US09418329B2
A holder for a product package includes a substrate having an inside surface, with opposing end portions of the substrate being folded upwards. The holder also includes a securing member disposed on at least one of the end portions, the securing member configured to secure the product package within the end portions of the substrate. The holder also includes a RFID tag disposed on the substrate.
US09418315B1
According to one method, the method occurs at a data file analyzer. The method includes identifying at least one document identifier associated with a first document in a portable document format (PDF) file. The method further includes determining, using the at least one document identifier, a reference point identifier for identifying a reference point in the first document, an offset value for indicating a location of a first detection area in the first document, and size information for indicating a size of the first detection area in the first document. The method also includes identifying, using a reference point identifier, the reference point in the first document. The method further includes identifying, using the offset value and the size information, the first detection area in the first document and extracting, by processing binary data of the PDF file, data within the first detection area of the first document.
US09418313B2
A method for extracting characteristic points from an image, includes extracting characteristic points from a first image, generating for each characteristic point a descriptor with several components describing an image region around the characteristic point, and comparing two by two the descriptors of the first image, the characteristic points whose descriptors have a proximity between them greater than an ambiguity threshold, being considered ambiguous.
US09418312B2
Systems and methods coarsely classify unknown documents in a group or not with reference document(s). Documents get scanned into digital images. Counts of contours are taken. The closer the counts of the contours of the unknown document reside to the reference document(s), the more likely the documents are all of a same type. Embodiments typify contour analysis, classification acceptance or not, application of algorithms, and imaging devices with scanners, to name a few.
US09418310B1
In some implementations, legibility of an image may be automatically determined based, at least in part, on text contained in the image. For example, image analysis techniques may be used to identify text components in an image. One or more features of each text component may be determined for use in assessing the legibility of the text component. For example, a classifier trained on the one or more features may provide a confidence level indicative of the legibility of each text component. The confidence level for each of the text components may be compared to a legibility threshold for determining whether the text component is legible or illegible. Based, at least in part, on the determination as to how much of the text in the image is legible or illegible, an overall legibility of the image may be assessed.
US09418304B2
A method for recognizing a text block in an object is disclosed. The text block includes a set of characters. A plurality of images of the object are captured and received. The object in the received images is then identified by extracting a pattern in one of the object images and comparing the extracted pattern with predetermined patterns. Further, a boundary of the object in each of the object images is detected and verified based on predetermined size information of the identified object. Text blocks in the object images are identified based on predetermined location information of the identified object. Interim sets of characters in the identified text blocks are generated based on format information of the identified object. Based on the interim sets of characters, a set of characters in the text block in the object is determined.
US09418284B1
Method for generating and using a database of pixel patterns includes obtaining images using a mobile device including a common pixel pattern and processing each image based on a size of the pixel pattern and/or angular orientation of the pixel pattern relative to an imaging direction to derive positional information about the pixel pattern. Location of the mobile device is determined by obtaining an image including a stationary pixel pattern, searching the database for the obtained pixel pattern, and retrieving positional information about a closest match pixel pattern. With the retrieved positional information, an angle between an imaging direction in which the image including the closest match pixel pattern was obtained and an imaging direction in which the image was obtained and/or a size differential between the closest match pixel pattern and the pixel pattern in the obtained image is/are analyzed to derive positional information about the mobile device's location.
US09418278B2
A control apparatus detects a state of an object independently of results of analysis of images captured by a plurality of cameras and controls analysis of the images captured by the plurality of cameras concurrently capturing the object whose state has been detected, according to the state of the object.
US09418274B2
A biometric authentication apparatus includes a single reading sensor configured to acquire first matching authentication characteristics data being unique to a first hand and used for matching, and second matching authentication characteristics data being unique to a second hand and used for matching; and a communications part configured to externally transmit the first and second matching authentication characteristics data for one person as authentication data and to receive an authentication result.
US09418261B2
A transmitter circuit generates an electric source signal, and emits a corresponding alternating electromagnetic field. A receiver antenna registers the alternating electromagnetic field and any modifications thereof due the presence of a tag unit within a range of operation. The receiver antenna is arranged relative to the transmitter antenna and a potential tag unit, such that a portion of the emitted alternating electromagnetic field reaches the receiver antenna unmodified irrespective of whether or not a tag unit is present within the range of operation. A receiver circuit connected to the receiver antenna produces an electric detection signal in response to the alternating electromagnetic fields. Based on the electric detection signal, a processing unit discriminates identification data of any tag unit having modified the alternating electromagnetic field by utilizing an aiding signal component originating from the unmodified portion of the alternating electromagnetic field.
US09418252B2
A retail information network includes one or more POS scanning and checkout systems, each including (i) a bar code symbol reading subsystem, and (ii) a cash register computer subsystem interfaced with the bar code symbol reading subsystem and a network infrastructure, and each having access to product and price data maintained in a product/price database. The bar code symbol reading subsystem includes a local predictive error event (PEE) data store for logging and storing predictive error events (PEEs) detected within the bar code symbol reading system, wherein said PEEs are subsequently sent to POS information servers used to create predictive error alerts (PEAs) and corresponding instructions to maintain and/or repair certain aspects of the bar code symbol reading system.
US09418241B2
This technology relate to methods and systems for big data processing. The system includes extraction modules for extracting data from the data sources. The system also includes means for defining rules to be applied on the data and means for applying the rules on the data in conjunction with the extraction modules. The means for applying the rules is capable of applying pre-defined set of rules and the rules defined by means of defining the rules. The system also has controllers for defining access control restrictions on the data in conjunction with the extraction modules, display for displaying visual representations of the data processing in conjunction with the extraction modules and memory to store the extracted data in indexed form.
US09418237B2
A system, computer-readable medium, and method for masking data including receiving a request directed to a network service, applying a rule set to the request to identify sensitive data which is responsive to the request, rewriting the request, based on the rule set, such that the rewritten request will result in the sensitive data being retrieved and converted into a masked format according to one or more instructions in the rewritten request, and transmitting the rewritten request to the network service.
US09418231B2
Technologies are provided to automatically vary a structure of a netlist computation arranged to configure a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In an example scenario, an FPGA netlist may be received from a client to configure the FPGA. A perturbation generator may be activated in response to a detection of one or more security risk factors associated with the netlist. The netlist may be altered through schemes designed to repair one or more FPGAs. The repair schemes may be used to repair the FPGAs to work around failed cells and failed sub-cells. The perturbation generator may produce a false map of failed cells. The false map may be used to generate different timings and different intermediate values associated with the netlist to generate an alternate netlist. The alternate netlist may be used to configure the FPGA to prevent side channel attacks.
US09418229B2
One embodiment provides an apparatus adapted to perform a secure firmware upgrade. The apparatus includes a first memory and a second memory. The first memory stores a private key for use in decrypting content and a unique identifier corresponding to the apparatus. The second memory includes a first version of firmware for the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to perform an operation that includes receiving a first request to perform a firmware update operation for the apparatus. The operation also includes transmitting a second request for a second version of firmware to a remote server, the second request specifying the unique identifier corresponding to the apparatus. Additionally, in response to transmitting the second request, an encrypted firmware package is received from the remote server. The operation further includes decrypting the encrypted firmware package using the private key and installing the decrypted firmware package on the apparatus.
US09418226B1
Apparatus for assessing threat to at least one computer network in which a plurality of systems (301, 302, 303, 304, 305, . . . 30n) operate is configured to determine predicted threat activity (13), to determine expected downtime of each system in dependence upon said predicted threat activity, to determine loss (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, . . . , 12m) for each of a plurality of operational processes (31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 31E, . . . 31m dependent on the downtimes of the systems, to add losses for the plurality of processes so as to obtain a combined loss (12SUM) arising from the threat activity.
US09418225B2
A transmitting device that transmits data signals into a primary electricity grid, wherein the transmitting device connects to a power input of a computer system and overlays signals returned by the computer system into the primary electricity grid by modulating random data signals onto a line connected to the power input of the computer system.
US09418222B1
Techniques for detecting advanced security threats are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for detecting a security threat including generating a resource at a client, implementing the resource on the client, monitoring system behavior of the client having the resource implemented thereon, determining whether a security event involving the implemented resource has occurred based on the monitored system behavior, and generating a report when it has been determined that the security event has occurred.
US09418218B2
The present application relates to a computer having a processor configured to execute a set of instructions to render a customized version of a restricted document object model. A restricted element in a document object model is identified and at least one rule associated with the restricted element is accessed. The at least one rule is applied to the restricted element to generate a modified document object model which is then rendered. A related computer-implemented method is also covered by the present application. The present application relates to server-side authentication techniques; content filtering based on user-specific and context-based requirements; and audit trail techniques.
US09418217B2
An information processing system includes a device registration unit that stores device identification information of a device in a first storage unit in response to a device identification information registration request, a generation unit that generates user identification information of an unspecified user of the device, an authentication unit that performs authentication in response to an authentication request from the device and associates user identification information of a specified user specified in the authentication request with the device when the authentication performed in response to the authentication request is successful, and a processing unit that executes a process according to the user identification information associated with the device in response to a request from the device that has been successfully authenticated. Upon receiving an authentication request that does not specify user identification information, the authentication unit associates the user identification information generated by the generation unit with the device.
US09418212B2
An apparatus comprising: a memory having at least two sections; a security element associated with at least one of said at least two sections; and a processor for controlling access to at least one of the at least two sections of the memory in dependence on a value of the security element. The apparatus may be an integrated circuit and the memory may be a read-only-memory storing generic code in one of the sections and code specific to a mobile communication device provider in the second section. The security element may be a permanently programmed memory element programmed by the IC manufacturer.
US09418192B1
Modifying a circuit includes: obtaining timing information of the circuit, wherein the timing information includes timing information pertaining to a critical path of the circuit; determining a scope associated with the critical path, the scope including a subset of the circuit; and performing a fix based at least in part on physical information associated with the circuit to improve timing of the scope.
US09418186B2
Partition coefficients for solutes in solvent-water systems are estimated based on corresponding values for the octanol-water system. The estimation of the partition coefficient includes correction factors based on the nature of the solute and the solvent. Petroleum fractions are an example of a suitable solvent for which a partition coefficient can be estimated, although other types of solvents can be used in developing a model for use in the estimation.
US09418177B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing spoken query terms. In one aspect, a method includes performing speech recognition on an audio signal to select two or more textual, candidate transcriptions that match a spoken query term, and to establish a speech recognition confidence value for each candidate transcription, obtaining a search history for a user who spoke the spoken query term, where the search history references one or more past search queries that have been submitted by the user, generating one or more n-grams from each candidate transcription, where each n-gram is a subsequence of n phonemes, syllables, letters, characters, words or terms from a respective candidate transcription, and determining, for each n-gram, a frequency with which the n-gram occurs in the past search queries, and a weighting value that is based on the respective frequency.
US09418147B2
A user may submit product title information to a server. The server may generate a phrase based on the product title information. The server may then search a database to find relevancies between the phrase and product categories corresponding to multiple nodes in a product category tree. Based on the relevancies, the server may select a node from the multiple nodes. The server may associate the product title information with the node corresponding to a product category when the node is a leaf node of the product category tree.
US09418145B2
Method and system for visualizing documents. N-dimensional compact representations are obtained for a set of documents. A plurality of documents is retrieved with corresponding N-dimensional compact representations and each of the retrieved documents is associated with one or more concepts. Each retrieved document is projected to a point on a K-dimensional map based on its N-dimensional compact representation so that projected document points in the K-dimensional map maintain the relative distances among the retrieved documents in the N-dimensional space. Regions in the K-dimensional map associated with concepts are identified. A label is generated for each concept in each identified region. Then generated labels are then rendered on the K-dimensional map in a corresponding region identified.
US09418144B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing duplicate document analyses to identify texturally identical or similar documents, which may be electronic documents stored within an electronic discovery platform. A process is described which includes representing each of the documents, including a target document, as a relatively large n-tuple vector and also as a relatively small m-tuple vector, performing a series of calculations on the set of m-tuple vectors to identify a set of documents which are candidate near-duplicates to the target document, and then filtering the candidate set of near-duplicate documents based upon the distance of their n-tuple vectors from the n-tuple vector of the target document.
US09418139B2
The present inventors have a devised one or more novel methods, systems, and interfaces for facilitating multi-lingual searches. One exemplary method entails creating multiple language-specific indices for a collection of documents, with each index including stemmed and non-stemmed versions of terms from the documents. Users submit queries that are associated with a set of one or more target languages. Query processing entails translating original and stemmed versions of each term in a query into each of the target languages, using one or more techniques that each yield a set of potentially equivalent query terms. Each set of potentially equivalent query terms is then processed against the corresponding language-specific index, using a conventional monolingual search technique, such as a Boolean or natural language query, to identify documents from the collection. The resultant documents are presented to the user in language groupings or by computed relevance.
US09418134B2
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing replication configurations. In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving, by one or more processors, a replication configuration for replicating data, wherein the replication configuration defines at least a target table in a target database based on a source table in a source database; initializing, by one or more processors, a federated view, wherein the federated view is based on at least the source table in the source database as defined in the replication configuration; utilizing, by one or more processors, the federated view to satisfy requesting applications, where requesting applications obtain data from the federated view; responsive to determining the replication of data is in spec, utilizing, by one or more processors, the target table in the target database to satisfy requesting applications.
US09418133B2
Data replication with delta compression is disclosed. A primary system and a replica system are determined to both have an identical first data segment that is similar to a second data segment. The second data segment is encoded, wherein the encoding refers to the first data segment.
US09418132B2
One aspect of the preferred embodiment relates to an application framework for managing mobile clients and application programs. By utilizing the preferred embodiment, a system administrator may be provided the capability to manage and control multiple devices, directly and indirectly, using push (server-initiated) and/or pull (client-initiated) techniques from a single location. Additionally, the preferred embodiment may be utilized to back up and securely store information on the mobile clients, identify device usage and to deliver files and databases to the mobile clients.
US09418129B2
A method, system, and computer program product for adaptive high-performance database redo log synchronization. The method commences upon performing a write operation of a redo log entry, the write operation concluding with an indication of completion of the write operation of the redo log entry. Any number of committing processes may be waiting for the indication of completion, and upon indication of completion, then (using a first synchronization mode) the processes or proxy measures the waiting time as experienced by the committing processes (e.g., while waiting for the indication of completion of the write operation of the redo log entry). In some cases a second synchronization mode would introduce less latency than the first synchronization mode, so the system changes to a second synchronization mode. The system can also change mode when a predicted second mode waiting time is smaller than the measured waiting time.
US09418115B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for performing a location-based search from a mobile device in a given location including an imaging sensor configured to capture a signal broadcast from a light source and a processor in communication with the imaging sensor configured to receive the signal from the imaging sensor, demodulate the signal to determine an identifier associated with the light source, receive a search query from a mobile device user requesting information relevant to the location of the mobile device, transmit the identifier and the search query to a search service, and in response to the transmission comprising the identifier and the search query, receive the information relevant to the location of the mobile device.
US09418106B1
An approach for joining operations on document-oriented databases. The approach consists of receiving database identifiers, common attributes and results attributes for core and target databases being joined. Common attributes are searched for in the databases. The searches performed include string, expansive, character and nested. Common attribute join conflicts are identified and input is received to resolve attribute join conflicts. Resolved join conflicts are updated in a join substitution database for subsequent use and joined data results are output to virtual table(s).
US09418093B2
A method for high-speed scheduling and arbitration of events for computing and networking is disclosed. The method includes the software and hardware implementation of a unique data structure, known as a pile, for scheduling and arbitration of events. According to the method, events are stored in loosely sorted order in piles, with the next event to be processed residing in the root node of the pile. The pipelining of the insertion and removal of events from the piles allows for simultaneous event removal and next event calculation. The method's inherent parallelisms thus allow for the automatic rescheduling of removed events for re-execution at a future time, also known as event swapping. The method executes in O(1) time.
US09418090B2
An information management system including at least one data storage device and at least one processor coupled to the at least one data storage device. The at least one processor is configured to receive at least one object, the object having a location in a hierarchical file organizational structure. The processor also generates at least one prospective keyword for the at least one object based upon the location of the object in the hierarchical organization structure, and associates the at least one object with at least one of the prospective keywords.
US09418085B1
Methods and systems for automatic table schema generation are disclosed. A description of a data source is received. A table definition is determined based on the description of the data source, wherein the table definition maps the data source to one or more columns of an output table. A parser for the data source is selected from a set of predefined parsers based on the description of the data source. A query against the data source is received. One or more elements of data responsive to the query are retrieved from the data source using the selected parser. The one or more elements are transformed into the output table based on the table definition.
US09418081B2
A system for accessing, by a resource, a setting in a virtualized user profile includes an isolation environment, a resource, and a filter driver. The resource executes outside an isolation environment on a local machine and requests access to a setting in a user profile. The filter driver intercepts the request for access and identifies one of the isolation environment and a remote machine, responsive to an application of a rule to the request. The filter driver redirects the request to the one of the isolation environment and the remote machine. A method includes intercepting an instruction from a resource to modify a setting on a local machine, the resource provided by a local machine and executing outside of an isolation environment. The method includes identifying the isolation environment, responsive to an application of a rule to the instruction. The method includes redirecting the instruction to the isolation environment.
US09418073B2
System(s) and method(s) converting format of jobs associated with a software job stream are disclosed. A file containing syntax in an original format is received. The syntax defines the jobs and schedules in the original format. At least one keyword associated with the jobs and schedules and definition format of the jobs is identified. At least one mandatory parameter or optional parameter is checked while applying logic rules. The logic rules define mapping conditions with respect to each attribute associated with the mandatory and optional parameters. The keywords and the definition format associated with the job and schedule are mapped to a set of pre-defined keywords and definition format to obtain a set of mapped keywords and mapped definition format. The mapped keywords and mapped definition format are used to convert original syntax into a desired syntax thereby converting original format of the jobs and schedules into the desired format.
US09418070B2
There is provided a file revision-control system, method and apparatus configured for storing and managing a revision history log, and for enabling to track and manage, compare and retrieve revisions including, current-revisions stored on a designated reference area, past-revisions stored in a predefined storage area and also past-revisions which were previously on a reference area. According to certain embodiments of the invention, each revision of a file is represented by a revision entry in a revision history log, which can be stored and managed in a designated data-repository. A revision entry stores data corresponding to at least one revision, while the revisions themselves may be stored on a designated data-repository. A progression path refers to one or more revision entries which represent the progression of a file over time. In case that a revision is branched into more than one revisions, each such revision will constitute a different progression path.
US09418068B2
Technologies are described herein for converting presentations between differing slide dimensions and aspect ratios. A scaling factor is calculated from the difference between the original dimensions of the slide and the new dimensions of the converted slide. Next, the content objects on the slide are scaled based on the scaling factor such that the aspect ratio of the content object is maintained. Finally, the content objects are repositioned on the slide in order to maintain a relative distance between the position of the content object and the center of the slide.
US09418067B1
A secure networked metadata-based workflow method and system, managed through core application logic and master database management system for picture, sound, and metadata acquisition, and ancillary production and post production data and metadata collection and creation, in the processes of motion picture production and post production file-based workflows; asset file management, asset file manipulation, asset file distribution, asset file archiving, remote creative and collaborative interchange, project administration, project reporting, and more, across multiple venues and platforms for efficient and simultaneous access to production data files, and master archive, in application to: remote project administration, dailies creation, project metadata tracking, post production ingest and processing, asset management and archive, distribution of executive review elements, and product finishing and archive, in 2D and 3D content creation, as examples.
US09418061B2
Techniques for translating and presenting text in a structured document are provided. A structured document including text to be translated is received. At least one portion of the text to be translated is translated into at least one representation of translated text of a specific language. The translation is carried out in accordance with a prioritization schedule. Further, the representation of translated text is provided by at least first and second servers, the first server independently providing the representation of translated text of a first quality and the second server independently providing the representation of translated text of a second quality, the first quality being different than the second quality. As the text is translated, the representation of translated text is presented immediately when available.
US09418057B2
In one embodiment, a method executed by at least one processor includes receiving text from submitted by a user. The method also includes determining a text score for the received text by comparing a first set of phrases included in the received text to a second set of phrases. The second set of phrases includes phrases from stored text. The stored text includes stored text known to be genuine and stored text known to be fraudulent. The method also includes determining that the received text is fraudulent based on the text score.
US09418056B2
An authoring tool for authoring wrap packages of cards. The authoring tool includes a set of tools that enable an author to create a new card of a wrap selected from a variety of card templates. In various embodiments, the card templates include textual, video, image/photo, document, gallery, chat, widgets, global components, location/GPS, transact, appointment, and end-of-wrap card templates. When a particular card template is selected, the template is then duplicated to create the new card. Thereafter, the author may author the card to include various components, content, attributes, layouts, styles triggers and/or behaviors. As the cards of the wrap are created, the authoring tool provides the author with the ability to order the sequence of the cards. The authoring tool thus enables authors to selectively create wrap packages that include media that conveys a narrative story and application functionality.
US09418055B2
A method for copying content from a first form to a second form may include selecting a plurality of fields in the first form. At least one of the plurality of fields in the first form may include the content to be copied. The method may include determining mapping between the selected fields and corresponding field labels in the first form. The method may include writing the content in the selected fields to corresponding fields in the second form.
US09418053B2
A method and system for deploying content to devices is provided. The method and system can be used to deploy markup content to web browser applications on wireless devices. The wireless devices may included, for example, WAP phones, HDML phones, Palm VII, Palm V, etc. The method and system can also be used in conjunction with wired systems. A translator receives data, in a variety of formats, from the wireless devices. The translator then translates the data into a standardized format. A content provider interface receives the data in the standardized format and provides content data, also in the standardized format. The content data in the standardized format is provided to a transformer. The transformer transforms the content data into the pre-selected format for the particular wireless device. The content data can then be utilized and manipulated by the wireless device.
US09418049B2
A method for establishing a parametric model of a semiconductor process is provided. A first intermediate result is generated according to layout data and a non-parametric model of the semiconductor process. A first response is obtained according to the first intermediate result. A specific mathematical function is selected from a plurality of mathematical functions, and the parametric model is obtained according to the specific mathematical function. A second intermediate result is generated according to the layout data and the parametric model. A second response is obtained according to the second intermediate result. It is determined whether the parametric model is an optimal model according to the first and second responses.
US09418048B2
An information processing apparatus assigns the calculation of a first submatrix included in a matrix including zero elements and non-zero elements to a first thread and the calculation of a second submatrix included in the matrix to a second thread. The information processing apparatus compares the distribution of non-zero elements in the rows or columns of the first submatrix with the distribution of non-zero elements in the rows or columns of the second submatrix. The information processing apparatus determines allocation of storage areas for storing vectors to be respectively used in the calculations by the first and second threads, according to the result of the comparison.
US09418043B2
A method is disclosed of utilizing a plurality of Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) of an array processor. It is determined that a first quantity of the ALUs are scheduled to execute a function during a given processing cycle, with each ALU being scheduled to use a respective one of a plurality of selected input vectors as an input. It is also determined that a second quantity of the ALUs are not scheduled for use during the given processing cycle. A plurality of predicted future input vectors that differ from the plurality of selected input vectors are determined. The second quantity of ALUs are scheduled to execute the function during the given processing cycle using respective ones of the plurality of predicted future input vectors as inputs. After completion of the processing cycle, function outputs received from the first and second quantity of ALUs are cached.
US09418035B2
Re-initialization of a link can take place without termination of the link, where the link includes, a transmitter and a receiver are to be coupled to each lane in the number of lanes, and re-initialization of the link is to include transmission of a predefined sequence on each of the lanes.
US09418030B2
Component apparatuses with inter-component communication capabilities, and system having such component apparatuses are disclosed herein. In embodiments, such a component may include a number of control pins including a clock pin, a number of data pins, and a logic unit. The logic unit may be configured to receive a clock signal from another component through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the other component, to receive in response to the alert signal from the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction. The provision of the alert signal, the receipt of the status request and the provision of the status may be in reference to the clock signal. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09418027B2
Examples disclosed herein relate to secure boot information with validation control data specifying a validation technique. Examples include determining, with the specified validation technique, whether validation data is consistent with the secure boot information.
US09418020B2
Interaction is evaluated between a computer system cache and at least one entity that submits a stream of references corresponding to location identifiers of data storage locations. The reference stream is spatially sampled by comparing a hash value of each reference with a threshold value and selecting only those references whose hash value meets a selection criterion. Cache utility values are then compiled for those references. In some embodiments, the compiled cache values may then be corrected for accuracy as a function of statistics of those location identifiers over the entire stream of references and of the sampled references whose hash values satisfied the selection criterion. Alternatively, a plurality of caching configurations is selected and the selected references are applied as inputs to a plurality of caching simulations, each corresponding to a different caching configuration. A resulting set of cache utility values is then computed for each caching simulation.
US09418018B2
A Fill Buffer (FB) based data forwarding scheme that stores a combination of Virtual Address (VA), TLB (Translation Look-aside Buffer) entry# or an indication of a location of a Page Table Entry (PTE) in the TLB, and a TLB page size information in the FB and uses these values to expedite FB forwarding. Load (Ld) operations send their non-translated VA for an early comparison against the VA entries in the FB, and are then further qualified with the TLB entry# to determine a “hit.” This hit determination is fast and enables FB forwarding at higher frequencies without waiting for a comparison of Physical Addresses (PA) to conclude in the FB. A safety mechanism may detect a false hit in the FB and generate a late load cancel indication to cancel the earlier-started FB forwarding by ignoring the data obtained as a result of the Ld execution. The Ld is then re-executed later and tries to complete successfully with the correct data.
US09418015B2
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for storing data within a hybrid storage aggregate comprising a lower-latency storage tier and a higher-latency storage tier. In particular, frequently accessed data, randomly accessed data, and/or short lived data may be stored (e.g., read caching and/or write caching) within the lower-latency storage tier. Infrequently accessed data and/or sequentially accessed data may be stored within the higher-latency storage tier. Because the hybrid storage aggregate may comprise a single logical container derived from the higher-latency storage tier and the lower-latency storage tier, additional storage and/or file system functionality may be implemented across the storage tiers. For example, deduplication functionality, caching functionality, backup/restore functionality, and/or other functionality may be provided through a single file system (or other type of arrangement) and/or a cache map implemented within the hybrid storage aggregate.
US09418014B2
A storage control device configured to control a storage device includes a first disk which is in active state and a second disk which is in standby state. The storage control device includes a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit transmits a read-out request or a write request to the storage device and receives a response to the read-out request or the write request from the storage device. The control unit controls the communication unit so that the communication unit transmits a rotation start command which instructs a start of rotation of the second disk to the storage device, when a time to the point when receiving the response to the read-out request or the write request transmitted to the first disk which is in active state is longer than a predetermined threshold.
US09418010B2
A system may include a command queue controller coupled to a number of clusters of cores, where each cluster includes a cache shared amongst the cores. An originating core of one of the clusters may detect a global maintenance command and send the global maintenance command to the command queue controller. The command queue controller may broadcast the global maintenance command to the clusters including the originating core's cluster. Each of the cores of the clusters may execute the global maintenance command. Each cluster may send an acknowledgement to the command queue controller upon completed execution of the global maintenance command by each core of the cluster. The command queue controller may also send, upon receiving an acknowledgement from each cluster, a final acknowledgement to the originating core's cluster.
US09418009B2
A processor may include a memory controller to interface with a system memory having a near memory and a far memory. The processor may include logic circuitry to cause memory controller to determine whether a write request is generated remotely or locally, and when the write request is generated remotely to instruct the memory controller to perform a read of near memory before performing a write, when the write request is generated locally and a cache line targeted by the write request is in the inclusive state to instruct the memory controller to perform the write without performing a read of near memory, and when the write request is generated locally and the cache line targeted by the write request is in the non-inclusive state to instruct the memory controller to read near memory before performing the write.
US09418007B2
In response to execution in a memory transaction of a transactional load instruction that speculatively binds to a value held in a store-through upper level cache, a processor core sets a flag, transmits a transactional load operation to a store-in lower level cache that tracks a target cache line address of a target cache line containing the value, monitors, during a core TM tracking interval, the target cache line address for invalidation messages from the store-in lower level cache until the store-in lower level cache signals that the store-in lower level cache has assumed responsibility for tracking the target cache line address, and responsive to receipt during the core TM tracking interval of an invalidation message indicating presence of a conflicting snooped operation, resets the flag. At termination of the memory transaction, the processor core fails the memory transaction responsive to the flag being reset.
US09417998B2
A method includes, in one non-limiting embodiment, receiving a command originating from an initiator at a controller associated with a non-volatile mass memory coupled with a host device, the command being a command to write data that is currently resident in a memory of the host device to the non-volatile mass memory; moving the data that is currently resident in the memory of the host device from an original location to a portion of the memory allocated for use at least by the non-volatile mass memory; and acknowledging to the initiator that the command to write the data to the non-volatile mass memory has been executed. An apparatus configured to perform the method is also described.
US09417990B2
Various techniques for interacting with a test case via a graphical model are disclosed. For example, one method involves displaying a first icon, which represents a first testing activity within a test case; displaying a second icon, which represents a second testing activity within the test case; and displaying a connector, which couples the first icon and the second icon. An assertion (e.g., against test results obtained by performing the first testing activity) is associated with the connector.
