US09406476B2
An improved mercury-dispensing combination of materials is made up of a compound A including mercury and a second metal selected among titanium, zirconium and mixtures thereof and an alloy or an intermetallic compound B including copper and tin, said mercury-dispensing combination of materials further containing an amount of oxygen comprised between 0.03% and 0.48% with respect to the overall weight of the composition A+B. It is also possible to add a getter material C that includes metals such as titanium, zirconium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium and mixtures thereof or their alloys with other metals such as nickel, iron, aluminum.
US09406471B2
A reed for a reed switch and a reed switch are provided. The reed may include a first portion having a first thickness and a first length, a second portion having a second thickness and a second length, and a hinged portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the hinged portion having a third thickness and a third length, wherein the third length is less than 150% of the first thickness and the third thickness is less than each of the first thickness and the second thickness. The reed switch may include the reed disposed in an insulating housing with a reed deformer to deform the reed.
US09406469B2
An electromagnetic relay has a movable touch piece, a movable contact provided on the movable touch piece, and a fixed contact opposed to the movable contact. The movable touch piece is rotated by a movable iron piece that rotates based on magnetization and demagnetization of an electromagnet block, to make the movable contact come into contact with and separate from the fixed contact. Operation characteristics are made adjustable by a press-fitting amount at the time of press-fitting a fixed contact terminal provided with the fixed contact into a spool of the electromagnet block along a moving direction of the movable contact.
US09406463B2
A switch is provided including an actuating body and a base where the actuating body is movably disposed upon the base, the actuating body has an arcuate shape delimited by generally parallel arc edges joined at their ends by curved edges, the actuating body includes an upper surface which inclines in a direction from a concave side of the arcuate shaped actuating body to a convex side thereof, and the actuating body is configured to pivot in a direction toward at least one of the end curved edges.
US09406457B2
An electronic power apparatus includes a housing, a pair of input power pins and a pair of output power pins, and power components mounted on a power circuit board and electrically connected to the input power pins and the output power pins to modulate a supply of power from the input power pins to the output power pins. A control unit of the electronic power apparatus is arranged on a control circuit board disposed at a distance from the power circuit board inside the housing. A user-actuated input unit of the electronic power apparatus includes a variable-speed actuator having a first portion at least partially arranged outside the housing to be engageable by a user and a second portion movably arranged between the power circuit board and the control circuit board.
US09406451B2
A method for determining the wear on a contact element of an electrical switch, for example, of a switching installation for high or medium voltage, includes recording electrical values which represent an electrical variable, which is relevant to an arc occurring at the switch during a switching operation, as a function of time, and calculating a wear value, which represents the wear on the contact element, from a plurality of wear contribution values. The wear contribution values are calculated from a plurality of subsets of the recorded electrical values using a plurality of wear contribution calculation rules, with the result that each of the wear contribution values is calculated from a respective one of the subsets of values according to a respective one of the wear contribution calculation rules. At least two of the wear contribution calculation rules differ from one another.
US09406441B2
A multi-layer ceramic capacitor is constituted by ceramic dielectric layers alternately laminated with conductive layers, wherein the ceramic dielectric layers are sintered in such a way that core-shell grains having a core-shell structure are mixed with uniform solid-solution grains resulting from uniform progression of the solid solution process. Such multi-layer ceramic capacitor is characterized in that the area ratio of the core-shell grains to all sintered grains constituting the ceramic dielectric layer is 5 to 15% and that the average grain size of all sintered grains including the core-shell grains and uniform solid-solution grains is 0.3 to 0.5 μm.
US09406439B2
The invention relates to a process for forming a lead-based ceramic oxide dielectric material comprising at least one pyrochlore crystalline phase, which process comprises the following steps: a) a step of depositing at least one amorphous layer of said lead-based ceramic oxide material on a substrate; and b) a crystallization annealing step carried out on said amorphous layer at a temperature not exceeding 550° C., by means of which a lead-based ceramic oxide dielectric material comprising at least one pyrochlore phase is obtained. Application to the fabrication of capacitors on integrated circuits.
US09406436B2
An inductive power transfer apparatus suitable for producing a magnetic field for inductive power transfer is disclosed. The apparatus has three or more coils arranged such that when energized with a power source, magnetic fields produced by each coil augment each other on a first surface and substantially weaken each other on a second surface. The first and second surfaces have an obverse relationship to each other. Also disclosed is a roadway inductive power transfer module suitable for producing a magnetic field for inductive power transfer to a vehicle using the roadway, and an Inductive power transfer apparatus suitable for receiving a magnetic field for inductive power transfer.
US09406433B2
An air core reactor (47) including a plurality of concentric conductor winding packages (44, 46) wherein a force (F+) generated by the interaction of current (+) flowing through one package and a magnetic field (42) generated by the reactor is out of phase (F−) with a force generated in another package, thereby effectively mitigating audible sound generated by power operation of the reactor. In one embodiment (FIG. 3), the out of phase force may be generated when at least one winding (38c, 37d) of one package (38) is configured to conduct a current (−) that is at least 10 degrees out of phase with a current (+) conducted by another package (40) or other windings (38a, 38b) of the reactor (36).
US09406427B2
A planar transformer or balun device, having small trace spacing and high mutual coupling coefficient, and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed. The method may comprise providing a first and a second inductor on a primary and a second substrate respectively, interleaving at least partially the first inductor with the second inductor, coupling the primary and the secondary substrates to form a unitary structure, and providing electrical contacts to couple the first and second inductors with another device or circuit.
US09406426B2
A coil carrier for an electromagnetic actuator (2), with a winding section (3) for the accommodation of an energizable winding, with an injection molded plastic body (4), with a first yoke disc (8) designed as an annular disc and affixed on a first axial face of the winding section (3), and with an armature guide chamber enclosed by the plastic body (4) for the accommodation of an axially adjustable armature (32), wherein a second yoke disc (16) is provided on an axial face of the winding section (3) that is located opposite to the first axial face, characterized in that the first yoke disc (8) has at least one recess (24) that is open in the radially inwards direction, and in that the first yoke disc (8) is affixed to the plastic body (4) by means of overmolding, such that plastic body material projects radially inwards beyond the recess (24) and forms a guide (12) for the armature (32), and in that the second yoke disc (16) is affixed to the plastic body (4) by means of overmolding.
US09406423B1
A magnetic sleeve assembly includes a body, a sleeve, a magnetic member, and a C-clip. The body includes a function end and a first groove. The body extends through the sleeve. A first space is defined in the first end of the sleeve so as to receive the magnetic member. A second groove is defined in the outside of the sleeve. At least one through hole is defined in the inner end of the second groove and communicates with the first passage. The magnetic member has a second passage which communicates with the first passage. The C-clip is a flexible clip and engaged with the second groove of the sleeve. At least one engaging portion of the C-clip extends through the at least one through hole and is engaged with the first groove. The at least one engaging portion is movable between the first and second sidewalls.
US09406420B2
A coil component 1 is provided with coil conductors 10a and 10b and a magnetic metal powder containing resin 22 (22a and 22b) covering the coil conductors 10a and 10b. The magnetic metal powder containing resin 22 includes first metal powder having a first average grain diameter, second metal powder having a second average grain diameter that is smaller than the first average grain diameter, and third metal powder having a third average grain diameter that is smaller than the second average grain diameter. The first average grain diameter is 15 μm or more and 100 μm or less. The third average grain diameter is 2 μm or less. The first metal powder mainly contains Permalloy and the second and third metal powders mainly contain carbonyl iron.
US09406409B2
A spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a submersible pressure vessel including a casing that defines an interior cavity, the casing including a corrosion resistant and heat conductive material with a thermal conductivity of above about 7.0 watts per meter per kelvin; and a rack enclosed within the interior cavity and configured to support one or more spent nuclear fuel rods.
US09406406B2
A control rod is used to control the reaction of a nuclear reactor. The control rod comprises one or more internal rodlet(s) and a hafnium skin that serves as the outermost layer, rather than a stainless steel cladding. Several variations on rodlets are contemplated. The rodlets are made of hafnium or Ag—In—Cd. The resulting control rod, due to the lack of a stainless steel cladding, has a greater rod reactivity worth, increased weight, and high flexibility.
US09406404B2
A memory array having a main memory array and a redundant memory array. The redundant memory array includes redundant memory arranged in replacement units to which memory of the main memory are mapped. Each replacement unit includes columns of redundant memory arranged in input-output (IO) groups and further includes columns of redundant memory from a plurality of IO groups. The IO groups have columns of memory associated with a plurality of different IOs and the plurality of IO groups of the replacement unit adjacent one another.
US09406402B2
A semiconductor memory device and a method of operating the same are provided. The method of operating the semiconductor memory device includes detecting a first group of changed bits between first and second page data, by comparing the first and second page data, which are read out using first and second test voltages from the memory cells, respectively, detecting a second group of changed bits between the second page data and a third page data, by comparing the second page data with the third page data read out from the memory cells using a third test voltage, comparing the numbers of the first and second groups of changed bits, and determining one of the first to third test voltages as a read voltage according to the comparing of the numbers of the first and second groups of changed bits.
US09406392B2
A method of programming a storage device includes determining, at a controller of the storage device, that a first program mode of a plurality of program modes is to be entered in response to first information, wherein the first information includes a parameter associated with temperature, power consumption or input/output workload, and changing, using the controller, a program ratio of a first programming and a second programming of the storage device in the first program mode.
US09406385B2
A storage device includes non-volatile memory and a controller. A method performed in the data storage device includes receiving, at the controller, first data to be stored at the non-volatile memory. The method further includes sending, from the controller, the first data, first dummy data, and second dummy data to the non-volatile memory to be stored at respective logical pages of a single physical page in the non-volatile memory. The single physical page includes multiple storage elements that are programmable into multiple voltage states according to a mapping of bits to states. The first dummy data and the second dummy data prevent a storage element of the single physical page from being programmed to a particular voltage state of the multiple voltage states.
US09406378B2
Technology for writing data to a phase change memory array is disclosed. In an example, a method may include identifying mask logic for masking cells in the phase change memory array and routing the mask logic to the cells. The method may further include routing input data to the cells. Set and reset pulses for the cells may be selectively prevented or inhibited based on the mask logic.
US09406370B2
A memory device capable of optimizing a refresh cycle is provided. The memory device includes a monitor circuit capable of generating a signal serving as a trigger for a refresh operation. The monitor circuit includes a transistor and a capacitor. The monitor circuit has a function of sensing that a potential retained in the capacitor is lower than a reference potential, a function of generating a first signal and a second signal on the basis of the sensing result, and a function of turning on the transistor in response to the second signal and resetting the potential retained in the capacitor to an initialization state. It is possible to start refresh of a memory cell in response to the first signal.
US09406357B2
Embodiments of a data capture system and method may be used in a variety of devices, such as in memory controllers and memory devices. The data capture system and method may generate a first set of periodic signals and a second set of periodic signals that differs from the first set. Either the first set of periodic signals or the second set of periodic signals may be selected and used to generate a set of data capture signals. The selection of either the first set or the second set may be made on the basis of the number of serial data digits in a previously captured burst of data. The data capture signals may then be used to capture a burst of serial data digits.
US09406349B2
Under one aspect, a covered nanotube switch includes: (a) a nanotube element including an unaligned plurality of nanotubes, the nanotube element having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; (b) first and second terminals in contact with the nanotube element, wherein the first terminal is disposed on and substantially covers the entire top surface of the nanotube element, and wherein the second terminal contacts at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nanotube element; and (c) control circuitry capable of applying electrical stimulus to the first and second terminals. The nanotube element can switch between a plurality of electronic states in response to a corresponding plurality of electrical stimuli applied by the control circuitry to the first and second terminals. For each different electronic state, the nanotube element provides an electrical pathway of different resistance between the first and second terminals.
US09406341B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing audio files of a user to reduce latencies in play start times on local devices. The audio files are stored on cloud storage managed by a server. One method includes processing a plurality of audio files associated with a user, where the processing is configured to create audio snippet files from each of the plurality of audio files. The audio snippet files representing a beginning part of each of the plurality of audio files. The method also includes transmitting the audio snippet files to a client device and detecting a request from the client to begin playing a first audio file from the plurality of audio files of the user. The first audio file being stored on the cloud storage managed by the server.
US09406337B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a disk array device, a failure path specifying method and a program thereof capable of specifying a physical interconnection path where failures occurred.
US09406334B2
A method of detecting whether data in a tape drive used in a file system is tampered is described according to one embodiment. The method includes: (a) preparing a first tape cartridge including a tape on which multiple files and archival records of index information are stored in a WORM partition, and index information is stored in the R/W partition; (b) reading and comparing the index information of the R/W partition and the last index information of the WORM partition; and (c) when these two pieces of index information do not match, determining that the index information of the R/W partition is tampered when these two pieces of index information do not match.
US09406311B2
An encoding method executed by a computer, the method includes converting by the computer information about a transient included in a low-frequency component of an audio signal into information about a transient included in a high-frequency component of the audio signal, detecting, by the computer the transient of the high-frequency component of the audio signal based on the high-frequency component of the audio signal and on the information about the transient of the high-frequency component obtained by the converting; and encoding, by the computer the high-frequency component of the audio signal based on the transient detected by the detecting.
US09406308B1
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for suppressing echo in network communications. One method includes an operation for filtering, with a first comb filter, a first audio signal received over a network resulting in a first combed signal. The first combed signal is sent to one or more speakers. Further, the method includes an operation for filtering, with a second comb filter, a second audio signal received from a microphone, resulting in a second combed signal. The second comb filter is the inverse of the first comb filter. In addition, the method includes an operation for generating an interpolated audio signal by interpolating the second combed signal to add signal in frequency bands filtered by the second comb filter. The interpolated audio signal is then transmitted to a remote entity over the network.
US09406300B2
An automobile to detect a signal, having a security code, from a mobile transponder within range of the automobile is disclosed. The automobile may determine that the security code is valid to process an audible command from a user. The audible command may correspond to an automobile function. The automobile may also determine if the audible command matches a voiceprint of the user and process the automobile function accordingly. The automobile function may provide customized user settings for utilization of the automobile.
US09406292B2
Systems for improving or generating a spoken language understanding system using a multitask learning method for intent or call-type classification. The multitask learning method aims at training tasks in parallel while using a shared representation. A computing device automatically re-uses the existing labeled data from various applications, which are similar but may have different call-types, intents or intent distributions to improve the performance. An automated intent mapping algorithm operates across applications. In one aspect, active learning is employed to selectively sample the data to be re-used.
US09406289B2
An apparatus includes an input for receiving session tracks, an audio converter for converting the first and second data into one of a plurality of audio formats, thereby generating converted session tracks; a storage medium for storing the converted session tracks; a session-track vectorization unit for packaging the converted session tracks into a session vector for transmission to the distributed music collaboration system, and a session-track transfer unit for effecting transfer of the session vector to the distributed music collaboration system.
US09406285B2
A board for a stringed instrument which forms a front plate or a back plate of a stringed instrument, includes: a veneer that includes a concave portion for partially reducing the thickness of the veneer, in which the veneer is curved to be convex toward one surface side. In this board for a stringed instrument, fiber of the veneer may extend along the curved shape of the veneer.
US09406273B2
Disclosed are a flat panel display apparatus and a source driver integrated circuit. The flat panel display apparatus and the source driver integrated circuit supply power to each position in the source driver integrated circuit at a uniform level, so that the output characteristics of a plurality of units using the power are uniform.
US09406264B2
A display device includes: a plurality of gate lines extending in a row direction; a plurality of data lines; a plurality of pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines; and a gate signal supply line connected with at least two gate lines among the plurality of gate lines. At least three data lines among the plurality of data lines are between two pixels adjacent to each other in a row direction.
US09406253B2
Disclosed are various embodiments that relate to a display that renders corrected images to viewers so that users do not need to wear corrective lenses. The system obtains a vision parameter associated with a viewer and/or content to be displayed. The system receives an image for display to the viewer and modifies the image according to the vision parameter to generate a modified vision corrected image. The system renders the modified region on a rear display while rendering a selective barrier on a front barrier display to direct a vision corrected image to a viewer according to the vision parameter.
US09406249B2
An optoelectronic device includes a driving transistor, a correction transistor, and a control circuit. The driving transistor adjusts a first current from a power supply based on a voltage stored in a first capacitor. The driving transistor supplies the adjusted first current to the light-emitting element. The correction transistor is electrically connected on a path of a second current flowing from the power supply to the first capacitor, and adjusts the second current based on a voltage stored in a second capacitor. The control circuit controls the second capacitor to store a gray scale voltage while the first current flows, and controls flow of the second current to update the voltage stored in the first capacitor while the first current is blocked.
US09406243B2
A device and method of tapering medication in a post-operative patient is provided. The system includes a stationary base having indicia thereon representative of a defined period of time; a first circular wheel concentrically positioned on the stationary base, the first circular wheel representative of a first medication being taken by a patient; and a pin coupling the substantially circular wheel to said stationary base to permit the wheel to rotate 360 degrees about said base. The method of tapering medication includes gradually increasing the time intervals that medication is administered to a post-operative patient.
US09406238B2
According to an embodiment, a method can include receiving an initial travel plan. The method can also include receiving weather information related to the travel plan. The weather information can include at least one of current weather conditions and predicted weather conditions. The method can also include analyzing one or more phases of the travel plan with respect to the received weather information to generate weather factor scores for the one or more phases of the travel plan. The method can also include determining a total weather factor score for the travel plan based on the weather factor scores for the one or more phases of the travel plan. The total weather factor score quantifies an expected effect of the at least one of current weather and predicted conditions on the travel plan. The method can also include displaying the total weather factor score.
US09406231B2
A condition monitoring system and method employ a storage device that stores information representing a plurality of boundary points of a boundary circumscribing an area of interest in which the boundary points are defined by two prescribed parameters, and a controller that obtains at least one condition point defined by current values of the prescribed parameters, determines a first boundary point of the boundary points that is closest to the condition point, and generates geometric data representing a geometric relationship between the first boundary point, the condition point and a second boundary point of the boundary points. The controller performs further calculations taking into account the geometric data to generate coordinate condition data, and determines whether the condition point lies within the area of interest based on a comparison between coordinates of the condition point and the coordinate condition data.
US09406230B2
This drive control apparatus, includes: a traveling speed detection portion that detects a traveling speed of an own vehicle; an object detection portion that detects an object around an own vehicle and obtains an object detection result; a time-to-collision calculation portion that calculates time to when the object and the own vehicle collide against each other based on the traveling speed and the object detection result; and an alarm portion that raises an alarm to a driver based on the time to collision, in which the alarm portion: obtains reference alarm start time that is preset as a reference value for starting the alarm, and a predetermined distance that is preset as a minimum value of an error in distance perception of the driver; adds time obtained by dividing the predetermined distance by the traveling speed and raises the alarm to the driver.
US09406221B2
A method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. A user may be instructed to operate a control element of an original remote control (ORC) of the remote-controlled device. The control element of the ORC may be operated with consumer-premises equipment of the MCDN, which receives a code associated with the control element. The code may be used to identify the remote-controlled device and obtain corresponding programming codes. The URC may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device.
US09406204B2
A POS control system 1 has a POS terminal 8 that transmits print control data; a printer 12 including a print unit 41, a print control unit 29 that controls the print unit 41 based on the print control data, and a print data communication unit 26 that transmits the print control data by a first WebSocket connection CT1; and a print data process unit 51 that executes a process based on the received print control data.
US09406202B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a card game with one or more decay value cards having a decay value. The decay value represents a quantity of plays of the card game that the decay value card will remain or be provided for a player. Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming session with one or more plays of a card game, wherein for a play of a card game, the gaming system: (1) designates one or more cards within a set of cards to be decay value cards; (2) determines a decay value for each decay value card; (3) determines whether to provide a decay value card during the play of the game; and (4) holds each decay value card having at least a minimum decay value for a subsequent play of the game.
US09406200B2
Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
US09406198B2
The invention generally relates to gaming machines and methods implemented with use of a gaming machine. A prize awarded on a gaming device is awarded by obtaining a turnover value for at least one gaming device over a period of time, calculating a probability value based on the turnover value and using the probability value to determine whether the prize is to be awarded. In some implementations there may be two prizes that are awarded with different probabilities when the gaming machine system is in different configurations.
US09406187B2
Aspects of the invention described herein provide an apparatus and method for networked vending. According to embodiments described herein, a vending machine is provided that may be installed and managed by the venue in which it is installed. Consumers may purchase vending products from the vending machine using cashless accounts managed by an external device in communication with the vendor. The venue may manage the inventory for the vending machine by placing orders for single product inserts to be loaded in the vending machine.
US09406180B2
A wireless access control system is provided including an electronic lock, a wireless transport device configured for wireless communication with a network and with the electronic lock and having access privilege to the electronic lock, and wherein the wireless transport device is configured to wirelessly receive data from the network, to wirelessly deliver the data to the electronic lock, and to verify to the network that the data has been successfully transferred to the electronic lock. In one embodiment, the wireless transport device is a cellular phone. A method is also provided including transporting data wirelessly from a network to a plurality of cellular phones having access privileges to an electronic lock, and delivering the data to the electronic lock wirelessly using at least one of the cellular phones.
US09406175B2
A system for handling tape dispensers to be used by parcel preparation workers. Identification markings on the parcels are scanned. The identification markings are matched with corresponding different kinds of packaging tape. A tape dispenser receptacle holds a plurality of tape dispensers in respective cradles. Each of the cradles has an associated display indicator that is activated based on the type of packaging tape determined by the scanner and the processor.
US09406169B2
System and method for compressing electronic data such as, for example topological data (altitude/depth) or geospatial data (latitude/longitude) with constrained loss of fidelity. With respect to altitude/depth data, the system and method allow for a mixture of shoreline and deep water to be thinned within the same mesh without appreciable loss of information in either region. System and method retain underlying grid values, opening RTIN functionality for any sphere where original grid positions must be preserved. System and method provide for encryption/decryption of electronic data.
US09406167B2
A laser ablation tomography system includes a specimen stage for supporting a specimen. A specimen axis is defined such that a specimen disposed generally on the axis may be imaged. A laser system is operable to produce a laser sheet in a plane intersecting the specimen axis and generally perpendicular thereto. An imaging system is operable to image the area where the laser sheet intersects the specimen axis.
US09406157B2
An example method is provided for a computing device, coupled to a first display and a second display, to conceal sensitive information on a display. The method may comprise in response to detecting sensitive information in a desktop shown on the first display, generating a replacement image that conceals the detected sensitive information in the desktop and sending the replacement image to the second display for display. Otherwise, a mirror image of the desktop shown on the first display may be sent to the second display for display.
US09406141B2
A method and a segmentation system are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes providing an image representation of the structure; providing a start surface model, including a mesh with a plurality of vertices connected by edges; defining for each vertex a ray normal to the surface model at the position of the vertex; assigning more than two labels to each vertex, each label representing a candidate position of the vertex on the ray; providing a representation of likelihoods for each candidate position the likelihood referring to whether the candidate position corresponds to a surface point of the structure in the image representation; and defining a first order Markow Random Field with discrete multivariate random variables, the random variables including the labels of the candidate positions and the representation of likelihoods, finding an optimal segmentation of the structure by using an maximum a posteriori estimation in this Markow Random Field.
US09406139B2
There is provided an image processing device including a depth acquisition unit configured to acquire depth information of an object included in a captured image, an image combining unit configured to combine the object with an image object having depth information according to each piece of the depth information, and an effect processing unit configured to execute effect processing according to the depth information of the object.
US09406128B2
The invention relates to an apparatus (18) for calculating an x-ray dose distribution within an object for a computed tomography examination. A primary flux determination unit (15) determines firstly a primary flux distribution within the object, wherein then this determined primary flux distribution is used as an initial total flux distribution by a total flux determination unit (16) while applying a six-flux model algorithm. This allows the determination of the total flux distribution to start with a relatively good first approximation of the total flux distribution such that the six-flux model algorithm can determine the total flux distribution very fast. The determined total flux distribution is finally used by a dose distribution determination unit (17) for determining a total dose distribution. The apparatus allows therefore for a very fast determination of x-ray dose distributions for computed tomography examinations.
US09406125B2
An apparatus of motion amplification to communicate biological vital signs includes a first frequency filter that applies a frequency filter to at least two images, a regional facial clusterial module that is coupled to the first frequency filter and that applies spatial clustering to output of the first frequency filter, a second frequency filter that is coupled to the regional facial clusterial module and that is applied to output of the regional facial clusterial module, thus generating a temporal variation, a vital-sign generator that is coupled to the second frequency filter that generates at least one vital sign from the temporal variation, and a display device that is coupled to the vital-sign generator that displays the at least one vital sign.
US09406124B2
An image is segmented by subjecting the image to an iterative thresholding operation, and a hierarchical representation of clusters is obtained by analyzing the results of each of the iterative thresholding steps to find clusters of adjacent image elements. A type class is assigned to a leaf cluster of the hierarchical representation and the assigned class is propagated towards the top of the hierarchical representation. Then a mask is generated marking the locations of image elements contained in the top ancestral clusters of a specific type.
US09406123B2
There is provided an imaging control apparatus including an imaging control section configured to control an imaging section to capture a predetermined area in a body cavity, a comparison section configured to compare a captured image captured by the imaging section with a reference image, and a storage control section configured to execute a control to store the captured image in response to a comparison result by the comparison section.
US09406122B2
A method and a corresponding apparatus and system localizes a spine in an image, in particular a computed tomography (CT) image, of a human or animal body, allowing for a reduced need for computational power and/or memory on the one hand and assuring a reliable localization of the spine on the other hand. The method includes a) acquiring a plurality of slice images of at least a part of a human or animal body, and b) automatically selecting slice images and/or parts of slice images from the acquired plurality of slice images by considering at least one parameter (μz, νz, σz, Λz) characterizing a distribution of bones in the acquired slice images, wherein the selected slice images and/or parts of the slice images includes image information about the spine.
US09406116B2
Method of measuring a point cloud of an object includes obtaining the point cloud of the object from a storage device of the electronic device. Based on the point cloud, a triangular mesh surface is constructed and triangles of the triangular mesh surface are determined. According to the triangles, a reference plane is determined. According to the reference plane, a three dimensional (3D) object coordinate system is established. 3D object coordinates of points in the point cloud are calculated in the 3D object coordinate system. Measurement elements of a profile of the point cloud are determined and points in the point cloud corresponding to each of the measurement elements are determined. According to the 3D object coordinates of the determined points corresponding to each of the measurement elements, each of the measurement elements are fit. A distance and an angle of two fit measurement elements are calculated.
US09406097B1
In a method for creating and managing personal medical records a request for health care information is sent to a third-party payer, and health care information is received from the third-party payer and used to create received health care information. A patient profile identifies the types of health care information the patient wishes to obtain and save, and the received health care information is processed based on the patient profile to produce a result that includes one or more of (a) health care information that the patient wishes to save and was directly obtained from the received health care information, (b) the identity of health care information that was suggested to exist by the received health care information and that the patient wishes to save, but that was not contained within the received health care information. Based on the result, a web based computer or a patient's computer creates and manages personal medical records. The computer may create and transmit a request for additional health care information that was suggested to exist.
US09406091B1
Location data may be obtained through devices associated with one or more users. The actual locations and places that correspond to the location data may be inferred. Location patterns that represent when and where each user spends their time may also be determined. One or more personas that represent categories corresponding to types of behavior or location patterns that users may exhibit may be created and maintained. One or more of the personas may be assigned to or associated with each of the users based on the location patterns associated with each user and the type of behavior that is expected to be exhibited for each persona. One or more recommendations may be provided to the users based at least partly on the personas that have been assigned to the users, which may cause the users to receive recommendations that are likely to be of particular interest.
US09406083B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for a navigation element generation application. A navigation element comprising a plurality of navigation aids is generated responsive to a search query and other data. A relevance score is calculated for the navigation element. The navigation element is inserted into a ranked list of search result items as a function of the relevance score and communicated to a client.
US09406077B1
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for advertisement keyword scoring. A processing circuit receives a request for an advertisement to be provided to a user during a user session. The advertisement is to be provided alongside other content that is associated with a first plurality of keywords. A processing circuit identifies a plurality of advertisements based on the first plurality of keywords. Each of the plurality of advertisements is associated with a second plurality of keywords. The processing circuit calculates a keyword score for each of the second plurality of keywords for each of the plurality of advertisements. Based on the keyword score, one of the keywords for each of the plurality of the plurality of advertisements is selected. Based on a comparison of the selected keywords, the advertisement to be provided to the user is selected.
