electronic control unit. A monitoring and control circuit section that is an integrated circuit element built in the electronic control unit includes a self-test circuit configured with a built-in self-test control block, scan chain circuits and mask circuitry, and performs a self-test using the built-in self-test control block and a partial combination of the scan chain circuits at start of the operation. In the shipment inspection of the integrated circuit element alone, an external test is performed by a checker microprocessor using an entire combination of the scan chain circuits. Thus, the electronic control unit of low-cost configuration is capable of performing a scan test by making use of part of the scan chain circuits designed for the component inspection.
US09234936B1

In an integrated circuit, a clock monitor circuit detects when an analog clock signal output by an on-chip crystal oscillator has stabilized. The clock monitor circuit uses an envelope follower circuit to monitor the envelope of the analog clock signal and compare the amplitude of the envelope with a predetermined amplitude value. When the predetermined value is reached and the envelope has remained steady for a predetermined time, an oscillator okay signal is generated. If an oscillator okay signal is not detected within another predetermined time, then an oscillator failure signal may be generated.
US09234935B2

An automation testing system for testing a motherboard includes a frame, a first jig plate, a second jig plate, a platform, a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism and a console computer. The frame includes a track, a debug docking board is detachably disposed on the first jig plate for docking with the motherboard, the platform is slidably installed on the track and disposed between the first jig plate and the second jig plate, and the platform is for holding the motherboard. The console computer controls the first driving mechanism to drive the platform to move in a first direction along the track, and controls the second driving mechanism to drive the second jig plate to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US09234925B2

Provided are an apparatus and method for measuring a dielectric constant. The apparatus includes a cavity resonator including a cavity therein, an insertion hole penetrating through the cavity vertically and in which a sample is inserted, and grooves symmetrically formed with respect to the cavity in the insertion hole, a network analyzer configured to generate an electromagnetic signal supplied to the cavity resonator, receive an electromagnetic signal passed through the cavity resonator, and calculate a scattering parameter, a transmission means configured to supply the generated electromagnetic signal to the cavity resonator, a reception means configured to supply the electromagnetic signal passed through the cavity resonator to the network analyzer, and a calculation processor configured to receive the scattering parameter from the network analyzer and calculate a dielectric constant of the sample.
US09234909B2

A method and system for determining an airspeed of an aircraft, known as assisted aircraft, comprises: a) determining a position; b) measuring a ground speed; c) receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of other assisting, aircraft, each message containing a first item of information, indicating a position of an assisting aircraft, and a second item of information, indicating a wind speed at the position; d) estimating a wind speed at the position of the assisted aircraft by interpolating the wind speed values at the positions of the assisting aircraft obtained in step c); and e) computing a true speed of the assisted aircraft by using the vector difference between its ground speed, measured in step b), and the wind speed estimated in step d). The method can check operation of an anemometric subsystem aboard an aircraft, to compensate for any malfunction and/or to enable automatic piloting.
US09234903B2

The invention concerns the use of hepcidin for the diagnosis and therapy of disorders of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin can be used in the treatment of disorders resulting from iron overload while inhibitors of hepcidin can be used in the treatment of anemia.
US09234900B2

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing glioma by comparing the protein location of an individual to be diagnosed with the normal control nerve cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing glioma including determining that an individual has glioma when the expression level of GFRα4 in the endoplasmic reticulum is higher than that in the plasma membrane, and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for glioma. In the diagnostic method of the present invention, the protein expression levels in particular subcellular locations are compared, thereby accurately diagnosing glioma, diagnosing progression of glioma, and predicting prognosis after glioma surgery.
US09234894B2

A method for individuating with high sensitivity and specificity ADA metabolites from dried blood spot. The method described herein can be used to extract Adenosine and Deoxyadenosine from a sample under conditions that permit concurrently extracting other metabolites, such as amino acids, free carnitine, or acylcarnitines. For example, harsh extraction conditions (such as extreme acidity and high temperature) can be avoided. The method can be used, along with other neonatal screenings, on blood samples and preferably on dried blood spots (Guthrie cards) and more preferably on Guthrie cards obtained in the II-IV day of life. The method is reliable and reproducible, easy to perform and gives a definitive response within a short time (1-2 days). One or more kit for use in the method.
US09234891B2

A method of immobilizing a target molecule on a substrate, which comprises exposing the target molecule to the substrate in the presence of a metal complex, wherein the target molecule is an unmodified target molecule, and wherein the metal complex is selected to provide a stable binding interaction between the target molecule and the substrate.
US09234886B2

CXCR4 and ROBO-1 are biomarkers associated with type 1 diabetes. Expression of CXCR4 and ROBO-1 in peripheral CD3 T cells is substantially higher in patients with autoimmune diabetes (type 1 diabetes) than in non-diabetic patients. Therapies are disclosed for reducing the progression of type 1 diabetes, and to reduce the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in patients who are at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
US09234871B2

Volatile organic compounds or oxidizing gases are detected when the work function of a metal-organic framework is measured to produce a sensor signal.
US09234870B2

A gas sensor element (100) including a detection portion (150) including a solid electrolyte body (105) and a pair of electrodes (104) and (106) disposed on the solid electrolyte body; and a porous protection layer (20) covering the detection portion. The porous protection layer includes an inner porous layer (21) and an outer porous layer (23); the inner porous layer is higher in porosity than the outer porous layer; the inner porous layer contains, as main components, ceramic particles (21a), and ceramic fiber filaments (21b) which are mainly formed of a ceramic material and which have a mean fiber length of 70 to 200 μm; and the amount of the ceramic fiber filaments is 25 to 75 vol % on the basis of the total amount of the ceramic particles and the ceramic fiber filaments, the total amount being taken as 100 vol %.
US09234865B2

An analyte test instrument that has a test strip circuitry that can be configured using information provided by a calibration strip to perform assays with test strips having two electrodes and test strips having three electrodes. The analyte test instrument of this invention comprises: (a) a test port for receiving a test strip; (b) a microprocessor for executing instructions downloaded into the analyte test instrument; (c) a test strip circuit capable of having a plurality of configurations, the configurations being set by the microprocessor, whereby an assay can be performed using the test strip.
US09234864B2

A sensor designed to determine the amount and concentration of analyte in a sample having a volume of less than about 1 μL. The sensor has a working electrode coated with a non-leachable redox mediator. The redox mediator acts as an electron transfer agent between the analyte and the electrode. In addition, a second electron transfer agent, such as an enzyme, can be added to facilitate the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the analyte. The redox mediator is typically a redox compound bound to a polymer. The preferred redox mediators are air-oxidizable.The amount of analyte can be determined by coulometry. One particular coulometric technique includes the measurement of the current between the working electrode and a counter or reference electrode at two or more times. The charge passed by this current to or from the analyte is correlated with the amount of analyte in the sample. Other electrochemical detection methods, such as amperometric, voltammetric, and potentiometric techniques, can also be used.The invention can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum. An enzyme capable of catalyzing the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the biomolecule is provided as a second electron transfer agent.
US09234861B2

Provided are an electrode, an electrolysis cell, and an electrochemical analyzer that improve the long-term stability of analysis data. A working electrode, a counter electrode, and reference electrode are disposed in an electrolysis cell. The working electrode is obtained by forming a lead wire in a composite material having platinum or a platinum alloy as a base material, in which a metal oxide is dispersed, or in a laminated material obtained by laminating a valve metal and platinum such that the cross sectional crystal texture in the thickness direction of the platinum is formed in layers and the thickness of each layer of the platinum is 5 micrometers or less. The metal oxide is selected from among zirconium oxide, tantalum oxide, and niobium oxide, and the metal oxide content of the platinum or the platinum alloy is 0.005 to 1 wt % in terms of the zirconium, tantalum, or niobium metal.
US09234854B2

A method of determining a parameter of a wafer is disclosed. Light is propagated through a waveguide disposed in the wafer. A first measurement of optical power is obtained at a first optical tap coupled to the waveguide and a second measurement of optical power is obtained at a second optical tap coupled to the waveguide using a photodetector placed at a selected location with respect to the wafer. A difference in optical power is determined between the first optical tap and the second optical tap from the first measurement and the second measurement. The parameter of the wafer is determined from the determined difference in optical power.
US09234847B2

The present invention provides compositions including peptide display scaffolds that present at least one candidate peptide and at least one detectable moiety in at least one of the N-terminal and C-terminal candidate peptide presenting domains that when expressed in a cell are accessible at a surface of the cell outermembrane. In addition, the present invention also provides kits and methods for screening a library of cells presenting the candidate peptides in peptide display scaffolds to identify a ligand for an enzyme.
US09234844B2

A chloride ion fluorescence detection method and device, and a use thereof. The chloride ion fluorescence detection method utilizes chloride ions to influence luminescence characteristics of some photoluminescent substances to change the emission spectrum of the photoluminescent substances. The concentration of the chloride ions is detected through two processes comprising the fiber surface film forming and test liquid preparation of a fluorescent reagent sensitive to the chloride ions and measurement of information of fluorescence peak wavelengths or intensities. The method can be applied to the online assessment of the corrosion environment of steel bar concrete or the measurement of chloride ions in a laboratory.
US09234842B2

The apparatus enables biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like and enables living-tissue discrimination. The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. Long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light, is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure. The living-tissue discrimination may be made using the subcutaneous blood vessel.
US09234838B2

Disclosed herein are methods to improve detection of PET polymer materials within a waste material to be sorted. The methods disclosed allow for municipal solid waste to be separated so that PET polymer materials, including those containing liquids, are separated for recycling, or other purposes. PET polymer materials, such as water bottles which have been disposed of while still containing liquid may now be separated by the enhanced methods disclosed herein.
US09234829B2

A viscometer assembly includes a first plate with a rail configured to constrain fluid thereon between its edges by surface tension. A second opposing plate has a surface spaced from the rail by a predefined gap of constraining fluid to the rail by surface tension when the rail is inclined and gravity pulls the fluid along the rail. The kinematic viscosity of the fluid is determined as a function of the predetermined gap and the time it takes the fluid to flow along the rail.
US09234828B2

A hydrometer embodied as self-contained buoyant structure that reacts to the buoyant force of a fluid by equilibrating at a tilt. The tilt of the structure can then be used to calculate the specific gravity of the fluid. In one embodiment, an accelerometer for measuring the inclination of the buoyant structure, a radio for transmitting the data wirelessly and a battery is contained within the buoyant structure, which allows for a convenient, and efficient automated process for monitoring the specific gravity of a liquid.
US09234827B2

Method and apparatus for determining the relative content of a first rock species and of a second rock species in a rock sample extracted from a wellbore. The method comprises adding a reactant to the rock sample, measuring a first information (PT1) relative to a first amount of compound produced at a first instant (T1) and a second information (PT2) relative to a second amount of compound produced at a second instant (T2). The method also comprises calculating the relative content of the first species in the rock sample from the first information (PT1) and calculating the relative content of the second species in the rock sample from the second information PT2). The method comprises determining a corrected amount (Cv) of compound generated by the reaction of the second species with the reactant at the first instant (T1), and calculating the relative content of the first species in the rock sample and the relative content of the second species in the rock sample based on the corrected amount (Cv).
US09234811B2

A magnetoelastic torque sensor (1) has an emission coil (7) for generating a magnetic field in an object (3), the torque of which is to be determined. The emission coil is axially oriented (A) and has an axial emission coil end surface (15) which can be guided towards the object (3). At least two reception coils (9, 33, 43) at a distance from the emission coil and having, respectively, a receiving coil end surface (17) which can be guided towards the object (3) to capture a response signal induced in the object (3) by the magnetic field of the emission coil (7, 31, 41). At least the receiver coil end surface (17) of one of the receiver coils protrudes beyond the emission coil end surface (15) to a selected distance from the object (3).
US09234808B2

A monitoring device is for the inner pressure distribution of building material in a building structure. The device may include planar sensing capacitors to be buried in contact with the building material, with each sensing capacitor including a pair of plates and a dielectric material layer therebetween adapted to undergo elastic deformation under pressure without deforming plastically. The device may also include a protection box to be buried in the building material, a dielectric material enclosed in the protection box, and connection terminals protruding from the protection box. Pairs of metal vias are buried in the dielectric material enclosed within the protection box, with each pair connecting the plates of a respective planar sensing capacitor to respective connection terminals.
US09234801B2

A method is provided for forming multiple-LED (light-emitting-diode) light emitters from a plurality of LEDs, wherein the number of LEDs in each emitter is an integer M. The method includes providing a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs characterized by a first parameter and a second parameter, which are related to color coordinates CIEx and CIEy in a chromaticity diagram. The method also includes determining first and second parameter X0 and Y0 for a target color. The method further includes, for all possible combinations of M LEDs out of the plurality of LEDs, determining a first group parameter and a second group parameter based on the first and second parameters for all of the M LEDs, and selecting a group of M LEDs whose first group parameter and second group parameter are closest to X0 and Y0 as a candidate for forming a light emitter of M LEDs.
US09234792B2

A fiber laser system with a fiber laser device including a fiber laser; a laser output end part; and a delivery fiber. The delivery fiber is constituted by a double cladding fiber. An SFBG is provided on the output end side of the delivery fiber, which reflects part of laser light propagating in the core of the delivery fiber to thereby couple the part of the laser light with a backward-propagating cladding mode propagating in a first cladding in a backward direction. A backward-propagating cladding mode detecting section is provided on the input end side of the delivery fiber, which detects the intensity of backward-propagating light in a cladding mode, which light is the part of the laser light coupled by the SFBG with the backward-propagating cladding mode.
US09234781B2

An automatic filling up spuit (100) screwed to an entrance (1a) of a cosmetics container (1) for suctioning and discharging liquid stored in the cosmetics container (1) includes: a spuit pipe (10); a cylinder member (20); a piston member (30); a cylindrical push button (50); and a top/bottom-opened cylindrical enclosure (60). The automatic filling up spuit has an advantage of convenient use in that it is capable of automatically filling up liquid contents in a cosmetics container by a certain amount precisely at all times through joining with the cosmetics container without requiring a separate filling up operation.
US09234774B2

A lighting structure for a meter device is provided to include a dial, a rotating shaft having a light transmitting property, which is provided in a back surface side of the dial and rotates by receiving a turning force from a motor, a light transmitting pointer which is provided integrally with a light transmitting pointer shaft having a hole formed in a base end part into which an end part of the rotating shaft is inserted and fixed and rotates along a surface of the dial, and a light source which outputs the illuminating lights incident on a base end part of the rotating shaft. The pointer shaft includes a first laterally light-dispersing unit formed with a recessed part recessed toward the light source in an end part over the hole for dispersing a part of the illuminating lights incident on the pointer shaft toward the dial.
US09234773B2

A method for self-compensating a method includes the steps of rotating the patterned element relative to the read heads, the rotation about the axis to a plurality of first angles covering a range of at least 360 degrees; obtaining, at each of the plurality of first angles, first angular readings for the m measure read heads and for the reference read head; calculating a first array for each of the m measure read heads, each first array including, for each of the plurality of first angles, a difference in the first angular readings of the measure read head and the first angular reading of the reference read head; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one first spectral component based at least in part on the first array; calculating, for each of the m measure read heads, at least one second spectral component, the second spectral component based, at least in part, on the at least one first spectral component and on estimates of the second angles of the m measure read heads; and recording, for each of the m measure read heads, the at least one second spectral component.
US09234766B2

A computer program product including computer readable program code embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer readable program code for obtaining a fuel tank size, amount of fuel in the tank, and a fuel efficiency for an automobile; accepting user entry of a destination for traveling in the automobile; and automatically identifying a current location and determining a route to the destination. Additional computer readable program code acquires, for each of a plurality of refueling stations along the route, a location and a current fuel price being offered at the refueling station. Computer readable program code also provides output recommending one or more refueling stations at which to stop and a quantity of fuel to purchase at each of the one or more refueling stations in order to reach the destination without running out of fuel and minimizing the price of fuel purchased.
US09234756B2

An optical tracking device includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source emits light at a lighting frequency. The image sensor outputs an operating image when the light source is being turned on and outputs a background image when the light source is being turned off. The processing unit is configured to obtain background information from the background image, calculate a differential image of the operating image and the background image, obtain object information from the differential image and compare the background information and the object information thereby removing background noise.
US09234751B2

A bubble type level for determining the orientation of a structure, such as an elongate pipe, that includes several differently oriented bubble vials that are secured within the level body in a manner such that if the bubble vials become broken or otherwise damaged, they can be easily replaced and the level need not be discarded. The bubble type level of the invention also includes a body portion having top and bottom rails that are chamfered in a manner to automatically align the level with the longitudinal axis of the pipe when the level is connected to the side of the pipe. The level further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnets that are connected to the bottom rail of the level and can be used to releasably interconnect the level with a length of ferrous pipe.
US09234748B2

An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of an threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
US09234741B2

Method and system of interferometrically measuring, in reflection, a non-spherical surface with two diffracted beams (of different diffraction orders) formed by a diffractive element positioned transversely to the axis of a common-path interferometer. The first diffracted beam substantially maintains the wavefront of a beam incident onto the diffractive element, while the second diffracted beam has a wavefront profile corresponding to the profile of the measured surface. The first diffracted beam may be reflected by the surface in a cat's eye configuration, while the second diffracted beam is reflected by the surface in a confocal configuration. The surface being measured can be modified to substantially balance radiant powers of the first and second diffracted beams upon reflection off the surface.
US09234729B2

An improved injection dart is disclosed. A flow restrictor positioned at a forward end of a dart body is provided. The flow restrictor has a generally cylindrical restrictor body portion and a radially outward extending flange portion at a forward end thereof. The flange is securely held in position. The restrictor body also having a recess in a rearward end. The flange portion holds said restrictor in a position where an inner bore of a cannula is precisely aligned with the restrictor bore. The restrictor acts to diminish a variable flow rate so that all flow rates above a maximum flow rate are restricted to be less than the maximum flow rate. The flange also keeps a forward end of the flow channel bore open but allows for radially inward deformation of the restrictor at a rear end of said flow channel bore.
US09234728B2

A modular reconnaissance capsule or reconnaissance pod is provided that is suitable for deployment by means of an artillery launching platform, such as a conventional 40 mm grenade launcher or 155 mm cannon wherein a parachute is deployed at a pre-calculated observation altitude, the parachute being designed to yield a sufficiently slow rate of descent to permit live video capture and transmission of images as forward observation information. Alternatively, pods according to the invention may also be air dropped from an aircraft, either piloted or pilotless, thus allowing the aircraft to operate at a safe distance and yet provide close reconnaissance even under a cloud cover. Accurate information about targeting dynamics is made available to the user through commercially available products. The invention complements other reconnaissance methods and provides easy-to-use real-time visual information for a desired area of interest.
US09234721B2

An ergonomic grip for a revolver can be better suited to people's hands by extending the forward edge of the finger interface forward to near the lower portion of the trigger guard. The palm interface and the finger interface can intersect or nearly intersect at the bottom of the grip. The grip has a substantially cone shaped cross-section.
US09234718B2

A projectile launcher having a pair of band securement elements each configured to secure the ends of a band and a pair of members disposed a distance from the pair of securement elements and located to permit the band to wrap about each of the pair of members passing the medial portion of the band between the pair of members to stretch the band toward the drawn condition of the projectile launcher.
US09234717B2

A quick-detach barrel mounting system for removing and attaching a barrel to a receiver of a firearm. The quick-detach barrel mounting system can include a barrel nut having a body defining an axial bore. A proximal end of the barrel is received at least partially through the axial bore, and the barrel nut releasably engages a front end of the receiver. A hand guard can be mounted to the receiver and can define a cutout proximate the receiver. The hand guard at least partially encloses at least a portion of the barrel and the barrel nut, and the cutout is at least partially aligned with the barrel nut. At least a portion of the barrel nut is accessible via the cutout of the hand guard for at least partially disengaging and engaging the barrel nut with the receiver when the hand guard is mounted on the receiver.
US09234713B1

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for repeating and semi-automatic cone-breech firearm systems are provided. A semi-automatic cone-breech firearm system may, for example, comprise a tapered semi-automatic seven (7) or eight (8) lug bolt having a cartridge channel that facilitates engagement of an ammunition cartridge with a cartridge seat and/or a plunger-style ejector.
US09234711B2

A coil consists of several arc-shaped tubes whose first end is connected to tail end sequentially to form a continuous curve. The angle spanning between the first end and the tail end of the arc-shaped tube is greater than 180 degrees. The center lines of joints of two adjacent arc-shaped tubes have a common tangent point or the center lines of joints of two adjacent arc-shaped tubes are in tangent connection with a center line of a straight tube. The coil and the heat exchanger with the same have impact construction, small volume and high heat exchange efficiency.
US09234706B2

A plurality of heat transfer fins are arranged so as to surround straight pipe portions of heat transfer tubes connected through bends in a serpentine arrangement. Heat transfer surfaces for transferring heat between air of the heat transfer tubes and the heat transfer fins have holes each having a radius smaller than the critical radius of a nucleus that occurs upon phase change from water vapor to condensed water droplets such that the holes are filled with the air at all times. Water is allowed to move from the holes filled with the air having low surface energy to metal part having high surface energy, thus improving drainage.
US09234705B2

A scaleable indirect evaporative cooler system (10) fitted within a container incorporates a plurality of dry and wet passage heat exchangers (30) where the dry passages of the plurality of heat exchangers feed into a common space (32) from which conditioned air is delivered via a delivery fan (40) downstream of the dry passages of the heat exchangers. An exhaust fan 22 draws air from the common space (32) through the wet passages of the heat exchanger to a common exhaust space (34) before being exhausted to atmosphere via the exhaust fan (22).
US09234702B2

A prebake equipment for drying a substrate (105) and an air discharge method, the prebake equipment comprising: a bottom plate (105), a periphery frame (101) and an upper cover plate, the bottom plate (105) and the upper cover plate being spaced from each other, the periphery frame (101) being provided between the bottom plate (105) and the upper cover plate such that the bottom plate (105), the periphery frame (101) and the upper cover plate define a cavity, wherein discharge holes are provided at the periphery frame (101) and a filler (104) for filtering moisture and dust in the air stream is provided between the bottom plate (105) and the periphery frame (101).
US09234700B1

In this invention, air leakage controls, method of controlling air leakage, and system for controlling air leakage in an industrial tunnel oven for use in an industrial tunnel oven and process for heating products conveyed along the tunnel oven.
US09234681B2

The present invention discloses further improvement of the shape and disposition of the optical reflecting elements that make up the primary concentrating reflector and the secondary redirecting reflector disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/580,251 (Solar Energy Concentrator) filed by the same Inventor. In one aspect, it discloses a method for designing and building reflectors for a solar concentrator array comprising primary and secondary reflectors wherein the multiple components cooperate to continually concentrate the incoming solar radiation on a remote stationary absorber as the sun runs its course across the sky.
US09234672B2

An aircraft cabin pressure control system outflow thrust recovery valve includes a frame, a valve element, and actuation hardware. The frame, valve element, and at least a portion of the actuation hardware are made of composite material. The actuation hardware is disposed external to the frame.
US09234671B2

An air conditioning indoor unit includes a movable first air direction adjustment plate that changes an up and down direction of the outlet air, a second air direction adjustment plate disposed adjacent to the air outlet, and a control unit that controls postures of the first and second adjustment plates. The second adjustment plate has at least a front end portion housed in an indoor unit front portion outside a blowing path when housed. In a Coanda effect utilization mode the control unit controls the postures of the first and second adjustment plates such that the second adjustment plate is spaced apart from the indoor unit front portion and a height position of a rear end portion is lower than when operation is stopped, and the adjustment plates form a predetermined angle to change the outlet air to a Coanda air flow along an undersurface of the second adjustment plate.
US09234669B2

An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.
US09234662B2

A fuel-air premixer for use in a combustor of a gas turbine includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, a shroud, a central body and a cascade of vanes. The premixer mixes fuel and air in the annular mixing passage into a uniform mixture for injecting into a combustor reaction zone. The air from a compressor is injected into the mixer through an air inlet. The fuel is introduced into air stream via fuel injection holes that pass through the walls of the vanes which contain internal fuel flow passages. The flow field inside the premixer is broken up by the arrayed vanes into a series of small regions each containing a well designed small size mixing eddy which is steadily attached to the surface of the vanes.
US09234656B2

An electromagnetic wave transmitting device having a body and a heating assembly. The body can include a transmitting end and a receiving end. The heating assembly can be disposed on at least a portion of the transmitting end of the body. The heating assembly can include an electrically resistive element having an electrical connector. The heating assembly can also include a first electrically non-conductive film disposed over the electrically resistive element.
US09234651B2

