US09447571B2

An automatic flushing mechanism includes an electronic control box containing a motor and an intermittent motion gear coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor. The intermittent motion gear is configured to rotate when the motor is operated. The intermittent motion gear includes a toothed portion including a plurality of gear teeth. The automatic flushing mechanism includes an intermittent motion pendulum rod including a first end pivotally attached to the electronic control box via a rotation shaft, a second end coupled to a flush valve, and a curved rack including a plurality of rack teeth which mesh with the gear teeth of the intermittent motion gear. Rotation of the intermittent motion gear causes the curved rack to be lifted upward, thereby rotating the intermittent motion pendulum rod about the rotation shaft and lifting the flush valve.
US09447566B1

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a faucet. The faucet can comprise a discharge assembly. The discharge assembly can comprise a middle column. The middle column can comprise a pump activator, which can be constructed to cause the middle column to dispense a liquid soap responsive to user compression.
US09447564B2

A wear member including a body including a leg having an inner face and a first pocket formed in the inner face of the leg. A second pocket may be formed in the inner face of the leg and spaced apart from the first pocket by a passage extending between the first pocket and the second pocket in a direction parallel to a main axis of the body. The second pocket may include a curved abutment surface generally facing away from the first pocket.
US09447563B2

A stroke operation diagnosis supporting device for a hydraulic cylinder includes: movable portions; hydraulic cylinders; a stroke sensor measuring a stroke length of the hydraulic cylinder; a reset sensor measuring a reset reference point at which a measurement value of the stroke length obtained by the stroke sensor is reset; a stroke end detection process unit detecting a stroke end position of the hydraulic cylinder; a calibration process unit calibrating the measurement value of the stroke length upon the detection of the reset reference point and/or the stroke end position; and a monitor displaying on a screen at least the measurement value of the stroke length obtained by the stroke sensor and a calibration state obtained by the calibration process unit, wherein the monitor displays continuous time change of the measurement value of the stroke length obtained by the stroke sensor.
US09447557B2

Footer products, and footers made with such products. Such product includes an insulating member between its upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface receives a load. The interior transfers the load from the upper surface to the lower surface, and distributes the load laterally and longitudinally such that the load received at the lower surface is within the load-bearing capacity of underlying soil. The product provides a thermal shock barrier between underlying soil and the interior of the building. The insulating member can comprise the entirety of the product, or can be combined with top and/or bottom load distributing layers, or can be combined with intercostals which extend top-to-bottom through the foam. Such footers are useful in constructing structures which use footers to spread the overlying load onto a greater surface area of the underlying soil than the cross-section area of the structure which presents the load to the footer.
US09447554B1

The method of dissipating water wave energy includes using an array of vertically-extending breakwater walls for dissipating the energy of water waves in an area of interest. Each vertically-extending wall has a plurality of horizontally-extending slots formed therethrough. The areas and/or configurations of the horizontally-extending slots can be varied such that each vertically-extending wall can have a unique degree of porosity. Each vertically extending wall can be positioned in succession in front of a water-impregnable rear barrier. The slots of one vertically-extending wall can be staggered or nonaligned relative to the next vertically-extending wall in succession.
US09447550B2

Novel tools and techniques for controlling heavy equipment vehicles, such as tractors, graders, road-forming machines, and the like. Some techniques allow a control system of a heavy equipment vehicle to transition from receiving position data from one positioning device to receiving data from another without ceasing operation and/or while limiting any resulting discontinuity in a manipulated ground surface to within acceptable tolerances.
US09447545B2

The present disclosure offers an improvement in papermaking methods and products, by providing a tissue sheet and a method to obtain a tissue sheet, with improved absorbency at a given basis weight. Thus, by way of example, the present disclosure provides a single ply tissue sheet having a basis weight greater than about 50 gsm and a specific vertical absorbent capacity greater than about 6.0 g/g.
US09447535B2

A cleaning diffuser is disposed above a fluff-laden component and receives rinsing fluid for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component to detach fluff and carry it away. The diffuser is constructed to enable a buildup of dynamic pressure in the rinsing fluid and has two feed ducts which extend at a distance from one another in substantially parallel relationship so that rinsing fluid entering the diffuser is divided between the feed ducts. The feed ducts terminate in pockets in a wall at an end of the diffuser and have, relative to their entire duct length, a narrow, three-dimensional transverse mutual connection in the form of a transverse chamber. The diffuser has at least one narrow outlet opening which extends from the three-dimensional transverse connection to a lower side of the diffuser for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component.
US09447534B2

A laundry machine is disclosed. The bearing housing and the suspensions may be distant from each other with respect to a radial direction as well as an axial direction of the shaft. As a result, the suspension unit may include a radial bracket extended radially or axial bracket extended axially.
US09447522B2

A method is provided for producing solid material filaments or films from a fluid of the material, by extruding the fluid by one or more extrusion openings and by solidifying the material in a precipitation bath. The formed material is guided between the extrusion openings and the precipitation bath by a lateral gas flow. The gas flow is subdivided into a hot partial flow and a cold partial flow. The material is initially brought into contact with the hot partial flow and subsequently with the cold partial flow prior to it being introduced into the precipitation bath. A device is also provided for extruding and forming materials.
US09447514B2

A structure and method of making a thin-film solar cell is provided. A thin-film solar cell includes a substrate, absorber layer and a buffer layer. The absorber layer is deposited by a single-step bulk electrochemical process, or a multi-layer electrochemical process. The buffer layer is deposited by an electrochemical deposition process such as a multi-layer deposition or an atomic layer deposition. The absorber and buffer layers are non-toxic materials which can include sulfur incorporated during the deposition process or incorporated after deposition by an anneal step.
US09447513B2

Nano-scale structures are provided wherein nano-structures are formed on a substrate surface and a base material is applied between the nano-structures.
US09447503B2

A composite article includes a substrate and a thermal barrier secured to the substrate. The thermal barrier includes a plurality of closed pores within a ceramic matrix. For example, the closed pores comprise 20 vol % to 80 vol % of the thermal barrier.
US09447501B2

A non-aqueous photocurable composition contains dispersed carbon-coated metal particles in an organic diluent in an amount of at least 10 weight %. The dispersed carbon-coated metal particles have a median diameter equal to or less than 0.6 μm, and are dispersed using a particle dispersing agent that has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 2,000 and up to and including 100,000 and comprises nitrogen-containing units. The median diameter of the dispersed particles is determined using a dynamic light scattering method. Moreover, when the non-aqueous composition contains up to and including 25 weight % of the dispersed carbon-coated metal particles, it exhibits no visual settling when subjected to a settling test of at least 24 hours at 20° C. Such non-aqueous photocurable compositions include photocurable components and are useful to prepare photocurable and photocured electrically-conductive patterns and layers in various articles, including touch screen devices having touch screen displays.
US09447498B2

A method for performing uniform processing in multiple reaction chambers includes (a) conducting a cycle constituted by steps in each reaction chamber according to the order of the reaction chambers at which the steps are conducted; and then (b) conducting the steps in each reaction chamber after changing the immediately prior order of the reaction chambers at which the steps are conducted; and then (c) repeating process (b) until a target treatment is complete at the multiple reaction chambers. The target treatment conducted on a substrate in each reaction chamber is the same.
US09447492B2

A method of applying a transparent conductive film to a polymeric substrate having a desired textured therein is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a polymeric material having a texture disposed therein and conformally applying a transparent conductive material to the molded polymeric material to produce a conformal transparent conductive film thereon. The conformal transparent conductive film has a texture corresponding to the texture of the polymeric material and has a period that is not larger than the wavelength of visible light, whereby the conformal transparent conductive film is antireflective.
US09447487B2

The present invention relates to a torsional extreme-plastic processing method. In other words, a processing method in which severe plastic deformation based on torsion and compressive force is applied to a material by using a mold to produce miniaturize and nano-size crystal particles in a conic pipe. According to the severe plastic deformation method of the present invention, a punch that matches an inner shape of the conic metal pipe is mounted inside the conic metal pipe, and then a mold that matches an outer shape of the conic metal pipe is mounted outside the conic metal pipe. Thus, microstructures of the conic metal pipe may be ultra-finely crystallized or nano-crystallized through shearing by applying compression and torsion to the conic metal pipe.
US09447484B2

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a oxide dispersion-strengthened alloy metal includes the steps of providing, in a powdered form, an oxide dispersion-strengthened alloy composition that is capable of achieving a dispersion-strengthened microstructure, directing a low energy density energy beam at a portion of the alloy composition, withdrawing the energy beam from the portion of the powdered alloy composition, and cooling the portion of the powdered alloy composition at a rate greater than or equal to about 106° F. per second, thereby forming the oxide dispersion-strengthened alloy metal.
US09447471B2

Provided herein are methods for miRNA profiling for the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of melanoma and differentiation of melanoma from nevi.
US09447470B2

The disclosure includes the identification and use of gene expression profiles, or patterns, with clinical relevance to cancer. In particular, the disclosure includes the identities of genes that are expressed in correlation with tumor grade. The levels of gene expression are disclosed as a molecular index for determining tumor grade in a patient and predicting clinical outcome, and so prognosis, for the patient. The molecular grading of cancer may optionally be used in combination with a second molecular index for diagnosing cancer and its prognosis. The disclosure further includes methods for predicting cancer recurrence, and/or predicting occurrence of metastatic cancer. For diagnosis or prognosis, the disclosure further includes methods for determining or selecting the treatment of cancer based upon the likelihood of life expectancy, cancer recurrence, and/or cancer metastasis.
US09447466B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for determination or evaluation of an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus where the enhancement of activation of neurotrophic factor such as BDNF in cultured cells or the enhancement of activation of proteins participating therein is used as an indicator. The present invention relates to a novel method for determination or evaluation of an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus and relates to a method for determination or evaluation of the extract where the enhancement of production of neurotrophic factor such as BDNF in cultured cells or the enhancement of activation of various proteins in intracellular signaling pathway participating in production of BDNF, etc. is used as an indicator.
US09447462B2

The present invention provides methods for the quantification of an unknown bioagent in a sample by amplification of nucleic acid of the bioagent, and concurrent amplification of a known quantity of a calibration polynucleotide from which are obtained a bioagent identifying amplicon and a calibration amplicon. Upon molecular mass analysis, mass and abundance data are obtained. The identity of the bioagent is then determined from the molecular mass of the bioagent identifying amplicon and the quantity of the identified bioagent in the sample is determined from the abundance data of the bioagent identifying amplicon and the abundance data of the calibration amplicon.
US09447456B2

Methods and systems of quantifying a target material in solution include detection of a size change of a hybridized nucleic acid complex, without the use of nanobeads. In particular, the examples include providing a plurality of nucleic acid fragments and a species-specific oligonucleotide tags, measuring the size of the nucleic acid fragments and/or oligonucleotides to predetermine a standard distribution of the solution(s), introducing the oligonucleotides in a solution containing nucleic acid target materials and/or non-target materials, and hybridizing the oligonucleotides with the species-specific target material if present in the solution. The size of the nucleic acid complexes in solution are then measured after hybridization, and the presence or non-presence of the species-specific target material is detected and/or quantified by comparing the measured size of the nucleic acid complexes after hybridization to the standard distribution.
US09447455B2

Highly reactive functionalized substrates and linker molecules for use in the detection of molecular targets and other analytes of interest are provided as are kits, reaction mixtures and methods utilizing the same.
US09447452B2

The present invention provides for novel methods for regulating and detecting the cytosine methylation status of DNA. The invention is based upon identification of a novel and surprising catalytic activity for the family of TET proteins, namely TET1, TET2, TET3, and CXXC4. The novel activity is related to the enzymes being capable of converting the cytosine nucleotide 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by hydroxylation.
US09447449B2

Methods are provided for detecting mycobacteria in a sample, including clinical samples. Methods are also provided for determining susceptibility of mycobacterial strains to known or potential antibiotic agents, as are kits therefor. Recombinant mycobacteriophages are also provided comprising heterologous nucleic acids of interest.
US09447443B2

The present invention provides a method for conveniently and efficiently producing a 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound that is a stable compound by a process using a microorganism. Specifically the present invention provides a microorganism having an ability to produce 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, that is modified so as to increase an activity to form 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and aspartate semialdehyde, wherein the microorganism is modified so as to increase an N-hydroxyarylamine O-acetyltransferase (NhoA) activity, as well as a method for producing the 3-acetylamino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid-type compound using such a microorganism.
US09447440B2

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having bicarbonate transporter activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, and methods of producing C4-dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid.
US09447439B2

A genetically modified microorganism comprising a polynucleotide encoding α-ketoglutarate synthase or a mutant thereof, and a polynucleotide encoding pyruvate carboxylase or a mutant thereof; wherein the genetically modified microorganism has decreased malate quinone oxidoreductase activity and/or decreased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity compared to an unmodified microorganism of the same type, and wherein the genetically modified microorganism produces 4-hydroxybutyrate.
US09447435B2

Integrated processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol wherein a gas substrate of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide is in contact with an aqueous menstruum that continuously contacts the gas substrate with said aqueous menstruum to produce alcohol and a depleted gas phase that is continuously withdrawn from the aqueous menstruum; continuously or intermittently and the gas substrate is made up of at least two gases having different compositions to provide an overall gas substrate having a ratio of electrons to carbon atoms in the range of about 5.2:1 to 6.8:1.
US09447429B2

A method to generate siRNAs in vivo is described, as are constructs and compositions useful in the method. The method does not depend on the use of DNA or synthetic constructs that contain inverted duplications or dual promoters so as to form perfect or largely double-stranded RNA. Rather, the method depends on constructs that yield single-stranded RNA transcripts, and exploits endogenous or in vivo-produced miRNAs or siRNAs to initiate production of siRNAs. The miRNAs or siRNAs guide cleavage of the transcript and set the register for production of siRNAs (usually 21 nucleotides in length) encoded adjacent to the initiation cleavage site within the construct. The method results in specific formation of siRNAs of predictable size and register (phase) relative to the initiation cleavage site. The method can be used to produce specific siRNAs in vivo for inactivation or suppression of one or more target genes or other entities, such as pathogens.
US09447425B2

The invention relates to plant homeobox (HB) protein family polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference or control plant, including increased yield.
US09447422B2

The present invention provides autonomous replication sequences (ARSs) isolated from Nannochloropsis that support the replication of episomal DNA molecules (EDMs) in eukaryotic cells. The ARSs and EDMs provided herein can be used for expressing genes in organisms including algae and heterokonts.
US09447418B2

The invention provides a method of selectively pro-oranti-angiogenic treatment of a mammalian subject, comprising site-specific control of alternative splicing during processing of VEGF pre-mRNA transcribed from the C terminal exon 8 of the VEGF gene using controlling agents for the splicing, wherein one or more controlling agent which favors proximal splice site (PSS) splicing in said processing is used in the pro-angiogenic treatment and one or more controlling agent which favors distal splice site (DSS) splicing in said processing is used in the anti-angiogenic treatment.
US09447416B2

Provided are antisense molecules capable of binding to a selected target site in the human dystrophin gene to induce exon skipping, and methods of use thereof to treat muscular dystrophy.
US09447400B2

The present disclosure is generally directed to enzymes and in particular beta-glucosidase variants. Also described are nucleic acids encoding beta-glucosidase variants, compositions comprising beta-glucosidase variants, methods of using beta-glucosidase variants, and methods of identifying additional useful beta-glucosidase variants.
US09447398B2

The present invention provides for heterologous expression of polypeptides encoded by wild-type and codon-optimized cbh2 genes from the organisms Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Gibberella zeae, Irpex lacteus, Volvariella volvacea, and Piromyces sp. in host cells, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression in such host cells of the corresponding genes, and variants and combinations thereof, result in improved specific activity of the expressed cellobiohydrolases. Thus, such genes and expression systems are useful for efficient and cost-effective consolidated bioprocessing systems.
US09447390B2

The invention features compositions and methods for site-specific modification of proteins by incorporation of an aldehyde tag. Enzymatic modification at a sulfatase motif of the aldehyde tag through action of a formylglycine generating enzyme (FGE) generates a formylglycine (FGly) residue. The aldehyde moiety of FGly residue can be exploited as a chemical handle for site-specific attachment of a moiety of interest to a polypeptide.
US09447386B2

Transgenic oilseeds having increased total fatty acid content of at least 10% and altered fatty acid profiles when compared to the total fatty acid content of null segregant oilseeds are described. Novel DGAT genes are used to achieve the increase in seed storage lipids.
US09447379B2

Methods and compositions for differentiating tissue resident multipotent mesenchmal stromal cells (MSCs) such as adipose tissue resident MSCs into a hematopoietic lineage are described.
US09447378B2

The invention provides inter alia methods for differentiating embryonic stem cells into insulin producing cells, as well as compositions comprising such cells, and therapeutic uses of such compositions.
US09447376B2

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a dried intimate mixture comprising a bacteria spore and a germinative compound, and methods for preparing the intimate mixture. In another aspect, this invention is directed to a composition comprising such an intimate mixture. The invention also relates to methods for increasing the germination, growth, metabolism, and/or enzyme activity of a bacteria spore comprising preparing an intimate mixture of a bacteria spore and a germinative compound.
US09447375B1

Methods of treating lysis in cultures of Haematococcus pluvialis with hydrogen peroxide are described herein. The method comprises dosing the culture comprising with a concentration of hydrogen peroxide based on the stage of the cells in the culturing process and at a frequency to increase the likelihood of the cells surviving until the process of accumulating carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, is complete.
US09447373B1

Methods of treating contamination, particularly fungal contamination, in cultures of Haematococcus pluvialis with hydrogen peroxide and salt are described herein. The method comprises dosing the culture comprising a concentration of salt with a concentration of hydrogen peroxide based on the stage of the cells in the culturing process and at a frequency to increase the likelihood of the cells surviving until the process of accumulating carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, is complete.
US09447367B2

The invention concerns a machine cleaner to clean kitchen appliances, comprising an alkaline system and a complexing component to bind metals or metallic cations, wherein the complexing component comprises a combination of at least one element from each of the following groups of complexing agents or complexing aids: methyl glycine diacetic acid or polyaspartic acid or salts thereof; polyepoxysuccinic acid or salts thereof; and gluconic acid or gluconates. The invention also concerns the use of a combination of different complexing agents or complexing aids in an alkaline machine cleaner as well as the use of a machine cleaner in accordance with the invention to clean kitchen appliances, in particular in the commercial kitchen sector.
US09447365B2

A method including immersing a ceramic coated article into a bath including an HF acid solution having NH4F with a molar concentration of about 0.1M to 1.0M for a time period to remove a deposition, and rinsing the ceramic coated article.
US09447345B2

A partially digested biomass solids is converted in a fixed bed catalytic reduction reactor under hydrothermal catalytic condition with a supported metal catalyst having a high void fraction. The catalyst having high void fraction allows high permeability and extends reaction run time.
US09447343B2

The present invention relates to a gasohol fuel composition that prevents corrosion of the metallurgies involved in fuel storage tanks, vehicle fuel tanks, fuel distribution systems, and transportation systems. The novel gasohol fuel composition comprises of a major portion of an alcohol blended gasoline fuel and a minor portion of a corrosion inhibitor formulation, wherein the corrosion inhibitor formulation comprises of (i) a reaction product of (a) a monosaturated fatty acid; and (b) an azomethine compound derived from a condensation reaction between a carbonyl compound and an amine compound; (ii) a fatty acid oil or ester selected from a group comprising of castor oil, palm oil, soyabean oil, and methyl soya ester; (iii) a dispersing agent, the dispersing agent being a sulfonate compound; and (iv) a viscosity reducing agent selected from a group comprising of ethanol, isopropanol, and propargyl alcohol.
US09447338B2

Renewable fuels are produced in commercial quantities and with enhanced efficiency by integrating a bio-oil production system with a conventional petroleum refinery so that the bio-oil is co-processed with a petroleum-derived stream in the refinery. The techniques used to integrate the bio-oil production system and conventional petroleum refineries are selected based on the quality of the bio-oil and the desired product slate from the refinery.
US09447337B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for heating a slurry to increase a solids concentration of the slurry while maintaining the viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a fuel slurry preparation system having a slurry tank configured to hold a fuel slurry, the fuel slurry having a solid fuel and a liquid. The fuel slurry preparation system also includes a heat source and a controller configured to control the heat source to heat the fuel slurry to decrease a viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity.
US09447336B2

Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil is heated to a temperature above 100° C. in a stabilization column for a time sufficient to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by flashing, or preferably by gas stripping with a gas injected at the bottom of the column. Either process transfers the elemental mercury from the oil phase into the gas phase. Elemental mercury can then be removed from the gas phase by methods such as condensation, precipitation, or absorption either alone or in combination.
US09447333B2

The present invention provides an environment friendly aviation fuel base oil having combustibility, oxidation stability and excellent life cycle characteristics and contributing to diversification of primary energy, which is produced by hydrotreating a feedstock comprising a mixed oil of an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compound originating from an animal or vegetable fat and a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon compound or a feedstock comprising said mixed oil and a petroleum base oil produced by refining crude oil and an aviation fuel composition comprising the aviation fuel base oil, and an aviation fuel composition containing such an aviation fuel base oil.
US09447328B2

A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C1-C4). The gaseous mixture is reformed in a steam reformer, producing reformed molecular hydrogen, which is then introduced into the reactor vessel for hydropyrolizing the biomass. The deoxygenated liquid product is further processed to produce diesel fuel and gasoline.
US09447323B2

A method for producing a liquid crystal display includes providing a first substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode on a surface of the first substrate. The first and the second electrodes are made of conductive films. A liquid crystal aligning agent is applied to the surface of the first substrate to form an alignment film on the first substrate. The liquid crystal aligning agent includes at least one of: a polymer that includes a photoalignment structure and a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; a polymer that includes a photoalignment structure, and a component that includes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond; or a polymer that includes a photoalignment structure and a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and a component that includes a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond. The second substrate is provided to form a liquid crystal cell. Light is applied to the liquid crystal cell.
US09447317B2

The present invention provides a stannate fluorescent material having a formula: A2-xSnO4:Eux@SnO2@My; wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba; M is at least one metal nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, and Cu; 0
US09447316B2

Provided is a hollow particle aggregate formed by aggregating a plurality of self-organizable particles, wherein a metal core is modified by a surface modifier for a metal core comprising a first segment comprising an optionally branched fluorinated alkylene glycol group, an optionally branched fluorinated alkylene group, or an optionally branched fluorinated azaalkylene group; a second segment comprising at least one hydrophilic group and bonding to one of the ends of a main chain of the first segment; and a functional group that bonds directly or indirectly to the another end of the main chain of the first segment and is able to bond to the metal core.
US09447314B2

Chelating agents used in conjunction with stimulation operations in a subterranean formation can often be limited by the pH range over which they may effectively complex metal ions. Perfluorinated chelating agents may have a broader effective pH range for metal ion complexation than do other types of chelating agents, particularly at highly acidic pH values. Methods for treating a subterranean formation can comprise: providing a treatment fluid comprising a perfluorinated chelating agent having at least two carboxylic acid groups; introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and complexing metal ions in the subterranean formation with the perfluorinated chelating agent.
US09447302B2

The present invention provides a colorless inkjet ink composition comprising at least 30% by weight of monofunctional acrylate monomer based on the total weight of the ink and at least 3% by weight of a photoinitiator based on the total weight of the ink, wherein the photoinitiator comprises an α-hydroxy ketone photoinitiator and wherein the ink comprises 0 to 6% by weight of acyl phosphine photoinitiator based on the total weight of the ink.
US09447300B2

There is provided an ink comprising a colorant, a polymer particle, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein the ink has a static surface tension of 30 mN/m or less and, when examined for dynamic surface tension by the maximum bubble pressure method, has a width of variations in dynamic surface tension, for a period from 1 msec after to 1 sec after, of 0.2 mN/m to 3.0 mN/m.
US09447299B2

Optical inks suitable for 3D printing fabrication of gradient refractive index (GRIN) optical components are composed of a monomer matrix material [100] in which ligand-functionalized nanoparticles [102] are well dispersed at more than 2% loading to induce a change in the index of refraction of the matrix of at least 0.02. The ligands are less than 1.2 nm in length and are covalently bonded to both the nanoparticles and the monomer matrix. The nanoparticles are less than 100 nm in size and the doped matrix material has a transmittance of at least 90% at wavelengths of interest. The matrix material has less than 20 cPoise viscosity and is UV crosslinkable to form a cured polymer.
US09447296B2

An ink set includes a recording ink and a displacement ink. The recording ink contains a pigment, a resin, water, and a first surfactant and is substantially free of alkyl polyols with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more. The displacement ink contains water, a second surfactant, an aprotic polar solvent, and an alkyl polyol with a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more. Each of the first surfactant and the second surfactant includes a silicone surfactant and/or a fluorosurfactant. The resin includes a water-soluble resin and/or a resin emulsion. The recording ink has a higher surface tension than that of the displacement ink.
US09447293B2

A blue ink for postage printing, which contains a blue pigment, a black dye, and an aqueous carrier, wherein the weight ratio of blue pigment to black dye is in the range of 50:1 to 2:1. The blue pigment is a copper phthalocyanine pigment or an anthraquinone pigment, and the black dye is an azo dye.
US09447290B2

Disclosed is a powder paint composition of and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a powder paint composition including a powder paint prepared by physically attaching metallic particles to a powder resin, which exhibits no separation or aggregation of metallic particles when coated and significantly improves metallic texture owing to orientation of the metallic particles, and a method for preparing the same.
US09447281B2

In a stack of composite wood boards, the wood boards comprise wood particles and an organic binder.
US09447280B2

The present invention provides derivatives of native lignin having certain aliphatic hydroxyl content. Surprisingly, it has been found that consistent and predictable antioxidant activity may be provided by selecting for derivatives of native lignin having certain aliphatic hydroxyl content.
US09447273B2

A particulate polymeric composition capable of being processed to provide expanded articles having a density lower than or equal to 50 g/l and a closed cell content of at least 60% as specified by ASTM D-2856, wherein resulting particulates have a shape factor ranging from 0.6 to 0.99; and wherein the particulate polymeric composition is produced according to a process that prepares expandable granules based on thermoplastic polymers, through a granulation die.
US09447270B2

There is provided a dispersion composition containing (A) a metal oxide particle having a primary particle diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm, (B) a polymer compound represented by the specific formula having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 8,000 and an acid value of 70 to 90 mgKOH/g, and (C) a solvent, and a curable composition containing the dispersion composition and (D) a polymerizable compound.
US09447267B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a modified polypropylene composition for forming laminates, which enables prevention of lowering of interlaminar bond strength even in the case where it is subjected to high-speed molding or subjected to stretch molding, and a laminate using the composition and having excellent interlaminar bond properties. The present invention relates to a modified polypropylene composition comprising a propylene-based polymer (A-1), 0 to 45% by weight of a propylene-based polymer (A-2), an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (B) having a melt flow rate (MFR; ASTM D1238, 230° C., load of 2.16 kg) of 0.01 to 40 g/10 min and a density (ASTM D1505) of not more than 0.900 g/cm3, and a specific amount of modified polypropylene (C) a part or all of which has been graft-modified with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.
US09447266B2

Described herein is a melt-processible polymer composition comprising: a non-fluorinated melt-processible polymer; and a fluorine-containing polymer comprising an end-group having a structures from group consisting of: and combinations thereof; wherein X1, X2, and X3 are each independently selected from H, F, Cl, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, and a C1 to C4 fluorinated alkyl group; R7 is a linking group comprising at least 2 or more catenary atoms; and Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from F, CF3, and a perfluoroalkyl group.
US09447261B2