US09406076B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for dynamic contact information assignment. A pool of telephone numbers is assigned to a pool manager. The pool manager allocates subsets of the telephone numbers to a plurality of allocators that are each responsible for allocating telephone numbers to an associated group of content sponsors. An allocator can determine an allocation of a subset of the telephone numbers for distribution among the content sponsors associated with the allocator. Pools of telephone numbers can be created that are each associated with a respective content sponsor associated with the allocator. One or more telephone numbers can be reclaimed from a pool. A reclaimed telephone number can be assigned by the allocator into either other pools associated with the allocator or back to the pool manager for allocation to other allocators.
US09406071B2
A social networking system generates one or more metrics describing user interactions with objects to describe the popularity of the objects among users. Data describing actions performed by social networking system users on objects stored by the social networking system to identify an action, the user performing the action and the object on which the action was performed. Stored actions performed on a selected object are retrieved and a subset of the actions is generated by sampling the stored actions at a sampling rate. A number of unique users included in the subset is determined and used along with the sampling rate to determine the number of unique users included in the retrieved actions, which is used to derive a metric describing user interaction with the selected object.
US09406069B2
An added level of security is provided for charge card transactions. Upon presenting a charge card number for a purchase, for example, the cardholder receives a message (e.g., SMS) on his cell phone or PDA that a charge authorization request has been received. The message may include the merchant, a charge amount, and a time and date.
US09406068B2
Methods and systems for submitting media to a media distribution site are disclosed. The submission of media to the media distribution site is able to be performed by numerous submitters in a uniform and computer-assisted manner. The submitted media can then be encoded in a largely automated manner at the media distribution site into a suitable digital form and then made available for online purchase and distribution.
US09406065B2
Embodiments are directed to token management. Embodiments initiate presentation of a digital wallet management interface including initiating presentation of a digital wallet; initiating presentation of an original token associated with the digital wallet; initiating presentation of a toggle switch comprising a first position and a second position and associated with the original token and configured for graphical manipulation by the user between the first position and the second position, wherein the first position corresponds to the original token being available for use as a payment credential; and where the second position corresponds to the original token being unavailable for use as a payment credential.
US09406064B2
Techniques are disclosed for determining whether to grant a user access at an access control point of a transit system based on information about a user associated with a fare media from one or more information sources. These techniques can include receiving an authorization response after attempting to authorize payment from a fare media, and accessing at least one information source. This can include accessing historical information regarding prior transactions in the transit system made with the fare media. A determination can then be made whether to grant a user access at the access control point of the transit system.
US09406063B2
Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for using a global world universal digital mobile and wearable currency. The method commences with receiving a transfer request. The transfer request is associated with an amount represented in tokens of the global world universal digital mobile and wearable currency. The transfer request includes at least a sender account, a recipient account, and the amount. The method continues with transferring the amount from the sender account to the recipient account based on the transfer request.
US09406059B1
A checkout system includes a scanner, a camera positioned to capture images of items being scanned by the scanner, and a receipt generator coupled to receive information of items being scanned and images of the items being scanned, correlate the information and images, and provide a link to the images on a receipt.
US09406056B2
A parking meter is described that comprises components for providing parking meter functionality and a display for displaying parking information and a metal housing for protecting the parking meter components from an environment that has a display aperture through which the display is visible. The parking meter also comprises an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged in or on the parking meter in close proximity to the display.
US09406053B2
A system and method is presented for assembling information contained within a financial instrument for subsequent verification of the financial instrument, wherein the financial instrument includes an identifier corresponding to a payee of the financial instrument. An imaging device, such as, for example, a mobile phone or the like, is used to obtain an image of the financial instrument prior to the financial instrument being transferred to the payee. Information is extracted from the image of the financial instrument, and the information is transferred to a storage area that is separate and remote from the imaging device.
US09406050B2
An electronic business postal system collects, clears and delivers electronic business mail through a closed access, secure messaging system. A collection subsystem consists of access portals that are associated with secured system nodes. The access portals provide authenticated users access to the system to send and retrieve electronic business mail that includes postal system electronic delivery addresses, physical delivery addresses, or both. Secured message servers that are associated with the respective access portals process the electronic business mail into uniquely identified messages for delivery over the system nodes and also process received messages to provide the corresponding electronic business mail to the intended recipients through associated access portals. A delivery subsystem directs the messages through the system nodes associated with the senders' access portals to the system nodes associated with the recipients' access portals. A clearance subsystem confirms the integrity of both the messages and their delivery and ensures that each message is delivered once and intact.
US09406041B2
A method for monitoring inventory on a shelf and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes a method for determining the number of packages on a shelf or hanger. The number of packages on a shelf or hanger are determined by detecting the presence of a package on the shelf and adding all detections together to determine the number of product on a shelf. In another embodiment, the product is identified by an identifying device such as an SKU reader. Thus, the quantity and type of product located on a shelf or hanger is known. Such information allows a store to know the type and quantity of packages needed to restock a specific shelf.
US09406037B1
Techniques for performing searches and presenting reports to users include receiving a user query request comprising condition classifications or text words or text phrases, receiving a user report request comprising report classification information that includes a request term, accessing an ontology providing a plurality of classifications, where each classification comprises a set of terms, accessing, using the ontology, a set of document associated with the report classification information, computing an aggregate measure of the request term based on a relationship between the request term and the set of documents, generating a requested report based on the aggregate measure of the request term and presenting the requested report.
US09406035B2
The present invention relates to a system and method of providing communications for a mobile vehicle, comprising: a) providing the vehicle with the ability to communicate using a number of different communications methods; b) establishing a list of parameters, said list of parameters defining a set of criteria for determining the preferred attributes of the communications method to be used at any given time; and c) selecting a communications method based on said list of parameters.
US09406034B2
The present invention provides for a method and a computer system for providing functionality for electronically managing and supporting a merger integration of businesses, using software and other computer-implemented tools. In one aspect of the invention, the method and system provide program milestone tracking for an integration of businesses, where the businesses are subject to a merger or acquisition. The system provides a collaboration environment computer program for assisting a group of individuals performing the integration of businesses. The collaboration environment computer program provides administrative controls and communication among the group of individuals. A project management computer program assists the group of individuals and is configured to manage project schedules, budgets, and timeframes. A program milestone component is established and configured to facilitate creating and tracking program milestones for the collaboration environment computer program. The program milestone component also configured to interface the collaboration environment computer program and the project management computer program such that the collaboration environment computer program directly links to the project management computer program and receive program milestone updates.
US09406026B2
A system may include first and second qubits that cross one another and a first coupler having a perimeter that encompasses at least a part of the portions of the first and second qubits, the first coupler being operable to ferromagnetically or anti-ferromagnetically couple the first and the second qubits together. A multi-layered computer chip may include a first plurality N of qubits laid out in a first metal layer, a second plurality M of qubits laid out at least partially in a second metal layer that cross each of the qubits of the first plurality of qubits, and a first plurality N times M of coupling devices that at least partially encompasses an area where a respective pair of the qubits from the first and the second plurality of qubits cross each other.
US09406024B1
A system and method and computer program product for paint color recommendation. The system obtains measures of an environment to be painted and trains a learned model to input data received from customers including data representing each customer's initial color paint and pigment selection, and one or more of: a customer perceptual, a customer context, and environment measure (P/C/E data) to generate a sparse matrix. One or more paint vendors may then use the generated sparse matrix to determine a color pigment recommendation from a pigments color space for a customer. From a user selected color/pigment, and using the learned model, the system maps the selection, together with the user's P/C/E data back to the color/pigments space. User feedback representing a degree of satisfaction that the recommended color pigment applied to the user environment has matched the user's initial color paint and color pigment selection is elicited.
US09406021B2
A method provides a random walk model with heterogeneous graphs to leverage multiple source data and accomplish prediction tasks. The system and method components include: 1) A heterogeneous graph formulation including heterogeneous instances of abstract objects as graph nodes and multiple relations as edges connecting those nodes. The different types of relations, such as client-vendor relation and client-product relation, are often quantified as the weights of edges connecting those entities; 2) To accomplish prediction tasks with such information, launching a multi-stage random walk model over the heterogeneous graph. The random walk within a subgraph with homogenous nodes usually produces the relevance between entities of the same type. The random walk across different type of nodes provides the prediction of decisions, such as a client purchasing a product.
US09406010B2
A visual Reference tag is formed from an array of cells, wherein each cell is visually distinct from all other cells in a given neighborhood and each of said cells contains a single visual cue, for example a unique color, selected from a finite number of visual cues.
US09406008B2
An image forming apparatus includes an operation estimation unit, a calculation unit, and a control unit. The operation estimation unit estimates an amount of operation from an operation history of an apparatus. The calculation unit calculates a degree of environmental deterioration of an internal environment of the apparatus caused when an update is performed for the apparatus. The control unit sets an inappropriate time frame or an appropriate time frame for the update using the amount of operation and the degree of environmental deterioration.
US09406006B2
A power controlling device includes a detecting unit that detects a person in a detection area, a first imaging unit that takes an image of the person in a detecting range in an operating state, a second imaging unit that takes an image of a face of the person for use in user authentication in an operating state, and a power controller that supplies power to and brings the first imaging unit into the operating state if the person is detected, supplies power to and brings a processing unit that performs a process into an operating state if the approach of the person is determined on the basis of the taken image of the person, and supplies power to an brings the second imaging unit into the operating state during a period from the detection of the person to the shift of the processing unit to the operating state.
US09406005B2
A gamma correction table generation method includes: obtaining density information by reading, with a reading sensor, a density patch output by an image forming device in a range wider than a cell, the density patch including a plurality of cells disposed such that a part of the cells as a unit representing a tone overlaps with each other and dots included in each of the cells are separated from each other to an extent that no influence is exerted on each other on a recording medium which the image forming device outputs; correcting the density information according to a number of the cells in the density patch; and generating a gamma correction table based on the corrected density information.
US09406001B2
The present invention includes: an image size detection section detecting an image size according to image data including a photograph; a paper size detection section detecting a paper size for printing the image; and an enlarging/reducing unit carrying out an enlarging/reducing process to the image data, the enlarging/reducing unit comparing the image size with the paper size and carrying out the enlarging/reducing process by selecting, between a first enlarging/reducing ratio which is a first ratio of a short side length of the paper to a short side length of the image and a second enlarging/reducing ratio which is a second ratio of a long side length of the paper to a long side length of the image, one of the first enlarging/reducing ratio and the second enlarging/reducing ratio which one is to be reduced by a ratio greater than a ratio by which the other one is to be reduced.
US09405991B2
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
US09405987B2
A non-contact identification and measurement method for identifying moving three-dimensional objects within an identification area, comprising the steps of detecting the presence of a moving object by scanning said identification area with a first eye-safe laser-based range detector system; discriminating between an object safe to be identified and an object not to be identified; for an object safe to be identified, activating a second laser-camera system and determining the speed and position of said object with said second laser-camera system; when said object safe to be identified reaches a position located in an active measurement area within said identification area, activating a third laser-camera system to acquire range data of said object.
US09405967B2
An apparatus including an image capture device including a lens, a shutter, an image sensor, and an aperture is provided. The image capture device receives, via the lens, a plurality of images. The apparatus further includes a display, a memory, a receiver, a transmitter, and a processor. The receiver receives facial recognition data. The transmitter transmits an instruction to capture a series of images via the image capture device. The series of images may include a randomly generated pose. The apparatus further includes a processor to analyze the facial recognition data to determine an estimated age of a user.
US09405960B2
Face hallucination using a bi-channel deep convolutional neural network (BCNN), which can adaptively fuse two channels of information. In one example, the BCNN is implemented to extract high level features from an input image. The extracted high level features are combined with low level details in the input image to produce the higher resolution image. Preferably, a proper coefficient is obtained to adaptively combine the high level features and the low level details.
US09405954B2
A light receiving section includes light receiving elements. A light source section includes a light emitting section that illuminates the subject and transmissive sections. The light emitting section is provided with a first translucent layer, which includes a light emitting layer, and a reflection layer and a semi-transmissive reflection layer interposing the first translucent layer, so that a resonance structure is formed. Each of the transmissive sections includes a second translucent layer, and a first semi-transmissive reflection layer and a second semi-transmissive reflection layer, which are opposed each other interposing the second translucent layer, so that a resonance structure that resonates incident light from the subject side is formed. A resonance length between the reflection layer and the semi-transmissive reflection layer in the light emitting section is more than a resonance length between the first semi-transmissive reflection layer and the second semi-transmissive reflection layer in the transmissive section.
US09405946B2
A judgment apparatus includes a storage configured to store first reference data representing data that a detector should output in a first area when a detection target passed the first area, and second reference data representing data that the detector should output in the first area when the detection target passed a second area being different from the first area; and a processor to perform processes of: obtaining data from the detector outputting, in a time-series manner, data according to a detection condition of the detection target passing the first area or the second area; judging a degree of similarity between data obtained by the obtaining and the first and second reference data stored in the storage; and judging whether or not the detection target passed the first area, based on the judgment result by the judging the degree of similarity.
US09405941B2
An apparatus and method for simultaneous programming of data to individually addressed Tags. Tags contain a being addressed indicator that allows for processing of simultaneous programming commands. Specified Tags are individually pre-addressed to receive simultaneous programming. Tag data is programmed simultaneously for all Tags in a specified group of Tags. Data is individually verified for each specified Tag in the group of Tags.
US09405935B2
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, devices, and software for secure image processing. In particular, the secure image processing may be performed with regard to images, such as image frames of a video stream, from a camera to obscure, either via image modification, encryption, and discarding image frames, to prevent, limit, or secure viewing of sensitive information that may be included within images. One such embodiment includes receiving an image of an image flow from a scanner, such as a product scanner, and determining whether a sensitive item is present in the image. When a sensitive item is determined to be present in the image, such embodiments perform a security action with regard to the image prior to passing the image in the image flow from the scanner.
US09405932B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for dynamically maintaining user centric data. For example, a data provider app may have knowledge about user centric data associated with a user (e.g., a social network app may have contact information for a social network friend of the user). A user centric profile may be defined for the user centric data based upon information provided by the data provider app (e.g., a contact card may be generated for the social network friend). Responsive to receiving a request for the user centric profile from a requestor app (e.g., an event planning app), the user centric profile may be exposed to the user but not to the requestor app for security and/or privacy purposes. For example, an operating system may present at least some of the user centric profile within an operating system user interface.
US09405903B1
Techniques for sinkholing bad network domains by registering the bad network domains on the Internet are provided. In some embodiments, sinkholing bad network domains by registering the bad network domains on the Internet includes determining a network domain is a bad network domain, in which the bad network domain is determined to be associated with an identified malware (e.g., malware that has been identified and has been determined to be associated with the bad domain), and the bad network domain is sinkholed by registering the bad network domain with a sinkholed IP address; and identifying a host that is infected with the identified malware based on an attempt by the host to connect to the sinkholed IP address.
US09405901B2
The terminal device include the file creation unit for storing a file including a public key in the external storage medium when the terminal device is connected with the external storage medium, and the decryption unit for decrypting the encrypted log using a secret key corresponding to the public key when the terminal is reconnected with the external storage medium storing the encrypted log. The image processing apparatus includes the encryption unit for encrypting a log using the public key stored in the file of the external storage medium, and storing the encrypted log in the external storage medium, when the image processing apparatus is connected with the external storage medium storing the file.
US09405899B2
Techniques for detecting malware activity are described. In some examples, a method for monitoring executing software for malware may include monitoring behavior of software during execution. Based on comparison of the monitored behavior and corresponding expected behavior derived from analysis of the software, it may be determined that the monitored behavior deviates from the expected behavior in accordance with a predetermined trigger. An appropriate action may be initiated in response.
US09405891B1
There is disclosed a method for use in authenticating a user. The method comprises obtaining, by an electronic apparatus, a biometric input from a user comprising a plurality of biometric attributes distinct to the user, wherein the biometric attributes comprise at least one currently active and at least one currently inactive biometric attribute for authentication at an authentication server. Additionally, the method comprises selecting, by the electronic apparatus, the at least one currently active biometric attribute for authenticating the user. Furthermore, the method comprises outputting, by the electronic apparatus, an authentication output including at least one biometric factor based on the at least one selected currently active biometric attribute, wherein the authentication output acts as an authentication input to a user authentication operation performed by the authentication server.
US09405885B2
A method of obtaining information about a chemically active area of a target molecule, for example for drug discovery, comprising: providing a set of substantially rigid chemical gauges; reacting said target with a plurality of gauges of said set of gauges; assaying a binding of said gauges with said target to obtain a plurality of assay results; and analyzing said assay results to obtain information about said chemically active area.
US09405879B2
Some embodiments relate to a method of hierarchical layout design, comprising forming a layout of an integrated circuit (IC) according to a design rule that specifies a minimum design rule distance between a neighboring layout features within the IC. Forming the layout comprises forming first and second standard cells having first and second layout features, respectively, that about one-another so that a distance between the first and second layout features is less than the minimum design rule distance. The method further comprises configuring design rule checking (DRC) to ignore this fail. Instead, the layout is modified with an automated layout tool by merging the first and second layout features, or by removing a portion of the first or second layout feature to increase the distance between the first and second layout features to be greater than or equal to the minimum distance.
US09405873B2
By considering a Deep Nwell diffusing into a Pwell region, accuracy of a substrate parasitic-resistance extraction is improved. A well region of a semiconductor integrated circuit where a Pwell and a Deep Nwell are formed in a substrate is divided into two or more meshes each including two or more resistor segments and a substrate noise is analyzed based thereon. In this regard, parallel components of resistors coupling the Pwell with the substrate are deleted in accordance with a state of the Deep Nwell diffusing into the Pwell region, so that an arithmetic processing unit executes a process for expressing a rise in the resistance value. By deleting the parallel components of the resistors coupling the Pwell with the substrate, the rise in the resistance value caused by the Deep Nwell can be reflected in the substrate parasitic-resistance extraction. Therefore, the accuracy of the substrate parasitic-resistance extraction can be improved.
US09405872B2
A system and methods provide for an analysis of at least a portion of an integrated circuit (IC) that comprises a plurality of modules, for the purpose of identifying signals that can be indicative of the activity of the modules. By analyzing the activity of these signal immediately before and immediately after each module going from non-idle to idle and from idle to non-idle respectively, it is possible to determine which signals provide an indication that the module should be shut down. If the module can be shut down in idle state, then these input signals may be used as control signals for this purpose. By reporting to a designer the role of such signals a simple design change for detecting the activity and controlling the module, can save on power consumption, in ways not previously detected by the designer.
US09405870B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating coverage data for a switch frequency of HDL or VHDL signals with the steps of providing a HDL or VHDL hardware description model within a register transfer level, providing a filtering algorithm or filtering rules for signals occurring in the HDL or VHDL hardware description model, extracting signals from the HDL or VHDL hardware description model according to said filtering algorithm or filtering rules in order to get relevant signals, performing a simulation process of the HDL or VHDL hardware description model, performing a checking routine for the relevant signals in every cycle and storing and/or cumulating the relevant signals in a data base. Further the present invention relates to a corresponding system.
US09405867B2
A computer-implemented method includes defining respective positions of a first set of nodes and a second set of nodes in an enrichment region, and performing a coupled pore fluid diffusion and stress analysis on the enrichment region at the first set of nodes. It is then determined whether the second set of nodes is activated—representing a fracture—as a result of the analysis, and the results are visually output to a user.
US09405860B1
A content addressable memory (CAM) system can include a comparator core in which all of the keys of the CAM are embedded in comparator blocks. A search key can be provided to each of the comparator blocks, which can compare the search key to its embedded key and determine whether the search key matches the embedded key. The comparator blocks can be organized into paged sets in the comparator core such that only one of the comparator blocks in each paged set is selected and compares its embedded key to the search key at any given time. The comparator block selected in each paged set can be incremented until the search key has been compared to the keys embedded in all of the comparator blocks of the comparator core.
US09405858B2
Embodiments include a system for encoding data while it is being processed. The system includes a processor, an encoder and a decoder. The processor is configured to process a query request by determining a set of values. The encoder is configured for encoding the set of values, such that a subsequent processing operation can be performed on the encoded values. The processor performs the subsequent processing operations. The decoder is configured for decoding each value back to its value prior to being encoded upon completion of the processor completing the requested query.
US09405855B2
A system, computer-implemented method, and a computer-readable medium for determining why a query returns a null set in a database management system. When the database management system receives a query graph, database management system compares the query graph to the data graph. Based on the comparison, database management system identifies a discovered component of the query graph and a missing component of the query graph, wherein the missing query component indicates a reason for the null set.
US09405847B2
A method includes generating, for a page comprising a plurality of elements, a contextual grouping of at least one of the plurality of elements based on an object model of the page. A method includes generating a user interface for a non-sighted user based on a page, the user interface comprising at least one contextual grouping generated based on an object model of the page. A method includes identifying a page to be analyzed, the page based on a document object model (DOM) and having a plurality of elements configured to be visually arranged when the page is generated for display. The method includes processing the identified page based on the DOM to include each of the plurality of elements in at least one contextual group associated with the page. The method includes facilitating navigation of the page by a non-sighted user using the at least one contextual group.
US09405844B2
QR codes or the like are used in hardlink applications, by which different users may receive different information in response to a scan of the same code that is displayed at one or more locations in the real world. The content delivered to a particular user in response to a hardlink code or a presented hyperlink may be dependent on the time of the scan, the geographic location of the user, a weather condition at the geographical location, personal information associated with the user, a number of previous scans of the code by prior individuals, and any combination of the these or other variables, which may be determined by an originator of the QR code or other party.
US09405838B2
A method for determining an active persona of a user device includes determining a first user device state of a user device. The active persona is indicative of a predicted objective of the user of the user device. The first state defines an action currently being performed on the user device and a set of observations corresponding to the user device. The method includes inputting the first user device state to a model and determining the active persona of the user device based on the output of the model. The model is configured to receive a user device state and outputs probability values associated with one or more clusters, each cluster being indicative of one or more items of interest corresponding to the user device. The method further includes performing a procedure using the active persona of the user device.
US09405834B1
A computer-implemented method for identifying related search queries is performed on a server. The method includes receiving a search query from a user, identifying a set of ranked search results satisfying the search query, and identifying, using historical search query data, at least one last related search query in at least one chain of related search queries that is related to the search query and that includes at least one search result that was selected by users who issued the search query, each respective related search query in the at least one chain of related search queries except for the at least one last related search query in the at least one chain of related search queries violating a search result selection criterion. The method further includes returning the set of ranked search results and the at least one last related search query to the user.
US09405831B2
Multiple non-host client sites provide cached user copies of web pages and/or web content, or summaries thereof, to a server. Obtaining data from non-host sources for indexing purposes avoids masked web page content indexing errors for search engines. The server aggregates, summarizes and indexes the web pages and/or web content in an index of cached content, in conjunction with updating, generating and storing a search index using an indexing agent such as a web crawler or spider. In response to receiving search requests from end users, the search engine uses comparisons between the index of cached content and the index of crawled content to identify potential page masking errors for specific search results and appropriately rank or omit results with a high risk of masking errors in a search result list.
US09405825B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for extracting a representative review excerpt from a plurality of reviews associated with an item available for purchase in an electronic commerce system. A review extractor identifies a lexicon appearing in the reviews and associates each of the reviews with at least one category where the categories are based on the identified common lexicon. The review extractor then ranks the categories according to a ranking of attributes specified by consumer preferences. Upon ranking the categories, the review extractor then extracts a representative review excerpt based on a correlation between the number of reviews associated with each category and the ranking of that category as indicated by the consumer preferences.
US09405824B2
For categorizing content, a categorizing module categorizes content of a content stream into a category of a plurality of categories. A recording module records a navigation action directed to first content of the content stream. The recording module further elevates a ranking of a first category associated with the first content in response to the navigation action. In addition, the recording module displays highest ranking categories for selection.
US09405817B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for rebalancing partitioned data based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of the plurality of database partitions. The computer updating characteristics, wherein the one or more characteristics include one or both of a) an average number of records per partition, and b) an average number of unique limit key values per partition.Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for limit key extrapolation in a database. Responsive to a determination that the upper limit key value of the last loaded record is greater than the first upper limit key value of the first empty partition, the computer redefines the first upper limit key value of the first empty partition by an extrapolated upper limit key value based, at least in part, on the range of limit key values.
US09405815B1
A computing system recovers volumes in a distributed computing environment while reducing downtime of storage servers. In an embodiment, a storage server contacts a control plane after a storage failure has occurred. If the storage server hosts an authoritative copy of an offline volume, the storage server is requested to restore the volume. Non-authoritative volumes are removed from the storage server and the storage server provides read access to the restored volume while resuming storage services.
US09405811B2
Systems and methods for interest-driven business intelligence systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In one embodiment, an interest-driven distributed data server system includes a processor, an interest-driven distributed data server application, aggregate data storage, and a data source directory, wherein the interest-driven distributed data server application configures the processor to obtain reporting data requirements, determine at least one data dimension using the reporting data requirements, identify at least one data source identified that can provide data associated with the data dimension, generate data source job data, transmit the data source job data to at least one data source, and receive job response data, store the received job response data in the aggregate data storage, build reporting data based on the reporting data requirements, and transmit the reporting data.
US09405805B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking news articles. A plurality of news articles referenced in one or more hub pages are identified, where each of the hub pages include respective references to one or more of the news articles. A score component is derived for a news article from a measure of a prominence of the news article in the hub pages that includes a reference to the news article.
US09405803B2
A method for retrieving information may include receiving a search query within an information retrieval system. Search results responsive to the search query may be identified from a first information corpus and a second information corpus. Search results responsive to the search query may be identified from a third information corpus. A ranking signal associated with the first information corpus and the second information corpus may be determined based on the search results from the third information corpus. The search results from the first information corpus and the second information corpus may be ranked based on the ranking signal.
US09405802B2
A method, computer program product, and computer system for a database system and method. In some embodiments, metadata associated with data stored in a non-relational database is generated. The metadata is based upon, at least in part, at least one of a location of the data, a state of data, and the data. The metadata is stored in a data structure in memory. A query for data stored in the non-relational database is received. The query is executed using the generated metadata to generate a metadata result set. A result set including data in the non-relational database is generated using the generated metadata result set.
US09405799B1
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN EMPLOYEE REFERRAL FACILITATOR (hereinafter “ERF”) implement efficient and scalable monitoring, regulation, and allocation of computational processing, data, labor, and/or the like resources within an enterprise. The ERF may track and administer the provision of referral bonuses and/or other rewards associated with employee referrals. The ERF may receive and store candidate referrals from an existing employee; monitor, receive, and/or store a candidate hiring indicator; evaluate a referral rule based to determine a referral bonus eligibility, amount, timing, and/or the like; and instruct provision of an appropriate referral bonus.
US09405777B2
A method for running a software application on a computer having an operating system that provides a local database containing consistent configuration data to be accessed by programs running on the computer. The method includes providing a file containing further configuration data required by the application, which further data are not stored in the local database. A request by the application to access the local database is intercepted, and an item of the further configuration data is returned from the file to the application, responsive to the request.
US09405775B1
A system and method for ranking additional videos based on experiment data. The system includes an additional video request retrieval unit to receive a request for a plurality of additional videos, and a number of the plurality of additional videos based on a video being served; an additional video database to retrieve the plurality of additional videos based on the video, and to retrieve a relevance ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, a monetization ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, and a likelihood ranking for each of the plurality of additional videos, the likelihood ranking being sourced from the experimental data; a weighting/ranking unit to assign a score for each of the plurality of videos based on the retrieved rankings from the additional video database; and an additional video selection unit to select the number of the plurality of videos based the score.
US09405761B1
Exemplary methods for verifying data integrity for garbage collection with limited memory include maintaining a data structure that includes a plurality of entries, storing states of a group of segments compressed therein. In response to receiving a request for transitioning a segment from a first state to a second state, retrieving a first entry value of an entry associated with the first segment, generating a second entry value based on the first entry value, the first state, the second state, and a value obtained from a first lookup table based on the first segment. The methods also include writing back the second entry value to the first entry of the data structure. In one embodiment, in response to determining all entries of the data structure reach a predetermined final state, performing a garbage collection process on the segments stored in the storage system.
US09405760B2
An information processing apparatus capable of reliably accessing files associated with file identification information generated based on more character code systems, without necessitating a large-capacity memory. When the information processing apparatus (MFP) acquires file identification information, a CPU of the MFP determines whether or not the MFP is capable of performing processing based on a predetermined character code system used for describing the identification information. When the MFP is not capable of performing processing based on the character code system, the CPU converts the identification information described in the predetermined character code system into substitute character codes processable thereby. Then, the CPU registers the substitute character codes and the original character codes before the conversion in a map table in association with each other. When the processing on the file is completed, the CPU deletes the substitute character codes and the original character codes from the map table.