A light fixture mounting post includes an upper threaded portion for attaching the post to a light shade and a lower portion for attaching light fixtures to the post. The upper threaded portion has left handed threads, and an O-ring and a shaped rubber washer residing between a post nut and the shade. A post flange limits the insertion depth of the upper threaded portion through the shade. The threaded segments include right handed pipe threads for tightly engaging the light fixtures. Embodiments include a continuous lower portion with straight or tapered threads and a segmented lower portion with reduced thickness spaces separating the taper or straight threaded segments allowing easy shortening of the lower portion.
US09234649B2

A luminaire is disclosed comprising one or more side members having one or more light modules associated therewith and defining a recess. The light module having one or more light sources, one or more light directing members, and a lens enclosing the light sources and directing members in the module. The light directing members redirecting light emitted from at least one of the one or more light sources to be perpendicular to the lens. One or more of the light directing members can be a reflector or an optic lens. The light modules can be configured to cast different light distributions to combine to form the desired light distribution. The light modules can be designed or exchanged to create any desired light distribution from the same side members. The light module can comprise a tray such that the lens is sealed to the tray keeping moisture from entering the module.
US09234647B2

A light engine that includes light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board, which in turn is attached to a heat sink. An optic assembly is positioned over the printed circuit board to direct the emitted light as desired. The light engine can be positioned. within the ceiling within the opening of a mounting frame. In some embodiments, the light engine is retained on the mounting frame such that it can be moved clear of the mounting frame opening.
US09234645B2

A lighting device includes a body, a light emitting module disposed on the body, an optical member disposed on the light emitting module and configured to be movable up and down, and a reflector disposed between the body and the optical member; a shape of the reflector being changed by moving the optical member, such that the light distribution angle and range of light reflected by the reflector and passing through the optical member are adjusted.
US09234643B2

An LED lighting lamp contains a cover, having a port for power leads, ports for cover fixing, an external collar, catches, feeding socket and feeders' connecting cube, fixed inside the cover to its bottom; a housing, having an external collar with rectangular recess, protrusions arranged on the vertical walls inside the housing, bars, catches, a seat in which the PIN ends are fastened to be connected with feeding socket, wherein the catches are connected with cover catches; an electronic board of the feeder, with ports for housing bars, electronic elements and electrical connectors placed on the upper surface as well as connector support placed on the lower surface; insulation molder, fastened in the housing collar's recess and having a central rectangular cavity with rectangular and round ports in its bottom; a radiator in the form of a rectangular molder, fastened in the cavity of insulation molder and having on its upper surface a central rectangular seat, inside which, at least two bars and one port are placed on its lower surface.
US09234637B2

A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, fixedly situated at a first position, to emit light at a wavelength, a first phosphor, fixedly situated at a second position, to radiate light with a first spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength, and a second phosphor, fixedly situated at a third position, to radiate light with a second spectral characteristic out of the light emitting apparatus in response to irradiation by the light at the wavelength. An optical coupling mechanism is included to optically couple the light emitting device to the first phosphor and to optically decouple the light emitting device from the second phosphor in a first operating mode, and optically couple the light emitting device to the second phosphor in a second operating mode.
US09234631B2

A method for drag reducing low molecular weight liquids is provided. More specifically, a method to separate drag reducers from low molecular weight liquids, such as hydrocarbons and anhydrous ammonia, is provided.
US09234625B2

Gas containment vessels are provided that are comprised of an inner corrosion resistant shell made of lower strength steel alloy or aluminum alloy or thermoplastic polymer, and an outer concentric shell constructed of high strength, albeit lower corrosion resistant, metal or fiber-reinforced composite. The fiber can comprise filaments derived from basaltic rocks, the filaments having been immersed in a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer matrix, and comingled with carbon, glass or aramid fibers such that there is load sharing between the basaltic fibers and carbon, glass or aramid fibers.
US09234604B2

A heat exchanger may include a heat radiating portion provided with first, second, and third connecting lines formed in a predetermined sequence by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first, second, and third operating fluids respectively into the first, second, and third connecting lines, the first, second, and third operating fluids exchanging heat with each other while passing through the first, second, and third connecting lines and the first, second, and not being mixed with each other while being circulated, and a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one operating fluid of the first, second, and third operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid, and mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion.
US09234603B1

A low cost air damper that provides a good seal with low torque requirements. Blade seals of square cross sectional configuration are provided on each damper blade so that the blade seals engage adjacent blades before the blades are fully closed. L-shaped side seals and multiple discs that receive the ends of the blades serve collectively to seal between sides of the damper frame and the blades when the blades are closed even when the blades are not cut precisely. One edge of the L-shaped side seals engages and seals against the discs and the other edge of the side seals laps over and seals against a flat side of the blades and against the square blade seals. A low friction coating is applied to the side seals to further reduce friction.
US09234601B1

Described herein is a pressure relief valve that vents contents from a rail tank car or similar container at two preset pressures. The lower preset pressure is attained whenever specific valve attachment devices melt well below the spontaneous combustion temperature of the contents of a rail tank car or similar container. When these attachment devices melt, formerly attached corresponding constant force spring assemblies disconnect from a spring plate. Without these operative attached spring assemblies there is less force to oppose the pressure from the contents of rail tank car or similar container. With less opposing force, the contents of the rail tank car or similar container escape from under a dislodged sealing disk before the rail tank car or similar container (i) over pressurizes and causes the tank shell to fail or (ii) the contents self-combust, and both of which events cause an explosion.
US09234596B2

A valve with a valve housing for controlling the liquid flow in a plant for central heating is provided. The valve includes an insert part with valve parts for controlling a liquid flow through the valve: a first part and a second part being mutually rotatable. The first and the second parts are provided with complementary through-flow openings that combine to define a common opening area and are configured such that, upon mutual rotation of those valve parts, a larger or a smaller total opening area is provided. The valve includes a closure part which is disposed such that, upon axial displacement, the closure part is capable of completely or partially closing off the total opening area through the through-flow openings.
US09234591B2

Sealing assemblies to provide sealing between a shaft and a housing comprising a sealing component comprising a body section as well as an outer flange and an inner flange both extending from said body section; a supporting component receiving said sealing component and comprising a relatively thick inner arm projecting into said sealing component and providing a supporting area spanning an inner portion of said body section and a portion of said inner flange; an anti-extrusion component engaged with said relatively thick inner arm; the minimum clearance between said anti-extrusion component and said shaft being less than the minimum clearance between said relatively thick inner arm and said shaft; said inner flange comprising a sealing area; wherein said sealing assembly is to be received in a cavity in said housing or on said shaft.
US09234590B2

A shaft seal includes a lip at the low pressure end with a tapered cylindrical body extending from the lip. The tapered cylindrical body has a first diameter where the tapered cylindrical body meets the lip and a second diameter at a distal end that is exposed to a high pressure fluid. An aperture is formed through the lip and through the tapered cylindrical body following an axis of the tapered cylindrical body. The aperture has a first end at the lip and a distal second end. At the first end, the aperture has a first inner diameter that is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the shaft at the distal end, the aperture tapers to a second inner diameter which is approximately the diameter of the shaft. An o-ring, is positioned around the tapered cylindrical body applying pressure on the tapered cylindrical body against the shaft.
US09234589B2

An extreme temperature gasket material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 850° F. is provided. The extreme temperature gasket generally includes an inorganic filler, an inorganic fiber, and an organic binder. In some embodiments, the inorganic filler is from 75 to 90 wt % of the gasket material and can include submicron-sized talc particles. The inorganic fiber can be from 5 to 20 wt % of the gasket material and can include silicic acid fiber. The binder can be a latex emulsion and can be present in the gasket material in the range of from 1 to 5 wt % of the gasket material. The gasket material also can include additives, such as flocculant and defoamer. In some embodiments, the amount of organic material present in the gasket material is limited to less than 5 wt % of the gasket material.
US09234588B2

A flexible stuffing box packing assembly has fifth rings which are placed within a stuffing box. The pressures are transferred along the sequence of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rings. The gaps between the first and second rings and between the fourth and fifth rings provide a space for expansion of the rings. The V shape recesses in various rings provide margins for the materials of the rings to expansion. Therefore, the structure provides that all rings can expand effectively without destroying the seal structure and the stresses from various rings will disperse effectively so that lifetime of the rings are prolong.
US09234587B2

A multi-capacity hydraulic cylinder includes a hollow cylinder closed by a cylinder head, an annular piston moveable within the hollow cylinder to divide the interior of hollow cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber, a hollow piston rod coupled to the piston and aligned with an opening in the piston, and a secondary rod moveable within the hollow piston rod to define a third chamber in the hollow piston rod, where the third chamber has a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of the first chamber.
US09234582B2

In one aspect, the disclosure herein provides an apparatus that in one configuration includes a first hydraulic power unit for supplying a first fluid under pressure to a first chamber for controlling motion of a first movable member and a second hydraulic power unit for supplying a second fluid under pressure to a second chamber for controlling motion of a second movable member, an input device configured to provide an input signal for controlling the motions of the first and second movable members and a processor configured to: receive the input signal from the input device; and independently set, in response to the input signal from the input device, a first electrical actuator to control an amount and flow rate of the first fluid to the first hydraulic power unit and a second electrical actuator to control an amount and flow rate of the second fluid to the second hydraulic power unit for controlling the motion of the first and second movable members.
US09234575B2

A shift device is provided with a shift lever, a parking switch, and a neutral switch. A transmission is switched to a range, in which the transmission of driving force to driving wheels of a vehicle is started, by the shift lever being operated in two or more directions from a home position and arriving at a specific position. The transmission is switched to a range, in which the transmission of driving force to the driving wheels of the vehicle is interrupted, by the parking switch and the neutral switch being operated in one direction.
US09234574B2

A device for selection and engagement of the gears of a gearbox for motor vehicles has a control shaft mounted rotatable and axially movable with respect to the casing. Mounted on the shaft is a hub having an engagement finger for controlling gear engagement devices, which is configured to oscillate in the space between two fingers of a selection mask, which is mounted on the shaft axially movable therewith and is guided with respect to the casing so as not to follow rotation of the shaft and the hub when a gear is engaged. During displacement of the engagement finger towards an extreme position preliminary to the engagement of the reverse gear, the selection mask is forced to move temporarily into a rotated position, wherein it actuates one or more of the selector devices of the forward gears to enable silent engagement of the reverse gear.
US09234571B2

A selector device disposed between a transmission and a differential gear includes a first output shaft connected to the transmission, a second output shaft connected to the differential gear, a third output shaft relatively rotatably fitted on an outer periphery of the second output shaft, a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear connected to the third output shaft and a ring gear connected to the differential gear, a first meshing switching mechanism that is capable of switching between a state in which the first and third output shafts are joined and the second output shaft is detached and a state in which the first to third output shafts are joined, and a second meshing switching mechanism that is capable of joining a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism to a casing.
US09234562B2

A damper device is provided between an engine and a transmission and has a torque distribution mechanism that is provided with a first input element connected to the engine, a second input element connected to the engine via a first elastic member, a first output element connected to transmission, and a second output element connected to the transmission via a second elastic member. The damper device further has a first clutch that is provided between the first output element and the transmission and that is switched between an engaged state of connecting the first output element to the transmission and a released state of disconnecting the first output element from the transmission, and a second clutch that is provided between the second output element and the transmission and that is switched between an engaged state of connecting the second output element to the transmission and a released state of disconnecting the second output element from the transmission.
US09234560B2

A damping valve includes an annular valve seat, a valve body, an actuator for driving the valve body and a valve case including a valve hole into which the valve body is slidably inserted. The valve body includes a valve main body and a shaft for transmitting a thrust force of the actuator to the valve main body. The valve main body includes a flange partitioning the interior of the valve hole into a valve seat side chamber and an opposite valve seat side chamber, a shaft portion extending from the flange and a valve head to be seated on and lifted from the valve seat. The valve seat side chamber and the opposite valve seat side chamber communicate via a communication passage and the valve seat side chamber and the flow path communicate via a throttle passage.
US09234546B2

A large sealed self aligning roller bearing including a first race ring, a second race ring, rolling bodies arranged between the first race ring and the second race ring in one or more rows and a built-in sealing member. The sealing member includes an annular plate ring with a first periphery portion and a second periphery portion. The first ring includes a mounting groove for receiving the first periphery portion and the second race ring includes a sealing surface.
US09234545B2

A bearing rotatably supporting a shaft of a rotating body immersed in a molten-metal-plating bath, comprising at least two partially cylindrical ceramic bearing members each having a sliding surface coming into sliding contact with the shaft and end surfaces directly or indirectly connected to the sliding surface; and a holding member comprising a movement-restricting member arranged with a recess, in which at least two bearing members being circumferentially arranged with their one-side end surfaces opposing via a gap, the movement-restricting member abutting the other-side end surfaces of the bearing members for restricting the circumferential movement of the bearing members; at least one bearing member being circumferentially movable to or away from the other bearing member or members in at least two bearing members, such that the one-side end surfaces opposing via the gap come into contact or are separated from each other.
US09234544B2

A linear motion guide device includes a slider slidably attached onto a guide rail, an end cap having an inner side attached to the slider, the end cap includes an inlet for receiving a lubricating fluid, two chambers formed in two legs, a passage communicating with the chambers, a guiding pathway communicating with the inlet and the passage for separating the passage into two passageways which are communicating with the chambers of the end cap respectively, and a follower is slidably engaged in the guiding pathway and movable toward either the passageways of the end cap for partially blocking and for limiting the flowing of the lubricating fluid to the passageways of the end cap.
US09234543B2

Guide arrangement serving to guide a linear movement of a movable part (2) extending opposite a stationary part (1) along the movement axis and along a transverse direction oriented at a right angle to the movement axis, wherein the guide arrangement includes a support area belonging to the stationary part on which the movable part is slidingly supported and a roller guide arrangement (12) with a roller-guiding area belonging to the stationary part.
US09234540B2

A retainer for limited space attachment of a vehicle part with a class A surface to a vehicle. The retainer has an attachment base operable for being connected to a rib of the vehicle part. A securing portion including an aperture for receiving a fastener is provided in the retainer. The retainer includes at least one sidewall connected between the attachment base and the securing portion. The sidewall spaces the securing portion from the attachment base to allow for insertion of the fastener and provide predetermined torque tension characteristics.
US09234533B2

Provided is a method of and valve assembly for dumping excess fluid during retraction of a cylinder actuator. The method includes pumping fluid with a pump from a piston side of the cylinder to a rod side of the cylinder; opening a first check valve with relatively high pressure fluid from a downstream side of the pump to allow flow into the rod side of the cylinder; and opening an extend relief valve via a first spool with fluid from the downstream side of the pump to allow excess fluid at an upstream side of the pump to return to a reservoir at relatively low pressure.
US09234530B1

Towards recovering thermal energy, an accumulator buffers a working fluid over an energy recovery cycle that includes two processes: one in which working fluid is accumulated in the accumulator at increasing pressure and the other that draws working fluid from the accumulator at decreasing pressure. Heat storage fluid is displaced in a storage fluid conduit towards a heat storage region in response to increasing pressure in the accumulator and towards a reservoir region in response to decreasing pressure in the accumulator. One or more heat exchange conduits traverse the storage fluid conduit to come in thermal contact with the heat storage fluid where they transfer heat to the heat storage fluid during the first process of the energy recovery cycle and transfer heat from the heat storage fluid during the other process.
US09234523B2

A submersible pump includes an impeller (8) arranged in a pump housing (2). A seal (22) seals the impeller (8) with respect to a stationary part of the pump housing (2). The seal (22) includes a sealing ring (24) arranged on the impeller side. The sealing ring engages in a second sealing ring (26) arranged on the pump housing side. The sealing ring (26) on the pump housing side has at least one hole (28) for discharging solid particles from the impeller (8).
US09234517B2

A method of operating an oil well comprises applying through a variable frequency drive AC electrical energy from a power grid to an AC electric motor to operate a drive mechanism of an oil well pump. The motor speed is regulated in a manner to optimize oil production and maximize the operational life of the drive mechanism, decreasing motor speed by transferring the electrical energy to the power grid and increasing motor speed by transferring the electrical energy from the power grid to the motor. The drive mechanism has a predetermined stroke cycle and, over the course of each stroke cycle, the motor is operated at different regulated speeds initiated when the drive mechanism is at a predetermined position in each stroke cycle.
US09234516B2

A fluid ejection device includes a pulse generation unit that changes the volume of a fluid chamber using a volume changing section to eject pulsating flow; a fluid supply unit including a pump chamber and a pump chamber volume changing section that changes the volume of the pump chamber to supply the fluid to the pulse generation unit; a drive control unit that inputs a pulsating flow drive signal for driving the pump chamber volume changing section and inputs a fluid supply drive signal for driving the fluid supply unit; and an operation command input unit that inputs an operation command to the drive control unit, wherein the fluid supply drive signal and the pulsating flow drive signal are input in conjunction with the input of the operation command.
US09234515B2

A motor-pump unit, for providing pressure for a brake actuating device having a pneumatic brake booster including a pump and an electric motor driving the pump, the pump being a dual diaphragm pump having two opposed working diaphragms, each of which is clamped between a pump casing and a working chamber cover and delimits a working chamber, and moveable by a crank drive having connecting rods and bearings, the working diaphragm connected firmly to a tappet and, together with the connecting rod, in each case forming a diaphragm unit. In order to provide a low-noise motor-pump unit which is more cost-effective and requires reduced expenditure on assembly, the connecting rods are made of plastic, wherein in each case one tappet and one bearing are encapsulated with the material of the connecting rod. Alternatively, the connecting rods can be formed in one piece with the tappet and provided as sintered components.
US09234513B2

A snivel suction device includes a base plate, two pump cylinders, two pistons, two connection rods, a pedal and two casings. Each pump cylinder is provided with a manifold containing a suction check valve and a release check valve. Two suction pipes are connected between a suction tee and the suction check valves of the manifolds. Two release pipes are connected between a release tee and the release check valves of the manifolds. A relief valve is installed at one of the casings. The relief valve has a knob, an adjustment member, a bolt, a valve body, a spring, a plug and a sound member. By operating the two ends of the pedal alternately, the two pistons are operated to suck and release air. Particularly, the relief valve can be actuated when a higher vacuum pressure has occurred in the suction pipes so as to protect the user's nasal mucosa.
US09234511B2

A housing for use in high pressure fluid applications comprises a first drilling having a region of enlarged diameter bounded by an upper boundary in a first plane and a lower boundary in a second plane; and a second drilling intersecting with the first drilling via an intersection region. The intersection region includes a first substantially flat surface which defines a ceiling of the intersection region and which intersects the upper boundary of the region of enlarged diameter, and a second substantially flat surface which is opposed to the first substantially flat surface and which defines a floor of the intersection region and intersects the lower boundary of the region of enlarged diameter. As the flat surfaces are in alignment with a region of maximum hoop stress they do not act as a significant stress raiser at the intersection.
US09234509B2

A quick-return active material actuator adapted for more rapidly returning a load, so as to reduce the de-actuation time of a system, includes in a first aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to the load, an active material de-actuation element drivenly coupled to the load non-antagonistic to the actuation element, and a reconfigurable mechanism interconnecting the elements and load, wherein the de-actuation element and mechanism are cooperatively configured to return the load while the actuation element is still activated, and, in a second aspect a thermally activated active material actuation element drivenly coupled to a biased load and operable to autonomously release, so that the load is caused to be returned while the actuation element is still activated, and subsequently re-engage the load.
US09234506B2

Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.
US09234505B2

A liquid damper in a wind turbine is provided. A damper system of a direct driven wind turbine is disclosed, whereby the wind turbine comprises a nacelle, a rotor hub and an electric generator. The electric generator comprises a rotor and a non-rotating part. The rotor hub is connected to the rotor of the electric generator. The non-rotating part of the generator is connected to the nacelle. The wind turbine comprises a damper system to at least partially eliminate an unwanted movement of the wind turbine resulting from wind loads, whereby the damper system comprises a liquid damper. The damper system is arranged at a non-rotating part of the electric generator.
US09234493B2

A wave power generation system includes a power generation component and a hydraulic component. The hydraulic component includes a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder connects to the power generation component. The cylinder has an accommodation space and a vent located in the middle section of the accommodation space such that the vent runs outside from the accommodation space. The accommodation space is used for accommodating a fluid. The piston is disposed in the accommodation space and is used for being guided by the accommodation space and sliding relative to the cylinder. Thereby, this drives the power generation component to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, and to force the remaining air in the accommodation space and remaining air in the fluid to be discharged via the vent.
US09234484B2

An integrated snorkel intake inertial separator is provided to remove dust and dirt contaminants from the engine intake system prior to reaching the air cleaner. The snorkel initiates a cyclonic motion at the snorkel inlet that propagates downstream in a downpipe towards the air cleaner. The cyclonic motion is initiated by radial stators mounted in one embodiment in the snorkel inlet cap or, alternatively, further down the throat of the downpipe. The contaminants in the intake flow are transported radially outwards by the cyclonic motion and are then expelled via a series of extraction ducts formed in the snorkel downpipe. The extraction vents are perpendicular to the cyclonic flow allowing dirt, dust and water particles to be extracted by means of cyclonic motion and gravity. The exit slots are located in regions of low pressure generated by the external aerodynamic airflow around the snorkel.
US09234473B2

An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio detector, a fuel amount controller, an operational state parameter acquiring device, an extractor, a failure determination device, a variation state parameter calculator, and a determination stopping device. The operational state parameter acquiring device is configured to acquire at least one operational state parameter. The failure determination device is configured to execute failure determination of determining a failure in an air-fuel ratio control system of the internal combustion engine based on a specific frequency component extracted by the extractor. The variation state parameter calculator is configured to calculate a variation state parameter. The determination stopping device is configured to stop the failure determination if the variation state parameter calculated by the variation state parameter calculator is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value.
US09234470B2

An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping an engine of the vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimal operation voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage decrease information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimal operation voltage. A power control unit stops supply of power to some of electrical loads to which power is supplied from the battery when the engine is started, if the voltage decrease information is stored in the storage unit.
US09234468B2

A fuel system for a dual fuel power source includes a first fuel circuit fluidly connected to the power source, a second fuel circuit separate from the first fuel circuit and fluidly connected to the power source, and a pressure regulator fluidly connected to the first fuel circuit. The pressure regulator is configured to vent a first fuel from the first fuel circuit to an aftertreatment system fluidly connected to the power source in response to a pressure difference between the first and second fuel circuits being less than or equal to a pressure difference threshold.
US09234464B2

A fuel metering system for supplying fuel to load includes a variable displacement piston pump having an adjustable hanger that is movable to a plurality of positions. The variable displacement piston pump is configured to receive a drive torque and, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel to the plurality of loads at a flow rate dependent on the position of the adjustable hanger. A hanger actuator is coupled to receive hanger position commands and is operable, in response thereto, to move the adjustable hanger to the commanded position.
US09234461B2

An environmental defense shield includes symmetric airfoil-shaped vanes contributing to and positioned around a plenum space and positioned in front of a turbine engine. An annular band stiffener is set into the vanes, which projects forward in a diminishing size, the vanes merging together to create or attaching to a solid nose. The environmental defense shield serves to protect the engine from debris while also smoothing airflow into the engine.
US09234453B2

A cover for a charge air cooler of a turbocharged engine. The cover body defines a cooling water plenum, which has an opening at a first side of the cover for attachment over a water outlet of the charge air cooler. A plurality of valve housings are formed integrally with the body of the cover at a second side of the cover opposite the cooling water plenum opening. Each valve housing has a peripheral wall that extends from the cover to define an inner chamber, which opens into an inner fluid passage formed in the cover.
US09234451B2

A piston for a compression ignition internal combustion engine includes a piston body having a combustion face defining a combustion bowl, and the combustion face including a compound bowl surface and a compound rim surface. The combustion face is profiled to balance a combustion efficiency property of the piston with emissions properties of the piston. A ratio of a diameter of the combustion bowl to a diameter of the cylinder bowl bore is from 0.68 to 0.74. Other dimensional and proportional features of the piston support low smoke and NOx production during operation.
US09234442B2

Steam turbine system and control system therefor are provided. In one embodiment, a steam turbine system includes an auxiliary turbine in fluid communication with an IP turbine via an auxiliary turbine inlet conduit branch of an IP exhaust conduit. A heat exchanger system may remove heat from an IP exhaust steam, and may add the removed heat to water flowing through a boiler feed-water conduit to a boiler of the steam turbine system.
US09234440B2