To provide a cellulose acylate film having low moisture permeability and low haze, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device using the same. A cellulose acylate film comprising at least a cellulose acylate, and a compound represented by the formula (1) below: in the formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or substituent, R2 represents a substituent represented by the formula (2) below; n1 represents an integer of 0 to 4, when n1 is 2 or larger, the plurality of (R1)s may be same with or different from each other; n2 represents an integer of 1 to 5, when n2 is 2 or larger, the plurality of (R2)s may be same with or different from each other.
US09447257B2

This invention relates to polymer compositions comprising: (1) at least one polymer selected from the groups consisting of:nylon, polyesters, copolyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides; polystyrene, polystyrene copolymers, styrene acrylonitrile copolymers, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymers, poly(methylmethacrylate), acrylic copolymers, poly(ether-imides); polyphenylene oxides or poly(phenylene oxide)/polystyrene blends, polystyrene resins; polyphenylene sulfides; polyphenylene sulfide/sulfones; poly(ester-carbonates); polycarbonates; polysulfones; polysulfone ethers; and poly(ether-ketones); or mixtures of any of the other foregoing polymers, and (2) at least one fluoroalkyl derivative.
US09447255B2

The present invention provides a method for producing a rubber composition containing a rubber component (A) that contains a modified conjugated diene-based polymer obtained by using a modifying agent that has a functional group compatible with silica, a filler containing an inorganic filler (B), a silane coupling agent (C), and at least one promoter (D) selected from guanidines, sulfenamides, thiazoles, thiurams, thioureas, dithiocarbamic acid compounds and xanthogenic acid compounds, wherein the rubber composition is kneaded in plural stages, and in the first stage (X) of kneading, the rubber component (A), all or a part of the inorganic filler (B), all or a part of the silane coupling agent (C) and the promoter (D) are added and kneaded.
US09447254B2

The present invention concerns an aqueous flame retardant composition for mineral fiber-based mats, in particular glass or rock fibers, which comprises: at least one thermoplastic or thermoset resin, and at least one organic flame retarding agent chosen from: a) alkyl ketene dimers (AKDs) of formula (I) below: in which R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, represent a C4-C18, preferably C12-C16, alkyl radical; and b) alkenyl succinic anhydrides (ASAs) of formula (II) below: in which R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, represent an alkyl radical, the total number of carbon atoms in these radicals varying from 10 to 18, preferably from 12 to 14. It also concerns mats treated with said aqueous flame retardant composition.
US09447251B2

Articles comprising a composition comprising a polymeric binder and at least one carbonaceous filler, wherein the article has a compositional gradient such that the concentration of the filler is increased or decreased in at least one direction in the article. Methods for their preparation and structures comprising the articles are also described.
US09447240B2

To provide a polyimide precursor and/or polyimide which has an excellent solubility in various organic solvents, and with which a liquid crystal alignment film can be obtained which is excellent in a rubbing resistance and which is hardly deteriorated even by irradiation with backlight.A polyimide precursor having its terminal amino group modified with at least one alicyclic epoxydicarboxylic acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formulae [1] and [2], or a polyimide obtained by imidizing it: wherein Y is a C1-2 alkylene or an oxygen atom, and R1 is a hydrogen atom or an organic group represented by —X1—X2—X3 , wherein X1 is a single bond or —CH2—, X2 is a single bond or —O—, and X3 is a C1-20 alkyl group, a C1-20 haloalkyl group or a C1-20 alkyl group containing a cyano group.
US09447229B2

The invention provides a crystalline polyester resin obtained by condensation polymerization of a mixture comprising a polycarboxylic acid component and a polyol component, present in a range such that the ratio of the number of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component and the number of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component is in the range of 100:108 to 100:120, and having an acid value of 5 to 20 mgKOH/g, wherein the polycarboxylic acid component includes a C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, the content ratio of carboxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component, the polyol component includes a C8-12 aliphatic diol, and the content ratio of hydroxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic diol is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component.
US09447226B2

A composition for an optical material includes (a) a compound having two β-epithiopropyl groups and having a specific structure, (b) a compound having one β-epithiopropyl group and one glycidyl group and having a specific structure, (c) polyisocyanate and (d) polythiol, enables the prevention of the occurrence of such a defect that peeling traces linger on a lens. In the composition for an optical material, an embodiment in which (e) sulfur is additionally contained is preferred. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for producing an optical material, characterized by adding an onium salt as a polymerization catalyst to the composition for an optical material in an amount of 0.0001 to 10% by mass relative to the total amount of the compound (a), the compound (b), polyisocyanate (c) and polythiol (d) and then polymerizing and curing the resultant mixture.
US09447221B2

Embodiments of the present technology include a formaldehyde-free binder composition. The composition may include melamine. The composition may also include a reducing sugar. In addition, the binder composition may include a non-carbohydrate aldehyde or ketone. Embodiments may also include a method of making a formaldehyde-free binder composition. The method may include dissolving melamine in an aqueous solution of a reducing sugar. The concentration of the reducing sugar may be 30 wt. % to 70 wt. % of the aqueous solution, which may be at a temperature of 50° C. to 100° C. The method may also include adding a non-carbohydrate aldehyde or ketone to the dissolved melamine in the aqueous solution to form a binder solution. The temperature of the aqueous solution of the dissolved melamine may be 50° C. to 100° C. during the addition of the non-carbohydrate aldehyde or ketone. The method may further include reducing the temperature of the binder solution.
US09447220B2

Disclosed herein is a graft block copolymer comprising a first block polymer; the first block polymer comprising a backbone polymer and a first graft polymer; where the first graft polymer comprises a surface energy reducing moiety; and a second block polymer; the second block polymer being covalently bonded to the first block; wherein the second block comprises the backbone polymer and a second graft polymer; where the second graft polymer comprises a functional group that is operative to crosslink the graft block copolymer.
US09447210B2

Provided are an olefin composition, filler and an optoelectronic device. One illustrative olefin composition may be effectively used as a filling material for various optoelectronic devices.
US09447205B2

A plasma treatment method that includes providing treatment chamber including an intermediate heating volume and an interior treatment volume. The interior treatment volume contains an electrode assembly for generating a plasma and the intermediate heating volume heats the interior treatment volume. A work piece is traversed through the treatment chamber. A process gas is introduced to the interior treatment volume of the treatment chamber. A plasma is formed with the electrode assembly from the process gas, wherein a reactive species of the plasma is accelerated towards the fiber tow by flow vortices produced in the interior treatment volume by the electrode assembly.
US09447204B2

Catalyst deactivating agents and compositions containing catalyst deactivating agents are disclosed. These catalyst deactivating agents can be used in methods of controlling polymerization reactions, methods of terminating polymerization reactions, methods of operating polymerization reactors, and methods of transitioning between catalyst systems.
US09447201B2

The present invention relates to a polymerization inhibitor composition and a method of inhibiting polymerization of distillable monomers in liquid and evaporated/condensed phases with the polymerization inhibitor composition. The polymerization inhibitor composition is useful for inhibiting polymerization of the distillable monomers during manufacture, purification (e.g., distillation), handling, and storage thereof.
US09447197B2

A process for dissolving modified cellulose includes contacting modified cellulose solution with at least one neutralizing agent to form a plurality of modified cellulose particles.
US09447192B2

This disclosure relates to anti-Siglec-15 antibodies and uses thereof, in particular in the treatment of leukaemia, such as acute myeloid leukaemia.
US09447190B2

Described herein are anti-MCAM antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof that are capable of inhibiting the interaction between MCAM and its ligand, a protein comprising a laminin α-4 chain. These anti-MCAM antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof may be useful for, for example, treating inflammatory conditions characterized by the infiltration of MCAM-expressing cells into a site of inflammation in the body.
US09447181B2

The present invention provides anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibodies that contain an IgG4 constant region comprising a stabilizing hinge region mutation and wherein the antibodies exhibit an unexpectedly long serum half life in cynomolgus monkeys. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-NGF antibodies, nucleic acids encoding the NGF antibodies, host cells for expressing the NGF antibodies and methods of using the antibodies for treating NGF-related diseases or conditions are also provided.
US09447174B2

Methods for producing recombinant cell populations are disclosed. The disclosed methods may be used to produce therapeutic polyclonal proteins.
US09447168B2

There is provided a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding for a functional factor VIII protein, wherein the portion of the nucleotide sequence encoding for the B domain of the factor VIII protein is between 90 and 111 nucleotides in length and encodes for an amino acid sequence comprising a sequence having at least 85% identity to SEQ ID NO: 4 and which comprises six asparagine residues. Also provided is a functional factor VIII protein, a vector comprising the above nucleic acid molecule, a host cell, a transgenic animal, a method of treating hemophilia, e.g. hemophilia A, and a method for the preparation of a parvoviral gene delivery vector.
US09447156B2

Provided herein is a novel binding pocket within NEDD8 co-E3 proteins that binds NEDD8 E2 enzymes. Particularly at its M-Terminus. Methods are provided for screening for compounds that bind to the disclosed E2-binding pocket in NEDD8 co-E3 proteins. Compounds that bind to the E2-binding pocket and optionally inhibit the activity of NEDD8 co-E3 proteins and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same are further provided. The NEDD8 co-E3 inhibitors find use, as agents preventing the NEDDylation of a target protein, in inhibiting cell growth and methods for treating cancers, inflammatory disorders, and pathogenic infections. The preferred inhibitors are peptides corresponding to a M-terminal fragment of Dnc1, e.g. MTLASKLKRDD, MLKLRQLQKKKQ, and MIKLFSLKQQKK, which are substituted at the M-Terminus with an uncharged group (e.g. acyl).
US09447154B2

Isolated nucleic acids encoding an allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Der p III, are disclosed. A cDNA encoding a peptide having a Der p III activity and a predicted molecular weight of about 24,985 daltons is also described. The nucleic acids can be used as probes to detect the presence of Der p III nucleic acid in a sample or for the recombinant production of peptides having an activity of Der p III. Peptides having an activity of Der p III can be used in compositions suitable for pharmaceutical administration or methods of diagnosing sensitivity to house dust mites.
US09447153B1

The present invention includes domain I modifications that improve various attributes of various Coleopteran-active Cry proteins. These attributes can include improved target pest spectrum, potency, and insect resistance management. The subject modifications can affect protoxin activation and the efficiency of pore formation, which can lead to enhanced insect intoxication.
US09447152B2

The invention relates to a mutant α-hemolysin (α-HL) pore which is useful for detecting one or more nucleotides by stochastic sensing. The pore is particularly useful for sequencing DNA or RNA. A molecular adaptor that allows detection of the nucleotide(s) is covalently attached to the pore. The pore is specifically modified to facilitate positioning of the adaptor and may be modified to facilitate covalent attachment.
US09447151B2

There is described a material comprising tapes, ribbons, fibrils or fibers characterized in that each of the ribbons, fibrils or fibers have an antiparallel arrangement of peptides in a β-sheet tape-like substructure wherein the material comprises a pair of self assembling complementary polypeptides.
US09447141B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of sterol derivatives comprising the reaction of an α-epoxy compound with an amine in an alcohol comprising 3 to 5 carbon atoms as a solvent.
US09447137B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted gemcitabine aryl amide analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds; synthesis methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating viral disorders and disorders of uncontrolled cellular proliferation using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US09447136B2

The invention provides semisynthetic derivatives of Nystatin A1, water soluble salts and complexes, pharmaceutical compositions and plant protection products comprising the derivatives and their use, as antifungal antibiotics (Formula 1a).
US09447134B2

Disclosed are compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful as inhibitors of IMPDH. In certain embodiments, a compound selectively inhibits a parasitic IMPDH versus a host IMPDH. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of the invention. Related methods of treating various parasitic and bacterial infections in mammals are disclosed. Moreover, the compounds may be used alone or in combination with other therapeutic or prophylactic agents, such as anti-virals, anti-inflammatory agents, antimicrobials and immunosuppressants.
US09447133B2

The present invention provides synthetic Moraxella catarrhalis lipooligosaccharide (LOS)-based oligosaccharides and conjugates containing various M. catarrhalis serotype-specific oligosaccharide antigens or various core M. catarrhalis oligosaccharide structures or motifs corresponding to one or more of the three major serotypes and/or members within a given serotype. The oligosaccharides may be synthesized by a chemical assembly methodology relying on a limited number of monosaccharide and disaccharide building blocks. The invention further provides M. catarrhalis LOS-based immunogenic and immunoprotective compositions and antibodies derived therefrom for diagnosing, treating, and preventing infections caused by M. catarrhalis.
US09447131B2

There is provided a process for improving the quality of lignosulfonate at least partly derived form a spent sulfite cooking liquor in at least two steps, comprising: one step in which a lignosulfonate-containing fraction at least partly derived from the spent sulfite cooking liquor is subjected to filtration using a membrane having a cut-off of 40-150 kD (high cut-off) at the pressure, flow rate and temperature of the step and the permeate is recovered; and another step in which a lignosulfonate-containing fraction at least partly derived from the spent sulfite cooking liquor is subjected to filtration using a membrane having a cut-off of 1-20 kD (low cut-off) at the pressure, flow rate and temperature of the step and the retentate is recovered. Products, uses thereof as well as a system are also provided.
US09447130B1

The present invention relates to a process to prepare dicycloplatin under mild reactive conditions and at fast reaction rates. The process is reproducible and easy to scale up for industrial application.
US09447128B2

A method for preparing trishydroxymethyl phosphine from tetrakishydroxymethyl phosphonium salt, the method including at least the steps of continuously feeding a first reaction chamber with, from one hand, at least one tetrakishydroxymethyl phosphonium salt and, from another hand, at least one base, under conditions suitable for a reaction of the tetrakishydroxymethyl phosphonium salt(s) with the base(s), to form a mixture of trishydroxymethyl phosphine and formaldehyde; and continuously removing the formaldehyde.
US09447127B2

The present invention relates to synthetic lung surfactant compositions that contain one or more of phospholipase-resistant phospho-glycerol derivatives, phospholipase-resistant phospho-choline derivatives, and surface active proteins or peptides, more preferably a combination of at least two or all three of these materials. Novel phospholipase-resistant phospho-glycerol derivatives, phospholipase-resistant phospho-choline derivatives, and surface active peptides are also disclosed herein. Uses of the surfactant compositions of the present invention to treat endogenous surfactant dysfunctional or deficient lung tissue, to prepare synthetic peptides for use in the surfactant compositions, and to deliver therapeutic agents are also disclosed.
US09447126B2

Methods and systems for making camptothecin analogs and intermediates are provided. Aspects include safer and lower cost methodologies for making camptothecin analogs and intermediates from synthetic materials. In another aspect, the methods and systems can achieve a yield of the camptothecin analogs greater than about 0.4%.
US09447123B2

The process for preparing 2-hydroxyphenyl alkenyl benzotriazole compounds and the process for preparing siloxane compounds containing 2-hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole function are disclosed.
US09447119B2

The compound “2-((4-nitrophenyl)amino)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro cyclohepta[4,5]thieno[2,3-d][1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-11(6H)-one” and method of synthesizing it, wherein the compound is effective to inhibit the growth and proliferation of human liver cancer cells HepG2. The compound has a higher efficiency to inhibit the growth and proliferation of these cells as it has an inhibitory concentration value (IC50) of 0.7 μg, compared to reference medication Doxorubicin that has an (IC50) value of 1.2 μg. It further surpasses that reference medication at all tested concentrations. The method includes the steps of: preparing a first compound of cycloheptanone, ethylcyanoacetate, sulfur, ethanol and diethylamine; preparing a second compound by heating of the first compound with excess of hydrazine hydrate in absolute ethanol as solvent; preparing a third compound by heating the second compound with carbon disulphide in dry pyridine; and preparing the compound of the invention by reacting the third compound with 4-nitrophenylisothiocyanate in dry N,N-methylformamide as solvent.
US09447118B2

The problem to be solved is to provide a method for efficiently producing compounds (1) and (1a) that are important intermediate compounds in the production of FXa inhibitors (X) and (X-a). The solutions thereto are a method for producing a compound represented by the formula (8d) using a stereoselective intramolecular cyclization reaction, and a method for producing a compound (1f) or a salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof, which is characterized by desulfonylation of the compound (8d). In each formula, R4a represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, a benzyl group, etc.
US09447117B2

The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein X is N or CR1; Y is N or CR2; R1 is H, alkoxy, halo, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazole, oxadiazolyl, or pyrazolyl; R2 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, or halo; Z is NH or O; R3 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, halo, or triazolyl; R4 is H or alkyl; or R3 and R4, together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a 6- membered aryl ring or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring; R5 is pyridyl, pyrazinyl, or pyrimidinyl, wherein the pyridyl, pyrazinyl, or pyrimidinyl is optionally substituted with halo or alkyl; and n is 1 or 2. Methods of making the compounds of Formula I are also described. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I. Methods of using the compounds of the invention are also within the scope of the invention.
US09447114B2

This invention relates to novel Thieno- and Furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4[1H,3H]-dione derivatives of formula I and their use as TRPC5 modulators, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for the treatment of TRPC5 receptor mediated disorders or conditions. A, R1, R2, R3 and R4 have meanings given in the description.
US09447112B2

The present invention provides compounds of the formula (I) wherein: X1, X2 and X3 are heteroatoms; R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are independently selected from H, halo, —OH, —NO2, —CN and optionally substituted aliphatic, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; and Z is optionally substituted C1-8 straight-chained or branched aliphatic, optionally containing 1 or more double or triple bonds, wherein one or more carbons are optionally replaced by R* wherein R* is optionally substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; an amino acid residue, H, —CN, —C(O)—, —C(O)C(O)—, —C(O)NR1—, —C(O)NR1NR2—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —NR1CO2—, —O—, —NR1C(O)NR2—, —OC(O)NR1—, —NR1NR2—, —NR1C(O)—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —NR1—, —SO2NR1—, —NR1R2, or —NR1SO2—, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from H and optionally substituted aliphatic, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or where R* is NR1R2, R1 and R2 optionally together with the nitrogen atom form an optionally substituted 5-12 membered ring, said ring optionally comprising 1 or more heteroatoms or a group selected from —CO—, —SO—, —SO2— and —PO—; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or prodrug thereof.
US09447099B2

The present invention provides methods for preparing 5-[2-[7-(trifluoromethyl)-5-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]ethynyl]-2-pyridinamine (compound A), which is useful for the treatment of depression and other CNS disorders. The present methods are useful for preparing compound A on large scale in manufacturing facilities.
US09447096B2

The present invention relates to novel crystal forms of 2-amino-N-[2-(3a-(R)-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydro-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1-(R)-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-isobutyramide L-tartrate. More particularly, the invention relates to polymorph forms, and to processes for the preparation of compositions containing and to uses of such polymorph forms.
US09447091B2

A compound of formula (I), wherein R3, R4, G, B, M, and Z are as defined in the claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed. The compounds of formula (I) possess utility as FGFR inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of a condition, where FGFR kinase inhibition is desired, such as cancer.
US09447090B2

An excellent drug for treating or preventing cardiovascular diseases, based on cGMP production enhancing action due to soluble guanylate cyclase activating action, is provided. It was found that imidazopyridine compounds having a carbamoyl group at the 3-position and a substituent bonded at the 8-position via an oxygen atom in an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine skeleton exhibits a cGMP production enhancing action by a potent soluble guanylate cyclase activating action, and is useful as a drug for treating or preventing various soluble guanylate cyclase-related cardiovascular diseases, thereby completing the present invention.
US09447089B2

Provided are solid dispersions, solid molecular complexes, salts and crystalline polymorphs involving propane-1-sulfonic acid {3-[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carbonyl]-2,4-difluoro-phenyl}-amide.
US09447087B2

Disclosed are inhibitors of human galactokinase of formula (1) that are useful in treating or preventing a galactokinase mediated disease or disorder, e.g., galactosemia. Also disclosed are a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one inhibitor of the invention, and a method of treating or preventing such disease or disorder in a mammal. Formula (I).
US09447083B2

The present invention relates to novel N-acylhydrazone derivatives, and more particularly to novel N-acylhydrazone derivatives having selective T cell inhibitory activity and/or anti-lymphoid malignancy activity, stereoisomers thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, the use thereof for preparing pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, treatment methods using the compositions, and methods for preparing the novel N-acylhydrazone derivatives.
US09447081B2

The invention discloses a homopiperony lamine compound which has a structural general formula I as follows as shown in the specification: wherein definitions of substituents in the formula are as shown in the specification. The compound shown as the general formula I has broad-spectrum bactericidal and insecticidal activity in the field of agriculture. The compound shown as the general formula I has a good prevention effect on various germs such as cucumber downy mildew, wheat powdery mildew, puccinia sorghi, rice blast and cucumber gray mold, and particularly, still has the good prevention and control effect on the cucumber downy mildew, the puccinia sorghi and the wheat powdery mildew at a lower dosage. At the same time, a part of compound has better insecticidal activity, and can be used for preventing and controlling various insect pests such as diamondback moths, myzus persicae, armyworms and tetranychus cinabarinus boisdu.
US09447069B2

The invention relates to ROR modulators; compositions comprising an effective amount of a ROR modulator; and methods for treating or preventing diseases associated with ROR.
US09447067B2

A method of preparing an intermediate of salmeterol (Compound 1, 2-amino-1-(2,2-dimethyl-4H-1,3-benzodioxin-6-yl)ethanol) includes: reacting compound 2 with 2-methoxypropene in a first organic solvent to produce a reaction solution including compound 3, compound 2 including a 2-bromo precursor of Compound 1; reacting compound 3 with a nitrogen source to produce compound 4; reacting compound 4 with sodium borohydride in a second organic solvent to produce compound 5; and debenzylating compound 5 by ammonium formate/palladium-carbon catalytic transfer hydrogenation in a third organic solvent to produce Compound 1. A method of preparing salmeterol includes preparing Compound 1, and reacting Compound 1 to prepare salmeterol.
US09447066B2

This invention relates to salts and crystal forms of (S)-6-chloro-7-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-trifluoromethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid, Compound A, which is cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. The present invention provides a salt of compound A, a crystal form thereof, a process for preparing the said salt and a pharmaceutical composition thereof and its use. The salts and/or co-crystals of Compound A of the present invention show good formulation properties such as high aqueous solubility, good intrinsic dissolution, good crystallinity, good thermal stability or low hygroscopicity.
US09447063B2

The present invention relates to a novel disubstituted adamantyl derivative or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a method for preparing the same, and a pharmaceutical anticancer or antimetastasis composition comprising the same as an active ingredient. The disubstituted adamantyl derivative of the present invention suppressed accumulation of HIF-1α, inhibiting the expression of the metastasis related protein Twist dose-dependently. Thus, the disubstituted adamantyl derivative of the invention is effective in inhibiting the expressions of the metastasis related proteins, β-catenin and RohA, and the EMT related genes such as MMP2 and MMP9, without cytotoxicity. Therefore, the disubstituted adamantyl derivative or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of the invention can be efficiently used as a pharmaceutical anticancer or antimetastasis composition.
US09447062B2

A manumycin-type metabolite called Colabomycin E which inhibits caspase 1 and creation of interleukins, strain produces the Colabomycin E and a method of a production of the Colabomycin E. Colabomycin E is a new member of the manumycin-type metabolites produced by the strain Streptomyces aureus SOK1/5-04 deposited in The Czech collection of microorganisms under number CCM8556. The structure of 5 is similar to that of the already known metabolite colabomycin A (3) isolated from Streptomyces griseoflavus. However, the upper polyene chain of 5 is two carbons longer. Therefore, it was named Colabomycin E. Biological activity assays indicated that colabomycin E significantly inhibited IL-1β release from THP-1 cells and might thus potentially act as an anti-inflammatory agent.
US09447060B2

The present invention provides a small molecule treatment of diseases/conditions caused by a virus carrying a viral oncoprotein. In one embodiment, the virus which carries the viral oncoprotein is HPV. The small molecule useful herein includes thiadiazolin-3,5-dione compounds having an optionally substituted aryl group bound to one nitrogen atom of said thiadiazolin-3,5-dione compound. The small molecules may also be administered with a compound which inhibits binding of HPV E6 to p53. In one embodiment, the thiadiazolin-3,5-dione compound has formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, solvate, or metabolite thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are defined herein.
US09447057B2

One embodiment of the invention relates to treating diseases associated with increased urease enzyme activity comprising administering an effective amount of a compound selected from a group consisting of 28 thiazoles Schiff bases. Kinetic studies were performed on ten (10) of the most active compounds.
US09447055B1

The invention provides α-amino esters of a hydroxypropylthiazolidine carboxamide derivative, (2S)-3-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-ylsulfonyl)-N-[(1S)-3-hydroxy-1-phenylpropyl]-1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxamide, as well as salts and crystal polymorphs thereof, that can be used to inhibit prostaglandin F receptor. The invention further encompasses methods of treating disorders such as pre-term labor at the early gestational stage by the administration of these substances to a patient in need of treatment.
US09447053B2

A process for the preparation of the calcium complex of 10-(2, 3-Dihydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)propyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane-4,7-triacetic acid, also known as Calcobutrol, starting from the pure gadolinium complex (Gadobutrol) is disclosed. Also disclosed is Calcobutrol with a hitherto unknown level of purity.
US09447051B2

This disclosure relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, inhibit RSV infection and/or replication; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions.
US09447047B2

Inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and their use in a method for the treatment or prevention of viral infections caused by HIV or ebola virus are disclosed. Inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1 in effective amounts have been shown to slow down viral replication upon contacting ebola virus or cells containing the ebola virus.
US09447046B2

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods for treating cancer and neoplastic disease. Provided herein are substituted pyridine derivative compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds. The subject compounds and compositions are useful for inhibition histone demethylase. Furthermore, the subject compounds and compositions are useful for the treatment of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer and/or melanoma and the like.
US09447041B2

The present invention relates to processes and intermediates useful in the preparation of (R)-2-(7-(4-cyclopentyl-3-(trifluromethyl)benzyloxy)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-3-yl)acetic acid of Formula (I) and salts thereof, an S1P1 receptor modulator that is useful in the treatment of S1P1 receptor-associated disorders, for example, diseases and disorders mediated by lymphocytes, transplant rejection, autoimmune diseases and disorders, inflammatory diseases and disorders (e.g., acute and chronic inflammatory conditions), cancer, and conditions characterized by an underlying defect in vascular integrity or that are associated with angiogenesis such as may be pathologic (e.g., as may occur in inflammation, tumor development and atherosclerosis).
US09447039B2

A compound of Formula (I) is provided that has been shown to be useful for treating a disease, disorder or syndrome that is mediated by the transportation of essential molecules in the mmpL3 pathway: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein.
US09447037B2

Disclosed are an alpha 7 nAChR receptor modulator compound, 4-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(2-cyclopropylacetyl)-1,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yljbenzenesulfonamide, its tautomeric form, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound or a salt thereof, and a method of treating various diseases, disorders or conditions, for example, Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, senile dementia, vascular dementia, dementia of Parkinson's disease, and attention deficit disorder.
US09447034B2

Industrial methods for producing arylsulfur pentafluorides are disclosed. Methods include reacting arylsulfur halotetrafluoride with hydrogen fluoride in the absence or presence of one or more additives selected from a group of fluoride salts, non-fluoride salts, and unsaturated organic compounds to form arylsulfur pentafluorides.
US09447032B2