US09405759B2
The disclosure provides an information processing method and an electronic device. The electronic device generates M components to be embedded into a first application program when installing a recording application program, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. There is an association relationship between the M components and the recording application program. In a case where the M components are embedded into the first application program, the method includes: when the first application program runs, displaying a first graphical interface corresponding to the first application program by the electronic device, the first graphical interface including the M components; obtaining a first triggering operation for a first component of the M components; collecting, in response to the first triggering operation, first data content under the first graphical interface directly; and storing the collected first data content.
US09405741B1
Features are disclosed for recognizing inappropriate content in an output. The offensive content may be generated as a result of a speech processing error. A system may identify the inappropriate elements of a generated output and select among different appropriate alternatives. The system may be adjusted based on certain user characteristics. The system may be localized based on language and cultural features. The system may modify the generated output based on characteristics such as the tolerance threshold of known persons in the proximity of the system. The tolerance threshold may further be used to personalize and modify available content. Models used by the system may be further trained using input from a user.
US09405740B2
A system, apparatus and method for enhancing documents, including using a graphical capture device, are described herein.
US09405739B1
A system and methods for embedding objects in source code is disclosed. A non-compilation indicator in a source code is recognized, and an embedded object identifier in the source code is identified. An embedded object indicated by the embedded object identifier is accessed to obtain an embedded object content, and the embedded object content is embedded in the source code.
US09405738B2
Various embodiments provide an interface between a Web browser's layout engine and a scripting engine. The interface enables objects from the layout engine to be recognized by a memory manager in the scripting engine and interact in a streamlined, efficient manner. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the interface allows browser layout engine objects to be created as objects that are native to the scripting engine. Alternately or additionally, in some embodiments, the native objects are further configured to proxy functionality between the layout engine and the scripting engine.
US09405722B2
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.
US09405716B2
A method for maintaining data and clock line synchronization, which may include a clock line that may be driven high after a clock line falling edge to mitigate a clock error. Additionally, the clock error may be mitigated by maintaining a saturated state of a device. Furthermore, a register may be connected to a microcontroller and/or a graphical processing unit to negotiate control of a switch and a bus.
US09405713B2
The functional circuitry of a network flow processor is partitioned into a number of rectangular islands. The islands are disposed in rows. A configurable mesh data bus extends through the islands. A first island includes a first memory and a first data bus interface. A second island includes a processor, a second memory, and a second data bus interface. The processor can issue a command for a target memory to do an action. If a field in the command has a first value then the target memory is the first memory, whereas if the field has a second value then the target memory is in the second memory. The command format is the same, regardless of whether the target memory is local or remote. If the target memory is remote, then a data bus bridge adds destination information before putting the command onto the global configurable mesh data bus.
US09405712B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device is provided. The memory device includes a processing element coupled to a crossbar interconnect. The processing element is configured to send a memory access request, including a priority value, to the crossbar interconnect. The crossbar interconnect is configured to route the memory access request to a memory controller associated with the memory access request. The memory controller is coupled to memory and to the crossbar interconnect. The memory controller includes a queue and is configured to compare the priority value of the memory access request to priority values of a plurality of memory access requests stored in the queue of the memory controller to determine a highest priority memory access request and perform a next memory access request based on the highest priority memory access request.
US09405710B2
A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment.
US09405708B1
In a virtualization environment, a guest process may protect itself from potential timing side-channel attacks by other guest processes on the same host machine by taking steps to avoid same-page merging for memory pages that it accesses. Pages that include critical code (e.g., cryptographic functions) or sensitive data (e.g., cryptography keys) may be designated as important pages to protect from such attacks. A placeholder location of a specified size for storing a non-deterministic value (e.g., a random or pseudorandom number) may be inserted into these pages when instantiated, making them unlikely to match pages accessed by other guests. Therefore, the host machine may be unlikely to identify them as pages for which there is a same-page merging opportunity. The values in the placeholder locations may be updated periodically or in response to certain events (e.g., context switches between guests or the detection of same-page merging).
US09405701B2
An apparatus and method are described for coupling a front end core to an accelerator component (e.g., such as a graphics accelerator). For example, an apparatus is described comprising: an accelerator comprising one or more execution units (EUs) to execute a specified set of instructions; and a front end core comprising a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) communicatively coupled to the accelerator and providing memory access services to the accelerator, the memory access services including performing TLB lookup operations to map virtual to physical addresses on behalf of the accelerator and in response to the accelerator requiring access to a system memory.
US09405699B1
In one embodiment, a method includes initiating execution of an application, the application utilizing a hash table data structure to map a plurality of keys to a plurality of values. The method further includes, the application checking a memory for a cached hash table capacity indicator from a previous run of the application. In addition, the method includes, responsive to no cached hash table capacity indicator being found in the memory: creating a first hash table with an initial capacity; populating the first hash table with a plurality of runtime entries; determining an improved hash table capacity based, at least in part, on a quantity of the plurality of runtime entries; creating a second hash table with the improved hash table capacity; copying the plurality of runtime entries to the second hash table; and the application using the second hash table in place of the first hash table.
US09405695B2
A system and method for determining an optimal cache size of a computing system is provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises selecting a portion of an address space of a memory structure of the computing system. A workload of data transactions is monitored to identify a transaction of the workload directed to the portion of the address space. An effect of the transaction on a cache of the computing system is determined, and, based on the determined effect of the transaction, an optimal cache size satisfying a performance target is determined. In one such embodiment the determining of the effect of the transaction on a cache of the computing system includes determining whether the effect would include a cache hit for a first cache size and determining whether the effect would include a cache hit for a second cache size different from the first cache size.
US09405693B2
In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.
US09405689B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling when data blocks are cached at hosts from a shared storage are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a request logic configured to receive, from a first host of a plurality of hosts, a request to cache a data block at the first host. The data block is part of a plurality of data blocks that are stored in a network storage. The network storage is shared by the plurality of hosts. The apparatus also includes a lock logic configured to control access to the data block by issuing a lock for the data block identified by the request in response to determining that the data block is available. The lock provides exclusive access to the data block for the first host to permit the first host to cache the data block locally at the first host.
US09405683B2
A processor and a memory management method are provided. The processor includes a processor core, a cache which transceives data to/from the processor core via a single port, and stores the data accessed by the processor core, and a Scratch Pad Memory (SPM) which transceives the data to/from the processor core via at least one of a plurality of multi ports.
US09405681B2
Embodiments of the invention describe an apparatus, system and method for workload adaptive address mapping. Embodiments of the invention may receive a request to initialize a system memory including a plurality of memory banks. Using a plurality of memory address mapping schemes for memory settings for the system memory, a system characterization workload is executed during the initialization of the system memory, the system characterization workload including a plurality of transactions directed towards the system memory. Embodiments of the invention may monitor target addresses of the plurality of transactions directed towards the system memory. One of the plurality of memory address mapping schemes is selected based, at least in part, on the target addresses of the plurality of transactions.
US09405675B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to enable simultaneous or nearly simultaneous execution of internal and host-issued commands in a non-volatile storage subsystem while maintaining data consistency. Embodiments maintain validity information on data residing at physical addresses as well as logical to physical address mappings in the solid-state storage subsystem. In one embodiment, a controller within the storage subsystem selectively cancels internal commands that it determines to be writing data that has been rendered invalid by another command. In one embodiment, the determination is made by consulting the validity information kept by the controller in an invalid page table.
US09405667B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for testing a software application. An exemplary method includes storing a control file identifying a test case for testing a software application. A first expected result may be extracted from a device storing expected results of the software application, the first expected result being identified by the control file. A first actual result may be extracted from a device storing actual results output by the software application, the first actual result being identified by the control file. The first expected result may be compared with the first actual result to determine whether the first actual result matches the first expected result. A result file indicating whether the test case passed or failed is generated, and the test case has passed when the first actual result matches the first expected result. The result file may be stored in a storage device.
US09405665B1
Technology is described for testing functionality of an application. A plurality of user interactions with application elements of an application may be captured. Application elements of the application may be prioritized in accordance with a defined priority scheme. Each application element may be associated with a number of captured user interactions. A subset of captured user interactions associated with the application elements that are prioritized using the defined priority scheme may be identified. The subset of captured user interactions may be provided for playback based on a priority order of the application elements in order to verify a functionality of the application.
US09405664B2
A system and method of automating software testing is provided. The system and method may determine whether some of a plurality of anchor points within application instructions is triggered in response to input from a current operation within operation instructions. If some of the plurality of anchor points is triggered, one of the triggered anchor points may be selected. Instructions may be generated that configure a given processor to pause after the current operation until the selected one of the triggered anchor points completes.
US09405649B2
A debugging circuit comprises a debugging interface, a switch unit coupled to the debugging interface, a controller coupled to the switch unit, a platform controller hub (PCH), and a central processing unit (CPU). The PCH and the CPU are coupled to the switch unit. The debugging interface is coupled between the switch unit and a debugging device. The switch unit receives a control signal from the controller, and selectively outputs a first data signal from the PCH or a second data signal from the CPU to the debugging device through the debugging interface according to the control signal.
US09405647B2
Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements for detecting a register value having a life longer than a threshold period based, at least in part, on at least one code segment of a code being translated by a binary translator. For a register value detected as having a life longer than a threshold period, at least one instruction to cause an access of the detected register value during the life of the register value may be included in at least one translated code segment to be output by the binary translator.
US09405646B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method to inject errors to a memory. In one embodiment, a dedicated interface includes an error injection system address register and an error injection mask register coupled to the error injection system address register. If the error injection system address register includes a system address that matches an incoming write address, the error injection mask register outputs an error to the memory.
US09405645B2
A virtual environment service obtains automatically collected diagnostic information from a deployed instance of a computer system and automatically generates a reproduction of an environment of the instance of the computer system, based upon the collected diagnostic data. User interactions with the virtual diagnostic environment can be recorded to identify a technical issue with the deployed instance of the computer system. A fix for the issue is applied in the virtual diagnostic environment so that it can be verified by the user prior to applying it to the deployed instance.
US09405641B2
A suite of network-based services, such as the services corresponding to the server application distributed by Microsoft® SharePoint™, may be provided to users with high availability. The suite of network-based services may include browser-based collaboration functions, process management functions, index and search functions, document-management functions, help and help search functions, and/or other functions. A plurality of computing devices functioning as servers may be backed up by a single computing device.
US09405634B1
Federated back up of availability groups is described. A system identifies multiple availability groups scheduled for backup. The system logs in to a structured query language instance on an active node, identifies a primary replica for the first availability group, identifies a backup preference for the first availability group based on the primary replica for the first availability group, and identifies the backup preference for the first availability group as a preferred node for backing up the first availability group if the backup preference for the first availability group is on-line. The system configures backup storage based on a name of a cluster of nodes associated with the availability groups. The system backs up the first availability group based on the preferred node for the first availability group in parallel with backing up the second availability group based on a preferred node identified for the second availability group.
US09405628B2
In one embodiment of the present description, data is migrated to a replacement source storage unit of a storage subsystem while being mirrored from the original source storage unit of a storage subsystem to an original target storage unit of a storage subsystem, and the original source storage unit and the replacement storage unit are swapped in a multi-storage volume swap to write updates to the replacement source storage unit instead of the original source storage unit, in input/output operations issued by at least one host. Further, data stored in the replacement source storage unit, is mirrored from the replacement source storage unit to the original target unit. Other aspects are described.
US09405622B2
Apparatuses and methods associated with shaping codes for memory are provided. One example apparatus comprises an array of memory cells and a shaping component coupled to the array and configured to encode each of a number of received digit patterns according to a mapping of received digit patterns to shaping digit patterns. The mapping of received digit patterns to shaping digit patterns obeys a shaping constraint that limits, to an uppermost amount, an amount of consecutive digits of the shaping digit patterns allowed to have a particular digit value.
US09405619B2
A method for performing error correction, an associated memory apparatus and an associated controller thereof are provided. The data used in a hard decoding period can be wholly or partially reserved, and the reserved data can be used in a soft decoding period. For example, a read operation is performed at a specific physical address of a flash memory; after an uncorrectable error of the read operation is detected, a re-read operation is performed at the specific physical address of the flash memory to obtain first data and temporarily store the first data into a volatile memory, and a hard decoding operation is performed on the first data; and after decoding failure of the hard decoding operation is detected, a soft decoding operation is performed according to the first data read from the volatile memory to perform error correction corresponding to the specific physical address.
US09405617B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for recovering from a data access error encountered in data stripes implemented in a data redundancy scheme (e.g., RAID) in a solid state storage device. In one embodiment, the storage device holds parity data in a temporary, volatile memory such as a RAM and writes the parity data to the non-volatile memory when a full stripe's worth of new write data has been written to the non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, upon detecting that a data access error has occurred in a partially written stripe, the storage device initiates a write of the parity data for the partially written stripe to the non-volatile memory and executes a RAID recovery procedure using the newly written parity data to attempt to recover from the detected error. This approach allows for a recovery from the data access error without waiting for the full stripe to be written.
US09405612B2
Disclosed is a fault repair apparatus capable of reducing time which fault repair processing needs.The fault repair apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes, a detection unit that detects a fault in the integrated circuit being equipped with a memory storing configuration data (config-data), and a circuit element whose logic operation is defined by the config-data; and outputs fault information; a memory unit that memorizes a fault area specification table which correlates whether or not a description in the config-data related to the fault information exists in any of memory areas to identification information which identifies the memory area; a specification unit that specifies a failed memory area from the fault information and the fault area specification table; and a correction unit that, about the config-data stored in the failed memory area, detects and corrects error data which does not agree with an expected value.
US09405607B2
A memory controller comprises at least a memory control processing module and/or a distributed storage processing module. A method begins by the memory control processing module receiving a memory access request regarding a data segment. The method continues with the memory control processing module interpreting the memory access request to determine whether an error coding dispersal function of the data segment is applicable. The method continues with the memory control processing module sending the memory access request to the distributed storage processing module when the error coding dispersal function is applicable. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module performing the error coding dispersal function on the data segment to produce an error coded processed data segment. The method continues with the distributed storage processing module sending the error coded processed data segment to the memory control processing module.
US09405603B2
A system for naming a process being monitored that handles a requesting a framework such as a .NET framework. The process may be implemented by a .NET application framework within an IIS web server. The naming system allows for user readable names which are more than just numbers or indexes. The naming system is configured from a single location rather than from multiple locations, making it much easier to configure, change and update.
US09405597B1
A method and system are provided that may centralize the management of applications that access the data of social networks via API calls. A central service may generate tokens at a generation rate that permit an application to access an API. The tokens may be distributed to queues associated with certain content types. The relative distribution of tokens to each queue may be determined by rules. A queue may release tokens to applications that function to access the content type associated with the queue. The token generation rate and rules may be selected to prevent violation of the rate limits for the API.
US09405596B2
Code versioning for enabling transactional memory region promotion may include receiving a portion of candidate source code; outlining the portion of candidate source code received for parallel execution; wrapping a critical region with entry and exit routines to enter into a speculation sub-process, wherein the entry and exit routines also gather conflict statistics at run time; and generating an outlined code portion comprising multiple loop versions using a processor.
US09405591B2
A method is described for dynamically assigning tasks to entities of different types within a network system based on preferences to perform the tasks on particular entities and/or network/device conditions. This ability to dynamically assign processing of tasks between disparate devices in a network system provides a more efficient network configuration and utilization of resources while not compromising throughput, overall network security, and/or network flexibility.
US09405583B2
Described are techniques for selecting resources for provisioning. A usage definition, including a piecewise objective function, and first set of logical profiles based on core criteria are selected. Each of the logical profiles in the first set represents a resource set characterized by a core criteria value set that specifies values for the core criteria. A second set of resulting objective function values are determined by evaluating one piece of the objective function for each of the logical profiles in the first set. A highest ranked one of the resulting objective function values in the second set is selected having a corresponding first logical profile of the first set and a corresponding core criteria value set. A third set of resources is selected which is characterized by the corresponding core criteria value set for the first logical profile. The third set of resources is any of recommended or selected for provisioning.
US09405582B2
Dynamically adjusting the parameters of a parallel, distributed job in response to changes to the status of the job cluster. Includes beginning execution of a job in a cluster, receiving cluster status information, determining a job performance impact of the cluster status, reconfiguring job parameters based on the performance impact, and continuing execution of the job using the updated configuration. Dynamically requesting a change to the resources of the job cluster for a parallel, distributed job in response to changes in job status. Includes beginning execution of a job in a cluster, receiving job status information, determining a job performance impact, requesting a changed allocation of cluster resources based on the determined job performance impact, reconfiguring one or more job parameters based on the changed allocation, and continuing execution of the job using the updated configuration.
US09405581B2
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing resources in a server environment. In an embodiment, the method includes determining to prepare one or more virtual resources for activation of one or more allocated host resources, based, at least in part, on virtual resource definitions. The one or more allocated host resources and the one or more virtual resources are activated. Activation of the one or more virtual resources is finalized, wherein finalizing the activation includes updating the virtual resource definitions.
US09405559B2
A method of executing a utility program on a computer system having a system management chip includes activating a graphics memory in the computer system, downloading a memory map including the utility program to be executed by the system management chip, storing the memory map in the graphics memory by the system management chip, copying the memory map from the graphics memory to a main memory in the computer system, and executing the utility program with a processor in the computer system.
US09405551B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes a binary translation (BT) container having code to generate a binary translation of a first code segment and to store the binary translation in a translation cache, a host entity logic to manage the BT container and to identify the first code segment, and protection logic to isolate the BT container from a software stack. In this way, the BT container is configured to be transparent to the software stack. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09405545B2
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, mechanisms, techniques, and apparatuses for cutting senior store latency using store prefetching. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include an integrated circuit or an out of order processor means that processes out of order instructions and enforces in-order requirements for a cache. Such an integrated circuit or out of order processor means further includes means for receiving a store instruction; means for performing address generation and translation for the store instruction to calculate a physical address of the memory to be accessed by the store instruction; and means for executing a pre-fetch for a cache line based on the store instruction and the calculated physical address before the store instruction retires.
US09405542B1
A processor including architectural registers used to execute instructions and a renaming module to rename the architectural registers to physical registers in response to receiving instructions. A first table stores pointers to the physical registers storing data generated in response to the processor completing execution of instructions. A second table stores pointers to the physical registers storing data to be generated by instructions received but not executed by the processor and used by instructions to be received by the processor. An execution module executes instructions and discards one or more instructions received but not executed by the processor in response to an event. An updating module updates pointers in the second table in response to the event. The updated pointers are generated based on pointers stored in the first table at a time of occurrence of the event and instructions not discarded by the execution module.
US09405541B2
The invention relates to implementing run-time instrumentation indirect sampling by address. An aspect of the invention includes a method for implementing run-time instrumentation indirect sampling by address. The method includes reading sample-point addresses from a sample-point address array, and comparing, by a processor, the sample-point addresses to an address associated with an instruction from an instruction stream executing on the processor. The method further includes recognizing a sample point upon execution of the instruction associated with the address matching one of the sample-point addresses. Run-time instrumentation information is obtained from the sample point. The method also includes storing the run-time instrumentation information in a run-time instrumentation program buffer as a reporting group.
US09405536B2
A method provides support for packed sum of absolute difference operations in a floating point execution unit, e.g., a scalar or vector floating point execution unit. Existing adders in a floating point execution unit may be utilized along with minimal additional logic in the floating point execution unit to support efficient execution of a fixed point packed sum of absolute differences instruction within the floating point execution unit, often eliminating the need for a separate vector fixed point execution unit in a processor architecture, and thereby leading to less logic and circuit area, lower power consumption and lower cost.
US09405533B2
The present invention is directed to unmanned vehicle (UV) systems and methods. A method may include capturing data with at least one UV proximate an area of interest. The method may also include processing the data at a computing device. In addition, the method may include at least storing the processed data, sharing the processed data with another device, combining the processed data with related historical data, developing a model based at least partially on the processed data, determining at least one future task to be performed by the UV based at least partially on the processed data, or any combination thereof.
US09405528B2
An advanced metering infrastructure may be configured for automated meter reading, such as of utility (electric, natural gas, etc.) meters. Within a network, a data collector communicates with, and receives meter data from, a plurality of endpoints. Firmware on the endpoints may be updated by transmission, from the data collector, of a new firmware image. In one example, the data collector sends an announcement of a firmware update to the plurality of endpoints. At a time indicated by the announcement, the data collector multicasts the firmware update a plurality of times. The data collector then receives indications from a plurality of endpoints that did not successfully receive all blocks of the multicast firmware update. In response, the data collector sends missing blocks to the plurality of endpoints according to the indications.
US09405526B2
Techniques for initiating update operations are described. In implementations, updates are gathered for a computing device, and grouped based on whether the updates involve a device restart and/or shutdown operation to be installed. Thus, updates that involve a restart can be installed as a group, such as part of a single update and restart operation. In at least some implementations, an update and restart operation for installing updates can be scheduled. A user can be notified of the upcoming update and restart operation, such as via notifications presented in various ways on a computing device. When a scheduled time for an update and restart operation arrives for a device, a variety of factors can be considered in determining whether to initiate the operation. For instance, user presence information and device state information can be considered.
US09405524B1
A method for detecting a confirmation of a properly installed software product on a computing device, determining the software product installation properties of the properly installed software product, and storing information relating to at least one or more software product installation properties of the properly installed software product.
US09405511B2
A FIR transmit architecture uses multiple driver divisions to allow signals with different delays to be summed into the output signal by the driver itself. The architecture includes a first multiplexer, a plurality of delay cells, a plurality of sign blocks, a switch block, a second multiplexer, and a plurality of drivers.
US09405507B2
A method and apparatus, including a computer program product, implementing techniques for displaying a table of data including a set of markers associated with rows or columns of the table, the table having one or more sort keys having a sort key order including a most significant sort key, each sort key being a row or column of the table; receiving a user input gesture selecting a marker; establishing the row or column associated with the user-selected marker as the most significant sort key, and maintaining the positions of the remaining sort keys in the sort key order; sorting the data using the sort key order; and displaying the sorted data. The techniques also include representing visually a sort key order for a table of data by displaying on a graphical user interface display one or more markers with a pattern of distinct visual properties.
US09405498B2
A communication apparatus includes a first communication unit, a second communication unit, and a communication-apparatus-side controller. The first communication unit wirelessly communicates with plural terminal apparatuses, the number of which is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of connections allowed. The second communication unit wirelessly communicates with a connection-requesting terminal apparatus that attempts to wirelessly communicate with the first communication unit. The communication-apparatus-side controller transmits, to the connection-requesting terminal apparatus via the second communication unit, information indicating that wireless communication via the first communication unit is not available in a case where the number of connections established for wireless communication via the first communication unit has reached the predetermined maximum number of connections allowed.
US09405493B2
A computer network system and method for printing accompanying information and prescription labels in pharmacies, comprises: a central CS; a PMS; a data transmission network through which said PMS and said central CS can communicate; wherein said PMS includes an I/O terminal, a scanner, and a first printer; wherein said PMS includes a PMS SO and a Catalina SO; said PMS SO is configured to receive and store prescription information for a prescription, and to associate a prescription identification with said prescription; said Catalina SO is configure to select accompanying information for said prescription, to format and save said accompanying information in an accompanying information print file; and said PMS is configured to print a prescription label for said prescription and said accompanying information print file.
US09405492B2
A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by a processor of an information processing device, cause the processor to: transmit, to an image processing apparatus, identification information for identifying a login requestor; acquire account information transmitted from the image processing apparatus when the identification information is registered in the image processing apparatus; cause the information processing device to log in to a server using the account information; and perform at least one of: acquiring image data from the server and transmitting the image data and the identification information to the image processing apparatus; and transmitting an image reading request and the identification information to the image processing apparatus, acquiring image data from the image processing apparatus, and transmitting the image data acquired from the image processing apparatus, to the server.
US09405469B2
A mapping system and method that enables a secure reservation mode for a plurality of logical unit numbers of a storage system, generates a plurality of secret reservation keys, and instructs a distributed client to utilize at least one of the secret reservation keys to register with the storage system and to issue secure persistent reserves to the plurality of logical unit numbers.
US09405468B2
A system for memory device control may include a stacked memory device and a memory controller. The stacked memory device may include a stack of chips connected to a package substrate by electrical interconnects. The stack may include a plurality of memory chips, a primary control chip, and a secondary control chip. The primary and secondary control chips may be electrically connected to the plurality of memory chips by an internal data bus. The primary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a first external data bus. The secondary control chip may have logic to provide an interface between the internal data bus and a second external data bus.
US09405467B2
An adaptive guard band for a ramp load/unload device is disclosed to provide extended data storage. In illustrated embodiments, an adaptive guard band algorithm is configured to format one or more discs or media having a lower capacity device with the adaptive guard band and extended data zone utilizing capacity measurements. The algorithm formats the media to provide a track zero at a first cylinder if the capacity is at or above the threshold capacity and a second cylinder if the capacity is below the threshold capacity to provide the extended data storage zone. A size or width of the extended data zone is variable to provide additional capacity to meet the threshold capacity.
US09405461B2
A device operable using touch-less and touchscreen gestures and a method and system to operate the device are described. The device includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device and sensing light intensity at the respective surface locations. The device also includes a processor coupled to the two or more ambient light sensors to identify a touch-less gesture based on the light intensity sensed by the two or more ambient light sensors, receive a touchscreen gesture, and operate the device based on the touch-less gesture and the touchscreen gesture.
US09405459B2
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system that comprise a unified system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, the unified desktop includes a process for docking and undocking the device with the computer system. The unified desktop presents desktops or windows based on a set of pre-determined rules.
US09405458B2
According to an aspect, a portable electronic apparatus includes a housing, a touch panel, and a control unit. The housing includes a first surface, and a convex section that is formed near an edge area of the first surface. The touch panel is arranged on the first surface, and includes a first area near the convex section and a second area excluding the first area. The control unit controls the touch panel to display an operation screen on the first area.
US09405457B2
Apparatus and systems are disclosed to enhance the user interface of a touch screen device. In one embodiment, a button (114) is disposed over a touch activation area (112) of a touch screen device (110) by a retainer (116) hingedly connected to a hinge bracket (118) affixed to the device housing by a double-sided tape (120). The button relays a user's touch action to the touch sensitive screen and provides the user with tactile cues and feedback. Systemic optimizations are also provided to streamline the operation of the touch screen device adopting such an apparatus.
US09405453B1
Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced user interface mechanics are presented. In one arrangement, a scrollable list of content items may be displayed. Input associated with a scroll command may be received. Then, based on the scroll command, a scrollable refresh trigger may be displayed. Subsequently, the scrollable list of content items may be refreshed in response to determining, based on the scroll command, that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated. In at least one instance, it may be determined that the scrollable refresh trigger has been activated in response to determining that the scroll command was completed while the scrollable refresh trigger was fully displayed.
US09405449B2
Systems and methods are described herein for enabling a user of a diagramming system to select elements of a diagram and apply a layout constraint thereto. In accordance with certain embodiments described herein, the systems and methods provide the user with a means to perform these tasks in a manner that is faster, easier and more intuitive than interfaces provided by conventional diagramming systems. For example, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein, a single user gesture is obtained and the steps of selecting elements of a diagram to which a layout constraint is to be applied and selecting the layout constraint are both performed based on the single user gesture.
US09405447B2
A smart device is provided with a main remote control application that may be configured using information obtained from a QR code. The main remote control application may present images of original remote controls corresponding to devices which are controllable by the configured main remote control application. In connection with a presented image of an original remote control, the display may present icons that are representative of a subset of the buttons of the original remote control. The user interface also allows a user to select amongst the images of the original remote controls to change which appliances are to be controlled via the user interface. A pop-up remote control widget may also be provided which may be invoked without switching to the main remote control application provisioned on the smart device.
US09405440B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a statistical amount selecting unit that selects, from a plurality of statistical amounts showing features of users, a statistical amount to be used based on distribution of each of the statistical amounts, a priority setting unit that sets priorities of a plurality of users, based on the selected statistical amount, and a display control unit that controls display of the plurality of users or a plurality of pieces of information from the plurality of users, based on the set priorities.
US09405438B2
Techniques and systems for centralized access to multimedia content stored on or available to a computing device are disclosed. The centralized access can be provided by a media control interface that receives user inputs and interacts with media programs resident on the computing device to produce graphical user interfaces that can be presented on a display device.
US09405419B2
Electrically-conductive articles are prepared to have electrically-conductive metallic grids and electrically-conductive metallic connectors (BUS lines) on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. The electrically-conductive metallic connectors are designed with one metallic main wire that comprises two or more adjacent metallic micro-wires in bundled patterns. These bundled patterns and metallic micro-wires are designed with specific dimensions and configurations to provide optimal fidelity (or correspondence) to the mask image used to provide such patterns. The electrically-conductive articles can be prepared using various manufacturing technologies and can be used as parts of various electronic devices including touch screen devices. The electrically-conductive metallic grids and connectors can be prepared and designed using various technologies that are amenable to obtaining very fine lines in predetermined patterns.