A structure for a gas turbine casing, capable of preventing gas from leaking when the structure is subjected to pressure. A structure for a gas turbine casing, divided by a horizontal plane at flange sections into two halves comprising an upper-half casing (10) and a lower-half casing (11). The structure is provided with bolts (12) which are disposed in the inner surfaces of the upper-half casing (10) and the lower-half casing (11) so as to bridge therebetween, upper nuts (13) which are disposed in the inner surface of the upper-half casing (10) and attached to the bolts (12), and lower nuts (14) which are disposed in the inner surface of the lower-half casing (11) and attached to the bolts (12).
US09234437B1

A hydrodynamic energy generation system comprises a pump and three vertically aligned compartments and a fourth compartment proximate to the lower ends of the vertically aligned compartments. Each of the three vertically aligned compartments has an opening on an upper end and a lower end. The first compartment has a first turbine mechanically coupled to a first generator producing electrical power when the first turbine is moved by water that falls into the first compartment. The first compartment has a controlled water level under the first turbine. A second turbine proximate to the opening at the second compartment's lower end is mechanically coupled to a pump through gear box and/or second generator producing electrical or rotational power when the second turbine is moved by water flowing out of the second compartment's lower end opening. A pump for moving water from the first and second compartments through the fourth compartment and into the third compartment is at least partially powered by the second generator, mechanically by second turbine and by an external power source according to the following formula (pumping energy=1*disk ratio*flow+external energy), where 1 is the pressure change regardless of pumping height and disk ratio is the (gear box modified) ratio between the driving turbine disk under second compartment and the driving disk of the pump.
US09234436B2

A generator system uses compressed air as a power source and utilizes an electromagnetic auxiliary power unit. The generator system includes an engine (1), a multiple-column power distributor (2), a generator system (4), a controller system (6), an intake speed control valve (23), a high pressure gas tank (13), a constant pressure tank (16), an electronic control unit ECO (29), an electromagnetic auxiliary power unit (1000), a power distributor (1100) and an end gas recycle loop. The end gas recycle loop includes an air compressor (7), a condenser (11), an end gas recycle tank (9), an electro-drive turbine unidirectional suction pump (19) and an end gas muffler (22).
US09234434B2

An improved labyrinth seal is described with the seal including a group of several fins forming circumferential barriers against the flow of a working fluid between stationary and rotating parts in a turbine, wherein within the group the volume between the penultimate fin and the last fin is altered compared to the average volume between other adjacent fins of the group.
US09234431B2

A seal assembly (50, 60) for a gas turbine engine for controlling air flow between a diffuser (48) and rotor disks comprising first and second annular flange ends (52, 54) and an annular seal mid-section (56) between and operatively connected to the flange ends (52, 54). The first and second annular flange ends (52, 54) abut respective outer frame members (46) of the diffuser, whereby a fluid flow path is formed between the seal assembly (50, 60) and the rotor disks (42). The first and second end flanges (52, 54) are composed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as a coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the outer frame members (46). In addition, the material of the seal mid-section (56) has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different than that of the materials of the annular flange ends (52, 54) and outer frame members (46).
US09234424B1

A bit assembly includes a bit having a bit head and a bit shank, a mounting sleeve being held in the region of the bit shank, and a support element that comprises a guidance region being associated with the bit. To allow the bit to be easily deinstalled from the bit receptacle and allow it, if applicable, to be easily installed again, provision is made that the support element comprises, in the region of its underside facing away from the bit head, a deflection segment.
US09234423B2

A strike tip for a pick tool, comprising a strike structure joined to a substrate at an interface boundary, the strike structure comprising super-hard material and the substrate comprising carbide material. The strike structure has a strike end opposite the interface boundary, the strike end including a rounded apex having a radius of curvature in a longitudinal plane of at least 3.2 mm and at most 6 mm.
US09234421B2

A sample bottle assembly is installed in a bore drilled into a drill collar section, wherein the bore may be drilled into a side wall of a pocket in the drill collar. The sample bottle assembly may be passed through the pocket and inserted into the bore. Drill collar material between the bore and the outer surface of the drill collar retains the sample bottle assembly in a radially inward direction, and a retention member in the pocket may retain the sample bottle assembly in an axial direction.
US09234416B2

In-situ solution mining method of an ore bed, particularly containing trona, which comprises exposing to a solvent an ore region inside a borehole drilled in the ore, and dissolving a desired solute within the exposed region to provide a liquor and create a voided ‘undercut’, such undercutting making the ore susceptible to gravitational loading and crushing. Unexposed ore falls into the undercut by gravity without breaking the ore roof resulting in exposure of fresh ore to the solvent and in preventing solvent exposure to contaminating material near the roof. The desired solute is eventually dissolved away in the entire bed from its floor up to its roof. Solvent injection may be delivered through a conduit positioned inside the borehole, and may be moved by retracting or perforating the conduit. The method may employ an advancing undercut initiated up-dip and traveling down-dip, or a retreating undercut initiated down-dip and traveling up-dip.
US09234407B2

The present invention provides a process for simultaneously extracting and upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising: i) injecting supercritical or near-supercritical CO2 at a temperature of around the critical temperature and a pressure of from around the critical pressure into a heavy hydrocarbon deposit; and ii) removing a stream of CO2 from the deposit, which stream is charged with a hydrocarbon mixture having a lower average molecular weight than that of the heavy hydrocarbon deposit, wherein the removed CO2 is optionally recovered and either recycled for subsequent re-injection or injected for long-term sub-surface storage.
US09234400B2

A subsea pump system is adapted to close a hydraulic ram of a blowout preventer. The subsea pump system has at least a first pump and a second pump configured to pump drive fluid from a source to the hydraulic ram. The system has a controller configured to automatically select at least one of the first and second pumps for pumping the drive fluid wherein at least the first pump is selected at a lower fluid pressure range and at least the second pump is selected at a higher fluid pressure range. A method of operating a pump system and an intervention skid for a pump system are also described.
US09234395B2

A method and an apparatus to guide a tubular member are described herein. The apparatus includes a bore with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and configured to support a tubular member, the apparatus having a first opening formed at a first side thereof, a second opening formed at a second side thereof, and an inner wall extending from the first opening to the second opening. The apparatus further includes a first guiding member disposed adjacent to the first opening of the bowl and a second guiding member disposed adjacent to the second opening of the bowl.
US09234394B2

The low friction wireline standoff reduces or eliminates contact of the wireline cable with the borehole wall during the logging operation. The low friction wireline standoff comprises external wheels mounted on two finned half shells that clamp onto the wireline with precision cable inserts.
US09234393B2

An apparatus (10) for coupling a monobore riser or lubricator system (11) to a dual bore (12) subsea well, the apparatus has a rotatable bore selector (30) within a housing (20). The bore selector has at least one conduit (35) to provide through bore communication between the riser bore or lubricator (11) and selectively at least one or other of main (60) and annulus (70) bores in the dual bore (12) well. The bore selector in a first position connects the conduit between the riser or lubricator bore and the main bore, and in a second position connects the conduit between the riser or lubricator bore and the annulus bore. The rotatable selector can be offset or set at a tilt angle of up to ±5° with respect to the length of the apparatus.
US09234392B2

A drill bit is disclosed, comprising: a drill bit head having a cutting face with one or more fixed cutting elements; a flow passage extending through the drill bit head to the cutting face; a flow interrupter within the drill bit head and positioned to interrupt flow of fluid through the flow passage; and a power section connected to drive the flow interrupter and cause, in operation, variable flow of fluid through the flow passage. A method of drilling is also disclosed comprising: flowing fluid through a flow passage extending through a drill bit head to a cutting face of the drill bit head, the cutting face having one or more fixed cutting elements; and driving a flow interrupter within the drill bit head with a power section to interrupt the flow of fluid through the flow passage and cause variable flow of fluid through the flow passage.
US09234391B2

A cutting element having a substrate, an abrasive layer mounted to the substrate at an interface, and a longitudinal axis extending through the abrasive layer and the substrate is disclosed, wherein the substrate has a binder material, a plurality of metal carbide grains bonded together by an amount of the binder material, and at least one binder gradient, and wherein the amount of binder material decreases along at least one direction to form the at least one binder gradient.
US09234389B2

A ladder rest and restraining device is provided for the edge of a roof or other elevated structure which is regularly or periodically accessed by means of an extension ladder or other similar device. The device may be permanently or removably mounted on the edge of the roof or structure where the ladder is normally positioned, to limit movement of the ladder horizontally, sideways, as well as vertically downward. The device includes an elongated primary support, a pair of legs extending from spaced apart locations of the primary support, the legs terminating in mounting feet. A plurality of restraining members extend from additional spaced apart locations of the primary support. The mounting feet are adapted to engage any of horizontal, vertical or angled surfaces associated with the elevated structure, such that a first sub-plurality of the restraining members are adapted to abut an underside of a selected rung to prevent downward movement of the ladder. A further sub-plurality of the restraining members are outwardly spaced from the first sub-plurality and adapted to limiting lateral displacement of the stanchion members in each of opposite directions.
US09234386B2

A door assembly including two opposite members, at least one of which is a rotatable door, and a closing system which is provided for mounting to one of the opposite members, and where the closing system includes a holder profile, and at least one engaging member for engaging a complementary edge part on the opposite member to maintain the door in closed position. The engaging is at least partly elastically deformable to enable opening of the door in at least one direction. The closing system also includes a blocking member to prevent opening of the door in one direction or the other. The engaging and blocking members are formed by mutually exchangeable strips which are compressible and are releasably mountable to the holder profile of the closing system.
US09234384B2

A powered door for nuclear power plant consists of an embedded steel plate, a door frame welded on the embedded steel plate, a pair of hinge devices, a group of door panels, a group of opening and closing devices and a group of bolt devices; the door panels are fixedly arranged within the door frame through the hinge devices; the opening and closing devices are arranged at the upper ends of the door panels, and the bolt devices are arranged in the internal sides of the door panels. The powered door is fire-proof, explosion-proof and bulletproof, and is safe and long in service life, thus, the powered door can be used for nuclear power engineering which is constructed based on new standards.
US09234374B2

An integrated lock and latch device for use in sliding sash windows includes a lock assembly including a sweep cam that has a pinion portion adjacent and extending downwardly from it. The pinion portion presents gear teeth extending outwardly. A tilt latch assembly including a sliding bolt is biased toward an extended position where a terminal portion of the sliding bolt extends outwardly. The sliding bolt has at least one track portion. The sweep cam is rotatably shiftable between a locked position where the sweep cam is engaged to the keeper, an intermediate unlocked position where the sweep cam is disengaged from the keeper and a tilt position where the sweep cam is disengaged from the keeper and the first gear teeth are engaged to the second gear teeth and the sliding bolt is withdrawn inwardly from the extended position.
US09234365B2

A post sleeve provides a substantially permanent base for supporting a post for a fence or sign, and from which one post can be removed and replaced with another post. The sleeve includes a rigid, elongate body and a cavity extending within the body and configured to receive an end of a post of a selected size and shape. A unique identifier is provided that differentiates the post sleeve from other post sleeves. The unique identifier can be in the form of a string of characters or symbols affixed to the post sleeve, or can be in a machine readable format, such as a bar code or a radio frequency identification tag. The unique identifier can include elements denoting additional information, such as a manufacturer's serial number, a model number, a date of manufacture, a name of a manufacturer, or a place of manufacture.
US09234362B2

In a rostrum, comprising a rostrum support structure comprising a plurality of frame units; the frame units comprising at least a first frame unit, a second frame unit which is retractable in a retraction direction from an extended position into the first frame unit, and a third frame unit, which is retractable in the retraction direction from an extended position into the second frame unit, a latching mechanism is provided which is configured so that the third frame unit cannot be retracted from the extended position into the second frame unit until the second frame unit has been retracted from the extended position into the first frame unit. A respective deck is engaged with each respective frame unit.
US09234361B2

A riser assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first skin. A second skin is spaced from the first skin. A core is disposed between the first skin and the second skin. A framework is disposed between the first skin and the second skin. A portion of the framework is positioned laterally outside the core. A method of supporting an accessory relative to a riser assembly is also disclosed.
US09234350B1

A composite assembly includes a series of elongated layers joined lengthwise thereof. At least two of the elongated layers each have an upper elongated portion and a lower elongated portion secured together in an end-to-end relationship at a joint therebetween by a connector arrangement. The upper elongated portion is constructed of a wood material, and the lower elongated portion is constructed of a non-wood material.
US09234337B2

A foot-actuated drain stopper is provided that is interconnected to a strainer of a wastewater outlet of a bathtub. The foot-actuated drain stopper is interconnected to the strainer by way of an adapter that includes a hub that receives a carrier on which the foot-actuated stopper travels.
US09234333B2

An anti-freeze faucet includes a housing engaged into a receptacle, a check valve device engaged into the housing, a cap mounted on the housing and having an opening communicating with the check valve device, a casing attached to the cap and having a space communicating with the opening of the cap and having one or more outlet orifices, a non-circular follower is slidably engaged in a non-circular chamber of the casing for guiding the follower to move up and down along the casing, a plug is attached to the follower for blocking and opening the cap, and a shank is engaged in the casing and has a threaded segment engaged with the follower for moving the follower along the casing and for moving the plug to engage with the cap.
US09234325B1

Apparatus for positioning a hydroelectric turbine/generator in a dam having at least two spaced piers, the apparatus comprising (a) at least one first gate each spanning the space between a respective pair of neighboring piers and being movable to closed and open positions and positions therebetween to control flow and maintain head; and (b) at least one second gate, each second gate associated with a corresponding first gate upstream thereof and supporting at least one hydroelectric turbine/generator in a maintenance position and a plurality of operating positions such that in operating positions, water flows through each turbine/generator to produce electric power.
US09234311B2

The present invention provides a preparation method for a fluorine-free water repellent, comprising (A) a homogenization step in which the raw materials are mixed in single step to obtain a mixture; and (B) a polymerization step to react said mixture into said water repellent. The operation of the present method is simple, and the water repellent produced has the advantage of high stability and high washing durability.
US09234302B2

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hollow filament (F) based on one or several molten or dissolved hyperbranched polymers (P) and potentially one or several further polymers (FP), characterized in that the molten or dissolved hyperbranched polymer (P) or the mixture of the hyperbranched polymer (P) with the further polymer (FP) is passed through one or several spinnerets (S), wherein the ratio between the spinneret die-length (L) and the die-channel (Delta-D) is between 0.1 and 9.5. The process can be applied for the preparation of hyperbranched polyethersulfone (HPES) hollow filaments.
US09234297B2

Provided are a method for manufacturing a SiC single crystal having high crystal quality and, in particular, extremely low screw dislocation density and a SiC single crystal ingot obtained by the method. In particular, provided is a silicon carbide single crystal substrate that is a substrate cut from a bulk silicon carbide single crystal grown by the Physical Vapior Transport (PVT) method, in which the screw dislocation density is smaller in the peripheral region than in the center region, so that screw dislocations are partially reduced.The method is a method for manufacturing a SiC single crystal by the PVT method using a seed crystal and the ingot is a SiC single crystal ingot obtained by the method. Particularly, the silicon carbide single crystal substrate is a silicon carbide single crystal substrate in which when, by representing the diameter of the substrate as R, a center circle region having a diameter of 0.5×R centered around a center point O of the substrate and a doughnut-shaped peripheral region remaining by excluding the center circle region are defined, the average value of screw dislocation densities observed in the doughnut-shaped peripheral region is 80% or less of the average value of screw dislocation densities observed in the center circle region.
US09234290B2

The present invention relates to an electrolyte solution comprising at least one solvent as component A, at least one electrolyte as component B and from 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on the total electrolyte solution, of at least one heteroaromatic compound of the general formula (I) as component C, the use of such a compound in electrolyte solutions, the use of such an electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell or for metal plating, and also electrochemical cells comprising a corresponding electrolyte solution.
US09234276B2

Provided are methods and systems for providing silicon carbide class of films. The composition of the silicon carbide film can be controlled by the choice of the combination of precursors and the ratio of flow rates between the precursors. The silicon carbide films can be deposited on a substrate by flowing two different organo-silicon precursors to mix together in a reaction chamber. The organo-silicon precursors react with one or more radicals in a substantially low energy state to form the silicon carbide film. The one or more radicals can be formed in a remote plasma source.
US09234274B2

Methods for deposition of elemental metal films on surfaces using metal coordination complexes are provided. The metal complexes comprise thiophene, pyrrole or salen-based ligands. A substrate surface may be contacted with a vapor phase metal coordination complex such that a layer is formed on the surface comprising the metal coordination complex bound to the surface by the metal. The bound metal complex may then be contacted with a reducing gas such that an exchange reaction occurs between the bound metal coordination complex and the reducing gas, thereby dissociating the bound metal complex and producing a first layer of elemental metal on the surface of the substrate. The process can be repeated for additional layers.
US09234266B2

Aluminum alloys having an improved combination of properties are provided. In one aspect, a method for producing the alloy includes preparing an aluminum alloy for artificial aging and artificially aging the alloy. In one embodiment, the artificially aging step includes aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of at least about 250° F., and final aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of not greater than about 225° F. and for at least about 20 hours.
US09234263B2

A weldment includes metal materials that are welded to each other. At least one of the metal materials includes pure copper including an inevitable impurity, more than 2 mass ppm of oxygen, and an additive element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zr, Nb, Fe, Si, Al, Ca, V, Ni, Mn, Ti and Cr. A method of manufacturing a weldment includes melting a dilute copper alloy material by SCR continuous casting and rolling at a molten copper temperature of not less than 1100° C. and not more than 1320° C. to make a molten metal, forming a cast bar from the molten metal, forming a dilute copper alloy member by hot-rolling the cast bar, and welding the dilute copper alloy member to a metal material. The dilute copper alloy material includes the pure copper, more than 2 mass ppm of oxygen, and the additive element,?
US09234262B2

Ultra-low magnetic susceptibility, biocompatible palladium-tin, palladium-aluminum, and palladium-tantalum alloys include at least 75 at % palladium, between about 3 and 20 at % tin, aluminum, or tantalum, respectively, and one or more other additives chosen from niobium, tungsten, molybdenum, zirconium, titanium, tin for non-palladium-tin alloys, aluminum for non-palladium-aluminum alloys, or tantalum for non-palladium-tantalum alloys, up to about 22 at % total.
US09234257B2

A method for producing high-purity lanthanum having a purity of 4N or more excluding rare earth elements other than lanthanum and gas components, wherein lanthanum having a purity of 4N or more is produced by reducing, with distilled calcium, a lanthanum fluoride starting material that has a purity of 4N or more excluding rare earth elements other than lanthanum and gas components, and the obtained lanthanum is subjected to electron beam melting to remove volatile substances. The method for producing high-purity lanthanum, in which Al, Fe, and Cu are respectively contained in the amount of 10 wtppm or less. The method for producing high-purity lanthanum, in which total content of gas components is 1000 wtppm or less. The present invention aims to provide a technique capable of efficiently and stably providing high-purity lanthanum, a sputtering target composed of high-purity lanthanum, and a thin film for metal gate that contains high-purity lanthanum as a main component.
US09234247B2

Disclosed is a method for detecting mutation(s) in nucleotide sequence, which comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction by using an oligonucleotide or a salt thereof as a primer and a nucleic acid in a sample as a template and detecting a reaction product, wherein the oligonucleotide is so modified at the nucleotide at the second position from the 3′-terminus as to inhibit the nucleic acid synthesis. Also disclosed is a kit for the method. According to the present invention, since it is possible to completely eliminate any false positive result in the determination and correspond to various mutation patterns by a single run of PCR1 reaction, it becomes possible to design a drug-resistance determination system, which can detect possible plural genetic mutations by a single run of multiplex PCR.
US09234243B2

The present invention provides novel mutations identified in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that can be used for a more accurate diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) and CF related disorders. Methods for testing a sample obtained from a subject to determine the presence of one or more mutations in the CFTR gene are provided wherein the presence of one or more mutations indicates that the subject has CF or a CF related disorder, or is a carrier of a CFTR mutation.
US09234238B2

Compositions and methods are disclosed that exploit the unprecedented modification of double-stranded DNA virus DNA-packaging motor protein connector polypeptides to render them capable of stable incorporation into lipid membranes as a self-assembled homodocamer that forms an aperture through which conductance can occur when an electrical potential is applied across the membrane. The aperture permits use of the modified protein as a biosensor, for dsDNA sequencing, SNP detection and highly sensitive affinity capture and fingerprinting of analytes, and also finds use in electropotential-driven solute translocation, such as for liposomal loading to form therapeutic nanoparticles (e.g., gene delivery) and bioreactors, and for other uses. The aperture can further be used in optical detection of dsDNA or other acceptor labeled analytes in a fluorophore donor labeled single pore channel.
US09234230B2

The present invention embraces methods for identifying compounds that modulate the activity of telomerase. Compounds of the invention are identified by designing or screening for a compound which binds to at least one amino acid residue of the TRBD, “thumb,” “finger,” and/or “palm” domain; or FP-pocket, PT-pocket or Th-pocket of telomerase and testing the compound for its ability to modulate the activity of telomerase. Compounds selected for interacting with the T-pocket or Fingers-Palm pocket of telomerase are also provided.
US09234229B2

A method of high throughput growth and quantitative analysis of microorganisms is provided that includes providing a microtiter plate growth and gas delivery system having well plates disposed for growth of the microorganisms, and providing a spectroscopic screening system disposed to analyze lipid inclusions of the microorganisms.
US09234226B2

Provided herein is a method for homologous end cloning using a 5′-exonuclease. One aspect provides a method of generating a recombinant DNA molecule comprising 5′ exonuclease digestion of DNA molecules, exonuclease inactivation, annealing of 3′ overhangs to form a annealed complex. Also provided is a method a method of generating a recombinant DNA molecule comprising 5′ exonuclease digestion of DNA molecules, exonuclease inactivation, annealing of 3′ overhangs to form a annealed complex, and extension of 3′ ends to fill gaps corresponding to exonuclease removal to form a substantially non-gapped annealed complex. Also provided is a one reaction method in which no further additions need be made to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture is only manipulated thereafter as to incubation time and incubation temperature. Complexes formed according to methods described herein can be transformed into a host cell without further in vitro processing.
US09234221B2

Process for the production of lipids from biomass comprising polysaccharides. The biomass is subjected to acid hydrolysis to obtain a solid phase and an aqueous phase. The solid phase is subjected to acid or to enzymatic hydrolysis obtaining a further solid phase and a further aqueous phase. The aqueous phases obtained from both hydrolysis steps are subjected to fermentation with an oleaginous yeast. The obtained fermentation broth comprises oleaginous cellular biomass which is subjected to microfiltration for the isolation of lipids. Said lipids can be used in the production of biodiesel or green diesel.
US09234217B2

This invention is intended to produce isobutanol with excellent productivity via a fermentation process. A reaction in which NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase generates NADPH from NADP is used as a source of NADPH for the reaction of converting 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate in the isobutanol biosynthesis pathway.
US09234214B2

A fermentation process includes contacting a carbohydrate source with a microorganism in an aqueous fermentation broth to form a fermentation product which is a salt or a product with a boiling point above the boiling point of water. The fermentation process is carried out at a pressure which is below atmospheric pressure and at least at the value where the reaction medium is at its boiling point at the fermentation temperature. Water is evaporated and removed from the reactor during the fermentation in an amount which is at least 20% of the volume of liquid present in the reactor at the start of the fermentation. A fermentation process at reduced pressure while removing a substantial amount of water removes a surplus of water in the system, ensures removal of reaction heat, and may lead to improved fermentation quality.
US09234210B2

The invention relates to newly identified selectable marker systems, cells for use in a selectable marker system, and methods for using the selectable marker systems.
US09234207B2

The invention relates to the field of Cucumis sativus, in particular to a new variety of Cucumis sativus designated NUN 5545 CUP plants, seeds and cucumber fruits thereof.
US09234202B2

Nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers are provided which are capable of neutralizing PDGFRβ and are therefore useful in the diagnosis and/or therapy of PDGFRβ-associated and hyperproliferative-associated diseases, such as cancer and primary tumor metastasis. RNA aptamers provided herein include a modified synthetic RNA sequence wherein at least one pyrimidine residue is modified to 2′-fluoropyrimidine. Pharmaceutical compositions and diagnostic kits comprising RNA aptamers are also provided.
US09234200B2

An oligonucleotide that inhibits the binding of a serine/arginine-rich protein 30c (SRp30c) to a pre-mRNA of a glucocorticoid receptor gene in vivo.
US09234198B1

Provided are antisense molecules capable of binding to a selected target site in the human dystrophin gene to induce exon skipping, and methods of use thereof to treat muscular dystrophy.
US09234197B2

The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides that can serve as translation enhancing elements and their use in protein expression reagents and methods.
US09234196B2

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a transthyretin (TTR) gene, and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of TTR.
US09234194B2