The invention relates to a process for producing urea wherein an aqueous urea solution, leaving a urea reaction zone is fed to a stripper, where a part of the non-converted ammonia and carbon dioxide is separated from the aqueous urea solution, which solution leaves the stripper to a first recovery section of one or more serial recovery sections and is subsequently fed to one or more urea concentration sections, wherein the urea solution leaving the stripper is subjected to an adiabatic expansion, thus creating a vapor and a liquid, which are separated before the liquid enters a first recovery section and the vapor is condensed. The invention further relates to a urea plant comprising a stripper and a first recovery section, wherein an adiabatic expansion valve and a liquid/gas separator is provided between the stripper and the first recovery section.
US09447019B2

The present invention relates to fluorine substituted CBD compounds, compositions thereof and uses thereof for the preparation of medicaments.
US09447012B2

A process for synthesizing adipic acid comprising the steps of using glucaric acid or galactaric acid as a starting material, using rhenium catalyst and acid catalyst, using one or more reaction solvents selected from a group consisting of heptanol and butanol; and b) subjecting glucaric acid ester or galactaric acid ester obtained from the step a) to hydrogenation reaction with precious metal catalyst, and then hydrolyzing the ester obtained from this reaction to obtain adipic acid.
US09447011B2

Methods, processes and systems for using solid catalysts to simultaneously produce lactic acid and propylene glycol from glycerol are provide, as are methods, processes and systems of converting glycerol use heterogeneous catalytic agents. Different combinations of catalysts and reaction conditions provide tunable ranges for the yields of lactic acid and propylene glycol. The conversion methods, processes and systems are not reliant on external hydrogen. Applications to crude glycerol, including that co-produced during biodiesel production, are also described.
US09447009B2

A method of preparing acrolein from glycerol or glycerine is disclosed. The method includes dehydrating glycerol or glycerine in the presence of a catalyst consisting of at least (a) a mixed oxide of zirconium and at least one metal, said metal being selected from niobium, tantalum and vanadium, or (b) a zirconium oxide and at least one metal oxide, the metal being selected from niobium, tantalum and vanadium, or (c) a silicon oxide and a mixed oxide of zirconium and at least one metal, the metal being selected from tungsten, cerium, manganese, niobium, tantalum, titanium, vanadium and silicon, or (d) a titanium oxide and a mixed oxide of zirconium and at least one metal, said metal being selected from tungsten, cerium, manganese, niobium, tantalum, titanium, vanadium and silicon.
US09447005B2

The present invention is to a process for producing a anhydrous ethanol composition comprising hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; separating in a first column at least a portion of the crude ethanol product into a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid; separating in a second column at least a portion of the first distillate into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol and water; separating in a third column at least a portion of the second residue into a third distillate comprising ethanol and residual water and a third residue comprising separated water; and dehydrating at least a portion of the third distillate to form the anhydrous ethanol composition. The anhydrous ethanol composition, as formed, comprises less than 1 wt. % water.
US09446999B2

The provided is a process for separating by absorption the pyrolysis gas from preparation of lower carbon olefins, wherein a primary absorbent and a secondary absorbent are introduced into the demethanizer to separate by absorption the feedstock of the demethanizer through countercurrent contact therewith at a moderate temperature and pressure, thereby to obtain a top fraction primarily comprising hydrogen and methane and a bottom fraction primarily comprising the absorbents and C2+ fraction, wherein the primary absorbent essentially is a mixed Cn or Cn+ fraction, the secondary absorbent essentially is a Cn′ alkane fraction or mixed Cn′ or Cn′+ fraction, and wherein n and n′ are independently 3, 4 or 5 with the proviso when the secondary absorbent is a mixed fraction, n′ is not 3.
US09446988B2

Various building materials constructed from different recycled components are provided. Such materials include boards, bricks, and the like, and exhibit differing levels of tensile strength, heat resistance, and other physical and chemical properties. The capability of introducing varied collected items, including paper, paperboard, clothing fibers, wood chips and strips, raffia bags, used engine oil, etc., and produce a resilient and dimensionally stable building material is presented herein. Replacement of timber and concrete is permitted with such a new material based upon renewable resources. The method of production and use of such materials is encompassed herein as well.
US09446987B2

Grouts, grout products and methods of applying such grouts that include a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer dispersion (UA-HPD) and a filler material. The UA-HPD may be present in an amount of about 10-40% by weight of the composition, while the filler material may be present in an amount of about 60-90% by weight of the composition. Additional filler materials may also be provided within the UA-HPD grout composition to provide the resultant UA-HPD grout with desired characteristics and properties. The UA-HPD containing grouts are applied between spaced-apart tiles and/or masonry to fill voids and/or joints there-between.
US09446986B2

A copolymer, in particular a dispersing agent for hydraulically setting systems, includes at least three structural units S1, S2, S3 and optionally a further structural unit S4.
US09446985B2

The present invention relates to materials having improved and useful properties and to methods relating to the manufacture of said materials. In particular the present invention relates to a method of modifying the surface of a material, preferably a fibrous material, to enable carbon dioxide to be carried by the surface. The carbon dioxide may be bound to the surface in a reversible or irreversible manner. The method of treating the surface of a material comprises (a) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising an amino compound; and (b) contacting the surface of the material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide or a source thereof.
US09446980B2

An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.
US09446971B2

An electrochemical separation system may be modular and may include at least a first modular unit and a second modular unit. Each modular unit may include a cell stack and a frame. The frame may include a manifold system. A flow distribution system in the frame may enhance current efficiency. Spacers positioned between modular units may also enhance current efficiency of the system.
US09446968B2

An apparatus for a programmable self sanitizing water dispenser apparatus with a digital controller as well as a programmable method for generating ozone for cleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it. The apparatus includes an anti-spill receiver that houses the controller and that can contain a ozone generator.
US09446964B2

Provided is a process for manufacturing, at a low cost and efficiently, lithium titanium oxides which are useful for electricity storage devices. A desired lithium titanium oxide can be obtained by heating at least both (1) a titanium compound and (2) a lithium compound that has a volume-mean particle diameter of 5 μm or less. The lithium compound is preferably obtained by adjusting the volume-mean particle diameter to 5 μm or less by pulverizing. It is preferable that the titanium compound and the lithium compound are heated together with (3) a lithium titanium oxide compound that has the same crystal structure as that of objective lithium titanium oxide. It is preferable that these materials are dry-blended prior to the heating.
US09446962B2

A process and a plant for producing ammonia, where an ASU (3) delivers an oxygen stream and a nitrogen stream; the oxygen stream (9) is fed to the secondary reformer of a front-end reforming section (1); the nitrogen stream (10) is used to wash a purge gas or tail gas taken from the synthesis loop (2), preferably in a cryogenic section; a methane-free and inert-free gas stream is recovered and recycled to the synthesis loop (2) or at the suction of the main syngas compressor, to recover the hydrogen contained therein. A corresponding method for increasing the capacity of an ammonia plant, by providing the ASU and feeding the oxygen stream to the secondary reformer and the nitrogen stream to a suitable purge gas recovery unit.
US09446952B2

A process for generating aqueous chlorine dioxide solutions includes adding a solid phase alkali metal chlorite, a solid phase acid, and a solid phase oxidizing agent to an aqueous solution, wherein the solid phase acid ahs a pKa less than 4. Also disclosed are compositions for producing chlorine dioxide solutions.
US09446951B2

Highly-ordered nanostructure arrays and methods of preparation of the highly-ordered nanostructure arrays for adsorption of pollutants are disclosed. The highly-ordered nanostructure arrays can be vertically aligned metal oxide nanotube arrays having metal-deposited carbon nanotubes within the nanostructures. The metal-deposited carbon nanotubes within the nanostructures increase the adsorption of the pollutants, as discussed in greater detail below. The highly-ordered nanostructure arrays can be included in various filters, such as cigarette filters, to adsorb carcinogens and pollutants from the tobacco smoke.
US09446950B2

A method and system for constructing structures by self-assembly of objects. The method and system include providing a first object having a first selected shape and providing a second object having a second selected shape, the shape of the first and second objects interacting to form an alignment which has only a simple stable state arising from minimization of interaction energy for the single stable state.
US09446946B2

A method for the fabrication of thin-film transistors together with micromechanical components, other active electrical components or both on an amorphous or polycrystalline substrate includes disposing the thin-film transistors and the other components on different areas of the substrate.
US09446942B2

An electronic part includes a bottom portion of a cavity that has an oscillation device, a ceiling portion so disposed that it faces the bottom portion via the cavity and having holes, a shielding portion that is disposed in the cavity and between the bottom portion of the cavity and the ceiling portion and covers the holes in a plan view viewed in the direction in which the bottom portion of the cavity and the ceiling portion are arranged, and sealing portions that are connected to both the ceiling portion and the shielding portion via the holes and seal the holes.
US09446918B2

The method for steering a vehicle for loading and unloading a container includes a driver manually driving the vehicle within a handling area outside the limits of a station specifically dedicated to the loading and unloading of a standardized container, and parking the vehicle in a waiting area. Once parked, the vehicle is handled by automatic steering which automatically actuates at least the control of the path thereof and steers in the reverse direction until the vehicle is positioned within the station. The method includes carrying out the loading or unloading of the container, and steering the vehicle manually or automatically in the forward direction until positioned within the waiting area before giving up the automatic steering so that the driver can manually move the vehicle in the forward direction outside the waiting area.
US09446914B1

A tubular or cylindrical unit that creates a vortex effect with externally supplied pressurized fluid injected angularly within a transport structure is provided. Such a unit is utilized to either accelerate the vacuum and/or air conveyance of liquids, solid aggregates, and gases, reduce the energy required for such materials transport processes, or both. Such a result is achieved through the introduction of pressurized fluid via a plurality of injectors situated evenly around the circumference of the subject tube, pipe, and/or cylinder, and angled uniformly for an even pressure injection of fluid within the conveyance component thereof. In effect, through such injection of pressurized fluid, the overall transport system may be operated at significantly reduced cost while increasing the efficiency of overall vacuum and air conveyance systems simultaneously. The method of utilization of such a device is also encompassed within this invention.
US09446913B2

A powder conveyance device and a char recovery apparatus are each provided with: an inclination part serving as a powder discharge line which can convey char at a predetermined tilt angle by allowing the char to fall by gravity; a first porous plate having a predetermined opening ratio and being disposed along the inclination part; a second porous plate having a higher opening ratio than the first porous plate and being disposed along the inclination part at a position above the first porous plate; and an assist gas feed device for feeding assist gas to the inclination part through both the first porous plate and the second porous plate.
US09446910B2

A substrate transfer robot includes a hand to approach a substrate storage on which a substrate is placed, and to hold the substrate. An arm moves the hand. A controller controls a position and orientation of the hand. When in plan view, a substrate holding center at a time when the hand is holding the substrate is adjacent to the substrate storage and is at an access start position at a predetermined distance from the substrate storage, the substrate holding center reaches a substrate placement position in the substrate storage with a hand center line inclined toward an access straight line and with the hand holding center overlapping the access straight line. The hand center line is oriented from a base to a distal end of the hand. The access straight line is perpendicular to a front surface of the substrate storage and associated with the hand approaching the substrate storage.
US09446905B2

An apparatus (1) for feeding components has a downwardly inclined guide path (6), a mobile component carrier (4), which is connected in a releasable manner to the guide path (6), and interacting rolling bodies and rails (15, 16) on the guide path (6) and on the component carrier (4). The feed apparatus (1) has a loading location (10), at which a component carrier (4) is connected to the guide path (6), and possibly loaded with one or more components (3), by a worker (12), using a manually operable transfer apparatus (14), which can be actuated by applying manual force counter to a restoring element (31, 40). The transfer apparatus (14) is designed as a preliminary-positioning apparatus (20) for a loose component carrier (4).
US09446900B2

Disclosed is a tube sorter comprising: a transporting section configured to transport a sample rack; a storage arranged at a higher level than the transporting section, capable of storing a plurality of sample tubes; a lifting section configured to lift up the sample rack transported by the rack transporting section; and a sample tube transferring section configured to remove a sample tube from the sample rack lifted up by the lifting section and set the removed sample tube in the storage.
US09446892B2

A protective enclosure for transporting an automobile door includes an elongated, generally U-shaped main body having a pair of opposing side panels connected along a bottom edge by a bottom panel. A plurality of padded elements are located along the inside facing surfaces of the main body, and multiple inelastic straps are located along the outside edges of the main body. The straps including connectors for selectively engaging each of the opposing side panels.
US09446891B2

A carrier that is at least partially holding a plurality of containers. The carrier can include a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel. At least one container-receiving feature extends in at least the bottom panel. The at least one container-receiving feature can at least partially receive at least one container of the plurality of containers. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the first top panel or the second top panel. The at least one retention flap engages at least a portion of a flange of at least one container.
US09446885B2

A container for dispensing a liquid concentrate comprises a container body with top edge and a cap base sealed relative to the top edge. The cap base includes a wall having an inner thread, a funnel surrounding an opening, and a spout. The container includes a cap top with a shoulder including a flange having an outer thread and depending downwardly from the shoulder to define a channel being open toward a bottom edge of the cap top and located between an interior of the flange and the sidewall of the cap top. The cap top can be threadingly engaged to the cap base to form an outer seal between at least one of the shoulder and the flange of the cap top and the wall of the cap base and form an inner seal between the bottom edge of the sidewall of the cap top and the funnel of the cap base.
US09446881B2

Disclosed is a bottle for containing liquid contents including a body, at least part or all of an upper portion of which is provided with a plurality of guides which protrude inwardly from an inside surface thereof and are in a spiral pattern so that the liquid contents can be guided towards an opening of a neck of the bottle while spirally revolving inside the bottle.
US09446879B2

The present invention relates to an opening device for a beverage container. More specifically, the invention relates to a metal end closure having a primary opening area and at least one optional secondary vent opening which can be opened with the same pull tab. The primary opening area of the metal end closure may be opened by utilizing a pull tab interconnected to a central panel, the pull tab being adapted for applying a downward force to form a first opening. Subsequently, the pull tab is rotated and the tail end lifted to form a second opening in the end closure.
US09446878B1

A low scrap tray is constructed from a single sheet of material to act as a retail display tray, reducing the waste from traditional container construction processes. The low scrap tray includes a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, a right panel, a left inward rim, a right inward rim, a front-left flap assembly, a front-right flap assembly, a rear-left flap assembly, a rear-right flap assembly, a front opening, and a top opening. The front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, the right panel, the front opening, the left inward rim, the right inward rim and the top opening define a storage space when the low scrap tray is operatively configured. The front-left flap assembly, the front-right flap assembly, the rear-left flap assembly, and the rear-right flap assembly secure the positioning of front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, and the right panel.
US09446875B1

A sandbag filling apparatus that is operable to assist a single individual in the task of filling sandbag. The sandbag filling apparatus includes a body that is perpendicularly secured to a bottom support member. The body is cylindrical in shape and is hollow having an interior volume. The body further includes a first end and a second end having an opening at said first end. A handle member is secured to the exterior of the body. A body support member is centrally secured to the bottom support member and the second end of the body is surroundably mounted therearound. The body of the sandbag filling apparatus is manufactured to a height that allows a portion of a sandbag disposed therein to extend outward from the perimeter edge of the opening at the first end.
US09446867B2

Methods are disclosed for filling a filter cartridge canister. Flow through an exit plenum and a filter screen of the canister is initially blocked, a sorbent inlet of the canister is open, and a ring of the canister is open. Flow is then initiated through the inlet and ring so sorbent particles and fluid flow into the canister. A pressure differential is provided between the inlet and the ring to enhance filling. The exit plenum is opened to impart an even fluid flow across a sorbent stratum. Flow through the ring is stopped, and sorbent particles continue to be added via the inlet until the cavity is filled. The filter screen is then compressed, the sorbent inlet is sealed and the filter screen is fixed to a compressed position while flow is maintained through the exit plenum.
US09446862B2

A cryogenic thruster assembly including: a reignitable main thruster; a first cryogenic tank connected to the main thruster to feed the main thruster with a first propellant; a first gas tank; at least one settling thruster; and a first feed circuit for feeding the first gas tank. The feed circuit of the first gas tank is connected to the first cryogenic tank and includes a heat exchanger for using heat given off by the at least one settling thruster to vaporize a liquid flow of the first propellant as extracted from the first cryogenic tank to feed the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state. A method feeds the first gas tank with the first propellant in the gaseous state.
US09446861B2

A method for health monitoring for an aircraft includes the steps of obtaining vibration data for the aircraft, obtaining navigation data for the aircraft, and determining a measure of health of the aircraft using the vibration data and the navigation data.
US09446840B2

Systems and methods for alleviating aircraft loads with plasma actuators are disclosed. A method for operating an aircraft in accordance with a particular embodiment includes receiving an input corresponding to an aircraft component structural response to an aerodynamic load. The method can further include, based at least in part on the input corresponding to the aircraft component's structural response, reducing the structural response to the aerodynamic load by activating at least one plasma actuator carried by the aircraft, in accordance with one or more activation parameters.
US09446834B2

Simplification of the manufacture of composite material fuselages for aircraft, as well as mass reduction of fuselage sections and space optimization inside such fuselage sections. To accomplish this, it is proposed to use stringers of a new type which have a closed transverse section, and which are thus able to be self-positioned relative to one another by being positioned edge-to-edge on a stringer supporting structure, such as the outer surface of a mandrel. The installation of the stringers in grooves of conjugate shape is by this means made unnecessary. The stringers have cut-outs located between circumferential frames, and are able to house utility systems.
US09446832B2

A ski boat throttle control system incorporating a rotary assembly such as a thumbwheel within the control lever knob which is part of the control lever assembly that is gripped and held by the operator of the boat during use. The incorporation of such a thumbwheel assembly allows the operator to make more controlled adjustment to the speed of the boat when the boat is in normal operational mode and to intuitively make adjustments to the cruise control speed of the boat when in cruise control.
US09446825B1

A semisubmersible vessel can comprise: a first hull, one or more columns extending upward from the first hull, a second hull, one or more columns extending upward from the second hull, and one or more cross members joining the first hull or its columns and the second hull or its columns. The first and second hulls are shaped to reduce hydrodynamic drag; the one or more columns can also be shaped to reduce hydrodynamic drag. The hulls include one or more self-propulsion units mounted at various locations for various purposes (e.g., cruising, maneuvering, station-keeping, and so on).
US09446822B2

A floating wind turbine platform includes at least three stabilizing columns, where each stabilizing column has an internal volume for containing ballast. The floating wind turbine platform also includes a tower having mounted in vertical alignment over one of the columns, a turbine rotor coupled to an electrical generator mounted proximate to the upper end of the tower, main beams interconnected to the stabilizing columns, and water-entrapment plates attached to the lower ends of the stabilizing columns. The floating wind turbine platform further includes a ballast control system including an alignment sensor configured to detect a rotation of the tower, and a controller coupled to the alignment sensor for directing a transfer of the ballast from an internal volume of one column to another column upon the alignment sensor detecting rotation of the tower to adjust a vertical alignment of the tower.
US09446819B2

This method for discharging liquid from a tank of a stricken ship that is partially out of the water and has at least one technical access includes the following steps: opening the technical access, introducing a rigid pipe into the interior of the tank through the technical access, and placing a lift pump or a suction pump inside the rigid pipe. The lift pump or suction pump can be without a delivery hose.
US09446816B2

A bicycle electronic system including: a manual command management unit, having a casing configured for being fixed at a handgrip of a bicycle handlebar, that includes at least one first manually actuatable switch and a first processor; a derailleur management unit comprising a second processor; and, a first direct communication channel that connects the first processor and the second processor. In response to the manual actuation of the at least one first switch, the first processor emits a derailleur command signal addressed to the derailleur management unit, and the second processor receives the derailleur command signal from the first processor through the first direct communication channel.
US09446812B2

A bicycle stem that includes a tubular main body portion with an internal cavity and a first outer casing holder that is configured to hold an end of a first outer casing of a cable. The first outer casing holder is disposed in the internal cavity.
US09446809B2

A frame covering device with air vents has an upper frame and a lower frame with vertically oriented air vents disposed between them. An upper flange disposed along a top portion of the upper frame has an attachment tab to attach the frame covering device with air vents to a front shock and steering assembly of a three-wheeled motorcycle. A lower attachment slot is disposed in a lower flange and also attaches to the front shock and steering assembly. The upper and lower frames are aerodynamically shaped to aid in laminar air flow to increase efficiency and to improve the aesthetics of the motorcycle.
US09446808B2

Provided is a bicycle saddle wherein the seat is made from a resin base alone without using a shock-absorbing pad and the conflicting properties of softness/comfort and strength/rigidity can be balanced. The saddle comprises a main saddle body and a rail member for mounting the main saddle body on a frame. The main saddle body is configured from a frame member made of a first synthetic resin in which multiple through holes are formed, and a mesh member made of a second synthetic resin that is laminated on the upper surface of the frame member and in which multiple through holes are formed in a mesh pattern. The second synthetic resin of the mesh member is selected from nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene. The first synthetic resin of the frame member is a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber-reinforced synthetic resin with a higher rigidity than the second synthetic resin.
US09446798B2

A vehicle hood structure, which includes an outer panel that forms an outer surface of a vehicle, an inner panel that is disposed below the outer panel and fixedly attached to the outer panel and that has a plurality of beam portions extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, having a hat-shaped section opening downward, and being separated from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle, and which covers a front part of the vehicle, the vehicle hood structure including: a reinforcing member that is disposed below the inner panel so as to extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle and to have clearance between the reinforcing member and the beam portions, that has a convex shape curved upward in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and that is fixedly fastened at its both ends in the lateral direction of the vehicle to the inner panel.
US09446789B2

An electric power steering apparatus that realizes vibration suppression of response characteristics and has a control performance having resistance properties against disturbances such as a road surface change by using a velocity I-P control (a proportional-lead type PI control) in a vehicle having functions of an automatic steering control and a manual steering control.
US09446783B2

A steering apparatus includes a steering column including a cylindrical outer column and a cylindrical inner column partially inserted into the outer column, and rotatably supporting an input shaft connected to a steering wheel, two telescopic adjustment portions projecting from an outer peripheral surface of the outer column to extend facing each other, the two telescopic adjustment portions each including an elongated hole elongated in an axial direction of the outer column, a rod penetrating the elongated hole, and an urging member provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inner column exposed from a slit provided between the two telescopic adjustment portions on the outer peripheral surface of the outer column, and urging the rod outward in a radial direction of the inner column and being positioned in an opening portion provided in an outer peripheral surface of the inner column.
US09446778B2

Disclosed herein is a design for a start-assist pedal assembly typically used for a cart or dolly that includes a pedal mounted to a support arm. An arched foot arm is pivotally attached to the support arm and a roller is supported by the arched foot arm.
US09446773B2

A system and method for assisting a driver are provided. The method includes receiving, by a controller, vehicle traveling information and calculating a first distance between a present vehicle position and an end node. In addition, the controller is configured to calculate a second distance between the present vehicle position and a preceding vehicle based on the receiving information and calculate a third distance in which coasting is available until a present vehicle speed reaches a predetermined target speed. The method further includes determining, by the controller, whether coasting is available based on the first distance, the second distance, the third distance in which coasting is available, and a present vehicle speed of the vehicle, and outputting, when coasting is available, a message that instructs coasting.
US09446771B2

A drive mode selection system for a vehicle is provided that includes a drive mode selector that can facilitate selection of a current drive mode from among a plurality of drive modes of the vehicle based at least in part on input from a driver of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of drive modes can be associated with a distinct visual indicator. Additionally, the system can include a mode indication component that can display the current drive mode of the plurality of drive modes by providing the distinct visual indicator associated with the current drive mode. The system can further include a mode recommendation component that can recommend a drive mode of the plurality of drive modes based at least in part on the current drive mode and data received from one or more sensors.
US09446763B2

A pre-transmission unit for a hybrid drive system includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by an internal combustion engine. An electric motor includes a rotor fixed for rotation with an output shaft, and a stator fixed to a housing. A multi-plate clutch is positioned in the housing to drivingly interconnect the input shaft and the rotor. The clutch includes a piston for applying an input force to the clutch plates. A pump is positioned in the housing and includes an input member fixed for rotation with the rotor. The pump provides pressurized fluid to the piston. A valve regulates the fluid pressure applied to the piston and varies the torque transferred by the clutch.
US09446760B2

A vehicle drive device having a control device making another first planetary gear device constituent member and a second planetary gear device constituent member non-rotatable by a brake to perform electric motor running for running with power of a second electric motor while an engine is put into a non-drive state, when the engine is started during the electric motor running the control device causing a first electric motor to rotate the engine while the other first planetary gear device constituent member and the one second planetary gear device constituent member are kept non-rotatable by the brake, and when the brake is released after start of the engine, the control device controlling the first electric motor before release of the brake so a torque applied to the brake due to power of the engine reaches a magnitude balancing with a torque applied to the brake due to a running load.
US09446759B2

A control apparatus (100) is a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle (10), wherein the hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine (200) which operates by a burning of fuel and a rotating electrical machine (Mg) which operates by using electric power charged in a battery, the control apparatus is provided with: a stop controlling device which stops a supply of the fuel to the engine while the hybrid vehicle is running; a vibration suppress controlling device which controls the rotating electrical machine so as to generate a suppress force for suppressing vibration which is caused by a stop of the supply of the fuel to the engine; and an adjusting device which adjusts magnitude of the suppress force such that the magnitude of the suppress force becomes smaller as a braking amount for braking the hybrid vehicle becomes larger.
US09446758B2

A hybrid vehicle (100) is a parallel hybrid vehicle including a motor/generator (5) arranged between an engine (1) and a transmission (62). The engine (1) is configured to perform lean operation in a low-load operating range. The hybrid vehicle is configured such that a rotation speed at a maximum point of power generation efficiency of the motor/generator (5) is within a rotation speed range (Xa) corresponding to a lower-speed part (a) of a 95% fuel-consumption efficiency operating range (A) of the engine (1).
US09446755B2

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.
US09446751B2

A vacuum brake force booster for a motor vehicle brake system comprising: a force input member which is movable along a longitudinal axis and which is or can be coupled to a brake pedal, a control valve arrangement which can be actuated by the force input member, a chamber arrangement which is arranged in a housing and which has at least one working chamber and at least one vacuum chamber separated from one another by means of a movable wall and which has a force output member for transmitting an actuating force, wherein the at least one working chamber can be connected selectively to a vacuum source or to the atmosphere, wherein the control valve arrangement has a control valve housing which is coupled to the at least one movable wall for conjoint movement therewith, wherein the control valve arrangement has a force-transmitting arrangement which has a degree of axial play and which is arranged in the force transmission path between the force input member and the force output member. Here, for noise reduction, it is provided that at least one component of the force-transmitting arrangement is manufactured from magnetic or ferromagnetic material and is subjected to a permanently applied magnetic field.
US09446748B2

An electronic antiskid brake assembly with a portable power source that can retrofit onto a working manual brake system to provide antiskid capabilities without effecting the manual brake system's normal operation. The antiskid system can be applied anywhere on a brake linkage. When a force is applied to a brake pad, an electronic controller utilizes detects a skidding event, and then automatically powers on an actuator. The actuator moves a brake linkage to create a pulse mode on the brake linkage. The pulse mode modulates the force that is applied to the brake pad. A one way cylinder can be included with a manual hydraulic brake system to provide a mechanical means for generating pulse mode on the brake linkage. The power source can move with the brake linkage so that the actuator pulses the brake linkage a small amount, while the brake linkage applies full braking.
US09446745B2