US09417986B1
Techniques are disclosed for classifying system library errors detected by a dynamic analysis tool executing in a first client of a plurality of clients. The dynamic analysis tool monitors an execution of an application. The dynamic analysis tool identifies one or more errors that are related to at least one of a plurality of system libraries called by the application during the execution. For each identified error, the dynamic analysis tool evaluates the error relative to error data observed in a dynamic analysis tool executing in the other clients, and flagging the error as an error that is not caused by a user based on the evaluation.
US09417975B2
There are provided measures for a failover functionality for a client-related security association. Such measures exemplarily comprise providing a failover functionality at a proxy function and/or facilitating provision of a failover functionality at a servicing call state control function, wherein the respective failover functionality relates to a first proxy function, the serving function is for servicing the first proxy function and a second proxy function, the first proxy function has a security association with a client, and the first proxy function and the second proxy function are reachable with the same network address.
US09417966B2
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for processing data. In some embodiments, this includes analyzing a first container at a block level, determining a first level of granularity based on the analysis of the first container, based on the first level of granularity, identifying a first set of data objects, storing metadata of the first set of data objects in a recovery catalog, based on the first set of data objects, identifying a second container, analyzing the second container at a block level, determining a second level of granularity based on the analysis of the second container, based on the second level of granularity, identifying a second set of data objects, storing metadata of the second set of data objects in the recovery catalog, wherein the recovery catalog is stored in a storage device.
US09417962B2
Technologies are described herein for recovering data in a storage device comprising a controller and a plurality of storage units. The controller receives a data stream, and divides the data stream into a plurality of data blocks, obtains a code block using the plurality of data blocks. When there is one or more blocks with damaged data in the plurality of data blocks and the code block, the controller obtains a sub-block from the Mth bit to the Nth bit of each block in the plurality of data blocks and the code block as a set, and reconstructs data in one or more sub-blocks with damaged data using other sub-blocks with undamaged data in the set.
US09417956B2
An error detection and correction unit includes: a first-code error detection section configured to detect whether or not each of a plurality of first code words in a second code word has an error, the second code word generated by encoding the plurality of first code words in chains and being a code word containing a plurality of partial data; and a second-code error correction section configured to correct the error in one partial data containing the first code word in which the error is detected of the plurality of partial data in the second code word, based on adjacent partial data adjacent to the one partial data.
US09417945B2
Mechanisms are provided, in a Not AND (NAND) flash memory device, for providing hybrid error correction management. A NAND flash memory module and a node controller coupled to the NAND flash memory module are provided along with a hardware logic implemented error correction code (ECC) engine associated with the node controller. The node controller is configured to determine whether an error count is less than or equal to a first threshold number of error bits and, in response to the error count being less than or equal to the first threshold number of error bits, performing correction of the error bits by the hardware logic implemented ECC engine associated with the node controller. The node controller is also configured to forward uncorrected data to a software logic implemented ECC engine, in response to the error count being greater than the first threshold number of error bits.
US09417938B2
A remote procedure call chain is provided that replaces multiple consecutive remote procedure calls to multiple servers from a client by allowing a client to specify multiple functions to be performed consecutively at multiple servers in a single remote procedure call chain. The remote procedure call chain is executed by a sequence of multiple servers. Each server executes a service function and a chaining function of the remote procedure call chain. The chaining function uses the state of the remote procedure call chain in the sequence of servers to determine the next server to receive the remote procedure call chain, and the service function to be executed by that server. After the last service function is performed, the last server in the sequence of servers sends the results of the executed service functions to the client that originated the remote procedure call chain.
US09417937B2
A terminal device passes data between programs. The terminal device includes a data passing unit configured to receive the data from a first program and pass the received data to a second program selected from among one or more second programs associated with a type of the received data; the first program configured to convert the type of the data, which is a passing target, from an original type into a unique type, and then pass the data to the data passing unit; and the second program configured to convert the type of the data received from the data passing unit into the original type from the unique type, the second program being associated with the unique type.
US09417933B2
Systems and methods for enabling access to data, including data represented using a variety of “richer” data formats, are disclosed. Such systems and methods may be useful, among a variety of cases, with applications or entities that may not typically be able to access such richer data. In at least some implementations, data copied to a clipboard and formatted using a variety of formats may be provided or accessed by a destination application as part of a paste operation even when the destination application may not natively provide the ability to access all of the data formats that might exist on a clipboard. In at least some implementations, such access may be provided without modifying or augmenting the data placed on the clipboard.
US09417931B2
A system and method for facilitating execution of multiple assemblies in a framework, in which the assemblies use a component external to the framework, is provided. A runtime manager may retrieve metadata from each of the assemblies, and selectively insert the metadata into a unified types object, so that metadata corresponding to equivalent type definitions is shared. When each assembly is executed, the combined metadata may be used to invoke or otherwise interact with the external component.
US09417930B2
A method for performing time-slack pipeline balancing for multi/many-core programmable logic controllers includes performing a runtime analysis of a plurality of pipeline stages of a program for a multi/many-core programmable logic controller (PLC) while the program is being executed, and of a plurality of system services, to compile a profile of performance statistics of the PLC program and the system services, calculating a time slack for each of the plurality of pipeline stages of the PLC program using the profile of performance statistics, and for all pipeline stages except a longest stage, donating the time slack of each pipeline stage to an operating system of the PLC. Donating the time slack of each pipeline stage includes generating donor code that includes a set of instructions that free a processor core for a given pipeline stage for a time period identified as the time slack period.
US09417921B2
A method implemented in an electronic device serving as an orchestrator managing video and audio stream processing of a streaming platform system is disclosed. The method includes the electronic device receiving a request to process a video source and creating a task graph based on the request, where the task graph is a directed acyclic graph of tasks for processing the video source, where each node of the task graph represents a processing task, and where each edge of the task graph represents a data flow across two processing tasks and corresponding input and output of each processing task. The method also includes the electronic device estimating resource requirements of each processing tasks, and splitting the task graph into a plurality of subsets, wherein each subset corresponds to a task group to be executed by one or more workers of a plurality of processing units of the streaming platform system.
US09417918B2
A single workload scheduler schedules sessions and tasks having a tree structure to resources, wherein the single workload scheduler has scheduling control of the resources and the tasks of the parent-child workload sessions and tasks. The single workload scheduler receives a request to schedule a child session created by a scheduled parent task that when executed results in a child task; the scheduled parent task is dependent on a result of the child task. The single workload scheduler receives a message from the scheduled parent task yielding a resource based on the resource not being used by the scheduled parent task, schedules tasks to backfill the resource, and returns the resource yielded by the scheduled parent task to the scheduled parent task based on receiving a resume request from the scheduled parent task or determining dependencies of the scheduled parent task have been met.
US09417908B2
Managing power-consuming resources on a first computing device by adjusting data delivery from a plurality of second computing devices based on a state of the first computing device. The state of the first computing device is provided to the second computing devices to alter the data delivery. In some embodiments, the first computing device provides the second computing devices with actions or commands relating to data delivery based on the device state. For example, the second computing devices are instructed to store the data, forward the data, forward only high priority data, or perform other actions. Managing the data delivery from the second computing devices preserves battery life of the first computing device.
US09417888B2
A widget manager facilitates management of widgets in a dashboard layer. Management functions can include enablement, preview, importation, exportation, organization, installation, deletion, acquisition, etc.
US09417886B2
A method includes booting an information handling system, starting a BIOS on the information handling system, storing configuration information for the information handling system, retrieving, by an operating system (OS) loader, the configuration information, determining, by the OS boot manager, that a configuration of the information handling system indicated by the configuration information is incompatible with an OS loaded on the information handling system by the OS boot manager, determining, by the OS boot manager, that the incompatibility can be mitigated by changing a setting of the information handling system, changing, by the OS boot manager, the setting in response to determining that the incompatibility can be mitigated, and launching, by the OS boot manager, the OS in response to changing the setting.
US09417882B2
There is provided a processor implemented method for controlling a lock-stepped cohort. The method includes receiving instructions for each of a first lane and a second lane. The first lane is for the lock-stepped cohort and the second lane is for another cohort. The method further includes detecting a condition in which a first instruction at the first lane will have a higher latency than a second instruction at the second lane. The method also includes setting an indicator indicating where the first lane encountered the first instruction. The method additionally includes setting the first lane to inactive, while keeping the second lane active. The method further includes setting the first lane to active on a subsequent opportunity to execute said first instruction.
US09417881B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for dynamically allocating memory using one or more lock-free pop-only FIFOs. One or more lock-free FIFOs are populated with FIFO nodes, where each FIFO node represents a memory allocation of a predetermined size. Each particular lock-free FIFO includes memory allocations of a single size. Different lock-free FIFOs may include memory allocations for different sizes to service allocation requests for different size memory allocations. A lock-free mechanism is used to pop FIFO nodes from the FIFO. The use of the lock-free FIFO allows multiple consumers to simultaneously attempt to pop the head FIFO node without first obtaining a lock to ensure exclusive access of the FIFO.
US09417868B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing an entity wide software tracking and maintenance tool for monitoring maintenance and software updates across an entity. As such, the invention provides a uniform and stable method of monitoring software updates and software instillation across an entity's information technology infrastructure. The invention receives software updates or new programs for installation across the entity. The invention then creates a tracking module to link to the maintenance update. The tracking module is a self-contained, self-describing module that contains static information related to the maintenance. Subsequently, the tracking module allows users to monitor the progress of maintenance levels. In some embodiments, the user may query the system to determine the progress of a specific maintenance. In some embodiments, the system may automatically notify a user of the success or failure of maintenance at one or more stages.
US09417865B2
Updating package manager software on a client. An update tool can interface with a package manager running a first version of the package manager software to inspect an available update to a package installed on the client. The update tool can determine that a second version of the package manager software is required to install the update to the package. The update tool can access the second version of the package manager software, remove the first version of the package manager software from the package manager, and unpack and install the second version of the package manager software on the package manager. Further, the update tool can install the update to the package installed on the client, and can update other resources associated with the client as appropriate.
US09417864B2
A system comprising a server in communication with a user device configured to run a plurality of applications. A data structure is held in the system, said data structure comprising multiple entries, wherein each entry associates an application pairing with a weighting, each application pairing comprising a source installation and a target installation. The user device running an application corresponding to one of the source installations selects one of the target installations to download from the server on the basis of the weightings, wherein each of the weightings is for the source installation is proportional to probability of the respective target installation being selected and installed.
US09417863B2
Embodiments of an image loading system are disclosed for installing testing software on a storage device. In one embodiment, the system includes a network storage that stores testing software for storage devices, a software loader operating on a storage device, and a testing manager. In an embodiment, the testing manager is configured to broadcast at least one packet containing a specific code on a network, wherein receipt of the specific code causes the software loader to request a location of the testing software and transmit a location of the network storage to the software loader, thereby causing the software loader to obtain the testing software from the network storage and load the testing software on the storage device.
US09417849B2
In one aspect, the present application is directed to a communications network, a computer architecture, a computer-implemented method, and a computer program product for development and management of femtocell-based applications. In one aspect, the communications network may comprise at least one femtocell; a mobile operator network; and a computer architecture integrated in the mobile operator network, wherein the computer architecture is operable to support development and lifecycle management of at least one femtocell-based application for the at least one femtocell.
US09417846B1
A technique for improving random number generation (RNG) security for a data processing system includes a storage subsystem of a processing unit receiving a first deliver a random number (DARN) operation. The storage subsystem issues the first DARN operation with a first value, retrieved from a first base address register (BAR), on a first bus. The processing unit receives (from a first RNG unit) at least one of a first data and a first indication (that indicate whether the first RNG unit is functional) when a second value stored in a second BAR of the first RNG unit is the same as the first value. In response to the first and second values not being the same or the first RNG unit not being functional, the storage subsystem issues the first DARN operation with the first value on a second bus that is coupled to a second RNG unit.
US09417844B2
A Self-Timed Logic Entropy Bit Stream Generator (STLEBSG) outputs a bit stream having non-deterministic entropy. The bit stream is supplied onto an input of a signal storage ring so that entropy of the bit stream is then stored in the ring as the bit stream circulates in the ring. Depending on the configuration of the ring, the bit stream as it circulates undergoes permutations, but the signal storage ring nonetheless stores the entropy of the injected bit stream. In one example, the STLEBSG is disabled and the bit stream is no longer supplied to the ring, but the ring continues to circulate and stores entropy of the original bit stream. With the STLEBSG disabled, a signal output from the ring is used to generate one or more random numbers.
US09417842B2
Technologies and implementations for representing floating-point numbers in an extensible language are generally disclosed.
US09417836B2
A method for managing the interaction of mobile systems based on a system having at least two touch screens and side sensors. Such interaction is promoted by contact of the sides of the device, whose goal is to provide the user with the option to expand the original display area, including different views of the image in different alignments and orientations.
US09417830B2
A network print server includes: a print task memory configured to store a print task list; a printing device registration unit configured to establish, in response to a request of a printing device, a network connection to the printing device, register the printing device and create in the print task memory a print task list corresponding to the printing device; a print task management unit configured to receive a print request from a computing device and add a print task entry in the print task list of the requested printing device, the print task entry comprising a print task ID and print task content; and a two-dimensional code encoding unit. The present invention discloses also a network printing device and the corresponding printing method and system.
US09417827B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus that prints an index label easily and set up a text printed into a standard size section and an index label section to a manuscript. An index label information setting part sets up index label information. An index label preview display part displays a preview of an index label by using the index label information. A shift image display part displays a shift image on the preview. The shift image is an image when a text printed to a standard size section and an index label section is set to the manuscript, and an image area is moved in case that the manuscript is printed the text of the manuscript to the index label.
US09417823B2
A memory system and a method for managing the system is described. The system is configured such a plurality of system controllers, which may be RAID controllers, receive requests from the external environment and distribute the requests to a plurality of memory modules such that data may be stored in the memory modules. A global sequence number is assigned to the data of a data stripe so that the operations related to the data stripe are performed in an ordered manner so that the data remains consistent. A plurality of system controllers may comprise a domain and access a plurality of memory controllers and a plurality of domains may include at least one common memory module. A plurality of groups of controllers may communicate with a switch or with a representative controller so as to coordinate the assignment of global sequence numbers.
US09417819B2
A solid-state mass storage device adapted to be used as a cache for an hard disk drive that utilizes a more efficient logical data management method relative to conventional systems. The storage device includes a circuit board, a memory controller, at least one non-volatile memory device, and at least two data interfaces. The storage device is coupled to a host computer system and configured to operate as a cache for at least one hard disk drive. The storage device is interposed between the host computer system and the at least one hard disk drive. Both the storage device and the at least one hard disk drive are coupled to the host computer system through a single connection and configured to operate in a daisy chain configuration.
US09417811B2
A mechanism is provided in a storage system for efficient inline data de-duplication. The mechanism receives a write command and a hash key for a portion of data to be written from an application host to a write address. The write command indicates whether the application host is tolerant or intolerant to data loss. Responsive to the write command indicating the application host is tolerant to data loss, the mechanism performs a hash key lookup in a hash index. The mechanism determines whether the portion of data has previously been written to the storage system. Responsive to determining the portion of data has previously been written to the storage system, the mechanism stores a pointer to the previously written data at the write address.
US09417803B2
A method for data storage includes receiving data items associated with respective logical addresses for storage in a memory that includes multiple memory units. Respective estimates of a performance characteristic are obtained for the multiple memory units. A mapping, which maps the logical addresses to respective physical storage locations in the multiple memory units, is adapted based on the estimates so as to balance the performance characteristic across the memory units. The data items are stored in the physical storage locations in accordance with the adapted mapping.
US09417800B2
A memory is disclosed comprising a first memory portion, a second memory portion, and an interface, wherein the memory portions are electrically isolated from each other and the interface is capable of receiving a row command and a column command in the time it takes to cycle the memory once. By interleaving access requests (comprising row commands and column commands) to the different portions of the memory, and by properly timing these access requests, it is possible to achieve full data bus utilization in the memory without increasing data granularity.
US09417798B2
A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
US09417795B2
A system performance control component, and method therefor, for configuring at least one system performance parameter within a signal processing system. The system performance control component is arranged to receive an indication of an address of a memory access performed by at least one signal processing component, compare the received indication of an address of a memory access to at least one address value, and configure at least one system performance parameter based at least partly on the comparison of the received indication of an address of a memory access to at least one address value.
US09417792B2
A method of controlling at least one controlled device at an external device outside a network including a control device and the controlled device is provided. The method includes transmitting a message accepting a control request requesting to control the controlled device in a session established with the control device; receiving and displaying an identifier for identifying the controlled device; and selectively controlling the controlled device via the control device based on an input generated using the displayed identifier.
US09417780B2
A processor of an information processing apparatus sets an enlargement target region in a system screen based on coordinates inputted in a coordinate input unit, superimposes and displays an enlarged image obtained by enlarging the enlargement target region, on the system screen, monitors whether or not the input in the coordinate input unit in the state where the enlarged image is displayed is performed through a drag operation of which starting coordinates are in the enlarged image. When the input in the coordinate input unit in the state where the enlarged image is displayed is performed through a drag operation of which starting coordinates are within the enlarged image, the processor monitors coordinates while the drag operation is performed. When the coordinates while the drag operation is performed come to be present within a predetermined range defined by the edge of the enlarged image, the processor erases the enlarged image.
US09417778B2
An application interface is provided that allows a user to interact with a work space. The application interface may include a defined display area that includes one or more discrete works spaces. In one implementation a user interaction with the defined display area, such as an overscroll interaction, results in the defined display area being modified, such as to include additional or fewer discrete work spaces.
US09417773B2
In one embodiment, a current state of an application that is executing may be identified. A plurality of next possible states to which a user can navigate from the current state may be ascertained. A history of user behavior of one or more users may be determined. Data pertaining to at least one of the plurality of next possible states may be fetched based, at least in part, upon the history of user behavior of the one or more users.
US09417769B2
A control device according to embodiments may control update of a target region in an electronic paper. The device may comprise a divider unit, a manager unit and an update instruction unit. The divider unit may be configured to divide the target region into a plurality of sub-regions. The manager unit may be configured to configure an update start timing of each sub-region so that flashings occurring at updating of the sub-regions appear at different timings. The update instruction unit may be configured to instruct to execute an update process of each sub-region according to the update start timings.
US09417765B1
Systems and methods are provided for dynamically displaying hyperlinks in a video based on various factors associated with a device at which the video is played and/or a user of the device. In one or more aspects, a system includes a request component configured to receive a request to play a video hosted by a media provider. The system further includes a selection component configured to select a subset of links included in a set of links associated with the video to provide with the video when it is played in response to the request based in part on a number of links included in the set of links, wherein graphical elements respectively representative of the links included in the subset of links are configured to be displayed over the video when the video is played in response to the request.
US09417759B1
A system for synchronizing data across multiple browser tabs or windows includes a synchronization module and shared synchronization storage. The shared synchronization storage is local storage of the browser and is utilized by a plurality of browser windows, a plurality of tabs or a browser window and tab. The shared synchronization storage is used to store information about notifications and a timestamp as to when that information was retrieved from the notification server. The synchronization module is responsive to requests for updates from the notification client module. The synchronization module accesses the shared synchronization storage to determine whether notification information stored there is current and if so provides that notification information from the shared synchronization storage to the notification client module. If notification information stored locally is not current, the synchronization module cooperates with the notification server to retrieve current notification information.
US09417751B2
A plate member for touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The plate member for touch panel includes: a transparent substrate; an intermediate transparent layer on the transparent substrate; and a conductive transparent layer on the intermediate transparent layer, wherein at least one of the intermediate transparent layer and the conductive transparent layer includes a peroxide composition.
US09417749B2
Setting a slew rate, e.g., a rising time or a falling time, of a scanning signal can be performed with a first operation, and a shunting resistance of the scanning line can be set with a second operation. A scanning system that scans a display screen, a touch screen, etc., can set a desired slew rate during a first period of time and can set a desired shunting resistance during a second period of time. A gate line system can sequentially scan gate lines to display an image during a display phase of a touch screen. The gate line system can, for example, increase the falling times of gate line signals. After the falling gate line signal has stabilized, for example, the gate line system can decrease the shunting resistance of the gate line.
US09417745B2
The embodiment of the present invention discloses a touch screen, its manufacturing method and a display device. The method comprise the following steps: first, forming patterns of shielding layer on a substrate; then forming patterns of bridging layer and peripheral traces on the shielding layer by a single patterning process; thereafter, forming patterns of insulating layer on the peripheral traces; and finally, forming patterns of touch control electrode layer. In the present invention, the patterning of the bridging layer and peripheral traces can be achieved by a single patterning process using a mask plate, which reduces the number of patterning processes in the manufacturing process and improves the manufacturing efficiency of the touch screen thereby reducing the cost of production.
US09417744B2
A touch input device including a carrying board, a plurality of first electrode pads, and a plurality of conductive lines is provided. The carrying board includes a plurality of cantilever portions and a plurality of connecting portions. The connecting portions are respectively connected to the cantilever portions. The first electrode pads are respectively disposed on the cantilever portions and configured to sense capacitance variation due to an object approaching or touching the carrying board. The conductive lines extend on the connecting portions and are respectively connected to the first electrode pads. A manufacturing method of a touch input device and a touch sensing method are also provided.
US09417743B2
A touch control device includes a touch area, a border area, a inductive coil, a proximity sensing unit, a near field communication unit, and a switch module. The touch area is for sensing touch input. The border area is located at periphery of the touch area. The inductive coil is located on the border area. The proximity sensing unit is for transmitting a driving signal to the inductive coil when being coupled to a first end of the inductive coil, and determining whether the inductive coil is close to an object according to a sensing signal generated by the inductive coil. The near field communication unit is for performing near field communication when being coupled to the first end and a second end of the inductive coil. The switch module is for controlling coupling statuses of the proximity sensing unit and the near field communication unit to the inductive coil.
US09417740B2
An apparatus including a plurality of capacitive sensing cells distributed over a sensing area, wherein each capacitive sensing cell includes a capacitive sensor electrode and at least one switch; a plurality of output conductive traces, wherein each output conductive trace is configured to provide an output from multiple capacitive sensing cells; a plurality of control conductive traces, wherein each control conductive trace is configured to provide a control input to multiple capacitive sensing cells, wherein the switch of a capacitive sensing cell is configured to be controlled by one of the plurality of control conductive traces to enable a conductive path between the capacitive sensor electrode of the capacitive sensing cell and one of the plurality of output conductive traces; and a shield electrode overlying at least portions of the output conductive traces or the control conductive traces while exposing at least portions of the capacitive sensor electrodes.
US09417730B2
An electronic device with a touch sensor comprises: a touch screen including touch sensors defined by Tx lines and Rx lines; a touch sensing circuit that supplies a drive signal to the Tx lines and senses a voltage change in the touch sensors to output sensing data; and a noise filtering unit that profiles the type of noise in the sensing data and compensates the sensing data so that the sensing data is near the maximum threshold or the minimum threshold, which is calculated based on a average value of the previous frame, or within the range between the maximum and minimum thresholds.
US09417703B2
Apparatuses (1) for controlling elements (40-70) possibly shown on screens (31) or items (71) possibly represented by the elements (70) comprise detectors (11-13) for detecting features of objects (2) such as body parts in first and second dimensions and converters (14) for converting first features into actions for the elements (40-70) or the items (71). By making the actions dependent on second features, a number of possibilities is increased. First features may be movements of the objects (2) and second features may be absolute or relative positions of the objects (2). First dimensions may be parallel to the screens (31) and second dimensions may be perpendicular or parallel to the screens (31), or vice versa. Actions may comprise browsing groups (4-6) of elements (40-69) at position dependent speeds or browsing one or more groups (4-6) depending on the positions. The items (71) may be lamps, appliances, audio players, video players, whereby their parameters may be adjusted in dependence of the movements and the positions.
US09417699B2
A method and system for using an image sensor to control applications on a mobile device is disclosed. The system uses image processing to detect control gestures by the user. Control gestures may include, for example, moving a hand laterally, moving the hand closer or farther away from the camera, or opening and closing a hand. These control motions are linked to user commands to be executed by the application being controlled. The system initializes by storing a background image showing the field of view of the image sensor before any objects are present. It then detects new objects in the field of view by comparing new images to the background image. If a new object is detected, the system waits until the object is stationary in the field of view. After the object is stationary, the system detects if there is a change in the object indicating a control gesture. After detecting a change in the stationary object, the system determines a set of parameters defining the change and matches the parameters to a user command. The parameters may include the object's change in position or size or change in hand state (e.g. open or closed). The system then passes the command to an application to be executed.
US09417697B2
Various embodiments include a three-dimensional (3D) translator device for translating two-dimensional (2D) visual imagery into 3D physical representations that users can feel with their fingers and thus interact with and experience physically. The 3D translator device may enable users to feel/interact with 2D images displayed on devices such as 2D touchscreen devices by translating the 2D images into a 3D touch surface coordinate data set. The 3D translator device may actuate based on the 3D touch surface coordinate data set so that the users can feel the 3D representation of the 2D images, and translating the users' touches on the 3D translator device's 3D touchpanel into touch inputs that can be processed by a 2D touchscreen device (i.e., “2D touch inputs).
US09417694B2
A method is disclosed for transferring digital information from a first electronic device to a second electronic device. In one example, the first device is a computer having a touch screen and the second device is a personal memory device carried or worn by an individual. The method includes selecting information on the first electronic device to be transferred, which can be done by touching the touch screen and performing a predefined finger gesture on the screen. Next, communication is established between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, preferably through a wireless connection such as Bluetooth. The selected information from the first electronic device then begins to upload to the second electronic device. As the information is transferred, vibrotactile sensations are imparted to the body of an individual with the vibrotactile sensations being indicative of the upload of information. For instance, sensations might be sequentially imparted in a line along an individual's arm to convey the progress of information upload to the individual.
US09417687B2
Bandwidth for information transfers between devices is dynamically changed to accommodate transitions between power modes employed in a system. The bandwidth is changed by selectively enabling and disabling individual control links and data links that carry the information. During a highest bandwidth mode for the system, all of the data and control links are enabled to provide maximum information throughout. During one or more lower bandwidth modes for the system, at least one data link and/or at least one control link is disabled to reduce the power consumption of the devices. At least one data link and at least one control link remain enabled during each low bandwidth mode. For these links, the same signaling rate is used for both bandwidth modes to reduce latency that would otherwise be caused by changing signaling rates. Also, calibration information is generated for disabled links so that these links may be quickly brought back into service.
US09417685B2
Methods, and apparatus configured to perform such methods, providing peak power management are useful in mitigating excessive current levels within a multi-die package. For example, a method might include generating a clock signal in a particular die of a plurality of dies, counting pulses of the clock signal in a wrap-around counter in each die of the plurality of dies, and pausing an access operation for the particular die of the plurality of dies at a designated point until a value of the wrap-around counter matches an assigned counter value of the particular die.
US09417678B2
A device for affecting a sleep mode of an electronic device includes an elongate member and a magnet. The magnet is disposed within the elongate member, and the elongate member and the magnet are shaped and sized to activate a magnetic sleep sensor of the electronic device in response to the magnet being placed in proximity of the magnetic sleep sensor. A system for affecting a sleep mode of an electronic device includes a housing to receive the electronic device, and a device for activating a sleep mode of the electronic device. The housing has an aperture, and the device has a magnet. The device is configured to activate a magnetic sleep sensor on the electronic device.
US09417677B2
Power management notifications are provided to a user of a portable electronic device by monitoring a current power level of a power supply in a portable electronic device. A determination is made, with the portable electronic device, whether the current power level is one of less than and equal to a given threshold. One or more wireless detection operations are performed to determine whether a power supply charging device is in proximity to the portable electronic device. The power supply charging device is unattached to the portable electronic device. A notification is presented at the portable electronic device, in response to both the current power level is determined to be one of less than and equal to the given threshold, and the power supply charging device being wirelessly detected in proximity to the portable electronic device.
US09417668B2
The present portable computing device case is configurable for both carrying a portable computing device and for obstructing external lighting while using a portable computing device in an upright viewing position, particularly for augmented reality applications, outdoor gaming applications and for use of a digital camera housed within the portable computing device.
US09417662B1
A protective case for electronic product is disclosed, including a keyboard fixing cover, a keyboard fixing base and an electronic product accommodating member, wherein the keyboard fixing base and the electronic product accommodating member are connected to both sides of the keyboard fixing cover respectively, and the keyboard fixing cover is foldable relative to the keyboard fixing base and the electronic product; a first recess is provided on the obverse side of the keyboard fixing cover, a second recess is provided on the obverse side of the keyboard fixing base, and when the keyboard fixing cover and the keyboard fixing base are folded together, the first recess and the second recess are butted together to form a cavity for accommodating the keyboard. In this way, the electronic product and the keyboard are not required to be kept separate when being carried.
US09417659B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first member, a second member, and a supporting member. The second member includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is spaced apart from the first member. The second portion inclines in a direction approaching the first member and includes an end adjacent to the first member. The supporting member is attached to an inner surface of the second portion of the second member by an adhesive agent. The supporting member includes a projection contacting with the inner surface of the second portion between the end of the second portion and the adhesive agent.