Methods and compositions using populations of randomized modified FRT recombination sites to identify, isolate and/or characterize modified FRT recombination sites are provided. Kits comprising the library populations of FRT sites are also provided, as are methods to make a library of modified FRT recombination sites. The recombinogenic modified FRT recombination sites can be employed in a variety of methods for targeted recombination of polynucleotides of interest.
US09234189B2

The present invention provides a hybrid-type histidine kinase gene isolated from indica rice IR64, and being capable of osmosensing and inducible by multiple stresses, and hence, being capable of improving the multiple stress tolerance of the crop plants even in subsequent generations so as to make the plants capable of coping-up with the more than one environmental abiotic stress conditions, and therefore, increasing the economic value of the crop plants while maintaining the yield thereof. The present invention also provides a method of isolation of hybrid-type histidine kinase gene from indica rice IR64, and its functional characteristics and its sequence listing and cloning, at least, with yeast expression vector and the plant expression vector, and clones produced thereby, and method of improving multiple stress tolerance of crop plant and crop plants having improved multiple stress tolerance.
US09234188B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and method comprising non-canonical (e.g., non-C2H2) zinc finger proteins.
US09234181B2

Strategies for increasing the productivity of alphavirus packaging cell lines and of reducing the possibility that replication competent virus may be generated during large scale production of recombinant alphavirus particles.
US09234180B2

Methods of inducing pluripotency in human somatic cells and methods of maintaining pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are provided, as well as cells and uses of employing such cells. The methods comprise culturing cells in the presence of (i) OCT4 and SOX2; (ii) at least one of KLF4 and c-MYC; and at least one of PRDM14 and NFRKB.
US09234175B2

The invention provides compositions and methods of treating various conditions, including tumors, with compositions comprising dendritic cells expressing exogenous chemokines.
US09234165B2

A cleaning composition for sanitizing and/or disinfecting hard surfaces, comprising: a cationic biocide, surfactant and low levels of VOC solvents. The cleaning composition is adapted to clean a variety of hard surfaces without leaving behind a visible residue and creates low levels of streaking and filming on the treated surface. The cleaning composition contains less than 5% by weight of VOCs. The cleaning composition may be used alone as a liquid or spray formulation or in combination with a substrate, for example, a pre-loaded cleaning wipe.
US09234156B2

Low-color ester compositions and methods of making low-color ester compositions are generally disclosed. In certain embodiments, methods of making low-color ester compositions from a biorefinery bottoms stream are disclosed. In some other embodiments, methods for recovering esters of 1,18-octadecanedioic acid are disclosed.
US09234148B2

A process for the generation of a syngas in an entrained-flow gasification process includes a solid, carbon-containing fuel which is introduced via burners into a reactor which also supplies the oxygen for gasification. The fuel is introduced on a burner level where the burners are arranged concentrically around the reaction chamber or in the head area. The syngas obtained is discharged from the reaction chamber via a discharge nozzle, so that the syngas is passed into a collecting chamber for cooling by addition of low-temperature gaseous, vaporous or liquid cooling agents. A quench chamber is provided between the reactor and the collecting chamber. Additional burner levels are in the quench chamber via which a fuel material of renewable fuels or biofuels is introduced into the syngas, so that the heat enthalpy of the syngas can be utilized for the endothermic gasification reaction of the biological raw material. An apparatus for this generation of synthesis gas includes several burner levels, the renewable fuel being supplied to the gasification chamber with or without water vapor or oxygen and the enthalpy of the hot syngas being utilized for the gasification of the renewable fuel.
US09234146B2

A process for the production of a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide utilizes ground coke having a predetermined ash content in combination with a refinery residual hydrocarbon oil feedstream for gasification in the combustion chamber of a tubular wall membrane partial oxidation gasification reactor in the presence of a predetermined amount of oxygen; the coke and residual oil can be mixed to form a single feedstream or introduced into the reactor as separate feeds. Optionally, the product synthesis gas is introduced as the feedstream to a water-gas shift reactor to enhance the hydrogen content of the final product stream.
US09234144B2

A process and apparatus is disclosed for pretreating a hydrocarbon stream in a hydrotreating reactor and separating the diesel materials from the pretreated effluent before the heavier liquid materials are fed to a hydrocracking unit. Thus diesel materials are preserved but recovered along with the hydrocracked effluent. A recovered diesel stream can be sent to a hydrotreating unit to improve its cetane rating.
US09234129B2

A surface-modified quantum dot luminophore includes a quantum dot luminophore and a coating includes a fluorinated coating including a fluorinated inorganic agent, a fluorinated organic agent, or a combination of fluorinated inorganic and organic agents, the fluorinated coating generating hydrophobic surface sites and the coating is disposed on the surface of the silicate luminophore.
US09234117B2

An organic-inorganic complex having high surface hardness and anti-Newton ring properties, having a low haze factor, being capable of preventing glare, and being further capable of also having anti-glare properties. The organic-inorganic complex of the present invention is made using an organic-inorganic complex-forming composition containing the following components a) to d): a) an organic silicon compound represented by formula (I): RnSiX4-n, and/or a condensate thereof; b) a silanol condensation catalyst; c) an electromagnetic ray-curable compound; and d) metal compound particles that are a mixture of metal compound particles having an isoelectric point of less than 5 as a metal oxide and metal compound particles having an isoelectric point of 5 or more as a metal oxide.
US09234116B2

Compositions and methods for forming surfactants, aqueous dispersions, and curing agents are provided. In one aspect, the invention relates to improved epoxy functional surfactants prepared by reaction of an epoxy composition and an amidoamine composition formed from a blend of acid-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyols. The improved epoxy functional surfactants may be reacted with an excess of epoxy composition and water to result in an aqueous dispersion. The amidoamine composition may be a reaction mixture of a diamine compound and an acid terminated polyoxyalkylene composition formed from two or more polyoxyalkylene polyol compounds. The epoxy functional surfactant may be reacted with amine compounds to form a compound suitable as a curing agent.
US09234108B1

A graphics display system is provided in which a graphics layer is printed upon a transparent substrate. An adhesive is generally applied over the graphics layer so that the graphics display system may be permanently affixed to a support. The graphics layer may be digitally printed upon the substrate using one or more UV-curable inks formulated to provide excellent adhesion to the substrate and resistance to degradation by the adhesive. The inks are capable of curing by UV radiation emitted from an LED array as opposed to conventional mercury vapor lamps.
US09234106B2

Core-shell type composite oxide fine particles are described in which the core particles are oxide fine particles or composite oxide fine particles that do not contain silicon and/or aluminum as main components, and the surface of the core particles is covered with a shell including a composite oxide that contains silicon and aluminum as main components, the shell containing silicon and aluminum in a weight ratio in terms of oxides, SiO2/Al2O3, in the range of 2.0 to 30.0. A dispersion liquid of the core-shell type composite oxide fine particles exhibits very high stability.
US09234097B2

An aqueous dispersion of polyamide rubber elastic body, which contains an aqueous medium and a polyamide rubber elastic body emulsified and dispersed in the aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant. The surfactant is used in an amount of 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyamide rubber elastic body, and is for example at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfate, a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a fatty acid salt and an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer. This aqueous dispersion can produce a molded article having the characteristics of the polyamide rubber elastic body, particularly a molded article which hardly suffers from bleeding of the surfactant and is excellent in transparency.
US09234089B1

The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a vulcanizable rubber composition, the vulcanizable rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; precipitated silica; and a compound of formula I where R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected alkyl or alkoxy groups containing from 1 through 8 carbon atoms provided that at least one of said groups is an ethoxy group, and alternatively provided that all three of said groups are ethoxy groups, R4 is an alkanediyl group containing from 0 through 8 carbon atoms, Si is silicon, N is nitrogen and O is oxygen.
US09234074B2

There is provided flakes of an ester mixture comprising bis-(hydroxyethyl)-terephthalate, dimers, tamers, tetramers, pentamers and higher oligomers of ethane-1,2-diol and terephthalate acid.
US09234072B2

An amorphous polyester resin of the invention is obtained by reaction between a polyester resin (A), obtained by reaction between a polyhydric alcohol component and a first poly-carboxylic acid component, either or both including a 3 or higher valent component, and having a weight-average molecular weight of 6,000 to 40,000 and a hydroxyl value of 15 to 70 mgKOH/g, and a second poly-carboxylic acid component (a), under conditions satisfying the following equations (1), (2) and (3), and the amorphous polyester resin satisfying the following equation (4). (AVB−AVA)/AVa=0.5-0.7  (1) MwB/MwA=1.1-2.0  (2) OHVB/AVB=1.0-6.0  (3) MwB/MnB=3.0-15.0  (4)
US09234070B2

A blowing agent for thermosetting foams is disclosed. The blowing agent is predominately the trans isomer of the hydrochlorofluoroolefin (HCFO) HFCO-1233zd alone or in combination with a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), hydrochlorofluoroolefin (HCFO), a hydrocarbon. The blowing agent is effective as a blowing agent in the manufacture of thermosetting foams.
US09234069B2

A Pentamethylene diisocyanate is obtained by phosgenating pentamethylenediamine or its salt obtained by a biochemical method, and contains 5 to 400 ppm of a compound represented by the general formula (1) below and a compound represented by the general formula (2) below in total:
US09234066B2

The present invention relates to a dispersion comprising (i) at least one liquid polymer and (ii) at least one polymer particle mixture comprising at least one meltable solid and at least one copolymer (C), wherein said at least one copolymer (C) is a random copolymer synthesized from at least one α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one polymerizable polymer of the class of liquid polymers according to (i), to processes for preparing this dispersion, to the use of this dispersion to prepare polyurethanes, and to a process for preparing polyurethanes, in which at least one such dispersion is reacted with at least one polyisocyanate.
US09234058B2

Described herein is a composition comprising a fluorinated polysulfinic acid or a salt thereof having the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, and X3 are independently selected from H, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, and CH3 and wherein at least one of X1, X2, or X3 is H; R1 is a linking group; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from Br, Cl, I, F, CF3, and a perfluorinated alkyl group; M is a cation; p is 0 or 1; and n is at least 2. Also described is a method of making the partially fluorinated polysulfinic acid or salt thereof.
US09234057B2

The present invention relates to additive composition for control and inhibition of polymerization of monomers including styrene, wherein the composition consists of: (a) one or more of quinone methide derivatives; and CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the composition further comprises: (b) one or more of tertiary amines, wherein said tertiary amine is selected from a group consisting of: (i) tri isopropanol amine (TIPA), (ii) N,N,N′,N′-Tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylene-diamine) (THEED), and (iii) mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to method of preparation thereof and uses thereof, and a method for controlling and inhibiting polymerization of monomers including styrene.
US09234056B2

The invention provides a polymerizable compound represented by formula (I), a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that have a practical low melting point, can be produced at low cost, and can produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and an optically anisotropic article. In the formula: Y1-Y6 represent a single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or the like; G1 and G2 represent a bivalent aliphatic group, or the like, of C1-20; Z1 and Z2 represent a C2-10 alkenyl group or the like; Ax represents a C2-30 organic group, or the like, having at least one aromatic ring selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon ring and a hetero-aromatic ring; Ay represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, or a C2-30 organic group, or the like, having at least one aromatic ring selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon ring and a hetero-aromatic ring; A1 represents a trivalent aromatic group or the like; A2 and A3 represent a bivalent aromatic group or the like; Q1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, or the like. Ax and Ay may form a ring together
US09234055B2

A high pressure polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer comprises the steps of: A. Injecting a first feed comprising a chain transfer agent system (CTA system) and ethylene into a first autoclave reactor zone operating at polymerization conditions to produce a first zone reaction product, the CTA system of the first reactor zone having a transfer activity Z1; and B. (1) Transferring at least part of the first zone reaction product to a second reactor zone selected from a second autoclave reactor zone or a tubular reactor zone and operating at polymerization conditions, and, optionally, (2) freshly injecting, a second feed into the second reactor zone to produce a second zone reaction product, with the proviso that at least one of the first reactor zone product and the freshly injected feed comprises a CTA system with a transfer activity of Z2; and with the proviso that the ratio of Z1:Z2 is greater than 1.
US09234050B2

Described herein are methods of inhibiting the growth of or killing a bacterium in an animal subject, preventing or delaying onset of an infection with a bacterium in an animal subject, preventing or delaying onset of a pathogen mediated disease or disorder in an animal subject, or reducing bacterial load in an animal subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a derivatized chitosan to the animal. Also described herein are preparations comprising a chitosan derivative for administration to an animal.
US09234049B2

A powder of cold-soluble polysaccharide and polyol, which is highly viscous in water and suitable for direct compression, and a method for preparing the powder and uses thereof are described, the powder being notably intended for preparing solid forms with controlled release of an active principle.
US09234042B2

Methods are disclosed for generating antibodies and an expression vector used to express protein(s) which provoke the antibody response. The expression vector may be useful in generating an antibody directed to an antigen, comprising a gene in operable linkage with a promoter, which gene encodes upon expressing a fusion protein comprising (i) CD134L, a fragment or homologous protein thereof as N-terminal moiety of the fusion protein; and (ii) all or part of an antigenic protein as C-terminal moiety of the fusion protein. To generate the antibodies, the vector is injected into a subject animal, which produces a fusion protein, against which antibodies are generated.
US09234039B2

The present invention relates to a peptide or peptide complex binding to α2 integrin, to one or more nucleic acid(s) coding for the peptide or peptide complex, a recombinant cell producing the peptide or peptide complex, a method for producing the peptide or peptide complex, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide or peptide complex or the nucleic acid(s) for use as a medicament, a method for detecting α2 integrin and a screening method.
US09234035B2

The present disclosure provides antibodies that bind to human interleukin-6 (IL6). The antibodies can modulate IL6 signaling and thus used in treatment or prevention of IL6 associated diseases or disorders, particularly inflammatory disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), angiogenesis, and cancer.
US09234030B2

Antigen-specific immunoglobulin V-regions are identified from a library of nucleic acids amplified using polymerase chain reaction using leader sequence-specific forward primers. The use of leader sequence primers allows all V-region sequences to be amplified (including those with extensive 5′ end mutations) without loss of the original 5′ V gene segment sequence. A second V-region library is made using a larger than conventional set of 5′ V-region primers. The sequence errors introduced into the amplification products by this method are corrected using sequence information obtained in the products amplified by the V-region primers to screen the library created using the leader sequence primers. Amino acid sequence information from fragments of donor immunoglobulins can be used to assist in the identification of nucleic acids encoding the heavy and light chains of donor antibodies as well as to design primers to amplify such nucleic acids.
US09234028B2

The present invention relates to single domain proteins that bind to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The invention also relates to single domain proteins for use in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. The invention further relates to cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotide encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and to vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the innovative proteins.
US09234026B2

Disclosed herein are several apoplipoprotein E (ApoE) polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides, that can be used to treat or prevent a hepatitis infection in a subject, such as a hepatitis C virus infection. These ApoE polypeptides can inhibit the entry of hepatitis C virus into cells, and inhibit viral replication. Nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides are also disclosed, as well as methods for their preparation.
US09234020B2

The present invention relates to a compound which is a polysaccharide derivative of EPO, or of an EPO like protein, wherein the polysaccharide is anionic and comprises between 2 and 200 saccharide units. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds, and methods for making the novel compounds.
US09234010B2

The present invention relates to chromatography matrices including ligands based on one or more domains of immunoglobulin-binding proteins such as, Staphylococcus aureus Protein A (SpA), as well as methods of using the same.
US09234009B2

Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
US09234008B2

Described herein is the generation of optimized H3N2, H2N2 and B influenza HA polypeptides for eliciting a broadly reactive immune response to influenza virus isolates. The optimized HA polypeptides were developed through a series of HA protein alignments, and subsequent generation of consensus sequences, based on H3N2, H2N2 and B influenza isolates. Provided herein are optimized H3N2, H2N2 and B influenza HA polypeptides, and compositions, fusion proteins and VLPs comprising the HA polypeptides. Further provided are codon-optimized nucleic acid sequences encoding the HA polypeptides. Methods of eliciting an immune response against influenza virus in a subject are also provided by the present disclosure.
US09234007B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for RGD mimetic γ-AApeptide compounds, γ-AApeptide compounds capable of binding an RGD binding site on integrin αvβ3, linear γ-AApeptide compounds, cyclic γ-AApeptide compounds and multimeric RGD mimetic γ-AApeptide compounds, methods of making each, and methods of using each, and the like. In embodiments, the RGD mimetic γ-AApeptide compounds can be used in imaging, diagnostics, and treatment of angiogenesis related conditions.
US09234004B2

The present invention relates to antimicrobial peptides, to their use as antimicrobial agents and to their use in the treatment of (infectious) diseases, in particular infectious diseases caused by Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, yeast or fungi. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the antimicrobial peptides and to a method of lysing bacterial, yeast or fungal cells. The antimicrobial peptides consist of one of the following general formula: Wherein X is a hydrophobic amino acid, Y is a cationic amino acid, Z is an amino acid having a free thiol or thioether group, n is 2-4 and m is 0 or 1.
US09234002B2

A peptide including 8 animo acids having a sequence of cNGEGQQc, where c represents d-cysteine (Cys), N represents L-Asparagine (Asn), G represents L-Glycine (Gly), E represents L-Glutamic acid (Glu), and Q represents L-Glutamine (Gln).
US09233995B2

Quinazoline derivatives represented by general formula (1) and quinazoline complexes as protein kinase inhibitors, and their preparation methods are provided. Wherein, in general formula (1), at least one of R and R′ is a group containing an atom capable of coordinating with noble metals, m and n are either the same or different and are integers from 0 to 5. Said quinazoline complex as protein kinase inhibitor is formed by coordination compound containing noble metal and said quinazoline derivative ligand capable of coordinating with noble metal in the coordination compound. Used as tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors, Quinazoline derivatives and quinazoline complexes as protein kinase inhibitors provided by the present invention have exhibited good inhibitory effect on proliferation of various tumor cells including human breast cancer cells line (drug-resistant) MCF-7/A, human breast cancer cell line (sensitive) MCF-7/S, prostate cancer cell PC-3, keratinocytes Colo-16, human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549, etc.
US09233993B2

The present invention provides N-phosphonomethylglycine guanidine salts. The N-phosphonomethylglycine guanidine salts have improved herbicidal efficacy over glyphosate alone. The present invention also provides guanidine compounds and salts thereof.
US09233989B2

The invention discloses silaanalogs of oxazolidinone compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and to the synthesis of the oxazolidinone derivatives of formula I. The invention further relates to methods of treating a subject suffering with gram positive pathogens including those resistant to methicillin and vancomycin using the compound(s) or modulation of coagulation properties of blood-clotting cascade or compositions of the oxazolidinone derivatives of the invention.
US09233987B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing monosilane and tetraalkoxysilane comprising subjecting alkoxysilane represented by formula (1) HnSi(OR)4-n  (1) wherein R represents alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3, to disproportionation reaction in a gaseous phase in the presence of an inorganic phosphate or a catalyst having a specific chemical structure based on a heteropolyacid salt structure. In the production method of the present invention, separation from the solvent can be carried out easily, the reaction proceeds quickly and the conversion rate of the starting materials is high.
US09233984B2

The present invention provides a compound characterized by being represented by general formula (I): (wherein, A represents a halogen atom, alkyl group, haloalkyl group, alkoxy group, haloalkoxy group, alkylsulfonyl group, unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, cyano group or nitro group, n represents an integer of 0 to 5 (and A may be mutually the same or different when n is 2 or more), Y represents an alkyl group, M represents an alkaline metal or alkaline earth metal, and m represents an integer of 1 or 2).
US09233969B2

The present invention provides a novel therapeutic drug for cerebral infarction, which contains a piperazine compound as an active ingredient. The compound of the present invention can be provided as a novel therapeutic drug for cerebral infarction having an effect of suppressing brain injury volume or improving neurological deficit, since it suppresses production of plural inflammatory cytokines and chemokines present in the brain such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 and the like.
US09233955B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of azilsartan or its esters or salts thereof. Specifically, the invention provides a method for the preparation of highly pure methyl 1-[[2′-(4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-oxa-diazol-3-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-2-ethoxy-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylate an intermediate compound of formula (4) for azilsartan medoxomil with reduced content of desethyl impurity. The invention also involves the use of highly pure methyl 1-[[2′-(4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-2-ethoxy-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylate in the preparation of azilsartan or its esters or salts thereof, preferably medoxomil with reduced content of desethyl impurity.
US09233953B2

The present inventions relate to substituted piperazine derivatives of general formula (I) and to the manufacture of said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound according to general formula (I), and the use of said compounds for the treatment of various medical conditions related to glycine transporter-1 (GlyT1).
US09233946B2

A compound of formula (I), wherein A is S, O or a double bond, and L is a substituted thiazolyl, phenyl or pyridyl. The compound is useful for the treatment of inflammation and cancer.
US09233935B2

The present invention provides a novel process for the preparation of rilpivirine. The present invention also provides a novel process for the preparation of rilpivirine hydrochloride. The present invention further provides a rilpivirine hydrochloride monohydrate, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising it.
US09233930B2

The present invention relates to novel compounds of the formula (I) wherein R1 and R1′ independently of each other are H or a substituent, halogen or SiR6R4R5; R2 and R2′ may be the same or different and are selected from C1-C25alkyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl, C2-C25alkenyl, C2-C25alkynyl, C4-C25aryl, C5-C25alkylaryl or C5-C25aralkyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted, and under conditions as defined in claim 1, R2 and/or R2′ may also be halogen or hydrogen; X is a divalent linking group selected from formula (Ia) and formula (Ib); Y and Y′ independently are selected from formula (Ic), formula (Id), formula (Ie), formula (If), formula (Ig); n and p independently range from 0 to 6; where further symbols are as defined in claim 1, and to corresponding oligomers and (co)polymers. The compounds according to the invention are useful as semiconductors and have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors, organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and photodiodes.
US09233925B2

The present invention provides novel processes for the preparation of N-substituted benzamides having the formula VIc: In some embodiments, the invention provides a process for preparation of roflumilast and other pharmaceutically active species. Novel compounds, including intermediates for the synthesis of roflumilast, are also provided.
US09233921B2

This invention provides compounds of formulas (I), (II), (III), and (IV) as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of inhibiting, treating, or abrogating a poxvirus infection in a subject using the compounds or compositions.
US09233915B2

There are provided various polyunsaturated fatty acid monoglycerides and derivatives thereof. These compounds can be useful as cancer chemopreventive agents, cancer treating agent, inhibiting tumor growth or cell proliferation, reducing tumor growth or as radioenhencers for radiotherapy of cancer.
US09233913B2

The invention relates to compounds, to compositions comprising the same and uses thereof for the prevention or treatment of pain, e.g neuropathic pain while having neutral or beneficial effect on metabolic parameters.
US09233911B2

Invention provides a cheaper and practical protocol for the construction of a wide variety of 1-Amino-2-naphthalene-carboxylic acid derivatives and their structural analogues that proceeds with high yields in a single step via intramolecular cascade cyano ene reaction.
US09233910B2

The invention relates to a process for purifying aniline produced by gas-phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, by fractional condensation of the crude reaction product obtained in gaseous form so that at least two liquid process products, a partial condensate (PK) and a total condensate (TK), are obtained.
US09233908B2

The instant invention provides cycloaliphatic diamines and a method of making the same. The cycloaliphatic diamines according to the instant invention comprise the reaction product of one or more cycloaliphatic cyanoaldehydes selected from the group consisting of 1,3-cyanocyclohexane carboxaldehyde, 1,4-cyanocyclohexane carboxaldehyde, mixtures thereof, and combinations thereof, hydrogen, and ammonia fed into a continuous reductive amination reactor system; wherein the one or more cycloaliphatic cyanoaldehydes, hydrogen, and ammonia are contacted with each other in the presence of one or more heterogeneous metal based catalyst systems at a temperature in the range of from 80° C. to about 160° C. and a pressure in the range of from 700 to 3500 psig; and wherein one or more cycloaliphatic diamines are formed; and wherein said one or more cycloaliphatic diamines are selected from the group consisting of 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, combinations thereof, and mixtures thereof.
US09233892B2

A method for producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons includes a step of introducing a feedstock oil into a cracking/reforming reactor, bringing the feedstock oil into contact with a catalyst, and causing the feedstock oil to react, a step of purifying and recovering the monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons separated from the product produced in the reaction step, a step of hydrogenating a heavy fraction separated from the product, and a recycling step of returning a hydrogenation reactant of the heavy fraction to the cracking/reforming reaction step. In the recycling step, the hydrogenation reactant is introduced at a location different from an introduction location of the feedstock oil into the reactor so that a time during which the hydrogenation reactant is in contact with the catalyst in the reactor becomes shorter than a time during which the feedstock oil is in contact with the catalyst in the reactor.
US09233891B2