A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.
US09446744B2

A rotary platform includes a rotating top plate rotatable about axis and a stationary base plate fixed in relation to the axis. A plurality of bearing elements is disposed in a cavity defined, at least in part, by the base plate and the top plate. The top plate is supported by the plurality of bearing elements, which are rotatable in any direction and about any axis. The top plate is flexible and flexes independently of the base plate. Flexing of the top plate allows the top plate to maximize contact with as many of the bearing elements as possible to improve the load carrying capacity of rotary platform.
US09446743B2

A trailer jack support comprises a receptacle for receiving a jack post of a trailer jack and a mechanism such as an insert therein for limiting the depth of insertion of the jack post into the receptacle. As a result, the jack post engages the insert with a more limited extension of the jack post. Also, if there is a significant distance between the ground and jack, for example if the trailer happens to be positioned above a depression in the ground, the jack post may not be able to be extended sufficiently to support the jack. By adjusting the elevation of an insert, a trailer jack support in accordance with this disclosure can reduce the extent to which a jack post needs to be extended to accommodate these varying ground conditions.
US09446733B2

This invention relates to a gas bag arrangement of a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag arrangement comprising: a gas bag (1) which includes at least one inflatable chamber (11) with a first and a second portion (111, 112); and at least one connecting element (51, 51′, 52) which connects the first and the second portion (111, 112) with each other such that the first and the second portion (111, 112) extend at an angle to each other, wherein the first and the second portion (111, 112)—based on the mounted and inflated condition of the gas bag (1)—extend at least approximately parallel to a plane defined by the vehicle height and vehicle length direction (z, x) and the connecting element (51, 51′, 52) extends on a side of the gas bag (1) facing away from the vehicle occupant (2) to be protected and points towards the vehicle front, wherein the gas bag arrangement is arranged and formed for the protection of the upper body and/or the head of a passenger or a vehicle occupant (2) located on a rear seat of the vehicle.
US09446730B1

Techniques described herein include a system and method for switching an airbag on or off based on determining that an object situated in a vehicle seat meets one or more conditions. In some embodiments, the vehicle seat may be fitted with a weight sensor configured to detect an object situated in the vehicle seat. The system may include a camera device configured to capture image information associated with the object situated in the vehicle seat. The image information may be processed to determine if the object is a person meeting one or more threshold conditions for activating the airbag. Upon processing the image information, the airbag may be provided with instructions to either activate or deactivate.
US09446729B2

The invention provides a driver assistance method, comprising the steps of: sensing a vehicle's state and the environment, on the basis of sensing output signals, determining whether a critical state of the vehicle is to be expected in the future, if yes, determining a total amount and a time duration of an activation of at least one vehicle actuator required in order to avoid occurrence of the critical state, the activation being of a nature which can be sensed by the driver of the vehicle, and partially performing, by a control module, the activation, i.e. for a portion of the amount and/or a portion of the time duration of the determined total amount and time duration.
US09446728B2

A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a front wheel housing, an axle, a disk wheel fixed to the axle in the front wheel housing and a tire mounted on the disk wheel. The vehicle further includes a breaking member that is provided projecting from the vehicle body toward the disk wheel. The breaking member breaks the disk wheel when the vehicle body is crashed at a front thereof at a predetermined speed or higher.
US09446722B2

An elastic averaging alignment member includes a base portion, a first elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion and a second elastic averaging member spaced from the first elastic averaging member. The second elastic averaging member includes a first end section extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end section. At least one elastic averaging element arranged between the first and second elastic averaging members. At least one of the first and second elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element is configured and disposed to deform when the elastic averaging alignment member is passed into an alignment member receiver to establish an elastically average position of one component to another component.
US09446702B2

An improved slide out for food trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, and trailers is described in which the slide out that extends from below to above the top of the vehicle's wheels.
US09446698B2

The invention relates to a vehicle seat, wherein a cushion cover that covers a seat cushion is provided to extend towards a floor along a side portion of the seat cushion facing a central control station, a hook which engages with the cushion cover at a cushion frame is provided on a portion of the cushion cover interposed between a cushion frame and the central control station, and a tab is provided on the cushion frame in order to engage with the hook, the tab being provided on a portion of the cushion frame facing the central control station.
US09446695B2

A headrest includes linkage supports with high rigidity. The headrest includes a first headrest pillar and a second headrest pillar, a stationary unit disposed between the first and the second headrest pillars, a movable unit which is movable forward away from the stationary unit and backward toward the stationary unit, and a linkage linking the stationary unit with the movable unit. The linkage includes linkage segments. The stationary unit and the movable unit include supports, respectively. The linkage segments are rotatably connected to and supported by the respective supports. The supports each have a width in the widthwise direction and a thickness in the front-rear direction, the width is greater than the thickness.
US09446691B2

A structure of a headrest mounted on a seat, wherein the headrest has, provided at the bottom surface thereof, an under garnish made of a hard synthetic resin material and wherein a stay of the headrest is partly supported in a holder having a head portion projecting from a top portion of a seat back of the seat, the top portion of the seat back being formed by a foam padding and a trim cover assembly overlaying the foam padding. The under garnish is provided with at least one protruding portion which protrudes downwardly therefrom. This at least one protruding portion is disposed at a location oriented towards a padding provided in the seat back. A degree to which the protruding portion protrudes from the under garnish is greater than a height of the head portion of the holder.
US09446689B2

A vehicle seat fitting system has a fitting, by which a backrest can be freely pivoted relative to a seat part and a rotatable memory flag disk coupled to the backrest during the free pivoting and to the seat part in the starting position. The flag disk includes disk toothing and a second toothing is allocated to the backrest. The toothings are engaged during the free pivoting. A control lever with a coupler hinged on the control lever, is coupled to an unlocking lever and moves the toothings into engagement. The flag disk is coupled to the seat part, in the starting position, by a lock receptacle and a control element movable relative to the lock receptacle and the lock receptacle is a section of a control contour by which the control element, arranged on the control lever, holds the control lever directed out during the free pivoting.
US09446680B2

A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for analyzing a vehicle battery system of a hybrid or electric vehicle that includes a battery pack and a battery controller. More specifically, a battery controller is disclosed for determining battery identification information of the battery pack based on a configuration of active and non-active pins in a connection module between the battery pack and the battery controller. It follows that the battery controller may identify the battery pack type in an efficient manner that does not require any additional components. The battery controller may further reference the battery identification to implement a battery operational strategy that may better realize an efficiency or durability of the identified battery.
US09446679B2

A battery ECU provides an N-th arithmetic processing device with an ID assignment signal. The N-th arithmetic processing device receives the ID assignment signal, and stores an ID that is transmitted by the battery ECU. The battery ECU provides an i-th arithmetic processing device (i is a natural number from N to 2) with a command for providing an ID assignment signal. The i-th arithmetic processing device provides the (i−1)-th arithmetic processing device with the ID assignment signal in response to the command for providing an ID assignment signal. The (i−1)-th arithmetic processing device receives the ID assignment signal, and stores an ID that is transmitted by the battery ECU.
US09446677B2

Disclosed herein is a technique for determining degradation of a high-voltage battery of a vehicle. More specifically, variations in charge capacity with respect to a predetermined variation in voltage of a high-voltage battery that is currently being slowly charged are obtained depending on degradation degrees of the high-voltage battery. A vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery having a specification identical to those of the high-voltage battery is used to acquire a charge capacity and a voltage of the high-voltage battery that is currently being slowly charged. A variation in charge capacity with respect to the predetermined variation in voltage is calculated from the charge capacity and the voltage. The variation in charge capacity with respect to the predetermined variation in voltage is compared with the variations in charge capacity with respect to the predetermined variation in voltage depending on the degradation degrees, thus determining a relevant degradation degree.
US09446667B2

A method is provided for charging an electric vehicle with an electric energy accumulator and for stationary mode air conditioning the vehicle interior by way of an electric air conditioning system. The electric energy accumulator is charged to a minimum state of charge. After the energy accumulator has reached the minimum state of charge, the interior is air conditioned in such a way that at an assumed departure time a preset air conditioning state of the interior is reached. The energy accumulator is charged to a target state of charge with any excess energy that is not required to reach the air conditioning state.
US09446659B1

A chassis for an electric vehicle is disclosed that functions as a heat sink to cool an electric motor and motor controller of the electric vehicle. The chassis includes one or more tubes that are connected to an inner surface of the chassis. As coolant fluid flows through the tubes, heat from the coolant is dissipated into the chassis.
US09446654B2

In a vehicle air conditioner, a first warm air diversion passage is a tunnel-shaped passage that is provided near a first side air outlet and takes in warm air and causes the air to flow without mixing with cool air. A second warm air diversion passage is a passage inside a tunnel that is provided near a second side air outlet and takes in warm air and causes the air to flow without mixing with cool air. A diversion passage section includes an in-tunnel guide wall that directs the warm air flowing through the first warm air diversion passage toward the first side air outlet, and an in-tunnel guide wall that directs the warm air flowing through the second warm air diversion passage toward the second side air outlet.
US09446651B2

A vehicle suspension and wheel damper using anti-causal filtering. Information from in front of a wheel or information about an operating condition of a vehicle is used to anti-causally determine a response of an active suspension associated with the wheel.
US09446650B2

An electric damper assembly includes a damper having a rotor and a stator which connect a first component and a second component movable relative thereto, excitation windings, and induction windings, wherein a rotation of the rotor in relation to the stator causes a rotation of the excitation windings relative to induction windings, thereby inducing an induction voltage in the induction windings. A sensor detects the movement of the first component relative to the second component. A control unit is connected to the sensor and the damper. The control unit supplies the excitation winding with electric energy in such a way that an electromagnetic rotary field is generated which is dependent on the detected movement, and thereby is superimposed on the rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
US09446646B1

A spring seat is provided for incorporation into a vehicle suspension system having an axle and a leaf spring. The spring seat includes a seat portion and a spring mounting portion associated with an upper end of the seat portion. The spring mounting portion is configured to accommodate a portion of the leaf spring and includes an upper surface. The upper surface defines a plurality of bores, with at least one of the bores being internally threaded and receiving at least a portion of an externally threaded mechanical fastener. Alternatively (or additionally), the axle may include a body, with at least one of the bores of the spring mounting portion of the spring seat being at least partially positioned directly above the body of the axle.
US09446644B2

A replacement ball joint assembly (10) adapted to be pressed into a previously used and possibly distorted receiving hole (26) in a suspension component such as a control arm (28). A socket housing (12) of the assembly (10) includes a plurality of generally annular, concentric knurls (36) each having a respective crest portion (38) and separated one from another by intervening relief grooves (40). The crest portions (38) of the knurls (36) may be tapered so as to provide a lead-in feature to minimize misalignment during a press-in installation operation. The knurls (36) are preferably softer than the control arm material so that they yield during press-in rather than further disfiguring or enlarging the receiving hole (26). Displaced material from the crest portions (38) of the knurls (36) flows into the relief grooves (40).
US09446637B2

A tire inflation system including an axle housing and a sealing ring disposed on the axle housing. The sealing ring has a conduit formed therethrough. A hub is rotatably disposed on the axle housing. The hub is disposed adjacent the sealing ring and has a conduit formed therethrough which is in fluid communication with a conduit formed through a fastener engaged with the hub. The tire inflation system also includes an inner rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub and an outer rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub. The conduit formed through the hub is in fluid communication with the conduit formed through the sealing ring through an area between the inner rotary seal and the outer rotary seal. A bearing seal is disposed between the hub and the axle housing and outboard of the outer rotary seal.
US09446633B2

The invention relates to an elastic vehicle tire (1) comprising a tire cavity. Said cavity is enclosed by a running strip (2) supporting the tread surface (3) and a side wall (4, 4.1) formed on each side of the running strip (2). A noise dampening insert (9) or a noise dampening insert arrangement disposed therein is provided in the tire cavity. A ventilation layer (13) having a structure permeable to air at least in the transverse and/or longitudinal direction of the running strip (3) is disposed between the noise dampening insert (9) or noise dampening insert arrangement and connected to the inner side (10) of the running strip (2) supporting the running surface (3). Said layer is suitable for passing an air flow at least partially in contact with the inner wall (10) of the running strip (2).
US09446630B2

A pneumatic tire with a side wall portion includes a decorative region including two or more decorative portions that are continuously disposed so as to be contiguous in a tire circumferential direction and the tire radial direction, the decorative portions including multiple convex ridges that are disposed on an outer surface so as to be adjacent in the tire circumferential direction. A ridge arrangement angle is the same in the same decorative portion, and a ridge arrangement angle of the contiguous decorative portion differs therefrom. A distance between a first imaginary boundary line joining end portions of the ridges of the decorative portion that are on a side adjacent to the contiguous decorative portion and a second imaginary boundary line joining end portions of the ridges of the contiguous decorative portion on a side adjacent to the first imaginary boundary line is less than 1 mm.
US09446624B1

An improved apparatus for cleaning a paint roller by scraping or by submersion during rotation, comprising an attachment member connection to a base, said base further connected to a cylinder with an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of a paint roller frame, wherein said cylinder comprises a substantially solid surface interrupted by one or more longitudinal voids.
US09446623B2

An egg decorating kit formable into an egg decorating assembly includes a plurality of decorating accessories for decorating eggs, a box made of foldable sheet material and an attachment made of sheet material. The box includes a top having a plurality of demarcated sections peripherally arranged about a center point of the top of the box. The top has at least one slit that extends from an outer surface of the top to an inner surface of the top and is surrounded by the demarcated sections. The attachment includes a main body portion and a tab portion coupled to the main body portion. The main body portion has printed indicia located on a front side of the sheet material and printed indicia located on a back side of the sheet material.
US09446620B1

The present invention relates to an adjustable paper clip which facilitates the user to grip desired size of paper bundle. The user makes adjustments in the first element of an adjustable paper clip to enable the user to open it at a required distance for gripping the desired size of paper bundle.
US09446611B2

Provided is an image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper feeding cassettes, a paper detecting sensor, a detecting sensor, a paper feeding switching determination part, and a system control part. The paper feeding switching determination part confirms a state change in the paper feeding cassettes, after the elapse of awaiting time until a start of determination of whether or not switching of paper feeding is possible, if it is determined that a document stored in the paper feeding cassettes runs out, based on an operating condition of the apparatus, a change in detection results by the paper feeding detecting sensor, and detection results by the detecting sensor, and determines whether or not the switching of paper feeding is possible. The system control part controls the switching of paper feeding based on the determination results by the paper feeding switching determination part.
US09446610B2

A printer 1 has a processing unit that processes media; an automatic paper cutter 60 that cuts the media; a conveyance mechanism 63 that conveys media in the direction moving to an exit; a media orientation detection means 65 that detects displacement of the media after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; a limiting unit that restricts movement of the media toward the exit after conveyance by the conveyance mechanism 63 stops; and a media processing device control unit 100 that controls cutting the media by the automatic paper cutter 60 when the media orientation detection means 65 detects displacement of the media.
US09446609B2

A cutter device includes a cutter configured to cut a material to be cut; a carriage having a cutter and moving in a widthwise direction with respect to a feeding direction of the material to be cut; and a guide unit configured to guide the carriage in the widthwise direction and, assuming that the movement of the carriage when the cutter cuts the material to be cut is an outward route, a homeward route of the cutter of the carriage is different from the outward route of the cutter, and is shifted from the outward route toward one material to be cut which moves first in the direction away from the other material to be cut in the feeding direction immediately after the cutting from between the materials to be cut divided into two parts.
US09446608B2

A system for generating a response curve for adjusting the positions of a pair of adjustable edge seals to the width of a print medium in a printing system is disclosed. The system comprises a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum source, which provides vacuum to the vacuum chamber. Spaced sealing rollers and edge seals define an opening in the vacuum chamber. A sensor measures a vacuum level in the vacuum chamber. A controller is used to produce signals indicative of an activation level or a vacuum level. Means for adjusting the position of the edge seals are used to reposition the edge seals to at least one new position. The controller produces signals indicative of an activation level or a vacuum level at the new positions. A response curve is produced using the signals produced at the first and new positions.
US09446605B2

A recording apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave irradiating portion that radiates an electromagnetic wave and dries ink by using the electromagnetic wave; a first medium supporting portion that supports a recording medium in an irradiation area of the electromagnetic wave irradiating portion and has an opening portion through which vapor evaporated from ink ejected onto the recording medium by electromagnetic wave irradiation by the electromagnetic wave irradiating portion passes; and a second medium supporting portion that is provided adjacent to the first medium supporting portion and has a thermal conductivity lower than the first medium supporting portion.
US09446601B2

Drawing control methods, laser irradiating apparatuses, drawing control programs, and recording mediums having recorded therewith are provided that make it possible to efficiently carry out drawing with high quality. The drawing control method controls, by a computer, a drawing device which draws what is to be drawn onto multiple unit regions on a surface of a medium. The computer executes a drawing order determining step which determines a drawing order of a line segment included in the what is to be drawn such that multiple continuing line segments over mutually neighboring multiple unit regions are drawn continuously.
US09446597B2

A liquid ejection apparatus comprising a carriage, a liquid ejection head mounted on the carriage, at least one tube member operably connected to the liquid ejection head, a holding wire for securing the tube member, and a structural member, and a cover plate positioned between the structural member and the holding wire.
US09446591B2

An inkjet head comprises a pressure chamber; a nozzle plate including a first surface at the side of the pressure chamber, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first nozzle formed into a frustum which penetrates the first surface and the second surface and the diameter of which decreases as it goes closer to the second surface, and a second nozzle formed into a frustum which is the same as the frustum of the first nozzle; and a driving element configured adjacent to the pressure chamber to eject droplets from the first nozzle and the second nozzle simultaneously; wherein the part of the first nozzle on the first surface is integrally connected to the part of the second nozzle on the first surface, and the part of the first nozzle on the second surface is separated from the part of the second nozzle on the second surface.
US09446589B2

A liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle opening provided on a first surface of a flow path member with a flow path formed therein, and a protective member including a flexible portion that seals a portion of the flow path provided on the first surface of the flow path member. A position of a portion of the flow path member onto which the nozzle plate is attached and a position of a portion of the flow path member onto which the protective member is attached are different from one another in a discharge direction of a liquid.
US09446585B2

A handheld inkjet printer includes an inkjet print head and a tip. One or more sensors measure the position of points on a curved surface that are physically touched by the tip while the tip is moved relative to the surface. Based on these measurements, a computer generates or modifies a computer model that specifies at least (i) position of the curved surface, and (ii) a target region of the curved surface on which a pattern is to be printed. In addition, the one or more sensors measure position and orientation of nozzles in the print head, while the handset is moved relative to the surface. The computers also calculate, based on the computer model and these additional measurements, which of the nozzles to fire at a different times, such that the pattern is printed on the target region as the handset is moved relative to the surface.
US09446584B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a signal modulation section that causes an original drive signal to be pulse-modulated to generate a modulation signal, a signal amplification section that amplifies the modulation signal to generate an amplification modulation signal, a coil that smooths the amplification modulation signal to generate a drive signal, a piezoelectric element that deforms when the drive signal is applied thereto, a cavity that expands or contracts due to a deformation of the piezoelectric element, and a nozzle that communicates with the cavity and ejects a liquid in accordance with an increase/decrease of a pressure inside the cavity. A core material of the coil is made of a Mn—Zn-based ferrite.
US09446580B2

A balanced stencil foil tensioning frame with a foil alignment fixture removes the need for the complex air/bladder arrangement of conventional systems by pivoting side members to engage foil. With less components, the tensioning frame system is reliable and light weight with few moving parts. In one embodiment, a base member can receive a stencil foil and a frame top can lock into the base member, depressing the edges of the stencil foil. The amount of provided depression can adjust the tension of the foil. In another embodiment, a plurality of tension segments can move in a linear direction to create a uniform foil tension. The alignment fixture can be wall mounted to hold foil in a vertical position. This allows for consistent alignment and attachment of foil to the tensioning frame.
US09446577B2

A tension obtaining unit obtains a measured tension value by measuring tension in sub-areas where tension should be obtained, which are set in a screen area to perforate of a stretched screen master. A control unit calculates tension in sub-areas where tension should not be obtained of the screen area to perforate as computed tension values by modifying the measured tension value, based on predefined information for tension computation. The control unit compares the measured tension value and computed tension values against information for determining perforation conditions stored in a storage unit and controls a screen making unit to execute perforation on determined perforation conditions fit for tension in the sub-areas where tension should be obtained and for tension in the sub-areas where tension should not be obtained.
US09446567B2

The present invention has an object of providing a synthetic resin laminate that is usable for a transparent substrate material or protective material, has high thermoformability (pressure formability, thermal-bending formability), high insert moldability, and high surface hardness and/or impact resistance, and also providing a molded body formed by molding such a synthetic resin laminate. The synthetic resin laminate includes a polycarbonate-based substrate layer; and a resin laminated on one of, or both of, two surfaces of the polycarbonate-based substrate layer, the resin containing a specific (meth)acrylate copolymer resin and a specific polycarbonate resin. The polycarbonate-based substrate layer includes a polymer alloy and thus has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 110 to 130° C. Thus, the resultant synthetic resin laminate has high thermoformability and high surface hardness.
US09446564B2

Multiple layer laminates contain predominantly urethane-based polymeric materials in cap and base layers, and no significant amount of PVC. Under combustion conditions, the laminate releases substantially no harmful halogen-based bases, such as HCl or other toxic gases, and exhibits low toxicity and smoke generation.
US09446557B2

Method for producing a three-dimensional object in layers by way of a stereolithography machine (1) including a container (2) suited to contain a liquid substance (3), structure (5) suited to emit predefined radiation (4) suited to selectively solidify a layer (6) of the liquid substance (3) adjacent to the bottom (2a) of the container (2), and an actuator (8) suited to move the solidified layer (6a) with respect to the bottom (2a). The method includes selectively solidifying the liquid layer (6); separating the solidified layer (6a) from the bottom (2a) through a movement (11) suited to move them away from each other, including a plurality of shifts (12, 12a, 12b, 12c) for corresponding predefined lengths, spaced by corresponding intermediate stops (14, 14a, 14b) for corresponding predefined time intervals (15, 15a, 15b). The intermediate stops are carried out before the solidified layer has become completely detached from the bottom.
US09446555B2

The invention relates to providing a hot wedge welding machine which may eliminate the thermal dampening that occurs to a welding element when the material to be welded is first introduced into the welding machine. The invention relates to cooling the welding element to stimulate a heating system to heat the welding element to the desired temperature. The artificial cooling stress provided by a cooling system is removed generally at the same time genuine cooling stress of the material is applied to the welding element. This results in the welding element maintaining a consistent temperature when the material is introduced into the welding machine.
US09446551B2

An apparatus for forming a blow-molded container includes a mold, a mandrel, and a die. The mold includes a bottom section for forming a container bottom, a sidewall section for forming a plurality of sidewalls, a spout section for forming a spout, and a neck section for forming an upwardly converging neck member coupling the sidewalls to the spout having a convex radius transition section of approximately three inches in a container having an overall height of approximately ten inches. The mandrel and the die are operative to form a parison that assumes an ovoid cross-section within the mold with the outer surfaces of the parison positioned approximately equidistant from sidewall section of said mold.
US09446549B2

In the method of manufacturing a strip (8) of rubber for vehicle tires: a strip (8) of rubber is formed; the strip is cooled with water; residual water (40) on the surface of the strip is heated from the exterior of the strip and/or this water is replaced by hotter water; and the water present on the surface of the strip is eliminated.
US09446532B2

A magnetic knife wedge attachment for use with a knife has a spine-mounting portion carrying a permanent magnet adapted to be placed in magnetic contact on the spine of the knife blade, and a blade-mounting portion carrying another permanent magnet forming an L-shaped cross-section with the spine-mounting portion and adapted for magnetic attachment to the side surface of the knife blade. The blade-mounting portion has beveled surfaces tapering to sharp edges so as to form a wedge shape around the edges of the blade-mounting portion for forcing cut food material to tilt outward to prevent adhesion of the cut material to the knife blade. By its magnetic attachment onto two contiguous portions of the metal knife blade, the wedge device provides magnetic strength and holding forces to remain locked onto the knife blade during use for cutting food material.
US09446526B2

A loading device of a robot includes a frame, a first pneumatic cylinder and a first pulley member mounted on a top face of the frame, a second pneumatic cylinder and a second pulley member mounted on a bottom face of the frame, first and second suction assemblies coupled to the first pneumatic cylinder and the first pulley member, third and fourth suction assemblies coupled to the second pneumatic cylinder and the second pulley member, and a fifth suction assembly secured to a middle of the frame. Interspaces among the first to fifth suction assemblies are adjustable by activating the first and second pneumatic cylinder to extend or retract pistons thereof.
US09446518B1

An example implementation for avoiding leg collisions may involve a biped robot reducing a three-dimensional system to a two-dimensional projection of the biped robot's feet. An example biped robot may determine a touchdown location for a swing foot. The biped robot may determine lateral positions of the touchdown location and the swing foot, each relative to a stance foot. Based on one or more of the determined lateral positions of the touchdown location and the swing foot, each relative to the stance foot, the biped robot may determine an intermediate swing point for the swing foot that is not on a line defined by the swing foot and the touchdown location. The biped robot may further cause the swing foot to move to the intermediate swing point, and then cause the swing foot to move to the touchdown location.
US09446515B1

Apparatus and methods for controlling attention and training of autonomous robotic devices. In one approach, attention of the robot may be manipulated by use of a spot-light device illuminating a portion of the aircraft undergoing inspection in order to indicate to inspection robot target areas requiring more detailed inspection. The robot guidance may be aided by way of an additional signal transmitted by the agent to the robot indicating that the object has been illuminated and attention switch may be required. Responsive to receiving the additional signal, the robot may initiate a search for the signal reflected by the illuminated area requiring its attention. Responsive to detecting the illuminated object and receipt of the additional signal, the robot may develop an association between the two events and the inspection task. The light guided attention system may influence the robot learning for subsequent actions.
US09446505B2

A strap wrench is used to drive a cylindrical object and contains: a handle including two recesses and a longitudinal slot; a strap including a first end portion and a second end portion which are inserted into the two recesses; a guiding rod longitudinally inserted into the handle; a supporting block rotatably connected with a first segment and located inside the strap; a movable member disposed on the guiding rod and moving between a first position and a second position, the movable member joining with the strap; a push switch slidably fixed in the longitudinal slot and rotatably connected with the movable member; and a spring for pushing the movable member to move toward the second position. Thereby, the movable member is driven by the engaging block to move between the first position and the second position so as to operate the strap wrench easily.
US09446504B2

Polycrystalline compacts include non-catalytic, non-carbide-forming particles in interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline hard material. Cutting elements and earth-boring tools include such polycrystalline compacts. Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts include forming a polycrystalline material including a hard material and a plurality of particles comprising a non-catalytic, non-carbide-forming material. Methods of forming cutting elements include infiltrating interstitial spaces between interbonded grains of hard material in a polycrystalline material with a plurality of non-catalytic, non-carbide-forming particles.
US09446500B2

The use of abrasive entrainment waterjet technology to cut objects located at the bottom of a body of water. Abrasive is conducted to an abrasive waterjet cutting head under the control of an abrasive feed and metering system that monitors the differential pressure between the cutting head and reservoir of abrasive material and maintains the pressure at the abrasive reservoir greater than the pressure hydrostatic pressure at the cutting head.
US09446499B2

A truing device is supported so as to be elastically movable in the Z-axis direction, which is parallel to a grinding wheel rotational axis, and elastically movable in the X-axis direction in which a grinding wheel cuts into the truing device, and includes a movement restriction device that controls prohibition and permission of elastic movement. The method includes: causing a surface of the grinding wheel to contact the truing device in the X-axis direction; and correcting a shape of the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel cuts into the truing device until the amount of elastic movement of the truing device in the X-axis direction reaches a first predetermined amount, by controlling the movement restriction device to prohibit elastic movement of the truing device, and thereafter causing the grinding wheel to further cut into the truing device in the X-axis direction by a second predetermined amount.
US09446498B1

A chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided having a polishing layer; an endpoint detection window; subpad; and, a stack adhesive; wherein the subpad includes plurality of apertures in optical communication with the endpoint detection window; and, wherein the polishing surface of the polishing layer is adapted for polishing of a substrate.
US09446496B2

The invention discloses an abrasive belt polishing finisher in the field of mechanical technology, which addresses inconvenient operation of the existing polishing finishers. The abrasive belt polishing finisher includes a motor and a connection support. The central section of the connection support is fixedly connected with the output shaft of the motor. Several self-rotable connection support finishing wheels are provided around the connection support. The curve surface of the rim of each of the support finishing wheels has a different curvature. Each connection support finishing wheel is distributed on the same circle centered on the output shaft of the motor. The connection support is driven by the motor into rotation to press and position one of the connection support finishing wheels against the back of the abrasive belt in the polishing finisher. The abrasive belt polishing finisher could satisfy continuous polishing treatment for different curved surfaces.
US09446485B2

Ball valves and ball valve components usable to control the flow of fluids and methods for manufacturing said ball valve components. Ball valves include a ball member comprising two curved segments of like shape and size, which are integrally joined and disposed symmetrically to one another relative to the axis of rotation of the ball member. A bore extends through the joined first and the second curved segments, wherein the first end of the bore is located on the first curved segment and the second end of the bore is located on the second curved segment. Each curved segment is disposed symmetrically to one another, relative to the axis of rotation. The area of separation, between the curved segments, defines shoulders of like configuration, wherein each shoulder is located symmetrically with respect to the other relative to the ball member's axis of rotation.
US09446484B2

Provided are a conductive particle and a conductive material which are capable of decreasing the connection resistance and suppressing generation of voids in a connection structure when the connection structure is obtained by electrically connecting electrodes. The conductive particle according to the present invention has a solder at a conductive surface, wherein a group including a carboxyl group is covalently bonded to the surface of the solder; and the conductive material according to the present invention includes the conductive particles and a binder resin.
US09446475B2

A system for use in ultrasonic additive manufacturing processes, comprising a milling machine or the like and a weld assembly. The milling machine further includes a spindle adapted to receive a milling tool, wherein the spindle is capable of moving in the z-axis direction; and a table positioned beneath the spindle, wherein the table is capable of moving in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The weld assembly is adapted to be mounted on the spindle of the milling machine and further includes an ultrasonic weld head; a tapered tool shank adapted to connect the weld assembly to the spindle; and a unique mating collar disposed between the ultrasonic weld head and the spindle, wherein the mating collar is operative transfer thrust loads associated with ultrasonic additive manufacturing processes from the ultrasonic weld head to the z-axis of the spindle without damaging the spindle or other components of the machine.
US09446463B2

Provided is a tap holder configured so that compression-side elastic characteristics and tension-side elastic characteristics are different from each other with utilization of an elastic member for absorbing synchronization error in rotation and feeding of a spindle of a machine tool. The tap holder includes a chuck 20 for holding a tap P, and a holder body 10 for holding the chuck 20 so that the chuck 20 is movable along a rotational axis X and rotatable in synchronism with the chuck 20. The tap holder further includes elastically deforming members 31, 32, 33 provided in a tension direction and a compression direction, respectively and deformable between the chuck 20 and the holder body 10 when a tension force or a compression force is applied to the tap P along the direction of the rotational axis X, and a deformation reducing mechanism 29 for the elastically deforming members 31, 32, 33 such that a deformation amount along the rotational axis X generated in at least one elastically deforming member 31, 32 of the elastically deforming members 31, 32, 33 disposed respectively in the tension direction and the compression direction is smaller than an amount of displacement of the chuck 20 along the rotational axis X.
US09446462B2

A clamping assembly is disclosed that includes a tapered collar extending radially inward towards an axis. A clamping sleeve is movable along the axis relative to the tapered collar. The clamping sleeve includes flexible arms. An actuator is coupled to the clamping sleeve and is configured to move the clamping sleeve along the axis between extended and retracted positions. A collet is supported relative to the sleeve. The collet includes a body having an axially extending opening configured to receive the material and circumferential fingers arranged about the opening. The clamping sleeve forces the fingers radially inward with the clamping sleeve in the extended position to clamp and hold the material. The biasing member urges the fingers radially outward with the clamping sleeve in the retracted position. Replaceable inserts can also be secured to each finger facing the opening.
US09446451B2

A machine tool 1 includes a turret (4, 104) to which a tool unit 2 is adapted to be radially mounted, a cylindrical turret pivoting driving shaft (5, 105) for transmission of pivoting driving force to the turret (4, 104), a rotary tool driving shaft (8, 108) adapted to be rotated with respect to an indexing axis for transmission of rotation driving force to a tool (7, 107) of a rotary tool unit (2b, 102b) mounted on the turret (4, 104), and a unit pivoting driving shaft (12, 112) adapted to be rotated with respect to the indexing axis independently of the rotary tool driving shaft (8, 108) for transmission of pivoting driving force to the rotary tool unit (2b, 102b) mounted on the turret (4, 104) to change the direction of the rotation axis AX2 of the tool (7, 107). The rotary tool driving shaft and the unit pivoting driving shaft are coaxially arranged inside the turret pivoting driving shaft.
US09446450B2

A cutting insert, a cutting tool and method of manufacturing a machined product. The cutting insert includes: upper and lower surfaces; a side surface; a cutting edge; and a rake portion on the upper surface. The cutting edge includes major and minor cutting edges that are convex toward outside of the main body portion. The minor cutting edge has a curvature radius smaller than a curvature radius of the major cutting edge. The rake portion is inclined and approaches the lower surface as moving from the major cutting edge toward inside of the main body portion and is located along the major cutting edge. An inclination angle of the rake portion becomes smaller as moving from a part continuous with one end of the major cutting edge toward a part continuous with center of the major cutting edge.
US09446448B2

Recoaters for powder-layer three-dimensional printers which are capable of producing enhanced powder layer uniformity and powder-layer three-dimensional printers having such recoaters are described. The recoater comprises a bridge, two supports, one at either end of the bridge, a powder reservoir, and a substantially rectangular plate which extends between the two supports and contains an opening through which the powder reservoir either extends into or through or through which build powder can be fed into the powder reservoir. The plate has a length to minimum width ratio of no more than about 7.0 and a length to maximum width ratio of no more than about 5.0, the plate being adapted to brace the bridge into a perpendicular relationship with the first and second supports when the recoater is being controllably moved and the powder reservoir is dispensing powder to form a powder layer.
US09446445B2

The present invention describes a method of manufacturing a near-net shaped hollow shaft useful for high power applications such as gearboxes for wind energy industry. The method involves providing a concast bloom (of a round or rectangular or of any polygonal cross section) or an as-cast round ingot from which a hollow perform is prepared using hollow die punching, followed by process of heat treatment, proof-machining and stress relieving.
US09446439B2

A heat-insulated wound hose is formed by a process, in which a metal wound hose is at first upset, such that turns, which are spaced apart by adjacent axial wall areas of individual turns, form at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. A ceramic-based coating is subsequently applied to the at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. The coating is then cured, and the wound hose thus formed is subsequently pulled apart, whereby adjacent axial wall areas of adjacent turns are detached from one another and thereby the coating is broken up at partitions.
US09446438B2

A mandrel holder head with release/fastening device of the mandrel for rolling metallic tubes comprises a mandrel holder (1) which accommodates within an internal seat a half collar (2) of externally cylindrical shape through an opening in the side wall. In the internal seat are accommodated both an end part (52) of the mandrel shank and the half collar (2) through the opening. The half collar has an internal cavity with a second longitudinal side opening which accommodates a second part (51) of the shank of diameter smaller than that of the first part (52). The half collar is divided along an axial direction into two cylindrical parts (21, 22) which have different diameters. The locking member (30, 31) of the half collar (2) holds it in the mandrel holder (1) seat in working conditions, while allowing shank release with an axial movement in locked conditions.
US09446431B2

Medical device surfaces, for example a plastic catheter or metal guide wire, are disclosed with a lubricating coating made from Brasenia schreberi polysaccharide mucilage. The coated device surfaces may be prepared with a variety of techniques offering improved alternatives to conventional coatings.
US09446430B2

Disclosed are Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol F, Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE)-free coating compositions for metal substrates including an under-coat composition containing a polyester (co)polymer, and an under-coat cross-linker; and an over-coat composition containing a poly(vinyl chloride) (co)polymer dispersed in a substantially nonaqueous carrier liquid, an over-coat cross-linker, and a functional (meth)acrylic (co)polymer. Also provided is a method of coating a metal substrate using the BPA, BPF, BADGE and BFDGE-free coating system to produce a hardened protective coating useful in fabricating metal storage containers. The coated substrate is particularly useful in fabricating multi-part foodstuffs storage containers with “easy-open” end closures.
US09446428B2

A method of dip-coating a segmented multifocal lens (1) having a segment with a curved portion and a straight line portion, includes the steps of: placing the lens (1) on a basket support (21); immersing the lens (1) vertically in a coating solution bath (16); and withdrawing the lens (1) vertically from the bath (16); wherein the step of placing the lens (1) is performed such that the straight line portion of the lens (1) is in a vertical plane; and wherein, before or during the step of immersing the lens (1), the lens (1) is inclined to an inclined position between a vertical position and a horizontal position of the lens (1), in which inclined position the segment is downwardly inclined and the straight line portion of the segment remains in the vertical plane.
US09446420B2

Provided is a valve unit which opens/closes a flow path and includes a unit-main body having a pressure-adjustment chamber formed therein, a film sealing an opening of the pressure-adjustment chamber, a pressure-receiving plate adhered to the film, a valve body connected to the pressure-receiving plate, and a spring urging the valve body to the film. The pressure-adjustment chamber has an inlet and an outlet through which the liquid flows, a wall portion facing the pressure-receiving plate, and a first-concave portion facing the pressure-receiving plate. The inlet is opened/closed by the valve body and is provided in the first-concave portion. A gap between the wall portion and the pressure-receiving plate is smaller than that between the first-concave portion and the pressure-receiving plate. The wall portion makes the first-concave portion extend from the inlet to a side opposite to the outlet side, with respect to the inlet.
US09446410B2

An apparatus for thermal cycling can transfer heat uniformly and efficiently. The apparatus can be used in a method that reduces condensation on sample wells. The apparatus can also be manufactured to provide uniform configurations. For example, a sample, illustratively for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in each sample well and the components of the embodiment of the thermal cycler apparatus shown at including a well block, a base plate, a layer of adhesive, a peltier device, another layer of adhesive and a heat sink.
US09446408B2

A system for dispensing a sample into a buffer liquid includes a pressure chamber having pressure supply means for generating an overpressure within the pressure chamber. An inlet capillary supplies a buffer liquid to an outlet end arranged in the pressure chamber, and an outlet capillary discharges the buffer liquid from the pressure chamber. The outlet capillary has an inlet end in the pressure chamber facing the outlet end of the inlet capillary to form a capillary gap. A dispenser having a dispensing end is in the pressure chamber at the capillary gap to allow the sample at the dispensing end to be dispensed into the buffer liquid entering the outlet capillary inlet end. The pressure chamber includes a sample port that allows the dispenser to be moved into and out of the pressure chamber.
US09446405B2

A microfluidic cartridge for assaying an analyte comprises one or more test channels, each having a lumen; one or more reference solution channels in fluid communication with the test channels; one or more sample channels in fluid communication with the test channels; one or more sensors at least partially exposed in the lumen of the test channels; and a processor coupled to the one or more sensors for measuring properties of the analyte to determine at least one of an identity, concentration, dose, and dosage of the analyte.
US09446404B2

Droplet actuator apparatus and system are provided. An apparatus comprises: a microfluidics system having an insertion slot for insertion of a droplet actuator; a bottom plate against which the droplet actuator would slide when inserting the droplet actuator into the insertion slot; and means for forcing a substrate in the droplet actuator parallel to the bottom plate, wherein warpage in the substrate is corrected.
US09446400B2

A conjugated polymer is provided, having a structure of formula (I): in formula (I), n is an integer greater than 10, wherein (i) R1 is R2 is wherein A1 is a functional group having a tertiary amine group or a quaternary ammonium salt group, R4 is independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, or fluoroalkoxy, or (ii) R1 is R2 is A2, wherein R3 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, A2, or and A2 is a functional group having a tertiary amine group or a quaternary ammonium salt group, wherein R5 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, or fluoroalkyl.
US09446391B2

The invention relates to a process for producing a protected reduced supported metal catalyst powder, in particular catalysts used in a variety of chemical reactions, such as the hydrogenation of hydrocarbon compounds in petrochemical and oleochemical processes; the hydrogenation of unsaturated fats and oils, and unsaturated hydrocarbon resins; and in the Fischer Tropsch process. This invention also relates to a composition comprising said catalyst and a liquid. In accordance with the invention there is provided a process for preparing a protected, reduced metal catalyst on a support, wherein said supported catalyst is in the form of a powder, which process comprises contacting and mixing said supported catalyst with a liquid in an inert atmosphere and wherein the amount of liquid corresponds to up to five times the amount required for incipient wetness.
US09446381B2

This disclosures provides an adsorbent which, on the basis of the total weight of the adsorbent, comprises: 1) a Si—Al molecular sieve having an A-FAU structure, wherein A represents a monovalent cation, in an amount of 1-20 wt %, 2) at least one binder selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, stannic oxide, zirconium oxide and alumina, in an amount of 3-35 wt %, 3) a silica source, in an amount of 5-40 wt %, 4) zinc oxide, in an amount of 10-80 wt %, and 5) at least one promoter metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron and manganese, based on the metal, in an amount of 5-30 wt %, wherein at least 10 wt % of the promoter metal is present in a reduced valence state. This adsorbent exhibits improved activity and stability, and at the same time, is capable of significantly improving the octane number of the product gasoline.
US09446378B2

The present disclosure provides an assembled stack of fluidic modules comprising at least first and second fluidic modules assembled in a stacked configuration. The first fluidic module has first and second major planar surfaces and encloses a first fluidic passage extending therethrough from a first passage entrance to a first passage exit with the first passage exit located on the second major planar surface of the first fluidic module. The second fluidic module also has first and second major planar surfaces and encloses a second fluidic passage extending therethrough from a second passage entrance to a second passage exit, with the second passage entrance located on the first major planar surface of the second fluidic module. The second major planar surface of the first fluidic module and the first major planar surface of the second fluidic module are spaced apart and physically joined together by at least three separate glass or glass-ceramic pads fused therebetween, and the at least three pads include at least one pad having no through-hole and at least one pad having a through-hole, with the through-hole forming a sealed fluidic interconnection between the first fluidic passage and the second fluidic passage. A method of forming the assembled stack is also disclosed.
US09446376B2

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pyrolysis device including a reactor in which an injected raw material and a melted liquid metal are present together, a circulating pump connected to the reactor, a buffer tank disposed on an upper portion of the reactor and receiving the liquid metal from the circulating pump, a nozzle coupled with the buffer tank and jetting the liquid metal within the buffer tank into the reactor, a separating apparatus separating pyrolyzed char and slag, and a combustion furnace connected to the reactor to combust the fuel supplied from the reactor and supply heat to the reactor, thereby reacting the liquid metal sprays jetted from the nozzle with gases generated in the reactor to purify the gases.
US09446375B2

The present invention discloses a flow reactor composed of plurality of modular/fluidic components that helps retain agility and re-configurability of the continuous chemical processes with improved processing ability. More specifically, disclosed herein is a continuous flow reactor composed of varied permutations and combinations of a plurality of modular/fluidic components for chemical processing. The components are connected to each other using connectors that facilitate the connection of either with two or more, similar or different components.
US09446372B2

An apparatus for growing nano-clusters includes a pair of electrodes separated by an electrode pair spacing and a field generation module that generates a corona discharge across the electrodes. The corona discharge generates an electromagnetic field near the electrodes. A voltage potential across the electrodes is a medium voltage. The field generation module includes a medium voltage module that generates a medium voltage waveform, which is transmitted to the electrodes to generate the corona discharge. The field generation module includes a broad frequency generation module that generates a broad spectrum of frequencies within the medium voltage waveform. A raw material feeder module feeds particles of a raw material through the electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field with the broad spectrum of frequencies is operative to separate at least a portion of the raw material fed through the electromagnetic field into free atoms.
US09446368B2

A mixing device used in a fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus which mixes feed and a catalyst includes a cylindrical reaction container which supplies a catalyst in a vertical direction; a plurality of feed injection nozzles arranged along an outer circumference of the reaction container; and a catalyst flow regulator which is provided in the reaction container and regulates a flow of the catalyst in the vicinity of the feed injection nozzles. The catalyst flow regulator has no feed supply function and forms a catalyst moving bed having a hollow tubular shape which is coaxial with the reaction container in the vicinity of the feed injection nozzles. The catalyst flow regulator can effectively prevent backward flow of injected fuel. Although the mixing device has a simple structure, it has a high cracking rate and maintenance of the fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus can be performed easier.
US09446363B2

A methanol carbonylation system 10 includes an absorber tower 75 adapted for receiving a vent gas stream and removing methyl iodide therefrom with a scrubber solvent, the absorber tower being coupled to first and second scrubber solvent sources 16, 56 which are capable of supplying different first and second scrubber solvents. A switching system including valves 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 alternatively provides first or second scrubber solvents to the absorber tower and returns the used solvent and sorbed material to the carbonylation system to accommodate different operating modes.
US09446356B2

An apparatus, system, and method of dispersing solid forms of drugs or medications reliably and consistently may generally employ ultrasonic energy. The disclosed embodiments facilitate preparation of a liquid dose from solid medications for administration to a patient.
US09446347B2

Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
US09446342B2

The cylindrical or conical shaped particle separator operates based on cyclone-induced flow sweeping the face of the cylindrical separator screen, creating inertial separation of suspended particles. The separator screen comprises of multitude of parallel, evenly spaced, asymmetrically profiled, linear, screen elements arranged in a cylindrical or conical grid-like shape parallel with the axis of the cylinder or cone. The cyclone effect is created by the rotational, helical path of the fluid inside or outside of the cylindrical or conical separator screen. The spinning, rotating fluid sweeps the inner or outer side of the stationary or rotating screen, passing approximately perpendicularly over the linear grid-like elements and gaps between the elements. The screen elements may be wires, bars, narrow strips, airfoil vanes or other similar linear elements with a flow separation edge on the trailing end of the profile of the element.
US09446339B2

Disclosed is an air filter element (200) for insertion into an air filter housing, comprising an intake surface (275), a discharge surface (285), a filter medium (210), and a filter element-retaining device (240) which extends along at least a section of the periphery of the filter medium (210), between the intake surface (275) and the discharge surface (285), and which includes a retaining arrangement (270) that radially projects from the filter medium (210).
US09446338B2

A filter part for fluid lines, preferably high-pressure lines with pressures in the range of 150 to 900 bar, preferably in the range of 200 to 350 bar, more preferably in the range of 700 to 875 bar, for use especially in filling nipples, non-return valves, pressure regulators, cylinder valves, filling couplings, switching valves, break-off safety devices, quick couplings and also as a separate filter part. The filter part comprises a base body and at least one fluid passage opening, wherein the base body and the fluid passage opening are covered by at least one filter element. The invention further relates to a method for producing a filter part with a base body and a filter element, especially in form of a screen filter which is also known as a filter mesh.
US09446334B2

A filter base system may include a mounting bracket configured to be coupled to a machine, and an extension coupled to the mounting bracket. The filter base system may further include a filter assembly coupler associated with the extension. The filter assembly coupler may include an inlet passage configured to provide flow communication from the machine to the filter element, and an outlet passage configured to provide flow communication from the filter element to the machine. The filter assembly coupler may also include a receiver including a receiver passage extending transverse to longitudinal axes of the inlet and outlet passages. The filter assembly coupler may further include a base plug including a base plug body including a plug surface configured to cooperate with the filter element, such that orientation of the filter element with respect to the filter assembly coupler depends on orientation of the base plug in the receiver.
US09446326B2

An integrated bioethanol production and evaporation process and system produce reduces high quality ethanol and concentrated stillage. The process and system provide a significant energy savings over conventional bioethanol production and evaporation systems by using the energy (“vapor”) that drives the distillation process to also drive a multiple effect evaporator, preferably a multiple effect TASTE™ evaporator to “flash” or vaporize alcohol from the distillate. Additional energy savings are provided by passing fermented material through one or more pre-heaters of the multiple effect evaporator to increase the temperature of the fermented material prior to its distillation. The system preferably includes a pre-flash evaporator upstream of an alcohol recovery assembly in the direction of vapor flow and a multi-effect post-flash evaporator downstream of the alcohol recovery assembly.
US09446325B2

Provided is a communication processing module, which is compatible with various kinds of devices to be operated by an operation input device. The communication processing module for the device to be operated receives any one of a standard operation signal specifying a standard action and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, which are transmitted by the operation input device. When the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, the communication processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal, and when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, transfers data contained in the signal to a unique processing module. The unique processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the communication processing module.
US09446314B2

A method/apparatus/system for generation of a cross-dimensional gaming network is described herein. The gaming network contains a plurality of gaming objects each made of an aggregation of gaming content. The gaming objects of the gaming network are interconnected based on one or several skill levels embodied in the gaming content of the gaming objects. These skill levels can be based on the subject matter of the gaming content and/or can be independent of the subject matter of the gaming content. A new gaming object can be placed within the gaming network based on the skill level of the gaming object.
US09446313B2

In an embodiment there is provided a device having a user interface configured to display a game board having a plurality of game objects, each game object having one or more characteristics, said user interface being configured to receive user input, and at least one processor in connection or communication with at least one memory configured to detect a selection of at least one game object with respect to said displayed game board in response to player input, re-order said selected game objects on said displayed game board with respect to said input, create a further game object sharing at least one of the one or more characteristics of said re-ordered game objects in accordance with at least one rule stored in said at least one memory, and replace said re-ordered game objects with said further game object for display.
US09446310B2

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems provide a suggested list of people for a user of a social network system to play a game with. A social networking system receives a trigger for providing the user access from a user device to the game over a network. The social networking system identifies a pool of people who have a personal connection with the user and who have not played the game before. From the pool of people, a suggested list of people is selected based on closeness to the user. The suggested list is sent to the user device for the user device for the user to selectively invite one or more of the people to play the game.
US09446306B2

A system and method for local multiplayer gaming are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of mobile client devices including a mobile client device designated as a server device. Each mobile client device comprises a display, at least one local network interface for communication with said server device and a processor. The processor is programmed for playing a multiplayer game with other mobile client devices and rendering on said display a game situation depending on commands sent by a plurality of mobile client devices to said server device over said at least local network interface. At least one of said mobile client devices is configured for overhearing commands sent by at least one other mobile client device to said server device or another mobile client device and for rendering on its display a game situation depending on said overheard command.
US09446293B2

A golf club having a face adapted to directly strike a golf ball thereon, a pipe-shaped shaft coupled to the club head, and a grip coupled to the top end periphery of the shaft, includes a first protrusion formed on one side of an internal surface of a face thereof; a second protrusion formed on the rear surface of the interior thereof in such a manner as to face the first protrusion and having a lubricating oil inlet passage formed thereon in such a manner as to be connected to the outside; a spring disposed engagedly between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; a bolt detachably mounted on the entrance of the lubricating oil inlet passage of the second protrusion; and an elastic structure slidingly operating along the spring in such a manner as to surround the spring.
US09446290B2

A golf ball comprises a core, a cover formed from an ionomer resin and disposed on the core, and a cured coating layer disposed on and in direct contact with the cover. The cured coating layer is formed from a topcoat coating composition comprising a polymeric component and a halogenated component. The halogenated component is present in an amount of from about 0.5 parts by weight to about 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymeric component. A method of coating a cover of a golf ball includes applying the topcoat coating composition directly onto the cover. The method also includes, after applying, curing the topcoat coating composition to form a cured coating layer disposed on and in direct contact with the cover to thereby coat the cover.
US09446284B2

The present disclosure comprises methods, apparatus, components, and techniques for performing a squat exercise. Embodiments of the present disclosure may assist the user to carry out a squat with proper form to reduce the risk of injury and increase effectiveness of the exercise. Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a forward knee-arresting surface to restrict forward movement of the user's knees in order to keep the knees in line with the user's toes. Embodiments of the present disclosure further comprise lateral knee guides. A resistive force may be applied to the lateral knee guides to increase muscle exertion while carrying out the exercise.
US09446282B2

An exercise device is provided including a vertical support tube, base section, middle section, back support section, and upper section. The base section may include a base brace attachable to the vertical support tube, a base mounting plate attachable to the base brace, and legs. The middle section may removably attach to the vertical support tube and provide front bars and arm supports. The back support section may provide an adjustable back support pad. The upper section may provide one or more upper handles. The legs, the front bars, and the arm supports are rotatable to at least a down position and an up position.
US09446277B2

An apparatus permitting a user to perform a simulated bicycling exercise is provided. The design includes a base, a frame comprising a head tube, and a lower front pivoting point connected to the base and an upper rear pivoting axial member positioned a fixed distance above the base. The lower front pivoting point and the upper rear pivoting axial member include a multiple component resistive element arrangement and collectively defining an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation forming a fixed angle relative to the base of 30 to 45 degrees, sloping upward in a rearward direction from the front pivoting point to the upper rear pivoting axial member. The design further includes a stem connected to a handlebar arrangement, the stem passing through the head tube and connected to the base by a connection arrangement comprising an arm.
US09446273B2

Disclosed is a method of detoxifying asbestos of waste slate. The method includes concentrating the asbestos by introducing hydrochloric acid aqueous solution into waste slate powder to dissolve and remove a limestone component contained in the waste slate; and mixing the concentrated asbestos with oxalic acid and performing a low-temperature heat treatment. The waste slate is crushed and pulverized and powder of the crushed and pulverized waste slate is formed in a size in a range of 100 meshes to 300 meshes. The detoxified asbestos includes re-crystallized magnesium oxalate having a rhombohedral or amorphous shape.
US09446272B2

The invention relates to fire extinguishing foams or concentrates thereof, these comprising a carbohydrate-containing siloxane surfactant.
US09446268B2

A system and apparatus for extinguishing a fire of a difficult to extinguish fuel or flammable liquid in a storage tank fitted with at least a significant top roof portion, the system including timely discharge of dry powder into a significantly enclosed space or cavity defined between the fuel/liquid surface, or between any floater remaining thereon, and the fixed top roof portion, and apparatus to facilitate the system.
US09446254B2

The disclosed means of determining alignment between an external charger and an implantable medical device (IMD) involves the use of reflected impedance modulation, i.e., by measuring at the external charger reflections arising from modulating the impedance of the charging coil in the IMD. During charging, the charging coil in the IMD is pulsed to modulate its impedance. The difference in the coil voltage (ΔV) produced at the external charger as a result of these pulses is assessed and is used by the external charger to indicate coupling. If the magnitude of ΔV is above a threshold, the external charger considers the coupling to the IMD to be adequate, and an alignment indicator in the external charger is controlled accordingly. The magnitude of Vcoil can be assessed in addition to ΔV to determine alignment with the IMD with improved precision, and/or to further define a high quality alignment condition.
US09446241B2