US09405406B2
An image pickup device capable of stably detecting an object irrespective of use conditions while reducing manufacturing costs is provided. When illumination light from a backlight is emitted to a proximity object from an I/O display panel, an electric charge is accumulated in image pickup pixels in accordance with total light amount, including reflected light originating from the backlight and external environment light. Moreover, when the illumination light is not emitted, a discharging electric charge is released from the image pickup pixels in accordance with the amount of environment light. Thereby, an environment light component is subtracted from an image pickup signal obtained from each of the image pickup pixels, so object information about the proximity object is obtained without influence of the environment light. Moreover, in a light reception drive circuit, fewer frame memories for producing a picked-up image from the image pickup signal are necessary.
US09405397B2
A touch panel-equipped display device and program are provided that displays natural imagery that does not leave the user unsatisfied when a character, geometric shape or the like fed via the touch panel is displayed in a style that resembles one created with a brush (i.e. brush-written style). The touch panel-equipped display device includes a display panel unit, a touch panel unit, a touch panel controller, an application unit, a display processing unit and a panel driver. The application unit recognizes a touch point track on the touch panel surface based on touch point coordinate information, and performs the fade or hook drawing process depending on the touch point track.
US09405389B2
An iterative exponential moving average algorithm generates a smoothed output data stream from a noisy input data stream. A smoothing factor used in calculating the exponential moving average is updated with each iteration of the exponential moving average algorithm based on a cumulative vote value, which is based, at least in part, on an estimated state of the input data stream.
US09405382B2
An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors coupled with an optical coupler assembly through a waveguide on the surface on the optical-touch sensitive device. Each emitter produces optical beams which propagate in the waveguide via total internal reflection and are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams, and are determined based on the disturbances. The optical touch-sensitive device further includes an intermediate layer interposed between the waveguide and a display surface. The intermediate layer preserves optical beam propagation in the waveguide and is transparent to visible light. The optical touch-sensitive device may further include at least one frame zone, at least one dead zone, and/or at least one fixed graphics zone.
US09405376B2
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including a light sensor. The light sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a light-absorbing semiconductor in electrical communication with each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode. A light-obscuring material to substantially attenuate an incidence of light onto a portion of the light-absorbing semiconductor is disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode. An electrical bias is to be applied between the second electrode, and the first and the third electrodes and a current flowing through the second electrode is related to the light incident on the light sensor. Additional methods and apparatuses are described.
US09405375B2
Methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure are presented for recognizing a gesture of a gesture object in a plurality of recorded data objects, with the recorded data objects being recorded over time. In some embodiments, a method includes computing at least one set of gesture angles using the plurality of recorded data objects, wherein each of the gesture angles in the at least one set comprises an angle measurement between two positions of the gesture object, the two positions recorded in successive data objects in the plurality of recorded data objects, and recognizing the gesture based on the at least one set of gesture angles. In some embodiments, the method includes recognizing the gesture is based further on comparing the at least one set of gesture angles to a gesture model.
US09405369B2
A user interface device includes a flexible layer comprising a touch surface configured to receive a touch by a user, a plurality of haptic cells covered by the flexible layer, each haptic cell comprising a haptic output device, a sensor configured to sense an amount and/or rate of deformation of the flexible layer when a user touches the touch surface, and a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor, generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal from the sensor, and output the haptic control signal to at least one haptic output device of the plurality of haptic cells to cause the haptic output device to deform an associated haptic cell in response to the sensed deformation of the flexible layer.
US09405363B2
Consumer electronic devices have been developed with enormous information processing capabilities, high quality audio and video outputs, large amounts of memory, and may also include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. Additionally, relatively unsophisticated and inexpensive sensors, such as microphones, video camera, GPS or other position sensors, when coupled with devices having these enhanced capabilities, can be used to detect subtle features about users and their environments. A variety of audio, video, simulation and user interface paradigms have been developed to utilize the enhanced capabilities of these devices. These paradigms can be used separately or together in any combination. One paradigm automatically creating user identities using speaker identification. Another paradigm includes a control button with 3-axis pressure sensitivity for use with game controllers and other input devices.
US09405362B2
A system and method are provided for interfacing between a mobile device and a PC. The mobile device utilizes a connection with the PC for taking advantage of the larger display and input devices such as the keyboard on the PC to improve the user interface (UI). This also enables the user to take advantage of the mobile device's wireless connectivity at the same time, e.g. where the PC does not have the same connectivity.
US09405354B2
A power supply has an inductor and determines loading state of the power supply according to a compensation signal. When the loading state is determined to be a light loading state or a no-loading state, a switch is operated at a low operating frequency. When the loading state is determined to be a heavy loading state, the switch is operated at a high operating frequency. If the compensation signal exceeds a critical value, it is determined that the loading state is an overloaded state. When the overloaded state continues past a tolerable duration, the switch is turned off. The tolerable duration is determined by an external capacitor and is independent of the operating frequency.
US09405349B2
A multi-core apparatus includes cores each including an active cycle counting unit configured to store an active cycle count, and a stall cycle counting unit configured to store a stall cycle count. The multi-core apparatus further includes a job scheduler configured to determine an optimal number of cores in an active state based on state information received from each of the cores, and adjust power to maintain the optimal number of cores.
US09405348B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of performing a power cap processing in a compute environment. The method includes determining of one of committed resources and dedicated resources in a compute environment exceed a threshold value for a job. If a determination is yes that the threshold value is exceeded, then the method includes preempting processing of the job in the compute environment by performing one of migrating the job to a new compute resources and performing a power reduction action associated with the job, such as slowing down a processor associated with a job or cancelling the job. When such a power state reduction action is taken, reservations associated with other jobs may also be adjusted.
US09405344B1
An integrated circuit includes a circuit including a plurality of functional blocks, a sensor associated with one of the plurality of functional blocks for sensing a state of activity thereof, and a sleep switch receiving an output from the sensor and placing the associated functional block in a sleep state in response to the sensed state of activity.
US09405342B2
To overcome potential problems associated with overflowing counters/timers, embodiments of the present invention include a ping timer and a pong timer offset from each other, and a time checker that accesses at any one timer either the ping timer or the pong timer to determine whether a time interval has passed. Upon passage of the time interval, the time checker switches access from the ping timer to the pong timer before the ping timer reaches an overflow state, thereby avoiding problems associated with counter/timer overflow.
US09405340B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of cores grouped into a plurality of clusters. The clusters are formed based on a corresponding operating voltage of each core at each of a plurality of frequencies. Each cluster includes a unique set of cores and at least one cluster includes at least two of the cores. The processor also includes a power control unit (PCU) including frequency/voltage control logic, responsive to a frequency change request for a first core of a first cluster, to determine an operating voltage for the first core from a first cluster voltage-frequency (V-F) table associated with the first cluster. The first cluster V-F table uniquely specifies a corresponding operating voltage at each of a plurality of frequencies of operation of the cores of the first cluster. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09405337B2
Temperature management circuit, system on chip including the same and method of managing temperature
In managing temperature in a system on chip (SOC), a main temperature signal is generated using a main sensor, where the main temperature signal is a signal having a value corresponding to a main temperature of the SOC. Subsidiary temperature signals are generated using subsidiary sensors, where the subsidiary temperature signals are pulse signals having frequencies corresponding to subsidiary temperatures of subsidiary blocks in the SOC, respectively. An operation of the SOC is controlled based upon the main temperature signal and the subsidiary temperature signals.
US09405332B2
A linear amplifier circuit includes a multi-stage power amplifier that can amplify an input signal to produce an output signal, and a gain feedback control circuit coupled with the output and the input of the multi-stage power amplifier. An adjacent-channel leakage feedback control circuit can detect the output signal at the output of the multi-stage power amplifier and reduce adjacent-channel leakage in the output signal over an output power range based on the detected output signal.
US09405329B2
Provided is a cover structure used for a touch panel, including: a substrate and a masking layer buried in the substrate. The region where the masking layer is located defines a non-visible region of the touch panel. In addition, a method for fabricating the cover structure and a touch panel including the cover structure are also provided.
US09405321B2
When the lid is rotated in the closing direction toward the first predetermined state from a second predetermined state where the lid is in an open state and the outer lid at a locked position, the projection of the outer lid and a wall portion of the case are brought into contact with each other in the gap, an inclined surface is formed on at least one of a portion, which is brought into contact with the wall portion of the case, of the projection of the outer lid and a portion, which is brought into contact with the projection of the outer lid, of the wall portion of the case, wherein the inclined surface is formed in an inclined manner such that as the inclined surface is farther from the axis of rotation, the inclined surface becomes farther from the predetermined surface.
US09405320B1
An electronic device docking station is used to support an electronic device. The electronic device docking station includes a main portion and a keyboard. The main portion is rotatably connected to the keyboard. The main portion defines a receiving space and a receiving groove. The electronic device is received in the receiving groove. The keyboard can rotate between a closed position and a working position. When the keyboard is in the closed position, the keyboard is received in the receiving space. When the keyboard is in the working position, the keyboard and the main portion are substantially aligned in a plane. A base assembly is also provided.
US09405315B2
A first first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory may receive first processor input from a first processor group that includes a first processor. The first processor group is configured to execute program code based on the first processor input that includes a set of input signals, a clock signal, and corresponding data. The first FIFO may store the first processor input and may output the first processor input to a second FIFO memory and to a second processor according to a first delay. The second FIFO memory may store the first processor input and may output the first processor input to a third processor according to a second delay. The second processor may execute at least a first portion of the program code and the third processor may execute at least a second portion of the program code responsive to the first processor input.
US09405300B2
Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. The controller receives information related to a condition of the process over a first communication network, determines a control signal based on the received information and the programmed process, and sends the control signal over a second communication network to a benchtop utility tower. In one example, the utility tower can include transmitters for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen that send information related to a condition of the process to the controller over the first communication network, and an agitation system, a gas control system, a temperature control system and a pump control system that perform a control action based on the control signal affecting the process condition. The utility tower can include a computer with a human-machine interface that communicates with the controller over a third communication network.
US09405294B2
Method and system for guiding a robotic garden tool (100) is disclosed. The robotic garden tool (100) may include at least two sensing means (108, 110, and 202). The robotic garden tool (100) is equipped to follow along a guiding wire (402) on a lawn (400). While the robotic garden tool (100) moves along the guiding wire (402), the sensing means (108, 110, and 202) may detect a magnetic field strength generated from current carrying guiding wire (402). The method (500) and the system (300) is equipped to provide instructions to the robotic garden tool (100) to follow the guiding wire (402) based on the difference of magnetic field strength sensed by at least two sensing means (108, 110, and 202).
US09405288B2
A robot apparatus comprises: a robot body having a multi joint arm including a plurality of joints; a motor provided as a driving source of at least a part of the plurality of joints; and a controlling system capable of controlling the motor. The controlling system comprises a motion controlling unit configured to input a current to the motor to rotate the motor, a heat generation controlling unit configured to input the current to the motor to generate heat, without rotating the motor, and a controlling unit configured to calculate a temperature raising current necessary to rise up to a predetermined temperature without rotating the motor, to generate a current instruction for temperature raising to set the heat generation controlling unit to output the temperature raising current, and to transmit the current instruction for temperature raising to the heat generation controlling unit at stopping the robot body.
US09405267B2
A developing apparatus includes a developing unit having a developing member, a photosensitive unit hinge-connected to the developing unit and having an image carrier, and a pushing unit disposed below the photosensitive unit and configured to selectively push a lower portion of the developing unit, wherein the pushing unit includes a pushing member disposed to move linearly in a base and having an end configured to be in contact with the lower portion of the developing unit, a link member having a first end connected to the pushing member, a crank arm rotatably connected to a second end of the link member, an elastic member disposed on the link member and that elastically supports the pushing member, and a rotation shaft rotatably disposed in the base and connected to the crank arm.
US09405266B2
A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member which receives a driving force output member provided in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member, and a detectable rotary member including a detectable portion, which is a detection target to be detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus, and a contact portion which is provided away from the detectable portion. The detectable rotary member rotates from a retreat position to an initial position where the detectable rotary member is rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member, by the contact portion contacting an interference member fixed in the image forming apparatus in a process of mounting the developing cartridge into the image forming apparatus.
US09405264B2
Provided is a fall prevention device that prevents an installation object from falling over by supporting a leg member including a base portion and a shaft portion when an installation surface oscillates. The fall prevention device includes a support portion supported by the installation surface, a first restricting portion supported by the support portion, correspondingly disposed above an upper surface of a base portion, and having a first shaft-penetrating portion through which a shaft portion penetrates, and a second restricting portion disposed above the first restricting portion at a bottom-portion-side end portion of the shaft portion. The second restricting portion has a second shaft-penetrating portion through which the shaft portion penetrates. A gap that is smaller than a gap between the first shaft-penetrating portion and the shaft portion is formed between the second shaft-penetrating portion and the end portion of the shaft portion.
US09405260B2
A power transmitting apparatus includes a driving source, a driving member rotated by the driving source, a driven member linked with the driving member to rotate, a transmitting member disposed between the driving member and the driven member, the transmitting member being rotated by the driving member, axially moved along a rotation direction of the driving member so that the transmitting member is connected to the driven member, and an elastic member disposed between the transmitting member and the driven member, the elastic member providing an elastic bias into the transmitting member so that the transmitting member is separated from the driven member.
US09405258B2
An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, a conveyance unit, an opening, and a movement unit. The storage unit stores, in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, a sheet having an image. The conveyance unit conveys the sheet having the image to the storage unit. The opening exposes the stored sheet to an outside of the apparatus body. The movement unit is movable to a first position where the sheet conveyed to the storage unit can be stored in the storage unit and a second position. The stored sheet is moved when the movement unit moves from the first to the second position, and is stopped in an exposed state where a part of the sheet is exposed to outside the apparatus body from the opening. The movement unit moves from the second to the first position when the sheet is in the exposed state.
US09405254B2
Described herein is a device that generates a beam of light with uniform intensity. The device includes an array of light sources. The light generated passes through a beam splitter. One beam is used for feedback to maintain uniform intensity. The other beam passes through a barrel which is used to mold the beam with uniform intensity into the desired shape and to reduce divergence. The device can be used as part of a quality control system for testing a photoreceptor drum.
US09405253B2
An image forming system includes an input control part and a display control part. The input control part receives an operation input from a user. The display control part selectively displays a setting screen for mode setting and a job list screen displaying a list of jobs. In more detail, the display control part displays the job list screen on the display part when a first instruction which is a display instruction for the job list screen is received during a setting operation period for mode setting. Further, the display control part hides the job list screen and displays an information display screen relating to an operation which is performed during the setting operation period, on the display part, when a second instruction which is a non-display instruction for the job list screen is received while the job list screen is being displayed.
US09405248B2
An image heating apparatus includes a cylindrical film; a roller contacting the film; a nip forming member contacting an inner surface of the film and cooperating with the roller to form a nip for nipping a sheet carrying an image; an opposing member opposing an inner surface of an end portion of the film along generatrix direction the film. A lubricant is provided between the film and the nip forming member. The film is longer than the roller. At least a part of the curved surface portion is provided in a region outside a contact region of the film and the roller. A portion of the curved surface portion outside the contact region is provided with a groove extending in a rotational moving direction of the film, the groove having a wall effective to remove from the film the lubricant.
US09405245B2
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a pressing member, a heating stop device and a deformation preventing member. The deformation preventing member is configured to face an inner circumferential face of the fixing belt. In a state where the fixing belt is not broken in a circumferential direction, the fixing belt and the deformation preventing member are arranged at an interval, and when the fixing belt is broken in the circumferential direction, the fixing belt is deformed and comes into contact with the deformation preventing member so that the fixing belt is prevented from being deformed to a side far from the heating stop device.
US09405240B2
An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a fixing unit with a heater, an end temperature sensor to detect a temperature in an end area an end area of the fixing unit, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to perform a width obtaining step to obtain the width of the sheet, a temperature obtaining step to obtain the detected temperature of the fixing unit, a comparison step to compare the detected temperature with a threshold, a cooling step to let the end area of the fixing unit cool down when the detected temperature is one of higher and equal to the threshold, and a threshold-setting step to set one of a first value and a second value to be the threshold depending on the width of the sheet obtained in the width obtaining step.
US09405236B2
An image forming device capable of performing both-side printing, statically transferring, by application of a transfer voltage, an unfixed image formed on an image carrier to a recording sheet when passing through a transfer position, and then thermally fixing the unfixed image when the recording sheet passes through a fixing position where a heating rotating body is disposed. The image forming device acquires an index value of a water content at each of a plurality of sheet-passing-direction positions of the recording sheet having undergone thermal fixing of an unfixed image statically transferred onto a first side thereof, and controls, for each of the positions, a transfer voltage applied for statically transferring an unfixed image onto a second side of the recording sheet, so that the lower the water content indexed by the index value of the position, the greater an absolute value of the transfer voltage.
US09405235B2
Provided is a resin composition including at least: polyolefin in an amount of from 50% by mass to 90% by mass; an electro-conductive agent; and a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, In General Formula (1), R is preferably a divalent group having a number overage molecular weight of 1,000 or greater and derived from acrylic polymer.
US09405230B2
A developing apparatus includes a developer vessel that is provided with a first transporting path, a second transporting path and a third transporting path. The first transporting path and the second transporting path are communicated with each other, and a developer is circulated in the first transporting path and the second transporting path. The third transporting path is provided in an upstream side in a transporting direction of the developer in the second transporting path. If a toner is consumed while forming an image on a paper, a toner corresponding to a consumption amount is resupplied together with a carrier from a toner cartridge to the developer vessel. A carrier and/or a developer that overflows from the second transporting path to the third transporting path is discharged from a discharge port.
US09405219B2
A developing device 43 includes a first rotation control portion and a second rotation control portion. When a developing process is performed, the first rotation control portion causes a developer carrying member to rotate in a first rotation direction at a first rotation speed previously determined. When the developing process is not performed, the second rotation control portion causes the developer carrying member to rotate at a second rotation speed V2 faster than a rotation speed V1 during the developing process in a direction X2 reverse to a development rotation direction X1, and then, causes the developer carrying member to rotate at a third rotation speed V3 slower than the second rotation speed V2 in the direction X2.
US09405218B2
An image forming device includes a plurality of developing devices, and a plurality of sloping members disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of developing devices. Each developing device includes a developer accommodating chamber and a developing roller disposed above the developer accommodating chamber. Each developing device is movable between a first position and a second position lower than the first position in a height direction generally parallel to a vertical direction. Each sloping member has a sloped surface movable in the height direction and a biasing member biasing the sloped surface upward in the height direction. Each sloping member is movable between a third position where the corresponding developing device is placed on the sloped surface and a fourth position where the corresponding developing device is released from being pressed by the sloped surface in a predetermined direction generally perpendicular to the vertical direction.
US09405211B2
A light source drive circuit for driving a light source is disclosed including a drive current generating unit generating a drive current, the drive current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source, a first auxiliary current input to the light source prior to input of the predetermined current, and a second auxiliary current added to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a signal generating unit generating a first signal and a second signal, the first signal causing the first auxiliary current to be input for a first period and the second signal causing the second auxiliary current to be applied to the predetermined current for a second period. The first period is shorter than a period from a rise of the predetermined current to when a light amount from the light source reaches the predetermined light amount with the predetermined current.
US09405209B2
An image forming unit includes: a photoconductive drum; a charging member extending in a direction along a rotary shaft of the photoconductive drum; and a holding member holding the charging member at a frame member. While held at the frame member with the holding member in between, the charging member is arranged in parallel to the photoconductive drum in contact with a circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum with their rotary shafts in parallel. The holding member and the frame member respectively have interference-preventing-shaped parts provided at a tip part of the holding member in a direction where the holding member is attached and at a position of the frame member receiving the holding member. The interference-preventing-shaped parts are capable of first making contact with each other upon attachment of the charging member to the frame member to thereby prevent interference between the holding member and the photoconductive drum.
US09405206B2
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of suppressing a voltage fluctuation and occurrence of a black spot under a high-temperature/high-humidity environment. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes: a support; a first intermediate layer formed on the support; a second intermediate layer formed on the first intermediate layer; and a photosensitive layer formed on the second intermediate layer, in which the first intermediate layer contains metal oxide particles having a number-average primary particle diameter of from 30 to 450 nm; and the second intermediate layer contains a cured product of a composition containing an electron transport substance having a polymerizable functional group represented by the formula (1) or (2), and having a molecular weight of from 100 to 1,000, and a crosslinking agent having 3 to 6 groups reactive with the polymerizable functional group represented by the formula (1) or (2), and having a molecular weight of from 200 to 1,300.
US09405199B2
A method of forming a resist pattern, and a film including a metal-containing compound formed on the resist pattern while developing the resist pattern. The method uses an organic solvent developer liquid, in which a metal compound capable of generating a hydroxyl group upon hydrolysis is dissolved in an organic solvent that does not have a functional group that reacts with the metal compound.
US09405198B2
A black-and-white developing solution and a silver halide solution physical developing solution are used in sequence to provide electrically-conductive film elements from conductive film element precursors that contain photosensitive silver halide emulsions on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. The two developing solutions have unique combinations of developing agents and other essential components to provide complete development of imagewise exposed silver halide and highly conductive silver metal in desired patterns on a transparent substrate.
US09405196B2
Electrically-conductive articles are prepared to have electrically-conductive silver metal electrode grids on one or both supporting sides of a transparent substrate. Such articles are prepared by imagewise exposing conductive film element precursors having photosensitive silver halide layers, followed by development, fixing, and conductivity enhancement. The resulting silver image(s) can be treated with a stabilizing solution containing 0.5-50 mmol/l of specific stabilizing agents.
US09405193B2
An imprint apparatus include: a substrate stage; a dispense unit; an irradiation unit; a receiving unit configured to receive an imprint material that is dummy dispensed from the dispense unit; and a controller configured to cause the dummy dispensed imprint material to be irradiated by an energy beam from the irradiation unit without bringing the dummy dispensed imprint material into contact with the mold.
US09405191B2
A resist composition includes (A1) a resin which includes a structural unit represented by formula (a4), a structural unit represented by formula (II), the resin has no acid-labile group, (A2) a resin having an acid-labile group, and an acid generator: wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R4 represents a C1 to C24 saturated hydrocarbon group having a fluorine atom where a methylene group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group; R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group that may have a halogen atom; ring X1 represents a C2 to C36 heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group, a hydrogen atom contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1 to C24 hydrocarbon, a C1 to C12 alkoxyl group, a C2 to C4 acyl group, or a C2 to C4 acyloxy group, and a methylene group contained in the heterocyclic group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a carbonyl group.
US09405186B1
Methods, program products, and systems for improving optical proximity correction (OPC) calibration, and automatically determining a minimal number of clips, are disclosed. The method can include using a computing device to perform actions including: calculating a total relevancy score for a projected sample plan including a candidate clip, and wherein the relevancy score is derived from at least one relevancy criterion and a relevancy weight; calculating a relevancy score for the candidate clip, the relevancy score for the candidate clip being a contribution from the candidate clip to the total relevancy score; and adding the candidate clip to a sample plan for the IC layout and removing the candidate clip from the plurality of clips in response a difference in relevancy score between the projected sample plan and one or more previous sample plans substantially fitting a non-linear relevancy score function.
US09405184B2
Here are disclosed a pellicle for EUV and an assembly made up of this pellicle and a mask, which brings about a projection of low contrast (intensity) shadows of a mesh structure on the mask, thus minimizing the adverse effect of the shadow on the lithographic printing; also a method for assembling such assembly is disclosed wherein the pellicle is rotated relative to the mask to minimize the shadow contrast, in terms of a contrast ratio, of the mesh structure; the angle of the rotation is 30 degrees or smaller, and the resultant contrast ratio should be 25% or lower.
US09405181B2
A projection assembly for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as quadrotors. The projection assembly includes a projection screen with a rear surface and a front surface, and the projection screen has a level of opacity and/or other physical qualities that enables it to function as a rear-projection surface. The projection assembly includes a vehicle attachment member adapted for coupling with a frame of the UAV, and the projection screen is supported at a first end by the vehicle attachment member. The apparatus includes a projector projecting light, and the projected light is directed onto the rear surface of the projection surface to generate a displayed image visible on the front surface. The projection screen can be formed from a mesh sheet with a porosity allowing air to flow through the projection screen. The mesh sheet may be formed of plastic threads that provide the rear-projection surface function.
US09405180B2
Optical systems are provided that include illumination sources, micro-mirror array optical modulators, and an optical element. The micro-mirror array optical modulators can selectively modulate light beams, redirect light by diffraction and reflection, and provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent on the spectral bandwidth of the light incident thereupon. The optical element has a color dependent aperture that defines portions of output modulated light beams that are transmitted and remaining portions that are blocked. An efficiency and contrast of each the output modulated light beams acquired by the optical element can be independently determined by a narrow spectral bandwidth of each of the light beams, the spectral characteristics of the color dependent aperture, and the diffraction handedness of the micro-mirror array optical modulators for the associated spectral bandwidth.
US09405165B2
A controller system configured to control an electrochromic device and method thereof are provided, wherein the controller system includes an electrochromic device having a first substantially transparent substrate, a second substantially transparent substrate approximately parallel to the first substantially transparent substrate such that a chamber is defined by the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and an electrochromic medium between the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and a controller in communication with the electrochromic device, wherein the controller is configured to monitor electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device and adjust the electrical power supplied to the electrochromic device to maintain the electrochromic device in an approximately minimum transmission state.
US09405164B2
An electrochromic device comprises (i) a conductive layer, (ii) an electrochromic material, on the conductive layer, (iii) an electrolyte, on the electrochromic material, and (iv) a counter-electrode, on the electrolyte. The conductive layer has a surface roughness factor (SRF) of at least 10, and the conductive layer comprises a semi-metal.
US09405158B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix of pixel rows and pixel columns, the liquid crystal display including: a plurality of gate lines formed on a first substrate and disposed two between every pixel row; a plurality of data lines formed on the first substrate and disposed one between every two adjacent pixel columns; a common voltage line formed on the first substrate and extending in a pixel row direction along a vertical center of the pixel; and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on the first substrate and overlapping with each other with an insulating layer therebetween, each pixel electrode positioned in a pixel, and in which two pixel electrodes in the two pixel columns disposed between two adjacent data lines among the plurality of data lines are both connected to any one of the two data lines.
US09405151B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel and a backlight unit. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a wavelength transforming member. The wavelength transforming member is formed on a first surface of the first base substrate to change a wavelength of light to emit visible light having a predetermined wavelength. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a light shutter member. The second base substrate faces the first base substrate. The light shutter member is formed on a first surface of the second base substrate facing the first surface of the first base substrate. The light shutter member controls light transmittance of the light received from the wavelength transforming member. The backlight unit provides the display panel with the light. Thus, color purity of image is increased, thereby improving image display quality.
US09405148B2
A light source module, backlight assembly, and display device including the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the light source module includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of light sources arranged over the printed circuit board, and a plurality of optical lenses respectively arranged over the light sources. Each of the optical lenses has upper and lower surfaces opposing each other. The light source module further includes a plurality of reflection patterns respectively formed on the optical lenses. Each of the reflection patterns includes a first reflection pattern formed on the lower surface of the corresponding optical lens and a second reflection pattern formed on the upper surface of the corresponding optical lens.
US09405146B2
A quantum dot color filter is used for a liquid crystal panel comprising a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel corresponds to one color. The color filter includes subregions disposed in one to one correspondence with the sub-pixels. At least one subregion is formed of a quantum dot material and the quantum dot material generates light of the same color as a corresponding sub-pixel after excitation.
US09405142B2
The inventive concept provides a liquid crystal display including an insulation substrate; a roof layer which is formed on the insulation substrate; a pixel electrode which is formed on the insulation substrate and under the microcavity supported by the roof layer; and a liquid crystal layer which is disposed in the microcavity. The opening corresponding to unit microcavity includes portions having a first width and a second width. According to the inventive concept, configurations of the pixel and the opening which may minimize the remaining liquid crystal are provided to adjust a size of the liquid crystal injection hole between a plurality of microcavities into which the liquid crystal is injected, which may prevent an orientation error of the liquid crystal caused by the remaining liquid crystal outside the microcavity and thus prevent the display error.
US09405137B2
A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include an optical action zone configured to be inserted in an optical waveguide, and a bipolar transistor structure configured so that, in operation, collector current of the bipolar transistor structure crosses the optical action zone perpendicular to the axis of the optical waveguide.