A process to make isoprene may include providing a reaction zone containing an acidic aqueous solution. The process may include introducing, continuously or intermittently, in the reaction zone a mixture containing isobutanol and an aqueous solution of formaldehyde. The process may include operating the reaction zone at conditions effective to dehydrate isobutanol to iso-butene, and produce isoprene by reaction of formaldehyde and iso-butene, while distilling away a mixture containing produced isoprene and water.
US09233890B2

Provided is a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, in which a benzene feed stream is subjected to each of the following treatment steps: treating the feed stream with at least one adsorbent and fractionating the feed stream to remove components having a different boiling point than benzene. The treatment steps are carried out in any order and produce a treated benzene feed stream. The treated benzene feed stream is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst in a hydroalkylation unit under conditions effective to produce a reaction product containing cyclohexylbenzene.
US09233889B2

The invention relates to hydroalkylation processes. In the processes, a hydrogen stream comprising hydrogen and an impurity is treated to reduce the amount of the impurity in the hydrogen stream. The hydrogen is then hydroalkylated with benzene to form at least some cyclohexylbenzene. The processes also relate to treating a benzene stream comprising benzene and an impurity with an adsorbent to reduce the amount of the impurity in the benzene stream. The hydroalkylation processes described herein may be used as part of a process to make phenol.
US09233885B2

A process and apparatus is presented for the improved selectivity of oxygenate conversion to olefins. The process includes passing a process stream through a two stage reactor, wherein the process stream is separated from the catalyst in the first stage before passing the process stream to the second stage. The catalyst is continuously passed through the two stages, and cycles through a regeneration unit to control the carbon content on the catalyst.
US09233883B1

A composite having a substrate and a plurality of core-shell nanoparticles. The substrate has microporosity, nanoporosity, or free volume and is a polymer matrix, a metal-organic framework, a micro-porous structure, or a nano-porous structure. The plurality of core-shell nanoparticles each has a core and at least one shell layer. The core is made from a decomposed product of a first precursor disposed in the microporosity, nanoporosity, or free volume of the substrate. The at least one shell layer is made from a decomposed product of a second precursor and is disposed on the core.
US09233881B2

The disclosure relates to ceramic-body-forming batch materials comprising at least one pore former and inorganic batch components comprising at least one silica source having a specified particle size distribution, methods of making ceramic bodies using the same, and ceramic bodies made in accordance with said methods. The disclosure additionally relates to methods for reducing pore size variability in ceramic bodies and/or reducing process variability in making ceramic bodies.
US09233872B2

When fixing a glass layer 3 to a glass member 4 by irradiation with laser light employing a one portion 31 of the glass layer 3 as start and end points, the glass layer 3 is cut at the one portion 31. In the glass layer 3, the one portion 31 is made thicker than a main portion 32, whereby end parts 3a, 3b rise fully. Melting the end parts 3a, 3b by irradiation with laser light L2 for a preliminary stage for final firing while pressing them toward the glass member 4 reliably buries a gap G and homogenizes the thickness of the glass layer 3. Thus constructed glass layer 3 is irradiated with the laser light L2 for final firing, so as to fuse the glass members 4, 5 to each other.
US09233867B2

A fused refractory product having the following average chemical composition, in % by weight on the basis of oxides and for a total of 100%: ZrO2: 30-50%; SiO2: 8-16%; Al2O3: balance to 100%; Y2O3≧50/ZrO2 and Y2O3≦5%; Na2O+K2O+B2O3≧0.2% and SiO2/(Na2O+K2O+B2O3)≧5×Y2O3; CaO: ≦0.5%; and other oxide species: ≦1.5%.
US09233864B2

Methods of controlling a nitrification reaction in a biological nitrogen removal reactor to favor partial nitrification of ammonia to nitrite instead of complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: maintaining a pH in the reactor within a range that promotes growth of ammonia oxidizing bacteria; maintaining a concentration of dissolved oxygen in the reactor within a range that limits the ammonia oxidizing bacteria from completing nitrification; selecting an operational solids retention time within a range suitable for maintaining increasing concentrations of the ammonia oxidizing bacteria in the reactor while reducing concentrations of nitrite oxidizing bacteria in the reactor; and increasing a concentration of free ammonia in the reactor thereby inhibiting growth of the nitrite oxidizing bacteria in the reactor.
US09233857B2

A sterilization device includes a housing having a flow passage R of a fluid that is to be sterilized; and an LED element being disposed in the housing to irradiate ultraviolet light into the flow passage R, wherein an inner wall surface of the flow passage has a pair of reflection surfaces (a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface) which directs the ultraviolet light irradiated from the LED element from one side of the flow passage R to another side thereof while reflecting the ultraviolet light a plurality of times; and a return surface that includes a surface that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the light which has been reflected a plurality of times from one side to the other side, and returns the light toward its original direction is formed on a side of the first reflection surface.
US09233856B2

A process for removing Hg2+ ions from a liquid stream is disclosed. The process involves contacting the liquid stream with specified UOP Zeolitic Materials. These molecular sieves are particularly effective in removing Hg2+ ions from aqueous streams even in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. The effective molecular sieves have an intermediate range of Si/Al ratios between about 2 and 20 and preferably between 3 and 10.
US09233853B2

A method for producing silica particles, includes preparing a silica particle dispersion containing silica particles, and a solvent containing an alcohol and water, and bringing supercritical carbon dioxide into contact with the silica particle dispersion to remove the solvent.
US09233852B2

A highly dispersed graphene organic dispersion and an application thereof are provided. A mixture is firstly provided, which includes a graphite material and an organic solvent. And then, the mixture is subjected to a peeling process at high temperature and high pressure, thereby obtaining the highly dispersed graphene organic dispersion. The highly dispersed graphene organic dispersion contains 75% or more of a single-layered graphene.
US09233848B2

An ozone generation system comprises an electricity charge unit price storing part which stores an electricity charge unit and a gas charge unit price storing part which stores a gas charge unit price, based on the electricity charge unit price, the gas charge unit price and necessary generation amount of ozone which is required for an ozonized gas, regarding an ozone concentration and a gas flow rate which are ozone generation amount basic parameters, values at which a running cost is a minimum are determined, a gas flow rate controller is controlled so as for a gas flow rate to be the determined gas flow rate and power of a power supply for an ozone generator is controlled so as for an ozone concentration to be the determined ozone concentration.
US09233831B2

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one fixed electrode on a substrate. The method further includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam with a varying width dimension, as viewed from a top of the MEMS beam, over the at least one fixed electrode.
US09233828B2

A fueling data collection unit associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator using fuel transfer apparatuses at one or more locations includes a fueling data interface module and a temperature compensation module. The temperature compensation module compensates for a volume variance of the fuel as a result of temperature variance from the standard temperature data to determine a volume correction factor at the measured fuel temperature, while the temperature compensation module uses the measured fuel temperature to determine a compensated, more accurate volume and/or mass of fuel dispensed through the fuel meter. In this way, the fuel data collection unit can accurately measure the volume and/or mass of fuel being delivered. This allows the provider and the recipient to more accurately sell/buy what was actually delivered and can avoid over-filling a fueling order.
US09233824B2

A method of making a beverage including a gas in a beverage making includes pressurizing a gas storage tank arranged to store a gas, supplying a beverage diluent liquid into a dissolver, and dissolving, by way of the dissolver, portion of the gas into the beverage diluent liquid at a minimum dissolver gas volumes level. The method further includes creating a blended beverage diluent liquid having a selectable target gas volumes level by diluting volumetrically the beverage diluent liquid from the dissolver including the gas, with the beverage diluent liquid which is absence the gas, to form the blended beverage diluent liquid having the predefined target gas volumes level, and dispensing selectively a predefined ratio of a beverage ingredient and the blended beverage diluent liquid to form a beverage.
US09233817B2

Provided is a winch apparatus including two exchangeable and interchangeable gears connecting a motor to a drum, the drum being operative to extend and retract a flexible line. By exchanging and interchanging the gears to effect a change in the ratio of the diameters of the first gear to the second gear, the torque and the linear speed of the flexible line are adjustable, permitting the same winch apparatus to move heavier loads at lower speeds, or lighter loads at higher speeds.
US09233806B2

Methods and apparatus to receive and discharge bulk materials are disclosed. An example method for treating gaseous fluid includes filling a device with ceramic granular material, a ceramic heat storage body, a catalyst body and a particle-shaped bulk material including calcium and/or carbon. The method also includes supplying gaseous fluid to be treated into a bulk material container and acting upon the bulk material in the bulk material container with the supplied gaseous fluid while discharging the bulk material out of the bulk material receiving apparatus.
US09233799B1

Methods and devices for measuring attributes of objects such as containers and container content without opening the containers are disclosed. Measurements of containers are obtained during conveyance via conveyor. For example, a sensor, such as a pressure sensing system, may measure pressure or contact between the container and the conveyor conveying the container. The measurements may be analyzed to determine characteristics of the container such as the weight, weight distribution and/or dimensions of the container. The conveyor may be configured to jostle the container such that an inertial property of the container and/or container content may be measured and analyzed. The measurements obtained may be used to ascertain a problem or characteristic of the container and/or container content without opening the container, such as damage, packing condition, number of units, presence of liquids, and the like. The method and device may be used through a materials handling facility.
US09233792B2

A tank container comprising a container for a liquid to be stored or transported, a pipe circuit comprising a heat transfer circuit part mounted to the wall of the container, which pipe circuit is filled with glycol, a storage vessel connected to the pipe circuit for holding an amount of glycol, a heating device designed for selectively heating the glycol in the pipe circuit, and a pump in the pipe circuit for circulating the glycol, wherein a second heating device is provided in or around the storage vessel, which heating device is designed for maintaining the temperature of the glycol in the storage vessel at at least 25° C., preferably at least 35° c.
US09233774B2

A box for a plumbing fixture includes first and second side panels, an end panel, and first and second corner panels, which are interconnected at parallel joints. In a first configuration, the box is collapsed and generally planar, the first side panel being folded at a central crease closer to a forward end than a rearward end thereof, and the second side panel being folded at a central crease closer to a forward end than a rearward end thereof. In a second configuration, the box is expanded such that (a) a cavity is defined between the first side, second side, end, first corner, and second corner panels, (b) the first and second side panels are generally planar, and (c) a sum of angles between the end and first corner panels and between the end panel and second corner panels is greater than 180 degrees.
US09233770B2

An example includes a method for forming tubular lengths of web material. The example can include winding a portion of web material in a tubular configuration such that opposite vertical ends of said linear portion overlap. The example can include welding said overlapping ends to fix said linear portion of web material in sleeve configuration. This welding can include heating up at a first temperature a first region of said portion over the whole of which said ends overlap and heating up at a second temperature lower than said first temperature a second region of said portion adjacent to said first region, said ends of said portion of labelling web material overlapping over only a part of said second region. One or more examples relate to a forming unit configured to implement the method outlined above.
US09233766B2

An apparatus for emptying bags of pulverulent products without the spread of dust on the outside, which is intended to be used in particular in a water treatment plant, the apparatus including a box equipped with a removable closure, a slab situated at the periphery of the box, the slab being able to receive the bags so that they can be opened inside the box, a dust suction situated at the top of the box, a mechanism for dispersing the sucked-up dust or dissolving it in scrubbing water, a hopper situated at the base of the box, able to collect the powder from the bags, a mechanism of transporting the powder from the hopper to a powder storage.
US09233763B1

In one embodiment, a method for health and trend monitoring for aircraft systems includes receiving, by a processor on the aircraft, a plurality of sensor signals from a respective plurality of sensors onboard the aircraft and determining a reference signal from a subset of the plurality of sensor signals. Next, each of the plurality of sensor signals is individually compared to the reference signal to provide a plurality of difference signals. Each of the plurality of difference signals is compared to a threshold value, and a maintenance message is provided for any respective sensor associated with any of the plurality of difference signals exceeding the threshold value. An aircraft employing the health and trend monitoring system is also disclosed.
US09233759B2

An aircraft electrical supply circuit including: a power distribution network, onboard the aircraft, for electrical devices located in an engine of the aircraft or near the engine; and a power supply generator built into the engine of the aircraft to supply AC voltage power to a deicing or anti-icing system. The power supply generator is connected to a thrust reverser electromechanical actuator by a rectifier for supplying DC voltage power to the actuator.
US09233754B1

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with improved reliability. According to one aspect of the invention, interference experienced by onboard sensors from onboard electrical components is reduced. According to another aspect of the invention, user-configuration or assembly of electrical components is minimized to reduce user errors.
US09233745B2

A seal apparatus, for sealing around a rotating shaft such as a propeller shaft of a watercraft between the exterior water and an interior lubricant space, includes a multiple seal arrangement with plural seal rings forming seal chambers therebetween, and plural fluid medium lines supplying and/or returning a respective fluid medium to a respective seal chamber. A section of a first medium line is formed as an axial passage through a housing of the apparatus, and a section of a second medium line is formed by a pipe arranged within the axial passage in the housing. A method of making such an apparatus especially by retrofitting an existing seal arrangement involves inserting a pipe into an axial passage in the housing in order to establish two medium lines through the housing where there was previously only one medium line.
US09233730B2

A bicycle control device basically includes a housing member, a hydraulic fluid pressure generator, a control lever member and a shift-operating mechanism. The housing member has an attachment part for attachment to a handlebar, and a grip part configured to be gripped by a rider in a riding position. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder provided inside the grip part of the housing member, and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The control lever member has a first operation lever pivotably coupled relative to the housing member for pivoting about a first axis to operate the piston. The shift-operating mechanism is configured to be coupled to a shifting device by a control cable control. The shift-operating mechanism is mounted on the control lever member.
US09233721B2

A coupling assembly includes a hook, a base defining a base cavity, a link interconnecting the hook and the base, and a fastener movably coupled to the base. The fastener is movable relative to the base along an axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the fastener extends through the base cavity. In the unlocked position, the fastener is outside the base cavity. The coupling assembly further includes a casing fixed to the base such that the base remains stationary relative to the casing. The fastener is partially disposed within the casing. The coupling assembly also includes a biasing member operatively coupled between the casing and the fastener such that the biasing member biases the fastener toward the locked position.
US09233715B1

Embodiments of vehicles including bumper assemblies having spacer members are discussed and disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a sub-frame coupled to a body of the vehicle, where the sub-frame is positioned beneath the side support in a vehicle vertical direction, a bumper assembly including a rear face that is coupled to the side support, the bumper assembly including a reinforcement beam that extends in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a spacer member coupled the rear face of bumper assembly, where the spacer member is positioned outboard of the side support in the vehicle lateral direction and where the spacer member extends from the side support toward the sub-frame in the vehicle vertical direction.
US09233706B2

A steering shaft bearing unit for rotatably mounting a steering shaft of a steering column for a motor vehicle includes at least one circumferentially closed region for accommodating at least one bearing for rotatably mounting the steering shaft, and at least one securing region for securing the steering shaft bearing unit to a console part of the steering column. At least one through-hole, in particular two through-holes, for guiding a clamping bolt of the steering column therethrough is/are arranged in the securing region. The securing region and the circumferentially closed region are designed as separate parts that are then preferably directly interconnected, preferably welded together.
US09233702B1

A convertible dolly cart system which may convert between a traditional floor dolly and a sheet goods cart in a quick and efficient manner. The convertible dolly cart system generally includes a flat, rectangular cart having a central opening and a panel support insert which is removably positioned within the central opening of the cart for use in transporting large sheets of material such as sheetrock or wall panels. The panel support insert includes a base on which the sheets of material may be placed and an upper support assembly against which the sheets of material may be rested. Thus, the present invention is easily convertible between a dolly cart and a sheet goods cart.
US09233698B2

A railway safety critical application system substitutes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and/or software for railway-domain specific product components, yet is validated to conform to railway safety critical system failure-free standards. The safety critical system uses a pair of tasks executed on a controller of a COTS personal computer or within a virtual environment with asymmetric communications capability. Both tasks receive and verify safety critical systems input message data and security code integrity and separately generate output data responsive to the input message. The first task has sole capability to send complete safety critical system output messages, but only the second task has the capability of generating the output security code. A failure of any of systems hardware, software or processing capability results failure to transmit a safety critical system output message or an output message that cannot be verified by other safety critical systems.
US09233696B2

A system for controlling a railroad train over a segment of track. The system comprises a first element for determining a location of the train on the segment of track; a second element for providing track characterization information for the segment of track; the track characterization information related to physical conditions of the segment of track; and a processor for controlling applied tractive forces and braking forces of the train responsive to the location of the train and the track characterization information to reduce at least one of wheel wear and/or track wear during operation of the train over the segment of track.
US09233683B2

A vehicle control apparatus configured to selectively establish one of a first drive state in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator operated with an electric energy supplied from an electric-energy storage device while an engine is placed in a rest state, and a second drive state in which a first motor/generator is operated with a drive force of the engine, to generate an electric energy and in which the vehicle drive force is generated primarily by the second motor/generator operated with at least the electric energy generated by the first motor/generator. The vehicle control apparatus is further configured such that the vehicle drive force generated in the second drive state at a given value of an accelerator pedal operation amount θacc is larger than that generated in the first drive state.
US09233681B2

A hybrid vehicle outputs creep torque by output torque of a second MG. A creep control unit controls creep torque when an accelerator pedal is not operated. The creep control unit controls a creep cut amount defined by a decrement of creep torque when the brake pedal is operated relative to creep torque when the brake pedal is not operated such that the creep cut amount when reverse running is selected is smaller than the creep cut amount when forward running is selected.
US09233672B2

A control system in a vehicle configured to rotate a drive wheel by a driving power generated in a driving power source mounted in the vehicle; comprises a slip value measuring unit configured to measure a slip value indicating a degree to which the drive wheel spins; a change rate calculator configured to calculate a change rate of the slip value measured by the slip value measuring unit; and a road surface condition determiner configured to determine a road surface condition according to the change rate of the slip value calculated by the change rate calculator.
US09233670B2

One embodiment provides a bar-handle vehicle brake control apparatus. The control apparatus includes an acceleration acquiring part and a control unit. The acceleration acquiring part acquires a tangential acceleration at a point where a straight line which connects a gravity center of a bar-handle vehicle and a front wheel axle intersects a circle which is centered at the front wheel axle. The control unit controls a front wheel brake based on the tangential acceleration.
US09233665B2

A wiper blade. In one aspect, the wiper blade includes a wiper strip which directly wipes a wiping surface; a lever assembly which supports the wiper strip; and a cover which receives the lever assembly, wherein the lever assembly supports six points of the wiper strip by means of a pair of first levers, each of which supports two points of the wiper strip, and a pair of second levers, each of which is hinge-coupled to the first lever, is coupled to the cover and supports one point of the wiper strip.
US09233662B2

A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.
US09233660B1

A side impact system for a vehicle includes a trim panel and an armrest core supported by the trim panel. The armrest core is moveable translationally relative to the trim panel from a supporting position to a deployed position below the supporting position. An actuator is connected to the armrest core for moving the armrest core from the supporting position to the deployed position. In the supporting position, the armrest core may be adjacent a ribs of an occupant and, in the deployed position, the armrest core may be adjacent the hips of the occupant. The actuator may move the armrest core to the deployed position during a side impact of the vehicle to reduce the likelihood that the armrest core is pushed into the ribs of the occupant.
US09233659B2

A method is provided for preventing a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The method uses a camera and a processor mountable in the motor vehicle. A candidate image is detected. Based on a change of scale of the candidate image, it may be determined that the motor vehicle and the pedestrian are expected to collide, thereby producing a potential collision warning. Further information from the image frames may be used to validate the potential collision warning. The validation may include an analysis of the optical flow of the candidate image, that lane markings prediction of a straight road, a calculation of the lateral motion of the pedestrian, if the pedestrian is crossing a lane mark or curb and/or if the vehicle is changing lanes.
US09233657B1

A vehicle bumper structure includes a lateral arrangement of hollow lobes forming an energy absorption apparatus attached to a beam. The lobes are designed to provide a predetermined peak force resistance and a predetermined energy absorption capability. Local stiffening to increase the buckling resistance and energy absorption is provided by increased stiffness regions provided in one or more locations on one or more of the lobes. The local increased stiffness regions can be provided by an increased wall thickness surrounding apertures formed in selected shear walls of the lobes or a laterally outward offset in the shape of the shear walls of the lobes.
US09233655B2

Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device; providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.
US09233648B2

A bicycle rack used to attach a bicycle to the rear of a motor vehicle. The bicycle rack is fixedly attached to the bicycle when the bicycle is operated as well as when it is transported on the motor vehicle. The bicycle rack includes two swing arms movable from a first position when the bicycle is being utilized to a second transverse position used to attach the bicycle rack and the bicycle to the rear of a motor vehicle. A plurality of retractable cables is used to assist in attaching the bicycle rack and the bicycle to the rear of the vehicle.
US09233631B2

A head restraint assembly is provided with a first guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A second guide member is mounted to the first guide member for translation along the first guide member. A locking mechanism is mounted to the second guide member in cooperation with the first guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The first and second guide members are the only guide members to minimize binding. The locking mechanism includes a torsion spring connected to the first guide member and oriented about the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. A lever is mounted to the torsion spring for unlocking the torsion spring.
US09233628B2

A seat assembly is disclosed. The seat assembly includes a shell portion, a pair of harness straps, a seat cover, and a harness pad. The shell portion has an outer surface. The pair of harness straps have an upper portion. The seat cover has an inner surface. The harness pad includes a first portion and a pair of elongated pads. The first portion may be positioned between the outer surface of the shell and the inner surface of the seat cover. The pair of elongated pads may be connected to the head portion. The elongated pads may each be configured to slidably receive the upper portion of a respective one of the harness straps.
US09233624B2

The present invention relates to a method (30) for actuating an electric machine (14) in the motor starting mode by means of a power electronic system (10), in particular for application in a motor vehicle, wherein the power electronic system (10) has a multiplicity of controllable power switches which are designed to supply the electric machine (14) with electric current (l_s), wherein a total amount of energy (50) which is required to reach a predefined rotational speed (n_crit) and a time period (t—0) for reaching the predefined rotational speed (n_crit) is estimated (38), wherein a setpoint torque (M) for starting the electric machine (14) is determined (42) on the basis of the estimated total amount of energy (50) and the estimated time (t—0), and wherein the power electronic system (10) is actuated (46) in accordance with the setpoint torque (M).
US09233615B2

A vehicle-side connector (C) to which a charging connector is to be connected includes a housing (20) capable of accommodating vehicle-side terminal fittings (11) fixed to ends of wires (10) drawn out from a battery in a vehicle. A connector fitting portion (25) is provided in a front part of the housing (20), and the charging connector can fit therein so that terminal connecting portions (13) of the vehicle-side terminal fittings (11) are electrically connectable to the charging connector. A terminal accommodating portion (30) is provided in a rear part of the housing (20) and is capable of accommodating parts of the vehicle-side terminal fittings (11) behind the terminal connecting portions (13), The terminal accommodating portion (30) is formed with a first draw-out opening (32) through which the wires (10) can be drawn backward and a second draw-out opening (33) through which the wires (10) can be drawn out laterally.
US09233612B2

An electrical energy capture system, as may be carried on a hybrid energy, electro-motive, self-powered traction vehicle, is provided. The system may be used for storing electrical power generated on the vehicle and for discharging the stored electrical power for use on the vehicle. The system includes circuitry connected to a plurality of electrical energy storage devices connected in parallel circuit to one another. The circuitry may be configured to establish a respective circuit path for charging and discharging electrical energy from each energy storage device with respect to a DC bus. The circuitry is further configured to block a flow of electrical current from any one of the storage devices to any of the other storage devices, thereby avoiding flow of currents that could otherwise circulate among the electrical energy storage devices due to electrical imbalances that may occur in one or more of the electrical energy storage devices.
US09233607B2

A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit having first and second input and output coupled to the PTO shaft. The first and second input are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine and to an output shaft of a drive motor, respectively. A control system controls the transfer of power from a power source to the drive motor. The power source is a variable power generating source driven by the PTO shaft. The drive motor is configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.
US09233599B2

A door module for a vehicle door comprises an aggregate carrier for holding functional components of the vehicle door and at least one guide section arranged on the aggregate carrier for guiding an adjustment part along an adjustment direction on the aggregate carrier. The at least one guide section is formed at least sectionally flexible and movable perpendicularly to the adjustment direction relative to a rigid section of the aggregate carrier. In this way a door module with an aggregate carrier is provided which can be produced in an easy and cost efficient manner and can be used substantially without structural modifications in different conditions.
US09233596B2