A multiple output current stimulator circuit with fast turn on time is described. At least one pair of input side and output side transistors is arranged in a current mirror connected to a supply transistor by cascode coupling. The output side transistor supplies stimulation current to an electrode in contact with tissue. An operational amplifier connected to a reference voltage and to the output side transistor drives the supply transistor to maintain the voltage at the output side transistor equal to the reference voltage. The at least one pair of transistors includes multiple pairs of transistors whose output side transistors drive respective electrodes with stimulation currents. The stimulator determines the initiation and duration of stimulation current pulses supplied to each electrode. At circuit activation, large currents are generated which discharge capacitances in the output side transistors causing rapid output side transistor turn on.
US09446237B2

Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A neural fulcrum zone is identified and ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone. The implanted stimulation device includes a physiological sensor for monitoring the patient's response to the neurostimulation therapy on an ambulatory basis over extended periods of time and a control system for adjusting stimulation parameters to maintain stimulation in the neural fulcrum zone based on detected changes in the physiological response to stimulation.
US09446236B2

An exemplary system includes a sound processor that 1) determines a relative importance of performance versus power conservation for an auditory prosthesis, 2) determines, in accordance with the determined relative importance of performance versus power conservation, a current steering range for a stimulation channel defined by first and second physical electrodes communicatively coupled to the auditory prosthesis, the current steering range centered about a midpoint of the stimulation channel; and 3) directs the auditory prosthesis to apply electrical stimulation representative of audio content having a frequency included in a frequency band associated with the stimulation channel in accordance with the determined current steering range.
US09446233B2

A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to an transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system.
US09446232B2

A highly flexible implantable lead that offers improved flexibility, fatigue life and fatigue and abrasion resistance improved reliability, effective electrode tissue contact with a small diameter and low risk of tissue damage during extraction. In one embodiment the lead is provided with both defibrillation electrodes and pacing/sensing electrodes. For defibrillation/pacing leads, the lead diameter may be as small as six French or smaller. The construction utilizes helically wound conductors. For leads incorporating multiple separate conductors, many of the helically wound conductors are arranged in a multi-filar relationship. Preferably, each conductor is a length of wire that is uninsulated at about the middle of its length to create an electrode, wherein the conductor is folded in half at about the middle of the length to create first and second length segments that constitute parallel conductors.
US09446229B2

A flexible catheter includes two electrical contacts in a distal region of the catheter and a distal aperture of a hose line. The electrical contacts are connected to a high frequency pulse generator for applying pulsed radio frequency energy for nerve stimulation. A temperature sensor is located in the distal region of the catheter. The flexible catheter is inserted into a region in the spinal canal and the pulsed radio frequency generator is operated, thereby applying pulsed radio frequency energy to a localized region to be treated. The temperature at the distal region of the catheter can also be monitored, and the pulsed radio frequency energy is applied in dependance on the monitored temperature. Further, a position of the catheter is probed by applying a test stimulation signal via the electrical contacts.
US09446225B2

Described here are devices and methods for dilating tissues. In other variations, the dilatation device comprises a slotted or expandable tube that may expand to dilate tissue. In still other variations, the dilatation device comprises two or more hinged or movable plate members that separate to dilate tissue. In yet other variations, the dilation device may comprise one or more flexible members. One or more portions of the dilatation device may be detachable from the device in the body, and dilatation device may release one or more implants into the body. In some of these variations, the dilatation device may additionally be used to expand one or more implants or other devices within the body. In some variations the dilatation device may release one or more substances that may hold dilated tissue in a dilated configuration.
US09446219B2

This invention is a multipolar or multi-conductor guidewire which can be navigated or steered through the vasculature from outside a patient's body to perform a medical procedure within the patient's vasculature. In one embodiment, a guidewire of this invention has at least 4, preferably at least 6, to as many as 10 or more distal-to-proximal conductive pathways, which are substantially longitudinally parallel to each other running linearly along substantially the majority if not the entire length of the guidewire body, preferably in a printed circuit format. In a further practice, the conductive pathways helically wound around the guidewire body.
US09446209B2

Taught herein is a disposable breath actuated dry powder drug inhalation device having a powderized drug storage chamber with integral toroidal geometry and air flow pathways for entraining and breaking up powder aggregates prior to delivery to the patient. The toroidal chamber is fluidly connected by one or more air inlets directed in a non-tangent manner toward the powder to loft and set up an irregular-rotational flow pattern. Also, in fluid connection with the toroidal chamber is a centrally or near centrally located air and powder outlet consisting of one or more holes forming a grid in fluid connection with a channel providing a passageway for powder flow to the patient.
US09446208B2

A gas conditioning trocar having a chamber for heating and hydrating an unconditioned insufflation gas prior to injecting a conditioned insufflation gas into a body cavity during a medical procedure and a port through which surgical instruments can pass into a body cavity without inhibiting the flow of insufflation gas during the medical procedure.
US09446205B2

An enteral feeding warming system for warming enteral feeding fluid and delivering the feeding fluid to an infant or other patient comprises a pump, a warming device, and an enteral feeding tube. The pump may be connected to an enteral feeding fluid source. The warming device includes a housing, a heating element, a heat spreader, a temperature sensor, a controller, a display, a number of user inputs, and a power source. The housing includes outer walls defining an interior chamber and a feeding tube channel separate from the interior chamber. The interior chamber retains the heating element, heat spreader, temperature sensor, and controller therein. The feeding tube channel includes a number of turns and straight sections for increasing an effective length of the feeding tube channel and receives an intermediate portion of the enteral feeding tube therein.
US09446192B2

An implantable pump includes a base plate and a can that are parts of the pump housing. The base plate bottom divides the housing into a first electronics chamber and a second chamber. A bellows mechanism is connected to the base plate and is disposed within the second chamber. The bellow mechanism has an expandable sidewall and a bottom plate. The bellow mechanism divides the second chamber into a medicament receiving portion and a non-medicament-receiving portion. The bellow mechanism has an intermediate plate disposed within the medicament-receiving portion. A coil is disposed in a recess on the lower surface of the base plate, and the coil is spaced from an internal wall of the recess. The amount of fluid remaining in the implantable pump can be monitored by energizing the coil. A primary magnetic field is generated by the energized coil. A secondary magnetic field, which is dependant on the position of the bottom and intermediate plate of the bellow mechanism, couples back to the primary field affecting the electrical characteristics of the coil. The amount of fluid remaining in the reservoir is determined based on the resulting changes in the electrical characteristics of the coil.
US09446177B2

In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical instrument is provided for the control of flows of one or more fluids into and out of a surgical site. The robotic surgical instrument may include a housing, a flow control system, a hollow tube, and one or more hose fittings. The housing to couple the instrument to a robotic arm. The flow control system mounted in the housing includes one or more controlled valves to control the flow of one or more fluids. The hollow tube has a first end mounted in the housing coupled to the flow control system. A second end of the hollow tube has one or more openings to allow the flow of fluids into and out of the surgical site. The hose fittings have a first end coupled to the flow control system and a second end to couple to hoses.
US09446169B2

A method for the creation of endothelial parent vessels from human vascular endothelial cells in vitro in a culture perfusion device (CPD) including a collagen chamber, inlet ports, a capillary tube, and an outlet port. A collagen solution is injected into the collagen chamber through a syringe needle until the chamber is filled with collagen. The CPD is perfused by filling the inlet ports and sequentially priming the inlet ports, and the outlet ports. A perfusable channel is created in the collagen chamber and a concentrated suspension of endothelial cells is injected into the inlet ports. The endothelial cells are injected into the at least one perfusable channel and incubated to attach to the walls of the perfusable channel. The cells are distributed within the CPD; and perfused to form a parent vessel having homogeneous monolayers of cells.
US09446166B2

The invention relates to tissue adhesives or sealants, more specifically to fibrinogen based sealants reinforced with particulate material and chemically cross-linked. More particularly, the present invention is directed to tissue sealant, adhesive, hemostat, or scaffolding material containing thrombin, fibrinogen, a biocompatible particulate material having amine functionality, and a biocompatible polymer containing aldehyde groups. The present invention is also directed to methods for the use of such materials.
US09446163B2

A method of manufacturing a nonwoven including the steps of: forming a nonwoven web substantially comprised of continuous fibers; applying a bonding pattern to said nonwoven web using a smooth roll and a calender roll wherein said bonding pattern comprises a pattern having unbonded areas; and subjecting the side of said nonwoven web contacted by said smooth roll to a hydraulic treatment at a pressure of between 25 and 75 bars and a total energy of about 0.01-0.04 kwhr/kg., wherein said continuous fibers are comprised of between 97% and 98.5% by weight of an olefin resin comprising substantially of polypropylene and between 1.5% and 3% by weight of a whitener.
US09446154B2

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.
US09446152B2

In a composition aspect of the invention, a nanoparticle coating comprises repeating polyacrylic acid monomers covalently bound together in an aliphatic chain having a plurality of carboxylic acid functional groups and modified carboxylic acid functional groups extending therefrom. A first portion of the modified carboxylic acid functional groups are modified by a PEG oligomer having a terminal methoxy functional group and a second portion of the modified carboxylic acid functional groups are modified by a PEG oligomer having at least one terminal sulfur moiety.
US09446151B2

Compositions and methods are described for detecting enzyme activity in a live organism (e.g., animal) are provided.
US09446140B2

The present invention provides methods to treating inflammation related disease and disorders such as an autoimmune disease and autoimmune related uveitis by administering compositions and formulations comprising MetAP-2 inhibitors as disclosed herein. The composition comprises a formulation of a fumagillol derivative that retains anti-inflammation activity and is associated with a block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer moiety and a hydrophobic polymer moiety.
US09446137B2

Provided are composite particles which exhibit excellent fluidity and high liquid retentivity and which exhibit high fluidity even in a liquid-holding state. Also provided are composite particles which permit direct compressing in an open feed manner and which suffer from little compressing trouble and exhibit high shapability. When shaped together with an active ingredient, the composite particles provide shaped bodies which have uniform weight, uniform active ingredient content, and high hardness and which suffer from less galling.
US09446136B2

The present application provides compositions comprising hyaluronic acid having low levels of functional group modification, mixtures formed by controlled reaction of such lightly modified hyaluronic acid with suitable difunctional or multi-functional crosslinkers, and hydrogel precursor compositions and the resulting hydrogels. The compositions are lightly cross-linked and possess low pro-inflammatory properties when injected in vivo, and can be used as, for example, medical devices, biomedical adhesives and sealants, and for localized delivery of bioactive agents, among other uses.
US09446132B2

Disclosed herein are novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides. The cationic lipids can demonstrate enhanced efficacy along with lower liver toxicity as a result of lower lipid levels in the liver. The present invention employs low molecular weight cationic lipids with one short lipid chain coupled with inclusion of hydrolysable functionality in the lipid chains to enhance the efficiency and tolerability of in vivo delivery of siRNA.
US09446131B2

The present invention relates to improved topical gel compositions comprising an active agent, and uses thereof.
US09446130B2

The present invention provides Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (Btk) inhibitor compounds according to Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to their use in therapy. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of Btk inhibitor compounds in the treatment of Btk mediated disorders.
US09446128B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising an egg white combined chalcanthite component for preventing or treating cancer, and more particularly, to a composition for preventing or treating cancer, which comprises egg white combined chalcanthite prepared by mixing a roasted chalcanthite with egg white to reduce the toxicity of the chalcanthite or comprises a mixture of the egg white combined chalcanthite and a bamboo salt, and a method for preparing the same. The composition comprising the egg white combined chalcanthite exhibits excellent anti-cancer activity, and thus is usefully applicable to pharmaceutical preparations for preventing or treating cancer or the manufacture of health functional foods.
US09446125B2

Antibodies that bind to tumor associated antigen CD44 or to tumor associated antigen EphA2, are disclosed herein, as well as related compositions and methods of use. Methods of use encompass cancer therapies, diagnostics, and screening methods.
US09446123B2

The present invention concerns multimeric complexes based on antibody fusion proteins comprising an AD moiety attached to the C-terminal end of each antibody light chain. The complexes further comprise effector moities attached to DDD moieties. Two copies of the DDD moiety form a dimer that binds to the AD moiety. The complexes may be trimers, pentamers, hexamers or other multimers. The effector moieties may be selected from a second antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a cytokine, an interferon, a toxin, an antigen, a xenoantigen, a hapten, a protamine, a hormone, an enzyme, a ligand-binding protein, a pro-apoptotic agent and an anti-angiogenic agent. Surprisingly, attachment of the AD moiety to the C-terminal end of the antibody light chain results in improved pharmacokinetics and in vivo stability and efficacy, compared to homologous complexes wherein the AD moiety is attached to the antibody heavy chain.
US09446120B2

The present invention provides a therapeutic or improving agent for a lifestyle-related disease, containing an expression vector encoding a chimeric Hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide inserted with an amino acid sequence containing a specific epitope of the lifestyle-related disease-related factor, wherein the amino acid sequence containing the specific epitope is inserted between the amino acid residues 80 and 81 of the hepatitis B virus core antigen polypeptide.
US09446115B2

Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
US09446106B2

The present invention provides isolated peptides or the fragments derived from SEQ ID NO: 45, which bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The peptides may include the above mentioned amino acid sequence with substitution deletion, or addition of one, two, or several amino acids sequences. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions including these peptides. The peptides of this invention can be used for diagnosing or treating cancer.
US09446091B2

Disclosed are a high purity of caspofungin or salts thereof, and a preparation method thereof, and use thereof. Disclosed are a caspofungin or salts thereof with low solvent residue and hyposaline, and a preparation process comprising: dissolving a crude product of caspofungin or salts thereof into a system of water and acetic acid, then mixing with a first organic solvent ethyl alcohol, subsequently mixing with a second organic solvent ethyl acetate, then being subject to filtration and drying together with water, to obtain caspofungin or salts thereof with high stability, low solvent residue and hyposaline.
US09446090B2

Compositions comprising a mixture of an antimicrobial cationic polypeptide and a second pharmaceutically-acceptable polymer are disclosed, as well as methods and uses thereof for the treatment and prevention of infections that occur when our natural barriers of defense are broken.
US09446078B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing a cardiac arrhythmia in a subject.
US09446073B2

Multipotent cranial neural crest stem cells and non-lineage committed precursor cells are described. The neural crest cells are capable of self-renewal, of being cultured into clonal spheroids including neurospheres, and of differentiation into neurons or other neuroepithelial cells. The non-lineage committed precursors are capable of differentiation into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and are capable of de-differentiation into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Methods of obtaining, generating, isolating and culturing cranial neural crest stem cells and non-lineage committed precursor cells are also disclosed, including methods of providing a substantially pure in vitro cell culture consisting essentially of stem cells capable of multipotent differentiation and de-differentiation to a pluripotent state, which may be used for medical research or preserved for future therapeutic use by their autologous donor or a heterologous recipient.
US09446072B2

Methods of ameliorating cellular oxidative stress are disclosed. The methods include contacting at least one cell with a composition comprising a mixture of reduced species (RS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mixture of reduced species (RS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) mirrors a target mixture where the target mixture is the reduced species (RS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) found in a known biological system.
US09446070B2

A process for making nanoparticles of biocompatible materials is described, wherein an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, citric acid, an oxidant, and water, is adjusted to a predetermined range of pH, held at temperature conditions to directly form, without isolation, a stable dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Dispersions of these biocompatible cerium oxide nanoparticles exhibit self-life well in excess of one year, and may be used to prevent and/or treat disease or injury, such as oxidative stress related diseases and events.
US09446069B2

A skin external composition comprising a combination of salt and sugar as an active ingredient in an amount effective to treat and prevent vaginosis, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and the use thereof.
US09446067B2

The present invention discloses a mercapto-modified biocompatible macromolecule derivative with a low degree of modification. The mercapto-modified biocompatible macromolecule derivative not only maintains the initial structure, physiological function and biocompatibility as much as possible, but also allows the preparation of the biocompatible macromolecule cross-linked material with a low degree of cross-linking through the effectively chemical cross-linking with the introduced mercapto group. The present invention further discloses a disulfide-bond cross-linked biocompatible macromolecule material with a very low degree of cross-linking. The disulfide-bond cross-linked biocompatible macromolecule material not only maintains the initial structure, physiological function and biocompatibility of the biocompatible macromolecule as much as possible, but also effectively prolongs turn over and reduces the solubility of the biocompatible macromolecule in vivo, better meeting the requirements of various clinical applications. The present invention further relates to the application of the disulfide-bond cross-linked biocompatible macromolecule material in the field of medicine and pharmacy.
US09446062B2

The invention relates to compounds, in particular siRNAs, which inhibit the expression of specific human genes. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also provides a method of treating and/or preventing the incidence or severity of various diseases or conditions associated with the genes and/or symptoms associated with such diseases or conditions comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment for such disease or condition and/or symptom the compound or the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the subject. The invention also provides antibodies which inhibit specified human polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such antibodies.
US09446059B2

The present disclosure relates to (a) carbidopa prodrugs, (b) pharmaceutical combinations and compositions comprising a carbidopa prodrug and/or an L-dopa prodrug, and (c) methods of treating Parkinson's disease and associated conditions comprising administering a carbidopa prodrug and an L-dopa prodrug to a subject with Parkinson's disease.
US09446046B2

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to tetrahydropyrazolopyrimidine compounds that act as antagonists or inhibitors for Toll-like receptors 7 and/or 8, and their use in pharmaceutical compositions effective for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis.
US09446039B2

The present invention relates to an (S)-enantiomer of an aminoheteroaryl compound for use in treating and/or preventing cancer in a subject. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an in vitro method for determining the effectiveness of said (S)-enantiomer of an aminoheteroaryl compound, or said pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a cell or tissue sample from a subject; and (b) determining the subject's NUDT1/MTH1-status; wherein a NUDT1/MTH1-positive cell or tissue sample is indicative of an effective treatment and/or prevention of cancer. In addition, provided herein is a screening method for identifying a target of an (S)-enantiomer of an aminoheteroaryl compound. Furthermore, in context of this invention, the herein described compounds inhibit the biological activity of MTH1.
US09446019B2

Use of sparstolonin B in inhibition of growth and/or viability of human neuroblastoma cells is described. The sparstolonin B can be naturally derived from the Chinese herb Sparganium stoloniferum or can be synthetic. The sparstolonin B is shown to be effective both in vitro and in vivo in inhibition of growth and/or viability of neuroblastoma cells of multiple different genetic backgrounds including N-myc amplified with wild p53 neuroblastoma cells, N-myc amplified with mutated p53 neuroblastoma cells, and N-myc nonamplified neuroblastoma cells.
US09446004B2

A transdermal nicotine salt delivery system to an individual. The system has a high nicotine salt loading to effect therapeutic flux rate. Acrylate polymeric drug reservoir with the high nicotine salt dissolved therein provides desirable adhesive characteristics and effective transdermal therapeutic properties.
US09445998B2

A dosage form comprises a low-solubility drug, and a precipitation-inhibiting polymer. The drug is in a solubility-improved form and in the form of particles at least partially coated with the precipitation-inhibiting polymer.
US09445996B2

Methods and compositions are provided for generating and applying long-lasting therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas from the reaction of a least one microencapsulated nitrite salt and an activating volume of an aqueous acidified gel that has sufficient acidity to convert the nitrite salt to a nitric oxide (NO) and further provides a reducing property that retains the NO in bioactive form.
US09445990B2

A formulation for use in an implantable infusion device includes between about 5 mg/ml and about 500 mg/ml (e.g., about 10-25 mg/ml) of a TNF inhibitor polypeptide, 10 mM-25 mM of a phosphate or citrate buffer, has an ionic strength of the combined buffer and an optional salt of the equivalent of about 0.1-0.2 NaCl (e.g., about 0.15 M), 5% to 10% of a carbohydrate (e.g., trehalose or sucrose), has a pH of between 6 and 7, is fluid at room temperature and at 37° C., and has a viscosity of less than about 10 centipoise (e.g., between about 1 centipoise and 9 centipoise, between about 1 cp and about 5 cp, between about 1 cp and about 3 cp, or between about 1 cp and about 2.5 cp) at room temperature.
US09445983B2

Provided is an aqueous manicure composition by which three-dimensional patterns and shapes can freely be formed in an one-liquid, wherein the shapes are maintained after drying, and make-up such as a nail art can easily be enjoyed. The above aqueous manicure composition is characterized by containing at least an acrylic resin emulsion, a thickener and an extender.
US09445980B2

A method for promoting hair growth in a human in need of promoting hair growth. The method includes preparing a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least three of: a Bone Morphogenetic Protein, Transforming Growth Factor Beta, Platelet Derived Growth Factor, Insulin-like Growth Factor, Basic Fibroblastic Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; and administering the composition to the human.
US09445978B2

Present invention relates to an oxidative dyeing composition having especially mild properties to the scalp. The object of the present invention is an oxidative dyeing composition for hair comprising at least one dyestuff and allantoin and/or its derivative.
US09445975B2

Compositions and methods for producing and using stable transparent to translucent unilamellar liposomal suspensions are described. The suspensions include a liposome preparation having a uniform plurality of unilamellar liposomal particles with a mean particle size between about 50 nm to about 290 nm. The particles are suspended in an external phase composition that has a density between about 0.95 g/cc and about 1.25 g/cc, and that is present in an amount between about 30% to about 75% of the weight of the liposomal suspension. The liposome preparation is formed from an aqueous liposomal solution that includes an oil-soluble composition and a water-soluble composition. The oil-soluble composition is present at a concentration between about 5% to about 33% by weight of the liposomal solution and the water-soluble composition is present at a concentration between about 67% to about 95% by weight of the liposomal solution.
US09445974B2

The mascara in powder form comprises at least a first polymer whose melting point is between 35° C. and 70° C., and a second polymer with a melting point of between 80° C. and 150° C. The first polymer may be chosen from vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, and polyalkylene glycols. The second polymer may be chosen from polybutenes, preferably with an average molecular weight of between 300 and 2500 g/mol, and polyvinylpyrrolidones, preferably with an average molecular weight of between 10 000 and 100 000 g/mol. The mascara in powder form is taken up in the desired amount and is then heated before application or at the time of application to the keratin fibers.
US09445972B2

A monitor for monitoring a consumption of pills from a container, the monitor comprises: an interface; a controller; multiple sensors of different types, an alert element; and a transceiver that is configured to exchange information with one or more devices that differ from the monitor; wherein the interface is configured to interface with the container; wherein when the monitor interfaces with the container the multiple sensors are configured to (i) detect an attempt to consume a pill of the pills from the container and (ii) evaluate an amount of pills within the container; wherein the controller is configured to trigger an erroneous consumption alert when the attempt to consume the pill does not correspond to a desired pill consumption schedule.
US09445966B2

The present disclosure provides an orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions flexing tissue about an arm joint of a wearer. The orthosis includes a first arm member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member extending therefrom. A second arm member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. The second extension member is operatively connected to the first extension member and travels through the first extension member along an arcuate path when the second arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the first arm member configured to couple to a first arm portion of the wearer, a second arm member pivotably coupled to the first arm member, the second arm member configured to couple to a second arm portion of the wearer, and a drive assembly coupled to the first and second arm members and configured to move the first arm member in an arcuate path.
US09445958B2

A manual wheelchair including a frame, a drive wheel connected to the frame, having a first axis of rotation and configured to rotate relative to the frame, a push rim connected to the frame, having a second axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation of the drive wheel and configured to rotate relative to the frame, wherein the second axis of rotation of the push rim is offset from the first axis of rotation of the drive wheel in a direction orthogonal to the first axis of rotation of the drive wheel, and a transmission configured to transmit rotation of the push rim to rotation of the drive wheel. Additionally, the wheelchair may also include multispeed fixed-gear hubs for propulsion on different terrain and removable or rotatable push rims for easier transfers.
US09445957B2

The restraint and retractor assembly described and claimed herein are for securing a wheelchair to a support while the wheelchair is in transit. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one securement assembly having a configuration in which a portion of the wheelchair is secured in the vehicle. In this embodiment, the securement assembly includes a retractor secured to the vehicle and a restraint that has both of its ends secured to or near the retractor and a middle segment extends to and from a spool in the refractor, a middle segment is connected to the wheelchair by a connector and passes through an opening in the connector, providing a double length of flexible webbing to secure the wheelchair to the support surface.
US09445955B2

An absorbent article may comprise a chassis having a front waist region, a rear waist region, a crotch region between the front waist region and the rear waist region, a pair of longitudinal edges, and a pair of side panels extending between and connecting the front waist region and the rear waist region to form a leg opening. Each side panel may comprise a stretch laminate joined by a mechanical bond. The article may bear a chassis graphic disposed on a backsheet and a side panel graphic disposed on a side panel.
US09445947B2

An abdominal wound dressing and methods of use are described that enable the application of negative pressure to the wound site in a healing manner while also limiting the formation of adhesions that would prevent the removal of the dressing. The dressing includes a layer of porous foam material enclosed by sheets of elastomeric material punctuated by a number of appropriately placed holes. Multiple layers of porous foam may also be used. A suction tube connector is provided on an upper surface of a layer of foam for connection to a negative pressure source. At least one layer of foam is enclosed in elastomeric material and is placed in direct contact with the tissue within the open wound. Fluids are drawn by negative pressure through the holes positioned in the elastomeric envelope and through the foam.
US09445944B2

Lacrimal implants for treating diseases or disorders are disclosed. More particularly, lacrimal implants, methods of making such implants, and methods of treating ocular, respiration, inner ear or other diseases or disorders using such implants are disclosed.
US09445925B2

An endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen can be configured to inhibit structural fatigue, crack formation, and elastic recoil while providing improved crimping and expansion uniformity and radial strength. As such, the endoprosthesis can include at least one multi-stage crest element connecting adjacent bar arms. The multi-stage crest element and, optionally, the connection or transition between the multi-stage crest element and the bar arms can form a plurality of undulations or curves to improve the distribution of the strains experienced by the endoprosthesis. The improved strain distribution can improve the structural integrity and prevent failure of the endoprosthesis.
US09445921B2

An expandable device for expanding and supporting body tissue comprises an inferior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact one body tissue surface and a superior endplate having an outer surface configured to contact an opposing body tissue surface. The inferior endplate and the superior endplate are movable relative to each other in a direction of expansion. The device includes an elevator captively supported between the inferior endplate and the superior endplate for independent movement along the direction of expansion. In the first direction the elevator is moved toward said superior endplate to lift the superior endplate and expand the device. In the second direction the elevator moves away from said superior endplate toward said inferior endplate to create a space for insertion of an insert into the expanded device.
US09445919B2

An intervertebral implant is provided. The intervertebral implant comprises a first component comprising an outer tissue engaging surface and an inner surface. A second component is connected to the first component, and is relatively moveable thereform. The second component comprises an outer tissue engaging surface and an inner surface. The second component includes an actuator. A third component is disposed for engagement and is movable relative to the first and second components. The third component comprises at least a first ramp and a second ramp axially spaced apart from the first ramp. The actuator is engageable with the third component to effect axial translation of the wedge such that the ramps engage the inner surface of at least one of the first component and the second component to move the components between a first, collapsed configuration and a second, expanded configuration. Methods of use are disclosed.
US09445917B2

Improved methods and apparatuses for expandable medical devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention employ flexure members. Flexure members connect a plurality of structural members to end plates on one end and blocks on another end. A drive screw or similar mechanism can be actuated to drive expansion blocks closer together, which causes flexure members to deflect, resulting in expansion of the structural members and distraction of the end plates.
US09445916B2

Articulating devices for replacing damaged or degenerated weight bearing joints are provided. The devices may have two or more surfaces that articulate against one another that are coated or fully formed of PEEK or similar materials to provide improved wear capabilities while maintaining sufficient strength to operate in a weight bearing capacity.
US09445902B2