US09417654B2
Embodiments of a system and method for secure clock management in a mobile device, or user equipment, are generally described herein. A timer offset may be calculated between a first secure clock time and a first network time. A reset delta based on at least the timer offset may be obtained and a recovered secure clock time based on at least the reset delta may be generated. A one-time password may be generated based on at least the recovered secure clock time.
US09417652B2
A beverage dispensing apparatus including a lever assembly where the lever assembly has a base and a at least one elongated arm. The base has a bottom configured to mate with a beverage dispensing device, a top side opposite the bottom and apertures penetrating the base from top to bottom configured to align with buttons on the beverage dispensing apparatus. The at least one elongated lever has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end configured to extend away from the centerline of the beverage dispensing apparatus. When the lever assembly is installed on a beverage dispensing device, buttons extending from the top of the beverage dispensing device extend up through the apertures and pressed against the bottom surface of the at least one elongated lever, biasing the at least one lever upward and the when the lever is pressed, it pushes against the button of the beverage dispensing apparatus to dispense a beverage.
US09417647B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a bulk bias control function is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device may be configured to output the first external voltage as a bulk voltage of a transistor in a power-up period, and to output a second external voltage having a higher level than the first external voltage as the bulk voltage of the transistor in a power-down mode.
US09417637B2
The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.
US09417623B2
A manual pulse generator stores pulse data for past several cycles, along with an up-to-date pulse, into its buffer area. A numerical control device receives the pulse data transmitted from the manual pulse generator through a communication unit. An accumulated pulse amount calculation unit determines the amount of pulses to be accumulated in the buffer area according to the frequency of occurrence of communication errors of the received pulse data. A servo-output delay unit commands a control unit to start outputting to a servo processing unit after the received pulses are accumulated to the amount determined by the accumulated pulse amount calculation unit.
US09417619B2
A numerical controller controlling a machine tool calculates a number of incisions to a thread on the basis of an incision start position in a feed axis direction and an incision start position in a direction of an incision axis of a thread which are measured in a state in which a workpiece (a thread in the process of machining) is attached to a chuck of the machine tool, calculates an amount of phase deviation of a screw thread caused by reattachment of the workpiece on the basis of the calculated number of incisions, and re-machines the thread by positioning the workpiece and the tool while taking into consideration of the amount of phase deviation.
US09417612B2
According to some aspects, methods and apparatuses for processing time zone IDs are provided. A time zone ID may be received at a client device. After determining that the time zone ID is unknown to the client device, the client device may transmit a request for time zone rules for the received time zone ID. The request may be transmitted to a network component such as a server. If time zone rules for the received time zone ID are available, the network component may transmit the rules to the client device.
US09417610B1
An aberration-compensated image of an object field is created by generating a full-field complex hologram of the object field, generating a guide star complex hologram of a guide star selected from the object field, performing mathematical correlation between the guide star complex hologram and the full-field complex hologram, and generating from the correlation an aberration-compensated image of the object field from the correlation.
US09417607B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a temperature detecting unit measuring a temperature of a main body; a cooling unit cooling the inside of the image forming apparatus; and a controller controlling the cooling unit based on result of the temperature detecting unit. The controller increases an air flow rate of the cooling unit such that the air flow rate is higher than a predetermined rate if the result of the temperature detecting unit is higher than a first temperature during non image forming and the controller increases an air flow rate of the cooling unit such that the air flow rate is higher than the predetermined rate if the result of the temperature detecting unit is higher than a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature during an image forming operation.
US09417598B2
An improved drive system for transmitting rotational force between an imaging machine and an imaging cartridge. A first coupling member comprises a first mating structure configured to transfer or receive rotational force, and a second coupling member comprises a second mating structure configured to transfer or receive rotational force. The first coupling member comprising a locating cone in the center of said first coupling member, said locating cone adapted to locate in an opening of the second coupling member whereby the first coupling member is centered in relation to the second coupling member, and the first mating structure of the first coupling member is directed into contact with the second mating structure of the second coupling member.
US09417597B2
A scissor lift apparatus includes a sliding carriage member and a pivoting linkage added to a conventional scissor lift in order to lower the force required to lift a tray holding heavy media during the initial portion of the lifting action where the scissor lift is fully compressed.
US09417589B2
This sheet punching device includes a placement table 53 on which the sheet is placed, a hollow punching member 60 that punches the sheet placed on the placement table 53, a punching moving member 66 that moves the punching member between a punching position where the sheet is punched and a retreat position retreated from the punching position, a punching drive section 70 that drives the punching moving member 66, a waste pushing member 80 that is disposed in the hollow portion of the punching member 60 and pushes punching waste remaining in the hollow portion, a pushing moving member 85 that moves the waste pushing member 80 between a pushing position protruding from the hollow portion of the punching member and a housing position in the hollow portion, and a pushing drive section 70 that drives the pushing moving member 85.
US09417586B2
A sheet discharge device includes a discharge roller, a detection portion, and a detection position changing mechanism. The discharge roller is configured to discharge a sheet from a sheet discharge port toward a sheet discharge tray. The detection portion is configured to detect that a stack height of sheets on the sheet discharge tray has reached a predetermined detection position. The detection position changing mechanism is configured to change the detection position for the detection portion.
US09417567B1
The image forming apparatus, which includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, charging devices that contact and charge respective photosensitive drums, developing devices that attach toner including a metal particle, which is a polishing particle, and develop latent images, and cleaning devices that remove remaining toner from surfaces of the photosensitive drums and allows toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drums to be sequentially superposed on an intermediate transfer belt to form a color image, has a primary transfer bias control unit that switches polarity of primary transfer bias, except for a time of image formation on the photosensitive drums, to polarity equal to or opposite to electrostatic charge of toner in response to an average printing rate of each color of a predetermined number of immediately previous papers.
US09417560B2
A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.
US09417557B2
A developing cartridge including: a housing; a developing roller rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a first direction; a developing gear supported by an end portion of the developing roller; and a driving force receiving member rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the first direction by receiving a driving force from an image forming apparatus body and including a gear portion engaging with the developing gear, wherein the housing has an opening for filling the housing with developer, and wherein at least a part of the driving force receiving member overlaps the opening when viewed in the first direction.
US09417556B2
A cartridge includes a rotating body, a blade that extends in an axial direction of the rotating body and is disposed on the rotating body, a supporting member that is fixed to the blade and configured to support the blade in such a manner that the blade protrudes toward the rotating body in a shorter direction crossing the axial direction, a frame body including a placing surface that supports the supporting member, and a fixed portion that is disposed on the placing surface via the supporting member and fixed to the frame body. The supporting member includes a cut portion extending in the axial direction. The fixed portion includes a deformed portion deformed by given energy, and the deformed portion engages with the cut portion so that movement of the supporting member with respect to the frame body is restricted.
US09417555B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units. A first image forming unit includes a first image carrier, a first developer carrier that is applied with a first developing voltage, and a first layer-forming member that is applied with a first layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the first developing voltage. The second image forming unit includes a second image carrier, a second developer carrier that is applied with a second developing voltage, and a second layer-forming member that is applied with a second layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the second developing voltage. An absolute value of the first layer-forming voltage is smaller than an absolute value of the first developing voltage. An absolute value of the second layer-forming voltage is greater than an absolute value of the second developing voltage.
US09417548B2
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer member, a transfer voltage source, a voltage detecting portion, a current detecting portion, and an executing portion. In a test mode, the executing portion gradually changes a value of a current caused to flow through the transfer member from zero to a predetermined target transfer current and sets the current caused to flow through the transfer member as the predetermined target transfer current, and then gradually changes a current caused to flow through the charging member from zero to an obtained charging current when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion and sets the current caused to flow through the charging member when a region of the photosensitive member subsequently passes through the charging portion as the obtained charging current.
US09417546B2
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first image forming unit that forms a transparent toner image and a second image forming unit that forms a color toner image. The transparent toner image and the color toner image are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt. A secondary transfer unit transfers the toner images from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording medium. A control unit controls the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit so that the transparent toner image is formed before the color toner image is formed when the recording medium is a specialty paper having an adhesive.
US09417541B2
A toner including: toner particles each including a toner base particle and an external additive attached thereon, where the toner base particle includes a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner base particles each have protrusions on a surface thereof, an average of lengths of long sides of the protrusions is 0.10 μm or more but less than 0.50 μm, a standard deviation of the lengths of the long sides of the protrusions is 0.2 or less, a coverage rate of the protrusions on the surface of the toner base particle is 10% to 90%, and the external additive includes fine inorganic particles whose surfaces have been treated with an amino group-containing silane coupling agent.
US09417518B2
A photomask includes a transparent substrate, a mask pattern formed on the substrate, and a protective layer pattern covering side walls of the mask pattern, wherein a top of the protective layer pattern is exposed.
US09417510B2
An image projection device includes: a centrifugal fan that sends air circulating through a casing to a light source; a heat generator that generates heat with supply of power and that is provided in the vicinity of an ejection port of the centrifugal fan; a temperature sensor that is provided to be adjacent to the heat generator; and a controller that monitors lowering of the velocity of the air, which is sent from the centrifugal fan, on the basis of the value of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
US09417505B2
A lens barrel includes an extendable barrel unit, a drive unit configured to drive the barrel unit so as to extend the barrel unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a drive force of the drive unit to the barrel unit, the transmission unit includes a first gear and a second gear coaxially disposed and a biasing member configured to bias at least one of the first gear and the second gear such that the drive force is transmitted between the first gear and the second gear, and the transmission unit is configured to block transmission of the drive force between the first gear and the second gear depending on a rotational force applied to at least one of the first gear and the second gear.
US09417499B2
A multi-color electrophoretic display (EPD) device, an image sheet, and a method of fabricating the same. The multi-color EPD device includes: a plurality of unit color pixels; and a plurality of color capsules, each comprising color capsule shell which stores a dielectric fluid and at least one type of electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric fluid, the plurality of color capsules being arranged to define subpixels of each of the plurality of unit color pixels.
US09417492B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device which has a wide viewing angle and less color-shift depending on an angle at which a display screen is seen and can display an image favorably recognized both outdoors in sunlight and dark indoors (or outdoors at night). The liquid crystal display device includes a first portion where display is performed by transmission of light and a second portion where display is performed by reflection of light. Further, a liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal molecule which rotates parallel to an electrode plane when a potential difference is generated between two electrodes of a liquid crystal element provided below the liquid crystal layer.
US09417484B2
A liquid crystal display includes; a first substrate, a second substrate disposed facing the first substrate, an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the alignment layer comprises a major alignment material and a vertical photo-alignment material, and the vertical photo-alignment material comprises a first vertical functional group, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09417477B2
There is provided a polarizing plate including a first protective film, a polarizer, and a second protective film in this order, in which the first protective film is a film including a synthetic polymer, and has a thickness of 30 μm or less, an elastic modulus in the TD direction of 2 GPa to 2.5 GPa, and a humidity dimensional change rate in a TD direction of 0.1% or less, and the second protective film has an evaluation value represented by the following Equation (2) of 7.0 to 11.0: Evaluation value=elastic modulus (GPa) of the second protective film in a TD direction/humidity dimensional change rate (%) of the second protective film in the TD direction×(thickness (μm) of the second protective film/thickness (μm) of the first protective film)2×(30/thickness (μm) of the polarizer)1/2 Equation (2).
US09417476B2
A display device includes a first substrate which is light transmissive and has a display region and a periphery region surrounding the display region. A light shielding portion is formed in at least the periphery region of the first substrate and has a light passing portion in the periphery region. A first scale mark portion is formed on the first substrate so as to be arranged inside the light passing portion. A second substrate overlaps the first substrate and a second scale mark portion is formed on the second substrate and forms a pair with the first scale mark portion. A sealing member seals the first and second substrates in the periphery region between the display region and the light passing portion. A dam portion is formed on the first substrate between the display region and the light passing portion.
US09417462B2
A method of designing a progressive power lens with less image sway includes preferentially selecting a spectacle specification including a first condition if an average prescription power of a distance portion is equal to or greater than +3.0 D, and preferentially selecting a spectacle specification including a second condition if the average prescription power is equal to or smaller than −3.0 D. At least a surface power OHPf in a horizontal direction of a distance portion on an object-side surface is greater than a surface power OVPf in a vertical direction, or a surface power OHPn in a horizontal direction of a near portion is greater than a surface power OVPn in a vertical direction. The first condition includes a condition that the OVPf is greater than the OVPn, and the second condition includes a condition that the OVPf is smaller than the OVPn.
US09417458B2
An image stabilizing device and system for a binocular telescope having a pair of telescopic optical systems each comprising an objective lens, a gimbal mounted erecting prism and an eyepiece lens which is capable of compensating for deterioration in quality of an observed image due to user hand shake or other external vibrations.
US09417453B2
There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.
US09417449B2
A head-up display system is disclosed and has a transparent reflecting medium and a flat display panel. The flat display panel is disposed in front of the transparent reflecting medium at an angle with respect to the transparent reflecting medium, and generates a display image. The flat display panel has a display area of X square millimeters and has a light source that emits light with a luminous flux of Y lumens, satisfying a relationship of Y>(3e−10X2+0.0283X+2.5298), so that the display image is projected onto the transparent reflecting medium in a lensless way. With the head-up display system, the visibility of the display image projected on a front windshield is improved.
US09417447B2
A rod lens array includes a plurality of columnar rod lenses each having a refractive index distribution in which a refractive index continuously decreases from a central axis thereof to an outer periphery, and arranged in at least one row to align the central axes in parallel to each other. Each of the plurality of columnar rod lenses includes an emission-side end portion region, an incident-side end portion region, and an intermediate region between the emission-side end portion region and the incident-side end portion region, each having a central refractive index. The central refractive index of the incident-side end portion is equal to that of the emission-side end portion region in an optical axis direction, and the central refractive index at the intermediate region is higher than those of the emission-side and incident-side end portion regions.
US09417446B2
A method of manufacturing an electrowetting element includes: providing a layer of a first liquid on a first area of a first support plate; providing a layer of a second liquid on the layer of first liquid; and providing a second support plate on the layer of the second liquid by moving the second support plate along a surface of the layer of the second liquid.
US09417445B2
An image-acquisition device is consists of a single objective optical system; an image-acquisition element that acquires an image of an optical image of an object formed by the objective optical system; an optical component that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis of the objective optical system, at an intermediate position on the optical axis; and a moving mechanism that moves the optical component between a position on the optical axis of the objective optical system and a position off the optical axis. The optical component has a deflecting surface for deflecting the optical axis of the objective optical system and a refracting surface having power.
US09417444B2
A wireless fiber optic endface inspector includes a video microscope capable of wirelessly transmitting video streaming signal of endface image in real-time to a display device. The video microscope includes a microscope optical system, an adapting tip for interfacing an endface, an LED light source, a camera module for receiving and converting the endface image into video streaming signal, a Wi-Fi AP board, and a battery for supplying power. The video microscope may be constructed by adding a Wi-Fi AP board and a battery to a conventional inspector microscope. The display device has software for detecting when the endface is focused. Once the endface is focused, the display device emits an audio signal to alert the operator, who may then trigger the display device to analyze the endface image using an endface analysis software or save it to a folder, or transmit the image to a remote server.
US09417443B2
A projector includes an image ray generator and a projecting lens, wherein the image ray generator generates image rays. The projecting lens includes a relay optical system for receiving the image rays and a projection optical system having at least one lens and a reflector. Whereby, the image rays pass through the relay optical system, pass through the at least one lens, and then are reflected by the reflector. After being reflected, the image rays pass through the at least one lens again, and then leave the projecting lens to be projected onto a screen. In addition, the invention further discloses the structure of the projecting lens and a method of projecting images.
US09417442B1
A folded optical system includes a powered optical element, at least one folding mirror and an aperture and defines an optical path through the optical system. The powered optical element, the at least one folding mirror and the aperture are configured to fold the optical path at the aperture, thereby providing a compact optical system. The optical system may include an optical block that totally internally reflects the optical signal at the aperture. Optionally or alternatively, discrete optical components may be used, such as an aperture made of a conventional material or a metamaterial, an off-axis parabolic mirror or lens and one or more folding mirrors. Some embodiments include a wavelength dispersive element, so as to implement a spectrometer.
US09417441B2
A projection optical system, in order from a magnification side to a demagnification side, comprising a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, a fourth lens unit, a fifth lens unit, and a sixth lens unit, wherein the second and third lens units move along an optical axis in zooming, the first lens unit moves along the optical axis in focusing, and the conditions: −0.55
US09417431B2
A compact, wide view-field imaging lens with a small F-value which corrects aberrations properly. Its elements are arranged in order from an object side to an image side: an aperture stop, positive first lens having convex surfaces on the object and image sides, negative second lens having a concave object-side surface near an optical axis, positive meniscus third lens having a convex image-side surface, and negative meniscus double-sided aspheric fourth lens having a concave image-side surface near the optical axis. Its F-value is smaller than 2.4 and it satisfies conditional expressions (1) to (3) below: 0.15
US09417427B2
A zoom lens includes a driving device, a zooming frame, and a lens group, wherein the driving device has a lens barrel. The zooming frame is located in the lens barrel, and has a body, a first lens holder, and a second lens holder which are pivotally connected to the body. The body is drivable by the driving device to reciprocally move between a first position and a second position. The first lens holder is respectively pivoted between a third position and a fourth position on the body along with the body being moved between the first position and the second position. The second lens holder is pivoted between a fifth position and a sixth position on the body in the same way. The lens group has a first lens sub-group provided on the first lens holder, and a second lens sub-group provided on the second lens holder.
US09417426B2
A lens barrel includes: a fixed frame; a zoom ring rotatably held around an outer periphery of the fixed frame; a contact member; and a biasing member. The zoom ring has a first sliding surface to a fourth sliding surface. When the contact member moves on the first sliding surface, a first load is applied to the biasing member; when the contact member moves on the second sliding surface, a second load greater than the first load is applied to the biasing member; and when the contact member moves on the third sliding surface, a load which varies in a range from the first load to the second load is applied to the biasing member.
US09417418B2
A method and device for interconnecting optical components, such as optical fibers and optical circuits, in a flexible, repeatable, and cost-effective manner. Two or more optical components are interconnected by a flexible optical circuit substrate bearing one or more embedded optical fibers with a lens at each end of each fiber. The flexible optical circuit may be incorporated into a housing bearing apertures for receiving optical connectors of the optical components that are to be interconnected with the device. The lensed ends of the fibers embedded in the flexible optical circuit are positioned adjacent to the apertures for optically connecting to the fibers within the connectors installed in the apertures without conventional mating connectors disposed inside the housing.
US09417401B2
An adapter structure for use with a telecommunications module that is configured to be slidably inserted into a first type of telecommunications chassis comprises a body configured to be mounted to the telecommunications module. The body of the adapter structure is configured for mounting the telecommunications module to a second type of telecommunications chassis that is different than the first type of telecommunications chassis, wherein the telecommunications module is not configured to be mounted to the second type of telecommunications chassis without the adapter structure. The adapter structure includes at least one fiber optic connector protruding outwardly from the body for receiving a fiber optic signal to be relayed to fiber optic equipment of the telecommunications module.
US09417400B2
An optical connector has a housing, and a retention member for retaining a cable with a fiber that has a specified minimum bend radius. A rear portion of a connector ferrule and spring are seated in the retention member, a front end of the member engages the connector housing, and the spring urges the ferrule toward the front of the connector housing. An elongated cable support has an axial passage that opens at a front end and at a back end of the support for receiving the cable, and the front end of the support is joined at the rear of the retention member. The passage in the support has a radially outward flare at the back end which acts to limit the cable from bending in the vicinity of the connector, so that the cable fiber is not strained below the specified minimum bend radius.
US09417399B2
A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to determine whether a fiber optic connector is received at one of the ports of the adapter module. Certain types of connectors store physical layer information. Certain types of media reading interfaces are configured to read the physical layer information from the connector if the connector stores such information.
US09417397B2
Conductive assemblies are disclosed for bonding an optical fiber in a ferrule by mounting the ferrule of a fiber optic connector in the conductive assembly and using the conductive assembly to convert laser beam energy to heat and apply the heat to a portion of a fiber optic ferrule sufficient to bond the optical fiber in the ferrule. In an exemplary method, an optical fiber is disposed in a bore of a ferrule. A portion of the ferrule is disposed in a conductive assembly, such that a conductive element contacts a portion of the length of the ferrule. A laser beam absorber absorbs light energy from a laser beam, and converts the energy to heat. The conductive element transfers the heat energy from the laser beam absorber to the ferrule, thereby heating the bonding agent and bonding the optical fiber in the bore of the ferrule.
US09417387B2
A signal transfer link includes a first plasmonic coupler, and a second plasmonic coupler spaced apart from the first plasmonic coupler to form a gap. An insulator layer is formed over end portions of the first and second plasmonic couplers and in and over the gap. A plasmonic conductive layer is formed over the gap on the insulator layer to excite plasmons to provide signal transmission between the first and second plasmonic couplers.
US09417381B2
Described is an optical fiber system for delivering ultrashort pulses with minimal distortions due to nonlinearity. The system is based on delivering the optical pulses in a higher order mode (HOM) of a few-moded fiber. The fiber is designed so that the dispersion for the HOM is very large. This results in a dispersion length LD for the delivery fiber that is exceptionally small, preferably less than the non-linear length LNL. Under these conditions the system may be designed so the optical pulses experience minimum non-linear impairment, and short pulse/high peak power levels are reproduced at the output of the delivery fiber.
US09417378B2
A light guide including a plurality of reflection patterns in a reflection area in a facing surface facing a light exit surface, which area corresponds to a light emitting area, and the reflection patterns are arranged so that an amount of light reflected by the reflection patterns, emitted from the light emitting area to arrive at an observer observing the light exit surface is continuously changed in accordance with a position in the light emitting area.
US09417374B2
The present disclosure relates to a backlight module, including a backlight frame and a light guide plate placed inside the backlight frame, wherein a light-emitting element is provided at the inner side of a side wall of the backlight frame, a first reflective sheet is provided at a lower location under the light guide plate along the vertical direction, and a second reflective sheet is provided at a lower location under the light-emitting element along the vertical direction, the second reflective sheet being extended towards the inside of the backlight frame to a lower location under the light guide plate along the vertical direction. Through providing the second reflective sheet located under the light-emitting element and extending to a lower location under the light guide plate, the light scattered out under the light-emitting element can be guided into the light guide plate, thus effectively enhancing the efficiency of incident light guided into the light guide plate from the light-emitting element.
US09417370B2
Compositions comprise a highly miscible polymer blend of at least one cellulose derivative and at least one polysiloxane additive of formula [R1R2R3SiO0.5]a[R4R5SiO]b[R6SiO1.5]c[SiO2]d, wherein the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represents a hydrocarbon group or a functional group selected from a hydroxyl group, an acyloxy group or an alkoxy group, and may be the same or different from each other with respect to each individual silicon atom, and 0≦a≦0.4, 0.01≦b≦0.99, 0.01≦c≦0.99, 0≦d≦0.3, under the proviso that at least one hydrocarbon group and at least one functional group are present and a+b+c+d=1. Articles such as optical films comprising such a composition exhibit improved moisture barrier properties, reduced and adjustable out of plane retardation, adjustable glass transition temperature and provide for a facile generation of hydrophilic surface properties without considerable difference of the mechanical properties compared to corresponding articles of the pure cellulose derivative. A method to prepare such optical films, which can be particularly useful as retardation or protection films for polarizing plates in liquid crystal display devices, is also provided.
US09417369B2
The present invention provides a retardation film web having sufficient reversed wavelength dispersion characteristics and favorable for film lamination according to a roll-to-roll system. A retardation film web of the present invention includes a polycarbonate resin or a polyester carbonate resin, an orientation angle θ which is an angle between a slow axis and a width direction satisfies the following formula (I), and a ratio of an in-plane retardation R450 measured at a wavelength of 450 nm to an in-plane retardation R550 measured at a wavelength of 550 nm satisfies the following formula (II): 38°≦θ≦52° (I) R450/R550<1 (II).
US09417363B2
An optical sheet including a fly-eye lens is provided, which exhibits excellent optical functions, including desired light condensing ability, light diffusing ability and an ability for rendering a light source image substantially invisible, and can be produced with high reproducibility. The optical sheet includes a sheet-like main body, first unit shaped elements arranged on one surface of the main body and together constituting the fly-eye lens; and second unit shaped elements arranged on the one surface of the main body and extending in parallel with one direction on the sheet surface of the main body. The first unit shaped elements are arranged, with a space provided therebetween, on the one surface of the main body, while the second unit shaped elements are arranged between the first unit shaped elements on the one surface of the main body.
US09417361B2
The optical element of the present invention has an anti-reflection film formed on a substrate. The anti-reflection film comprises a low refractive index layer that is formed by mutually binding hollow fine particles, each of which has a vacancy therein, using a binder, and the low refractive index layer consists of a first layer serving as an outermost layer and a second layer which is adjacent to the first layer and is located on the substrate side. Here, the filling ratio of the binder to the first layer is lower than the filling ratio of the binder to the second layer, the refractive index of the first layer is 1.1 or more but not more than 1.25 and the refractive index of the second layer is 1.26 or more but not more than 1.35.
US09417356B2
The present invention discloses a millimeter wave holographic scan imaging apparatus for inspecting a human body. The apparatus includes a first millimeter wave transceiver device (40) comprising a first millimeter wave transceiver antenna array (41) for transmitting and receiving a first millimeter wave signal; a second millimeter wave transceiver device (40′), which comprises a second millimeter wave transceiver antenna array (41′) for transmitting and receiving a second millimeter wave signal, and is configured in opposite direction with relation to the first millimeter wave transceiver device; a connection member (26, 27) for connecting the first millimeter wave transceiver device (40) to the second millimeter wave transceiver device (40′); and a drive device (50), which drives one of the first and the second millimeter wave transceiver devices such that the first millimeter wave transceiver device (40) and the second millimeter wave transceiver device (40′) move in opposite directions.
US09417347B2
The adjustable voltage regulator under control of a microcontroller applies controlled amplitude voltage in the range of 5 to 9 VDC to the sensor transmitter to adjust the output amplitude of the transmitter. The adjustable amplitude transmitter allows an occupancy sensor to have its total output energy adjusted to reduce environmental noise-induced false triggering and to conform to the area to be covered. Lowering the total ultrasonic energy in the monitored space lowers the sensitivity of the receiver to inappropriate activations. Lowering the input power to the transmitter also lowers the total internal system noise and provides an improved signal to noise ratio in the receiver.
US09417345B2
A method for calibrating a counting digital X-ray detector includes performing a threshold value scan in at least one defined X-ray spectrum for irradiating the X-ray detector, which includes a matrix composed of pixel elements, storing count rates of the pixel elements as a function of respective applied threshold values, and from results of a measurement of count rates of the pixel elements, determining or calculating individual correction threshold values for the individual pixel elements. The individual correction threshold values correct a threshold value that is to be applied to the pixel elements for the defined X-ray spectrum such that threshold value noise is reduced.
US09417340B2
An imaging system is provided. The imaging system includes a rotating gantry. An x-ray source is mounted to the gantry. The system also includes a plurality of interchangeable x-ray detector modules is mounted to the gantry, opposite the x-ray source. The plurality of interchangeable detector modules includes a first detector module mounted at a first distance from the x-ray source and a second detector module mounted at a second distance from the x-ray source. The first distance is different from the second distance.
US09417333B2
A radiation imaging apparatus comprises: a detector that includes a detection unit in which pixels having a conversion element that converts radiation to an electric charge are arranged in a matrix shape, a drive circuit that drives the detection unit, and a read circuit that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge as image data; a radiation detection unit that detects a radiation irradiation state at a plurality of positions in the detection unit; and a control unit that controls operations of the drive circuit and the read circuit in accordance with a detection result obtained by the radiation detection unit, wherein the radiation detection unit detects a radiation irradiation state at least at a center region and a peripheral region in the detection unit, and a detection capability at the center region is set to a higher capability than a detection capability at the peripheral region.
US09417323B2
The SAR Point Cloud Generation System processes synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data acquired from multiple spatially separated SAR apertures in such a manner as to be able to calculate accurate three-dimensional positions of all of the scatterers within the imaged scene. No spatial averaging is applied thus preserving the high resolution of the original SAR data, and no phase unwrapping processes are required. The effects of height ambiguities are significantly reduced in the SAR Point Cloud Generation System. The SAR Point Cloud Generation System also self-filters against mixed-height pixels that can lead to incorrect height estimates. The system estimates scatterer height by a maximization of an Interferometric Response Function.
US09417322B2
Various systems and methods for monitoring the level of a feed material layer in a metallurgical furnace are described. At least one non-contact sensor is used to sense a distance between the feed layer and a reference position. A process controller linked to the sensor provides a control signal based upon the sensed distance. The control signal may be used to control various factors in the operation of the metallurgical furnace.
US09417313B2
A method of conveying a location information representing a physical location of a communication device (1) to another communication device (2) comprises acquiring (6) by the communication device (1) a first location information (11) and a second location information (17), the second location information being acquired (17) subsequently to the acquiring of the first location information (11) and detecting by the communication device (1) a deviation of the second location information from the first location information (18) representing a change of the physical location of the communication device (1). The method further comprises, triggered by the detected change of the physical location of the communication device (1), conveying (27) the most recently acquired physical location of the communication device (1) to the other communication device (2) by sending (26) a signaling message by the communication device (1) to the other communication device (2), the signaling message comprising either the second location information or the deviation of the second location information on the first location information.