A vehicle includes a primary air conditioning device and an auxiliary air conditioning device each having a condenser, a receiver drier, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, an electrical air conditioning compressor coupled to the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices for operating the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices, and an alternator coupled to the electrical air conditioning compressor for energizing the electrical air conditioning compressor to operate the primary and the auxiliary air conditioning devices, and for allowing the auxiliary air conditioning device to be actuated to supply the cooling air to cool the vehicle even when the engine of the vehicle is shut off.
US09233595B2

A method of controlling heating of a hybrid electric vehicle includes a heating quantity comparing step of comparing an available heating quantity of an auxiliary heater with a necessary heating quantity of the auxiliary heater. A heating efficiency comparing step compares heating efficiency when the auxiliary heater is driven with heating efficiency of a main heater based on driving of an engine when the available heating quantity of the auxiliary heater is greater than the necessary heating quantity of the auxiliary heater. A heating conducting step drives one of the heaters that has a higher heating efficiency.
US09233594B2

A cooling device utilizes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and an accumulator to cool a heat source with a coolant. The receiver separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the condenser into gas and liquid. The accumulator separates the coolant having been subjected to heat exchange by the evaporator into gas and liquid. The cooling device opens a switch valve capable of bringing the receiver and the accumulator into communication with each other to move the coolant liquid in the accumulator to the receiver. The cooling device restores the pressure difference between the receiver and the accumulator after the movement of the coolant liquid to the pressure difference before the movement of the coolant liquid by a pressure regulating unit.
US09233581B2

A display and a controller are used to implement a tire pressure optimization system for a vehicle. The controller is programmed to receive inflation pressure information indicative of a vehicle tire's inflation pressure, and identify an operating state of the vehicle as being in an optimum state when the inflation pressure information indicates optimum performance, in a warning state when the inflation pressure information indicates the inflation pressure is beyond a warning pressure threshold, or in an advisory state when the inflation pressure information indicates an undesirable performance characteristic outside of the warning state and the optimum state. The controller is programmed to operate the display to output an optimum state indication when the operating state is in the optimum state, a warning indication when the operating state is in the warning state, and an advisory indication when the operating state is in the advisory state.
US09233570B2

A multi-layer, expandable sleeve (100) for a printing press cylinder and a method of manufacturing this expandable sleeve are provided. The sleeve has an inner layer (110) with a hard surface inner jacket (112), which defines a longitudinal axis (A) and the cavity for mounting on the cylinder, and an outer layer (130) with a cylindrical outer jacket (132) for carrying an outer shell, a printing plate or a separate outer sleeve, in particular. An intermediate layer (120), manufactured in the form of a lightweight honeycomb having honeycomb cells oriented radially (B) to the longitudinal axis (A), is provided between the inner jacket (112) and the outer jacket (132). The intermediate layer (120) includes at least one honeycomb layer (122-1, 122-2, 122-3, 122-4, 122-5) of fiber composite honeycomb consisting of fiber material embedded in a resin matrix that has been applied coaxially around the longitudinal axis (A).
US09233546B2

A cartridge 4 is mounted on a carriage 8 and has a liquid retaining member 460 placed in a recess 421 of a casing 420. A first side wall 425 constituting the casing 420 includes a first side wall part 425a and a second side wall part 425b aligned sequentially from a first end wall 423-side in a first direction from a first end wall 423 toward a second end wall 424. The first side wall part 425a includes a first side wall area 425a1 located on a bottom wall 422-side and extended to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 422, and a second side wall area 425a2 arranged to be inclined with respect to the bottom wall 422. The second side wall part 425b is extended from the bottom wall 422 to be inclined with respect to the bottom wall 422. This configuration enables the liquid retaining member of containing a liquid such as ink to be compressed in the casing, while allowing for accurate positioning of the cartridge and improving attachment of the cartridge.
US09233545B2

An ink ejection device includes a head section having a plurality of nozzles and ejecting a plurality of types of inks through the nozzles, and an ink supply section supplying the plurality of types of inks to the head section. The head section has a plurality of supply ports which are arranged in a scanning direction and to which the plurality of types of inks are supplied. The ink supply section includes a plurality of ink chambers which respectively contain the plurality of types of inks and are disposed to overlap one another in the up-down direction, a plurality of connection passages connecting the plurality of supply ports to the plurality of ink chambers containing the inks to be supplied to the supply ports, and a plurality of air discharge passages respectively connected to the plurality of ink chambers.
US09233541B1

A printing system includes a maintenance device that is configured to correspond to different configurations of a scalable printhead array. The printing system includes a first printhead array having a plurality of printheads and a pair of frames disposed in parallel and on opposite ends of the first printhead array. A first maintenance platform is mounted between the pair of frames and configured move from a first position at a first side of the first printhead array to a second position opposite faces of the printheads in the first printhead array. The first maintenance platform is configured to perform a maintenance operation on the plurality of printheads of the first printhead array when the platform is at the second position, and a first actuator is configured to move the first maintenance platform between the first position at the first side of the printhead array and the second position.
US09233540B2

A printing apparatus includes: a flow channel plate including, a pressure chamber, a nozzle including an outlet through which ink contained in the pressure chamber is ejected, and a trench disposed around the nozzle, and the outlet extending into the trench; a piezoelectric actuator configured to provide a change in pressure to eject the ink contained in the pressure chamber; and an electrostatic actuator configured to provide an electrostatic driving force to the ink contained in the nozzle.
US09233538B2

A piezoelectric device including: a first electrode layer provided so as to overlie a substrate; a second electrode layer disposed so as to face the first electrode layer; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer has a conductive layer and a barrier layer. The barrier layer is provided between the conductive layer and the piezoelectric layer so as to prevent the conductive layer from contacting the piezoelectric layer.
US09233522B2

A polyester resin for metal plate coating which contains a dimer acid in an amount of 2 to 10 mol %, as a dicarboxylic acid component and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 70,000 to 160,000. Thus, there can be provided a polyester resin for metal plate coating that has not only excellent film forming capability and corrosion resistance but also excellent impact resistance. Further, there can be provided a resin-coated metal plate excelling in properties, such as corrosion resistance, impact resistance (dent resistance), workability and flavor, and provided, fabricated from the resin-coated metal plate, a metal can and can lid.
US09233521B2

The present invention relates to a tin whisker mitigation material using thin film metallic glass underlayer, which is a thin film metallic glass (TFMG) formed between a metal substrate and a tin layer. Particularly, the TFMG can be a Zr46Ti26Ni28 underlayer or a Zr51.7Cu32.3Al9Ni underlayer, capable of blocking off the interaction occurring in the interface of a copper layer (the metal substrate) and the tin layer, so as to carry out the inhibition of tin whisker growth. Moreover, a variety of experiment data are proposed for proving that the TFMG of the Zr46Ti26Ni28 or the Zr51.7Cu32.3Al9Ni can indeed be used to replace the conventionally used thick tin layer for being the underlayer between the copper layer (the metal substrate) and the tin layer, and then effectively inhibit the interaction occurring in the Cu/Sn interface and the growth of tin whisker by low manufacturing cost way.
US09233520B2

Laminated articles that include a first textile and a functional film layer bonded together by an adhesive layer having a distinctive, discontinuous adhesive pattern is provided. The discontinuous adhesive pattern creates regions free or substantially free of adhesive that permits the laminate to preferentially bend in those regions. The adhesive regions, together with the non-adhesive regions, create a visible pattern on the surface of the laminate. A second textile may be bonded to the functional film layer opposing the first textile. The first textile or the film layer may be elastic, shrinkable, or expandable. In such embodiments, raised portions of the laminate corresponding to the non-adhesive regions and curled portions corresponding to the adhesive regions are visible. The laminated article is waterproof, liquid-proof, breathable, and aesthetically pleasing and demonstrates a reduction in stiffness, improved insulation properties, improved stretch properties and a reduction of noise associated with bending the article.
US09233516B2

A clothing wipe includes an applicator having a novel odor neutralizing formulation deposited on one layer that is bonded to another layer to form a finger mitt. The applicator is removed from a pouch and rubbed against a person's clothing that may have accumulated a variety of smoke, food, and other odors during an outing. The odors clinging to the clothing are neutralized by contact with the odor neutralizing formulation. The applicator is stored in the pouch when not in use. A method of fabricating the clothing wipe in a web process is disclosed.
US09233515B2

A carton includes a top portion and a bottom portion. Each portion includes a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls extending therebetween. The top portion and bottom portion include respective top and bottom surfaces. The rear walls of the top and bottom portions are hingedly connected to another along respective outer edges. When closed, the top portion and bottom portion define a cavity for storing an item. The carton also includes a separation region defined on the top and bottom portions that extends from an outside edge of the front wall of the top portion, around the top portion and the bottom portion, to an outside edge of the front wall of the bottom portion. The separation region is configured to facilitate controlled separation of the carton into first and second side portions and to prevent liquid flow through separation region.
US09233510B2

A lighting apparatus with uniform illumination distribution, according to various embodiments, can include a lens for area lighting. In one embodiment, the lens comprises a plurality of cross-sections identified by a thickness ratio defined at different angles. The thickness ratio is determined relative to the thickness of the cross-section defined at a center angle of the lens. In another embodiment, the lighting apparatus with uniform illumination distribution includes a lens having an inner surface and an outer surface. A profile of the inner surface and the outer surface is composed of a plurality of piecewise circular arcs defined with radii and circle centers. The lens is formed as a complex curve lens by joining the piecewise circular arcs of the inner surface and the outer surface.
US09233498B2

A closing unit of an injection molding machine includes a moveable mold mounting plate and a fixed mold mounting plate, a hydraulic pressure mechanism for building up a closing pressure, at least one column provided with an external profile, and at least one two-part nut which is provided with an internal profile and the half members of which are coupled in motionally opposite relationship. The at least one column in the closed condition of the two-part nut is lockable by a positively locking relationship between the internal profile and the external profile relative to the moveable mold mounting plate or relative to the pressure mechanism. There is also provided an electric drive for opening and closing the two-part nut.
US09233495B2

The present invention relates to a sheet for forming a hard coating and a method of formation. The present invention can provide a transfer material or a surface protection sheet having a high index of refraction and superior physical properties, such as hardness, friction resistance, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, transparency, luster, and the like, for forming a hard coating on the surface of various molded products, including resin molded products or wood products, and a method for forming a hard coating from such transfer material or surface protection sheets.
US09233494B2

There is disclosed an injection mold which may allow for a uniform flow front of the thermo-plastic melt during the injection mold process. Further, a corresponding injection-molded part is disclosed.
US09233493B2

A throttle body assembly, and method of manufacturing such, is disclosed having a unitary shaft and blade component injection molded in situ within a throttle body housing to mechanically entrap the shaft and blade component, yet still allowing for it to partially rotate, within the throttle body housing. The throttle body housing defines an interior passage, a shaft through-hole, and a shaft socket opposite the shaft through-hole, both aligned along a transverse axis to the interior passage. The shaft and blade component is a single unitary piece injection molded in situ within the throttle body housing, such that it has a blade section disposed within the interior passage, first and second shaft sections extending from the blade section opposite each other partially disposed within the shaft socket and shaft through-hole, respectively, and a pivotable axis generally coaxial with the transverse axis.
US09233489B2

A thermal curing device is used to manufacture a high-pressure gas tank by FW method. In the thermal curing device, a tank vessel configured to have a fiber layer formed on its outer surface by winding carbon fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin is held to be rotatable about a virtual central axis of the tank vessel. In the thermal curing device, the tank vessel is heated by a heating unit during rotation, so as to thermally cure the thermosetting resin in the fiber layer and thereby form a fiber-reinforced resin layer. A bubble removal process for preventing formation of air bubble in the fiber-reinforced resin layer is performed at multiple different stages during such heating.
US09233482B2

A batch mixer for mixing concrete materials into a mixed concrete includes a mixing drum having a plurality of paddles fixed to the drum for rotation with the mixing drum about the longitudinal axis of the mixing drum. The paddles include mixing paddles oriented to urge the concrete materials away from the outlet opening at the second end of the drum when the mixing drum is rotated in the mixing direction, and at least one shearing paddle which is oriented at less than 25 degrees from the longitudinal direction of the mixing drum. The shearing paddles has a main body portion interrupted by shearing apertures through which concrete material are directed and an inner edge which is discontinuous and interrupted by longitudinally spaced teeth.
US09233475B2

An umbilical member attachment device including a base part attached detachably to a first member and a second member of a robot, the first member and the second member rotating relative to each other; a first fastening part attached to the base part to fasten the first umbilical member; and a second fastening part attached to the base part to fasten the second umbilical member. The second fastening part has an attachment member attached to the base part and a fastening member fastening the second umbilical member to the attachment member, and the attachment member is provided detachably from the base part together with the second umbilical member in a state where the first umbilical member is fastened by the first fastening part.
US09233473B2

A sensory system for a robot comprises a plurality of tactile sensor arrangements (10), each of which includes a flexible planar substrate (12) adapted to form the coating of a robot body, carrying a plurality of pressure sensing devices (14), and an associated signal acquisition microcircuit (16), so arranged as to acquire electrical signals indicative of the contact with an external object (O) or environment from the plurality of sensing devices (14). The microcircuit (16) faces a serial communication bus (B) shared by a plurality of associated arrangements, so as to provide the signals acquired by the plurality of arrangements to an external microcontroller processing unit (40). The sensor arrangement comprises a single input connection port (18′) of the communication bus, and at least one output connection port (18′) of the communication bus, adapted to define a branched path of the bus (B) through said plurality of associated arrangements.
US09233468B2

A method of operating a robot includes receiving image data from an image capture device of the robot. The image data is representative of a glyph viewed by the image capture device on the display of a computing device within a field of view of the image capture device. The method further includes determining, at a controller, a command message based on the glyph represented in the image data and issuing a command to at least one resource or component of the robot based on the command message.
US09233461B2

A tool having a housing assembly, which defines a handle, a motor assembly, a trigger assembly, a spindle and a transmission assembly. The motor assembly is received in the housing assembly and has an output shaft. The trigger assembly is coupled to the housing assembly and is configured for use in actuating the motor assembly. The transmission assembly transmits rotary power between the output shaft of the motor assembly and the spindle. The transmission assembly includes a planetary stage with an input sun gear, an output planet carrier and a compound planet gear having a first planet gear and a second planet gear coupled together for common rotation on the output planet carrier. The planetary stage is selectively operable in a first gear reduction and a second, relatively lower gear reduction in which the compound planet gear cooperates to produce at least one intermediate gear reduction within the planetary stage.
US09233458B2

An installation method for an expansion anchor is carried out by repeatedly exerting rotary-percussive strikes onto the shank (2) of the expansion anchor (1) by an impact screwdriver. The repeat rate (Ntarget) of the rotary-percussive strikes is selected as a function of the tightening torque prescribed for expanding the expansion sleeve (3) of the expansion anchor (1). The impact screwdriver stops generating rotary-percussive strikes when the detected mean rotational speed (d) of the shank falls below a threshold value (D).
US09233446B2

A tool turret includes a tool disk (1) having at least one tool receptacle (7) for a machining tool and being fastened to an accommodating disk (51). The disk can be swiveled about a support column that defines a swivel axis into positions in which the particular machining tool is in a working position. A contact surface (55) is provided on the tool disk (1) and can be clamped to an accommodating surface (53) on the accommodating disk (51) by a clamping device. The clamping device has an annular groove on one disk to be clamped. The annular groove is concentric to the swivel axis, is open radially outside and has at least one inner slanted surface (81). At least one compression piece (57) is on the other disk, penetrates the annular groove (61) under compressive force and has a wedge surface (79). In interaction with the slanted surface (81) of the annular groove (61), the wedge surface produces a force component as a clamping force from the compressive force pressing the contact surface (55) and the accommodating surface (53) against each other.
US09233444B2

An adjustable key block assembly includes an outer housing block having an upper face and a lower face. The outer housing includes an elongated table engagement member extending from the lower face arranged and configured to be received within a groove of a table of a milling machine defining a set direction of the adjustable key block assembly. A drive screw is rotatably connected to the outer housing block and extending through a slide member opening in the upper face of the outer housing block. The drive screw defines a drive axis that is offset angularly from the set direction. A center slide member includes a collar portion having a threaded opening extending therethrough that is threadably engaged with the drive screw such that rotation of the drive screw moves the center slide member along the drive axis within the slide member opening. The center slide member further includes an engaging portion that extends upwardly from the collar portion beyond the upper face.
US09233441B2

A machining system includes two machining devices. Each machining device includes a bracket and a machining unit, a transferring unit, a control unit mounted on the bracket. The transferring unit includes a driving member and a transferring member connected to the driving member. The control unit is electrically connected to the machining unit and the driving member. The two machining devices are arranged in a straight line. The transferring members are connected in order. The control unit of one machining device controls the machining unit to machine the workpiece, and when the machining unit has finished machining the workpiece, the control unit controls the driving member to drive the transferring member, thus the transferring member of one machining device conveys the workpiece to the transferring member of an adjacent machining device.
US09233440B2

A method of integrating the Modular Chiller System into an existing walk-in cooler includes the steps of 1.) selecting a portion of an existing walk-in cooler, 2.) installing walls and doors, by means known in the art, to define an existing space within the cooler 3.) positioning a frame assembly of refrigeration and electrical components on one of the interior walls, 4.) positioning a controller unit on an exterior wall and interfacing the controller unit to the frame assembly, and 5.) positioning a remote condenser unit and interfacing the condenser unit to the frame assembly.
US09233435B2

Apparatus for interference patterning of a planar sample including a laser and a focusing arrangement positioned in a beam path of the laser so that the laser beam is imaged in a first spatial direction in a focused manner into a sample volume in which the planar sample is positioned. An expanding and splitting arrangement is positioned downstream of the focusing arrangement for the laser beam, while maintaining the focused imaging in a first spatial direction which can be expanded in a second spatial direction, and which can be split into two partial beams. These two partial beams can be directed onto the sample volume.
US09233432B2

A welder for welding a base metal. The welder may include a first electrode for forming a first arc with the base metal and a second electrode for forming a second arc between the first and second electrodes. A compact welder, welding system, and method are also provided.
US09233424B2

An adapter for holding a hole saw on a power tool includes a driver, a threaded spindle, and a connecting bushing, via which the threaded spindle and the driver are coupled in a direction of rotation.
US09233421B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing nano-sized metal wire having a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 50 by using an ionic liquid in a polyol reduction using a metal salt as a precursor.
US09233410B2

To enable fabrication of a precise stamped product having an extremely low surface roughness. Ripples 24 having depths ranging from 10 to 100 nm are formed with periodicities ranging from 100 to 1000 nm on a stamping tool surface that comes into contact with a workpiece material. The ripples 24 have a stripe shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding between the stamping tool (die 21) and the workpiece material (the direction of the arrow a). The ripples 24 serve as micro pools. For example, a product that is required to have a surface roughness of the order of several tens of nm or lower can be satisfactorily stamped.
US09233407B2

A multiple punch and die assembly body member has dies or strippers that are held within multiple pockets in a multipunch body member by means of a centrally positioned retaining member formed from a rigid or flexible material located in a central recess at the middle of a ring of the surrounding dies or strippers. The retaining member is preferably held in place by a push plate that can be secured to the multipunch body member by a tightening element, e.g., a screw fastener for pressing the peripheral surface of the retainer member into engagement with the dies or strippers to hold them in their respective pockets in the multipunch body member.
US09233401B2

A method of manually sorting flat articles (4) into a sorting case (7) comprising sorting slots (8) consists in generating an identification signal (100) designating a sorting slot of said sorting case, into which slot said article to be sorted is to be placed, and then placing said flat articles to be sorted in a stack and in taking the articles one-by-one from the top of the stack. The method also consists in automatically forming (310) digital images (14) of the top of the stack at a certain rate, the digital image of each article of the top of the stack including a sorting indication. Finally, on the basis of the digital image of said article on the top of the stack, the method further consists in automatically generating (330) said identification signal as a flat article is being taken from the top of the stack of flat articles.
US09233397B1

A seed filtering system for funneling and filtering material. The seed filtering system generally includes an opening for receiving material entering into the funneling device. A primary side wall, wherein all of the material entering the funneling device is funneled onto the primary side wall. A filter disposed on the primary side wall for filtering the material that is funneled onto the primary side wall. A discharge hole for discharging the material that is filtered through the funneling device.
US09233382B2

A liquid spraying apparatus includes a chassis having a front, a rear, opposite sides and a handle generally at the rear of the chassis. Wheels are rotatably mounted on the chassis for moving the spraying apparatus in a path over a subjacent surface. A tank is mounted on the chassis for holding liquid to be sprayed. An elongated spray boom is mounted at least at one side of the chassis. The boom has an inner end pivotally mounted to the chassis for movement of an outer end in a generally horizontal plane between an outboard position projecting outwardly of the chassis and an inboard position generally alongside the chassis. At least one spray nozzle is provided on the boom. Conduits are provided for feeding liquid from the tank to the nozzle. Positioning detents are provided for holding the boom in at least one intermediate position between the outboard and inboard positions to vary the width of the spray pattern as the apparatus is moved in the path over the subjacent surface.
US09233381B2

A rotary atomizer head 1 with a bell-shaped atomizer head body 2 and a functional member 4 removably attachable thereto, which can be more easily and reliably positioned, and cleaned. The functional member 4 has a front wall 12 that has paint outlets 24, a sidewall 14 of the paint space S extending continuously in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of legs 16 having claws 16a, which engage with a circumferential groove 18 formed in a peripheral wall 8 of a central recess 6 of the atomizer head body 2. The peripheral wall 8 of central recess 6 has an inclined wall. The sidewall 14 has an outer circumferential surface 14a and an inner circumferential surface 14b, wherein the peripheral wall 8 and outer circumferential surface 14a have complementary configurations.
US09233376B2

A comminuting rotor is driven by a rotary current electric motor via a non-positive traction drive, wherein said rotary current electric motor is energized by a controlled frequency converter for operating the comminuting rotor at a predetermined rotational speed during the normal operating phase. A degree of slip of the traction drive is determined and monitored and the rotary current electric motor is controlled for being powered off if a first slip threshold value is exceeded. If a predetermined second threshold of the traction drive slip is exceeded, which is below said first slip threshold, for continuing the operation of the comminuting device, the frequency converter is controlled in a slip operating phase for a closed or open loop control of the traction drive slip to a predetermined third slip threshold value and for reducing the torque output from the rotary current electric motor.
US09233374B1

An apparatus for the shredding and scanning of receipts has a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a feeding mechanism positioned in the housing, and at least one blade positioned in the housing adjacent to the feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism is suitable for drawing the receipt through an interior of the housing. The blade is suitable for cutting the receipt. The feeding mechanism serves to pass the cut receipt through the outlet opening. A scanner is positioned adjacent to the inlet opening so as to read information on the receipt prior to the receipt encountering the blade.
US09233370B2

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for the rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by immunoassays incorporating magnetic capture of beads on a sensor capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field.
US09233359B2

The invention concerns a process for upgrading lower quality carbonaceous feedstock using a slurry catalyst composition. The use of particular organometallic compounds as precursors for the dispersed active catalyst allows for reduced coke formation.
US09233355B2

Provided is a novel separating agent obtained by using core/shell particles as a support and fixing any of various ligands to the support by physical adsorption. The separating agent contains a support and a ligand fixed to the surface of the support by physical adsorption, and is characterized in that the support is core/shell particles each formed of a core constituted of a nonporous inorganic substance and a porous shell, the shell having a pore diameter of 30 nm or larger, the shell being constituted of a hydrolyzate of a polyalkoxysiloxane, and the ligand is an optically active polymer, an optically inactive polyester, a protein, or a nucleic acid.
US09233352B2

A tubular reactor is described, for catalytic reactions involving thermal exchanges, in particular for etherification reactions between branched olefins and linear alcohol, for dimerization reactions of branched olefins or cracking reactions, essentially consisting of a vertical tube-bundle exchanger whose tubes contain catalyst, having inlet and outlet nozzles for each passage side of the reagents, catalyst and thermal exchange liquid, characterized in that it has one or more metallic supports situated outside the lower tube plate in the lower part of the reactor for sustaining the catalyst so that the same catalyst is contained not only in the tubes of the tube-bundle but also in said lower part outside the lower tube plate and also in the upper part outside the upper tube plate.
US09233347B2