US09405136B2
A non-reciprocal device incorporating metamaterials which exhibit non-reciprocity through angular momentum biasing. The metamaterial, such as a ring resonator, is angular-momentum biased. This is achieved by applying a suitable mechanical or spatio-temporal modulation to resonant inclusions of the metamaterial, thereby producing strong non-reciprocity. In this manner, non-reciprocity can be produced without requiring the use of large and bulky magnets to produce a static magnetic field. The metamaterials of the present invention can be realized by semiconducting and/or metallic materials which are widely used in integrated circuit technology, and therefore, contrary to magneto-optical materials, can be easily integrated into the non-reciprocal devices and large microwave or optical systems. The metamaterials of the present invention can be compact at various frequencies due to the enhanced wave-matter interaction in the constituent resonant inclusions. Additionally, by using the metamaterials of the present invention, the power consumed in the biasing network is drastically reduced.
US09405126B1
A device that allows viewing of 3D and virtual reality that is displayed on a portable device such as a cell phone for example an iPhone or any such type known as a smartphone. The device has vertical and horizontal panels that are hinged together to fold flat and to unfold into a box shape. One end is an attachment frame that allows attaching of the display source device so that its screen can be seen through the open box from the other end. On the other end is a lens frame on which are a pair of spaced apart lens for viewing separately of each eye thereby allowing 3 D viewing. The device can be equipped with a sterol separator wall to prevent vision confusion. All the parts are hinged together so as to allow the entire device to fold into a generally flattened package.
US09405119B2
An imaging device is presented for use in an imaging system capable of improving the image quality. The imaging device has one or more optical systems defining an effective aperture of the imaging device. The imaging device comprises a lens system having an algebraic representation matrix of a diagonalized form defining a first Condition Number, and a phase encoder utility adapted to effect a second Condition Number of an algebraic representation matrix of the imaging device, smaller than said first Condition Number of the lens system.
US09405116B2
A MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400) comprising, a MEMS device (240) which comprises a MEMS die (241) and a magnet (231); a flexible PCB board (205) to which the MEMS device (240) is mechanically, and electrically, connected; wherein the flexible PCB board (205) further comprises a first extension portion (205b) which comprises a least one electrical contact (259a,b) which is useable to electrically connect the MEMS micro-mirro rassembly (250, 300, 270, 400) to another electrical component). There is further provided a projection system comprising such a MEMS micro-mirror assembly (250, 300, 270, 400).
US09405115B2
An automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is described. The automated adaptive optics and laser projection system includes an adaptive optics system and a compact laser projection system with related laser guidance programming used to correct atmospheric distortion induced on light received by a telescope. Control of the automated adaptive optics and laser projection system is designed in a modular manner in order to facilitate replication of the system to be used with a variety of different telescopes. Related methods are also described.
US09405109B2
An off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces includes an aperture, a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The aperture is located on an incident light path. The primary mirror is located on an aperture transmitted light path. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflected light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflected light path. The detector located on a tertiary mirror reflected light path. A primary mirror surface and a tertiary mirror surface have a same freeform surface equation, and the freeform surface equation is a sixth order x′y′ polynomial. A secondary mirror surface is a tenth order aspherical surface.
US09405106B2
An imaging lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refractive power which is fixed during focusing operations; a second lens group having a positive refractive power which moves during focusing operations; and a third lens group which is fixed during focusing operations. The first lens group includes a 1a lens group having a positive refractive power, an aperture stop, and a 1b lens group having a positive refractive power. The 1a lens group includes a positive lens, a negative meniscus lens, a negative meniscus lens, a positive meniscus lens, a negative lens, a positive lens, a negative lens, and a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens.
US09405101B2
An imaging lens substantially consists of six lenses, composed of a negative first lens, a positive second lens, a negative third lens, a positive fourth lens, a positive fifth lens, and a negative sixth lens, disposed in order from the object side, and satisfies, when the distance between the first lens and the second lens is taken as Db12, the center thickness of the second lens is taken as D3, the focal length of the second lens is taken as f2, the focal length of the entire system is taken as f, the paraxial radius of curvature of the object side surface of the first lens is taken as R1f, and the paraxial radius of curvature of the image side surface of the first lens is taken as R1r, conditional expressions given below: 1.0<(Db12+D3)/f (1) f2/f<1.68 (2) 1.1<(R1f+R1r)/(R1f−R1r)<2.2 (3-3).
US09405096B2
An optoelectronic module includes one or more image sensors including photosensitive regions. The module includes a first imager including a first stack of beam shaping elements disposed over the image sensor(s) to direct incoming light to a first photosensitive region, and a second imager including a second stack of beam shaping elements disposed over the image sensor(s) to direct incoming light to a second photosensitive region. Each particular stack includes a respective high-dispersion beam shaping element, where the high-dispersion beam shaping element of the first stack forms part of an achromatic doublet at an object side of the first stack. The high-dispersion beam shaping element in the second stack is part of a laterally contiguous array of beam shaping elements that does not include the high-dispersion beam shaping element that forms part of the achromatic doublet at the object side of the first stack.
US09405094B2
Provided is a photographing lens (ML) including a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power, a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power, and a third lens group (G3) having positive refractive power, the photographing lens being configured such that the second lens group (G2) moves along the optical axis upon focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a finite distance. The first lens group (G1) includes a front lens group (G1a) and a rear lens group (G1b) having a longest air interval from the front lens group (G1a) in the first lens group (G1), and the second lens group (G2) includes a negative lens (L21) and a cemented lens in which a positive lens (22) and a negative lens (23) are cemented in order from the object.
US09405093B2
An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.
US09405068B2
An adapter for a fiber optic connector has provides strain relief for a jacketed cable connected to the adapter and the connector. The adapter preferably has two portions that act together to engage the jacketed cable and a boot that applies pressure to the adapter to secure the adapter. The two portions of the adapter may also be rotatably connected to one another. The boot has a projection that cooperates with an optical component to seal the adapter and optical component from outside particulates.
US09405067B2
A micro-truss sheet having material properties varying across the sheet. The sheet may include a plurality of truss members intersecting at nodes. The diameter of the truss members at one point in the sheet may differ from the diameter of the truss members at another point in the sheet. In one embodiment the spacing between adjacent truss members may be different in one part of the sheet from the spacing between adjacent truss members in another part of the sheet.
US09405064B2
An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.
US09405052B1
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical device comprising: a transparent foil including a series of ridges and furrows, a first distal portion configured to receive light, and a second distal portion to emit at least a portion of the received light, wherein the series of ridges and furrows diverges in a direction from the first distal portion to the second distal portion.
US09405048B2
A multilayered reflective polarizing film is provided that has high polarization performance comparable to that of an absorption-type polarizing plate, and is preferred as a polarizing plate attached to a liquid crystal cell. An optical member for liquid crystal display devices, and a liquid crystal display device formed from such a multilayered reflective polarizing film are also provided. Specifically, the reflective polarizing film includes a uniaxially stretched multilayered film in which a specific aromatic polyester containing (alkylenedioxy)di-2-naphthoic acid as a part of dicarboxylic acid components is used as a first layer, and an optically isotropic polyester having an average refractive index of 1.50 to 1.60 is used as a second layer, and that has a predetermined refractive index difference between the layers. The reflective polarizing film has an angle of orientation of 2 degrees or less.
US09405046B2
Embodiments provided herein describe low-e panels and methods for forming low-e panels. A transparent substrate is provided. A reflective layer is formed above the transparent substrate. An over-coating layer is formed above the reflective layer. The over-coating layer includes first, second, and third sub-layers. The second sub-layer is between the first and third sub-layers, and the first and third sub-layers include the same material.
US09405037B2
Methods are described for wettability characterization based on NMR measurements, which are sensitive to the surface wetting conditions of oil and water at the pore scale. The described methods make use of surface relaxation effects on the NMR relaxation (T2). Workflows are described to obtain wettability profiles of a porous media such as a rock either in the native state or prepared to a certain state in the laboratory. An underlying forward model is also described for the mixed wet and fractionally saturated pore spectrum. Outputs of the described inversion include continuous saturation and wettability profiles as a function of the pore sizes in the porous media, as well as an averaged value for saturation and wettability over the entire pore spectrum.
US09405033B2
An electromagnetic energy transmitter is provided for induced polarization mapping with a borehole to surface electromagnetic (BSEM) transmitter. The transmitter is lowered into a well borehole to a desired location in a well borehole to emit electromagnetic energy. An array of receivers spaced over an area of the earth surface senses the induced polarization response to the emitted electromagnetic energy in areas of interest for mapping. Maps are formed of the induced polarization responses sensed by the array of receivers.
US09405029B2
Wide azimuth data acquisition systems using at least three streamer sets achieve shorter survey time and enhanced angular coverage relative to conventional systems using two streamer sets. Various techniques such as high-density seismic source activation and alternating surveyed bands with skipped bands lead to data quality similar to the conventional system, while maintaining the increased productivity advantage.
US09405026B2
Method for estimating fluid heterogeneity in a subsurface region from seismic wave attenuation or velocity dispersion that is either measured or extracted from geophysical data (210). A rock physics model in the form of a mathematical relationship is selected that relates attenuation or velocity to frequency and to physical properties that are related to fluid heterogeneity (220). The model, or asymptotes (230) representing the model's behavior at frequency extremes, is inverted (240) and that relationship is used to obtain (250) one or more of the physical properties related to fluid heterogeneity, such as characteristic length scale for fluid saturation heterogeneities (270) and relative volume fractions of the fluids saturating the pore space (280).
US09405009B2
A method and system for transmitting navigation data to a satellite navigation receiver for reducing time to first fix is provided. A signal generation system generates a navigation data structure comprising a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame for accommodating selective ephemeris data, a third sub-frame for accommodating first parameters of almanac data, and a fourth sub-frame for accommodating a text message comprising second parameters of almanac data, and transmits the selective ephemeris data and the first and second parameters of almanac data to the satellite navigation receiver. The configuration of the navigation data structure enables the satellite navigation receiver to collect the navigation data in reduced time. Each satellite of a constellation simultaneously transmits distinct first parameters of the almanac data in the third sub-frame of the navigation data structure to the satellite navigation receiver, thereby allowing the satellite navigation receiver to receive collective almanac data in reduced time.
US09404998B2
A computerized device for use with an object location system and method thereof is provided. The computerized device includes at least one processor in communication with a memory device, the memory device storing a quantity of programmable code having a plurality of processor-executable instructions. A communication element is connected between the processor and at least one monitoring unit. The at least one monitoring unit is positioned remote from the computerized device and a locating circuit substantially secured to an object intermittently communicates an omnidirectional signal to the at least one monitoring unit. A calculator is in communication with the processor. The calculator directs the processor to determine a duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal communicated from the locating circuit to the at least one monitoring unit directs the processor to calculate a location of the locating circuit using the determined duration of transmission time of the omnidirectional signal.
US09404996B2
A position estimation device including: a provisional position setting unit which sets current position information indicating an estimated current position of a wireless terminal; a distance estimation unit which estimates, using receiving strengths of signals received from plural wireless stations, distance information indicating distances from the plural wireless stations to the wireless terminal; a possible area calculation unit which calculates, using the distance information and map information indicating a spatial structure, an area in the spatial structure which can maintain the distances indicated in the distance information, as a possible area in the spatial structure in which the wireless terminal is likely to be present; and a correction unit which corrects the current position indicated in the current position information to a position within the possible area when the current position is outside the possible area.
US09404992B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an electromagnetic sensor (400) for detecting a microstructure of a metal target, comprising: a magnetic device (410, 420) for providing an excitation magnetic field; a magnetometer (430) for detecting a resultant magnetic field induced in a metal target; and a calibration circuit (450, 551, 552, 553, 554) for generating a calibration magnetic field for calibrating the electromagnetic sensor, wherein the calibration reference magnetic field is generated by an electrical current induced in the calibration circuit by the excitation magnetic field.
US09404986B2
Methods, devices and systems are disclosed for measuring biological tissue parameters using restriction spectrum magnetic resonance imaging. In one aspect, a method of characterizing a biological structure includes determining individual diffusion signals from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in a set of MRI images that include diffusion weighting conditions (e.g., diffusion gradient directions, diffusion gradient strengths, sensitivity factors (b-values), or diffusion times), combining the individual diffusion signals to determine a processed diffusion signal corresponding to at least one location within one or more voxels of the MRI data, calculating one or more parameters from the processed diffusion signal by using the diffusion weighting conditions, and using the one or more parameters to identify a characteristic of the biological structure, in which the one or more parameters include values over a range of one or more diffusion length scales based on at least one of diffusion distance or diffusion rate.
US09404983B2
A radio frequency coil is disclosed that is suitable for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The radio frequency coil comprises first and second conductive loops connected electrically to each other by a plurality of conductive rungs. The conductive rungs each include a section that is relatively thin that will result in less attenuation to a radiation beam than other thicker sections of the rungs. Insulating regions are also disposed in areas of the radio frequency coil that are bound by adjacent rungs and the conductive loops. Portions of the insulating regions can be configured to provide a substantially similar amount of attenuation to the radiation beam as the relatively thin sections of the conductive rungs.
US09404981B2
A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a magnet unit and a housing unit enclosing the magnet unit. A noise prevention unit is provided which is arranged between the magnet unit and the housing unit enclosing the magnet unit and which has at least one noise prevention element made of an insulating foam. The at least one noise prevention element has a D-shaped cross-sectional area.
US09404977B2
A battery simulator is configured to provide large energy pulses for hot plug testing while maintaining the ability to quickly respond during random order testing. A simulator can comprise a plurality of cell simulators “cellsims” coupled to a DC power supply. Each cellsim can include a bidirectional DC converter, a bulk capacitor on the primary side of the converter, and a switchable discharge capacitor on the secondary side of the converter. The bidirectional DC converter enables the simulator to cooperate with a battery control module (BCM) to perform active cell balancing. Energy received from the BCM can be stored at the bulk capacitor. The discharge capacitor can be coupled to an output link to provide a high energy pulse to the BCM to simulate hot plug conditions, and can be decoupled from the link during random order testing. Output link voltage and current can be monitored for fault detection.
US09404974B2
A motor drive device of the present invention includes: a rectification circuit configured to rectify an AC voltage; a power source unit configured to smooth a DC voltage by a capacitor; an inverter unit configured to drive a motor by converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage; a current detection unit configured to measure a current flowing through a resistor which is connected to a coil of the motor and the capacitor; a voltage detection unit configured to measure a value of a voltage across the capacitor; a second switch that grounds the capacitor; and an insulation resistance detection unit configured to detect an insulation resistance value of a motor by using two sets of a current value and a voltage value measured in two states where the second switch is turned off and turned on.
US09404972B2
Patterns used to detect a failure in a semiconductor chip are analyzed to determine a subset of logic in a design where a semiconductor chip, fabricated based on the design, contains a fault in the subset. Parts of the semiconductor chip can be pre-calculated to identify a key subsection of logic, based on the patterns, with that subsection being stored in a computer readable file. Good-machine simulation is performed on the subsection of logic using truncated rank-ordered simulation. The results are compared to the results of the testing of the physical semiconductor chip.
US09404966B2
A performance characteristic monitoring circuitry includes a first delay circuitry providing a first delay path, where transmission of a data value over that first delay path incurs a first delay that varies in dependence on the performance characteristic. Reference delay circuitry is also included to provide a reference delay path, where transmission of the data value over the reference delay path incurs a reference delay. The reference delay circuitry includes components configured to provide a capacitive loading on the reference delay path in order to produce a self-compensating effect on the reference delay that causes the reference delay to be less sensitive than the first delay to variation in the performance characteristic. Comparison circuitry is then used to generate the output signal of the monitoring circuitry in dependence on a comparison of the first delay and the reference delay.
US09404964B2
There are provided: a first buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series, whose output and input are connected to a first input terminal and a second output terminal of a control circuit, respectively; a second buffer circuit which includes buffers being circuits to be measured connected in series whose number is the same as a number of the buffers included in the first buffer circuit, whose output and input are connected to a second input terminal and a first output terminal of the control circuit, respectively; and the control circuit which makes the entire circuit is a negative logic when a first operation is set, and simultaneously outputs signals with different logics from the output terminals at a time of a start of an oscillation operation and makes the entire circuit is a positive logic when a second operation is set.
US09404962B2
An apparatus for measuring the optoelectronic characteristics of a light-emitting diode includes: a container including a light input port and a light output port; a measurement module connected to the light output port of the container; a sample holder under the container for holding a light-emitting diode under test, wherein a surface of the measurement module reflects more than 50% of the luminous flux generated by the light-emitting diode under test; and a light gathering unit between the container and the sample holder, wherein an interior wall of the light gathering unit reflects more than 50% of the luminous flux generated by the light-emitting diode under test.
US09404957B2
This invention publishes a fault diagnosis and location system for transformer core looseness, consists of vibration sensors, data collection and computer. It is of power transformer fault intelligent diagnosis technology technical field. Fault diagnosis and location method uses three vibration sensors positioned on the top of transformer tank, to obtain vibration signal, uses signal processing to analyze the signal, and obtains fault characteristics of the transformer core looseness. The characteristics respectively are 50 Hz, 150 Hz and 300 Hz frequency components, in which 300 Hz is main feature. When they reach a certain value at one position, it suggests that transformer core looseness near this position. By the comparison of differences among signals of three positions, fault location can be done. This invention manifests fault characteristics accurately and detects core looseness efficiently.The invention uses the electricity grid frequency of 50 Hz for example, for 60 Hz power system, above 50 Hz, 150 Hz, 300 Hz characteristic frequencies are 60 Hz, 180 Hz and 360 Hz.
US09404953B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a variety of structures and method for detecting abnormalities in the back-end-of-line (BEOL) stack and BEOL structures located in close proximity to through-silicon vias (TSVs) in a 3D integrated chip. The detected abnormalities may include stress, strain, and damage that will affect metallization continuity, interfacial integrity within a metal level, proximity accuracy of the TSV placement, and interlevel dielectric integrity and metallization-to-TSV dielectric integrity. Additionally, these structures in conjunction with each other are capable of determining the range of influence of the TSV. That is, how close to the TSV that a BEOL line (or via) needs to be in order to be influenced by the TSV.
US09404949B2
A shunt resistance-type current sensor is provided, in which a voltage detection terminal electrically connects a busbar and a circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a first extension piece that extends from a side edge of the busbar away from the circuit board. The voltage detection terminal may include a second extension piece that extends from the first extension piece in a direction toward the circuit board. The circuit board may be electrically connected to the busbar via a connection portion extending from the second extension piece. In one example, the connection portion may extend through the circuit board. Additionally, an intermediate portion may be disposed between and connect the first extension piece and the second extension piece such that a surface of the intermediate portion faces a surface of the circuit board.
US09404939B1
A device may be or include a cartridge configured to receive a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a storage device and electrically connect the HGA to a HGA testing device. The cartridge may include a pre-amplifier configured to be electrically connected with corresponding electrical traces of the HGA and to the HGA testing device; a plurality of probe pins electrically connected to the pre-amplifier and configured to be electrically connected to corresponding electrical traces of the HGA; and a clamper including a dielectric layer and configured to selectively assume an open or closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the plurality of probe pins is electrically connected to corresponding ones of the plurality of electrical traces of the HGA. The clamper, in combination with at least some of the probe pins, forms an electrical filter configured to at least condition signals to and from the pre-amplifier and the HGA.
US09404938B2
An acceleration sensor where the accuracy of acceleration detection is unlikely to fall even when the ambient temperature changes. A piezoelectric substrate includes a polarized central portion and first and second end portions. A first electrode is formed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend from the first end portion to the second end portion. A second electrode is formed inside the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend across the second end portion and the central portion. The second electrode opposes the first electrode in the central portion in a thickness direction. A supporting member clamps the second end portion. The piezoelectric substrate is formed such that a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the second end portion is greater than a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the central portion.
US09404937B2
A device for measuring the acceleration of a moving body includes a pendulum capable of oscillating about an instantaneous center of rotation and a detection system capable of detecting an oscillation of the pendulum that is likely to result from the acceleration. The pendulum has a geometric configuration enabling it to interact with the detection system. The geometric configuration is such that the detection system only indicates an oscillation of the pendulum that exceeds a threshold oscillation value.
US09404936B2
A pitot tube system having a pitot tube containing a porous hydrophobic fabric that blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor. The distance in the pitot tube between the fabric and a front orifice of the tube is less than 2.4 times the height of the orifice, and preferably less than or equal to 0.38 times the height. The section of the tube through which the fabric extends defines an opening characterized by a minimum dimension greater than 0.15 inches, and preferably being at least 0.21 inches. The tube is a removable structure that attaches to a mount that forms a passage for communicating the pressure in the tube. That passage contains a second porous hydrophobic fabric that also blocks water and contaminants from reaching a pressure sensor.
US09404932B2
Methods of diagnosis or of quantitation of pathological conditions comprise conducting an immunoassay to measure neo-epitope containing protein fragments naturally present in a biofluid sample, and associating an elevation of the measure in the patient above a normal level with the presence or extent of pathology. The immunoassay is conducted by a method comprising: contacting protein fragments naturally present in the sample with an immunological binding partner reactive with a neo-epitope formed by cleavage of a protein by a proteinase and measuring the extent of binding of peptide fragments to the immunological binding partner to measure therein protein fragments comprising the neo-epitope. Neo-epitopes from, collagen type I, collagen type III, collagen type IV, collagen type V, collagen type VI, elastin, biglycan, decorin, lumican, versican, C-reactive protein, ApoE and laminins are described.
US09404929B2
This disclosure relates to methods for identifying an antibody, a target molecule, or an agent by analyzing the immunoglobulin repertoire sequence data in a sample and by determining the most dominant VH and VL chains present in said sample, as well as materials used therewith.
US09404920B2
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
US09404918B2
It is provided a method for detection and/or quantification of at least one molecule presents in blood by a MALDI-MS analysis of a dried fluid spot without the presence of any digestion step or liquid extraction step, which permits to further analyze the physical distribution of at least one molecule within a dried fluid spot.
US09404909B2
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for selectively applying an electrical potential to a top surface of a membrane having a nanopore to repel or attract a molecular strand from the top surface of the membrane, applying a second electrical potential to a bottom surface of the membrane to repel or attract the molecular strand from the bottom surface of the membrane, applying a third electrical potential to an electrolyte solution to apply a transport force on the molecular strand to displace a section of the molecular strand into the nanopore, arresting the section of the molecular strand in the nanopore by adjusting of the first electrical potential, the second electrical potential, the third electrical potential, or combinations thereof, and measuring a signal at the nanopore to identify the section of the molecular strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09404904B2
Disclosed non-destructive inspection methods comprise non-contact determination of the location of a non-destructive inspection probe and identification of the location on a test structure where test data is acquired by the probe. Determination may include capturing the positions of the probe and the test structure with one or more electronic cameras. Identification may include associating the acquired test data with the location of the probe relative to the test structure. Further, methods may comprise visualization of the test data relative to the identified location. Disclosed non-destructive inspection systems comprise a probe, one or more electronic cameras, a computer, and a display, together configured to determine the location of the probe, to acquire test data with the probe, to identify a location on a test structure associated with the test data, and to visualize the test data in relation to the test structure.
US09404902B2
Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing and two or more fluid handling units arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section and an internal non fluidics section, and wherein the housing comprises a liquid handling panel with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components such that the external fluidics section is separated from the non fluidics section by the liquid handling panel.
US09404901B2
Disclosed is a fluid sample holder 20 for delivering or receiving a fluid sample to or from fluid processing equipment such as a chromatography column 5 (FIG. 1). The sample holder 20 comprises a sliding seal 25 within a reservoir. The sliding seal 25 is displaceable within the reservoir 15 by means of a fluid pressure differential and includes a valve 260 operable when the sliding seal reaches or substantially reaches an end of its displacement, said valve including a stem 251 having a tapered portion 259 for cooperating with a tapering aperture 262 having a complementary taper, for substantially preventing fluid flow when so cooperating, said stem 251 being displaceable away from said aperture 262 and out of said cooperation at said end of its displacement, to open the valve 260.
US09404894B2
A standing wave amplification device for vibration signal collection includes a sensing rod (11) acting as standing wave transmission medium. A standing wave formation device includes two fixing support devices (12) distributed along the axial direction and connecting the sensing rod (11) to an operating arm (14). The two fixing support devices (12) respectively collect vibration waves and transmit them to the sensing rod (11) from two different locations of the operating arm (14). The vibration waves are superimposed to form a standing wave on the sensing rod (11). A vibration sensor (13) is connected to the sensing rod (11) and the vibration sensor (13) is between the two fixing support devices (12). A wave detected by the vibration sensor (13) is the standing wave. Compared with transverse wave or longitudinal wave transmitted in the transmission medium of prior art, the standing wave has advantages of larger amplitude and more obvious vibration effect. A ladle slag vibration signal detection method based on the device also has said advantages. The sensing rod (11) can make physical resonance, by which the standing wave signal is amplified and real warning rate of ladle slag is improved effectively.
US09404887B2
The described embodiments may provide a method of fabricating a chemical detection device. The method may comprise forming a microwell above a CMOS device. The microwell may comprise a bottom surface and sidewalls. The method may further comprise applying a first chemical to be selectively attached to the bottom surface of the microwell, forming a metal oxide layer on the sidewalls of the microwell, and applying a second chemical to be selectively attached to the sidewalls of the microwell. The second chemical may lack an affinity to the first chemical.
US09404886B2
A microelectrochemical sensor having a diaphragm, a web, a first and a second electrode. The diaphragm is permeable to ions of a chemical species, is arranged transversely with respect to a cutout in a base body, and closes off the cutout in a fluid-tight fashion. The web is arranged on a first side of the diaphragm between a first partial surface and a second partial surface, and is designed to adjust a temperature of the diaphragm to an operating temperature using electrical energy. The first electrode has a first partial electrode and a second partial electrode, is permeable to fluid, and is arranged on the first side of the diaphragm. The web prevents electrical contact between the first electrode and the diaphragm. The second electrode has a third partial electrode and a fourth partial electrode, is also permeable to fluid, and is arranged on a second side of the diaphragm.
US09404882B2
A method of producing a multi-microchannel, flow-through element, including the steps of providing a body of material, and producing multiple microchannels within the body, wherein the microchannels extend through the body to produce a multi-microchannel, flow-through element. Such an element can be used as a micromixer, a sensor element, a filter, a fuel element or a chromatographic element.
US09404879B2
An apparatus for measuring electrical conductivity of liquid is disclosed. The present invention as disclosed accurately and consistently measures infinitesimal conductivity of liquid by applying a stable reference signal to a conductivity sensor controlled with a constant temperature, and by low-noise processing on an output signal from the conductivity sensor. More specifically, infinitesimal conductivity of liquid can be repeatedly and accurately measured and change in performance of the detection apparatus over time can be minimized, by minimizing temperature variations, unstability of a reference signal, and noise effects to ensure stablility of a baseline as a measurement reference of the conductivity and accuracy of conductivity measurements.
US09404871B2
A method and system for steering an insertion tube of a video inspection device is disclosed for detecting a precise steering request made by displacing a pointing device from its stationary position and then returning the pointing device to or near its stationary position within a short interval of time. This precise steering request is then used by the video inspection device to steer the insertion tube a fixed distance in a direction based on the direction of the displacement of the pointing device for precise positioning of the camera head of the insertion tube.
US09404869B2
A live biological specimen is imaged by generating a plurality of light sheets; directing the plurality of light sheets along an illumination axis through the biological specimen such that the light sheets spatially and temporally overlap within the biological specimen along an image plane, and optically interact with the biological specimen within the image plane; and recording, at each of a plurality of views, images of the fluorescence emitted along a detection axis from the biological specimen due to the optical interaction between the light sheets and the biological specimen. The temporal overlap is within a time shift that is less than a resolution time that corresponds to a spatial resolution limit of the microscope.
US09404864B2
A system for imaging captured cells comprising: an illumination module configured to illuminate a target object; a platform configured to position the target object in relation to the illumination module; a filter module configured to filter light transmitted to the target object and/or to filter light received from the target object, an optical sensor configured to receive light from the target object and to generate image data; and a focusing and optics module configured to manipulate light transmitted to the optical sensor. The system can further comprise one or more of: a control system configured to control at least one of the illumination module, the platform, the focusing and optics module, the filter module, and the optical sensor; a tag identifying system configured to identify and communicate tag information from system elements; a thermal control module configured to adjust temperature parameters of the system; and an image stabilization module.
US09404860B2
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) optical sensor, method of detecting sound using the MEMS optical sensor and method of manufacturing. The MEMS optical sensor including a substrate having a base portion and a vertically extending support portion. The sensor further including a top plate having a compliant membrane configured to vibrate in response to acoustic waves, the top plate connected to the support portion and having a reflective surface. The sensor also includes a back plate connected to the support portion, the back plate having a grating portion positioned below the reflective surface portion and a base plate connected to the support portion at a position below the back plate. A light emitter, a light detector and circuitry operable to tilt the top plate and the back plate with respect to the base plate so as to direct the reflected laser light toward the light detector are further provided.