US09417311B2
Location of underwater moving target device carrying a receiver configured to detect acoustic waves emitted at a known location is estimated such that to be consistent with detected velocity and orientation of the target device, and with a current phase of a signal corresponding to the acoustic waves detected at the target device. A stack including one or more boxes obtained by applying contractors to location boxes is output as the estimate of the location of the moving target device.
US09417295B2
A magnetic field sensor has a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element with a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed over a common implant region in a substrate. The plurality of vertical Hall elements is disposed in an x-y plane. The magnetic field sensor is responsive to a magnetic field generated by a multi-pole magnet having a plurality of north poles and also a plurality of south poles arranged in a plane parallel to the x-y plane, and, in some embodiments, arranged in the x-y plane. A corresponding method is also described.
US09417286B2
A system and method for image enhancement associated with scan generators is provided. For example, a source stimulates a device under test (DUT) at electrical interconnects. An internal clock of the DUT is synchronized with the scan rate of the source to reduce the noise of the output signal and enhance a resultant image. A phase adjustment is effected to further reduce the noise in the signal. The synchronization and the phase adjustment seek to ensure that the data is collected at uniform times relative to the reference signal and thereby reduce the noise introduced into the system, by such offsets. Post-scan processing increases the signal-to-noise ratio through averaging techniques. Using a pixel overlay algorithm the averaged data is transformed into a 2-D array and the image of the DUT reconstructed.
US09417285B2
A device for testing a bottom package of an integrated fan-out (InFO) Package-on-Package (PoP) comprises a bottom fixture having a space to accommodate the bottom package during testing and a detachable top cover, configured for conducting at least one test of the bottom package, wherein one or both of the bottom fixture and the top cover have a plurality of probing contacts for testing of the bottom package and wherein the device can be opened for placement of the bottom package under testing, and the cover is attachable to the bottom fixture for conducting the testing.
US09417276B1
The present invention provides a method to ensure that distributed resources of a power distribution system remain connected to the circuitry of the power distribution system when a fault occurs at a distributed resource node to assist in identifying the location of the fault by continuing to inject current from the distributed resources into the distribution system, wherein at least one of the distributed resources is a cogeneration resource.
US09417264B2
Provided are a current application device capable of improving the electrical contact between projections of a contact section and a surface electrode when applying a test current to a semiconductor element, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor element properly tested by using the current application device. The current application device includes a contact section that has a plurality of projections, which are brought into contact with a surface electrode of a semiconductor element to apply a test current, and a pressing section that presses the contact section against the semiconductor element such that the projections penetrate a film to come in contact with the surface electrode. The contact section has a plurality of the projections on a plane that has been formed in a curved shape, and the curved-shaped plane is deformed into a planar shape by being pressed by the pressing section.
US09417252B2
A ganglioside or a mixture of gangliosides, isolated from the peripheral and central nervous system of a bird, in particular a parrot, their use for the preparation of a medicament, methods for the diagnosis of Proventricular Dilatation Disease and diagnostic kits thereof, are disclosed.
US09417249B2
Provided are methods for predicting the risk of pre-term birth in a pregnant subject, for identifying a subject having an increased risk of pre-term birth, for selecting a subject for participation in a clinical study, and for decreasing the risk of pre-term birth in a subject. These methods include providing a sample from the subject and detecting the level of one or more of growth arrest-specific protein 1 (GASI), ALLI-fused gene from chromosome 4 protein (AR4)/Fragile X Mental Retardation 2 (FMR2) family member 3 (AFF3), transthyretin (TTR), ryanodine receptor 1 (RYRI), E26 transformation specific variant 6 (ETV6), claudin-10, zinc finger protein 23 (ZNF23), collagen type XXVII a1 (COL27AI), Kazrin isoform-1, keratin-associated protein 10-9 (KRTAPIO-9), Huntingtin (HTT), microtubule associated protein 9 (MAP9), coiled-coil domain-containing protein 13 (CCDC13), inositol hexakisphosphate and diphosphoinositol-pentakisphosphate kinase isoform 2 (HISPPDI), immunoglobulin gamma-3 chain C (IGHG3), cysteine- and histidine-rich protein-1 (CYHRI), and XP 002348181.
US09417243B2
The present invention is related to the anti-PAX8 antibodies, kits, cocktails, and use of anti-PAX8 antibodies for detection of cancer.
US09417229B2
A test sensor container (400) is designed for use with an analyte measuring system (40). The test sensor container (100) may include a cartridge (200) including a plurality of stacked individual compartments (202) connected to one another in an accordion-style fashion. Each individual compartment (202) is collapsible from an expanded to a collapsed condition and is dimensioned to hold a test sensor (6) when in the expanded condition. The test sensor container further includes at least one foil cover (116) sealing the plurality of compartments (102, 202).
US09417218B2
This invention relates to methods of analysis, and in particular to methods for the preliminary fractionation of samples in which low abundance molecules of interest, for example proteins, polysaccharides or fatty acids, are present together with more abundant molecules of little or no interest. In particular, the invention relates to methods of depletion of high abundance proteins from biological samples. Products and kits for use in the method are also disclosed, and form part of the invention. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of depleting a high-abundance molecule from a biological sample, comprising the steps of a) subjecting the sample to affinity depletion using an affinity support with high affinity for a high abundance molecule, and/or b) immunodepletion using an affinity support coupled to an antibody directed against whole or previously fractionated plasma or serum.
US09417217B2
A system including a mechanism emitting successive acoustic waves in a medium, a mechanism receiving the successive acoustic waves after propagation thereof in the medium, configured to supply a reception signal based on the successive acoustic waves received, and a mechanism detecting and locating disturbance in the medium on the basis of the reception signal. The emitting mechanism is configured such that, amplitude and/or phase spectrum of each acoustic wave having, at a specific frequency at least, an amplitude, or phase, varying in the medium according to a specific spatial distribution of the amplitude, or phase, and the spatial distributions of the amplitude, or phase, of the successive acoustic waves are mutually different.
US09417212B2
Provided is a defect inspection device of a steel plate. The defect inspection device according to the present invention includes a plurality of inspection units arranged in a width direction of the steel plate, wherein each of the plurality of inspection units includes a first magnetized pole and a second magnetized pole corresponding to each other. Also, the inspection unit includes: a magnetizing part generating a magnetic flux for magnetizing the steel plate in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a rolling direction through the first magnetized pole and the second magnetized pole; and a detection part detecting a leakage flux that leaks due to defects existing in or on the steel plate by using the flux generated by the magnetizing part. Thus, the defects may be correctly detected through the defect inspection device.
US09417209B2
The present disclosure provides a biological field effect transistor (BioFET) and a method of fabricating a BioFET device. The method includes forming a BioFET using one or more process steps compatible with or typical to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The BioFET includes a microwells having a sensing layer, a top metal stack under the sensing layer, and a multi-layer interconnect (MLI) under the top metal stack. The top metal stack includes a top metal and a protective layer over and peripherally surrounding the top metal.
US09417205B2
In some aspects, a modular analyte measurement system having a replaceable strip port module is provided to permit contaminated modules to be replaced. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to barriers for strip ports or the sealing of strip ports and/or analyte measurement devices to maintain a clean strip port and/or enable the strip port to be cleaned for reuse. Cleaning tools are also provided. Also provided are strip port interfaces that guide fluid away from the strip port opening, as well as absorptive elements that prevent fluid from entering a strip port. Analyte measurement devices with gravity sensors or accelerometers are also provided, along with methods related thereto. Also provided is a docking station that serves as an information server and provides storage and recharging capabilities.
US09417204B2
Matrix materials, such as sol-gels and polymers derivatives to contain a redox active material can be used to form electrodes and probes suitable for use in pH meters and other analyte sensing devices.
US09417200B2
A moisture concentration detecting device including a gas chamber; a pair of porous electrodes facing each other in the gas chamber; a solid electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrodes; a case which covers the electrodes and the solid electrolyte membrane and on a surface of which a pleated portion is provided; an impedance measuring circuit measuring an AC impedance between the electrodes by applying an AC voltage to the electrodes; a storage device storing therein conversion information for converting an AC impedance between the electrodes into a moisture concentration in the insulating gas; and a computing unit obtaining a moisture concentration in the insulating gas from a measured value of the AC impedance by referring to the conversion information stored in the storage device with respect to the measured value of the AC impedance input from the impedance measuring circuit.
US09417198B2
The present invention includes a method, systems and devices for the detection of carbon nanotubes in biological samples by providing a sample suspected of having one or more carbon nanotubes; irradiating the sample with a microwave radiation, wherein the carbon nanotubes absorb the microwave radiation; and detecting and measuring the one or more thermal emissions from the carbon nanotubes.
US09417186B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an infrared (IR) opto-electronic sensor having a silicon waveguide implemented on a single silicon integrated chip. The IR sensor has a semiconductor substrate having a silicon waveguide extends along a length between a radiation input conduit and a radiation output conduit. The radiation input conduit couples radiation into the silicon waveguide, while the radiation output conduit couples radiation out from the silicon waveguide. The silicon waveguide conveys the IR radiation from the radiation input conduit to the radiation output conduit at a single mode. As the radiation is conveyed by the silicon waveguide, an evanescent field is formed that extends outward from the silicon waveguide to interact with a sample positioned between the radiation input conduit and the radiation output conduit.
US09417185B1
Methods and systems for controlling light arrays to determine properties of an object are described. An example method includes causing illumination of a surface of an object from multiple illumination positions using a programmable array of lights, and receiving images from an image-capture device while the surface of the object is illuminated. For example, the programmable array of lights may be modulated to cause illumination of a portion of the surface of the object from first and second illumination positions, and a first and second image of the surface of the object captured during illumination from the first and second illumination positions respectively may be received. Subsequently, a processor may determine material information for the object based on an amount of specular reflectivity for the surface of the object and reference to a database of known amounts of specular reflectivity for a plurality of materials.
US09417182B2
A prism member having an entrance surface for arranging a terahertz-wave generator for generating a terahertz wave in response to pump light incident thereon, an arrangement part for arranging an object to be measured, an exit surface for arranging a terahertz-wave detector for detecting a correlation between the terahertz wave transmitted through the object in the arrangement part and probe light, a first optical surface for collimating or condensing the terahertz wave incident thereon from the entrance surface toward the arrangement part, and a second optical surface for condensing the terahertz wave transmitted through the arrangement part toward the exit surface, the arrangement part forms a depression adapted to be filled with a liquid incapable of dissolving the object therein.
US09417177B2
A sample of an unconsolidated porous medium is frozen and at subzero temperature is placed into contact with a frozen solution of an X-ray contrast agent. Upon the end of saturation of the sample, X-ray computed microtomography of the sample is conducted at subzero temperatures and by means of analyzing the obtained computer tomograhic image, spatial distribution and concentration of ice and/or gas hydrate inclusions, open and closed porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface in the sample are determined.
US09417173B2
There is provided a laminar flow monitoring method in a fine particle measurement device, the method including a radiation step of radiating light to a laminar flow, a position detection step of receiving, by a detector, an S polarized component which is separated from scattered light produced from the laminar flow and to which astigmatism is given and acquiring light reception position information of the S polarized component in the detector, and a determination step of determining a state of the laminar flow based on the light reception position information.
US09417171B2
A hardness tester capable of facilitating positioning of a sample even when the hardness tester includes a manual XY stage. The hardness tester includes an XY stage displacing a sample stage in a horizontal direction; a CCD camera capturing an image of a sample surface via an objective lens; a monitor displaying the image of the sample surface captured by the CCD camera; an operator specifying a test position at which an indentation is to be formed, the test position being specified on the image displayed on the display; and a CPU calculating, in conjunction with displacement of the XY stage, an amount of offset in the XY direction between the test position and a center position of the indenter when forming the indentation, then displaying the calculated amount of offset on the display.
US09417170B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method including hardware and software, which allows collecting and analyzing of data to obtain information about mechanical properties of soft materials. This allows surface mapping of viscoelastic properties in a high-resolution and fast manner. It also allows finding the degree of nonlinearity of the material response of the sample during the measurements. The apparatus can be used as a stand-alone device, or an add-on to either the existing atomic force microscope or nanoindenter device.
US09417165B2
This disclosure is directed to a cap for obtaining a target analyte from a suspension. The cap introduces a magnetic field or a magnetic gradient to the tube to draw the target analyte bound to a particle to the cap. In one aspect, a cap includes a magnetic insert and a receiving piece. The magnetic insert includes a stopper and a magnet extending from the stopper; and, the receiving piece, which is configured to hold the magnetic insert, includes a receiving stopper and a sheath. The sheath may include imaging slides on opposite sides of the sheath. In another aspect, the cap may include a stopper and an embedded magnet. The cap may include an analysis piece on a bottom end of the stopper. In yet another aspect, the cap may include a fluid compartment and a filter at a bottom end of the stopper.
US09417147B2
A device comprising measurement (7) and reference (3) interferometers is disclosed. Each interferometer is configured to receive light from the same light source (1) and to emit light to respective detectors (6) and has a respective operating point. The measurement interferometer (7) is configured to respond to variations in a physical parameter by varying the intensity of light emitted, whereas the reference interferometer (3) is configured to be unresponsive to variations in the physical parameter. The device further comprises a signal processor for generating a differential output signal depending on respective output signals generated by the detectors (6).
US09417135B2
The temperature sensor includes a thermo-sensitive element, first and second electrode wires electrically connected to the thermo-sensitive element, first and second signal wires partially overlapped with and connected to the first and second electrode wires, respectively. The first and second electrode wires are made of a first metal material consisting primarily of Pt. The first and second signal wires are made of a second metal material containing Al and having a linear thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the first metal material. Each of an overlap portion of the first electrode wire and the first signal wire and an overlap portion of the second electrode wire and the second signal wire includes a junction part formed by melting and thereafter coagulating the first or second electrode wire and the first or second signal wire. The junction part includes an oxidation film containing Al formed on a surface thereof.
US09417127B2
A fiber grating sensor system is used to measure key parameters that include pressure, strain and temperature at specific locations and at high speed. The system relies on spectral properties associated with the fiber grating sensors, the light source and the optical detection system to provide these capabilities. The system has been successfully applied to measurement of pressures up to 1,200,000 psi and by increasing the spectral width of the light source extensions of pressure measurements to 4,000,000 psi and higher are possible. Temperature change measurements have been made of 400 degrees C. over a period of 25 micro-seconds limited by the physical response of the fiber sensors and the output detector bandwidth both of which can be greatly improved by reducing fiber sizes and with improved detectors. Novel methods have been devised to lower cost and enable measurements with spatial location, speed and accuracy that have been very difficult or not yet achieved.
US09417121B1
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to processing optical signals. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an aperture receives a plurality of optical signals and passes the signals to one or more optical processing stages. Each stage includes a plurality of optical detectors and an optical element that operates with the aperture to provide optical signals from inputs of the stage to at least one of an output of the stage and respective ones of the plurality of optical detectors.
US09417117B2
A weighing device is equipped with a first overload protection mechanism and a second overload protection mechanism. The first overload protection mechanism includes a first support portion disposed on a fixing member and a first section disposed on a connecting member. The second overload protection mechanism includes a second support portion disposed on the fixing member and a second section disposed on the connecting member. When a first load acts on a weigh hopper, the first support portion supports the first section from below. When a second load greater than the first load acts on the weigh hopper, the second support portion supports the second section from above at the same time that the first support portion supports the first section.
US09417114B2
A loose material measuring and dispensing system including a container and dispenser. The tea container serves to store the tea leaves or grounds in a storage bin prior to activation of the system. Upon activation, the dispenser measures and loads a selected amount of tea into a hopper for dispensing, such as into a waiting cup or a tea infuser. The amount of tea may be selected based upon user operation of one of a number of quantity indicating/selection buttons provided in a user interface. The container is a sealed canister, such as a bag or jug, which is preferably impermeable to light. Furthermore, the dispenser is able to operate to load a desired amount of tea (e.g. by weight), specified by the user, into the hopper. Once the desired amount of tea is loaded into the hopper, the tea may be dispensed, such as into a waiting cup or infuser below.
US09417113B2
A fill level sensor for detecting the fill level of a liquid in a container includes an ultrasonic transceiver, an inner tube for arrangement inside the container, the inner tube being arranged above the ultrasonic transceiver such that a liquid present in the container forms a liquid column in the inner tube the level of which can be detected by the ultrasonic transceiver, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, and a cap which covers the inner tube and the outer tube toward the top. The cap has an inner tubular section adjoining the inner tube, an outer tubular section adjoining the outer tube, an inner vent opening for the inner tubular section and an outer vent opening for the outer tubular section.
US09417110B2
A biomedical tester includes a fluid-control container, shaped to define a fluid-control container port and a first interface surface defining fluid-control container apertures. A fluid controller is shaped to define a second interface surface defining controller ports. These elements and a motor are arranged to relative translation between the first and second interface surfaces; thereby effecting a time-varying overlap between subgroups of the system. Fixtures allow disposition therewithin of respective medical devices. Each of the fixtures includes one or more fixture first ports and fixture second ports. The fixture first ports are mounted in fluid Communication respective with the controller ports. A fluid pump includes first and second pump ports in fluid communication with the fixture second ports and the fluid-control container port, respectively.
US09417108B2
In a mass flow meter comprising two flow sensor units with identical specifications, flow rate deviations between these two flow sensor units are initially measured at various mass flow rates under a circumstance having the same fluctuating factors as those when a mass flow is actually measured. Subsequently, based on these flow rate deviations, a correction value for matching the values of the mass flow rates measured by these two flow sensor units is calculated and stored in a data storage device. Thereafter, when measuring a mass flow rate, a flow rate deviation, from which the influence by the individual difference in the response to a fluctuating factor between these two flow sensor units has been removed, is calculated by correcting a measured value based on the correction value. The existence or non-existence of an occurrence of a malfunction is judged based on whether the flow rate deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold value t or not.
US09417105B2
Embodiments herein provide processing of sensor signals (e.g., signals representative of a level of an analyte in a body). An electronics assembly may include a sensor contact configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor assembly, an integrator circuit configured to provide an integrator output signal representative of the sensor signal integrated from a first time to a second time, and a reset circuit configured to reset the integrator output signal in response to a reset signal. The electronics assembly may also include a processor circuit configured to determine a value of the integrator output signal and to provide the reset signal to the reset circuit when an integration interval has elapsed from the first time. The integration interval may be based at least in part on the integrator output signal.
US09417102B2
An absolute encoder includes a scale with a plurality of marks of various types arranged with a space and a period. A detector includes a plurality of elements arranged along a direction corresponding to the aforementioned arrangement, and detects a partial plurality of marks. A signal processor performs amplitude quantization with respect to each period of periodic signals with a plurality of periods output from the detector to generate a data string. First position data having a resolution of the period is generated. The signal processor obtains a plurality of thresholds for the quantization respectively corresponding to a plurality of periodic signals of the periodic signals with the plurality of periods based on a plurality of representative values respectively obtained from the periodic signals with the plurality of periods.
US09417100B2
A method of assisted mounting and error compensation for absolute grating ruler comprises: (1) when mounting a CMOS sensor and a grating ruler body, the CMOS sensor reads an upper and a lower sample windows, and due to an angle existing between the grating ruler body and the CMOS sensor, a difference exists between the numbers of the upper and lower sample windows, and by continually adjusting the grating ruler body or the CMOS sensor, the code reading difference minimized so that the angle is zeroed; (2) when mounting the grating ruler body and a mechanic housing, it is moved by a fixed displacement in a motion direction, and a grating encoding reading is recorded and an error compensating amount is obtained which serves as error compensation value in an actual motion to correct a cumulative error introduced by the angle between the grating ruler body and the motion direction.
US09417094B2
A caliper including a scale member, a slider, a slider displacement sensor and a force sensing arrangement. The force sensing arrangement is configured to provide a signal indicative of a measurement force, and includes elements fabricated on the same circuit board as the slider displacement sensor. In one implementation, the force sensing arrangement includes drive and sense coils that are fabricated in one or more metal layers of the circuit board. A signal modulating element (e.g., a metal core) is also included which is attached to a force actuator which moves in accordance with the amount of measurement force that is being applied. The force actuator moves relative to the linearly displaced coils and the attached signal modulating element affects the inductive coupling between the coils. The resulting signals from the coils may be utilized to determine the position of the signal modulating element and the corresponding measurement force.
US09417090B2
The systems and methods are directed towards embodiments for planning a travel route for a user (i.e. fan) who is planning to attend a sports game. The systems and methods will plan/map a route for the user from a start position (e.g., home) to the location of the sports game (e.g., stadium). Alongside the planned/mapped route, the systems and methods will also obtain various related deals (e.g., coupons) for one or more business (i.e. retail stores, fast-food) along the planned/mapped route. The various related deals can then be displayed for the user to view or use.
US09417081B2
A device for predicting energy consumption includes an obtaining unit (110), an air resistance calculating unit (140, 150), and an energy consumption predicting unit (150). The obtaining unit (110) is configured to obtain road information including traveling speed information set for each route. The air resistance calculating unit (140, 150) is configured to calculate air resistance as a calculated air resistance value by an air resistance calculation formula on the basis of the traveling speed information of the scheduled traveling route and to correct the calculated air resistance value so that the air resistance is higher according as the traveling speed along the scheduled traveling route is lower. The air resistance is caused when a vehicle travels along a scheduled traveling route. The energy consumption predicting unit (150) is configured to predict an energy consumption of the scheduled traveling route on the basis of the corrected air resistance value.
US09417076B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for total route scores to measure quality of map content. Test data is received for a region of interest. The test data may be matched to routes formed from road links stored in a database. Frequency weights may be assigned to the test data based on the frequency of usage for the road links. The routes in the database may be compared to the traveled routes in the test data. Using this comparison, one or more errors in the database may be identified. A total route score for the region of interest may calculated from the errors and frequency weights.
US09417071B2
The invention concerns a method and a system for purposes of registering the position of a vehicle (1) in a defined region (3), wherein a digital map of the defined region (3) is created, having a defined coordinates system, wherein the digital map includes stationary reference features (T1) with a unique identifying feature, before digital images are recorded of at least a sub-region of the defined region (3), preferably of the whole defined region (3), for purposes of registering and detecting further reference features (T1, T2, T3), wherein stationary and/or temporary reference features (T2, T3) without unique identifying features are also registered and detected, and are added to the digital map and/or an associated buffer store, so that the absolute position of the vehicle (1) in the defined region (3) can subsequently be determined, in that a digital image of a portion of the defined region (3) is recorded by the vehicle (1), and in the digital image reference features (T1, T2, T3) are detected and optionally identified, wherein the determination of absolute position is undertaken on the basis of the stationary and/or temporary reference features (T1, T2, T3) that have been detected and optionally identified.
US09417062B2
A device relating to a standalone laser target system which has the capacity to employ gravity to achieve a position plumb with the ground and to be easily operated at night or in low light conditions. The laser target is retro-reflective and is self-plumbing from the target frame. The target frame also has a detachable handle, which is used for positioning the target. The target frame further has an internal power source to illuminate the target. The device is designed to be easily packed in a protective carrying case to facilitate transport of the device.
US09417057B2
The present invention relates to an optical sensing system (1) for determining the position and/or shape of an associated object (O), the system comprises an optical fibers (10) having one or more optical fiber cores (9) with one or more fiber Bragg gratings (FBG, 8) extending along the full length where the position and/or shape is be to determined of said object (O). A reflectometer (REFL, 12) measures strain at a number of sampling points along the optical fiber cores, and a processor (PROC, 14) determines the position and/or shape based on said measured strains from the plurality of optical fiber cores. The fiber Bragg grating(s) (FBG, 8) extends along the full length of said optical fiber cores (9), the fiber core having a spatially modulated reflection (r) along the said full length of the optical fiber core so that the corresponding reflection spectrum is detectable in said wavelength scan. Thus, the fiber Bragg grating(s) may be effectively continuous along the optical fiber leaving no gaps so that every position gives rise to a detectable reflection, and achieving that the reflection spectrum may encompass a wavelength span equaling the wavelength scan, or ‘sweep’, of an optical source in the reflectometer.
US09417054B2
An assembly includes a fish tape device or a duct rodding device having digital measurement unit attached thereto. A tape is housed in the fish tape device or a duct rodding device and is paid out of the device. The digital measurement unit includes an optical sensor which is positioned proximate to the tape. As the tape is passed by the optical sensor, the optical sensor uses digital image correlation to take successive images of the tape to determine a length measurement of tape that has passed by the optical sensor.
US09417040B2
An arrowhead attachment is provided. The arrowhead attachment may be formed from a unitary sheet of attachment material so as to be bent and/or twisted from a shipping configuration to an operable configuration. The arrowhead attachment may include an annular body and a plurality of radial arms extending from a periphery of the annular body. In the shipping configuration, at least one piercing tip is disposed alone each radial arm so as to be co-planar with the plurality of radial arms and the annular body. A user may use a common tool to twist the arrowhead attachment from the shipping configuration to the operable configuration. Then the user may place the arrow shaft through a shaft opening formed by the annular body so as to couple the arrowhead attachment behind an arrowhead.
US09417038B2
The present invention provides an energy absorber for a blast barrier system comprising a substantially tubular member extending longitudinally along an axis from a first end portion to a second end portion, each of the first end portion and the second end portion having a substantially similar geometric profile, wherein the energy absorber collapses under a predetermined load when compressed by a residual blast force. The energy absorber of the present invention may help minimize damage to people and structures by further dissipating force from a blast in a blast barrier system.
US09417035B2
The disclosure is directed at a method and system for improving situational awareness and accuracy of a user with a firearm. The system includes a blank firing laser attachment which is mounted to an end of the firearm and emits a laser when the trigger is pulled.
US09417032B1
A firearm stock connection system that includes a grip with a first hole, a stock system with a second hole, and a button positioned within the first hole and extending through the second hole in an extended position. The stock system may include a frame member, a plate, an extender tube, and a lock. The extender tube may be threaded onto a threaded projection of the plate. The lock may prevent rotation of the extender tube with respect to the threaded projection. The extender tube may include structures that engage a portion of the lock. The structures may be a plurality of slots. The stock system may include a recoil device. The recoil device may be filled with gas. The grip may include a first end, a second end, a gap positioned between the first and second ends, and a bolt aperture extending from the first end to the gap.
US09417031B2
A device for controlling fluid delivery includes a hollow body closed by opposed end walls having an inlet and an outlet for a pressurized fluid and defining a first variable-volume chamber, between the inlet and the outlet for containing a first volume of pressurized fluid, an obturating member interacting with the downstream end wall of the hollow body for selectively closing the outlet, a guide member associated with the obturating member guiding it between a first end closing position and a second end opening position of the outlet; and an operating system acting upon the closure member to promote sliding thereof in the hollow body. The obturating member is movable relative to the guide member and is internally hollow to enclose the first chamber, and the guide member has a passage allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the first chamber. An air weapon incorporating the device.
US09417019B2
An auto-loading firearm includes a bolt assembly that is both automatically operable and manually operable between a forward position closing the chamber of the firearm and a rearward position opening the chamber, and a fire control mechanism. The fire control mechanism comprises a trigger plate assembly operably located between the chamber and a magazine that is capable of housing one or more additional rounds of ammunition. The trigger plate assembly includes a latch release and a carrier that is operable to lift a round from the magazine to the chamber. The fire control mechanism further includes a feed latch that is operable to release of a round from the magazine onto the carrier when disengaged by the latch release. The trigger plate assembly and the feed latch are configurable to control the release of rounds of ammunition from the magazine during manual operation of the fire control.
US09417017B2
A method is provided for heat transfer from a surface to a fluid. The method includes directing a first fluid flow towards the surface in a first direction and directing a second fluid flow towards the surface in a second direction. The first and second fluid flows cooperate to cool the surface.
US09417013B2
In one embodiment, a heat conducting composite material may include a bulk material, a conduit, and a conduit material. The bulk material forms a shaped body having a heat introduction portion and a heat dissipation portion. The conduit is disposed in the bulk material and connects the heat introduction portion to the heat dissipation portion. The conduit material is disposed within and fills the conduit. The bulk material thermal conductivity of the bulk material is about equal to a conduit material thermal conductivity of the conduit material at a first temperature. The bulk material thermal conductivity is less than or equal to the conduit material thermal conductivity throughout a first temperature range. The bulk material thermal conductivity is greater than or equal to the conduit material thermal conductivity throughout a second temperature range.
US09417007B2
A storage basket used for storing and displaying food products and packages in a refrigerator or freezer unit may include a single-material first portion including a bottom wall and an upright wall that extends away from the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the upright wall are imperforate, thereby creating a solid barrier to transfer and fall-through of materials contained in the storage basket. The storage basket may also include a single-material second portion coupled to and extending from the upright wall, and the second portion may include a plurality of perforations. The plurality of perforations may permit airflow around and about the materials contained in the storage basket.
US09417006B2
A frame and a refrigerating apparatus that uses the frame, the frame is composed by at least one frame component, wherein a vacuum insulation panel material is placed inside of the at least one frame component. The frame is capable of preventing the accumulation of water condensation along the frame, has both a better heat insulation effect and an energy-saving effect.