A mixed gas supply device includes a plurality of gas supply lines arranged in parallel that include flow rate control devices and outlet side switching valves, wherein gas outlets of respective outlet side switching valves communicate with a manifold, and another gas supply line at a position close to a mixed gas outlet of the manifold supplies a low flow rate gas, wherein an outlet side of the flow rate control device and an inlet side of the outlet side switching valve are hermetically connected via an outlet side connecting fitting of the flow rate control device and a mounting table having a gas passage, wherein a small hole portion is provided at a part of a flow passage at the outlet side connecting fitting and/or a flow passage, which makes the outlet side switching valve and a mixed gas flow passage in the manifold communicate with one another.
US09233344B1

A polyimide polymer having hydroxyl and acetoxy function groups is provided together with a membrane made from the polymer. Also provided is a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using a polyimide membrane comprising a polyimide polymer with hydroxyl and acetoxy functional the process comprising: (a) providing the polyimide membrane comprising the polyimide polymer with hydroxyl and acetoxy functional groups which is permeable to the at least one gas; (b) contacting the mixture on one side of the polyimide membrane to cause said at least one gas to permeate the membrane; and (c) removing from the opposite side of the membrane a permeate gas composition comprising a portion of said at least one gas which permeated the polyimide membrane.
US09233343B2

Provided is a carbon dioxide separation membrane. The carbon dioxide separation membrane includes porous hollow titanium dioxide nanoparticles whose surfaces are modified with aminosilane having high affinity with carbon dioxide and a crosslinkable functional group. The carbon dioxide separation membrane provides both improved selectivity and improved permeability. In addition, the carbon dioxide separation membrane includes a copolymer matrix having excellent mechanical properties. Thus, it is possible to provide a carbon dioxide separation membrane having excellent selectivity and permeability as well as improved physical strength, chemical stability and temperature resistance.
US09233340B1

A cylinder arrangement for use with a reverse osmosis membrane array that receives pressurized fresh brine and generates fresh water and pressurized spent brine includes a hollow cylinder with an internal volume subdivided by a piston into two chambers. An arrangement of flow connections directs the pressurized spent brine to one chamber so as to act on the piston, thereby applying pressure to fresh brine within the other chamber for delivery to the reverse osmosis membrane array. The cylinder arrangement includes a pressure vessel enveloping substantially the entirety of the hollow cylinder, so as to define an enveloping volume in fluid flow communication with one of the chambers of the cylinder. Preferred implementations employ a pair of cylinders coaligned, and with their pistons interconnected by a common piston rod.
US09233337B2

A regeneration tower 7 of a CO2 recovery unit includes an upper regeneration portion 51 that has a tray portion 45, a lower regeneration portion 52 provided below the upper regeneration portion 51 and having a liquid dispersion portion 46, and a supply line L5 that supplies absorbing liquid stored in the tray portion 45 to the liquid dispersion portion 46. The supply line L5 is provided with a heat exchanger 53, and the absorbing liquid is circulated using the density difference between the absorbing liquid flowing before the heat exchanger 53 and the absorbing liquid flowing after the heat exchanger 53 as a driving force. This reduces the cost of equipment while reducing the power in the delivery of the absorbing liquid in the regeneration portion.
US09233335B2

A fresh air line for a fresh air system may include a tubular body enclosing a fresh air path in a circumferential direction. At least one annular adsorber element arranged coaxially in the tubular body. The fresh air line may also include at least one resonance chamber arranged radially between the tubular body and the adsorber element.
US09233334B2

A byproducts treating device includes a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and a controller. The transfer unit forcibly transfers byproducts from a byproduct source. The cleaning unit is combined with the transfer unit and separates the byproducts into at least one of a power or a byproduct gas. The controller is connected to the cleaning unit and selects at least one selection line for discharging byproduct gas. The byproducts flow from the transfer unit to the cleaning unit without flow lines, and the controller selects the at least one selection line based on a flux of the byproduct gas.
US09233325B2

In a centrifugal separator and method for cleaning of gas containing solid and liquid impurities. A stationary casing encloses a separation space through which gas flows. An inlet channel extends to the separation space and forms an inlet for the gas to be cleaned. A rotating member is provided in the separation space downstream the inlet and rotates about an axis of rotation. The rotating member comprises a number of separation discs and brings the gas to rotate for separating by means of centrifugal forces a main part of the impurities from the gas. A gas outlet channel is provided downstream the rotating member for discharging the cleaned gas. A first outlet is provided for discharging the impurities. A supply member is configured to permit the supply of a separation aid humidifying the particles, which aid is in the form of an aerosol, to the gas to be cleaned.
US09233312B1

A doll is provided which performs dance motions and may be used as an instructional aide. In a novel instructional method, a dancer is instructed to perform dance motions by observing and repeating the sequence of motions performed by the doll. Dance motions, such as the plié, are performed by the doll in a fluent, life-like manner.
US09233300B2

The disclosure relates to a system to deliver prioritized game audio wirelessly with a minimal latency by processing a low-priority game audio (such as background music) and high-priority game audio (such as sound effects) in a wireless gaming system, resulting in a minimal high-priority audio latency. The disclosure can then be used to transmit high quality positional multichannel audio at a minimal wireless bandwidth.
US09233290B2

A golf swing and putting stroke training device is provided that comprises a forearm connection strap, a pivoting member, and a connection means adapted to secure to a golfing glove closure strap. The device firmly secures to the forearm of the forward arm of a golfer, wherefrom a first member is supported therefrom extending toward the user's wrist. A second member is pivotably attached to the distal end of the first member and connects to the user's golfing glove along the top of the user's upper hand. The pivot joint therebetween allows for rotation of the second member in single plane and thus limits the user's wrist to single degree of freedom. Wrist movement is limited during a full swing to radial and ulnar deviation only, while the device is adapted to remain attached while putting to prevent wrist flexion or extension (e.g. wrist “breaking”) during a putting stroke.
US09233289B2

The invention relates to methods for training players and sportsmen. The technical result is an increase in the effectiveness of training. The method for training players and sportsmen with a piece of sports equipment on a pitch includes carrying out the training on a pitch that is provided with controllable dynamic lighting. The dynamic lighting is used to establish permitted zones in which the sportsman must be found, holding the piece of sports equipment. Further, the position, shape and area of the permitted zones are altered at random for the sportsman. The development of the sportsman's skill and the effectiveness of training are judged according to the sportsman's ability to stay in the permitted zones, holding the piece of sports equipment.
US09233285B2

A golf club holder includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. A ground engaging member is positioned at the first end, whereby the elongate body is supported in a ground surface in a substantially vertical orientation. A socket is provided for detachably securing a first end of at least one golf club spaced from the first end of the elongate body. A clamp is provided for detachably securing a second end of the at least one golf club spaced from the second end of the elongate body.
US09233284B2

A golf putter grip pattern is disclosed. The golf putter grip has a top end, a bottom end, a substantially flat front portion, a substantially curved rear portion, a first side, and a second side. The first and second sides are in between the front portion and the rear portion. The present invention may further include a pattern disposed on the golf putter grip that aids the golfer in perfecting the golf putter swing.
US09233280B2

A self-balancing golf putter. The self-balancing golf putter includes a club head. The club head includes a clubface configured to make contact with a golf ball. The self-balancing golf putter also includes a shaft attached to the club head. The shaft includes a center axis, wherein the center axis converges with a balance point configured to make the club face seek square when making contact with the golf ball.
US09233279B2

In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a thermoplastic resin and has a diameter of from 20 to 30 mm, the envelope layer is formed of a rubber composition containing primarily a rubber material and has a thickness of from 3 to 10 mm, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin composition containing primarily an ionomer, and the cover is formed of a resin composition containing primarily a urethane. Both the relationship among the specific gravities of the core, the envelope layer and the intermediate layer, and the relationship among the surface hardnesses of the core, the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover are optimized.
US09233268B2

A metal sport and entertainment framework includes a plurality of vertical metal supporting tubes, straight type horizontal metal side tubes, oblique horizontal metal side tubes, straight type horizontal metal branch tubes and oblique horizontal metal branch tubes. The vertical metal supporting tube is made of hollow metal tubes, and side tube combination hole units are arranged at interval on each vertical metal supporting tube. Straight type horizontal metal side tubes are laterally set between two vertical metal supporting tubes to form a vertical combined positioning state. An oblique combined positioning state is formed between oblique horizontal metal branch tubes and oblique horizontal metal side tubes. Thus, the framework can provide multiple configurations to meet various applications, and the detachable framework of multiple tubes combination enables more convenient transportation and individual component replacement to reduce operating cost and facilitate framework color matching for better practicability and industrial benefit.
US09233266B2

An upright ESFR sprinkler includes a generally tubular body, at least one frame arm, a closure assembly, an unactuated heat responsive trigger assembly and a deflector assembly with a K-factor greater than 14, and preferably 16.8. The passageway extends between inlet and outlet openings. The closure assembly is positioned proximate the outlet so as to occlude the passageway with a Belleville seal. An ejection spring is coupled to the closure assembly. The heat responsive trigger assembly has a Response Time Index of 40 meter1/2-second1/2 (m1/2sec1/2) or less. The deflector assembly includes a nosepiece and a plate like redirecting member. The plate like redirecting member faces the outlet and is coupled to the at least one frame arm and spaced from the outlet opening. The plate shaped member includes a first generally planar portion, a conical second portion, and a third portion extending from the conical second portion. The third portion includes a plurality of tines and a plurality of slots with at least one slot disposed between every two tines so that, when the heat responsive trigger assembly is actuated and the closure assembly is positioned to allow a density of water to flow from the outlet of the body so as to suppress a fire of a particular commodity situated beneath the ceiling of 35 feet or less. System and methods relating to the upright sprinklers are also provided.
US09233259B2

Applicators for HDR brachytherapy for topical skin treatment which employ multiple channels for radioisotope sources, oriented by the applicator generally parallel to each other and to a desired treatment area skin surface. These applicators provide good radiation exposure uniformity. Filtration of undesirable low energy radiation may be employed using an attached filter element. The applicators are particularly adapted for the treatment of squamous and basal cell skin cancers or other skin lesions. The applicators may provide two or more source guides in various sizes and shapes are described.
US09233258B2

Devices and systems are disclosed for the non-invasive treatment of medical conditions through delivery of energy to target tissue, comprising a source of electrical power, a magnetically permeable toroidal core, and a coil that is wound around the core. The coil and core are embedded in a continuous electrically conducting medium, which is adapted to have a shape that conforms to the contour of an arbitrarily oriented target body surface of a patient. The conducting medium is applied to that surface by any of several disclosed methods, and the source of power supplies a pulse of electric charge to the coil, such that the coil induces an electric current and/or an electric field within the patient, thereby stimulating tissue and/or one or more nerve fibers within the patient. The invention shapes an elongated electric field of effect that can be oriented parallel to a long nerve. In one embodiment, the device comprises two toroidal cores that lie adjacent to one another.
US09233255B2

Systems and methods for transferring medical information from a first medical monitoring device to a second device are provided. Medical information from the first medical monitoring device is encoded as an ECG waveform and the ECG waveform having the encoded medical information is provided to the second device as an input ECG waveform.
US09233252B2

A handheld device (10) has a graphic display (12), an interface (18) for wireless data transmission, an input unit (14) for input of control commands, and a control unit (16) connected to the display (12), the interface (18), and the input unit (14). The control unit (16) is designed to display a schematic diagram of a human body on the graphic display (12) and to allow a selection of partial regions of the diagram with the help of the input unit (14).
US09233245B2

A method for treating a subject is provided, including applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject.
US09233243B2

The present invention relates to a low-frequency stimulator using music, and a weight-loss assisting system having a low-frequency stimulator. The low-frequency stimulator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a beat extracting unit extracting a beat through a sound pressure magnitude comparison between one or more acoustic signals having different frequencies generated when music is played on a music player; a pulse generator generating a pulse having the same magnitude as that of the extracted beat; and a pair of electrode pads attached to a user's body and applying an electrical stimulus having an intensity corresponding to the magnitude of the generated pulse to the user's body.
US09233239B2

A spring contact component for a plug socket of an electromedical implant, with a coil surrounding the outer periphery of a plug opening. A simpler, more cost effective and automatable design of a plug socket module can be achieved in that at least one end of the coil is electrically and mechanically connected directly to a connector pin via a wire-shaped and/or strip-shaped element. The invention also relates to a corresponding plug socket module, a modular header, and a method for producing a spring contact component of this type.
US09233237B2

An apparatus for treating the brain comprises an implantable fluid exchange device coupled to a control unit to periodically alternate a delivery of a therapeutic agent with a removal of cerebrospinal fluid from a cranial subarachnoid space to prevent local inflammatory host-products from blocking a transmeningeal diffusion of the therapeutic agents into the cerebral cortex and thereby allow an effective treatment of cerebral cortical disorders by the delivery therapeutic agents.
US09233231B2

A breast cavity spacer device, such as for use with a percutaneous lumpectomy, is provided. The device includes a body having a projection on one end. The body has a bore extending there through. A catheter is disposed at least partially within the bore. A balloon member is fluidly coupled on one end of the catheter, the balloon member having an elliptical shape.
US09233224B1

A medical device and method are provided for accessing a side branch in an artery. The device includes a catheter having a sidewall, an internal lumen, and a side port formed through the sidewall. A perforating guide wire has a proximal portion within the internal lumen and a distal portion arranged to be movable out of the side port. The guide wire can be delivered through the side port to a side branch artery when the catheter is deployed to a location with the side port aligned with the side branch artery. In another embodiment, the catheter has inner and outer telescoping tubes with offset exit ports formed therein. The telescoping tubes can be used to change the degree of deflection of the perforating guide wire by changing the relative positions of the offset exit ports.
US09233221B2

A bite block and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The bite block may be configured to encompass a tube such as an endotracheal tube, and to protect the mouth of an intubated patient from clenching damage.
US09233218B2

A system for controlling the delivery of medical gases includes a digital signal processor that receives at least one ventilation parameter value change, calculates a fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, and a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to a patient. A graphical display presents the calculated fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate. A method of controlling the delivery of medical gases to a patient includes calculating a total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a fresh oxygen flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to the patient and presenting the total fresh gas flow rate, the fresh oxygen flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate on a graphical display.
US09233217B2

A personal vapor device having a disguised appearance is disclosed. The personal vapor device has an outer housing and removable lid that replicate the look of a conventional drinking container, such as a water bottle or drinking cup with a straw. An atomizing device, such as a cartomizer, is contained and concealed within the open interior of the outer housing. A mouthpiece extends through the removable lid and into the open interior. Atomized liquid from the cartomizer is delivered to the mouthpiece for delivery to the user. A power supply and a control circuit are contained within the open interior and, along with the atomizing device, are concealed within the outer housing. The disguised vapor device can be used without drawing attention to the user.
US09233214B2

An injection device includes a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing a medicament stored in the syringe. An arrangement for transferring a translation of a drive means to a plunger for pushing against the stopper includes a release latch pivoted at one end and connected to either the drive means or the plunger. The other end of the release latch engages the other one of the drive means or the plunger. The non-pivoted end of the release latch disengages by rotation upon contact between a ramp and another component when the stopper has displaced most of a predefined medicament dose. The release latch is long enough to provide a clearance between the plunger and the drive means when engaged to allow the plunger, stopper and needle to be retracted inside the syringe or a housing after disengaging the release latch.
US09233206B2

A hypodermic syringe and a plurality of single use cartridges able to be successively loaded into said syringe for providing rapid dispensing of a medicant to numerous users without contamination. The cartridges are continuously fed through the syringe to inoculate patients quickly and efficiently. An operator inserts a needle into a patient by pushing a trigger. Prior to insertion, a disinfectant is dispersed from the cartridge to maintain sterility. An operator then pushes in a plunger forcing the medication through the needle into the patient. The needle is pulled back with the plunger out of the patient's skin and back into the cartridge. A new cartridge on a clip is then advanced into the syringe to inoculate the next patient. The syringe and cartridge dispenser further maintains a sterile environment during successive vaccinations reducing the transmission of any disease from patient to patient.
US09233204B2

A method of administering insulin includes receiving blood glucose measurements of a patient at a data processing device from a glucometer. The blood glucose measurements are separated by a time interval. The method also includes receiving patient information at the data processing device and selecting a subcutaneous insulin treatment from a collection of subcutaneous insulin treatments. The selection is based on the blood glucose measurements and the patient information. The selection includes one or more of a subcutaneous standard program, a subcutaneous program without meal boluses, a meal-by-meat subcutaneous program without carbohydrate counting, a meal-by-meal subcutaneous program with carbohydrate counting, and a subcutaneous program for non-diabetic patients. The method also includes executing, using the data processing device, the selected subcutaneous insulin treatment.
US09233203B2

A needle structure for communicating media to or from a patient includes a hollow shaft having two ends and a longitudinal dimension between the two ends. A passage is provided along at least a portion of its longitudinal dimension for conveying a flowable media. The shaft has at least one bend along its longitudinal dimension to dampen motion of one end of the needle relative to the other end of the needle.
US09233201B2

A device for collecting liquid and, in particular, a device for collecting liquid or liquid-like substances used and/or generated in the course of medical procedures, the device including a bag-like product that is removable attachable to the site being treated, such as the ear or the nose, and including at least one opening for transporting the flushing liquid or other liquid-like substance from the site being treated into the bag. In accordance with the invention, the bag includes a collection section to be placed at the site being treated and a connecting support section that extends at least over the patient's one shoulder, the bag being designed to be supported on at least one shoulder when being used.
US09233191B2

The present invention is related to a medical device carrying at least on a portion of its surface at least one drug or drug preparation and at least one lipophilic lubricant at a ratio of 0.1-500% by weight of the at least one lubricant in relation to 100% by weight of the drug, wherein the at least one drug is selected of paclitaxel, arsenic trioxide, and lipophilic derivatives of corticoids and selected Limus drugs, and the at least one lipophilic lubricant is a C6-C30-monocarboxylic acid salt.
US09233179B2

A sanitizing system for use with monitors, particularly including touchscreen monitors, includes an ultraviolet light source positioned about a periphery of the monitor and configured to transmit light toward the monitor. A sensor detects the presence of an object such as a human finger in the close vicinity or in contact with the monitor in order to stop the operation of the lights.
US09233176B2

A method for injection of an imaging contrast into a patient, includes: a. in a first phase, injecting a fluid having a first concentration of contrast agent for a first period of time; and b. in a second phase, injecting a fluid having a second concentration of contrast agent for a second period of time. The osmolarity of the second phase is higher than the osmolarity of the first phase. The method can further include: c. in a third phase, subsequent to the second phase, injecting a fluid having a third concentration of contrast agent for a third period of time. The osmolarity of the third phase is lower than the osmolarity of the second phase. In embodiments in which the composition of the contrast agent of the third phase is the same as the composition of the contrast agent of the second phase, the third concentration can be lower than the second concentration.
US09233175B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a pteroyl ligand that binds to a target receptor protein, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid or derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods of imaging of inflammatory diseases using the compounds.
US09233165B2

The invention relates to (among other things) oligomer-aryloxy-substituted propanamine conjugates and related compounds. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits advantages over un-conjugated aryloxy-substituted propanamine compounds.
US09233163B2

A prodrug according to formula (I) wherein R2 is a residue of a drug, said drug having a hydroxyl group by which the COOR2 group is formed; Z is O or NH; m is 0 or 1; and R3 is an organic moiety comprising a lipophilic group or a residue of a polymer, provided that Z is 0 if the polymer is carboxymethyl dextran. A system includes a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles including a prodrug as described above, a stent and a source of uniform magnetic field capable of producing temporary magnetization of the stent and/or the magnetic nanoparticles. A method of treating a medical condition with a drug includes administering to a patient in need of the drug a prodrug as described above, the prodrug being capable of releasing the drug in the patient after the administration step.
US09233162B2

A cell-based screen is reported can be used to identify specific receptor-binding compounds in a combinatorial library of peptoids (N-alkylglycine oligomers) displayed on beads. This strategy was applied to the isolation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-binding peptoids, which were optimized to create lead compounds with high affinity for VEGFR2. One of these peptoids was shown to be an antagonist of VEGF-VEGFR2 interaction and receptor function.
US09233160B2

Dosage forms and drug delivery devices suitable for administration of pharmaceutical compounds and compositions, including the oral drug administration of compounds.
US09233149B2

This invention provides WT1 peptides and methods of treating, reducing the incidence of, and inducing immune responses against a WT1-expressing cancer, comprising same.
US09233147B1

A first set of carbon nanotubes is functionalized with streptavidin and co-functionalized with a cell treatment payload material. A second set of carbon nanotubes is functionalized with biotin and co-functionalized with specific cell targeting material. Mixing the first and second sets causes four carbon nanotubes from the second set to attach to each carbon nanotube from the first set. Multiple replicated virus-like particles result. The pharmaceutical composition seeks out and attaches to target cells. The carbon nanotubes from the first set penetrate the targeted cells and deliver their cell treatment payloads into the targeted cells. Near infrared energy is transmitted through tissue heating the carbon nanotubes for targeted cell treatment.
US09233139B2

As explained hereinbefore, the C12orf59 gene of the present invention suppresses cancer cell invasion and inhibits cancer cell survivability, and the over-expression of C12orf59 protein or a fragment thereof inhibits cancer cell invasion, so that C12orf59 gene or a fragment thereof not only can be effectively used for the pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating cancer but also can be used as a clinical marker for screening a cancer treatment agent candidate, for diagnosing various cancers or for predicting pathological stage. In addition, the C12orf59 gene or a fragment thereof of the present invention can be used for the method for preventing and treating cancer and for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating cancer.
US09233134B2

The present invention relates to topical compositions containing fermented extracts of Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) ingredients for improving the appearance and skin condition of the user. The topical compositions of the present invention are tailored for different users of different skin compositions according to TCM principles. The fermented TCM extracts are characterized by reduced odor and/or color in comparison with unfermented TCM extracts and are therefore more suitable for use in cosmetic products.
US09233133B2

The present invention provides a non-parenteral and non-ocular herbal synergistic detoxifier composition effective for blood purification, blood detoxification and in the treatment and management of disorders related to accumulation of toxins in the body having synergistic effect of its components in specific ratio, better bio availability wherein the amount of dose administered is remarkably low. The formulation of synergistic herbal composition has better patient compliance in the terms of palatability, ease of administration and is formulated in the form of syrup, lozenges/candies/jujubs/mouth freshener, sub-lingual tablets or chewable tablets. The present invention also provides a method of preparation of this formulation.
US09233128B2

Provided are a composition for stimulating differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts, which includes cryptotanshinone, and an osteogenesis stimulator including cryptotanshinone and MSCs. When the cryptotanshinone is treated to the MSCs, the differentiation into osteoblasts is stimulated, and thus osteogenesis of a patient may be stimulated by directly transplanting the differentiation-induced MSCs to the patient. Accordingly, the composition or osteogenesis stimulator may be used to treat patients having disability requiring stimulation of osteogenesis such as osteoporosis, bone fracture, bone grafting including alveolar bone grafting for implant placement, or other bone defects.
US09233117B2

Methods for safe and effective treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in a subject are described. The methods involve once daily topically applying to an affected skin area a topical composition containing ivermectin and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. It has been demonstrated that once daily topical treatment with ivermectin is significantly superior than twice-daily topical treatment with metronidazole in reducing inflammatory lesion counts.
US09233115B2

The present invention provides boronic acid compounds, boronic esters, and compositions thereof that can modulate apoptosis such as by inhibition of proteasome activity. The compounds and compositions can be used in methods of inducing apoptosis and treating diseases such as cancer and other disorders associated directly of indirectly with proteasome activity.
US09233104B2

Provided herein are compounds according to Formulas (I) or (II) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions comprising the same, for use in various methods, including treating cancer, abnormal cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, Alzheimer's disease, lung disease, osteoarthritis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and neurological conditions/disorders/diseases.
US09233103B2

The present invention relates to methods of treating heartburn in a patient receiving clopidogrel therapy. In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of preventing gastric bleeding or hemorrhage in patients receiving clopidogrel therapy.
US09233101B2

A new class of anti-microbial agents and methods for preventing or reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and/or diseases is provided. Preferably, these anti-microbial agents are also contraceptive and, thus, also prevent or reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies. The anti-microbial agents comprise a delivery vector having anti-microbial activity (and preferably contraceptive activity) coupled with a nitric oxide donor moiety.
US09233100B2

This invention relates to oral veterinary compositions for combating ectoparasites and endoparasites in animals, comprising at least one systemically-acting active agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides for improved methods for eradicating, controlling, and preventing parasite infections and infestations in an animal comprising administering the compositions of the invention to the animal in need thereof.
US09233098B2

The present application relates to nitrogen-containing fused ring compounds shown by general formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a stereoisomer thereof as CRTH2 antagonist, wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, W, X, Y, L1, L2, L3, A, B are as defined in the description; the present application further relates to a method for preparing the compounds, a pharmaceutical formulation and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds, a use of the compounds for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases related to activity of CRTH2.
US09233095B2