One embodiment of the implant comprises a porous metal bone ingrowth portion (14) having a first side connected to a high density or solid (fully dense) metal portion (16) which in turn has an opposite side connected to a porous metal soft tissue ingrowth portion (12) thus forming a sandwich structure with the high density or fully dense portion in the middle. The implant may be made of a resorbable material such as an alloy of magnesium. Alternately, the alloy can be selected from the group consisting of calcium, iron, yttrium and lithium. The porous metal soft tissue ingrowth portion (12) has porosity characteristics allowing cartilage to interdigitate with the pores and extend outwardly beyond the platform of the metal surface towards a joint capsule. The solid or fully dense intermediate layer 16 may have some porosity, however that porosity prevents either bone tissue or cartilage tissue from migrating therethrough.
US09445901B2

A device for releasing a therapeutic agent in the body space in the form of a prosthetic joint implant having a first portion such as a stemmed portion for contacting bone tissue in an intramedullary canal of a long bone. The implant has a second portion which extends into the body space such as a joint space. The joint component contains a reservoir filled with a bioabsorbable/resorbable polymer which includes a therapeutic agent. The reservoir is open or in contact with the joint space as the body fluid diffuses in and out of the polymeric device it carries the drug into the joint space.
US09445900B2

An implant comprises a plurality of discrete biocompatible molded cement mosaic plates of maximum width w and thickness d connected by wire arms molded into and extending substantially laterally from the mosaic plates. Neighboring mosaic plates are separated by a gap of width t, and at least some of the mosaic plates have a hexagon shape.
US09445896B2

A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta with a catheter. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and an expanded mode when it is implanted. The endoprosthesis may be introduced into a patient's body and expanded via a catheter. In an embodiment, the catheter has first and second slide mechanisms configured to independently manipulate first and second sleeve elements to sequentially expand the endoprosthesis from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode.
US09445892B2

Intraocular devices for use in and attached to the natural lens capsule of an eye are provided. The lens capsule may be maintained in a configuration to avoid post-operative changes that are deleterious to vision. Single or dual optic systems are provided, which may be accommodating. Combinations of devices to obtain dual optic systems are disclosed.
US09445890B2

Apparatus for performing intraocular implant surgery, including surgical apparatus for performing intraocular implant surgery, an autorefraction device associated with the surgical apparatus, wherein the autorefraction device is configured to perform autorefraction on the aphakic eye to provide one or more aphakic refraction measurements, and a processor connected to the autorefraction device, wherein the processor is configured to process the aphakic refraction measurements and provide the user of the apparatus with information regarding the power of the intraocular lens.
US09445889B2

A support is coupled to the lens capsule to increase accommodation. The support may be adjustable, such that patient refraction and accommodation can be adjusted following surgery. The support may comprise rigidity sufficient to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule. The support can be placed on the intermediate portion to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule and increase radial stretching of an outer portion of the lens capsule extending between the zonules and the intermediate portion coupled to the support, such that the amount of accommodation of the eye is increased. The support may comprise a biocompatible material capable of stable coupling to the lens capsule following implantation, such that the far vision refraction and accommodation of the eye can be stable following surgery.
US09445887B2

Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point). A large increase in diameter can advantageously be achieved prior to reaching the stop point.
US09445884B2

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, ureteral stents are provided that comprise an elongated stent body, at least one deployable retention structure, and at least one sleeve and/or sheet of drug-releasing material. In various embodiments, at least one sleeve and/or sheet of drug-releasing material is deployed concurrently with the deployment of at least one deployable retention structure. The ureteral stents of the present disclosure are adapted to release the urologically beneficial drug into a subject.
US09445862B2

Transducer-based systems can be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Selection of a plurality of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause visual display of a corresponding activation path in the graphical representation. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation.
US09445855B2

The present invention is related to a technique for simultaneously forming a plurality of paste filled tunnels. The plurality of paste filled tunnels are connected to a surgical tube directly or indirectly and emptied one after another, until a desired amount of the paste is injected into a bone cavity, organ or a tissue via the surgical tube. The paste may be a bone cement paste, a drug powder paste, viscous fluid or gel. The injected bone cement paste will set in the bone cavity to act as a medical implant.
US09445845B2

A dynamic stabilization device is disclosed. The device includes a dual spring member comprising an outer spring and an inner spring that have approximately equal working lengths. The dynamic stabilization device is also configured so that the dual spring member does not undergo stresses greater than an effective fatigue limit that is related to a fatigue limit of the spring. Methods for treating a deformity of a spine using a dynamic stabilization device are also disclosed.
US09445835B2

A circumcision device (10) including a proximal end (16), a distal end (18), an inner recess (30) and an outer surface. The inner recess (30) opens from the proximal end (16) and is adapted to receive substantially all of a glans of a penis therein. The outer surface includes a plurality of indicators (26) spaced apart from the proximal end (16). In use, a foreskin is pulled over the outer surface until the foreskin reaches a predetermined one of the indicators (26), thereby providing a visual guide to the level of circumcision.
US09445824B2

A microfracture instrument for applying microfracture therapy to a bone, the microfracture instrument comprising: an elongated shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end; a needle comprising a body terminating in at least one sharp point, the needle being movably mounted to the distal end of the shaft for movement between an extended position for engaging the bone with the at least one sharp point of the needle and a retracted position for withdrawing the at least one sharp point of the needle from the bone; and a drive shaft movably mounted to the elongated shaft, the drive shaft being connected to the body of the needle so that movement of the drive shaft relative to the elongated shaft moves the needle between its extended position and its retracted position.
US09445822B2

A method of assembling a surgical sagittal saw that includes an oscillating head. The oscillating head and the yoke used to drive the head are formed with complementary tapered surfaces. The oscillating head is seated in the yoke so the tapered surfaces are adjacent. The yoke and head are pressed together so the yoke and head tapered surfaces abut. As a result of tapered surfaces abutting the oscillating head and yoke effectively become a single unit. The oscillating head and yoke are mounted to the saw body so the yoke can be driven by the drive shaft integral with the saw. The oscillating head is rotatably mounted to the saw. Thus, upon actuation of the drive shaft, the drive shaft oscillates the yoke so as to foster similar oscillations in the oscillating head. The oscillating head drives the saw blade attached to the saw.
US09445821B2

An apparatus for deployment of a hemostatic clip comprises a handle assembly, a shaft connected to a distal portion thereof and a clip assembly releasably coupled to a distal portion of the shaft. The clip assembly includes clip arms and a capsule cooperating with the clip arms to provide a first user feedback indicating a decision configuration of the clip assembly. In addition, the apparatus includes a control wire including a ball connector, the control wire extending from the handle assembly and coupled to the clip assembly by the ball connector to maintain the clip assembly coupled to the shaft, wherein the ball connector is detachable from the clip assembly to provide a second user feedback indicating separation of the clip assembly from the shaft.
US09445817B2

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes an anastomosis device having an anvil and a tubular body portion, wherein the anvil is selectively attachable to the tubular body portion by a shaft; and a support structure for deposition between the intestinal sections of tissue. The support structure includes a body defining an aperture therein for receiving the shaft. The body has an outer terminal edge. The support structure includes at least one layer of expandable material disposed at the outer terminal edge of the body.
US09445816B2

An apparatus is operable to clamp, cut, and staple tissue. The apparatus includes a stapling head assembly, a shaft assembly coupled to the stapling head assembly, and an actuator handle assembly coupled to the shaft assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to clamp tissue, cut tissue, and staple tissue in response to rotation imparted by a single rotary drive shaft extending through the shaft assembly. The actuator handle assembly includes a motor positioned within a motor housing, a rotation knob, and a selection assembly. The rotation knob is coupled to a proximal end of the motor housing. The rotation knob is configured to translate between a proximal position and a distal position. The selection assembly is operable to select between motorized operation of the apparatus or manual operation of the apparatus, based on the longitudinal position of the rotation knob.
US09445807B2

An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management is provided. An apparatus for tissue suturing includes a cartridge with a suturing needle that includes a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly including a cartridge holder with a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue with the apparatus is also provided.
US09445804B2

A suture anchor assembly and methods of use will now are disclosed for the repair of human or animal tissue defects. The suture anchor assembly is capable of being inserted into a tissue or bone while also being able to create an expanded profile when subjected to a retrograde force. This expanded profile anchors the assembly into the tissue or bone by a changing of position of elements of the assembly relative to other assembly elements. Embodiments of the suture anchor assembly and methods are capable of precisely positioning assembly elements in the tissue or bone to effectively repair the defects. Some embodiments of the suture anchor assembly may include pliable buttons. And some embodiments of the suture anchor assembly may also include buttons made of bioabsorbable or resorbable materials.
US09445801B2

A device for obtaining selective rigidity with respect to a patient is provided. The device includes a scaffold that is arranged to be flexible when in a first relaxed configuration, wherein the scaffold is configured to become substantially more rigid when a suction force is applied thereto. The scaffold comprises first and second opposing outer flexible layers that are sealed together to form a plurality of elongate pockets therein, and an expanded structure disposed within the plurality of elongate pockets and in communication with a vacuum port that receives the suction force.
US09445795B2

The present disclosure provides treatment of an apparatus, in embodiments a delivery device, which prevents premature gelling of any materials or precursor(s) of a pH dependent forming material, in embodiments a hydrogel, dispensed by the delivery device. The pH microenvironment near the surface of a lumen of the device, in embodiments the tip of a spray applicator through which the material to be dispensed is expelled from the device, may be controlled to prevent premature gelling.
US09445792B2

A medical instrument having a shaft, at the proximal end of which a handle is arranged, wherein the shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and can be secured in various positions of rotation relative to the handle via a licking mechanism. In order for a medical instrument with a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis to be designed in such a way that, while being easy to handle, it permits a large number of secure and positionally precise rotations of the shaft with respect to the handle, the licking mechanism is designed as a latching mechanism which has a perforated disk with recesses and latching elements, wherein the latching elements and/or the perforated disk are spring-loaded relative to each other, and at least one of the latching elements engages in a corresponding recess of the perforated disk in order to fix the shaft.
US09445791B2

The present application describes an implant system useable for positioning an implant device such as a device useful for restricting passage of ingested food into the stomach. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a plurality of anchors that may be coupled to tissue within the stomach, or to a tissue tunnel formed by plicating stomach wall tissue. The anchor includes a loop. During use, the implant device is inserted through the loop and expanded such that it retains its position within the loop until removed. Instruments for implanting and explanting the implant device are also described.
US09445788B2

An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture.
US09445786B2

An optoacoustic imaging system includes a handheld probe and first and second pulsed light sources having a common output. The first and second light sources generate pulses of light at first and second predominant wavelengths, respectively. The handheld probe includes an ultrasound transducer array having an active end located at the distal end of the handheld probe for receiving an optoacoustic return signal. A sensor measures a portion of the light transmitted along the light path. A data acquisition samples the ultrasound transducer array during a predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the first light source and during a predetermined period of time after a pulse of light from the second light source. The sampled data is stored. An image processing unit reconstructs a first optoacoustic image based on the sampled data corresponding to a pulse of light from the first light source and reconstructs a second optoacoustic image based on the sampled data corresponding to a pulse of light from the second light source. An energy normalizing unit computes a normalization factor based on a measurement from each sensor in the array and applies the normalization factor to data corresponding to the pulse of light.
US09445785B2

A system and method are provided for normalizing range in an optoacoustic imaging system. In an embodiment, the system includes adjustable amplifiers and a probe having an array of transducer elements, each of the adjustable amplifiers being associated with one or more of the transducer elements. The transducer elements are acoustically coupled with a surface of a volume. The gain on the adjustable amplifiers is changed as a function of the passage of time during a predetermined period of time after a pulse of light. A sinogram is recorded by sampling the adjustably amplified plurality of transducer elements for the predetermined period of time. The sinogram is processed by substantially reversing the changing step mathematically, and storing the results in an expanded dynamic range sinogram. The expanded dynamic range sinogram provides sufficient numeric precision to permit the reversal of the changing step without materially decreasing the dynamic range of the information in the sinogram. An optoacoustic image is generated based upon the information contained in the expanded dynamic range sinogram.
US09445777B2

A structure extraction element obtains three-dimensional structure extraction data by extracting a tubular structure from volume data obtained by imaging a predetermined subject. A relating element relates positions on paths of a two-dimensional template representing a schematic diagram of a three-dimensionally branching tubular structure obtained by imaging a predetermined subject and positions on paths of the three-dimensional structure extraction data to each other. A projection image generation element generates a two-dimensional projection image by projecting voxel values of the tubular structure that is present on the paths of the three-dimensional structure extraction data onto corresponding positions on the paths of the two-dimensional template.
US09445764B2

When monitoring physiological parameters (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) of a patient, a threshold limit (30) is set (e.g., automatically or manually) and the monitored parameter is continuously compared to the threshold limit, which may be constant or may vary with time. An alarm (36) is triggered if the monitored parameter exceeds the threshold limit at any time, or if the monitored parameter has not reached a target value by the end of a predefined time period by which an administered drug or therapy should have been effective.
US09445762B2

The present invention discloses a system for applying antigens or other diagnostic substances to the skin of a subject for allergy testing. The system is comprised of fully contained predetermined quantities of antigenic or other testing material contained in sealed unit doses that maintain sterility and provide for precise handling and administration. Each unit dose contains an internal mechanism. The mechanism provides for piercing the laminate and comprises an internal channel for fluid communication, and may have an abrasive protrusions at the tip for piercing or abrading the skin surface to aid in generating a diagnostic response. The unit dose or doses may be housed in devices that provide for administration of the test material to the subject wherein the applicator section may contain protrusions for piercing or abrading the skin of a subject.
US09445754B2

A hearing aid is fitted to an individual and/or the individual is trained in hearing with the hearing aid. In a first step a stimulus signal is provided. In a second step, the stimulus is presented to the individual. In a third step, a response of the individual in regard to the stimulus is obtained. In a fourth step a hearing aid parameter is adjusted based on the response. In an alternative or additional fourth step, a further stimulus signal is selected based on the response. The second step of presenting the stimulus signal comprises the sub-steps of obtaining a first and second signal based on the stimulus signal. In a further sub-step, the first signal is processed and presented by the hearing aid. Simultaneously, in a further sub-step, the second signal is presented by a supplementary loudspeaker for improving the stimulus presentation in regard to direct sound.
US09445748B2

A device for fractionally collecting contents of exhaled air by changing the state of matter of the contents by means of the Joule-Thomson effect arising during the expansion of pressurized gas. The temperature of the exhaled air conducted in a flow channel is lowered, because of the cooling of the expanding gas, to a temperature that is suitable for condensing the contents in the exhaled air flow. This device and method provides a more efficient means by which condensate can be separated from exhaled air in comparison to conveying exhaled air along a cooling surface for the condensation of the contents, as a result of which condensation of the contents occurs only in the area of these cooling surfaces, so that several breath cycles are required for the collection of sufficient condensate for analysis.
US09445747B2

An apnea detector is disclosed. A detector unit in communication with a capacitive type sensor is adapted to receive an electrical signal which is indicative of variable capacitance resulting from movement of a subject and to emit an alert signal when the received electrical signal is indicative of symptoms of apnea. In one embodiment, a detector unit is in communication with a curvature sensor adapted to detect a variable curvature of a subject body surface resulting from breathing patterns of a subject. The detector unit is attached to an article of clothing of the subject.
US09445746B1

A system and method for catheter placement using ECG is provided. In certain embodiments, the system and method can generate a patient specific window for tracking a characteristic of an ECG waveform, such as the amplitude of a P-wave. The patient specific window can be utilized in a system and method for assisting in the placement of a catheter within a patient. In other embodiments, a tip location algorithm can be used with an anti-thrombogenic catheter and an intravascular electrode assembly for maintaining a high resolution intravascular signal in an ECG based catheter tip placement system.
US09445739B1

Systems, methods, and apparatus for neuro-robotic goal selection are disclosed. An example method to control a robot is described, including presenting a target object to a user, the target object corresponding to a goal to be effectuated by a robot, emphasizing a portion of the target object, identifying a first brain signal corresponding to a first mental response of the user to the emphasized portion, determining whether the first mental response corresponds to a selection of the emphasized portion by the user, and effectuating the robot with respect to the goal based on the emphasized portion.
US09445736B2

An arrangement may include a first system provided by a mobile device for processing ECG data representative of a beating heart. The mobile device may be adapted to execute a process for using at least one pattern to detect a notable finding in the ECG data and for sending the notable finding to a second system. The second system may be adapted to execute a process for analyzing the notable finding, for determining at least one new pattern to send to the mobile device, and for sending the at least one new pattern to the mobile device. The at least one new pattern may also include a rule that includes a set of conditions and an action to perform if the set of conditions is met.
US09445732B2

This invention discloses a pulse-sensing device and methods for pulse sensing. In one embodiment, the device includes a robotic finger comprising a humanoid-finger structure, and an actuating-force transferring member for transferring an actuating force to the structure at an actuation point thereon and along an actuation direction. One end of the structure is pivotally mounted to a fulcrum and another end has a sensing area. The robotic finger is configured such that, when the sensing area contacts a person's wrist, a first perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a first line is substantially longer than a second perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a second line, where the first line is a straight line passing through a sensing point of the sensing area and being substantially perpendicular to the sensing area, and the second line is a straight line passing through the actuation point and orienting along the actuation direction.
US09445719B2

An adherent patient device is configured to adhere to the skin of the patient and measure electrocardiogram data, impedance data, accelerometer data, blood oxygen data and temperature data. The adherent device can communicate wirelessly with gateways and a local processor system, such that the patient can wander about the hospital and update the monitoring station with the patient data when the patient is ambulatory. The local processor system can be configured to customize alerts for the patient, for example to notify automatically a specialist in response to a special condition of the patient. The adherent device may comprise a unique adherent device identifier such that the customized alert can be sent based on the unique device identifier. Each of the gateways can be carried and may comprise a unique gateway identifier, such that the unique device identifier and the unique gateway identifier can be used to locate the ambulatory patient.
US09445717B2

Described herein is a light directing assembly for use in an object analysis system. The light directing assembly includes a plurality of optical relay assemblies. Each optical relay assembly includes at least one optical element configured to relay an interrogation beam from a light transmission system to an object and relay a return beam from the object to the light transmission system, the return beam being generated by reflection or back scattering of the interrogation beam by the object. Each optical relay assembly defines an interrogation angle at which the interrogation beam relayed by the optical relay assembly reaches the object, and an optical path length being the distance from the light transmission system to the object traveled by an interrogation beam via the optical relay assembly. The plurality of optical relay assemblies are further configured such that the optical path length for a given optical relay assembly has a predefined relationship with the optical path lengths of the other optical relay assemblies.
US09445711B2

Present invention describes a swallowable device with a soft, compliant exterior, whose shape can be changed through the use of magnetic fields, and which can be locomoted in a rolling motion through magnetic control from the exterior of the patient. The present invention could be used for a variety of medical applications inside the GI tract including but not limited to drug delivery, biopsy, heat cauterization, pH sensing, biochemical sensing, micro-surgery, and active imaging.
US09445708B2

A water-bearing domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, includes a liquid storage container, in particular a storage container in which washing liquid can be temporarily stored. At least one flow-control element is arranged in a liquid chamber of the storage container to divert and/or to split the washing liquor flowing into the storage container or being discharged from it.
US09445702B2

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
US09445694B2

A cover preferably for a dispenser comprised of at least two components which are assembled together with a joint seam between edge portions of the components and an extrudable material extruded to provide a continuous elongate bead which overlies the joint seal, hiding the joint seal from view and presenting a visible bead surface spanning between exterior surfaces of the components.
US09445686B2

A beverage dispenser and methods of use for combining at least one beverage ingredient with a diluting ingredient to form a beverage. In one embodiment, the beverage ingredient is coffee or tea and the diluting ingredient is water. The beverage ingredient is retained in a container which is positioned in the beverage dispenser. The ingredient is mixed with water at least in part in the container for dispensing into a receptacle positioned relative to the dispenser. In one embodiment, the beverage ingredient is a liquid form of beverage concentrate packaged in a disposable container. The beverage dispenser includes mechanisms and assemblies which form a single opening in the container to allow water to enter and exit the container through the single opening in the container to release and mix the beverage ingredient.
US09445684B2

A covering for an architectural opening comprising: a rail; a covering material, attached to said rail; at least two cords for guiding, supporting and/or lifting the covering material, the cords extending through the rail; and at least one weight disposed within the rail; characterised in that the rail comprises a longitudinally extending front portion, a longitudinally extending rear portion and a longitudinally extending central portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion, and wherein said at least one weight is positioned at a location remote from the central portion.
US09445683B1

The present invention provides an improved traverse rod and hardware system that utilizes one or more load bearing trolleys housed within a hollow traverse rod. The traverse rod is a tube having an opening or slot across a top or top surface of the tube. The trolleys are attached to one or more connectors such as rings, which partially or completely encircle the tube and connect to a hanging object such as but, not limited to a curtain or drape. The trolleys move within the tube through the exercise of a cord and pulley system. The bottom or bottom surface of the tube bears the weight of the hanging objects through the trolleys and respective connector.
US09445682B2

An adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a mailbox, the mounting bracket including a first side section configured to contact one side of the mailbox and having one or more first anchoring portions extending inwardly from the first side section to contact a supporting body, and a second side section configured to contact another side of the mailbox and having one or more second anchoring portions extending inwardly from the second side section to contact the supporting body, wherein the first and second anchoring portions are configured to contact the supporting body without overlapping.
US09445681B2

A chair mat especially designed for use in both a sitting and standing position can have a substantially rigid base including a fold line separating a first portion of the base from a second portion. A resilient cushion can positioned on only the second portion lower surface of the base. The second portion can be movable about the fold line relative to the first portion between a first position where the cushion is downwardly facing and a second position where the cushion is upwardly facing. When the second portion is in the first position, the substantially rigid base can present a substantially continuously smooth upper surface providing for easy movement of any casters or rollers supporting a desk chair spider. When the second portion is in the second position, the cushion can provide a compressible yet resilient portion that facilitates a comfortable standing working position for prolonged periods of time.
US09445676B2

A foldable base for a counter includes upright and folded position. The folding base includes a front panel; a first side panel hingedly connected thereto, the first side panel extending backwards from the front panel in the upright position; a spacer joined to the front panel; and a second side panel hingedly connected to the spacer. The second side panel is opposite the first side panel in the upright position. The counter further includes a cover mounted on the base in the upright position. In the folded position, one of the side panels is placed or housed behind the front panel, while the other side panel is placed over the side panel previously placed or housed in the front panel. The counter further includes a door hingedly connected to the first side panel.
US09445668B2

Structure of furnishing element, in particular of a bookcase, having a first upright having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface; at least one inner shelf delimited by a first lateral end having a first abutment surface; at least a first engagement portion retained in the at least one inner shelf; at least a first cantilever bar adapted to be mounted transversely from the outer surface of the first upright, the first cantilever bar including an abutment surface adapted to abut on the outer surface of the first upright; at least a first threaded connection element adapted to connect the first cantilever bar and the first engagement portion so that the abutment surface of the cantilever bar and the first abutment surface of the at least one shelf are drawn respectively against the outer and inner surfaces of the first upright on opposite sides to the first upright.
US09445664B1

A table assembly includes a table that has a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The table is structured to be split in half. A coupler is attached to the table and the coupler may insertably receive an end of a seat pedestal in a boat wherein the table is supported on the seat pedestal. A lock is provided to retain the coupler on the seat pedestal.
US09445663B2

A sliding guide element for moveable fastening a tabletop on bearing struts of a table frame comprises a main body configured to fasten to the underside of a tabletop, comprising a guiding portion configured to insert into a guide slot in bearing struts and moveable in the guide slot wherein the guide portion includes lateral guide surfaces for lateral guidance in the guide slot. The sliding guide element further includes resilient snap-fit limbs arranged on mutually opposed sides of the main body of the sliding guide element and moveable between an under-engagement position and project laterally over the guide portion to engage under a wall of the bearing struts, and an insertion position in which the snap-fit limbs guide through the guide slot in the bearing struts. The sliding guide elements still further includes a resiliently flexible end stop damper on at least one end region of the sliding-guide element.
US09445662B2

A leg assembly includes four legs, each of the legs configured to couple to an outer edge of a generally planar member to form an assembly that has a surface supported by the four legs. The leg assembly also includes an adjustable strap coupled to and extending between two of the four legs to form a bracing structure to provide enhanced structural rigidity for the assembly for attachment to a planar element includes four legs.
US09445661B2

An oral care implement (1) includes a head (12), a handle (10), a neck portion (11) connecting the head and the handle, and a reservoir (15) which contains at least one active agent. The implement has an activator (22) for activating a delivery device which delivers the active agent to one or more outlets (50). A powered delivery device (18) disposed in the head to deliver a liquid from the reservoir via the outlet. A wide variety of types of active agents may be administered at appropriate and accurate doses for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefit.
US09445654B2

A security wallet includes a pouch and a strap. The pouch has at least one pocket with a closeable opening. The strap has a fixed end that is directly attached to the pouch and a detachable end that is removably coupled to the pouch. The strap extends from the fixed end and outwardly from a first side of the pouch. In a first configuration, the detachable end is coupled to the first side of the pouch. In a second configuration, the detachable end is coupled to a second side of the pouch opposite the first side.
US09445637B2

An article of apparel is disclosed. In one embodiment, an article of apparel includes a front panel, a pouch attached to the front panel, a pocket disposed between the pouch and the front panel, and a closure that allows a first end of the pocket to be selectively opened and closed. The pocket includes a second end opposite the first end and a body joining the first and second ends. The pocket is attached to the pouch and the front panel.
US09445636B2

A glove sized and shaped to enclose a human hand, the medical glove having a two-layer cuff, the two layers being fixed to one another at a plurality of locations to define a plurality of spaced apart openings in the cuff, the openings accessible only outside the glove.
US09445629B2

Provided is filter unit for a vaporization pipe having improved reliability and manufacturability and lower cost. The present filter unit comprises a wooden filter housing with a through hole. A metal insert fitting is press fit into the hole. A ceramic foam flame filter is disposed inside the insert fitting. The insert fitting preferably has a step ledge for supporting the ceramic foam filter. The metal fitting preferably has a flange (external to the wood filter housing) for improving the stability of the mechanical connection between the insert fitting and filter housing. This design allows for fast assembly with a minimum of labor. Stress and damage to the wood is minimized. The filter housing can have a vertical/longitudinal wood grain direction (parallel with the filter housing hole), thereby reducing the cost of the wood parts and improving the finished appearance.
US09445628B2

The present disclosure is directed to a handheld waterpipe for smoking, with a spill resistant water chamber. The central chamber may be formed as an enlarged tube having closed upper and lower ends. An upper tube extends from a top opening through the upper end and a lower tube extends from an upper opening inside the central chamber through the lower end. An inner chamber is formed inside the central chamber around the lower tube. One or more small openings are formed between the inner chamber and the central chamber. When liquid is placed into the central chamber, it passes through the small openings to form a continuous body of liquid between the two chambers. If the central chamber is tipped, the liquid resides within the chamber in a space between the upper and lower tubes and a sidewall of the central chamber, thereby preventing spilling.
US09445625B2