US09404859B2
Systems for very early smoke detection are disclosed, including details of tube hangers that may be used to hang sampling tubes for very early smoke detection systems. The systems and components thereof may be temporarily installed in aerospace vehicles during manufacturing. The tube hangers are generally compact, allowing use in confined spaces and/or near obstructions. Tube hangers comprise a support coupling mechanism, a tube clamp, and one or more suspension arms that span between the support coupling mechanism and the tube clamp. Tube hangers may be a unitary body that defines a tube clamp, one or more suspension arms, and a support coupling mechanism. Tube clamps define a tube clamp opening generally facing away from the support coupling mechanism.
US09404849B2
Micro volume inline optical sensor comprising a flowcell having a sample chamber which has a volume less than 0.4 mL and increases in diameter from two ends toward the middle, a flow passageway intersecting the chamber where the diameter is the greatest, monitoring ports with optically transmissive windows at the ends of the chamber, mounting rings on opposite sides of the flowcell disposed coaxially of an optical axis that passes through the monitoring ports and the sample chamber, and a light source and an optical detector mounted on the mounting rings in alignment with each other along the optical axis. In one embodiment, the sample chamber has a side wall with oppositely inclined frusto-conical sections, and the ends of the chamber are closed and sealed by the monitoring port windows and O-ring gaskets that surround the open ends and are compressed between the body of the flowcell and the windows.
US09404846B2
A method of manufacturing a nozzle assembly may include the step of over molding a nozzle housing, or a portion of a nozzle housing, onto at least one nozzle component, such as an injection tube. Nozzle assemblies and flow cytometers incorporating nozzle assemblies may include any combination of straight smooth injection tubes, improved features for securing a nozzle assembly, improved features for debubbling a nozzle assembly, and aggressive orienting geometries. A method of sorting cells may include the step of magnetically coupling a nozzle assembly with a flow cytometer.
US09404845B2
A device for measuring the quality of an operating substance and/or additive, in particular a reduction agent, stored in a tank, includes a reference container connected to the operating substance and/or the additive via a semi-permeable diaphragm, in which the reference container is filled with a medium which has a known osmotic pressure relative to the used operating substance and/or additive.
US09404839B2
Apparatus and methods for testing sediment submerged in liquid and manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus and methods of the present embodiment can provide for nano/micro characterization of mechanical properties of materials submerged in liquid, facilitating specimen preparation and installation, and can provide hydrated materials. The apparatus can include cell walls with optical magnifying lenses so that the materials can be viewed without the aid of a microscope.
US09404838B2
A particle manipulation system uses a MEMS-based, microfabricated particle manipulation device which has an inlet channel, output channels, and a movable member formed on a substrate. The movable member moves parallel to the fabrication plane, as does fluid flowing in the inlet channel. The movable member separates a target particle from the rest of the particles, diverting it into an output channel. However, at least one output channel is not parallel to the fabrication plane. The device may be used to separate a target particle from non-target material in a sample stream. The target particle may be, for example, a stem cell, zygote, a cancer cell, a T-cell, a component of blood, bacteria or DNA sample, for example. The particle manipulation system may also include a microfluidic structure which focuses the target particles in a particular portion of the inlet channel.
US09404830B2
A nacelle test apparatus for testing a wind turbine nacelle is provided. The test apparatus includes a physical tower model apparatus realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine tower and/or a physical rotor model apparatus realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine rotor, and an exciter apparatus for exciting a physical model apparatus. Also provided is a method of testing a wind turbine nacelle, which method includes mounting the nacelle onto a physical tower model apparatus of a nacelle test apparatus, which physical tower model apparatus is realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine tower, and/or mounting a physical rotor model apparatus of the nacelle test apparatus to a hub of the nacelle, which physical rotor model apparatus is realized to model the behavior of a wind turbine rotor, and exciting the physical tower model apparatus and/or the physical rotor model apparatus.
US09404827B2
An ionization gauge to measure pressure and to reduce sputtering yields includes at least one electron source that generates electrons. The ionization gauge also includes a collector electrode that collects ions formed by the collisions between the electrons and gas molecules. The ionization gauge also includes an anode. An anode bias voltage relative to a bias voltage of a collector electrode is configured to switch at a predetermined pressure to decrease a yield of sputtering collisions.
US09404820B2
The invention relates to a method for measuring the forces and the moments generated by the tire-road contact from the combination of unit deformation or strain signals measured in different angular and radial positions of the wheel. The angular positions in which the sensors are placed are those permitted by the geometry of the tire. The combination of deformation signals results in six or more signals that are independent of the angular position of the measuring sensors with respect to the tire-road contact point. The effect of temperature and loads that generate deformation signals that do not depend on said angular position of the measuring points, such as centrifugal forces, have been eliminated from the aforementioned signals. Said signals provide estimates of the loads by means of the resolution of two systems of linear equations with constant matrices and three unknowns each.
US09404818B2
A pressure sensor carrier system of fasteners is provided for conveniently and removably attaching a pressure sensor carrier to the top surface of a bed mattress in a manner that minimizes stress concentrations, wrinkles and folds in the carrier. The carrier includes pliable elastic straps at each corner and articulated semi-rigid flaps at each longitudinal side. The tension in the elastic straps and the position of the articulated flaps are independently adjustable to accommodate mattresses of different dimensions.
US09404805B2
A composite material for a temperature sensor and a method of manufacturing the temperature sensor using the composite material are provided. The composite material contains four or more kinds of metal oxides combined with highly insulating materials to produce a material with semiconductor-like properties to more accurately measure a temperature at high temperatures in the range of 500° C. and above. The sensor includes electrode wires having a predetermined diameter inserted into the metal oxide of the temperature sensor when the metal oxide is press-molded to form the temperature sensor. Through the connection of the electrode wires to the temperature sensor device, disconnection of the electrode wires from the device even at a high temperature.
US09404800B2
Systems and methods for non-invasive optical imaging are provided. One or more time-lenses can be utilized to perform an optical Fourier transform, and the time-to-wavelength conversion can generate a wavelength-encoded image of optical scattering, analogous to optical coherence tomography. This optical Fourier transform provides improved axial resolution and simplifies digital signal processing after data acquisition.
US09404795B2
An optical detector includes a first set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a first photocurrent according to a first spectral response function of an incident light, a second set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a second photocurrent according to a second spectral response function of the incident light, and a third set of one or more photodiodes configured to generate a third photocurrent according to a third spectral response function of the incident light. The optical detector further includes a module configured to output an indication of the intensity of the incident light according to a fourth spectral response function based on each of the first photocurrent, the second photocurrent, and the third photocurrent.
US09404781B2
Ultrasound tomography arrays and vortex shedding devices are provided which measure average flow velocity through Doppler shift of the fluid as well as cross sectional multiphase fluid composition in pipe or tubing conduits. Multiple tomographic arrays in conjunction with correlation of sensed flow patterns in time provided determination of flow velocity as well as cross sectional multiphase fluid composition. The tomographic arrays may be arranged in a skewed or slanted plane to measure velocity fluctuations downstream of a vortex shedding device where the period and amplitude of the fluctuations is correlated with the mass flow of the fluid. Additionally, the tomographic arrays provide the relative composition of the multiphase fluid. The multiple arrays together with correlation to determine velocity fluctuations downstream of a vortex shedding device where the period and amplitude of the fluctuations is correlated with the mass flow of the fluid. Additionally the tomographic arrays output the relative composition of the multiphase fluid.
US09404766B2
A method of providing a sequence of turn-by-turn navigation instructions on a device traversing a route is provided. Each turn-by-turn navigation instruction is associated with a location on the route. As the device traverses along the route, the method displays a turn-by-turn navigation instruction associated with a current location of the device. The method receives a touch input through a touch input interface of the device while displaying a first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a first map region that displays the current location and a first location associated with the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction. In response to receiving the touch input, the method displays a second turn-by-turn navigation instruction and a second map region that displays a second location associated with the second turn-by-turn navigation instruction. Without receiving additional input, the method automatically returns to the display of the first turn-by-turn navigation instruction and the first map region.
US09404765B2
An on-vehicle display apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire a first display image to be displayed on a display of a navigation apparatus, extract a portion of the first display image based on a layout information relevant to a layout of the first display image, and generate a second display image by use of the extracted part of the image, and displays on a head-up display the second display image generated by the controller. The display apparatus displays on the head-up display a guide image generated by the controller. It is possible to display an image of the navigation apparatus on the head-up display, without a connection between the navigation apparatus and the display apparatus.
US09404764B2
One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for generating path side imagery are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving optical data measured in three-dimensional geographic coordinates and image data from at least one image bubble. The optical data is projected onto at least one predefined two-dimensional plane. A pixel value for a point of the optical data on the two-dimensional plane is calculated according to the image data. The pixel value may correspond to color or another graphical attribute. The two-dimensional plane is stored or displayed as street side imagery or other path side imagery. An image file including the pixel value for each point of the optical data may be stored in memory or a map database.
US09404761B2
A method and apparatus for autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation are provided. Autonomous vehicle lane routing and navigation may include identifying vehicle transportation network information including road segment information and lane information, wherein the road segment information for at least one road segment from the plurality of road segments includes lane information representing at least two adjacent lanes, identifying an origin, identifying a destination, generating a plurality of candidate routes from the origin to the destination, wherein each route from the plurality of routes indicates a distinct combination of road segments and lanes, and wherein at least one candidate route from the plurality of candidate routes includes at least one of the adjacent lanes, identifying an optimal route from the plurality of candidate routes, the optimal route having a minimal route cost, and operating the autonomous vehicle to travel from the origin to the destination using the optimal route.
US09404750B2
Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having one or more electromagnetic (IR/Visual/RF) sensor elements or suites (112, 337) for purposes of survey and/or signal gathering. Embodiments include one or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (110) capable of persistent station-keeping having a directable laser (331). Embodiments include a group of four or more high altitude, long endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft (611-614) configured as GPS repeaters.
US09404748B2
An apparatus for driving and sensing motion in a gyroscope including a dielectric mass, an anchor, a spring coupled between the anchor and the dielectric mass, a substrate adjacent the dielectric mass, an insulator layer on the substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode on the insulator layer. When an alternating current voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, an electric field gradient is generated in the dielectric mass and causes the dielectric mass to move relative to the anchor. When the dielectric mass has motion relative to the anchor and a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the movement of the dielectric mass generates a current at the first and second electrodes proportional to the motion.
US09404744B2
A handheld current profiler (HCP) system and method for wading discharge measurement is disclosed. The disclosed HCP has dual capabilities. It serves as a single point current meter that can measure velocity in as little as 3 cm of water. It becomes a current profiler with an additional near surface velocity measurement cell in water about 15 cm or deeper. The HCP has a surface tracking acoustic beam that measures the water level. Thus, in most cases, no manual measurements for water depth and transducer depth are required because both depths may be measured acoustically. In addition, the disclosed HCP can have a very small transducer with a form factor which can lead to minimum flow disturbance.
US09404734B2
An instrument system that includes an elongate body, an optical fiber, a localization sensor and a controller is provided. The optical fiber is operatively coupled to the elongate body and has a strain sensor provided on the optical fiber. The localization sensor is operatively coupled to the elongate body. The controller is operatively coupled to the optical fiber and to the localization sensor and is adapted to receive a first signal from the strain sensor, receive a second signal from the localization sensor, and determine a position or orientation of the elongate body based on the first signal and the second signal.
US09404733B2
Provided is a winding apparatus that is provided with a splitter that splits radiant light from a light source unit into measurement light applied to a side face part of a first sheet and a second sheet and reference light applied to a reference surface, an interference detector that detects interference light formed by interference between the reference light reflected by the reference surface and the measurement light reflected by the side face part, a position detector that detects the position of the first sheet and the position of the second sheet on the basis of the detected interference light, and a decision processor that decides the quality of the wound body on the basis of the detected positions of the first sheet and the second sheet.
US09404732B2
An electronic component thickness measurement method includes extracting, from a plurality of second reference lines in first image data and a plurality of second reference lines in second image data, only a second reference line at which a difference in intensity peak between respective second reference lines at a same position in the first image data and the second image data is smallest, and forming third image data including a first reference line and the extracted second reference line, and calculating a thickness of the electronic component from a distance between the first reference line and the second reference line in the third image data.
US09404712B2
A method of aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device is disclosed. Using at least one superposition device coupled to the projectile device, multiple optical reference points are superposed within a first target area. Positions for at least two of the optical reference points are noted. A projectile is shot from the projectile device at a second target area, while the positions of the at least two optical reference points are maintained, to create the point of impact. The point of aim for the projectile device is adjusted to correspond with the point of impact while the positions of the at least two optical reference points are maintained. A system for aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device is also disclosed.
US09404709B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment body includes a beveled well opening for guiding a tilt-lock magazine into the firearm. The beveled well opening includes beveled steps for funneling and centering the magazine during insertion and also includes an angled front well ramp for guiding the magazine into the rifle at an appropriate angle. In order to accommodate the dimensional variances between receivers made by different manufacturers, a front retainer secures the attachment to the magazine opening. The magazine well attachment also includes a rear overhang secured to a ledge of the firearm's trigger guard.
US09404706B2
A crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism comprises (1) a generally cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; (2) a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing has a first end that at least partially extends through the housing first end; (3) at least one rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the shaft first and second ends; (4) a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; and (5) a clutch mechanism received on the shaft. At least one of the rope spools is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to he releasably attached to a bowstring. The clutch mechanism is configured to at least temporarily rotationally fix the shaft to the housing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a first direction and an opposite second direction until a force is exerted on the handle to overcome the frictional forces exerted by the clutch mechanism.
US09404704B2
A muzzle flash suppressor is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed flash suppressor includes a plurality of prongs having inner surfaces which taper along their length, providing angled expansion of the primary bore of the flash suppressor in the direction of projectile travel. The inner prong surfaces located along the gas flow path angle outwardly, a multi-radius surface is formed between each pair of neighboring prongs, and chamfers and radii are provided at the prong ends. Some embodiments provide for balanced and gradual gas expansion axially and/or radially along the projectile path, thereby allowing muzzle gases to expand/bleed off in a substantially laminar pattern. In some cases, this reduces secondary ignition of muzzle gases and the ambient air, thereby reducing muzzle flash. Also, some embodiments provide for easy clearance or correction of muzzle obstructions, thereby protecting against damage to the flash suppressor and host weapon.
US09404703B2
A feeding and positioning device for toy gun comprises a barrel and a friction cylinder. The barrel has a bore, a convex hole, and a guiding groove. Two groove sides are formed at two sides of the guiding groove with circular cone shape. A width and a depth of the guiding groove are gradually decreased from the first end of the barrel inwardly. The friction cylinder has a hollow and elastic cylinder body covered at the first end of the barrel and a friction portion arranged inside the cylinder portion and inserted into the convex hole inwardly. The bullet is aligned by the groove sides and then cooperated with the friction portion to form three-point guiding position to downwardly press the bullet to be precisely fed. It may prevent the bullet from skewed error and improve the range of firing, effective potential energy, and hit rate.
US09404699B1
A trigger lock that can be mounted to the trigger guard of a handheld firearm. The trigger lock has a cover assembly displaceably mounted to a lock housing assembly. The cover assembly is displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A mount adapter is removeably mated to a housing body within the lock housing assembly. The removeable mount adapter has a mount surface shaped to correspond with the outer surface of the trigger guard, allowing the trigger lock to be used on various makes and models of firearms. The trigger lock includes a locking means which in one embodiment has a lock rotor with a caroming surface to displace one or more locking members into the cover assembly.
US09404691B2
A condensing heat recovery unit for a portable fluid heater has a heat exchanger with a plurality of hollow rectangular heat recovery panels, a flue gas collection hood that funnels flue gas from the portable fluid heater into one side of the heat exchanger, and a condensate collector connected to the opposite side of the heat exchanger that collects flue gas condensate.
US09404689B2
A heat exchange matrix includes a plurality of generally planar foils including a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil defines a main plane having a flow direction and a transverse direction and the foils include strips that extend a strip length in the transverse direction and are separated from each neighboring strip in the flow direction and each strip is offset from the main plane by a distance that is different from that of its neighbor. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled.
US09404687B2
A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken.
US09404683B2
Refrigerator appliances are provided. A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber and including a mullion extending between and defining the fresh food chamber and freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a door rotatably hinged to the cabinet for accessing the fresh food chamber, the door including an inner surface and an outer surface, the door further including an ice container mounted thereon. The refrigerator appliance further includes a hinge connecting the mullion and the door, and a freezer door connected to the cabinet for accessing the freezer chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes a drain assembly for draining a liquid from the ice container, the drain assembly providing a flow path through the hinge and the mullion to an exhaust location.
US09404681B2
In an air-conditioning apparatus equipped with an outdoor unit having outdoor devices including a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a flow switching valve that switches the flowing direction of the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, a first expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, an excess-refrigerant container that retains an excess refrigerant of the refrigerant, and a second expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant; and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, the air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor-heat-exchanger refrigerant injection port provided in a refrigerant pipe that is directly connected to the outdoor heat exchanger, and an excess-refrigerant-container refrigerant injection port provided in a refrigerant pipe that is directly connected to the excess-refrigerant container.
US09404675B2
A tubular heat-absorbing element partly enclosed in an insulating layer or jacket, has absorbing surface that is accessible to solar radiation. The thermal insulation is designed to provide entry to solar radiation by way of a cavity. The absorbing surface can be substantially planar.
US09404671B2
A radiant heat lifting device for outdoor flame heater comprises a glass tube having a section of heat-resistant net tube made of high-temperature resistant material and mounted on an upper opening thereof; a heat-resistant net tube including countless meshes at a periphery thereof, a top outlet sealed and a bottom outlet connected to the upper opening of the glass tube; and a cover being a bowl-shaped arranged on the heat-resistant net tube and including a multitude of circulation holes at a periphery thereof; whereby a flame emitted from the flame outlet along the glass tube up to the top outlet of the heat-resistant net tube by chimney effect to accumulate the heat and produce infrared to increase the radiation thermal of the glass tube; an exhaust in the glass tube outflows from the meshes of the heat-resistant net tube to the circulation holes of the cover and discharges upward.
US09404668B2
A heating ventilation and cooling system includes an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). The ERV is configured to produce an inlet airstream and an exhaust airstream. An enthalpy wheel within the energy recovery ventilator is operable to transport heat between the inlet and exhaust airstreams. A pressure transducer is configured to determine a backpressure across the enthalpy wheel. A controller is configured to determine, in response to the backpressure, an operational characteristic of the enthalpy wheel.
US09404666B2
An improved humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system. The humidifier system includes an air path that is configured to accept air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct. A damper is disposed in the air path to selectively substantially block the flow of air in the air path, or to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path. In some cases, the damper may be a motorized damper, and the humidifier system may include a controller that is configured to cause the motorized damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path during a call for humidifier operation, and to substantially block the flow of air in the air path after the call for humidifier operation ends. Alternatively, the damper may be manually actuated, and an HVAC controller may be configured to notify when the damper should be moved (e.g. between seasons).
US09404662B2
A microwave appliance is provided. The microwave appliance includes a cabinet and a duct mounted to the cabinet. A filter is mounted to the duct at an opening of the duct. The filter has projections that are received within channels of the duct. The projections and channels can assist with properly positioning and/or orienting the filter within the duct.
US09404661B2
Provided is an electric oven, which includes a main body, a cooktop, and an oven part. The cooktop is disposed in an upper portion of the main body to heat an object. The oven part is disposed within the main body under the cooktop, and includes a cavity including a cooking chamber, a door selectively opening and closing the cooking chamber, and a first heating unit and a second heating unit, which supply radiant energy into the cooking chamber. Before the cooktop is installed, or after the cooktop is removed, a top of the main body is opened, and the first heating unit is installed in or removed from the cavity through the opened top of the main body. The second heating unit is installed in or removed from the cooking chamber through an open front of the cooking chamber. Accordingly, a heater can be protected, and be conveniently installed and removed.
US09404659B2
A late lean injection combustor assembly may include a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto is combustible, a flow sleeve annulus including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto is combustible, at least one fuel injector disposed about the second interior, and at least one elongate premixing conduit disposed about the flow sleeve annulus and in fluid communication with the at least one fuel injector. The at least one elongate premixing conduit may be in fluid communication with a compressor discharge air and the second fuel such that the compressor discharge air and the second fuel are premixed within the elongate premixing conduit before entering the second interior by way of the at least one fuel injector.
US09404647B2
An optical assembly including a mounting board and an LED coupled to the mounting board. An optic component, for example a lens, is coupled to the mounting board and encloses the LED. A shield member including 5 VA rated material is positioned to have a first surface in contact with the mounting board and a second surface in contact with the optic component.
US09404642B2
A lighting module for illuminating device may include at least one lighting component; at least one lighting component bracket bearing its corresponding lighting component; and one mounting trail, wherein each lighting component bracket is mounted onto the mounting trail and fixed onto a shell of the illuminating device by the mounting trail.
US09404638B2
An optical element according to the present invention includes a light receiving surface which is designed to cover an emitting surface of a planar light source device, a reflecting surface, a light exit surface which is contiguous to the periphery of the reflecting surface. When the center of the emitting surface is designated as a point O and an axis which passes through the point O and is perpendicular to the emitting surface is designated as an optical axis of the optical element, the reflecting surface has a concave portion around the optical axis and an outer edge surrounding the concave portion.
US09404628B2
A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base.
US09404627B2
A light conversion assembly 100, a lamp and a luminaire is provided. The light conversion assembly 100 comprises a first layer 108 and a second layer 106. The first layer 108 comprises first luminescent material. The first luminescent material comprises particles showing quantum confinement and have at least in one dimension a size in the nanometer range. The first layer is arranged to receive light 110 from a light source emitting light of a first spectral distribution in a violet or blue spectral range. The first spectral distribution has a first peak wavelength. The first layer 108 is configured to convert substantially all the received light 110 towards light 104 of a second spectral distribution in the blue spectral range, independently of the position of first spectral distribution in the violet or blue spectral range. The second spectral distribution has a second peak wavelength which is a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The second layer 106 comprises a second luminescent material. The second layer is arranged to receive light 104 of the second spectral distribution and is configured to at least partially convert the received light 104 towards light 102 of a third spectral distribution being different from the first spectral distribution and the second spectral distribution.
US09404616B2
An equipment transfer device is provided that is transferrable from one support to another support. The transport device is formed as a housing that has two spaced apart, generally parallel recesses, which form docking cups that are open to the bottom. Each docking cup is configured to receive a docking cone that is supported on a structure and is capable of moving in generally a vertical direction into engagement or out of engagement with their respective docking cups. A support post is also supported by the housing and protrudes from the upper end thereof as a base to which an equipment support structure is attached. In this manner the transfer device can be transferred from one docking cone to another with minimal handling and virtually no possibility of dislodgement.
US09404606B2
A backplate for installation between a utility box and an exterior surface of a building has a plate body having a first side and a second side. A moisture dam on the plate body extends outward from the first side of the plate body. The moisture dam defines a receptacle that is sized and shaped to receive the utility box such that when the plate body is installed between the utility box and the exterior surface of the building. The moisture dam receives and extends around an outer perimeter of a rear surface of the utility box. Apertures through the plate body receive one or more utility lines and for receiving a mounting system. There are one or more seals on the second side of the plate body for sealing between the apertures and an outer perimeter of the plate body.
US09404597B2
A gas metering valve (1) having at least one valve seat (2) and at least one closure member (3) which can be pressed against the valve seat, the closure member in a maximum open position is raised at least in regions from the valve seat (2) and in a maximum closed position is pressed against the valve seat. The gas metering valve (1) has an adjusting device (5) which is spring-loaded by a spring loading device (4) of the gas metering valve (1) for adjusting the closure member (3) in a closing direction (6) from the maximum open position into the maximum closed position. The spring loading device (4) of the adjusting device (5), preferably when viewed in the closing direction (6), has at least two spring bodies (7a, 7b) which are connected mechanically in series, the spring bodies (7a, 7b) have elastic characteristics which are different from each other.
US09404586B2
The invention relates to a valve device and to a method for transferring a transfer medium, said valve device and method having an inflow, an outflow and two valve disks which are arranged one behind another in the direction of flow and are pivotable about a common rotational axis for opening and closing the lumen which surrounds them, wherein the inflow and the outflow are formed by two housing sections which are lockable together, the ends of which facing one another receive in each case a valve disk with a fixedly connected half-shaft, wherein, with the housing sections in the locked state, the two half-shafts form one common shaft which is pivotable about the rotational axis and the valve disks abut closely against one another, and wherein, with the housing sections in the non-locked state, the valve disks in each case close the lumen of the housing section receiving them.
US09404572B1
A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission having a position-controlled clutch with a synchronizer sleeve and a synchronizer fork, an input member with an input speed, and an output member with an output speed, and a controller. The controller is programmed to register a slip-away condition when the input speed falls within a calibrated speed band and the output speed remains below a calibrated threshold speed. In response to the registered slip-away condition, the controller records a diagnostic code indicative of the synchronizer sleeve being disengaged, changes an engaged position of the synchronizer sleeve by a calibrated amount to thereby adapt the engaged position, and commands the clutch to disengage and the fork to move to a neutral position after increasing the engaged position. The controller also moves the synchronizer sleeve toward the adapted engaged position and applies the clutch when the synchronizer sleeve attains the adapted engaged position.
US09404560B2
A unitary stretch belt installation and removal tool includes an installation component having a slot for positioning the tool on the rim of a pulley and a wedge shaped element to stretch and guide a belt into a pulley groove as the pulley is rotated and further having an integral removal component including a slot and a shaped, generally convex belt guide surface for stretching and guiding a belt from a pulley as the pulley is rotated.
US09404558B2
The invention relates to a heavy-duty chain containing chain-links comprising synthetic polymeric yarns, wherein when said chain is kept at least taut onto an essentially planar surface, each chain-link has an orthographic projection onto said planar surface, said projection having a foot print area (A), wherein the foot print areas denoted as A1 and A2 of every two adjacent links are in a relation 80% A2≦A1≦100% A2 with A1 being the smallest of said two areas and wherein the projection is done in such a way that the ratio of the foot print areas A2 to A1 is maximized.
US09404556B2
An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements, and/or damper mass may be tuned such that the damper is configured with an electrical resonance frequency corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency present in a component of the rotary machinery. The piezo elements may be extension/retraction type or bending type, and they may have any orientation with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary machinery depending on the specific embodiment and/or application of the damper.
US09404555B2
A centrifugal pendulum damping device includes a support body provided with a pair of first curved tracks and fixed to a rotating shaft, inertial masses provided with a pair of second curved tracks and supported on an outer peripheral part of the support body, and pins rollably fitted in a section where a first and second curved track intersect each other. Since the shapes of the pair of first curved tracks are different from each other and the shapes of the pair of second curved tracks are different from each other, the inertial mass moves rotationally and translationally in the peripheral direction of the support body, which improves damping low frequency vibration performance. Since the inertial mass moves rotationally, it is less likely to extend outside the region of the support body.
US09404547B2
A steel for high-strength spring has an Ac3 transformation temperature as an indicator of the decarburization performance, which is calculated by Equation (1) below, is from 859 to 885° C., a maximum hardened diameter DI as an indicator of the hardening performance, which is calculated by Equation (2) below, is from 70 to 238 mm, and a temper hardness HRC as an indicator of the spring performance, which is calculated by Equation (3) below, is from 50 to 55. Ac3=910−203×√{square root over (C)}−15.2Ni+44.7Si+104V+31.5Mo+13.1W (1) DI=DO×fSi×fMn×fP×fS×fCu×fNi×fCr (2) HRC=38.99+17.48C+2.55Si−2.28Ni+2.37Cr+8.04Ti (3) wherein, D0=8.65×√{square root over (C)}, fSi=1+0.64×% Si, fMn=1+4.10×% Mn, fP=1+2.83×% P, fS=1−0.62×% S, fCu=1+0.27×% Cu, fNi=1+0.52×% Ni, and fCr=1+2.33×% Cr.
US09404546B2
A copper-free friction material composition for a brake lining includes a fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, and a solid lubricant having a sulfur. The friction material composition can be disposed over at least a region of a backing plate of a brake pad to form a brake lining. The aluminum magnesium alloy contains about 4.5% to about 5.6% magnesium by weight. The friction material composition includes, by weight, about 5% to about 6% of the solid lubricant, about 5% to about 9.75% of the fibrous form of an aluminum magnesium alloy, about 7% to about 10% of an organic filler composition, and about 13% to about 17% of an abrasive composition, and can also include an inorganic filler, and a binder that develops the other components in the friction material composition into a thermosetting matrix. The friction material composition has a dynamic coefficient of friction of about 0.43.