US09417003B2
Provided is a single infrared emitter dispenser monitor for refrigeration appliance that includes a dispenser that dispenses at least one of water and ice. A vessel detector includes an infrared emitter, a first infrared detector, and a second infrared detector. The infrared emitter emits radiation having an angle of dispersion such that both of the first and second infrared detectors receive the radiation emitted by the infrared emitter. The first infrared detector is arranged more frontward than the second infrared detector. In further examples, an elapsed time between detection signals is compared to a minimum elapsed time, and a dispensing signal is only sent if the elapsed time is greater than the minimum elapsed time. By this configuration, the number of input/output lines running into a control device is reduced, and it is possible to detect a failed emitter if both detector signals fall to zero at the same time.
US09417001B2
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a top wall. At least one door is coupled with the cabinet and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A removable cooling module is disposed on the top wall of the refrigerator. The removable cooling module includes a cooling unit and an ice maker. An ice dispenser is coupled with the refrigerator. A duct is in communication with the removable cooling module and is adapted to convey ice and cool air from the removable cooling module to the refrigerator.
US09416998B2
The invention relates to a heat pump according to the adsorption principle, comprising a plurality of hollow elements each having an adsorbent, wherein a working medium is enclosed in each of the hollow elements is displaceable between the adsorbent and a phase change area, wherein a heat-transporting fluid in a variable fluid circuit can flow through the hollow elements by means of a valve arrangement. The hollow elements are brought into thermal contact with the fluid in the area of the adsorbent, wherein the flow through the hollow elements changes cyclically with the fluid, wherein at least two of the hollow elements are flown through parallel from the fluid at least in one, in particular each position of the valve arrangement, and at least two of the hollow elements are flown through serially one after the other.
US09416994B2
A cooling and heating cup holder includes: a pair of holder bodies; a pair of thermoelectric elements having first and second surfaces for heat absorption and heat generation, the first surfaces being installed on the holder bodies; a pair of heat exchange pins provided so as to exchange heat with the second surfaces of the respective thermoelectric elements; a blower disposed at one side of the heat exchange pins and heat-radiating the heat exchange pins; and an extension heat pipe thermally connecting the second surfaces of the respective thermoelectric elements to each other or thermally connecting the respective heat exchange pins to each other.
US09416993B2
An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include at least one indoor device and an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device. The outdoor device may include an outdoor heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchange parts, a plurality of outdoor expansion parts corresponding to the plurality of heat exchange parts, a pass variable tube that varies refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger, and a pass variable valve provided in the pass variable tube. The heat exchange parts may include a first heat exchange part. The first heat exchange part may be connected to a manifold that distributes refrigerant flow in a heating operation. The manifold may be connected to a plurality of capillaries connected to the first outdoor expansion part. The pass variable tube may be connected to the manifold.
US09416988B2
An illustrative electronic assembly includes a housing and a wall plate, where the wall plate is releasably connectable to the housing. The housing and the wall plate may be configured such that the housing and the wall plate may be able to initially engage each other with the wall plate misaligned relative to the housing. The housing and the wall plate may be configured to guide one another into alignment as the housing and the wall plate are moved together.
US09416982B2
An outdoor unit for an air conditioner is disclosed, the outdoor unit characterized by: a case (100) formed with an air suction port (110) sucking air from outside and an air discharge port (120) discharging the sucked air; a first blowing fan (200) formed inside the case (100) for discharging the air sucked from the air suction port (110) to the air discharge port (120); and a second blowing fan (300) formed inside the case (100) and positioned on the same axis of the first blowing fan (200) for rotating in an opposite direction of the first blowing fan (200), such that generation of cavitation of a blowing fan is limited to greatly reduce noise and vibration.
US09416979B2
An underlayment system is provided that includes a plurality of bosses that emanate form a common base member. The bosses and bases preferably include an opening therethrough that will allow for subsequent layers of adhesive to interact and bond to each other. The bosses are also spaced in such a way to help secure a wire snugly therebetween.
US09416976B1
An asador tool is provided having an ember scraper, a top front push fork, and two legs mounted on an elongated shaft with a tip point. Each leg has a rear pull point and a bottom front push point. The tip point is designed to penetrate and break up burning wood. The ember scraper having a plurality of scraper points forming a top saw tooth edge is designed to scrape hot embers from the surface of burning wood to expose the fire to new fuel. The top front push fork with a plurality of top front push points is mounted on a shaft top surface, and the two legs are mounted on a shaft bottom surface. The rear pull points and the push points are designed to pull and push, respectively, burning wood to create airflow and position the wood exactly where the Asador desires.
US09416966B2
A venturi nozzle for a gas combustor includes an orificed gas nozzle, a venturi tube and one or more support members. The orificed gas nozzle has a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet. The venturi tube is aligned with the longitudinal axis and has an entrance proximate to the outlet of the orificed gas nozzle and an exit. The support member(s) are attached between the orificed gas nozzle and the venturi tube to create a gap between the venturi tube and the orificed gas nozzle. In some embodiments, two or more venturi nozzles can be combined together in various configurations into a nozzle assembly or multi-nozzle gas combustor and attached, mounted or disposed within a stack, chimney or vented enclosure. The wall(s) of the stack, chimney or vented enclosure may include one or more openings, cut outs or vents to provide primary and secondary air to the venturi nozzles.
US09416965B2
The present invention relates to a burner for a furnace with the following features: a first feed for at least one fuel, preferably with a primary outlet for an oxidizing agent, preferably oxygen; a second feed, surrounding the first feed, with at least one secondary outlet for the oxidizing agent; a third feed, surrounding the second feed, with at least one enveloping jet outlet for the oxidizing agent, wherein the second feed and the third feed are designed such that a first velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one secondary outlet is greater than a second velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one enveloping jet outlet. The second feed thereby preferably enables a first volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent that is greater than or equal to a second volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent through the third feed. By surrounding the oxidizing agent that is fed into a combustion space with an enveloping jet likewise of oxidizing agent, a greater flame length and more uniform heating of a furnace are made possible, which is useful in particular when melting metals in elongated furnaces.
US09416962B2
A device with a flame bowl for a torch having a torch body containing a fuel supply. A fitting attaches to the flame bowl for interfacing with the fuel supply. A perforated support affixes the flame bowl in an elevated position relative to a portion of the torch body.
US09416961B2
A boiler connection system includes: a plurality of heat source device; and a controller. Each of the plurality of heat source devices includes: a first heat exchanger; a heat medium heating circuit branching at one end thereof from a heat medium return pipe and connected at another end thereof to a heat medium outgoing pipe via the first heat exchanger; a bypass pipe connected to the heat medium heating circuit so as to bypass the first heat exchanger; a pressure-feed device provided on the heat medium heating circuit; a flow passage switching valve; a second heat exchanger provided on the bypass pipe; and a water heating circuit branching at one end thereof from the water supply pipe and connected at another end thereof to a hot water supply pipe via the second heat exchanger.
US09416953B2
Provided is an LED lighting apparatus. The LED lighting apparatus include an LED, a socket part supplying a power into the LED, a heat sink body having one side on which the LED is mounted and the other side to which the socket part is coupled, and a heat sink pin disposed along a circumference of the heat sink body, the heat sink pin having one side extending downward from the heat sink body. The heat sink body may be modified in shape to reduce a weight and improve heat dissipation performance.
US09416947B2
A connecting device for light fixtures has a lens fixing plate, a light fixture assembly, a button, a first spring, a connecting rod and a buckle. The buckle is fixedly connected to the light fixture assembly. A mounting base is disposed on the lens fixing plate. One end of the connecting rod is located in an inner cavity of the mounting base and the other end thereof is extended out from the mounting base. The end of the connecting rod extending out from the mounting base is provided with a boss, and the connecting rod located in the inner cavity of the mounting base is sleeved with the first spring. The button is connected to the end of the connecting rod located in the inner cavity of the mounting base.
US09416942B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a light emitting knob based on a novel process that is capable of preventing a letter that is separated from a light blocking metal plate at a display window forming step and a surface treatment step from being separated from a resin layer irrespective of the shape or the type of the letter, which constitutes a light emitting display window, thereby considerably reducing a defect rate. The method includes a metal plate processing step, a display groove forming step, a resin layer coupling step, and a display window forming step.
US09416939B2
Methods and apparatus related to a textured lens (30, 130). The textured lens includes a textured portion (40, 140) having plurality of unique textures. The lens may be utilized in a LED-based lighting fixture (10, 110) to, for example, reduce the presence of color banding and/or color shadows present in the light output of the lighting fixture. The textured portion may extend across all or portions of the lens surface.
US09416933B2
A multifunction LED headlamp that utilizes a common light source and a plurality of shutter or mask members to produce a plurality of different light beam modes of operation. The plurality of shutter or mask members are generally opaque to occlude or mask light. Each of the plurality of shutter or mask members have at least one edge and the edge of a first one or the plurality of shutter or mask members cooperates with an edge of a second one of the plurality of shutter or mask members to provide or form a generally horizontal opening whose size is varied by pivoting the plurality of shutter or mask members towards or away from each other.
US09416926B2
A lens for distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The lens includes an inner surface defining an inner cavity and including a substantially cross-sectionally convex inner region along an open end of the inner cavity and a substantially cross-sectionally linear inner region joining the substantially cross-sectionally convex inner region and extending therefrom toward the emitter axis. The convex region is configured for refracting emitter light rays toward the emitter axis. The lens further includes an outer surface receiving the light from each of the inner regions. A lens flange surrounds the lens and has an outer flange surface extending radially outwardly from the lens outer surface at positions axially spaced from the light emitter. The convex inner region is configured to refract emitter light to the outer surface such that the outer flange surface is substantially free from receiving any emitter light.
US09416923B1
A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion extending between a first end and a second end, the bulb portion comprising a support structure, a plurality of white light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an elongate light-transmissive cover. The support structure has a first surface extending between the first end and the second end. The plurality of LEDs are supported by the first surface and arranged between the first end and the second end. The elongate light-transmissive cover extends between the first end and the second end and over the first surface of the support structure. A first end cap and a second end cap are disposed on the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for a fluorescent light tube. A power supply circuit is configured to provide power to the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs are arranged to emit light through the elongate light-transmissive cover and at least a portion of the power supply circuit is packaged inside at least one of the end caps.
US09416921B2
An LED lamp that couples a heatsink with LEDs mounted on it to a glass envelope with a surface area equivalent to approximately that of a conventional light bulb, and by using a coolant vapor within the glass envelop, the lamp can be made much lighter and more cheaply. The heat generated by the LEDs is dissipated by the glass surface and not conducted into the heatsink. The heatsink can thus be mostly for the power supply. This allows for a reduced operating temperature for the power supply components that allows for a longer expected life for the power supply. In addition, the LED light bulb of the present invention can have nearly the same shape and appearance as a standard incandescent bulb. The invention can also have an advanced flyback power supply.
US09416913B2
A quick mount connector allows for easy rotation of an object, such as an antenna. The connector has a base, a coupling member and an object mount. The base is configured for connection to a surface and includes base teeth around an inner circumference. The coupling member is configured to be inserted into the base and rotates relative the base about a first axis of rotation. The coupling member has a cylindrical portion with mating teeth along its outer circumference; the mating teeth are configured to engage the base teeth. The object mount attaches to the coupling member and rotates relative the coupling member about a second axis of rotation. The object mount has a mounting plate configured for connection to the object; and a locking assembly configured to adjustably couple the coupling member to the object mount.
US09416899B2
A shock pump adapter includes a communication device configured to include an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner and outer tubes are rotatable with respect to one another. A valve insert fixes to one of two ends of and is rotatable with the inner tube and includes a first channel fluidly connecting to a hollow of the inner tube. An air inlet joint fixes to the other of the two ends of and is rotatable with the inner tube. The air inlet joint includes a second channel fluidly connecting to the hollow of the inner tube and a one-way valve disposed in the second channel. An air outlet joint connects to and is disposed at the other of the two ends of the communication device. The air outlet joint fixes to and is rotatable with the outer tube.
US09416897B2
A pipe fitting and method therefor includes one or more indicators to provide a visual indication that the fitting has been properly pressed around a tube and that the correct amount of pressure has been provided to create a permanent seal. In embodiments, the present invention includes a fitting having a main body component with at least a first segment having an axially inner portion, an axially intermediate portion and an axially outer portion, with a retaining compartment defined therein. The retaining compartment can retain one or more sealing rings, including an indicator sealing ring having an indicator flange extending from its outer surface. An external indicator band can be securely retained around the external surface of the pipe fitting, and can be adapted to change color upon receiving sufficient force, thereby indicating that the fitting has been properly pressed.
US09416889B2
An air-driven shutoff valve includes a valve seat formed in a main body, a valve element movable into or out of contact with the valve seat, a drive part integrally connected to the valve element, and a pilot opening/closing valve configured to supply compressed fluid to drive the drive part. The pilot opening/closing valve includes (a) a first needle valve, a first motor to change an opening degree of the first needle valve, and a first check valve allowing the compressed fluid to flow only from a pilot opening/closing valve side to a drive part side, and (b) a second needle valve, a second motor to change an opening degree of the second needle valve, and a second check valve allowing the compressed fluid to flow only from the drive part side to the pilot opening/closing valve side.
US09416884B2
A concentric cartridge for fluid mixing valve includes an inlet adapter configured to receive a first fluid and a second fluid, a pressure balance unit, a volume control plate rotatably coupled to the pressure balance unit and positioned between the inlet adapter and the pressure balance unit, a temperature control plate, and a mixing plate positioned between the pressure balance unit and the temperature control plate. The pressure balance unit and the volume control plate are rotatable relative to the inlet adapter and the temperature control plate is rotatable relative to the mixing plate. The mixing plate has an irregularly shaped opening configured to mix fluids with different temperatures such that the temperature of the mixed fluid increases linearly as a function of angular rotation of a temperature control handle.
US09416881B2
A high temperature gate valve includes a valve body, a valve element configured to open and close a flow path, and a guide member which is provided in the valve body and guides the valve element in an opening/closing direction. The valve body includes a valve body main portion and a bonnet portion. The valve element slides along the opening/closing direction guided by the guide member. The valve element at a shut-off position blocks the flow path by projecting into the valve body main portion, and at an open position retracts into the bonnet portion. The guide member is divided into a plurality of divided guiding elements along the opening/closing direction, and each of the divided guiding elements are welded to an inside of the valve body.
US09416874B2
A method for learning the bite point of a position-controlled clutch in a vehicle having an engine and a transmission includes commanding an engagement of a clutch fork via a controller when the transmission is in park and the engine is idling. The method also includes controlling an apply position of the clutch via the controller, calculating a clutch torque capacity of the clutch, and measuring the apply position via a position sensor. The apply position is recorded as the clutch bite point when the calculated clutch torque capacity equals a calibrated clutch torque capacity. The transmission is then controlled using the recorded clutch bite point. A system includes the transmission, input clutches, and a controller configured to execute the method. A vehicle includes an engine, the transmission, the position-controlled input clutch, and the controller, as well as a clutch position sensor.
US09416871B1
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic pump provides flow to separate drive motors for use in a vehicle or other application. Flow may be provided alternatively to a first fluid side and second fluid side. A first and a second flow divider motors are in hydraulic communication with an output of a shuttle valve. A first bypass valve is connected to the first fluid side and a second bypass valve is connected to the second fluid side, and both bypass valves have an open position and a closed position. A pilot operated valve is operably connected to both flow divider motors and to both bypass valves, and the pilot operated valve has three positions and is biased to a first position. One embodiment permits the output of the system to be driven in either forward or reverse directions.
US09416866B2
A planetary gear train is lubricated via a distribution ring and a planet gear carrier oil supply passage in communication with the distribution ring. The gear train includes a sun pinion that engages a planet gear at a sun planet gear mesh. The planet gear is rotatably mounted to a planet gear carrier. The planet gear carrier is configured to drive an output shaft. The output shaft may be operatively connected to a load. The planet gear rotates within a ring gear at a planet gear ring mesh. The distribution ring surrounds a planet gear carrier and has a hollow interior that communicates with an oil supply. A planet gear carrier oil supply passage may extend through a planet gear carrier of the gear train and supply oil to a sun planet gear mesh and the planet ring gear mesh, and bearings of the planetary gear train.
US09416857B2
A torsional vibration damping arrangement includes an input region to be driven in rotation around an axis of rotation and an output region. A first torque transmission path and parallel thereto a second torque transmission path and a coupling arrangement for superposing the torques transmitted via the torque transmission paths are provided between the input region and the output region. A first phase shifter arrangement is provided in the first torque transmission path for generating a phase shift of rotational irregularities transmitted via the first torque transmission path relative to rotational irregularities transmitted via the second torque transmission path.
US09416855B2
A wire connection apparatus includes a link unit and a drive unit configured to drive the link unit. The link unit includes a first link, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link, a third link rotatably coupled to the second link, a plurality of wires, each of which is fixed at one end thereof to the third link, and is fixed at the other end thereof to the drive unit, and through which a driving force is transmitted from the drive unit to the third link, a path forming structure to form a path of each of the wires between the drive unit and the third link, and a length holding structure to hold constant a length of each of the wires between the drive unit and the third link.
US09416839B2
NPR (negative Poisson's ratio) components for vehicle and other applications generally assume a tubular structure defining an axis, a length and a cross section. The structure is composed of a plurality of nested, double-V unit cells, each unit cell comprising a pair of side points A and B defining a width, a first pair of tensile members interconnecting points A and B and intersecting at a point C forming a first V shape, a second pair of stuffer members interconnecting points A and B and intersecting at a point D forming a second V shape. The unit cells are connected in a first direction with the point B of one cell being connected to point A of an adjoining cell, and so on, until completing a continuous band. The unit cells are further connected in a second direction with the point D of one cell being connected to point C of an adjoining cell. In one embodiment, the bands are stacked radially outwardly from the axis to form a bushing. In accordance with a second embodiment, the bands are stacked lengthwise along the structure to form a joust bumper.
US09416838B2
A hydraulic tension spring comprises a block comprising at least one liquid-impermeable cylinder and at least one piston disposed through an open end of the cylinder. The piston provides a piston guide within a liquid containment space within the cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. A tensioning member moves the piston or the cylinder relative to the other to compress the hydraulic fluid and load the spring, while the piston guide keeps the piston axially aligned to prevent buckling.
US09416837B2
A compression spring assembly can include a compression spring core and a compression spring shell that can be assembled onto the compression spring core. The compression spring core can include a core body with an outer core wall. The compression spring shell can include a shell body having an inner shell wall. The compression spring shell can be supported on the compression spring core such that the inner shell wall extends along at least a portion of the outer core wall. A method of manufacturing a compression spring assembly is also included.
US09416836B2
A supporting projection is formed on a resin base plate on which a seat winding portion of a coil spring is fitted. The supporting projection has such rigidity that a distal end portion does not deflect against a spring force applied radially inwards from the seat winding portion of the coil spring. On the other hand, an elastic deflectable area which deflects elastically by the spring force applied radially outwards from the seat winding portion of the coil spring is formed in an area which extends from a proximal end to the distal end portion of the supporting projection.
US09416835B2
A method of estimating brake pad wear includes determining required braking energy to be dissipated by a braking system as a fraction of total kinetic energy according to an energy partitioning model. The required braking energy is distributed to vehicle braking mechanisms according to a vehicle dynamics model. Rotor temperature of each brake rotor may be determined according to a rotor temperature model that utilizes the required braking energy and the distribution of the required braking energy, and determining brake pad wear of each brake pad according to a brake pad wear model that utilizes the rotor temperature and the distributed required braking energy. A first brake pad wear model is implemented under first operating conditions, and a second brake pad wear model under second operating conditions. The brake pad wear is indicated via a brake pad wear indicator output device. A vehicle has a controller that implements the method.
US09416818B2
An object of the invention is to provide a dust cover for a ball joint which can suppress generation of a so-called mouth opening phenomenon in a small-diameter opening portion even under a low-temperature atmosphere, can effectively inhibit a seal performance from being lowered in the small-diameter opening portion and inhibit the sedimentation or the garbage from entering into a dust cover from an external portion, and has a good sealing performance. For this purpose, in a dust cover for a ball joint having a spherical head portion, a shaft, one end large-diameter opening portion, the other end small-diameter portion, and a film portion, concavo-concave engagement is formed between an inner peripheral surface of the rigid ring and an outer peripheral surface of a retainer having a cylindrical portion which is fitted and retained to an outer peripheral surface of the shaft.
US09416815B2
A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder defined by a longitudinal axis, a first end, a distal second end, and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The driveshaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first end, a distal second end, and an inner shaft stiffness. The first end of the inner shaft is engaged with the first end of the hollow cylinder via a rotational clearance fit. The second end of the inner shaft is rotationally fixed to the second end of the hollow cylinder such that the first end of the inner shaft can twist to a predetermined angle with respect to the second end of the inner shaft. The inner shaft stiffness defines a first-stage stiffness of the driveshaft, and the inner shaft stiffness and the hollow cylinder stiffness together define a second-stage stiffness of the driveshaft.
US09416813B2
An aircraft boarding bridge or stairs with a bellows attached to a head frame of the aircraft boarding bridge or stairs by a fastening device. The fastening device has a positive connection acting at least in to spatial directions, wherein the positive connection is fixable by an at least non-positive connection member.
US09416805B2
A solenoid operated locking mechanism uses a permanent magnet to secure a lockable rod to the solenoid locking mechanism. A solenoid operated plunger determines the location and movement of locking members that extend into a locking chamber, thus controlling the movement of the lockable rod past the locking members. Inserting the lockable rod into the locking mechanism forces the plunger against a spring toward a permanent magnet that holds the plunger in the locked position until an electrical pulse energizes the solenoid which reduces or cancels the permanent magnet's magnetic field and allows the lockable rod to be withdrawn from the locking chamber. The locking mechanism only requires energy to be applied to the solenoid to release the locking rod from the solenoid. The locking mechanism only requires energy to be applied to the solenoid to release the locking rod from the solenoid.
US09416801B2
A method and apparatus for draining fluid from a structure on an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a drainage tube, a housing, a number of inlet holes in the housing, and a number of outlet holes in the housing. The drainage tube has first end that connects to a structure on an aircraft and a second end opposite the first end. The housing connects to the structure. The drainage tube is located within the housing. Air flows into the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of inlet holes in the housing. The air flows out of the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of outlet holes. The air flowing into the housing through the number of inlet holes and out the housing through the number of outlet holes directs fluid out of the drainage tube and away from the structure during flight of the aircraft.
US09416794B2
A serial fan assembling method includes the steps of providing a first and a second fan; providing a union member having a bottom panel and two side panels, which together define a receiving space having a top forming a first open side and two axially opposite ends respectively forming a second open side; connecting the first fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side; and connecting the second fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side, or connecting the second fan to the bottom panel of the union member via one of the second open sides, so that the first and the second fan connected to the union member are serially located in the receiving space and connected to each other.
US09416793B2
A centrifugal fan includes a housing and a fan body. The housing includes an upper cover and a lower cover. The fan body is disposed in the housing and includes a hub and at least a blade. The hub is pivotally connected to the lower cover. The blade includes an air intake portion and an air exhaust portion. The air intake portion is connected to the peripheral edge of the hub. The air exhaust portion is connected to the air intake portion and is disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover. The width of the air exhaust portion is gradually reduced along a direction away from the air intake portion.
US09416784B2
Provided is an exhaust pump that comprises connecting opening portions that can be deburred easily and that are suitable for enhancing gas evacuation performance. A rotor (a cylindrical rotating member) of an exhaust pump comprises a plate body that has a ring-like projection on a reverse side outer peripheral section of the rotor, and a cylindrical body that is fitted into an outer periphery of the ring-like projection. Connecting opening portions of the exhaust pump comprise holes that are formed by notching an outer peripheral section of the plate body and an outer peripheral section of the ring-like projection, and a portion (specifically, a hole) of the holes that opens in the form of a horizontal hole is covered by an outer-peripheral upper end portion of the cylindrical body.
US09416783B2
The invention relates to a rotor for a fluid pump, in particular for use in the medical sphere, the rotor being compressible for bringing to the place of use and thereafter being expandable. The compressibility is assisted by the provision of cavities, in particular also production of the rotor at least partially from a foam.
US09416777B2
An electrochemical actuator drive system and method that provides for full control of an electrochemical pump system having at least three electrochemical actuators, including two valve actuators, and one pump actuator. The driving circuit is based on a standard H-bridge driving circuit wherein part of the circuit is shared among actuators. Because the system only needs to operate either the pump actuator or one of the valve actuators at any given time, part of the H-bridge driving circuit can be shared among the three actuators, thereby permitting the use of four half-bridge driving circuits.
US09416776B2
A microfluidic distributing device having a plurality of microchannels for the analysis of a fluid sample (such as blood). The microfluidic distributing device has a fluid sample entry port from which subsamples of the fluid sample are distributed to the plurality of microchannels in which fluid subsamples are treated for analysis by test devices.
US09416771B2
A method for controlling aerodynamic loads in wind turbine (20), includes stopping rotation of blades (22) of the turbine about a rotor shaft axis (38); stopping rotation of a nacelle (30) of the turbine about a vertical yaw axis (36); pitching each blade of the turbine about its respective pitch axis (43) into a stable pitch angle range (52B-52C or 52E-52F) in which a resulting root twisting moment (52) created by a current wind loading (48, 50) on the respective blade is in a direction urging pitch rotation of the blade toward a position of lower root twisting moment; and releasing the blades to rotate passively about their respective pitch axes during subsequent changing wind directions (VR1). A blade may be designed to better align a root zero twisting moment (52A, 52D) in the stable pitch angle range with a minimum (48B, 48D, 50B, 50D) wind loading.
US09416769B2
A method to control the operation of a wind turbine is provided. According to the method a sound of a bat in the area of the wind turbine is detected. According to the detected sound of the bat in the area of the wind turbine a parameter for the operation of the wind turbine is set.
US09416764B1
A system is provided for converting flow through a pipe to electric power and then using this electric power productively, through lighting, or the powering of other electronic devices.
US09416760B2
A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet, and has disposed therein a nozzle chamber, a needle control chamber and a valve chamber. The needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet through a drain passage that includes the conical seat, is fluidly connected to the nozzle chamber through a Z orifice, and fluidly connected to the valve chamber through an A orifice. The nozzle chamber is fluidly connected to the valve chamber by a pressure passage that includes an F orifice that opens through a flat seat. A control valve member is trapped to move between contact with conical seat and contact with the flat seat. An electrical actuator is operable to push the control valve member away from the conical seat toward the flat seat when energized. A direct control needle valve has an opening hydraulic surface positioned in the nozzle chamber and a closing hydraulic surface positioned in the needle control chamber. The fuel injector may include first and second electronically controlled valves for independently injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel.
US09416759B2
A fuel feed device (1) for a fuel tank (3) is presented. The fuel feed device (1) has a filter (9) with a filter housing (11). The fuel feed device (1) furthermore has a second ejector pump (21) with a second nozzle (23) and a second mixing tube (25). The second mixing tube (25) is arranged perpendicularly to a base of the fuel tank (3). The second ejector pump (21) is at least partially integrated into the filter housing (11).
US09416750B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a piston head that has a piston crown, a top land, a ring part, and a combustion bowl with a bowl base, a bowl wall, and an insert which is made of an annular component and which is held in the piston head by means of an undercut section. According to the invention, the component has an inner wall on the bowl side, the inner wall continuously tapering off all the way to the bowl wall or the bowl base in a flush manner, thereby forming a circumferential edge that tapers into a point.
US09416745B2
An internal combustion engine (1) that has a variable-compression-ratio mechanism (2) has variable valve mechanisms (7, 8) for an intake valve (4) and an exhaust valve (5), respectively. If a malfunction in the variable-compression-ratio mechanism (2), which controls a mechanical compression ratio via an electric motor (31), is detected from the amplitude of variations in an actual compression ratio, then if the fuel supply to the engine is cut, a throttle valve (14) is opened wider than would be the case if the variable-compression-ratio mechanism (2) were not malfunctioning, thereby reducing in-cylinder negative pressure during the intake stroke. Also, the timing with which the intake valve is closed is advanced and the timing with which the exhaust valve is opened is retarded, increasing the in-cylinder positive pressure during the compression and power strokes. This prevents the variable-compression-ratio mechanism (2) from increasing the compression ratio when control is lost.
US09416743B2
A target cylinder count module determines a target number of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a future period. The future period includes N sub-periods, and N is an integer greater than one. Based on the target number, a first sequence setting module generates a sequence indicating N target numbers of cylinders to be activated during the N sub-periods, respectively. A second sequence setting module retrieves N predetermined sequences for activating and deactivating cylinders during the N sub-periods, respectively, and generates a target sequence for activating and deactivating cylinders during the future period based on the N predetermined sequences. During the future period, a cylinder actuator module: activates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be activated based on the target sequence; and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be deactivated based on the target sequence.
US09416738B2
A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided, which can carry out favorable injection amount feedback control even when a fuel property changes. A cylinder internal pressure sensor (16) that detects a cylinder internal pressure is included. A cylinder internal fresh air amount is calculated based on the cylinder internal pressure detected by the cylinder internal pressure sensor (16) (100). Based on the cylinder internal pressure detected by the cylinder internal pressure sensor (16), an actual heating value is calculated (120). From the calculated cylinder internal fresh air amount, a target heating value in a predetermined excess air ratio is calculated (150). A comparison value of the actual heating value and the target heating value is fed back to a fuel injection amount so that the calculated actual heating value corresponds to the target heating value (160, 170).