Small molecule inhibitors of bacterial ribonuclease (e.g., RnpA) and methods for their synthesis and use are described herein. The methods of using the compounds include treating and preventing microbial infections and inhibiting bacterial ribonuclease. Also described herein are methods of identifying compounds for treating or preventing a microbial infection.
US09233084B2

A facile method to synthesize stable calcium carbonate microstructures is demonstrated which allows in situ encapsulation of sensitive molecules like drugs. The methodology involves a macromolecular assembly of anionic polypeptide with cationic peptide oligomer to concurrently template and hold to stabilize the mineralized structure. The heterogeneously distributed mixture of anionic and cationic residues in the macromolecular assembly, similar to that is found in natural systems assists in recognizing and coassembling Ca2+ and CO32− ionic clusters, especially for formation of a disordered precursor phase such as amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and further crystallization to form a metastable vaterite phase. The assembly also facilitates encapsulation of a guest molecule such as tetracycline at ambient conditions without affecting the mineralization process. The tetracycline-loaded microstructures show excellent antibacterial activities against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and hence together with the fluorescence property of tetracycline and appropriate drug release profile, they can be used as multifunctional materials for therapeutic and imaging applications.
US09233083B2

Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US09233082B2

Provided are a method for searching for a malodor inhibitor by using the response of an olfactory receptor as an indicator; a method for inhibiting malodor based on the antagonism of olfactory receptors; and a malodor inhibitor. Disclosed are a method for searching for a malodor inhibitor, the method including: adding a test substance and a malodor-causing substance to any one olfactory receptor selected from the group consisting of OR51E1, OR2W1, OR10A6, OR51I2, and OR51L1, measuring the response of the olfactory receptor to the malodor-causing substance, identifying the test substance that suppresses the response of the olfactory receptor on the basis of the measured response, and selecting the identified test substance as a malodor inhibitor; an antagonist to any one olfactory receptor selected from the group consisting of OR51E1, OR2W1, OR10A6, OR51I2, and OR51L1; a method for inhibiting malodor using the antagonist.
US09233079B2

A method for preparing an aqueous suspension of nanocapsules comprising an oily core surrounded by a polymeric shell, comprises mixing first and second phases, wherein the first oily phase comprises a hydrophobic polymer, an oil or a mixture of oils, at least one active ingredient, and a surfactant TA1. The oily phase is brought to a temperature T1 higher than the melting point of the hydrophobic polymer, the hydrophobic polymer being miscible, at this temperature T1, with the mixture of the surfactant TA1 and the oil or mixture of oils, and the active ingredient being miscible, soluble or solubilized in the mixture of the surfactant TA1 and the oil or mixture of oils. The second polar phase comprises a hydrophilic polymer in the form of a hydrogel in an aqueous solution containing a surfactant TA2, to form the nanocapsules in an aqueous suspension.
US09233075B2

A capsule for suppressing appetite, comprising: a) a shell which dissolves in the stomach; and b) a plurality of elements inside the shell, which elements expand inside the stomach, after the shell dissolves, to form a connected mass with an envelope volume greater than the total volume of the elements, and at least 3 times the volume of the capsule.
US09233068B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic diseases or conditions with antimicrobial agent compositions and formulations administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disease or condition, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s).
US09233050B2

The device (1) according to the invention aims to join at least two medicine capsules (A, B) by adhesive bonding in a reliable and economical manner, in particular in the context of industrial production. To do this, this device comprises at least one matrix (10), which at least partially delimits a recess (15), for depositing capsules (Eight, B), and also a chamber (16), this recess and this chamber being separated from each other by a deformable wall (14) of the matrix, which matrix is designed to move elastically, by pneumatic action of its chamber (16), from a first configuration, in which its recess (15) receives the capsules with a glue (Z) interposed between them, to a second configuration, in which its deformable wall (14) at least partially envelops the capsules by flexible deformation, in such a way as to at least partially enclosed these capsules between the deformable wall and a bottom of the recess in order to align them and press them against one another.
US09233048B2

A waterproof hand-held electric breast massager includes a casing, a driving motor, a power supply element and a massaging member. The sealing cover is disposed at one end of the tubal body and at least one a protrusion at another end of the tubal body. The bottom body further has a conductive sheet, and at least one a positioning slot around a hollow portion of the bottom body. When the positioning slot of the bottom body is aligned with the protrusion, the bottom body can be inserted into the tubal body. The driving motor is mounted in the tubal body, and the driving motor has a first and a second conductive parts. The first conductive part and the conductive sheet make contact with each other. The massaging member has a bowl-like shape and a lip with an elastic curved surface at a circumference edge such that the casing is disposed perpendicular with the lip of the massaging member.
US09233047B2

A walker/cane assembly, multi-legged cane, and single-pointed cane may share common parts that may be easily connected and detached to allow a user to convert a walker/cane assembly to a multi-legged cane and/or a single-pointed cane. Accordingly, a user may use a single assembly that may be quickly and easily modified to meet the user's needs, such as his/her current balance or energy level. One or more folding mechanisms may be employed to allow the walker/cane assembly, or the frame forming a portion of the walker/cane assembly, to be easily collapsed and folded. This may allow a user to store the walker/cane assembly, or the frame portion of the assembly, in a smaller amount of space than the expanded walker/cane assembly or the frame portion of the assembly may otherwise occupy.
US09233045B2

A memorial urn includes a central core having at least one vessel stored therein, the vessel functioning to house and identify cremated remains. A protective outer shell having a one or more commemoratory items is positioned about the core. One or more lighted elements illuminates the outer body, and a candleholder is positioned onto the outer body. A base unit is removably secured to the bottom of the outer shell.
US09233043B2

A femur support assembly attachable to a surgical table. The support assembly is comprised of a support plate, and an elongated rod reciprocally movable in a generally vertical direction relative to the support plate. An elongated support is mounted to the rod. The elongated support is rotatable about the rod and has a plurality of like apertures formed thereon. Each of the apertures defines a mounting position. A femur hook is provided having an end dimensioned to be received in one of the plurality of apertures.
US09233038B2

A patient support apparatus includes a surface and a pneumatic system cooperating to provide a microclimate system for reducing moisture at the interface of a patient and the surface. The patient support apparatus further includes a graphical user interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust operation of the microclimate system in response to sensor outputs from sensors included in the microclimate system and caregiver inputs from the graphical user interface.
US09233037B2

A system for turning a person from a supine position to a prone position and vice versa includes opposing patient support platens each coupled to a corresponding end of a first and a second COG assembly, the first and second COG assemblies each coupled to a corresponding one of a pair of spindles, each one of the spindles disposed on a corresponding lift column. In yet another embodiment, registration plates, coupled to the system, conveniently align the attachment mechanisms of each COG assembly with distal ends of one or more platens. The registration plates allow for medical staff to align the system so that it straddles the operating table with the attachment mechanisms of the COG assembly in alignment with platen tubes (or other complimentary attachment mechanisms) located at the distal ends of the anterior platen.
US09233032B2

The present invention aims to provide a liquid-pervious sheet suitable to be used as a liquid-pervious topsheet of a bodily fluid-absorbent wearing article. One surface 58 of both surfaces 57, 58 of a liquid-pervious sheet 11 is formed with crests 61 and troughs 62 extending in parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction A and alternate in a transverse direction B. The one surface 58 is additionally formed at least in the respective crests 61 with a series of compressed debosses 70. In the respective compressed debosses 70, thermoplastic synthetic fibers forming the liquid-pervious sheet 11 more densely gather together than in zones surrounding the respective compressed debosses 70 and thereby maintain initial fiber formation of the individual thermoplastic synthetic fibers.
US09233028B2

Wounds dressings, systems, and methods are presented that involve using a patient's body heat to enhance liquid removal from the wound dressing through a high-moisture-vapor-transmission-rate drape. Additional heat sources or devices, such as nano-antennas or electrical heating elements, may be added or used separately to enhance the removal liquid from the wound dressing. Other dressings, systems, and methods are presented herein.
US09233022B2

A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a plurality of actuation controls of the handle, a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the housing tube. An actuation of an actuation control of the plurality of actuation controls may gradually curve the housing tube. A gradual curving of the housing tube may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of an actuation control of the plurality of actuation controls may gradually straighten the housing tube. A gradual straightening of the housing tube may gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US09233010B2

The embodiments provide a spinal implant that is configured for lateral insertion into a patient's intervertebral disc space. The spinal implant may have a body having a tapered anterior portion and one or more apertures. The tapered anterior portion allows for concomitant distraction of soft tissue during insertion of the implant. In addition, at least some of the apertures are designed to permit a predetermined amount of nutation by a fixation element. The fixations elements that allow nutation enable the fixation element to toggle from one position to another, for example, during subsidence of the implant in situ.
US09233006B2

A facet implant system for implanting between a superior facet and an inferior facet. The facet implant system includes a first facet implant component and a second facet implant component. The first facet implant component has a first articulating surface and a first engagement surface located opposite the first articulating surface. The first facet implant component has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The first facet implant component has teeth that extend from the first engagement surface. The teeth are arranged in a plurality of rows and wherein teeth in adjacent rows are offset from each other. The second facet implant component has a second articulating surface and a second engagement surface located opposite the second articulating surface. The second facet implant component has teeth that extend from the second engagement surface.
US09233003B2

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (e.g., reverse total shoulder arthroplasty). In one specific example, a glenoid component used to resurface the scapula may be provided. Of note, unlike traditional total shoulder arthroplasty the glenoid component in a reverse shoulder is convex rather than concave; it acts as a physical stop to prevent the superior migration of the humeral head—a typical occurrence in patients suffering from rotator cuff tear arthropathy (CTA).
US09232999B2

A heart valve implant may include a shaft and an anchor configured to be coupled to an end of the shaft. A spacer may be coupled to a portion of the shaft and comprise a plurality of individual segments including a first and at least a second individual segment. The first segment may be coupled to the shaft. The second segment may be coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first segment and may have at least one cross-section dimension which is greater than an internal cross-sectional dimension of a delivery lumen. Additional segments may be coupled to an inner, adjacent segment. The segments may include a collapsible body portion to facilitate percutaneously delivery through a lumen. The segments may define an outer surface of the spacer configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through the heart valve in a closed position.
US09232998B2

A trans-apical implant includes a spacer defining spacer cavity configured to be expanded from a retracted position, a shaft extending from the spacer, the shaft defining an inflation lumen fluidly coupled to the spacer cavity and configured to be fluidly coupled to an expansion medium source, and a spacer valve assembly disposed within at least one of the spacer or shaft, the spacer valve assembly configured to allow selectively allow an expansion medium to flow into the spacer cavity to be selectively expand the spacer from a retracted position to an expanded position.
US09232995B2

In some embodiments, a valve prosthesis includes an inlet portion that is substantially s-shaped and configured to engage the floor of the outflow tract of the native heart atrium. In some embodiments, a valve prosthesis includes a chordae guiding element configured to reduce bending of the chordae to reduce stress on the chordae during the cardiac cycle. In some embodiments, a valve prosthesis includes a central portion having an hourglass shape configured to pinch a native annulus in order to provide axial fixation of the valve prosthesis within a valve site. In some embodiments, a valve prosthesis includes a frame having an outflow end that is flared to provide a gap between an outflow end of the frame and an outflow end of prosthetic leaflets when the prosthetic leaflets are fully opened.
US09232994B2

A stented prosthetic heart valve including a stent, a plurality of leaflets, and a coupling apparatus. The stent includes a plurality of struts combining to define a generally tubular body, with the struts forming strut segments. The leaflets are mounted to the stent, and include a leaflet provided as part of a first leaflet layer that further forms a tab region. The coupling apparatus is configured for connecting the first leaflet layer to the stent, and includes a backing layer, a guide plate, and a pin. The guide plate and the pin are formed apart from the stent. In this regard, a portion of the backing layer and the tab region are secured between the guide plate and the pin. Further, another portion of the backing layer is attached to at least one of the strut segments to mount the leaflet of the first leaflet layer to the stent.
US09232992B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices and methods for treating a target site within the body, such as for treating vascular abnormalities. For example, one embodiment provides a stent graft including an occlusive material having a preset, overlapping configuration comprising at least three inverted overlapping layers that are folded over one another. The at least three inverted overlapping layers are configured to be separated and disposed within a catheter in a non-overlapping configuration and return to the preset, overlapping configuration when deployed from the catheter.
US09232983B2

A method is disclosed for determining an illumination beam dose in surgical field illumination. Said method comprises the following steps: at least one actual illumination-relevant value is sensed; and an illumination beam dose is calculated from said sensed actual value. Sensing of the actual illumination-relevant value includes sensing of a value of at least one adjustable parameter of an illumination device. Furthermore, simulated dose characteristics associated with the adjustable parameter are selected, at least one simulated dose value is calculated taking into account the value of the adjustable parameter and the associated simulated dose characteristics, and the illumination beam dose is calculated taking into account the at least one simulated dose value. Also disclosed are an apparatus, a computer program product, and a surgical microscope for carrying out said method.
US09232963B2

A trocar comprises a retention cannula comprising an inverted or incised retention pattern disposed thereon. Embodiments of the incised cannula exhibit reduced tissue trauma compared with screw-threaded cannula, improved fixation and/or retention compared with an unthreaded cannula, and good sealing between the cannula and the incision.
US09232959B2

Prostate treatment using fluid stream to resect prostate tissue, thereby relieving symptoms of conditions such as BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinoma. A device having a fluid delivery element is positioned within a lumen of the urethra within the prostate. A fluid stream is directed outwardly from the fluid delivery element toward a wall of the urethral lumen. The fluid delivery element is moved to scan the fluid stream over the wall to remove a volume of tissue surrounding the lumen. The fluid may be combined with therapeutically active substances or with substances that increase resection efficiency. Fluid force may be adjusted to provide selective tissue resection such that soft tissue is removed while harder tissue is left undamaged. In order to gain a working space within the urethra, another fluid may be introduced to insufflate the urethra in the region of treatment.
US09232953B2

A cutting tool for bone, cartilage, and disk removal includes a body with a first radial array of helical flutes formed along the body with a continuous radius in a first helical direction. The body has a second radial array of helical flutes formed along the body with a continuous radius in a second helical direction opposed to the first helical direction and intersecting the first array of helical flutes. Each helical flute forms a pair of spaced apart rake surfaces, which collectively perform a first and second cutting operations along a side of the body such that the intersecting rakes balance the cutting operation thereby minimizing axial loading of the cutting tool to permit bidirectional cutting while minimizing g inadvertent axial translation of the tool.
US09232952B2

A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
US09232951B2

A method for aligning a bone cutting guide on a tibia may involve coupling a cutting guide alignment device and an attached cutting guide with a tibia, adjusting the alignment device in a varus/valgus orientation, adjusting the alignment device in an anterior/posterior orientation, attaching the cutting guide to the tibia, and removing the alignment device from the cutting guide, leaving the cutting guide attached to the tibia. The adjustments to the alignment device may be made according to vertically and horizontally oriented laser lights emitted from the alignment device. As the alignment device is adjusted, the bone cutting guide attached to the alignment device changes position relative to the tibia.
US09232943B2

An apparatus for delivering bioabsorbable fasteners of the type having two cannulated legs to secure the two sides of an incision in tissue comprises a housing containing a magazine with one or more fasteners positioned on a reciprocally movable fastener support. Needle guide tubes and the legs of the front-most fastener are in slidable contact with at least one alignment surface configured to axially align them. An actuator is operated by a user to move two needles within the needle guide tubes to insert each needle into a cannulated leg. A timing lever acts on the fastener support in concert with the actuator movement to remove support of the front-most fastener after the needles are inserted. The needle guide tubes transfer force to the fastener, to push it out of the magazine and along a path through the center of a bifurcated foot, to insert it into the tissue.
US09232940B2

A system for transdermal repair of soft tissue includes an instrument comprising a proximal actuator portion, a fixed needle having a lumen and extending distally from the proximal actuator portion, and a movable needle having a lumen and extending distally from the proximal actuator portion. The movable needle is movable axially between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the proximal actuator portion. A suture needle is disposed within the lumen of one of the fixed and movable needles, and has a length of suture connected thereto. Needle graspers are disposed in the lumen of each needle, for securing the suture needle and assisting in the transfer of the suture needle from one needle to the other to complete a suture passing step.
US09232938B2

A method for closing a fissure in a region of tissue having an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising: providing at least a pair of transverse anchor components, each transverse anchor component being coupled to at least one flexible longitudinal fixation component having a longitudinal axis; placing the transverse anchor components relative to the inner surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure such that an exposed end of a flexible longitudinal fixation component extends through the tissue and past the outer surface of the tissue on both sides of the fissure; applying axial tension to the exposed ends; and anchoring the exposed ends.
US09232937B2

A surgical tool well suited for less invasive surgery. Uses include spinal surgery and microdecompressive techniques. The method and device are useful for rearchitecting the spine. A cutting tip or head on a shaft is shielded during non-use to protect tissue and neural elements. To further protect neural elements and tissue, an inflatable retractor is introduced into the body with the surgical tool.
US09232920B2

A system and method of use for a probe is disclosed that includes a self-expanding housing constructed to permit fluid flow therethrough and constructed for insertion into a subject to be imaged. A plurality of RF coils is attached to the housing to acquire MR data.
US09232918B2

An image display apparatus includes a display section (display unit) that displays an image, an information acquisition section that acquires predominance levels of sympathetic nerves and parasympathetic nerves and an activity magnitude of the autonomic nerves based on the biological information, an image generation section that generates the biological state image in which a figure having a size according to the acquired activity magnitude of the autonomic nerves is set along a first axis, along one side of which the predominance level of the sympathetic nerves is set with respect to a reference point and along the other side of which the predominance level of the parasympathetic nerves is set with respect to the reference point, in a position according to the acquired predominance levels of the sympathetic nerves and the parasympathetic nerves.
US09232916B2

Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes are also described.
US09232913B2

A method to reduce DPOAE fine structure in the measurement of DPOAE acoustic signals generated in the cochlea in response to two primary tones.
US09232908B2

According to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus, a scanning-parameter limit calculating unit creates examination information that represents scanning conditions for collection of magnetic resonance signal data based on scanning parameters set by an operator; a scanning-condition edit/scan positioning unit creates a time chart that indicates the type and a sequential execution order of an event to be executed when collecting magnetic resonance signal data based on the examination information created by the scanning-parameter limit calculating unit, and causes a time-chart display unit to display the created time chart.
US09232906B2

An electromagnetic pedicle awl utilizes a tightly focused time-varying magnetic flux to create a localized electromotive force (EMF) near the tip. The localized EMF creates localized eddy currents in nearby nerves which excite ionic nerve channels, the excitation being detected by an electromyographic recording device. The awl only excites nerves directly in front of and directly to the side of the tip. The awl is comprised of a tapered awl or drill tip in combination with a solid core surrounded by a solenoid. A pulsed electric current source drives the solenoid to create a time-varying magnetic field in the vicinity of the tapered tip. The awl or drill tip may be stationary with respect to the solenoid or it may rotate. The awl in combination with an EMG detector connected to a patient is sensitive to the pedicle hole position with respect to adjacent nerves and reduces false placement failure.
US09232902B2

An amplifier circuit includes first and second amplification units. A first detection electrode and a high impedance circuit are connected to the input terminal of the first amplification unit. A second detection electrode and a high impedance circuit are connected to the input terminal of the second amplification unit. The output terminals of the first and second amplification units output first and second output signals, and are connected to the input terminals of a differential amplifier circuit through coupling capacitors, respectively. The differential amplifier circuit operates a difference between the first and second output signals in a state where a direct-current component is omitted.
US09232895B2

Disclosed is a method for interpreting image data that represents variations in density of matter inside a subject. A data processing system receives image data from a scan of a subject. The data processing system automatically discerns one or more bones, one or more arteries, and one or more organs of the subject, based at least in part on the image data. The data processing system may also automatically identify one or more of the discerned bones, arteries, and organs. The data processing system may also automatically determine a branch point of one of the one or more arteries of the subject. The data processing system may also produce output that depicts one or more of the identified bones, one or more of the identified arteries, one or more of the identified organs, and/or or the outer or inner margin of the body wall. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09232893B2

A structure for wireless communication having a plurality of conductor layers, an insulator layer separating each of the conductor layers, and at least one connector connecting two of the conductor layers wherein an electrical resistance is reduced when an electrical signal is induced in the resonator at a predetermined frequency.
US09232886B2

Apparatus for use in an operating theatre equipped with a surgical table, comprises a lifting frame (12) attachable to the surgical table and adapted for lifting a body part of a subject undergoing a surgical procedure upon the surgical table, and comprising an upright support post (18) incorporating a jack (54), and a lifting arm (17) pivotally mounted upon the post, whereby the arm can be turned about the upright support post on thrust bearing (57) to either overhang the surgical table, or be pivoted away to permit access to the surgical table. The arm is adapted to support a retractor that comprises a blade portion incorporating a plurality of independent lighting devices positioned in light ports (71, 72, 73) and configured to provide discrete illumination selectively to zones within the surgical field according to (a) a predetermined sequence program, or (b) a sequence determined by a user of the retractor.
US09232884B2

A capsule medical apparatus includes a tissue obtaining unit that obtains a tissue from a body site of a subject; a detecting unit that detects a state of the tissue obtaining unit that varies depending on whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; an output unit that outputs information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; and a control unit that determines whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue based on the state of the tissue obtaining unit, which is detected by the detecting unit, and causes the output unit to output the information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue.
US09232869B1

A utensil and method for holding a flatbread during preparation. The utensil secures the flatbread between a pair of rods to enable removal from hot oil, rolling, and general preparation of the flatbread, such as a tortilla. The rods that are disposed in a somewhat parallel spaced-apart relationship to one another. A space forms between the rods to securely position the flatbread between the rods for support. Each rod includes a proximal end that joins with a handle for facilitated handling of the utensil, and a distal end that engages the flatbread in a variety of manipulations. The proximal ends join together to form a junction. The junction includes an impeding portion that tapers into a linear portion. The impeding portion is configured to bias the rods slightly towards each other while still maintaining space between the rods. The linear portion fits into a handle.
US09232865B2

An end display includes a base, an end panel coupled to a rear of the base, at least one channel mounted to the base and having an open top, a first wall panel and a spanner. The first wall panel is received by the at least one channel when the first wall panel is in a display position and is removed from the at least one channel when the first wall panel is in a storage position. The spanner is mounted to the end panel and includes at least one flange. The at least one flange has a first through hole for receiving a fastener that secures the first wall panel in the display position and a second through hole for receiving a fastener for securing at least the first wall panel in the storage position.
US09232859B2

A compression lock on a connector for a shelving post has upper and lower, mating collar parts having distal ends encircling more than 180 degrees of the post but separated by a gap through which the post can pass. Each distal end has an axially extending projection with a rounded end and a recess adjoining the projection. The projections of one collar part mate with the recesses of the other collar part to interlock the collar parts around a compression sleeve and form a frusto-conical inner surface that wedges the a mating sleeve against the post to affix a shelf attached to the connector.
US09232858B2

The invention concerns a stabilizer shoe (13) intended for a shelf (1) for storing objects, which has on its corner points vertical longitudinal posts (2) with lockable recesses (7). Into which a strut (8) provided with mounting hooks (12) is suspended, which possesses a prestressed, open upward retaining pocket (10), in which one or several shelf bottoms (3) are held in a self-clamping manner. The stabilizer shoe (13) is designed as a separate one-piece component and substantially in the form of an L. One branch (14) is designed flat and is inserted between the longitudinal post (2) and the strut (8). The other branch (15) has respectively a right-angled folded edge (17) at its opposed longitudinal sides and hence forms a U-shaped profile (18), into which the longitudinal external side (4) of a shelf bottom (3) is inserted.
US09232848B2

A carrier for carrying sporting equipment and other items comprises a base member that is assembled to a pair of shoulder straps, to be carried in the manner of a backpack. Depending on the type of equipment to be carried, one of a plurality of interchangeable equipment-specific members is selected and secured to the base member in a simple and efficient manner, without the use of tools. The chosen type of equipment to be carried is then secured to the corresponding equipment-specific member.The base member may comprise a female dovetail joint, opening toward the top, and each of the equipment-specific members a corresponding male dovetail, so that the desired equipment-specific member can be assembled to the base member by simply sliding the male dovetail into the female dovetail, and gravity will retain the desired equipment-specific member in the desired position.In a further improvement, the male dovetail may be part of an intermediate member, which allows relative rotation of the equipment-specific member though a limited range.
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