US09404545B2
A combined power take-off and hydraulic pump assembly includes a power-take off including a housing portion having an opened end, an input put mechanism that is adapted to be connected to a source of rotational energy, and an output mechanism that is rotatably driven by the input mechanism. The assembly also includes a hydraulic pump including a housing portion having an opened end, a fluid inlet port that is adapted to communicate with a reservoir containing a quantity of relatively low pressure hydraulic fluid, and a pumping mechanism that is rotatably driven by the output mechanism of the power take-off. An intermediate housing has a first opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the power take-off and a second opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the hydraulic pump. The intermediate housing also has a fluid outlet port that communicates with the pumping mechanism and that is adapted to communicate with a hydraulically driven device. The intermediate housing may also support a bearing that, in turn, supports a portion of the output mechanism of the power take-off.
US09404529B2
A foil journal bearing. A single foil engages an inner surface of and is mounted to the bearing housing. The single foil extends circumferentially of the inner surface and has a generally flat top foil portion and a bump foil portion which is disposed between the top foil portion and the inner surface of the housing. The bump foil portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced ridges which engage the top foil portion and further comprises a plurality of generally flat portions between the ridges respectively and which engage the inner surface of the housing.
US09404527B2
A driveshaft assembly for a downhole motor including a driveshaft having a longitudinal axis, first and second ends, and a convex spherical bearing surface disposed at the first end configured to transfer axial loads. The assembly also includes a connection lug disposed at the driveshaft first end, extending circumferentially between first and second ends, and including a recess in the first end of the lug, the recess comprising a concave cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about a pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The assembly also includes a torque transfer key disposed within the recess and having a central axis radially spaced from the pivot axis, a convex cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about the pivot axis, and a planar surface. The convex cylindrical surface of the key slidingly engages the concave cylindrical surface of the recess; and the pivot axis intersects the key.
US09404526B2
The rotary suction device includes a suction disk, a middle cover, and an upper cover. The suction disk includes a base and a soft disk. The base includes a peripheral wall, a guide block, an inclined surface, and a central circular trough. The middle cover includes a central through hole around the peripheral wall and a guide trough. The guide trough is around the guide block, and the middle cover is capable of axial displacement relative to the suction disk. The upper cover includes a central pivot, a sliding block, and an elastic component. The central pivot is accommodated in the central circular trough such that the upper cover is capable of rotating relative to the suction disk. The elastic component is disposed between the upper cover and the suction disk. The sliding block is forced to against the inclined surface by the elastic force of the elastic component.
US09404520B1
Systems and devices using t-slot profiles and clamping devices to form a structure that may position an object in three-dimensional space. The clamping devices clamp two t-slot profiles together, either parallel or perpendicular to each other. The clamping device may be unlocked allowing t-slot profiles to move relative to each other, and then re-clamped, to lock the t-slot profiles in a new position. In some embodiments, the t-slot profiles and clamping devices form a structure that may position a camera in three-dimensional space over a table that supports at least one item to be photographed, and optionally digitized. The photographed items may comprise blueprints, artwork, architectural plans, and more.
US09404514B2
A hydraulic block for a hydraulic unit of a slip-controlled hydraulic vehicle brake system includes a row of receptacles for brake pressure buildup valves and a row of receptacles for brake pressure reduction valves arranged parallel to the row of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves. The hydraulic block further includes installation spaces for damper chambers arranged between the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves to allow space-saving accommodation of damper chambers. The installation spaces emerge at longitudinal sides of the hydraulic block and run parallel to the rows of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves. The installation spaces for the damper chambers viewed from a front side are arranged below the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves, close to a rear side of the hydraulic block.
US09404509B2
A turbocharger includes a compressor housing, a bearing housing and a back plate. A discharge scroll chamber has such a shape that a cross-sectional area thereof gradually increases toward a discharge port in a circumferential direction. The compressor housing includes a scroll piece assembled to a shroud piece. The scroll piece includes a suction port-forming portion, a suction-side concave surface and a scroll outer periphery. The shroud piece includes a shroud fit-in portion, an inner peripheral concave surface, a shroud surface and a diffuser surface. The back plate includes a facing surface, an outer peripheral annular fit-in portion and an outer peripheral concave surface. The outer peripheral concave surface has such a shape that a cross sectional shape thereof formed by a plane including a rotation axis of an impeller gradually changes in the circumferential direction.
US09404508B2
The invention relates to a suction housing (1) for an internal combustion engine, especially for arranging between a first (2) and a second (3) compressor of an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the suction housing (1) comprises an inner space (8) defined by a bottom element (9), a first (10) and a second (11) opposing lateral wall elements projecting from the bottom element (9), and a first (12) and a second (13) opposing front wall elements projecting from the bottom element. An open end (14) having an inlet (14a) via which charge air can enter the inner space (8) of the suction housing (1) is formed opposite the bottom element (9), and a web element (17) projecting from the bottom element (9) and arranged between the first (10) and the second (11) lateral wall elements is located in the inner chamber, said web element interconnecting the first (12) and the second (13) front wall elements. The first lateral wall element (10) has a first outlet (15) and the second lateral wall element (11) has a second outlet (16) for respective flow towards a compressor inlet (2b, 3b).
US09404506B2
An impeller of a rotary machine, in which the direction of flow changes from an axial direction to a radial direction as it goes from the inside in the radial direction of a fluid flow passage to the outside in the radial direction thereof, includes a hub surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage. The impeller also includes a blade surface constituting at least a portion of the fluid flow passage, and a bulge that bulges toward the inside of the fluid flow passage at a corner where a pressure surface, which configures the blade surface, comes in contact with the hub surface in the vicinity of an inlet of the fluid flow passage.
US09404503B2
Provided is a compressor motor that can achieve reduction in length of a motor lead wire, compactification of a motor housing, and reduction in size and weight of an electric compressor, and also provided is an electric compressor including the compressor motor. A cluster block (39) that is connected to a stator coil end of a motor (10) via a motor lead wire is placed in an outer circumferential region of a stator coil end cover (38) or a bobbin (37A) of the motor (10) such that a terminal connection port of the cluster block (39) faces an outer circumferential side. An opening (34) and a placement bearing surface (35) for inserting and placing a hermetic terminal (8) are provided in an outer circumferential region of a motor housing (4), the outer circumferential region facing the cluster block (39) provided on the motor (10) side. The hermetic terminal (8) is inserted and placed from an outer circumferential side of the motor housing (4) to the opening (34) and the placement bearing surface (35), to be thereby made directly connectable to the terminal connection port of the cluster block (39).
US09404502B2
A centrifugal fan device includes an impeller supported to rotate about a center axis extending in an up-down direction; a motor arranged to rotate the impeller; and a housing arranged to surround the impeller. The housing includes an intake portion positioned above the impeller and an exhaust portion positioned radially outward of the impeller. The impeller includes a base extending in a direction orthogonal to the center axis, a ring-shaped shroud positioned above the base and having a diameter which decreases as it goes upward, and a plurality of blades arranged between the base and the shroud. The housing further includes a plurality of ribs protruding from an inner surface of the intake portion toward the shroud.
US09404497B2
A compressor may include a shell, a bearing housing supported within the shell, an orbiting scroll, a non-orbiting scroll meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll, fasteners and a drive shaft. The bearing housing may include a central body defining a bore and arms extending radially outward from a central body and defining circumferentially extending grooves. The circumferentially extending grooves may include inner side walls, outer side walls and base regions extending regionally between the inner and outer side walls and defining fastener receiving apertures. The orbiting scroll may be supported on the bearing housing and a non-orbiting scroll may be meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll and may include flanges defining flange apertures. The fasteners may extend through the flange apertures and the fasteners receiving apertures and secure the non-orbiting scroll to the bearing housing. The drive shaft may extend through the bore and be engaged with the orbiting scroll.
US09404490B2
The invention provides a finger-type peristaltic pump (2) having a body (4) and a housing (6). The body contains two or more finger-type valves (16) and a processor (22) configured to operate the valves according to a predetermined temporo-spatial pattern. The housing has a passageway (18) configured to receive a conduit. The housing has a first position in which a conduit in the passageway is positioned adjacent to the valve fingers, and a second position in which a conduit in the passageway is not adjacent to the valve fingers. The invention also provides a housing for use in the pump of the invention.
US09404487B2
Apparatus and methods for generating a partial vacuum in a cavity are disclosed. In one method, a suction unit is disposed on a surface and includes a plurality of embedded suction generation devices that suction gas therethrough. The suction generating devices are powered-on to form a cavity defined by at least the surface and the suction unit and gas is evacuated from the cavity to generate the partial vacuum.
US09404486B2
A cryopump includes a nested array of cryopanels. A hydrogen molecule incident into a clearance in the nested array of cryopanels is reflected by a cryopanel. The reflected hydrogen molecule is adsorbed by another cryopanel. Each of the cryopanels may have an inverted frustum shape.
US09404480B2
A closed-loop, solid-state system generates electricity from geothermal heat from a well by flow of heat, without needing large quantities of water to conduct heat from the ground. The present invention contemplates uses for depleted oil or gas wells and newly drilled wells to generate electricity in an environmentally-friendly method. Geothermal heat is conducted from the Earth to a heat exchanging element to heat the contents of pipes. The pipes are insulated between the bottom of the well and the surface to minimize heat dissipation as the heated contents of the pipes travel to the surface.
US09404469B2
An ignition timing control device (31) has a knocking detection device (41) that detects knocking of internal combustion engine (1) and an ignition timing adjustment device (43) that receives a knocking signal outputted from the knocking detection device (41) and a signal concerning the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) outputted from an external electronic control unit (37) and adjusts the ignition timing of internal combustion engine (1) according to the knocking signal and the signal concerning the ignition timing. Further, the knocking detection device (41) and the ignition timing adjustment device (43) are electrically connected and formed integrally with each other.
US09404467B2
An ignition unit (11) has a superimposed voltage generation circuit (17) that feeds, between electrodes of an ignition plug (9), a superimposed voltage of the same direction as a discharge voltage, and in an operation range wherein an engine rotation speed is equal to or lower than a given speed and an engine load is equal to or lower than a given load, feeding of the superimposed voltage is carried out. Although the energization time for a primary coil (15a) is basically set in accordance with the engine rotation speed, the energization time TDWLON for the superimposed voltage feeding is set shorter than the energization time TDWLOFF for the superimposed voltage non-feeding. With this, temperature increase of the ignition unit (11) caused by the feeding of the superimposed voltage is suppressed.
US09404459B2
A method includes: filling a chamber having a recirculating valve, a piston, a cap valve, an injector valve and an injection orifice with a liquid by closing the injector valve and circulating the liquid from a source through the recirculating valve and the cap valve; then isolating the chamber from the source by closing the recirculating valve and the cap valve then allowing pressure within the chamber to follow a cylinder pressure by mechanically coupling the cylinder pressure into the chamber; and energizing an injector coil with electric current that pulls a solenoid assembly in an upward direction opening the injector valve, further motion of the solenoid assembly drawing the piston upward, wherein liquid in the chamber is compressed by the piston to a higher pressure than the cylinder pressure, which has the effect of injecting an electronically controlled stream of liquid out of the chamber through the injection orifice.
US09404455B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine is disclosed, in which method test injections are carried out in order to adapt, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, the injection parameters used for the control of the injection processes. For this purpose, during the test injections, an electric machine which is coupled to the internal combustion engine generates negative torque impulses in a manner synchronized with the positive torque impulses generated by the test injections, which negative torque impulses counteract the torque impulses generated by the test injections. In this way, rotational speed oscillations generated by the test injections are eliminated. Also described is an internal combustion engine of said type.
US09404448B2
Methods and systems for an engine are provided. In one example, a system for an engine comprises an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas is configured to flow from the engine, a turbocharger with a turbine positioned in the exhaust passage, an exhaust gas treatment system disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of the turbine and including at least one exhaust gas treatment device and a bypass with a bypass valve, the bypass valve configured to be adjusted to reduce exhaust gas flow through the exhaust gas treatment system in response to a transient engine operating condition, and an exhaust gas recirculation system coupled between the exhaust passage and an intake passage of the engine, the exhaust gas recirculation system including an exhaust gas recirculation passage and at least one exhaust gas recirculation valve, an inlet of the exhaust gas recirculation system positioned upstream of the exhaust gas treatment system.
US09404447B2
A cooler for an internal combustion engine may include a cooler block including a gas path for communicating a gas flow along a gas flow direction and a coolant path for communicating a coolant flow. The gas path and the coolant path may be thermally coupled to each other and may be fluidly separated from each other. The cooler may include a liquid separator for separating a liquid from the gas flow. The liquid separator may be arranged on the cooler block at an outlet side of the gas path. The liquid separator may include a reservoir for the separated liquid and an evaporator for evaporating the separated liquid.
US09404439B2
A piston may include a piston crown including radially inner and outer crown mating surfaces, the crown defining at least in part a cooling gallery extending about a periphery of the crown. The piston may include a piston skirt including a pair of oppositely disposed pin bosses, the pin bosses each defining a piston pin bore. The piston skirt may have a radially inner skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially inner interface region with the radially inner crown mating surface, and a radially outer skirt mating surface cooperating along a radially outer interface region with the radially outer crown mating surface such that the cooling gallery is substantially enclosed. The piston may include at least one cooling fin extending from an interior surface of the cooling gallery.
US09404432B2
Methods are provided for accurately learning part-to-part variability of an intake or exhaust oxygen sensor. A correction factor is learned based on a sensor reading in dry air conditions, the dry air reading learned by applying a higher reference voltage to the sensor. An ethanol transfer function is then adjusted based on the learned correction factor so as to improve the accuracy of combusted fuel ethanol content estimation.
US09404431B2
A method and a device operate an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with which are associated respective injection valves for metering fuel, and having an exhaust gas probe which is arranged in an exhaust gas tract and the measurement signal of which is characteristic of the air/fuel ratio in the respective cylinder, and having a crankshaft angle sensor the measurement signal of which is representative of a crankshaft angle of the crankshaft. Within a predefined operating range of the internal combustion engine, and when at least one predefined condition is fulfilled, a rough-running based cylinder-individual diagnosis (CYBL-HOM) with regard to harmful emissions is carried out before activation of a cylinder-individual lambda control (CILC) is enabled.
US09404430B2
A fuel door and a sliding door are on the same side of a vehicle. The sliding door has power locking and power child locking. To prevent the sliding door from interfering with the fuel door during refueling, a lock controller responds to the fuel door moving to the open position by 1) preserving a current outside locked or unlocked state and a current inside locked or unlocked state of the sliding door, 2) initiating or maintaining the outside locked state and inside locked state, and 3) after the fuel door moving to the closed position, restoring or maintaining the preserved current outside locked or unlocked state and the preserved current inside locked or unlocked state.
US09404428B1
An internal-combustion engine achieves much higher thermodynamic cycle efficiency than it is possible to achieve in other engines of the same type. It achieves this by operating with a much higher expansion ratio, without an increase in effective compression ratio. The engine geometric compression ratio is considerably larger than it is in conventional engines of the same type. It operates unthrottled most of the time, and the control of the volume of the intake air retained in the cylinder is performed by varying the timing of the intake valve closure. Ignition timing is after the top-dead-center most of the time. Suitable coordination of ignition timing control with intake valve timing control insures that the peak combustion pressure and temperature remain within acceptable limits.
US09404427B2
An engine assembly includes an engine block defining a cylinder, an exhaust system, and an exhaust gas recirculation system. A first exhaust valve is configured to control the flow of fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust system. A second exhaust valve configured to control the flow of fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust gas recirculation system. The second valve is deactivatable independently of the first valve, thereby enabling EGR flow.
US09404415B2
A system and method for operating an engine turbocharger is described. In one example, the turbocharger is rotated in different directions in response to operating conditions. The system and method may reduce engine emissions.
US09404411B2
A turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber and a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. The turbocharger system further includes a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, a wastegate actuator coupled to the wastegate adjusting a position of the wastegate, and an air-cooled solenoid valve coupled to wastegate actuator adjusting a position of the wastegate actuator, the air-cooled solenoid valve receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine.
US09404390B2
A device for installing and removing a component, preferably a burner or a transition pipe of a gas turbine, on or in a stationary gas turbine, is provided. The device includes a rail system having a frame carriage that can be moved along the rail system, on which frame carriage an insertion unit having a carrier unit for the component that can be moved along a movement axis is arranged. In order to specify an especially space-saving and especially rigid design, by means of which components of a gas turbine can be installed and removed relatively simply and quickly, the rail system is designed as a two-track rail system and the movement axis extends between the two rails transversely to an area that extends between the rails.
US09404387B2
A seal for a turbo machine is provided. The seal includes a plurality of honeycomb cells, at least one circumferential groove within the plurality of honeycomb cells, and at least one swirl brake within the at least one groove.
US09404378B2
A seal configuration includes a housing and a rotatable member rotationally mounted relative to the housing. The rotatable member has at least one portion defining an outer perimetrical face that is configured to contact the housing during operational conditions that cause a radial dimension of the at least one portion to increase. The at least one portion has opposing axial surfaces with each of the opposing axial surfaces being dimensionally axially nearer to the other of the opposing axial surfaces immediately radially inwardly of the outer perimetrical face than a furthest part of the outer perimetrical face.
US09404376B2
A sealing component for reducing secondary airflow in a turbine system includes a first end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a first land on a first rotor disk and a first turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the first rotor disk. Also included is a second end segment configured to be disposed between, and retained in a radial direction by, a second land on a second rotor disk and a second turbine bucket platform operatively coupled to the second rotor disk. Further included is a main body portion extending axially from the first end segment to the second end segment.
US09404375B2
A shaft seal device includes a seal piece-laminated body with a plurality of thin seal pieces laminated in a circumferential direction along a rotating shaft. Outer ends of the plurality of thin seal pieces in the radial direction are connected to each other. Inner ends of the thin seal pieces in the radial direction are formed as free ends. A small gap is formed between each adjacent pair of the thin seal pieces. A small gap is formed between the rotating shaft and the seal piece-laminated body. A wear-resistant treatment layer is formed on a surface of a portion of each of the thin seal pieces close to the inner end.
US09404369B2
An airfoil includes an airfoil body that defines a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall to define a camber line there between. The first side wall and the second side wall join the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially define a cavity in the airfoil body. Multiple ribs extend longitudinally in the cavity and are laterally spaced apart from each other relative to the longitudinal axis. In at least one plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the ribs connects the first side wall and the second side wall along respective minimum distance directions that are perpendicular to the camber line. At least two of the respective minimum distance directions are non-parallel.
US09404365B2
A steam diffusing apparatus may include a steam inlet tube having steam-dispersion openings adjacent a lower end thereof and a mass of filaments surrounding the plurality of steam dispersion openings. The steam diffusing apparatus may also include a retaining tube surrounding the mass of filaments, a housing surrounding the retaining tube and having outlet openings therein, and an upper end cap coupled to an upper end of the housing and having an opening therein receiving the steam inlet tube. A lower end cap may be coupled to a lower end of the housing.
US09404354B2
Closed loop methods for drilling twin wells are disclosed. The disclosed method make use of a bottom hole assembly including a rotary steerable tool. An electrical current is induced in the target well. The corresponding magnetic field about the target well is measured in the twin well and used to guide drilling of the twin well.
US09404351B2
This invention relates to controlling production fluids downhole in an oil well. More specifically, this invention relates to control of water and pressure downhole. Provided are apparatus for controlling production fluids and pressures and methods of using the apparatus to control production fluids and pressures.
US09404350B2
A flow control device for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment may include a main flow passage and a weep hole, wherein the main flow passage closes when a fluid is supplied to a first end of the valve that exceeds a selected rate and opens when the fluid supplied is below the selected rate and wherein the weep hole continues to allow the fluid therethrough.
US09404348B2
Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.
US09404340B2
A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system includes a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string; at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves; and, communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports. Also included is a method of completing downhole operations in a non-sequential order.
US09404337B1
A caged ball fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement having a tapered nose cone and various load ring, slips, slip backups, lubricating spacers and seals can all be slidably engaged to the mandrel. Upon applying pressure, the slidably engaged components can be compressed against each other and the plug can expand and bite into the casing of the wellbore. The caged ball portion of the plug seats the ball internal to the plug to create two separate fractionation zones in the wellbore.
US09404335B2
The present invention relates to an annular barrier system (100) connected with a well head (40) via a well tubular structure (3), comprising a first annular barrier (1) and a second annular barrier (21) to be expanded in an annulus (2) between the well tubular structure and an inside wall (4) of a casing (20) or a borehole (5) downhole for providing zone isolation between a first zone (8) and a second zone (9), each annular barrier comprising a tubular part (6) extending in a longitudinal direction for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, an expandable sleeve (7) surrounding the tubular part and defining a space (13), an opening (11) for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve, and a first connection part (15) and a second connection part (16) connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part, and wherein the first connection part is arranged nearest to the well head, the system further comprising a flow line (17) fluidly connecting the well head with the opening for supplying fluid to the opening for expanding the expandable sleeve. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a well completion system and method.
US09404332B2
A well apparatus system that includes a wellhead, a tree, a tubing hanger, a tubing spool that is located between the wellhead and the tree, and a production isolator surrounded by the tree and the tubing spool. The tree component of this system can include a vertical or horizontal tree. More importantly, this system can be constructed in a number of different sequences. In addition, this well apparatus system allows for installation, retrieval, and/or work-over the tubing hanger and associated completion system without disturbance of the tree. The presented system also allows for installation and retrieval of the tree independent of the tubing hanger and associated completion system. Some embodiments can include valve-type mechanisms to serve as production environmental barriers. These mechanisms are integral to the production isolator.
US09404321B2
A modular tool body having upper and lower sections, a pair of longitudinal members define a central open region, the longitudinal members joined at one end having a lifting feature formed therein configured to accept a manipulator. The lifting feature is positioned such that when the modular tool body and a rig tool connected thereto are lifted by the manipulator, they are easily moved over, aligned with, and connected with a working drillpipe or other rig tool while minimizing possibility of the manipulator slipping off. The lower section includes a threaded end mating with a mating end of a rig tool, a central longitudinal bore, and an upper end formed to accept the lower ends of the longitudinal members of the upper section. Elongate slots in each longitudinal member define one or more manipulating handles. A pair of generally horizontal hand holds may be formed in each longitudinal member.
US09404316B2
A well tool apparatus for damping torsional vibration of a drill string comprises stabilizing members projecting radially outwards from a housing that is, in operation, rotationally integrated in the drill string, to stabilize the drill string by engagement with a borehole wall. The stabilizing members are displaceably mounted on the housing to permit limited angular movement thereof relative to the housing about its rotational axis. The well tool apparatus includes a hydraulic damping mechanism to damp angular displacement of the stabilizing members relative to the housing, thereby damping torsional vibration of the housing and the connected drill string, in use.
US09404312B2
A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two conical cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle, and at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a negative back rake angle.
US09404308B1
Some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies including a superabrasive cutting element that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, enclosed in an enclosure that restricts rotation of the superabrasive cutting element, or combinations of the foregoing. Additionally, some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies in which a superabrasive cutting element is mechanically fastened to a base, such as a substrate or directly to a bit body of a rotary drill bit. Some embodiments also relate to cutting element assemblies including one or more superabrasive cutting elements that are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element assembly, that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, that may be enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, or combinations thereof.
US09404306B2
A ladder is provided comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. A pair of hooks are located such that each hook is positioned adjacent and upper end of an associated rail. A securing apparatus is coupled adjacent the upper end of the first pair of spaced apart rails. The securing apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart engaging members and may include a cross-member coupled therebetween. Each of the engagement members is pivotal with respect to an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails. In one embodiment, the securing apparatus lacks any biasing members (e.g., springs or actuators) or locking members. The engagement members and hooks cooperatively encircle and overhead, generally horizontal support member to support and secure the ladder in a desired position.
US09404301B2
A tilt-up door for a building having an opening and a pair of substantially vertically juxtaposed channel members. The door can be pivotally coupled to carriages arranged for vertical movement along the vertically juxtaposed members. An actuator or actuators can be connected to the carriages to move the carriages along the vertically juxtaposed channel members. When the actuator or actuators are operated to move the carriages vertically along the vertically juxtaposed channel members.
US09404300B1
A hinge structure may comprise a first assembly including a central post with an outer surface and a first connector element on the central post for mounting on a first structure, a second assembly pivotally coupled to the first assembly and including a ring extending about the central post, a ring connector connected to the ring, and a second connector element on the ring for mounting on a second structure. A braking element may apply a selectable amount of resistance to pivot movement of the second connector element with respect to the first connector element and including a friction pad extending about a portion of the central post, a pressure band for pressing the friction pad against the central post, and a connecting structure connecting the ends of the band and being adjustable to move the ends closer toward each other and to relax the ends away from each other.
US09404282B2
A plastic, preferably recycled plastic, canopy leg anchor plate is used with a portable collapsible canopy unit. It encloses a canopy frame leg and covers the canopy leg's welded attached footplate, and, by ground pegging through the plate and/or placing weight on the plate, provides wind stabilization for the canopy unit. The plate can be molded into various decorative shapes for attractiveness, uniqueness and occupation recognition.
US09404278B2
A portable container is provided which comprises a passing room(s) allowing entry into a second area into a first area, the passing room having at least two openings with a walkway in-between. Barrier device(s) can be located in the walkway but not connected to the first or second opening. A control room(s) can also be provided, the control room being connected to the passing room(s).
US09404264B2
A support foot (1) for supporting a free standing structure on a flat roof includes a holding means (34; 62; 63) for holding a profiled section (40) to which other parts of said structure can be mounted. The support foot comprises a base part (2) with a guiding structure (22). The support foot (1) furthermore comprises a skid part (3; 6), which includes the holding means (34; 62; 63) for the profiled section (40) and which is slidably mounted on the guiding structure (22) of the base part (2) so as to position the holding means (34; 62,- 63) for the profiled section (40) in a desired angular position allowing to compensate for a possible slope of the flat roof. The support foot (1) also includes securing means for securing the skid part (3, 6) in said desired angular position on the base part (2).
US09404261B2
According to one aspect, a roofing system includes a plurality of insulation boards adapted for overlying a roof deck to form a layer of insulation. Each of the plurality of insulation boards includes a first polyisocyanurate foam having a first foam density. The roofing system further includes a plurality of cover boards adapted for overlying the layer of insulation. Each of the plurality of cover boards includes a second polyisocyanurate foam having a second foam density, and the second foam density is greater than the first foam density. Each of the insulation boards and cover boards may have a facer on at least one major surface. The second foam density may be selected to provide the cover boards with a compressive strength to resist deformation.
US09404257B2
An apparatus for spacing and stabilizing truss members is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated channel member having a middle portion, a first arm portion, and a second arm portion. The first arm portion and second arm portion extend outwardly from the middle portion. A plurality of U-shaped clamp members may be disposed along the length of the elongated channel member. At least one U-shaped clamp member can be attached to a central truss member providing a centered layout for spacing a first truss member in relation to a second truss member. A hinge member may pivotally attach the middle portion of the elongated channel member to the second arm portion, allowing the second arm portion to swing onto an additional third truss member.
US09404256B2
A system comprising a boom having a first end, a longitudinal length, and a slit that extends along the longitudinal length of the boom; a drum having an elliptic cross section and a longitudinal length; an attachment mechanism coupled with the first end of the boom and the drum such that the boom and the drum are substantially perpendicular relative to one another; an inner shaft having a longitudinal length, the inner shaft disposed within the drum, the longitudinal length of the inner shaft is aligned substantially parallel with the longitudinal length of the drum, the inner shaft at least partially rotatable relative to the drum, and the inner shaft is at least partially rotatable with the drum; and at least two cords coupled with the inner shaft and portions of the boom near the first end of the boom.
US09404253B2
A board includes a pattern to facilitate attachment of the board to a frame structure using fasteners. The pattern comprises a first array of first marks disposed in rows spaced apart a first predetermined distance, and a second array of second marks disposed in rows spaced apart a second predetermined distance apart, with the first and second marks being different, and with the first and second distances being different. The board may be used in a variety of construction applications, with the pattern facilitating the quick attachment of the board to the underlying frame by placing the fasteners using the first markings of the first array or the second markings of the second array.
US09404230B2
A shield is provided on top of a support column that protects liquid or debris from falling onto the support column from the structure above. Additionally, gaskets are provided around the center of the shield to contact components on top of the support column to further provide protection from liquid and debris. The shield is sloped and provides channels to guide liquid or debris and the outer most edge of the shield extends beyond the outer most surface of the support column in the radial direction whether the support column uses a cover or not. The shield may be in a rounded or quadrilateral form and is manufactured in segments to be connected upon installation using a clam shell type design. Mechanical connection schemes including a collar or fastener are provided to secure the shield segments in a connected state.