US09416736B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes increasing engine drag torque, transitioning from a cylinder deactivation state to an all-cylinder state, and decreasing engine drag torque immediately subsequent to transitioning to the all-cylinder state.
US09416721B2
A structure for separating condensate formed in a charge-air-cooler of a turbocharged engine system. The structure may include ribs that catch and direct condensate away from the outlet. The structure may also include a deflector and water dam that prevents condensation from exiting the charge-air-cooler outlet. The condensate maybe be collected and simply drained to outside of the vehicle.
US09416720B2
Systems and methods for providing an improved strategy for controlling a variable speed water pump in a vehicle. In some embodiments, more than one water pump speed function is calculated based on values obtained from vehicle sensors, and a controller chooses among the water pump speed function results to set a water pump speed. In some embodiments, the water pump speed is increased when driveline torque is greater than a threshold amount for an amount of time that varies based on the driveline torque. In some embodiments, ambient temperature is considered while determining whether the water pump should provide full coolant flow to an auxiliary coolant loop of a trailer.
US09416715B2
A method and an arrangement for monitoring an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. Temperature profiles upstream and downstream of an installation location of a catalytic converter are measured in order to determine whether or not a catalytic converter is installed.
US09416712B2
A heat exchanger, for an exhaust gas system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1), includes a thermoelectric module (13), converting thermal energy into electrical energy, having a hot side (17) and a cold side (18). A cooling pipe (15), for a cooling fluid, is arranged on the cold side (18) and a heating pipe (16) for a heating fluid, is arranged on the hot side (17). The cooling pipe (15) and the heating pipe (16) are stacked with the thermoelectric module (13) in a stacking direction (19) and form a stack (20). The heat transfer within the stack (20) is improved with at least one of the pipes (15, 16) being curved toward the thermoelectric module (13) at an outer pipe face (26) and with the thermoelectric module (13) curved toward the pipe (15, 16) at an outer module face (27) facing the particular pipe (15, 16).
US09416711B1
An exhaust gas heat energy recovery and pollution control system for a marine vessel is disclosed. The system includes (a) an exhaust gas boiler that receives exhaust gases from a gas or fuel oil-burning internal combustion engine, (b) a variable capacity wet scrubbing system that sprays a mixture into the exhaust gases, (c) two or more condensing heat exchangers that receive exhaust gases, (d) a variable flow and variable pressure exhaust gas mover that facilitates movement of the exhaust gases, (e) a liquid collection and treatment system that collects liquid condensate, (f) one or more heat sinks to receive thermal energy from exhaust gases, (g) an interconnecting fluid conduit that allows for movement of exhaust gases, and (h) a control system communicatively coupled with a plurality of sensors, actuators, and external interfaces.
US09416709B2
A dosing valve for administering a reducing agent into an exhaust stream within an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The dosing valve includes a valve needle internally coaxial to a valve body and held in a closed position by a force of compressed spring acting axially and held in relation to the valve needle and valve body. The negative impact of varnish and dehydrogenated compounds, or coking products, of hydrocarbon based reducing agents, is substantially reduced or eliminated. Additionally, this includes decreased sensitivity to the negative impact of the precipitates and crystals that come out of the solution due to temperature change with urea-based reducing agents.
US09416706B2
The invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment system comprising a catalytic particulate filter, a catalytic reduction device for the reduction of nitrogen oxides, which is mounted downstream of the catalytic particulate filter, an injection device mounted upstream of the catalytic particulate filter, a means for determining the temperature of the catalytic particulate filter and an electronic control unit able to command injection of reducing agent. The electronic control unit comprises a first control means able to command injection of the reducing agent in order to obtain a reference quantity of reducing agent stored in the filter that corresponds to a filter temperature below a threshold, and a second control means able to command the injection of reducing agent in order to obtain a reference quantity of reducing agent stored in the device that corresponds to a filter temperature higher than said threshold.
US09416703B2
A mixer configuration for mixing an additive with an exhaust gas stream includes at least one overflow surface which is disposed in a mixing section of an exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe has a cross section and a main flow direction of the exhaust gas stream. The at least one overflow surface is disposed centrally in the mixing section, is directed along the main flow direction of the exhaust gas stream and has a multiplicity of closed depressions. The mixer configuration permits an excellent mixture of the exhaust gas stream with an additive, without generating a high flow resistance in the process. A motor vehicle having a mixer configuration is also provided.
US09416693B2
Methods and systems are provided for an oil pump mounting structure that provides accessibility and removal of the oil pump without removing a balancer shaft. While periodically servicing or replacing the oil pump may be necessary throughout the lifetime of an engine, it is desirable to allow for easy removal of the oil pump without removing and reassembling other engine components. To provide alignment and a rigid connection between the oil pump and engine frame while allowing for removal of the oil pump without removing other components, dowel bolts with unthreaded, threaded, and dowel portions are used to mount the oil pump to the engine frame.
US09416692B2
An auxiliary valve actuating mechanism of an engine includes a first valve actuating mechanism and an auxiliary valve actuating mechanism. The auxiliary valve actuating mechanism comprises an auxiliary cam, an auxiliary rocker-arm shaft, an auxiliary rocker arm, an eccentric rocker arm bushing and a bushing actuation device. One end of the auxiliary rocker arm constitutes a motion pair with the auxiliary cam and the other end is above the valve. The bushing actuation device actuates the eccentric rocker arm bushing to rotate between an operating position and a non-operating position.
US09416678B2
In a steam valve, a seat-side convexly curved surface (35b) of a valve body (30) is configured such that the average radius of curvature Rv from a starting end portion (35c) on the upstream side in a flow direction of steam to a termination end portion (35a) has a relationship of Rv
US09416676B2
The present invention relates to a gas turbine having a housing (1), an outer sealing ring (2) that can be fastened detachably to the housing, a clamping member (3) for clamping the outer sealing ring and the housing together radially, and a rotation locking member that has at least one housing groove (10) and a radial flange (20) of the outer sealing ring that can be locked against rotation in the housing groove in form-fitting manner with play (sa) in the axial and/or peripheral direction.
US09416674B1
A floating air riding seal for a gas turbine engine with a rotor and a stator, an annular piston chamber with an axial moveable annular piston assembly within the annular piston chamber formed in the stator, an annular cavity formed on the annular piston assembly that faces a seal surface on the rotor, where the axial moveable annular piston includes an inlet scoop on a side opposite to the annular cavity that scoops up the swirling cooling air and directs the cooling air to the annular cavity to form an air cushion with the seal surface of the rotor.
US09416671B2
A bimetallic ring for use as a turbine shroud in a gas turbine engine. The bimetallic ring forms a sealing surface as a hot gas flow path boundary in the engine. The ring is comprised of two materials. The first material, a wrought, oxidation resistant metal alloy comprises a first portion, which is the hot gas flow path sealing surface. The second material, a low cost low alloy steel, comprises a second portion that may be at least a pair of supporting side plates. A dissimilar weld joint joins the sealing surface to the second portion, the at least pair of supporting side plates.
US09416663B2
A method of establishing a boundary for a material improvement process on a workpiece is disclosed. The method may include identifying a maximum allowable damage depth on the workpiece; identifying a maximum constant thickness line on the workpiece at an extent of the maximum allowable damage depth; identifying a peak vibratory stress gradient on the workpiece; identifying a peak combined engine stress on the workpiece; and specifying the boundary for the material improvement process on the workpiece relative to the maximum constant thickness line, peak vibratory stress gradient, and peak combined engine stress.
US09416660B2
A pin handling device for coupling and decoupling conveyor segments to and from a train of conveyor segments in high wall mining includes a base frame, a base frame drive system for moving the base frame relative to the conveyor segments, a connector element for holding pins to be handled, a rotational drive system attached to the base frame and connected to the connector element, and a lift system attached to the base frame and carrying the connector element for linear movement of the connector element. A coupling pin is also provided for coupling conveyor segments in a train of conveyor segments in high wall mining as well as the conveyor segment that enables the use of such pin handling device and such coupling pins. A method of coupling and detaching conveyor segments for high wall mining is also provided.
US09416647B2
A methodology performs downhole fluid analysis at multiple measurement stations within a wellbore traversing a reservoir to determine gradients of compositional components and other fluid properties. A model is used to predict concentrations of a plurality of high molecular weight solute part class-types at varying reservoir locations. Such predictions are compared against downhole measurements to identify the best matching solute part class-type. If the best-matching class type corresponds to at least one predetermined asphaltene component, phase stability of asphaltene in the reservoir fluid at a given depth is evaluated using equilibrium criteria involving an oil rich phase and an asphaltene rich phase of respective components of the reservoir fluid at the given depth. The result of the evaluation of asphaltene rich phase stability is used for reservoir analysis. The computational analysis that evaluates asphaltene rich phase stability can also be used in other reservoir understanding workflows and in reservoir simulation.
US09416637B2
A system and method enabling flow control with respect to a well related fluid. The system utilizes a choke manifold with a choke that can serve the function of both a fixed choke and an adjustable choke. The choke comprises components that are selectively adjusted to effectively provide differing calibrated flow paths along which the well related fluid flows when passing through the choke manifold. The choke manifold also may be combined with other system components in an efficient arrangement that facilitates handling of a variety of fluids, including multiphase fluids.
US09416624B2
The disclosure describes a lockout tool including a cam housing configured to fit within a flow tube of a safety valve that is coupled to production tubing and has a longitudinal up-down axis. The lockout tool further includes a piston disposed within the cam housing and configured to move within the cam housing parallel to the longitudinal up-down axis and form a plurality of dimples in the flow tube upon provision within the production tubing of a pressurized fluid.
US09416618B2
An apparatus and a method are for supplying a fluidized plugging material to a well. The apparatus includes: a carrier body defined by an indefinite side portion extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the carrier body being arranged to be set in motion by a driving device; and at least one displacement member arranged on the carrier body, the displacement member being defined by the surface of the carrier body and a free end portion facing the inside of the casing, and the driving device being arranged to set the carrier body and the displacement member in motion in the bore of the casing, so that the fluidized plugging material is set in motion within the bore of the casing.
US09416616B2
A well tool includes: a well packer; a hydraulic sub-assembly coupled to the well packer; an anti-preset assembly coupled to the hydraulic sub-assembly; a slip assembly coupled to the anti-preset assembly; and a fold-back assembly coupled between the well packer and the hydraulic sub-assembly. The well packer includes an expandable member that rides on a mandrel extending at least a portion of the well tool. The fold-back assembly includes a bias member carried on the mandrel and adapted to engage a profile formed on the mandrel based on a setting stroke that adjusts the expandable member into an expanded position in substantially sealing contact with a tubular.
US09416612B2
The cutting structure on the lower mill is arrayed in rows that are preferably parallel. The cutting structure in each row is made sharper and more durable than prior designs with the objective of cutting the window higher than where the window mill started the window. The use of the rows increases the contact stress of the inserts on the casing inside wall because at any given time fewer and sharper inserts are cutting the casing wall to lengthen the window. As a row wears down the next row takes over to continue the cutting where the previous row was active and to further penetrate the casing wall. The cutout angle can also increase as this occurs. As a result a decreased insert density results in more effective casing wall cutting to extend the window to allow larger tools to exit into the window off the whipstock.
US09416609B2
A system and method for positioning a tool within a tubular segment or a tubular tool, wherein the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool is provided with one or more pluralities of grooves, each defining a selected profile. A downhole tool is lowered into the tubular segment or tubular tool, having a blade in communication therewith. The blade includes a plurality of protruding members thereon, which define a profile complementary to one of the selected profiles formed by one of the pluralities of grooves. A biasing member biases the blade toward the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool to engage the protruding members of the blade within the complementary profile of the tubular segment or the tubular tool. The system and method further include a slip and wedge assembly usable to position a tubular segment or tubular tool within a tubular member or wellbore.
US09416608B2
A slip for a tangentially loaded retrievable slip system includes a frame including an interior having first and second sides; and, a key having a first portion within the interior of the frame. The first portion of the key movable within the interior of the frame; wherein the key is movable from a set condition with at least a contact point of first and second sides of the first portion of the key pushing against at least a portion of the first and second sides of the interior of the frame in the set condition to an unset condition with the first and second sides of the first portion of the key releasing pressure from the first and second sides of the interior of the frame. Also included is a method of managing a tangential load imparted by a tangential slip system.
US09416604B2
A mixing device has an elongate shell, an inlet, an outlet and at least one shear orifice between the inlet and the outlet. A hydration passage is located between the shear orifice and the outlet. The hydration passage has a flow area greater than a total shear flow area of the shear orifice, greater than an inlet flow area of the inlet and greater than an outlet flow area of the outlet. During operation, a polymer is mixed in a fluid flow flowing to the intake of a positive displacement pump, which pumps the fluid through the mixing device and into an injection conduit leading into a well. The shear orifice produces high shear separation of molecules of the polymer. The hydration passage causes hydration under pressure of the various polymer molecules in addition to blending the various chemicals and/or gases with other components of the fluid flow stream.
US09416591B2
A telescoping ladder includes a stabilizer connected to a stabilizer housing proximal to the floor surface on which the ladder is positioned. The first stabilizer can move between an extended position and a collapsed position. In the extended position, the first stabilizer extends out of a hollow body portion of the stabilizer housing and collapse into the hollow body portion of the rung in the collapsed position. The stabilizer comprises a locking button to lock the stabilizer in its extended position. The ladder comprises a flange that can release the locking button thereby unlocking the stabilizer from its extended position and move it into the collapsed position.
US09416583B2
This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.
US09416577B2
A pivoting door is provided for a carwash vehicle conveyor. The pivoting door does not require counter weights or stops. The pivoting door has a top bar, a pair of arms each with a bottom end and extend from the top bar, and tensioning units. One of the tensioning units is disposed at the bottom end of each of the arms. Each of the tensioning units has a main pin and a spring unit. When a roller pushes the top bar to an open position the tensioning units produce a counter torque for automatically returning the pivoting door to a closed position after the roller passes by.
US09416571B1
A swinging double gate latch with a lock pin including a vertical beam disposed on an end portion of a fence having a left side, a top side, and a bottom side. An outer mounting plate disposed on the beam left side proximal each of the top side and the bottom side, with an annular collar centrally disposed on each of the outer mounting plates. An inner mounting plate disposed on the beam left side disposed proximal each of the outer mounting plates. A pair of latches comprising an upper latch and a lower latch, with each of the upper latch and the lower latch further comprising a front flap and a rear stopper flap. A U-shaped mount having a pair of outer ends and center support therebetween disposed proximal the beam top side. A handle continuously engaging the mount center support and a continuous shaft rotationally engaging the collars.
US09416569B1
A latch assembly may be configured for use with a first structure having an outer surface and a second structure that is movable relative to the first structure. The latch assembly may include a latch member and a visual indicator device. The latch member may be movable into and out of a latching position securing the second structure to the first structure. The visual indicator device may be movable between a retracted position not protruding outward from the outer surface of the first structure and an extended position protruding outward from the outer surface. A linkage may be operatively connected between the latch member and the visual indicator device to move the visual indicator device from the retracted position to the extended position under the influence of the latch member when the latch member is moved out of the latching position.
US09416557B2
The disclosed concerns a method of transporting a tower of a wind turbine in an upright position to an assembly site of the wind turbine, whereby the tower is equipped with a strake set comprising a number of strakes positioned to lead from a top of the tower in the upright position down towards a bottom of the tower, at least one of the strakes being realized as a detachable strake. The invention also concerns a strake set and transport assembly.
US09416547B2
A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
US09416544B2
Disclosed within is a support that attaches to the roof without mechanical fasteners, results in only minor increases to the roof load by requiring no ballast, and bonds to the surface of the roof. The result is a roof that is stronger with the roof supports than without, and a roof with an enhanced ability to perform its functions.The roof support device consists generally of a baseplate, a column affixed to, or intrinsic to, the upper surface of the baseplate, the column surrounding a rod, the rod protruding above the top of the column. The roof support device is preferably affixed to a roof using an adhesive applied the underside of the baseplate. The roof support device is installed using spray foam, which acts to strengthen the bond with the roof, and providing additional protection against water infiltration.
US09416516B2
A manhole cover assembly is adapted to be received in an opening in a frame enclosing a vault chamber. A manhole cover is fit into the opening. A pair of lugs are mounted to an underside of said manhole cover on opposite sides thereof. Each lug has a portion projecting radially out in a first position so as to engage a fixed feature of said frame. At least one of said lugs is connected to a pivotable member having an upper end projecting up through said manhole cover so that said upper end is engageable to be able to be rotated and cause rotation of said lug therewith between the first position and a second position with said lug not projecting radially out such that the lug radially clears said fixed feature of said frame to allow said manhole cover to be moved up and out of said frame opening.
US09416512B2
Apparatus and methods for the installation of pipe pilings into the ground for use as structural building foundations, geothermal piles, or both, are disclosed. In addition to specialized fittings for pipe pile assemblies, the inventions include specialized drive mechanisms used in conjunction with rotary or vibratory motors. Methods of installing pipe pilings are further improved with the disclosure of methods of adding grout or similar materials during or after installation of the piles.
US09416503B1
Drying apparatus for drying a road surface prior to laying down asphalt includes an air jet for pushing liquid away from a road surface, and a heater for drying the road surface. The air jet removes standing water from the road surface and the dryer evaporates any residual moisture on the surface.
US09416502B2
In a self-propelled road milling machine for milling road surfaces comprising a milling roller housing arranged at the machine frame between the front and rear chassis axles, it is provided that the rear end, as seen in the direction of travel, of the milling roller housing is flush with a height adjustable stripper shield which laterally rests in the milling track of the milling roller and resiliently against a milling edge of the milling track extending orthogonally to the road surface.
US09416498B2
The invention relates to a method of profiling a running surface of a laid rail by means of a processing vehicle, in particular in the region of a switch, comprising placing a first copying probe element displaceable transversely to the rail in contact with the running edge or the inner side edge and machining the rail.
US09416484B2
Household appliance comprising an outer casing (2) provided with a worktop (3), wherein said worktop (3) comprises a plurality of apertures (7), each one of which is fluidly connected with conveying means adapted to deliver a flow of air through said apertures (7) for drying garments laid upon the same worktop.
US09416483B1
Laundry machine leveling devices for a laundry machine are disclosed which employ a screw arrangement having left and right hand threads engaged with a foot arranged such that the machine, the floor, and the foot in contact with the floor does not turn. Using the friction between an elastomeric foot element and the floor permits adjustment of devices disclosed herein.
US09416478B2
A washing machine and an associated washing method are provided. The method may include supplying washing fluid into a drum containing laundry, repeatedly dropping the laundry while rotating the drum in a predetermined direction, and drawing the laundry towards or separating the laundry from the inner circumferential surface of the drum by repeatedly accelerating and decelerating the drum.
US09416477B2
A control method for a washing machine including a wireless communication unit for communicating with an electronic device includes: causing the washing machine to operate a washing tub of the washing machine as a preliminary operation; acquiring motion information regarding a motion of the electronic device during the preliminary operation; determining whether or not the electronic device is inside the washing tub based on the acquired motion information and information indicating the preliminary operation; and giving the washing machine a notification indicating that the electronic device is inside the washing tub if the determining step determines that the electronic device is inside the washing tub.
US09416476B2
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance to adjust the thermal output of the heater to control the total power consumption of the washing machine.
US09416474B2
A washer that washes a continuous piece of tubular knitted fabric material. The washer includes a frame, a set of rollers, an air nozzle rack, and a controller. The frame rests on a support surface. The set of rollers are rotatably attached within the frame and guide the material through a washing liquid to wash the material. The air nozzle rack is replaceably attached to within the frame and blows air onto the material to cause ballooning of the material to maximize exposure of a total surface area of the material to the washing liquid. The controller is operatively connected to the set of rollers and minimizes and keeps constant the tension of the material as the material passes through the washing liquid under an influence of the air nozzle rack to thereby provide a more effective wash of the material.
US09416466B1
A core cabling device and method provides a first supply of yarn supported by a structure having a bore, such as a yarn cone, and a second supply of yarn that is then directed through the bore. As the first and second yarns are fed simultaneously, the first yarn winds, at least loosely, about the second yarn. It will become apparent that more than two yarns may be cabled together in such a manner.
US09416465B2
Various embodiments of a process for making fibers comprising a high heat polymer are provided. In one embodiment, a process for producing polymer fiber includes extruding molten polymer having a melt temperature ranging from about 180-500° C., passing the molten polymer through a plurality of openings of a spinneret to produce a fiber bundle, and contacting the fiber bundle with a cooling medium having a substantially uniform flow distribution across the width of the fiber bundle where the cooling medium has a temperature that ranges from about 0° C. to about 80° C.
US09416462B2
A machining system for machining a workpiece is provided. The machining system comprises a machine tool, a plurality of cutting tools, a CNC controller. The plurality of cutting tools comprises an electrode and a conventional cutting tool exchangeably disposed on the machine tool. The machining system further comprises a power supply, a process controller, and an electrolyte supply, wherein the machine tool, the electrode, the CNC controller, the power supply, the process controller and the electrolyte supply are configured to cooperate to function as an electroerosion machining device, wherein the machine tool, the CNC controller, the conventional cutting tool and the electrolyte supply are configured to cooperate to function as a conventional machining device, and wherein the machining system is configured to function alternately as the electroerosion machining device and the conventional machining device.
US09416461B2
A mold includes an anodized porous alumina layer over its surface. The anodized porous alumina layer has a plurality of first and second recessed portions. The plurality of second recessed portions have a two-dimensional size of not less than 190 nm and not more than 50 μm when viewed in a direction normal to the mold surface and have a plurality of minute recessed portions over its inner surface. The plurality of minute recessed portions have a two-dimensional size of not less than 10 nm and not more than 200 nm; and have a two-dimensional size of not less than 10 nm and not more than 200 nm. The plurality of first recessed portions are provided between the plurality of second recessed portions. The average value of the two-dimensional size of the plurality of second recessed portions is greater than that of the plurality of first recessed portions.
US09416460B2
Disclosed is a steel sheet for containers that maintains excellent corrosion resistance even when a surface treatment that replaces a chromate treatment has been conducted, and that has excellent film adhesion qualities and appearance. This steel plate for containers has, on at least one surface thereof, a chemical conversion coating including at least two coatings selected from a zirconium coating that contains zirconium and has a metal zirconium content of 0.1-9 mg/m2, a phosphate coating that contains phosphoric acid and has a phosphorous content of 0.1-8 mg/m2, and a phenolic resin coating that contains phenolic resin in an amount of 0.5-8 mg/m2 in terms of carbon, the percentage of the area of the surface of the chemical conversion coating layer having particles Of a prescribed size being 0.1-50%.
US09416453B2
The present invention relates to an electroless gold plating liquid, which may form gold plating without corrosion of a base metal by performing substitution and reduction reactions in the same bath, and satisfy both weldability of lead-free soldering and wire bonding characteristics, and has excellent stability such that a gold deposition rate may be continuously maintained.
US09416448B2
There is disclosed a film deposition apparatus and a film deposition method for depositing a film on a substrate by carrying out cycles of supplying in turn at least two source gases to the substrate in order to form a layer of a reaction product, and a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing the film deposition apparatus to carry out the film deposition method.
US09416444B2
Raw material gas supply nozzles are arranged within a virtual concentric circle having its center at the center of a disk-like base plate (having an area half as large as an area of the base plate). Raw material gas is ejected at a flow velocity of 150 m/sec or more into a bell jar from the gas supply nozzles. In addition to one gas supply nozzle provided in a center portion of the base plate, three gas supply nozzles can be arranged at the vertex positions of a regular triangle inscribed in a circumscribed circle having its center at the gas supply nozzle in the center portion. With the gas supply nozzles so arranged, a smooth circulating flow is formed within a reactor.
US09416441B2
The present invention relates to a method for the vapor deposition of PVD layer systems by means of sputtering on at least one substrate, wherein the layer system comprises at least a first layer, characterized in that, at least in one step of the method, a HiPIMS method is used with a power density of at least 250 W/Cm2, wherein a pulse length with a duration of at least 5ms is used while a substrate bias is applied to the substrate.
US09416439B2
A method of fabricating a sputtering target is provided. The method includes preparing a first powder material, wherein the first powder material includes tin oxide; preparing a mixture by mixing the first powder material and a second powder material, wherein the second powder material includes carbon; and fabricating the sputtering target by compressing and sintering the mixture simultaneously in a reducing atmosphere.
US09416429B2
A method for optimization of a response of a biological system includes: (1) obtaining measurements of a biological system in response to varying concentrations of drugs in a drug combination; (2) fitting the measurements into a model of the biological system; and (3) using the model of the biological system, predicting concentrations of the drugs in the drug combination to yield an optimized response of the biological system.
US09416428B2
A method for the quantification of a vaccine strain and/or a virulent strain of Marek's Disease Virus Serotype-1 (MDV-1) in a sample from a bird, comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biological sample from the bird and optionally isolating nucleic acid from the biological sample; (ii) subjecting the biological sample of (i) to real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) comprising: (a) amplification of a region of the pp38 gene within the nucleic acid sample of (i), said region containing a consistent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference between vaccine and virulent strains of MDV-1; and (b) contacting the amplified nucleic acid of (a) with a detectable nucleic acid probe specific for the SNP of the vaccine strain of MDV-1 and/or a detectable nucleic acid probe specific for the SNP of the virulent strain of MDV-1; and (iii) Measuring changes in the detectable signal produced by the probe of (ii). Methods are also provided for the absolute quantification is of vaccine and virulent viruses.
US09416419B2
Provided are methods for amplifying a gene or RNA or sets thereof of interest using a tandem PCR process. The primers in the first PCR or set of PCR reactions are locus-specific. The primers in the second PCR or set of PCR reactions are specific for a sub-sequence of the locus-specific primers and completely consumed during the second PCR amplification. For RNA amplification, the first PCR is reverse transcription and the resulting cDNA(s) provide a template for cRNA synthesis, endpoint PCR or real time PCR. Also provided is a tandem PCR method which accepts raw, completely unpurified mouthwash, cheek swabs and ORAGENE™-stabilized saliva as the sample input, the resulting amplicons serving as the substrate for complex, microarray-based genetic testing. Also provided is a method of allelotyping a gene or set thereof by amplifying the gene(s) using tandem PCR on DNA or RNA comprising the sample.
US09416412B2
The invention provides novel nucleic acid polymerases from strains GK24 and RQ-1 of Thermus thermophilus, and nucleic acids encoding those polymerases, as well as methods for using the polymerases and nucleic acids.
US09416407B2
A method of sample analysis is provided. In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: a) contacting under primer extension conditions a genomic sample comprising a test genome with a set of at least ten sequence-specific primers that are complementary to sites in only one strand of a reference chromosomal region, to produce primer extension products, and b) analyzing the primer extension products to identify a chromosomal rearrangement in the test genome.
US09416401B2
The invention is related to a method and test kits for quantitative determination of polynucleotide amounts present in a sample. The test kit comprises organized pools with polynucleotide probes having distinct sizes and optionally provided with tracer tags or primer tags. The probes are allowed to hybridize with affinity tagged analyte polynucleotides from the sample. The result is hybrids, which can be recovered on a separation aiding tool provided with the pair of the affinity tag. After the quantitative release of the probes, the probes are either directly recorded, or if primer tagged, they are amplified and optionally provided with a tracer tag before recording. The invention provides a sensitive and quantitative determination of the amount polynucleotides present in a cell or tissue sample and allows a quantitative assessment of variations in the amounts of polynucleotides as a response to inherent changes or due to external stimuli.
US09416395B2
Provided herein are methods for detecting an Aspergillus protease in a sample, diagnosing a subject with aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus infection based on the presence of an Aspergillus protease in a sample, and methods of aspergillosis treatment that incorporate these diagnostic methods. In certain embodiments, the Aspergillus protease is Asp f2, and the Aspergillus infection is caused A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. niger, or A. terreus. Also provided herein are antibodies and kits for use in these methods, including novel antibodies specific for Asp f2.
US09416393B2
This invention relates to a biological indicator derived from a composition comprising: a host organism comprising a spore forming bacteria; a reporter gene for producing an indicator enzyme; a regulatory gene; and a vehicle for inserting the reporter gene and the regulatory gene in the host organism; the host organism bearing a transposable genetic element in its genome for inserting an insertion sequence in the regulatory gene; the insertion sequence comprising a transposase, a pair of terminal inverted repeat sequences, and at least one open reading frame for expressing the transposase. The vehicle may be taken up by the host organism. The insertion sequence may be inserted in the regulatory gene. The host organism may undergo sporulation to form the biological indicator. A process and an apparatus for using the biological indicator are disclosed.
US09416388B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing natively folded disulfide bond containing proteins in a prokaryotic host. The method comprises that in the cytoplasm of a prokaryotic cell is expressed protein(s) of interest that naturally contain disulfide bonds and naturally occurring or inverted transmembrane enzyme, wherein the cysteines of the active site(s) are naturally or after genetic engineering located towards the prokaryotic cytoplasm. The enzyme is selected from the group of VKOR, inverted VKOR (iVKOR) and inverted Dsb B (iDsb B). In the prokaryotic cell is also expressed cytoplasmic DsbA or a corresponding protein being capable of providing electrons to the active site(s) of VKOR, iVKOR or iDsbB. The invention relates also to a prokaryotic host cell and a vector system for producing natively folded disulfide bond containing proteins.
US09416384B2
The present invention relates to methods of degrading or converting biomass material enriched with hemicellulosic material into fermentable sugars.
US09416383B2
Methods for enhancing a biological activity, for example, catalytic activity, of a lipase, are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include the step of alkylating one or more cysteine residues present within the lipase. Also provided are modified polypeptides for which a biological activity is enhanced by the disclosed methods, methods for using the disclosed polypeptides, including for the transesterification of renewable oils to produce a biofuel, and cell free systems that include a lipase, to which one or more moieties, such as steroidal moieties, are conjugated.
US09416376B2
A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen.
US09416374B2
A method for the treatment of lignocellulose-containing materials wherein such lignocellulose-containing materials, normally resistant to biotreatment, are first subjected to pyrolysis to produce pyrolysis products including pyrogas and char. Exemplary applications of the method include pyrolytic pre-treatment of wastewater sludges, cellulosic wastes, wood, peat, plant residues, low-grade coal, and the like. The pyrogas is introduced into digester sludge in an anaerobic digester.
US09416370B2
The immune response to an antigen of interest, especially one in purified form, can be significantly enhanced by the simultaneous administration of an alphavirus replicon particle which expresses the same antigen. This allows for the use of significantly smaller quantities of the protein antigen than in conventional immunization strategies, and this new immunization strategy can also eliminate the need for boosting administration of the antigen or it can reduce the number of boosts required for an effective immune response to the antigen.
US09416368B2
The invention relates to novel nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides from ASR and methods of use that enhance the plant's defensive elicitation response.
US09416367B2
The present invention relates to transgenic plants that have increased nitrogen use efficiency, stress tolerance, or both and that have been transformed using a novel vector construct including nucleic acid sequences that modulate nitrogen use in plants. In various embodiments, the vector construct includes one or more nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38. The invention also relates to isolated vectors for transforming plants and to antibodies used for detecting transformed plants. The invention also relates to methods of expressing in plants the nucleic acid molecules corresponding to the nucleic acid sequences that modulate nitrogen use in plants or are modulated by nitrogen conditions.
US09416364B2
The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms that have been engineered to produce various chemicals using genes that have been repurposed to create a reverse beta oxidation pathway. Generally speaking, the beta oxidation cycle is expressed and driven in reverse by modifying various regulation points for as many cycles as needed, and then the CoA thioester intermediates are converted to useful products by the action of termination enzymes.
US09416358B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a circular DNA molecule having a specific structure that enables to distinguish circular DNA formed from a single DNA molecule (single-molecule circular DNA), from circular DNA formed from multiple DNA molecules (multiple-molecule circular DNA) and also from single-molecule circular DNA derived from the circular DNA formed from multiple DNA molecules. According to the present invention, only single-molecule circular DNA that is not derived from multiple-molecule circular DNA can be selected in the production of circular DNA.
US09416354B1
The cDNA and amino acid sequences of a ferulate esterase obtained from Lactobacillus fermentum NRRL B-1932 is determined. An expression vector for expression of the ferulate esterase gene is generated. The recombinate ferulate esterase gene and transcribed protein contains a linker sequence and 6×HIS tag for purification. Enzymatic activity of the recombinant protein is determined.
US09416343B2
Methods and devices for biological sample preparation and analysis are disclosed. A device may have a linear or circular arrangement of containers, with a connecting structure such as a bar or disk. Fluidics channels between containers allow the performance of different techniques for sample preparation, such as lysing, washing and elution. Different functional elements, such as grinders or mixers, may be attached to the containers.
US09416332B2
One embodiment may include a gear assembly comprising at least one pair of meshing gears situated inside a gear case having a sump portion and a wall portion. A gear oil mixture may be disposed at least in the sump portion. At least one gear is immersed partially or fully in the oil mixture. The oil mixture comprises a hydrocarbon oil base and a coolant having an endothermic liquid/vapor transition at a temperature between the lower and upper operating temperatures of the gear assembly.
US09416321B2
A separation process with a modified enhanced hot separator system is described. The process eliminates undesirable entrainment while allowing for enhanced stripping of the net liquid only. The modified enhanced hot separator system combines a hot separator with a hot stripping column.
US09416320B2
A method for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons by introducing a synthesis gas feed into a Fischer-Tropsch system that includes a catalytic reactor fluidly connected with at least two slurry loops, the reactor comprising at least as many reactor product outlets and slurry return inlets as slurry loops; each slurry loop comprising a separation system comprising at least one separator, an inlet of each separator fluidly connected to a reactor product outlet via a slurry offtake, and an outlet of each separator fluidly connected to a slurry return inlet via a slurry return; separating concentrated catalyst slurry from the reaction product via the slurry loops; removing liquid hydrocarbon product from each separator; and returning concentrated catalyst slurry to the catalytic reactor via the slurry returns and slurry return inlets. A system for converting synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons via the method is also disclosed.
US09416315B2
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal mixture and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal composition comprises one or more types of first liquid crystal molecules substituted by difluoroalkenyl group and one or more types of second liquid crystal molecules for vertical alignment. The probability of polymerization between polymerizable monomers and the first liquid crystal molecules can be effectively reduced by the steric effect caused by the difluoroalkenyl group of the first liquid crystal molecules during a process of polymer alignment. Thus, the probability of polymerization occurred between the polymerizable monomers and polyimide on the surface of an alignment film is increased, so as to solve the problem of the image sticking.
US09416313B2
The present invention provides an oxynitride silicate fluorescent substance capable of output a light having a high luminance even when irradiated by an exciting light having a high energy density. The present invention is a yellow fluorescent substance represented by a chemical formula (Ba1-x-y-z,Srx)aSibOcNd:Eu2+y,Y3+z (0.9≦a≦1.1, 1.9≦b≦2.1, 1.9≦c≦2.1, 1.9≦d≦2.1, 0≦x≦1, 0
US09416312B2
A rare earth ions doped luminescent silicate glass is provided having the general formula of: 45SiO2-aLi2O-bMO-5Al2O3-3K2O-2P2O5:cEu2O3, wherein a is molar ratio of Li2O, b is molar ratio of MO and c is molar ratio of Eu2O3, wherein a+b=45, 25≦a≦35 and 0.025≦c≦0.50, and wherein MO is one or more of alkaline earth metal oxides. The luminescent glass can be prepared by simple progress, without pollution and at low cost. The resulting glass can be excited by UV LED chip and blue LED chip. Bright green light can be obtained by the sample under excitation of UV LED chip, while bright white light can be obtained under excitation of blue LED chip. The luminescent glass can be coupled with LED to obtain novel LED devices and provides potential applications in the field of semiconductor lighting.
US09416308B2
A core-shell structured silicate luminescent material and a preparation method thereof. The molecular formula of the luminescent material is: MLn1-xSiO4:xRE@SiO2; where @ represents a coating, where M is one or two elements among Li, Na, and K, where Ln is one or two elements among Y, Sc, Lu and La, where the value of x is 0
US09416306B2
Methods of providing fluid loss control in a portion of a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of seeds; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore such that the seeds block openings in the subterranean formation to provide fluid loss control; and degrading the seeds over time within the subterranean formation. In some methods, the seeds are present in the treatment fluid in an amount of at least about 5 pounds per barrel. In addition, in some methods the seeds are preferably degradable.
US09416302B2
A polymerizable composition comprising a benzoxazine compound and a catalyst is described. The polymerizable composition may be cured to produce compositions useful in coating, sealants, adhesive and many other applications.
US09416300B2
The present disclosure is concerned with improved curable adhesive compositions for anchoring elements in a structural body that exhibit low temperature versus standard temperature degree of cures that are at least 50% or higher. The compositions include, in a first portion, a reactive resin, an acetoacetoxy functional monomer and a silane monomer. By using phthalate-free constituents in the formulation, a further 10% increase in strength and durability of the resins at standard temperatures may be realized after curing at low temperatures. Improvements in the adhesive compositions that relate to increased shelf life are also presented.
US09416299B2
There is provided an adhesive composition comprising: a) at least one acrylic functional monomer; b) a first toughening agent; c) a second toughening agent; d) an adhesion promoter; and e) a high aspect ratio filler selected from at least one of a high aspect ratio fibrillated filler and a halloycite clay filler.
US09416290B2
A conductive ink may include a nickel component, a polycarboxylic acid component, and a polyol component, the polycarboxylic acid component and the polyol component being reactable to form a polyester component. The polyester component may be formed in situ in the conductive ink from a polyol component and a polycarboxylic acid component. The conductive ink may include a carbon component. The conductive ink may include an additive component. The conductive ink may include nickel flakes, graphene flakes, glutaric acid, and ethylene glycol. The conductive ink may be printed (e.g., screen printed) on a substrate and cured to form a conductive film. A conductive film may include a nickel component and a polyester component.
US09416285B2
An ink composition, including an ink base and a wax emulsion. A viscosity of the ink composition is between 80 Pa·s and 400 Pa·s at 100 rad/s and 25° C., and a tack of the ink composition is between 32 g-m and 45 g-m at 60 seconds. The total wax content of the ink composition is between 1% and 5% by weight, based on a total weight of the ink composition, and the total water content of the ink composition is between 1% and 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the ink composition.
US09416277B2
The present disclosure relates to a vapor phase process for producing a substantially anatase-free titanium dioxide pigment comprising: reacting a vaporous titanium dioxide precursor and an oxygen containing gas in a reactor; and introducing a mixture of liquid titanium dioxide precursor and a liquid or finely divided solid compound comprising a element selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, and Pb, into the reactor at a point downstream of the addition of the vaporous titanium dioxide precursor, and the oxygen containing gas, and at a process temperature of about 1200° C. to about 1600° C. to produce titanium dioxide particles that are coated by the oxide formed from the element.
US09416265B2
A method for forming a composition comprising a propylene-based polymer and a co-agent is provided. The method comprises introducing a propylene-based polymer to an extruder and introducing the co-agent to the extruder at a position within the extruder where the temperature is from 23° C. to 125° C.
US09416263B2
Propylene random copolymer composition containing (A) 60-85 wt % of a copolymer of propylene and from 0.1 to 2 wt % of units derived from ethylene and having a melt flow rate value according to ISO 1130 (230° C., 2.16 kg) of from 80 to 200 g/10 min; and (B) 15-40 wt % of a copolymer of propylene and from 7 to 17 wt % of units derived from ethylene. The composition has a total ethylene content of from 3 to 4.5 wt %, and a melt flow rate value according to ISO 1133 (230° C., 2.16 kg) of greater than 60 to 150 g/10 min, the composition having not been subject to any form of post-reactor treatment which increases its melt flow rate by more than 5 g/10 min.
US09416252B2
A rubber composition comprises a diene rubber including not less than 25% by weight of a modified conjugated diene polymer rubber and, per 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber, from 25 to 65 parts by weight of a filler, the filler comprising not less than 50% by weight of silica. The silica has a DBP absorption number of 190 to 250 ml/100 g, an N2SA of 194 to 225 m/g, and a CTAB of 185 to 215 m2/g. A ratio of the N2SA to the CTAB is from 0.9 to 1.4. The modified conjugated diene polymer rubber has a terminal modified group including a functional group that interacts with the silica. In the modified conjugated diene polymer rubber, aromatic vinyl unit content is from 38% to 48% by weight, vinyl unit content is from 20% to 35%, and weight-average molecular weight is from 600,000 to 1,000,000.
US09416250B2
A semi-finished product or tire comprises a metal reinforcing element embedded in a rubber composition comprising a compound of formula (I): where X and Y represent, independently of one another, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation.
US09416238B2
Methods for preparing an impact copolymer by selecting a continuous phase polymer having a first melt flow rate and selecting a rubber phase polymeric material such that the final melt flow rate of the impact copolymer is within 2 g/10 min of the first melt flow rate. Impact copolymers made from such methods and films and molded articles produced from such impact copolymers are also included.
US09416237B2
An organo siloxy network film composition including at least one type of tether molecule having a siloxy functionality; at least one type of building block having a siloxy functionality; wherein the tether molecule and the building block each have the same siloxy functionality; and wherein the siloxy functionality in the organo siloxy network film is derived from the same siloxy functionality on both the tether molecules and the building blocks.
US09416236B2
In a fibrous planar structure in which fibers are embedded in a matrix, an increase in mechanical resistance is achieved by improving the adhesion between the fiber and the matrix.
US09416234B2
There is provided a crosslinkable fluorine-containing rubber composition being capable of giving a fluorine-containing rubber crosslinked and molded article having a low friction coefficient and assuring an increased proportion of a fluorine-containing resin around the surface of a fluorine-containing rubber, a molded article obtained by crosslinking the composition, and a method for producing the molded article. The crosslinkable fluorine-containing rubber composition comprises a fluorine-containing rubber (A) comprising vinylidene fluoride unit, a fluorine-containing resin (B) and a polyol crosslinking agent (C),wherein the fluorine-containing rubber (A) and the fluorine-containing resin (B) are kneaded at a temperature of not less than a temperature being lower by 5° C. than the melting point of the fluorine-containing resin (B).
US09416226B2
The present invention relates to a production method of polyalkylene oxide particles including a step of forming the polyalkylene oxide particles by polymerization of an alkylene oxide in a polymerization solution containing a polymerization solvent and a catalyst dispersed in the polymerization solvent. The average particle diameter of the catalyst is more than 25 μm.
US09416212B1
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a polybutadiene-b-(poly(styrene-co-diphenylethylene)) block copolymer.
US09416206B2
Provided are ethylene propylene copolymers compositions thereof and methods for making the same. The composition may include an ethylene copolymer, comprising 40 wt % to 70 wt % of units derived from ethylene, and at least 30 wt % of units derived from at least one α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The composition can have a melting point (Tm) in ° C., as measured by DSC, that satisfies the relation: Tm>3.4×E−180, where E is the weight % of units derived from ethylene in the copolymer. The composition can also have a Mw/Mn ratio of about 1.5 to about 3.5. The composition can further have a content of Group 4 metals derived from a catalyst of 25 ppm or less.
US09416199B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an alkali cellulose with suppressed decrease in the degree of polymerization as well as with small use amount of a basic compound, and to a method for producing a cellulose ether by using the alkali cellulose thus obtained. Provided by the present invention are: (A) a method for producing an alkali cellulose, comprising Step 1 wherein a cellulose-containing raw material is pulverized in the presence of 0.6 to 1.5 mol of a basic compound relative to 1 mol of an anhydroglucose unit that constitutes a cellulose in the said cellulose-containing raw material and under the condition in which the water content therein relative to the cellulose in the cellulose-containing raw material is 10% or less by mass thereby obtaining a cellulose powder mixture having the median diameter of the cellulose-containing raw material made 150 μm or less and Step 2 wherein water content therein is adjusted in the range of 30 to 100% by mass relative to the cellulose by adding water to the cellulose powder mixture thereby obtaining the alkali cellulose in the powder form; and (B) a method for producing a cellulose ether by reacting the alkali cellulose produced by the foregoing production method with an etherification agent.
US09416197B2
The present invention concerns compositions and methods of use of bispecific antibodies comprising at least one anti-TNF-α antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof and at least one anti-IL-6 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. Preferably, the bispecific antibody is in the form of a DNL® complex. The anti-TNF-α or anti-IL-6 antibodies may comprise specific CDR sequences disclosed herein. The compositions and methods are of use to treat autoimmune disease, immune system dysfunction or inflammatory disease, as disclosed herein.
US09416183B2
The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reduceing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-17A and IL-17F. IL-17A and IL-17F are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. The present invention includes antibodies that bind both IL-17A and IL-17F, hybridomas that produce the antibodies, and methods of using the same in inflammation.
US09416180B1
The invention relates to human targets of interest (TOI), anti-TOI ligands, kits compositions and method.
US09416170B2
Fibronectin type III (10Fn3) binding domains having novel designs that are associated with reduced immunogenicity are provided. The application describes alternative 10Fn3 binding domains in which certain immunogenic regions are not modified when producing a binder in order to maintain recognition as a self antigen by the host organism. The application also describes 10Fn3 binding domains in which HLA anchor regions have been destroyed thereby reducing the immunogenic contribution of the adjoining region. Also provided are 10Fn3 domains having novel combinations of modified regions that can bind to a desired target with high affinity.
US09416168B2
Provided are engineered soluble hIL-17RA receptors with high affinity to hIL-17 that inhibit downstream IL17A induced signaling events in cells. Also provided are methods of inhibiting hIL-17A induced secretion of CXCL1 and/or IL-6 in cells, as well as methods of treating inflammation and/or inflammatory disorders in a subject.
US09416160B2
A bacterial macromolecular complex produced by bacteria belonging to the Bifidobacterium longum strain deposited according to the treaty of Budapest under number CNCM I-3994 with the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) [National Collection of Microorganism Cultures], consisting of chains combining a lipoprotein and an oligosaccharide, wherein: the lipoprotein has a molecular weight of from 30 kDa to 60 kDa; the oligosaccharide has a molecular weight of less than 15 kDa, and preferably less than 10 kDa; the lipoprotein component, which consists of all the lipoproteins of each of the chains, represents from 75 to 99%, preferentially from 80 to 98%, more preferentially from 85 to 95% by weight of the total weight of the complex, and the oligosaccharide component, which consists of all the oligosaccharides combined with each of the chains, represents from 1 to 25%.
US09416154B2
5′-substituted nucleoside derivatives and methods of use thereof for the treatment of viral diseases
The present invention relates to 5′-Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives of Formula (I): (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X, Y, Z, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein and B is a 7-deaza-9-purinyl moiety. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one 5′-Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, and methods of using the 5′-Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.
US09416151B2
The present invention pertains to novel uses of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), glycyrrhizic acid (GLA) and related compounds for prevention and/or treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, in particular, irradiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Also embodied are therapeutic uses of prodrugs, metabolites, derivatives (e.g., acids, esters and ethers), and salts of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and glycyrrhizic acid (GLA). The present invention also provides for therapeutic or pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention in a form that can be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09416147B2
A silazane compound useful as synthesis intermediates for paint additives, polymer modifiers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals is efficiently prepared by reaction of a halosilane compound with an amino-containing compound in a solvent which is the same silazane compound as the target product.
US09416144B2
Disclosed are a benzoxazine oxazolidinone compound shown by a general formula (I), an optical isomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a preparation method thereof, and an application thereof in preparing a drug for treating an infectious disease and in particular, an infectious disease caused by multidrug resistant bacteria.
US09416143B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the following general formula (I), or to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as to the uses thereof as a drug, in particular in the treatment of cancerous or precancerous hyperproliferative conditions, and to the pharmaceutical compositions containing same.
US09416142B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the following general formula (I), or to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as to the uses thereof as a drug, in particular for treating cancerous or precancerous hyperproliferative conditions, and to the pharmaceutical compositions containing same.
US09416138B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I. Wherein R1, L, and A are as described herein, or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, processes for preparing the compounds, and methods of treating a condition, such as hypertriglyceridemia, using the compounds.
US09416133B2
Compounds of the formula Iin which R1, R2, R, X1, X2, X3, X4, n1, n2, n3 and n4 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are inhibitors of Tankyrase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system injury and different forms of inflammation.
US09416125B2
Compounds of formula (I), processes for their production and their use as Bub1 kinase inhibitors for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases and/or disorders responsive to induction of cell death.
US09416118B2
The invention describes novel mono or dihydroxy docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) analogs, their preparation, isolation, identification, purification and uses thereof.
US09416115B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds that are sodium channel inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula I: wherein X, Y, Z, R2, R3, R4, p and q are as described herein, to methods for the preparation and use of the compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.
US09416113B2
The disclosed embodiments detail improved methods for the synthesis of diketopiperazines from amino acids. In particular improved methods for the cyclocondensation and purification of N-protected 3,6-(aminoalkyl)-2,5-diketopiperazines from N-protected amino acids. Disclosed embodiments describe methods for the synthesis of 3,6-bis-[N-protected aminoalkyl]-2,5-diketopiperazine comprising heating a mixture of an amino acid in the presence of a catalyst in an organic solvent. The catalyst is selected from the group comprising sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, 1-propylphosphonic acid cyclic anhydride, tributyl phosphate, phenyl phosphonic acid and phosphorous pentoxide among others. The solvent is selected from the group comprising: dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, diglyme, ethyl glyme, proglyme, ethyldiglyme, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, xylenes, ethylene glycol and phenol among others.
US09416112B2
The present invention provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds that inhibit the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades that lead to the release of chemical mediators, intermediates and methods of synthesizing the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by, caused by or associated with the release of chemical mediators via degranulation and other processes effected by activation of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades.
US09416107B2
A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the same: wherein Formula 1 is defined as in the detailed description.
US09416104B2
Described herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for inhibiting the expression of a vitamin D receptor target gene, inhibiting interactions between the vitamin D receptor and at least one vitamin D receptor coactivator, for treating cancer in a subject, and for inhibiting angiogenesis in a subject.
US09416099B2
Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amines, wherein the fatty amine is made by reducing the amide reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and a secondary amine, are disclosed. Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amidoamines, wherein the amidoamine is made by reacting of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, are also disclosed. The quaternized compositions are advantageously sulfonated or sulfitated. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The quaternary ammonium, betaine, and sulfobetaine compositions and their sulfonated or sulfitated derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
US09416087B2
Processes for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid, or a salt thereof, using solid promoters are disclosed. The solid promoters can be certain solid oxides, mixed oxides, and clays, illustrative examples of which can include alumina, zirconia, magnesia, magnesium aluminate, sepiolite, and similar materials.
US09416086B2
The invention provides processes for purification of streams containing carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides without using the amount of high-cost, corrosion resistant alloy required for a distillation column. The invention provides methods in which streams containing carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides are subjected to a hydrolysis process by combining them with a stoichiometric excess of water and optionally an added hydrolysis catalyst. The resulting hydrolyzed stream is subsequently separated to produce a stream containing carboxylic acid and water and a carboxylic acid product stream comprising carboxylic acid.
US09416075B2
The present invention is a method for 2-fluorobutane to obtain highly purified 2-fluorobutane through a process comprising a step for: bringing crude 2-fluorobutane that includes 5 to 50 wt % of butene into contact with a brominating agent that can form a bromonium ion in an aprotic polar solvent in the presence of water or an alcohol having up to 4 carbon atoms; converting the butene into compounds having a boiling point higher than that of 2-fluorobutane, then recovering 2-fluorbutane from the reaction solution; and purifying the recovered 2-fluorabutane by distillation.
US09416061B2
A composition of matter comprising: a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi that is placed in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root; and a method for increasing plant yield comprising: placing a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root.
US09416060B2
An agricultural blend, an agricultural binder system, and a process of forming an agricultural blend are described. The agricultural blend includes a binder system having soy polymer and one or both of metal slag by-product and synthetic gypsum. The agricultural binder system includes soy polymer. The agricultural binder system is a powder. The process of forming an agricultural blend includes blending a binder system having soy polymer with one or both of metal slag by-product and synthetic gypsum to form the agricultural blend.
US09416056B2
A sintered refractory ceramic composition including: a pseudobrookite structured discrete first phase; and a continuous second phase, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of making the sintered refractory ceramic composition.
US09416055B2
A composition suitable for firing to obtain a ceramic material therefrom may include from about 1 to about 40 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a first particulate material having a Mohs hardness of at least about 8.5 and a d50 of from about 7 μm to about 500 μm. The composition may include at least about 50 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a second particulate material comprising alumina. The composition may include from 0 to about 10 wt. % based on the total dry weight of the composition a sintering aid. A green body or ceramic material may be formed from the composition. Ballistic armor may be formed from the composition or may include the ceramic material.
US09416052B2
A composition, in the form of a concrete, cement paste, mortar or intermediate thereof, comprising one or more cementitious binder materials present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 75% by weight of the composition, attapulgite present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 1.00% by weight of the composition, and optionally water. Although subject to many uses, in some embodiments, the composition is suitable for applications in need or desire of self-consolidating concretes (SCCs), precast concrete, shotcrete, and the like. Although makeable by multiple methods, in some embodiments, the composition is made by mixing the component ingredients. In some embodiments, the composition has one or more properties chosen from superior aggregate suspension, eliminated segregation, improved workability, improved flowability, improved pumpability—or improved overall performance—of concretes.
US09416049B2
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. A dielectric layer is formed between the transparent substrate and the reflective layer. The dielectric layer includes niobium, tin, and aluminum.
US09416048B2
To provide a crystallized glass capable of attaining the same clarification effect as in the composition containing an arsenic component and an antimony component even in the case of having the composition containing no arsenic component, while maintaining various physical properties peculiar to a Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2-based crystallized glass. Disclosed is a crystallized glass which is characterized by containing a predetermined amount of Li2O, Al2O3, and SiO2 components (on an oxide basis), and containing a predetermined amount of BaO component (on an oxide basis) and the like. This crystallized glass preferably contains β-quartz and/or β-quartz solid solution as main crystal phase(s), an average crystal particle size of the main crystal phase(s) being preferably within a range between 5 and 200 nm.
US09416044B2
The invention relates to a method for fluorinating a soot body. The method involves: a) providing a soot body, and b) treating the soot body with a gas mixture containing hydrogen and CnF2n+2 (n=1 or 2) at a temperature in the range of (1,280-n*250)° C. to (1,220-n*100)° C.
US09416043B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a glass perform, includes: a dummy tube section, a reservoir portion, and a cooling portion; and a glass tube section in which particles of an alkali metal compound or an alkaline earth metal compound which have flowed into the glass tube section from the dummy tube section are heated by a second heat source which performs traverse, and oxides of the particles being deposited on an inner wall and dispersed in the glass tube section. In the cooling portion of the dummy tube section, vapor of the alkali metal compound or the alkaline earth metal compound generated by heating of a first heat source is cooled and condensed by a dry gas flowing into the dummy tube section, and thereby the particles are generated.
US09416040B2
On the basis of a known method for producing a blank of titanium-doped glass with a high silica content (glass) for a mirror substrate for use in EUV lithography which has a surface region that has an outer contour, is intended to be provided with a reflective coating and is specified as a highly loaded zone when the mirror substrate is used as intended, in order to provide a blank which can be produced at low cost and nevertheless meets high requirements with respect to homogeneity and freedom from blisters and striae, a procedure which comprises the following method steps is proposed: (a) producing a front body of titanium-doped high-quality glass with dimensions more than large enough to enclose the outer contour, (b) producing a cylindrical supporting body from titanium-doped glass, (c) bonding the front body and the supporting body to form a composite body, and (d) working the composite body to form the mirror substrate blank, wherein the step of producing the front body comprises a homogenizing process involving twisting a starting body obtained in the form of a strand by flame hydrolysis of a silicon-containing compound to form a front body blank, and the supporting body is formed as a monolithic glass block with less homogeneity than the front body.
US09416039B2
An apparatus for forming a glass sheet with reduced zircon inclusions in the glass sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises heating elements distributed vertically between the weirs of a forming wedge and the root of the forming wedge, and wherein a thermal barrier is disposed between adjacent heating elements. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.
US09416033B2
The present invention provides a low energy alternative to conventional thermal/evaporation processes for “zero liquid discharge” treatment of strong saline brines. The products of the process include a salt-free liquid and solid salt. In particular, an antisolvent can be mixed with liquids containing high total dissolved solids. The mixture can be chilled, whereby solid salt is precipitated and separated from the mixture at near ambient temperature leaving a mixed liquor. The antisolvent can be selected from a class of organic compounds that form solutions with salt brines that exhibit a critical solution temperature lower than a critical solution temperature of the salt brines alone. The mixed liquor can be heated to a temperature above its lower critical solution temperature to produce an antisolvent liquid phase for recycle to the process. Finally, a reduced salinity aqueous phase can be polished by reverse osmosis or other conventional technology to produce clean water for discharge or beneficial use.
US09416027B2
An improved method that requires no electricity or moving parts to increase lime utilization where pebble quicklime (CaO) and/or hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) is used for mine drainage treatment. Lime utilization at such facilities has been historically poor due to the low solubility, high density, and large particle size of pebble quicklime. This invention takes two passive technologies, a diversion well-inspired MixWell system followed by a TROMPE-driven, air lift mixer for enhancing lime dissolution. It showed an estimated 40 to 57 percent reduction in lime usage.
US09416025B2
A water treatment and conveyance apparatus that has a barrel with two ends, each with an indentation to accommodate a handle made of a heavy-duty material, two side members, a transverse grip member and two transverse support members that fit securely into the indentations of the barrel ends. One end of the barrel (the top) has at least one hole accommodating a removable cap, a removable inlet filter of mesh to screen out particles from entering water, and a removable outlet filter. In use, the handle is attached to both ends of the barrel in the indentations and the barrel is rolled and pulled to a water source and back to the puller's abode. After filling the barrel, a cleansing chemical such as a chlorine tablet is added to the water to help sterilize the water in transit.