US09404229B2
The present invention relates to a composite tool comprising at least two milling tool holders, to a milling tool holder for such a composite tool and to a milling drum equipped with such milling tool holders. According to the present invention, a milling tool holder is utilized for supporting a tool replacement device during tool replacement of the milling tool in the milling tool holder that precedes it in the peripheral direction. To this end, according to the present invention, a supporting area is provided on the base element of the milling tool holder, which supporting area provides appropriate stabilized guidance for the tool replacement device.
US09404224B2
Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high adjusted planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric, with the contact area ratio and the volume of pockets being calculated on the basis of a non-rectangular, parallelogram unit cell.
US09404214B2
A method for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation is disclosed which comprises the steps of dispensing a suspension of zinc oxide particles treated with an acid polymer into a washing machine during a time in which a fabric is being washed in the washing machine and mixing the treated zinc oxide particles and the fabric for the treated zinc oxide particles to bind to the fabric. Other methods for treating a fabric for protection from ultraviolet radiation are also disclosed.
US09404206B2
A feeder for a knitting machine includes a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured to feed a strand toward a knitting bed of the knitting machine. The feeder also includes a pushing member that is operably supported by the feeder arm. The pushing member is configured to push a portion of the knit component to provide clearance for the strand to be incorporated in a knit component.
US09404203B2
A blended yarn comprises a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. Abrasion resistance characteristics of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A gripping ability of the second fibers is greater than a gripping ability of the first fibers. The plurality of second fibers are combined with the plurality of first fibers such that the first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn at least a portion of the second fibers are engaged with and extend from the plurality of first fibers effectively to define surface characteristics of the blended yarn.
US09404192B2
Electrolytic acid or alkaline water having a NMR half line width using 17O of from about 45 to less than 51 Hz, and an oxide reduction potential of from −1000 to +200 mV, or from +600 to +1300 mV, topical compositions that contain such water, uses for such water to hydrate skin, deliver drugs and treat various skin and mucosal conditions, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing the water.
US09404186B2
A plurality of pre-formed controlled particles for use in an aerosol deposition method by which an aerosol with brittle material fine particles dispersed in a gas is sprayed toward a substrate to form a structure made of the brittle material fine particles. Each of the controlled particles includes an assembly packed with a plurality of fine particles which are not chemically bonded together, which include the brittle material fine particles, and have a mean primary particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less. The controlled particles have a mean circle-equivalent diameter of 20 μm or more.
US09404185B2
A method of smoothing the surface of a ceramic matrix composite material part that presents a surface that is undulating and rough. The method includes depositing a refractory vitreous coating on the surface of the part, the vitreous coating essentially containing silica, alumina, baryte, and lime.
US09404177B2
Embodiments of an obstructing member and methods for its use in a fluidized bed reactor are disclosed. The obstructing member comprises a plurality of receiving members, each receiving member comprising a tubular wall defining a passageway dimensioned to receive an internal reactor component, and a plurality of connecting elements connecting the receiving members, wherein the obstructing member occupies from 15-60% of a horizontal cross-section of a reaction chamber of the fluidized bed reactor.
US09404175B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a selection is made for a first major constituent, a second major constituent and a minor constituent for forming a desired material. The method can include mixing the first major constituent, the second major constituent and the minor constituent in a single mixing step to provide a mixture of constituents. The method can include drying the mixture of constituents to provide a dried mixture of constituents and calcining the dried mixture of constituents to provide a calcinated mixture of constituents. The method can include processing the calcinated mixture of constituents to provide a powder of constituents. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09404173B2
Methods of preparing a surface of a cast zirconium alloy substrate for oxidation, the method including hot isostatic pressing a cast substrate of near shape dimensions, heating the cast substrate, machining the cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and treating the surface of the cast substrate to accept an oxide layer. in some examples, treating the surface of the cast substrate may include polishing the surface, peening the polished surface, and finishing the peened surface. Additional or alternative examples may include heat treating a cast substrate of near shape dimensions to define a homogenized grain structure within the cast substrate, machining the heat treated cast substrate to desired shape dimensions, and surface treating the machined cast substrate to modify its structure to define a recrystallized modified grain structure defining a reduced grain boundary size.
US09404168B2
A process for recovering a precious metal from ore includes adding process water containing thiocyanates to ore particles to obtain a pulp. The pulp having a basic pH is contacted with an oxidizing gas containing ozone; and the pulp is contacted with cyanide. Contacting the pulp with cyanide can include adding cyanide subsequently to contacting the pulp with the oxidizing gas containing ozone.
US09404162B2
According to the invention there is provided a strain of lactic acid bacteria of the genus Bifidobacteria obtainable by isolation from resected and washed feline gastrointestinal tract having a probiotic activity in animals. Methods of use and compositions comprising the Bifidobacteria of the present invention are also provided.
US09404158B2
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED]An object of the present invention is to provide a novel tumor marker and use thereof. In more detail, the present invention provides a novel tumor marker, a method for measuring said tumor marker and a measurement kit, a method for detecting cancer using the same, a kit for detecting cancer, a method for screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for cancer, as well as a medicament such as cancer vaccine.[SOLUTION]According to the present invention, a method for measuring an alternative splicing variant of OATP1B3 mRNA in a sample to be examined is provided. Said measurement method comprises measuring mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing table in a sample to be examined isolated from living organism with differentiation from a mRNA comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. Said measurement method is useful for detecting cancer or screening a preventive and/or therapeutic agent.
US09404154B2
The present invention relates to amplification primers with a universal tag and sequencing primers comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase capable of hybridizing to a complementary non-natural nucleobase. The present invention further relates to amplification methods of nucleic acid amplification and sequencing using an amplification primer with a universal tag and sequencing primers, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such primers and tags.
US09404151B2
The present disclosure provides a non-contact real time micro Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) system comprising; a chip having a reaction chamber for holding a sample and an embedded metal heater below the reaction chamber for heating the sample; an optical unit comprising an associated LED driver and a photo detector amplifier placed above the chip to detect fluorescence; an induction heater mounted around the chip and inductively coupled to the metal heater; an infrared temperature sensor mounted below the chip for measuring a temperature of the metal heater, wherein the infrared temperature sensor is interfaced with a signal conditioner; and a controller interfaced with the signal conditioner and the induction heater for regulating the power to the induction heater based on feedback received from the infrared temperature sensor through the signal conditioner.
US09404150B2
Provided herein are products and processes for the amplification, detection and sequencing of short-stranded nucleic acid in the presence of a high background of long-stranded genomic material (e.g., host or maternal nucleic acids). The methods rely on the use of inside and outside primers introduced at varying concentrations, as well as universal amplification reactions that preferentially amplify short, low copy number nucleic acid.
US09404145B2
There has been a demand for a codon-optimized gene for the mutated catalytic domain of Oplophorus luciferase, which is capable of efficiently expressing a protein both in a cultured animal cell and Escherichia coli. There has also been a demand for a substrate coelenterazine analog showing a higher activity than that of native 19 kDa protein. The invention provides a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. According to the invention, bis-coelenterazine is used as a substrate coelenterazine analog suitable for the photoprotein encoded by the polynucleotide comprising the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US09404143B2
Provided are methods and compositions which are useful for separating, isolating, detecting, and quantifying compounds of interest which have been modified chemically, enzymatically or catalytically from other compounds which have not been so modified. The modifications may take the form of functional groups which are gained, lost or retained by the compounds of interest.
US09404141B2
A method of detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in a test sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a test mixture that includes organic micro particles in a form that promotes the formation of a microbial biofilm, operative amounts of essential vitamins and elements needed to support growth of the target microbe, and a metabolizable substrate which can be metabolized by the target microbe t the extent needed to support continued reproductive growth thereof, and which cannot be metabolized by other viable microbes in the test sample, whereupon a sensible characteristic of the sample is altered when the substrate is metabolized; b) providing a test sample obtained from a biological, environmental, or food source, and combining the test sample in unprocessed form with the test mixture to form an admixture: and c) detecting the presence or absence of target microbes in the sample based on the presence or absence of the detectable characteristic. The micro particles are in a relative amount within the test mixture that is effective to accelerate the formation of microbial biofilms within the admixture of the test sample and the test mixture.
US09404136B2
The invention relates to increasing the availability of fermentable sugars from plant biomass, such as glucose and xylose. As described herein, α-xylosidases can be employed with cellulases to enhance biomass conversion into free, fermentable sugar residues.
US09404126B2
The invention provides processes for the producing compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle. The invention further provides processes for producing nucleotide compositions comprising oligonucleotides suitable to be used in the processes mentioned before. The invention further provides nucleotide compositions obtainable by the processes of the invention and uses thereof. The invention further provides compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle, wherein said compositions are obtainable by the processes of the invention and wherein said compositions preferably comprises a purity of at least 98%, most preferably of at least 99%.
US09404124B2
Provided is a method of producing an iPS cell, comprising bringing (a) Oct3/4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, (b) Klf4 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, and (c) Sox2 or a nucleic acid that encodes the same, as well as (d1) L-Myc or a nucleic acid that encodes the same and/or (d2) a functional inhibitor of p53, into contact with a somatic cell. It is preferable that (a) a nucleic acid that encodes Oct3/4, (b) a nucleic acid that encodes Klf4, (c) a nucleic acid that encodes Sox2, (d1) a nucleic acid that encodes L-Myc and (e) a nucleic acid that encodes Lin28 or Lin28b be inserted into an episomal vector having loxP sequences placed in the same orientation on the 5′ and 3′ sides of a vector constituent essential for the replication of the vector, that (d2) a nucleic acid that encodes an shRNA against p53 be inserted into a vector ensuring transient expression (plasmid vector and the like), and that all these nucleic acids be transferred to a somatic cell.
US09404122B2
The invention generally regards methods for providing endothelial cells and precursors of endothelial cells from a variety of cell sources, such as pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided endothelial cells, and methods of using them for the treatment of subjects.
US09404106B2
A method for preventing, reducing and/or eliminating the fouling of a composite material is provided, the composite material comprising (1) a plurality of conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, which are aligned parallel to one another, and (2) a matrix arranged between the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, the composite material in the form of an isoporous membrane with nanopores which correspond to the pores of the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes and optionally to the pores of the matrix arranged between the conductive or semiconductive nanotubes, the method comprising applying an electric field to the composite material, wherein the fouling is prevented, reduced and/or eliminated at the surface, at and in the pores of the composite material.
US09404100B2
The present application provides for compositions comprising high concentrations of acid α-glucosidase in combination with an active site-specific chaperone for the acid α-glucosidase, and methods for treating Pompe disease in a subject in need thereof, that includes a method of administering to the subject such compositions. The present application also provides methods for increasing the in vitro and in vivo stability of an acid α-glucosidase enzyme formulation.
US09404090B2
The invention relates to a cell line in which an expression construct is introduced into genomic DNA, the expression construct including: (a) a promoter operable in animal cells and heterologous to adenoviruses; and (b) a modified adenovirus El coding gene sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32 operatively linked to the promoter. The cell line of the invention is less likely to produce a replication competent adenovirus (RCA). The adenovirus producing cell line of the invention has a low possibility of producing RCA due to homologous recombination, when compared with conventional cell lines. Therefore, this makes it possible to regulate the required amount of virus during gene therapy using the adenovirus and prevent tissue damage and toxic effects caused by overproduction of the adenovirus. Also, the cell line of the invention shows superior adenovirus producing ability, as compared with an HEK 293 cell which is one of conventional adenovirus producing cell lines.
US09404083B2
A technique is needed which can amplify NK cells in vitro and prepare optimum number of NK cells for the adoptive immunotherapy.A method for amplifying NK cells is provided which comprises steps of: preparing cell population which is comprised of NK cells, removing T cells from the cell population which is comprised of NK cells, and, after removal of T cells, cultivating the remaining cells in a medium supplemented with 2500 to 2831 IU/mL of IL-2. The method for amplifying NK cells of the present invention may comprise a step of removing hematopoietic progenitor cells from the cell population. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for adoptive immunotherapy, comprising NK cells which are prepared by the amplifying method of the present invention.
US09404080B2
The present invention relates to proliferating human taste cells, wherein the cells are the cells deposited under the DSMZ deposit accession number DSM ACC3169 or taste cells derived thereof. The present invention further relates to the proliferating human taste cells of the invention for use in research. Further, the present invention relates to in vitro methods for analyzing the signalling response of taste cells to a molecule involved in taste signalling, in vitro methods of identifying agents capable of eliciting a taste response in taste cells as well as in vitro methods of identifying modulators of taste signalling.
US09404079B2
Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of mainataining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.
US09404074B2
An incubation apparatus, including a temperature-controlled room adjusted to be a predetermined environment condition, and incubating a sample of an incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room, includes a carrying apparatus, an imaging section, and an image analyzing section. The carrying apparatus carries the incubation container in the temperature-controlled room. The imaging section photographs a whole of the incubation container inside the temperature-controlled room. The image analyzing section analyzes an operation state of the incubation apparatus or an incubating environment state of the sample based on a total observing image of the incubation container photographed at the imaging section, and outputs an error signal notifying an abnormality of the operation state or the incubating environment state in accordance with the analysis result.
US09404068B2
The present application relates to anti-foam compositions and methods of making and using such compositions as well as consumer products that comprise such compositions and the use of same. Such anti-foam compositions have low viscosities yet are effective antifoamers.
US09404067B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for removing silica or silicate deposits comprising contacting a cleaning composition with a surface in contact with a liquid containing silica or silicates, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a salt of a nitrogen base having a fluoro inorganic anion. In particular, these methods for removing silica or silicate deposits can be used in steam generators, evaporators, heat exchangers, and the like that are used in produced water plant unit operations.
US09404063B2
A system and process are described for clean separation of biocrudes and water by-products from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) product mixtures of organic and biomass-containing feedstocks at elevated temperatures and pressures. Inorganic compound solids are removed prior to separation of biocrude and water by-product fractions to minimize formation of emulsions that impede separation. Separation may be performed at higher temperatures that reduce heat loss and need to cool product mixtures to ambient. The present invention thus achieves separation efficiencies not achieved in conventional HTL processing.
US09404056B2
An apparatus for carrying out a carbon monoxide shift reaction, which includes converting carbon monoxide and water into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the converting proceeding in a liquid phase with removal of a product gas including carbon dioxide and hydrogen, is provided. The apparatus includes dry methanol, as a first solvent in a first region for an absorption of carbon monoxide with simultaneous formation of methyl formate, and water, as a second solvent in a second region for a liberation of the product gas in order to avoid losses of hydrogen in a carbon dioxide region.
US09404052B2
The present invention relates to the application of ionic liquids individually or in formulation to dry and desalt crudes oils having API gravities in the range of 8 to 20 (median, heavy and extra-heavy) when applied at concentrations ranging from 500 and up to 5000 ppm. The ionic liquids have a cation consisting of quaternary ammonium, wherein the substituents R, R1 and R2 are independent radicals represented by alkyl chains including 2 to 8 carbon atoms; and anion selected from the group consisting of ethylsulfate, methylsulfate and chloride.
US09404048B2
The present invention provides a novel process and system in which a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen synthesis gas, or syngas, is converted into hydrocarbon mixtures composed of high quality distillates, gasoline components, and lower molecular weight gaseous olefins in one reactor or step. The invention utilizes a novel supported bimetallic ion complex catalyst for conversion, and provides methods of preparing such novel catalysts and use of the novel catalysts in the process and system of the invention.
US09404044B2
A selective removal of chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
US09404035B2
A fluorescent material-containing sealing resin (20) production method of the present invention includes: a kneading step of kneading a powder mixture (24), which has been obtained by mixing a powder of silicone resins (21) and a powder of fluorescent materials (22) together, while melting the powder mixture (24) by heat, so that a kneaded mixture (25) is obtained; and an extruding step of extruding the kneaded mixture (25) in a form of a cord from an output port (37b) of a twin screw extruder (37).
US09404031B2
Stabilizers that include hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymers may be utilized as compositions or in methods for controlling particulate migration in a subterranean formation. For example, a method may include providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymer (HMAP), the HMAP comprising a plurality of hydrophobic modifications on an amine-containing polymer; introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising a plurality of particulates; and allowing the HMAP to coat at least some of the particulates.
US09404030B2
A swellable article, including a matrix material and an exfoliatable graphene-based material disposed in the matrix material. The exfoliatable graphene-based material is operatively arranged to facilitate swelling of the swellable article upon exposure to a selected fluid by sorbing particles in the fluid. The swelling enables the swellable article to engage an adjacent structure. Methods of making and using a swellable article are also included.
US09404024B2
An adhesive composition includes an acrylic copolymer having at least one alkyl group, at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one furyl based group; and a curing agent.
US09404018B2
A polyol having the formula Si(O—R1—OH)m(O—R2)nR3. Each R1 is a divalent radical derived from diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or tripropylene glycol, each R2 is an aliphatic group, and R3 is an alkyl group or aromatic group. The value m is 2 or 3 and n is 0 or 1. A process of making the above polyol by: providing a reactant having the formula Si(O—R2)3R3, and reacting the reactant with a diol having the formula HO—R1—OH. An antifouling coating comprising a thermoset formed by reacting a polyisocyanate with the above polyol. The coating is not a foam.
US09404010B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, capable of achieving excellent curability under low-temperature, short-time conditions, and forming a multilayer coating film having excellent chipping resistance and an excellent finished appearance. This method comprises sequentially applying an aqueous first colored coating composition (X), an aqueous second colored coating composition (Y), and a clear coating composition (Z) to a substrate, and simultaneously bake-curing the resulting multilayer coating film. In this method, the aqueous first colored coating composition (X) comprises an aqueous film-forming resin (A) and a specific blocked polyisocyanate compound (B), and the clear coating composition (Z) comprises a hydroxy-containing acrylic resin (K) having a hydroxy value in a specific range, a polyisocyanate compound (L), and an organometallic catalyst (M) containing a metal compound (M1) selected from a specific range and an amidine compound (M2).
US09404009B2
The present invention relates to novel polymer dispersants and to a liquid compositions containing solid fine particles, such as organic or inorganic pigments and fillers, and the polymer dispersants. The polymer dispersants have at least one functional moiety of the formula I, which is bound to one of the termini or to the backbone of the polymer: (I) where # indicates the point of attachment to the terminus and/or to the polymer backbone; k is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, A is a chemical bond or a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkylene, —O—(C2-C6 alkylene), —C(═O—O—(C2-C6 alkylene), —NR3—(C2-C6 alkylene) and C(═O)—NR3—(C2-C6 alkylene), where the C2-C6 alkylene part is attached to Q; Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NH— and —S—; R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of —OH, —COOH, —COOCH3, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —NO2, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, halogen, aryloxy, aryl, heteroaryl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C1-C4-alkyl and heteroaryl-C1-C4-alkyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —S(═O)2R4, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl; R4 is selected from the group consisting of OH, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, aryl and heteroaryl.
US09404007B2
Aqueous wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers for paints, inks and coatings. More particularly, aqueous particulate wax dispersions useful as surface modifiers to provide improved properties in primers, paints, inks and other coating formulations. The dispersions are stable, substantially homogenous, have a high solids concentration at low viscosities, and comply with the applicable FDA regulations for use in food packaging applications.
US09403999B2
An aqueous coating composition containing a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 is a C2-C20 hydrocarbyl group; and R2 and R3 independently are C1-C10 alkyl or HO(CH2CH2O)xCH2—, wherein x represents an integer from 0-5.
US09403998B2
A composite structure disclosed includes a base (X) and a layer (Y) stacked on the base (X). The layer (Y) includes a reaction product (R). The reaction product (R) is a reaction product formed by a reaction at least between a metal oxide (A) and a phosphorus compound (B). A peak for a binding energy of an oxygen-atom 1s orbital observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the layer (Y) is located at 532.0 eV or higher, and the peak has a half width of less than 2.0 eV.
US09403996B2
The present invention relates to semiconducting pigments based on flake-form substrates which have a doped tin dioxide layer on the surface and to the use of the pigments in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics, security applications, floorcoverings, films, formulations, ceramic materials, glasses, paper, for laser marking, in thermal protection, in dry preparations, in pigment preparations and in particular as varistor pigment.
US09403993B2
Disclosed are corrosion resistant compositions and processes for the preparation thereof that involve the application of a plurality of layers comprised of at least one tetraalkoxysilane and at least one functionalized silane layer to a supporting substrate.
US09403991B2
The present invention relates to a hard coating composition, and, more particularly, to a hard coating composition used in forming a hard coating film exhibiting high hardness and excellent properties. The hard coating composition can be used to form a high-hardness hard coating film that is not easily curled.
US09403988B2
The present invention relates to an economic process for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a surface-reacted calcium carbonate having an increased specific BET surface area, and the use of a process for adjusting the specific BET surface area.
US09403985B2
Cyanine dye compounds having a substituted methine moiety that are nucleic acid stains, particularly for fluorescent staining of RNA, including compounds having the formula where R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl, sulfoalkyl, carboxyalkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy; each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, fused benzo, trifluoromethyl, amino, sulfo, carboxy and halogen, that is optionally further substituted; at least one of R3, R4, and R5 is an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cyclic, or heterocyclic moiety that is optionally substituted by alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, carboxy, nitro, or halogen; and the remaining R3, R4 or R5 are hydrogen; X is S, O, or Se; and D is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinium, quinolinium or benzazolium moiety.
US09403984B2
The present invention relates to a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber, and the method includes treating a regenerated collagen fiber with a zirconium salt to incorporate the zirconium salt into the regenerated collagen fiber, and then treating the regenerated collagen fiber with a phosphorus compound to incorporate the phosphorus compound into the regenerated collagen fiber, thereby obtaining a water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber containing 12 wt % or more of zirconium salt in terms of zirconium oxide and 2 wt % or more of phosphorus compound in terms of phosphorus. The present invention also relates to a fiber bundle for hair including 30 to 100 wt % of the water-resistant regenerated collagen fiber and 0 to 70 wt % of polyester-based fiber.
US09403983B2
The present invention provides a case for installing semiconductor element for use in LED etc. formed from a white thermosetting silicone resin composition and a cured material thereof that have low light transmittance rate, excellent moldability and are difficult to cause a burr to occur in molding. Provided is a white thermosetting silicone resin composition for a light-emitting semiconductor device, comprising: (A) a resin organopolysiloxane having a hydroxy group, and exhibiting a weight-average molecular weight of 500 to 20,000 based on polystyrene conversion, (B) an organopolysiloxane having a straight-chain diorganopolysiloxane residue, (C) a white pigment, (D) an inorganic filler other than (C), (E) a silane coupling agent in which a refractive index difference from the resin organopolysiloxane (A) is higher than or equal to 0.02 and a boiling point at atmospheric pressure is higher than or equal to 200° C., and (F) a curing catalyst.
US09403982B2
A curable silicone composition comprises at least (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups in a molecule, (B) an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst, (D) an approximately spherical silica fine powder having an average particle diameter of 50 μm or less and (E) glass fibers having an average fiber length of 1,000 μm or less and an average fiber diameter of 30 μm or less. A cured product produced by curing the curable silicone composition is also disclosed.
US09403980B2
A polyamide resin composition includes (A) a polyamide resin in an amount of about 30 to about 80% by weight, (B) inorganic filler in an amount of about 10 to about 60% by weight, (C) white pigment in an amount of about 5 to about 50% by weight; and (D) photostabilizer in an amount of about 0.05 to about 2 parts by weight and (E) inorganic fine particles in an amount of about 0.05 to about 3 parts by weight, wherein each of (D) and (E) is based on about 100 parts by weight of the polyamide resin (A). The polyamide resin composition can have good light reflectance and yellowing resistance.
US09403971B2
Rubber composition for a tread, which enables not only improving handling stability, abrasion resistance, and fuel economy in a balanced manner, but also improving wet grip performance and processability in a balanced manner, in a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises a terminally-modified solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, a butadiene rubber synthesized in the presence of a rare earth catalyst, and a particular type of reinforcing agent.
US09403970B2
A styrene based resin composition having a low linear thermal expansion coefficient and high formability, a formed article thereof, and an optical element made from the formed article are provided. The formed article is produced by forming a styrene based resin composition containing a styrene based resin and silica particles, wherein the number average particle diameter of primary particles of the silica particles is 0.5 nm or more and 40 nm or less, and the content of the silica particles is 40 percent by volume or more and 75 percent by volume or less relative to a total of the styrene based resin and the silica particles.
US09403968B2
A heavy release additive for a release sheet comprises a condensation reaction product of dehydrative condensation reaction between (A) a polydiorganosiloxane of average polymerization degree of 500 to 10,000 and has at least one hydroxy or hydrolysable group per molecule and (B) a polyorganosiloxane resin composed of a (SiO4/2) unit and a (R3SiO1/2) unit (wherein R's independently represent a C1-12 monovalent hydrocarbon group or a C2-6 alkenyl group each having no aliphatic unsaturated bond), has a ratio of the (R3SiO1/2) unit to the (SiO4/2) unit of 0.6 to 1.2 by mole, and contains the hydroxy group and the hydrolysable group in the total content of 2.1 mass % or more and less than 10.0 mass %. The heavy release additive can have the effect of achieving an extremely great peel force compared with cases in which no additive is added.
US09403957B2
A sealing material is provided, which maintains excellent sealing property for a long period of time. The sealing material of the invention is characterized by being prepared by vulcanizing and foaming a mixture containing a rubber component containing a copolymer rubber of ethylene, an α-olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms, and a non-conjugated diene, a vulcanizing agent, and a blowing agent, wherein the mixture contains a thermoplastic resin having a melting point of 80° C. or less.
US09403946B2
The present invention relates to semiaromatic and semicrystalline thermoplastic polyimides obtained by polymerization of at least one aromatic compound comprising two anhydride functions and/or carboxylic acid and/or ester derivatives thereof and a diamine comprising between 13 and 22 carbon atoms. These polyimides may be converted into plastic articles by various methods, such as injection-molding.
US09403945B2
Polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) and polyhemiaminal (PHA) materials form highly cross-linked polymers which can be used as binder resins in composite materials. A filler element functionalized with a primary amine group can be covalently bonded to the PHA/PHT polymer resins. Example filler elements include, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, silica materials, carbon and glass fibers, and nanoparticles. Filler materials are incorporated into polymeric materials to improve the mechanical strength or other characteristics of the polymeric material for various applications. Typical composite materials use thermosetting materials that, once set, are intractable. PHT and PHA materials can be reverted to starting materials by exposure to acids. Thus, composite components formed using these materials are recyclable.
US09403941B2
Provided herein are long circulating material free (LCMF) poloxamer compositions and uses thereof. In particular, provided are LCMF poloxamer 188 compositions and uses thereof. Also provided are supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods and high pressure (subcritical) methods for preparing poloxamer compositions, particularly the LCMF poloxamer compositions.
US09403931B2
The present invention relates to iron (III) complexes of the formula Fe(L)x(Y)3-x, where the ligand L has the formula (I). Such complexes are especially suitable as a catalyst for two-component polyurethane compositions. The invention also relates to two-component polyurethane compositions comprising at least one polyisocyanate as the first component, at least one polyol as the second component and at least one iron (III) complex of this kind as a catalyst. In addition, the invention relates to various uses of these two-component polyurethane compositions.
US09403929B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of acrylic polymer beads, said process encompassing the step of washing the acrylic polymer beads with purified water.
US09403926B2
The present invention is directed to a process of polymerizing propylene in at least three stages. In the first, and optionally in the second, polymerization stage propylene, ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms are introduced into the polymerization reactors as fresh monomer feeds. In the third polymerization stage propylene and optionally ethylene is introduced as fresh monomer feed.
US09403923B2
A process for preparing a polyethylene wax by polymerization of ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system composed of titanium tetrachloride and dialkylaluminium halide, wherein the polymerization temperature is in the range from 170 to 200° C., the polymerization is carried out essentially in the absence of solvents and the Al/Ti molar ratio is less than 1.6, gives a wax having the following property profile: dropping point of from 115 to 125° C.; penetration number of not more than 1 mm·10−1; viscosity at 150° C. of less than 60 mPas; density of from 0.945 to 0.960 g/cm3 at 23° C.; molar mass of less than 1500 g/mol and crystallinity of more than 70%.
US09403913B2
Anti-VASA antibodies (mAbs), particularly humanized mAbs that specifically bind to VASA with high affinity, are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the CDRs of the light chains and the heavy chains, as well as consensus sequences for these CDRs, of these anti-VASA mAbs are provided. The disclosure also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the anti-VASA mAbs, expression vectors, host cells, methods for making the anti-VASA mAbs, and methods for expressing the anti-VASA mAbs. Finally, methods of using the anti-VASA mAbs to isolate and/or purify cells expressing VASA are disclosed.