US09416023B2
Process for preparing an aqueous cobalt sulfate solution having a pH of at least 4, wherein (a) metallic cobalt is dissolved in aqueous sulfuric acid in an atmosphere of low-oxygen air, of hydrogen or of inert gas and (b) the resulting acidic cobalt sulfate solution is treated with oxygen, oxygen-comprising gas or with a substance which can release oxygen in an aqueous medium.
US09416018B2
The present disclosure relates to a novel method of preparing a vanadosilicate molecular sieve, and a vanadosilicate molecular sieve and their derivatives prepared by the same method. The preparing method of a vanadosilicate molecular sieve includes forming a vanadosilicate molecular sieve by a hydrothermal reaction of a reaction mixture containing a silicon source, a base, a V5+-containing compound as a vanadium source, a reducing agent, a salt and water.
US09416006B2
A process provides for reducing agglomerate formation during thermal decomposition of a carbonaceous material feedstock. A non-catalytic thermal decomposition process includes providing generally solid feedstock to a thermal decomposition unit and moving the feedstock through at least one gasification zone in the thermal decomposition unit with a moving device. The process includes providing oxygen and optionally an additional gas to the gasification zone. In one aspect, the process includes moving feedstock through the gasification zone and providing oxygen to the gasification zone at rates effective for maintaining a material bed temperature not exceeding about 2300° F. at any point in the material bed, and for maintaining a material bed temperature of about 500° F. to about 2000° F.
US09416004B2
Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate includes a first electrode layer having a top surface coplanar with a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and the first electrode layer. A first mask layer made of a conductive material is formed on the sacrificial layer. The first mask layer and the sacrificial layer are etched until a surface of the first electrode layer is exposed to form openings through the first mask layer and the sacrificial layer. A cleaning process is performed to remove etch byproducts adhered to a surface of the first mask layer and adhered to sidewalls and bottom surfaces of the openings. Conductive plugs are formed in the openings after the cleaning process.
US09416001B2
The invention relates to a method for making a 3D nanostructure having a nanosubstructure, comprising the steps of: i) providing a mold comprising at least one sharp concave corner; ii) conformational depositing at least one structural material in the sharp concave corner; iii) isotropically removing structural material; iv) depositing at least one other structural material; v) removing earlier deposited structural material; vi) forming a nanosubstructure; and vii) removing the mold thereby providing the 3D nanostructure having the nanosubstructure.
US09415979B2
A high speed, reduced clearance lift has a lift platform that is raised and lowered by operation of a telescoping hydraulic ram that has at least three telescoping sections, such that, the retracted height of the telescoping hydraulic ram is minimized while the deployed height of the telescoping hydraulic ram is such that the lift platform is lifted the height needed to, for example, lift a device out of the hull of a watercraft. To better stabilize the lift platform both in the retracted and deployed positions, locks, preferably in the form of actuated locking pins, interface with receivers mounted in a frame in which the lift platform travels. In such, when the locking pins are extended into the receivers, the lift platform and any payload resting on the lift platform are held steady without the need for hydraulic pressure.
US09415974B2
Method for moving a heavy load, in which method the heavy load is lifted or lowered with an elevator including an elevator car and a hoisting machine, which hoisting machine is arranged to move the elevator car from one level to another in the normal operation of the elevator, in which method the heavy load is moved to be supported by the elevator car and the elevator car is moved until the load is at the desired height, and the load is removed from the support of the elevator car. In the method a hoist that does not belong to the hoisting machine is temporarily connected to the elevator car for the purpose of moving the load, and the elevator car, which supports the load, is moved by the hoist until the load is at the desired height, and the load is removed from the support of the elevator car.
US09415972B2
The elevator operation control method according to the embodiment estimate the amount of shake of a long object which moves accompanying lifting and lowering of a passenger cage by way of simulation based on the amount of shake of a building in which an elevator is installed and current position information of the passenger cage of the elevator. The elevator operation control method change every second a physical model of the simulation according to the position of the running passenger cage, and simulate in real time the amount of shake of the long object from a current amount of shake of the building and position information of the running passenger cage. The elevator operation control method compare the amount of shake of the long object calculated by the simulation and a threshold, and perform a control operation according to the result.
US09415971B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reusable adjustable coil protector for a plurality of differently sized coils. The adjustable coil protector has an unassembled generally linear resting configuration and plurality of different assembled generally cylindrical configurations. The adjustable coil protector is formed and maintained in the generally linear unassembled configuration for storage and transport before and after use. The adjustable coil protector is bent and wrapped around itself, positioned, and securely locked in a user selected one of the plurality of different assembled generally cylindrical configurations prior to mounting the adjustable coil protector on a coil. The adjustable coil protector is configured to reduce inventory, shipping, and warehousing space needed for the adjustable coil protector because the adjustable coil protector can be used on a plurality of differently sized coils or the same size coils with different sized central openings.
US09415968B2
A component supplying apparatus has a tape guide part for guiding a carrier tape, a blade for entering between a top tape and a base tape, and a first tape press part for facing the carrier tape on an upstream side of a top tape removing position. A first biasing part biases the first tape press part to have the carrier tape held between the tape guide part and the first tape press part and to attain positioning of the carrier tape in thickness direction thereof. A sprocket wheel wedges the carrier tape between the tape guide part and the first tape press part, and a second biasing part presses the carrier tape against the tape guide part by a second tape press part.
US09415966B2
A post-processing apparatus includes a sheet support device, a pair of side edge regulation members that engage in sheet opposite side edges on the sheet support device, and a shift device configured to shift a position of each of the side edge regulation members, and thereby causing the members to perform carry operation to shift the sheet on the sheet support device, wherein in executing the carry operation, the shift device sandwiches the sheet by the pair of side edge regulation members, and thereby makes a state in which pressure is applied to the sheet to execute.
US09415964B2
Provided is a post-processing device including a transport unit that transports a recording material which is sequentially transported from an upstream side toward a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the recording material, a standby unit that is connected to the transport unit, and allows a recording material which is backhauled by a transport section reversible from the transport unit to temporarily standby, a transport member that transport the recording material which stands by in the standby unit and the recording material which is transported in the transport unit to the post-processing unit with the recording materials stacked, and an elastic member that is arranged on an upstream side of a connection position of the transport unit where the standby unit is connected, guides the recording material sequentially transported from the upstream side to the post-processing unit, and guides the backhauled recording material to the standby unit.
US09415954B2
A sheet feeder includes a first tray and a second tray. The first tray is movable to a first open position and a second open position. The second tray is movable between a closed position and an open position. When the second tray is in the closed position and the first tray is in the first open position, a first tray surface of the first tray forms a first angle with the chute surface. When the second tray is in the open position and the first tray is in the second open position, the first tray surface is located between the chute surface and a second tray surface of the second tray and forms a second angle with the chute surface, the second angle being smaller than the first angle and the first and second angles are obtuse angles.
US09415937B2
A roller with an eddy current brake includes a roller shell that is rotatably supported in a stationary bearing, wherein the eddy current brake, within the roller shell, includes an eddy current receiver connected thereto and a stationary magnet. The eddy current brake is formed with a shielding tube made of a ferromagnetic material (steel), which at one end is fixedly connected with a carrier with the rod, the carrier being made of a non-magnetizable material (aluminum), wherein the shielding tube is arranged at a distance of a further air gap from the roller shell and at a distance of a further air gap from the eddy current receiver. By reason of the roller 5, one achieves that the start of the rotation of the roller shell 11 takes place without remagnitization and thus more smoothly.
US09415936B1
A helical chute system for conveying articles from an upper elevation to a lower elevation within a building includes a chute wound about a vertical axis and being secured at both an inner edge and outer edge by one or more support rods where a portion of the chute is comprised of a plurality of angular chute segments secured together in a stepped relationship to one another where each chute segment has a first surface sloping downwardly to a second surface below the first surface. An inner skirt is attached to the inner surface of the chute for preventing articles from falling from the surface of the chute and an outer skirt is attached to the outer surface of the chute for preventing articles from falling from the surface of the chute. One or more of plastic panels are positioned along the outer surface of the angular chute segments abutting the outer skirt. The number of low friction panels positioned on each angular chute segment is dependent on the height of the angular chute segment in the helical chute system such that the number panels per chute segment decreases in area as the chute segment descends about the vertical axis.
US09415932B2
A berm for receiving and retaining fluid is provided. The berm includes flexible impervious sheeting shaped to include a floor area surrounded with opposed end and side wall sections forming a containment area. The berm includes a plurality of A-frame braces arranged in vertical positions about the flooring for supporting the end and side wall sections. The retaining and support members are engaged with the brace members and the stabilizer members holding the end and side walls in generally elevated positions and in engagement with the braces forming the containment area.
US09415914B2
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier. The panels comprise at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels. The carrier includes at least one central panel dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion and at least one divider flap foldably attached to the at least one central panel. The at least one divider flap extends to one of the front panel and the back panel to divide one of the front portion and the back portion into at least two container-receiving spaces. The at least one divider flap having a main panel foldably connected to the at least one central panel. At least one beveled portion is foldably connected to the main panel.
US09415913B1
The present invention relates generally to the field of polyolefin containers. One aspect of the invention is a polyolefin container coated with a gas barrier coating. In particular, the present invention relates to a polyolefin container coated with a gas barrier coating comprising a first layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride and a second layer of hydrogenated amorphous carbon. The hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer may be deposited on the container, and the hydrogenated amorphous carbon layer may be deposited on the hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer. A further aspect of the invention is a process for coating a polyolefin container comprising the steps of depositing a layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride on a polyolefin container by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and depositing a layer of hydrogenated amorphous carbon on the hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. A subject matter of the invention is the use of the polyolefin container coated with a gas barrier coating for the storage of food or beverage materials.
US09415900B2
A coating composition for a food or beverage can that includes an emulsion polymerized latex polymer formed by combining an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component with an aqueous dispersion of a water-dispersible polymer.
US09415897B2
The present invention relates to a container assembly having a first container part (2) with a dispensing opening (8), and a second container part (3) with a dispensing opening (9). Thus, the first container part (2) and the second container part (3) can be connected to one another such that the dispensing opening (8) of the first container part (2) points in a first direction and the dispensing opening (9) of the second Container part (3) points in a second direction.
US09415896B2
The present invention discloses a pallet comprising a plurality of elongate base members (102) being spaced apart from one another at its long edges with a plurality of block structures (108) arranged one by one within and along the long edges of each base member (102) that the base member (102) carries a plurality of paired slits (106) and each slit (106) cuts into every block structure (108) at a predetermined length; and a plurality elongate deck units (101) perpendicularly disposed on top of the base members that each deck unit is defined by a first construct (103), with an n-shaped cross-sectional profile, sandwiched in between a pair of second constructs (104), with an inverted L-shaped cross-sectional profile, and each deck unit (101) has a conjoined horizontal flat surface and a pair of downwardly extending portions (105) formed by the contiguous first (103) and second constructs (104); wherein the paired vertical extending portions (105) of each deck unit (101) are slotted into the aligned paired slits (106) of each block structure (108) to link all the base members (102) with the deck units (101) together while the horizontal flat surface serves as a work surface.
US09415894B2
A container comprising a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and a plurality of horizontally disposed rib members disposed in at least one of the sidewall portion and the base portion. The plurality of horizontally disposed rib members is continuously disposed about the sidewall portion or the base portion and, in some embodiments, defines a perimeter length about 3-5% shorter than perimeter lengths of adjacent lands. The plurality of horizontally disposed rib members providing improved structural integrity such that a pre-fill size of the container is approximately equal to a post-filled, cooled size of the container.
US09415893B2
A dispenser carton including a removable bin dispenser. The removable bin dispenser forms part of the exterior surface of the carton, but may be detached from the carton to allow access to the carton. The carton has a dual dispensing feature in that the carton may either be displayed with the removable bin dispenser positioned on the carton to form a counter top dispenser configuration or a hanging configuration or the carton may be displayed with the removable bin dispenser simply removed to form a shelf-loaded carton configuration.
US09415891B2
A container made of plastic, provided with a body and with a bottom extending from an end of the body, the bottom having a peripheral seat defining a seating plane, a central zone at an inner area of the bottom surrounding a pellet and corresponding to a zone of injection of the material of a preform used to produce the container, a concave arch extending from the central zone to the peripheral seat, a series of principal reinforcing grooves extending radially from the central zone to at least the peripheral seat. The arch has two concentric regions, including a central region and a peripheral region, separated by a median axial step that extends annularly continuously around the central zone, so that the central region is raised with respect to the peripheral region.
US09415882B2
An overheat sensor system is provided. A controller may create an aircraft temperature profile and may compare temperature sensor data to the profile. The system may provide an output indicating temperatures or fires.
US09415876B1
A pressure relief latch includes a first housing, the first housing having a handle pivotably attached, and a safety release with a hook. A roller support is slidingly engaged with the first housing and linked to the handle. The roller support has a locking pin, and has a roller attached to one end. A second housing includes a spring and a keeper extending away from the spring. When the latch is in use, the keeper of the second housing and the roller of the first housing are engaged when the latch is in the closed position. The hook of the safety release engages the locking pin of the roller support when the latch is in the closed position, preventing upward rotation of the handle. When the safety release is actuated, the hook disengages the locking pin. Upward rotation of the handle causes the roller and the keeper to disengage.
US09415864B2
A main landing gear bay 15 which is formed inward of a fuselage 11 of an aircraft 10 from an opening portion provided in a surface of the fuselage 11 so as to store a main landing gear 13 of the aircraft 10, the main landing gear bay 15 including inclined regions 16 and 17 that are continuous from a rim of the opening portion to the fuselage 11 surface in an airframe axis direction X of the aircraft 10, wherein the inclined regions 16 and 17 are formed so as to have a larger depth toward the rim of the opening portion. Since the inclined regions 16 and 17 are formed so as to have a larger depth toward the rim of the opening portion, the aerodynamic drag acting on the main landing gear bay can be reduced. Accordingly, the fuel consumption of the aircraft can be improved.
US09415863B2
The invention relates to fiber reinforcement for making an elongate mechanical part (10) out of composite material having a lug (14) at at least one end for receiving a pin for making a pivot connection with another part, the fiber reinforcement being made from a central fiber structure (106; 106′) for forming a core that is obtained by three-dimensional weaving, from a peripheral fiber structure (16; 16′) that is to form a belt surrounding the central structure so as to form at least one empty cylindrical space in the lug of the part, and from at least one annular fiber structure (112; 112′; 112″) that is to form a ring that is formed inside the empty space provided between the central structure and the peripheral structure.
US09415855B2
A panel for an aircraft wing, having a sandwich structure in which there is arranged a reinforcing part. When the panel is attached to a bracket so as to be articulated to another element, the reinforcing part is provided in order to distribute, over its entire surface, a force transmitted by the bracket to the panel.
US09415851B2
A rudder propeller with an underwater mechanism including a planetary gearing, the planetary gearing including a sun gear, a fixed internal gear and planetary gears, mounted between the sun gear and the internal gear and running on planetary axles of a planet carrier, wherein the planetary gears are mounted on the planetary axles by hydrodynamic slide bearings.
US09415848B2
Apparatus and methods to operationally link (couple/decouple) a plurality of relatively massive, complimentary payload platforms (i.e., suspended machinery and ROV) at relatively deep working depths in an unstable marine environment (water column) while the payload platforms are in-transit. An apparatus includes a suspended machinery, an ROV, a capture collar, an extendable/retractable harpoon, and actuating machinery to controllably effect extension and retraction thereof. A method includes providing an in-transit suspended machinery having a capture collar, providing an in-transit ROV having an extendable/retractable harpoon, approaching the in-transit suspended machinery with the ROV, maneuvering the ROV so as to bring an end of the partially extended harpoon into aligned proximity with the capture collar, and further extending the harpoon so that it securely engages the capture collar.
US09415845B2
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a seat construction for a float, the seat construction comprising an upper layer made of a first plastic material, a lower layer made of a second plastic material, and a middle layer made of a reinforced plastic material, wherein the middle layer is interposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are bonded together around an outer edge of the seat construction.
US09415844B2
A multipurpose recreational device designed to be ridden in the prone, kneeling, or seated position. The craft is generally shaped like the front and mid-section of a kayak that was cut in half perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the craft. The craft is made of a one or more piece construction having a rocker bow in the front so as to ride up on a wave without nosediving. The craft has a displacement hull so the rider can easily maneuver on any water covered surface; liquid or frozen. The craft contains a head cavity/recess in the bow for head protection and can additionally be used for emergency breathing while upside down in the water. The bow also contains vertical handles covered on top by integrated shoulder braces.
US09415843B1
A buoyant structure or floating driller having a hull, a planar keel, a lower frustoconical portion disposed above the planar keel with an inwardly sloping wall and an upper frustoconical portion connected to the lower frustoconical portion with an outwardly sloping wall forming a hull neck. The buoyant structure has a main deck and a moon pool, at least one external tank and a plurality of ballast compartments. The buoyant structure defines a low center of gravity, wherein the combination of the upper frustoconical portion and the lower frustoconical portion provide an inherent stability to the buoyant structure.
US09415840B1
The collapsible triangular watercraft tow device provides for towing an object or device behind a tow watercraft. The triangular shape provides best portability combined with superior towing characteristics and basic, inexpensive construction and sale. The pivot hinge and adjustable length of the device further accommodate various tow watercraft and towed objects and watercraft.
US09415836B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a boat is provided which includes a deck; a plurality of pontoons extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the deck, the deck being attached to the pontoons; and a hull portion attached to and extending from one of the pontoons. The hull portion extends outwardly to a distance wider than the pontoon to which it is attached, and the hull portion extends farther rearwardly than any of the pontoons.
US09415835B2
A rotatable annular bicycle component comprises an outer annular member, an intermediate supporting member, and a hub engaging member. The outer annular member comprises a first material. The outer annular member is attached to the intermediate supporting member. The intermediate supporting member comprises a second material different from the first material. The hub engaging member is configured to be attached to the intermediate supporting member and is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. The hub engaging member comprises a third material different from the second material.
US09415826B2
A spacer for positioning between a head tube of a bicycle frame and a front wheel fork of the bicycle. The spacer includes an annular body defines a center axis and extends axially between annular upper and lower spacer surfaces. A bore extends axially through the body concentrically with the center axis between a first opening in the annular upper spacer surface and a second opening in the annular lower spacer surface. The annular upper spacer surface includes a radially outer planar rim and an engagement flange disposed radially inwardly from the planar rim, the engagement flange projecting axially upwardly from the planar rim and circumscribing the opening. The planar rim and the engagement flange abut complementary surfaces on a lower mating surface of the head tube and form a seal with the head tube upon being engaged therewith.
US09415825B1
A combination triathlon aero handlebar and stem assembly or handlebar assembly incorporating several innovations is described. Clamp bolt sections for securing the extension bars are located behind a streamlined spacer to reduce frontal area. The design of the extension bar clamps permit tightening and loosening from above through the elbow rest platforms without the removal of the platforms. Streamlined height spacers used to adjust the height of the extension bars include a groove along their trailing edges in which a wire from a electronic shifter can be received. The stem portion of the includes an internal cavity in which the junction box of a electronic shifting system can be received. The streamlined stem height spacers include a path to receive and pass the front brake cable and housing therethrough and include slots that permit the removal and installation of a spacer without disconnecting and unthreading the brake cable.
US09415808B2
A vehicle front section structure comprising a side rail extending along a vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle width direction outside of a vehicle front section, the side rail including a bent portion at the vehicle rear side of a front tire, and the bent portion bending toward the vehicle width direction outside on progression from the vehicle front toward the vehicle rear; and a projection projecting out from the bent portion toward the vehicle width direction outside, and having an angled face angled toward the vehicle width direction outside on progression from the vehicle front toward the vehicle rear at a face of the projection facing the front tire.
US09415807B2
A vehicular cowl structure is equipped with a cowl top, a cowl inner panel, and a cowl brace. A part of an upper portion of the cowl brace is protruded forward with respect to a vehicle as a flange portion, and is connected with a front side of the cowl top. Another part of the upper portion of the cowl brace is bent rearward with respect to the vehicle as a flange portion, and is connected with a rear side of the cowl top and an upper portion of the cowl inner panel.
US09415806B2
There is provided a vehicle front portion structure having a front side member that extends along a vehicle longitudinal direction at a vehicle transverse direction outer side of a vehicle front portion, a gusset that is provided at a vehicle transverse direction outer side of a vehicle longitudinal direction front portion of the front side member, a first bead that is provided at a side surface of the gusset with the vehicle longitudinal direction being a length direction thereof, and that is structured as a concave portion that is recessed toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side or as a convex portion that projects-out toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side, and a second bead that is provided at a side surface of the front side member, and that is engaged with at least a rear end portion of the first bead.
US09415795B2
A steering apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus including friction plates 23, 24a, 24b clamped by a clamping bolt 10 together with a clamp portion and a vehicle-sided bracket 6 to extend toward a rear side of a vehicle in an axial direction; and a holding member 20 fitted on an inner column 3 and connected to portions, on the rear side of the vehicle, of the friction plates 23, 24a, 24b, the holding member 20 and the inner column 3 being connected together via shearing pins 21a, 21b, the shearing pins being sheared into fracture upon receiving a predetermined level of impact force to enable a more stable and lower separating load to be acquired.
US09415793B2
A steering apparatus includes a first member which rotates together with an operation lever which is operated to rotate and a third member which is supported rotatably via a friction reducing mechanism by a second member which is restricted from rotating. A cam mechanism which brings a fixed side plate into press contact with a column side plate includes an axially facing surface which is provided on the first member and on which a cam surface is formed, an axially facing surface which is provided on the third member, rolling elements which are interposed between both the axially facing surfaces, and a retainer which holds the rolling elements and which is restricted from rotating by the second member.
US09415787B2
A frame for attachment to an article is provided, the frame comprising a crosspiece and an arm, the crosspiece being coupled to the arm and comprising pegs, the pegs being structured and arranged for insertion within an article opening. The arm comprises a distal end for insertion within a second opening of the article. The frame comprises transport members, such as wheels or sliding members, adapted to permit the article and frame to be moved when the frame is attached to the article. The frame may be adapted for attachment to a portable cooler comprising a foot opening and a handle opening, the pegs being adapted for insertion within the foot opening, the arm adapted for insertion within the handle opening. The crosspiece and arm may be adjustable in length. One or more frames may be attached to the portable cooler.
US09415786B1
A cooler cart preferably includes a carrier member, a handle, an axle and a pair of wheels. The carrier member preferably includes a bottom frame, a top frame, a first axle frame member, a second axle frame member and a plurality of vertical frame members. An expandable cooler cart preferably includes a left rear support, a right rear support, a left middle telescoping section, a right middle telescoping section, a left front section, a right front section, a plurality of widthwise telescoping tubes and a plurality of pipe clamps. In use, the plurality of pipe clamps are loosened and the plurality of telescoping connections are slid to accommodate the outer perimeter of a cooler. The plurality of pipe clamps are then tightened.
US09415781B2
A diesel-electric locomotive has two separate engine systems, including a large engine system and a small engine system. The power output from the separate engine systems may be combined to power the locomotive's traction motors. When the locomotive requires low power output for propulsion, only the small engine system is used to power the traction motors. When the locomotive requires higher power output, only the large engine system is used to power the traction motors. When the locomotive requires maximum power output, the small and the large engine system may both be used and their power output combined to power the traction motors. Also, a unique control strategy maintains a smooth delivery of power to the traction motors in the event that one engine shuts down or starts as a result of a change in the commanded power output of the locomotive.
US09415780B2
A zip line attraction and methods are provided. The zip line attraction includes a tower and a stopping point. One or more cables extend between the tower and the stopping point. At least one end of the cable can change in elevation to allow users to travel from the tower to the stopping point, and back to the tower from the stopping point without disconnecting from the cable.
US09415779B2
The present invention provides a vehicle control system (110) and method operable to control at least one vehicle subsystem (120, 130, 140, 150, 160) to operate in a selected one of a plurality of subsystem configuration modes. The control system is operable in a plurality of driving modes in each of which it is arranged to select the subsystem configuration mode of the at least one vehicle subsystem in a manner suitable for a respective type of driving surface. The control system uses the output of an imaging device (115) capturing the driving surface on which the vehicle is driving or will likely be driving.
US09415776B2
A lane departure monitoring system uses a forward sensor to determine a lane position of a host vehicle and to detect oncoming vehicles. Rear side sensors monitor the side blind-spots of the host vehicle as well as vehicles in the adjacent lanes that are approaching from the rear. A control system combines the information provided by these sensors and runs integrated programs to carry out a method for providing lane keeping assist and lane departure warnings.
US09415772B2
A utility vehicle having a first axle that is coupled to first and second wheels, an internal combustion engine that drives a first output shaft, an electric drive motor that drives a second output shaft, and a torque transfer device coupled to the first axle and the first and second output shafts. The torque transfer device is operable in a first mode to receive torque from the first output shaft only and output a motive force to the first axle, a second mode to receive torque from the second output shaft only and output the motive force, a third mode to receive torque from the first output shaft and the second output shaft simultaneously and output the motive force, and a fourth mode to receive torque from the first output shaft and output a drive force to the second output shaft cause the electrical drive motor to generate electrical power.
US09415771B1
A control device in a hybrid vehicle includes a controller capable of switching, between an operating state and a non-operating state, a fuel-cut recovery control in which engine rotation speed is kept at or above a predetermined rotation speed by starting supply of fuel upon the engine rotation speed falling to the predetermined rotation speed from a state in which the engine rotation speed is higher than the predetermined rotation speed and the supply of fuel is stopped.
US09415770B2
A method for exiting the vehicle transport mode including placing the vehicle ignition in a predetermined position, monitoring the fuel level and exiting the vehicle transport mode when the fuel level exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method may also include the step of monitoring the inclination angle of the vehicle and maintaining the vehicle in the vehicle transport mode when the inclination angle exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09415765B2
A vehicle steering system includes: a steering wheel having the capacity to steer a vehicle; a turning actuator having the capacity to turn a wheel; a backup clutch arranged between the steering wheel and the turning actuator and having the capacity to be able to mechanically connect the steering wheel to the turning actuator; and a clutch disengagement checking unit having the capacity to check whether the backup clutch is disengaged.
US09415757B2
A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200° C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.
US09415753B2
When a trailer is pulled by a tow vehicle where the trailer begins to sway to the left and right of the tow vehicle a large sway can result in loss of control of the trailer and or tow vehicle. The field of the present invention is a system and method of controlling a trailer sway which comprises determining the sway of the trailer utilizing an electronic sensor and independently applying the left or right trailer brakes at varying levels to reduce trailer sway. The traditional single braking signal power from the tow vehicle is separated into two independent braking signals for each of the left and right brakes. All brakes are applied whenever the traditional braking signal goes active where trailer battery power is utilized to independently activate the left and or right brakes during trailer sway.
US09415749B2
A general wiper connecting apparatus (1) comprises: a main body (10) formed with a penetrated hole (13) allowing a pivotal shaft (2a′) of a wiper driving arm (2, 2′, 2″) to be received; a head portion (20) formed with a positioning groove (21) at the location connected with the main body (10) for positioning the wiper driving arm (2, 2′, 2″); a tail portion (30) formed with a pair of elastic clamping pieces (31) for latching the wiper driving arm (2, 2′, 2″); and a pair of side boards (40) disposed at two sides of the main body (10), and respectively formed with a through hole (41) corresponding to the penetrated hole (13), and an insertion slit (400) is respectively formed between the pair of side boards (40) and the main body (10) for allowing the wiper driving arm (2, 2′, 2″) to be inserted.
US09415748B2
A seat belt wearing detection device includes: a tongue unit supported by a seat belt; a buckle unit into which the tongue unit is inserted and held; a wearing detection unit that detects an insertion and holding state; a seat belt side communication unit that transmits a detection result; a control unit that determines a wearing state based on the detection result and controls the seat belt side communication unit; power supply means for supplying electric power to the seat belt side communication unit; and a vehicle side device that performs radio communication with the seat belt side communication unit to receive the detection result. The power supply means includes a power supply section, a power storage section, and a charging section. The power supply section charges the power storage section by supplying electric power to the charging section when the seat belt is in a housed state.
US09415740B2
An airbag apparatus includes an airbag, a gas supplying unit configured to supply gas to the airbag to expand the airbag, a housing configured to support the airbag disposed therein, and a cover configured to cover the airbag, wherein the housing has sidewalls extending toward the cover, hooks protruding from the sidewalls, and at least one guide allocated to one of the sidewalls and situated below the hooks, wherein the cover has mount walls to which the housing is mounted, and wherein the mount walls have engagement holes formed therethrough such that a rotating movement of the cover around a lower tip of one of the mount walls while the lower tip is rested against the guide causes the hooks to be inserted into the engagement holes of the one of the mount walls.
US09415732B2
A vehicle power unit is operable to, when not driving the starter, charge first and second capacitors. A controller is operable to, when driving the starter, cause the battery to supply power to the starter if a total voltage of first and second capacitor voltages is smaller than a predetermined total voltage. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, form a parallel circuit of the battery and the first capacitor, and connect the second capacitor in series to the parallel circuit if the total voltage is not smaller than the predetermined total voltage at a beginning of use of the vehicle. The controller is operable to, when driving the starter, disconnect the battery from the starter. The vehicle power unit reduces a load applied to the battery when driving the starter, accordingly extending a life time of the battery.