A holding cabinet includes a body defining a holding space and a holding compartment disposed within the holding space for holding a product therein. The holding cabinet further includes a heating source, a steam generator, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a product detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to regulate environmental conditions of the holding compartment according to a determined setpoint, which corresponds to a predetermined temperature and relative humidity. The controller regulates such environmental conditions by acquiring the sensed air temperature, relative humidity, and the detected type of product, and activating and deactivating the heating source and the steam generator in accordance with the acquired air temperature, relative humidity, and the determined setpoint corresponding to the type of product detected and a holding time of the product, to maintain the air temperature and the relative humidity within a predetermined range based on the determined setpoint.
US09445618B2

A treatment material containing carbon monoxide and a carrier liquid is applied to a meat product to produce a desired carbon monoxide content in the meat product. The concentration of carbon monoxide in the added liquid produces a desired carbon monoxide saturation level distributed substantially evenly in the treated area of the meat product. The treated area may be just at the surface of the meat product or throughout the volume of the meat product. Additional treatment liquids or fluids may be added to the meat product as a pre-treatment before application of the carbon monoxide bearing treatment material or as a post-treatment after the application of the carbon monoxide bearing treatment material.
US09445617B2

A method of extracting sweet compounds from stevia plant powder includes mixing stevia powder and deionized water to create a stevia powder slurry, filtering the slurry and adding it to an extraction column, adding an ethanol solution to create an elute, mixing the elute with activated charcoal and filtering the elute, removing the ethanol and water from the elute, and spraying the elute to produce the sweet compounds.
US09445612B2

A chewing gum tablet including at least two cohered chewing gum modules, the tableted chewing gum being formed by compression of chewing gum granules, at least one of the chewing gum modules including gum base granules, the gum base granules including an elastomer system, the chewing gum tablet including an elastomer system in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the tablet. A compressed chewing gum tablet has been obtained featuring extremely impressing abilities of incorporating well-defined amounts of chewing gum ingredients combined with acceptable rheological properties of the compete tablet.
US09445605B2

Provided herein is a method for disinfection or infection control against a non-enveloped virus using a composition including, as an active ingredient, a persimmon extract containing tannin from an astringent fruit of a plant of the genus Diospyros, such as the plant Diospyros kaki. The non-enveloped virus is a non-enveloped virus belonging to the genus Betanodavirus, Aquavirnavirus, Ranavirus, Enterovirus, Mastadenovirus, Vesivirus, or Rotavirus. In certain embodiments, the persimmon extract is prepared by heating a squeezed juice or an extract from an astringent fruit of a plant of the genus Diospyros, or obtained by treating a squeezed juice or an extract from an astringent fruit of the plant of the genus Diospyros with an alcohol, in order to inactivate an enzyme contained therein. The persimmon extract may also contain at least condensed tannin.
US09445604B2

This invention relates to a sterilization agent for livestock bedding or a composting accelerator for organic waste or livestock bedding, comprising at least one Bacillus coagulans thermophilic bacterium or a combination of the at least one Bacillus coagulans thermophilic bacterium and at least one Bacillus subtilis mesophilic bacterium, as an active ingredient, wherein the Bacillus coagulans thermophilic bacterium as a preferable bacterium is viable at a temperature of 40 to 60° C. and the Bacillus subtilis mesophilic bacterium is viable at a temperature of 30 to 50° C., and the mesophilic bacterium also has a sterilizing effect on harmful bacteria in bedding; and to a method for sterilizing livestock bedding or a method for accelerating composting of organic waste or livestock bedding by using these agents each as an active ingredient.
US09445602B2

A method for electrolytically generating a biocide, including providing a brine solution carrier fluid; providing a vessel for creating a first passageway and a second passageway, flowing the carrier fluid through the vessel; applying an electric potential to the electrodes to produce an anolyte fluid, an anolyte gas, a catholyte fluid, and a catholyte gas in the vessel; removing the anolyte fluid, anolyte gas, catholyte fluid, and catholyte gas from the vessel; mixing a portion of the anolyte gas with the catholyte fluid to produce ozone gas and hypochlorite bleach mixture; re-circulating the ozone gas with the ozone gas and hypochlorite bleach mixture; mixing the anolyte fluid with the hypochlorite bleach solution; mixing a chlorite brine with the hypochlorite bleach solution to produce a chlorite brine/hypochlorite bleach solution mixture; and mixing the anolyte fluid with the chlorite brine/hypochlorite bleach solution mixture to the produce the biocide.
US09445601B2

The novel active compound combinations comprising 2-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxypropyl]-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazole-3-thione of the formula and the active compound of groups (1) to (24) listed in the description have very good fungicidal properties.
US09445600B2

The invention provides for a low pH disinfectant composition that includes a relatively low amount of alcohol. Also provided is an article of manufacture that includes a textile and the composition, as well as methods of using the composition and article of manufacture (e.g., for reducing the number of microbes located upon a substrate, for killing or inhibiting a broad spectrum of microorganisms, for killing or inhibiting spore forming bacteria, and/or for disinfecting a substrate). The composition can optionally include a stable residual antimicrobial compound, thereby providing a combination of high-level disinfection and long-lasting residual effect.
US09445593B1

This invention provides a method for soil systemic control of an invertebrate pest by contacting the soil with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula 1, an N-oxide or an agriculturally suitable salt thereof wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b and R5 are as defined in the disclosure.
US09445587B2

Disclosed is pesticidal particulate composition of matter, the particles comprising active substances, which react upon contact inside a pest body, the reaction generating a gaseous product and/or heat which destroy the pest. Pesticidal preparations, methods and kits are also disclosed.
US09445586B2

A composition and method for generating reagents and the composition of these reagents for the stabilization and preservation of viability of cancer tissue which has been surgically excised and the suspension and/or termination of apoptosis (cell death) by significant modulation of cell metabolism by low molar concentrations of synergistic chemistries and hormonal growth enhancers while maintaining normal gene expression patterns of the surgically excised tissue.
US09445580B1

An aquarium water treatment device for treatment aquarium water includes a housing that has a top and a bottom. A partition is frictionally coupled to a wall of the housing proximate to the bottom, defining a lower chamber and an upper chamber. A plurality of penetrations is positioned in the partition. A pump that is submersible has an intake, positionable in an aquarium, and an outflow that is fluidically connected to the lower chamber. The pump is configured to transfer water requiring treatment from the aquarium to the lower chamber. A coagulation promoter and a flocculation promoter can be added as required to the housing such that solids in the water are induced to form a sludge bed above and below the partition. A nozzle is positioned proximate to the top and fluidically connected to the upper chamber so that clarified water flows back into the aquarium.
US09445578B2

A transporting unit for live poultry including a quadrangular supporting frame and a plurality of drawer-type cages open at the top, arranged in a superimposed condition in the frame and slidably displaceable outwards through a first side of the supporting frame, in a partially extracted condition to enable loading of the poultry from a site located at a second side of the frame from the lowermost drawer kept inserted within the frame. The frame is configured to enable simultaneous loading of the poultry into each drawer-type cage from an additional site located at a third side of the supporting frame which is opposite to the second side.
US09445574B2

An attic inlet has a square tube to communicate between an attic and a room through a substrate, with a lid permitting airflow when open, and not when closed. The lid is moved by upper pull bars and lower connecting bars attached to the lid. Upper pull bars and lower connecting bars are attached by pivot pins to yoke arms pivoting about parallel axles. Springs may urge the lid into closed default position. An axle with an associated stub arm may be rotated by cord to open the lid. Alternatively a counterweighted arm may urge the lid into closed default position, where negative pressure can open the lid. The lid is attached by tabs on the connecting bars passing through the lid, and lid locking bars engaging apertures in the tabs.
US09445568B1

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046626. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046626. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046626 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046626 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09445562B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH500611. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH500611, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH500611 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH500611.
US09445560B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH408889. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH408889, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH408889 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH408889.
US09445546B2

In one embodiment, a combine harvester sensing system comprising a shoe; a thresher rotor; and a sensor disposed between the shoe and the thresher rotor, the sensor configured to sense crop material discharged from the thresher rotor and impacting the shoe.
US09445543B2

A deck lifting assembly for a lawn mower includes first and second lifting brackets and a biasing member interconnecting the first and second lifting brackets or to biasing brackets separate from the lifting brackets. The biasing member imparts a biasing force on each of the lifting brackets or biasing brackets to cause each lifting bracket to rotate in a direction that raises the mower deck.
US09445537B2

A soil opener has a frog mount adapted to be coupled to a shank or other mounting member of a farm implement. A spreader is removably coupled to the frog mount and includes forward and rearward product delivery channels that are intended to be flow-coupled to product delivery tubes or hoses of the farm implement. A tip is removably coupled to the spreader. The leading edges of the frog mount, the spreader, and the tip, as well as the geometry between these components are such that draft is minimized even when the soil opener is pulled through the soil at higher speeds, e.g., excess of 5 mph. The soil opener may be equipped with an optional soil gathering module.
US09451734B2

A magnetic shielding device includes: a passive shield having an inner space; a first coil that cancels a magnetic field entering in the inner space; a first magnetic sensor that measures the magnetic field entering in the inner space; a second magnetic sensor located in a position farther from the first coil than the first magnetic sensor; and a controller that controls the first coil so that a gradient between a first magnetic field measured by the first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic field measured by the second magnetic sensor be less than a predetermined threshold.
US09451725B2

A communications product, including at least one RRU and a fan assembly, where the fan assembly is independent of the at least one RRU, and is disposed side by side with the at least one RRU, an air duct is disposed between the fan assembly and the RRU, and an airflow passes, from the fan assembly, through the air duct, and arrives at the at least one RRU, to dissipate heat of the at least one RRU. The communications product of the present disclosure can ensure a heat-dissipation capability, and also can allow the RRU to be small in size. The present disclosure further provides a base station system that includes the communications product.
US09451724B2

Embodiments are provided for cooling one or more components of a playback device using speaker vibrations that result from inaudible audio. Movement of air molecules arising from the speaker vibrations may disperse heat away from the one or more components of a playback device. In an example implementation, while playing audible audio content via the at least one speaker, a playback device may receive input data indicating an instruction to stop playback of the audible audio content. The playback device may determine that playback of the audible audio content has stopped and based on that determination, play inaudible audio content to cause the at least one speaker to vibrate thereby inducing air movement within the playback device.
US09451722B2

A rack mountable network switch, the rack mountable network switch comprising: a faceplate; a switch chassis coupled to the faceplate, the switch chassis including a plurality of connector openings on a surface of the switch chassis that is perpendicular to the faceplate; a plurality of moveable plug receptacles coupled to a printed circuit board (‘PCB’) mounted inside the switch chassis; and a mechanical positioning component coupled to the moveable plug receptacles, the mechanical positioning component configured to position the moveable plug receptacles to extrude from the switch chassis via the connector openings when the mechanical positioning component is in a first position, the mechanical positioning component further configured to position the moveable plug receptacles inside the switch chassis when the mechanical positioning component is in a second position.
US09451720B2

According to one embodiment, electronic device includes casing, circuit board, joint component, and bonding agent. The circuit board is held in the casing, includes first face and second face opposite the first face, and includes a first opening provided on the first face. The joint component includes: insertion portion that is inserted into the first opening; protruding portion that protrudes from the insertion portion toward a side opposite the second face; first end of the protruding portion provided at a side opposite the second face; and support portion extended along the first face. The joint component includes a second opening provided on the first end, extended to the insertion portion, and into which a joint tool is inserted. The bonding agent is provided between the insertion portion and the first opening and between the support portion and the first face, and bonds the circuit board and the joint component.
US09451716B1

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a serviceable chassis. The serviceable chassis can include a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes a locking arm. The second housing can include a locking cam and a cord. The cord is attached to the locking cam and can rotate the locking cam to engage and disengage the locking arm to couple and uncouple the first housing to the second housing.
US09451709B2

A damage index predicting system is for predicting a damage-related index of solder joints of an electronic device having the solder joints that electrically connect an electronic component to a mounting circuit board and one or more detection solder joints that are designed so as to have a shorter life than the solder joints. The system includes: a database configured to store a fracture relationship between the detection solder joints and the solder joints; a fracture detector configured to detect fracture of the detection solder joints; and a processor configured to calculate a prediction value of the damage-related index of the solder joints based on information relating to the fracture of the detection solder joints obtained by the fracture detector and the fracture relationship stored in the database.
US09451693B2

A multilayer capable electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) mixture for connecting multilevel Z-axis interconnects and a method of forming the ECA for connecting multilevel Z-axis interconnects. The multilayer capable ECA contains a mixture of constituent components that allow the paste to be adapted to specific requirements wherein the method of making a circuitized substrate assembly in which two or more subassemblies having potentially disparate coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) are aligned and Z-axis interconnection are created during bonding. The metallurgies of the conductors, and those of a multilayer capable conductive paste, are effectively mixed and the flowable interim dielectric used between the mating subassemblies flows to engage and surround the conductor coupling.
US09451691B2

An array printed circuit board (PCB) is provided in which a defective single PCB may be easily replaced. A method of replacing a defective single PCB and a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus are also provided. The array PCB may include a plurality of single PCBs. A rail portion may surround the single PCBs. A plurality of tab route portions connect the single PCBs to the rail portion, each of the tab route portions including at least one pair of via electrodes. A test terminal portion may be formed at one side of the rail portion and may include a plurality of test terminals. The at least one pair of via electrodes may include a first via electrode, arranged adjacent to the rail portion and electrically connected to a corresponding test terminal, and a second via electrode arranged adjacent to and electrically connected to a corresponding single PCB.
US09451689B2

A cyclotron includes: a regenerator configured to move a beam of a charged particle on an orbit outward in a radial direction; and a magnetic channel configured to put the beam on an extraction orbit. The regenerator includes a pair of magnetic members for a regenerator. The magnetic member for a regenerator includes a first portion including a portion approaching the median plane as it goes outward in a radial direction and having an apex closest to the median plane. When viewed from the circumferential direction, assuming that a distance between the centerline of the apex in the radial direction and a first reference position set on a radially inner end side of the first portion is a first distance and a distance between the centerline and a second reference position set on a radially outer end side of the first portion is a second distance, the first distance is greater than the second distance.
US09451680B2

A lighting system and a corresponding method are provided. The method comprises: sending a change operational state command to a lighting device group (3) comprising several lighting devices (9); at each lighting device, applying a randomized delay within a predetermined delay interval or an individual predetermined delay within the delay interval; changing the operational state in accordance with the change operational state command at each lighting device at the end of each respective delay; detecting changes in the total drive power fed to the group of lighting devices within the delay interval and counting the total number of changes; comparing the total number of changes with a nominal number corresponding with the number of lighting devices within the group of lighting devices; generating a lighting device error signal if the number of changes is smaller than a predetermined fraction of the nominal number, including the nominal number.
US09451664B2

An adaptive switch mode LED driver provides an intelligent approach to driving multiple strings of LEDs. The LED driver determines an optimal current level for each LED channel from a limited set of allowed currents. The LDO driver then determines a PWM duty cycle for driving the LEDs in each LED channel to provide precise brightness control over the LED channels. Beneficially, the LED driver minimizes the power dissipation in the LDO circuits driving each LED string, while also ensuring that the currents in each LED string are maintained within a limited range. A sample and hold LDO allows PWM control over extreme duty cycles with very fast dynamic response. Furthermore, fault protection circuitry ensures fault-free startup and operation of the LED driver.
US09451662B1

Disclosed is an AC light emitting device. The AC light emitting device is electrically connected to an AC power, and the AC power is rectified by a rectification module and inputs an input voltage. The AC light emitting device comprises a buck module, a switching unit, a control module and an AC lighting emitting module. The buck module is electrically connected to the rectification module. The switching unit is electrically connected to the rectification module and the buck module. The control module is electrically connected to the switching unit and the buck module. The AC lighting emitting module is electrically connected to the switching unit. The control module outputs a pulse waveform signal to the switching unit according to the input voltage and a dimming signal, and the switching unit turns on or off the AC lighting emitting module according to the pulse waveform signal.
US09451657B2

A method for heating a liquid in a cooking vessel is provided. According to various aspects, an induction heating device includes a resonant circuit having an induction heating coil. A parameter value of the resonant circuit may be determined, depending on a temperature of the cooking vessel. A radio-frequency square-wave voltage may be applied at a predefined heating power setpoint value to the resonant circuit to supply heating power to the cooking vessel. The time profile of the parameter value may be evaluated for determining the boiling point of the liquid. After the boiling point has been determined, the heating power setpoint value may be reduced by a predefined amount over a predefined time period after which a current parameter value may be determined and stored. The parameter value may be adjusted to a setpoint value which is dependent on the stored parameter value.
US09451655B1

An apparatus includes a first port and a second port operably coupled to a format conversion module each of which is at least partially disposed within a housing. The first port is operably coupled to a cable configured to transfer a first data unit having a first format associated with a first communication medium to the first port. The format conversion module receives the first data unit from the first port and converts the first data unit from the first format to a second format associated with a second communication medium to produce a second data unit. The second port is operably coupled to a wireless access point that is physically distinct from the housing. The second port is configured to receive the second data unit and send the second data unit to the wireless access point.
US09451652B2

In wireless communication networks using carrier aggregation, a user equipment (UE) may monitor a downlink radio link quality of secondary cells for an event indicating failure of the communication link with the secondary cell. When a failure event is detected, the UE declares a failure state on the secondary cell. In response to the failure state, the UE may adjust operations related to the secondary component carrier in order to save power and resources.
US09451643B2

Embodiments are provided for a mechanism for supporting multiple 3GPP Packet Data Network (PDN) connections over a WLAN. Multiple gateway interfaces, each corresponding to a different PDN, are established over a single connection, via the WLAN, between a UE and an access gateway. A PDN access configuration protocol (PACP) is provided to configure the association between the IP interface on the access gateway and the corresponding 3GPP PDN/APN connection, and exchange the PDN setup between the UE and the access gateway. The PACP mechanisms allow signaling APN information and associating corresponding IP context at the access gateway, setting up and tearing down connection context between the UE and PDN gateway (P-GW), and supporting session continuity when the UE moves to another access gateway. The mechanisms support using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for IPv4 and Neighbor Discovery for IPv6.
US09451641B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for improving data service availability. Certain aspects provide methods and apparatus for wireless communications by a UE including determining, while the UE is in a coverage area of a first network, that a connection to a second network, comprising a packet data network (PDN), is disconnected locally, and taking at least one action to avoid a rejection of a request to connect to the second network.
US09451640B2

A method for acquiring a format of a random access subframe and a receiver are provided. The method includes: according to a cell radius supported currently and a cell coverage radius decided by the length of ZC sequence and the size of Ncs, a receiver determining the length of preamble sequence in an extended random access subframe; according to the cell radius supported currently and a cell coverage radius decided by the length of GT, determining the lengths of CP and GT in the extended random access subframe; according to sampling rates of a system where the receiver is located and the lengths of the preamble sequence and CP and GT, respectively calculating the numbers of sampling points of preamble sequence and GT and CP; based on the above numbers of sampling points, calculating the length of extended random access subframe, and determining the format of extended random access subframe.
US09451634B2

To promote network security in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a mobile communication device, which is operable as a mobile wireless access point, may read a WLAN identifier that is known to be used by the WLAN and an indication of a channel on which a wireless access point of the WLAN is known to operate. The device may then monitor the channel for a transmission of the WLAN identifier. The mobile wireless access point may be configured to operate using the selected channel so that the monitoring occurs on the same channel as that on which the mobile wireless access point is operating. The transmission, if detected, may be considered to indicate that the mobile communication device is within the WLAN. Upon detecting the transmission, use of the WLAN identifier by the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device may be prevented, e.g. by requiring the mobile wireless access point to use a different WLAN identifier or by disabling the mobile wireless access point.
US09451630B2

Methods and apparatus to mitigate coexistence interference among multiple wireless subsystems and wired connection ports of a computing device are described. A processor obtains configurations for at least two wireless subsystems and for a connection state of at least one wired connection port. When the first and second wireless subsystem configurations or the connection state of the at least one wired connection port indicate potential or actual coexistence interference, the processor is configured to adjust wireless circuitry of the first and second wireless subsystems. The first wireless subsystem is configured based on frequency bands used by the first and second wireless subsystems, while the second wireless subsystem is configured based on the connection state. In an embodiment, the first wireless subsystem operates in accordance with a wireless personal area network protocol, and the second wireless subsystem operates in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol.
US09451626B2

Techniques are disclosed for reducing interference, in a network device, among multiple radio circuits operating in a same or similar frequency band and in close physical proximity. In some embodiments, a network device includes a first and a second wireless network circuit. The network circuits operate in a same radio frequency band and are collocated. The second network circuit is assigned a higher priority than the first network circuit. The device further includes a coexistence controller coupled to the network circuits via a communication bus and configured to selectively suppress transmitting operations of the first network circuit during receiving operations of the second network circuit. Among other benefits, the embodiments can increase wireless network bandwidth and reduce mobile device power consumption by providing coordination among the radio circuits so that the transmitting and receiving operations are performed in a way that they do not interfere with their respective antennas.
US09451621B2

A core network apparatus (1) in a mobile communication system, includes a control unit (101) that, when a resource utilization rate of the own apparatus falls below a predetermined threshold, makes a transition to an MME utilization promotion state and transmits, to a radio base station (2), an MME promotion start message (111) for encouraging a terminal (3) to perform a communication. When the network utilization rate is low, it is possible to improve the utilization rate by transmitting the MME promotion start message, which is a utilization promotion message.
US09451607B2

A method for efficiently transmitting and receiving downlink control information is disclosed. The method includes, at a base station, receiving feedback information including a precoding matrix index (PMI) from a user equipment (UE) and transmitting precoding information having a predetermined bit number according to the number of antenna ports and a transmission mode of the base station. The precoding information of a predetermined transmission mode in the precoding information includes confirmation information indicating that the base station uses a PMI which is recently received from the UE.
US09451601B2

Method and apparatus for multiplexing data for multiple wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) for high speed downlink channels are disclosed. A WTRU may receive a joint high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) including a common part and WTRU-specific parts. The common part includes common control information for WTRUs multiplexed in one transmission time interval (TTI), and each of the WTRU-specific parts includes WTRU-specific control information for a corresponding WTRU. The WTRU receives a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH) based on decoding on the joint HS-SCCH. The HS-SCCH may include a group WTRU identity shared by a group of WTRUs.
US09451590B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for extending range and delay spread in 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, and potentially frequency multiplexing users. An apparatus is provided for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate a packet comprising a first preamble decodable by a first type of device and a second type of device, a second preamble that is decodable by the second type of device, but not the first type of device, and data and a transmitter configured to transmit the packet, wherein the first preamble is transmitted using a first channel bandwidth and the second preamble and data are transmitted using only a portion of the first channel bandwidth.
US09451586B1

At least one call paging message is sent to a wireless device to establish a call session with the wireless device, and it is determined whether a response is received from the wireless device to any of the at least one call paging message. When the call session is not established and a voice message is received which is intended for the wireless device, a timer comprising a timer value is initiated, wherein the timer value is based on a number of the at least one call paging message sent to the wireless device and whether a response is received from the wireless device to any of the at least one call paging message. A voice message page is sent to the wireless device when the timer expires, and a channel is established with the wireless device to provide the voice message to the wireless device.
US09451573B2

Systems and methods are provided for efficient communication through a fabric network of devices in a home environment or similar environment. For example, an electronic device may efficiently control communication to balance power and reliability concerns, may efficiently communicate messages to certain preferred networks by analyzing Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) packet headers that use an Extended Unique Local Address (EULA), may efficiently communicate software updates and status reports throughout a fabric network, and/or may easily and efficiently join a fabric network.
US09451571B2

A baseband unit independently determines one or both of an uplink delay or a downlink delay for frames transmitted from the baseband unit to a remote radio head based on a round-trip time between the baseband unit and the remote radio head and times determined at the baseband unit, a downlink node associated with the remote radio head, and an uplink node associated with the remote radio head. The times are determined at different nodes after an interval of frames. The baseband unit then may determine a location of user equipment based on one or both of the uplink delay or downlink delay.
US09451566B1

Various embodiments include methods implemented on a wireless communication device for reducing interference during a tune-away from a first subscription to a second subscription when a transmitter remains tuned to the first subscription. The methods may include determining whether the first subscription will utilize the transmitter during the tune-away to the second subscription when the transmitter is operating in envelope tracking mode, and switching the transmitter from envelope tracking mode to average power tracking mode during the tune-away in response to determining that the first subscription will utilize the transmitter during the tune-away to the second subscription. The methods may further include determining whether interference of the receiver by the transmitter exceeds a threshold, switching the transmitter to average power tracking mode during the tune-away if the interference exceeds the threshold, and leaving the transmitter in envelope tracking mode if the interference does not exceed the threshold.
US09451562B2

A first broadband network divided into sectors and a second narrowband network have collocated cells and a common wide frequency band. The interference produced by the first network on the second network is reduced for a carrier to interference ratio threshold allowable at the reception in the second network. For example, a base station (BSBB,nc) in a given cell (CBB,nc) of the first network attenuates by an attenuation parameter the emission power of each subcarrier which is adjacent to a carrier of one of the groups allocated to preselected cells (CNB,i) of the second network in a sector (Sns) of the given cell and on levels (L0 to LI-1) starting from the given cell (CBB,nc). The attenuation parameter is low for a level close to the given cell.
US09451561B2

A high-frequency signal processing apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus can achieve a decrease in power consumption. For example, when an indicated power level to a high-frequency power amplifier is equal to or greater than a second reference value, envelope tracking is performed by causing a source voltage control circuit to control a high-speed DCDC converter using a detection result of an envelope detecting circuit and causing a bias control circuit to indicate a fixed bias value. The source voltage control circuit and the bias control circuit indicate a source voltage and a bias value decreasing in proportion to a decrease in the indicated power level when the indicated power level is in a range of the second reference value to the first reference value, and indicate a fixed source voltage and a fixed bias value when the indicated power level is less than the first reference value.
US09451558B2

Network devices can be configured to implement adaptive power control functionality in a communication network. A power control requestor of a local communication network can calculate a link margin between a neighbor network device of a neighbor communication network and a local network device associated with a least preferred performance measurement. The power control requestor can transmit a power control message including the link margin to request the neighbor network device to vary the transmit power of the neighbor network device. In response to receiving a power control message, a power control responder can use a link margin indicated in the power control message to evaluate the feasibility of reducing the transmit power of the power control responder. The power control responder can transmit a power control response indicating whether it will vary the transmit power.
US09451556B2

A communication system includes a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal that performs direct communication with the first communication terminal. The first communication terminal controls transmission power of a second reference signal which is a partial reference signal among a plurality of reference signals so as to reach known transmission power, the plurality of reference signals being transmitted with first data and used for demodulating the first data, controls transmission power of a first reference signal which is another reference signal other than the second reference signal among the plurality of reference signals so as to reach transmission power linked to transmission power of the first data, and transmits the plurality of reference signals subjected to transmission power control to the second communication terminal.
US09451553B2

A method for uplink power control at a mobile station which is served by a base station of a communications network comprising a plurality of base stations is provided where the power spectrum density of the mobile station is adaptable based on the bandwidth scheduled to the mobile station. The suggested power spectrum adaptation is obtained by providing for a switch to an alternative power control mode which enables for transmit power boosting at the mobile station. The decision whether to apply the suggested power spectrum adaptation can be made at the base station which is serving the mobile station, or at a selected mobile station.
US09451534B2

The present invention provides a carrier selection method for positioning measurement, which is applied to positioning measurement in a carrier aggregation scenario. The method includes: obtaining information about carriers supported by each base station participating in positioning; obtaining carriers supported by a terminal and quality information of each carrier; and selecting an optimal carrier supported by each base station from the carriers supported by the terminal, so that the terminal performs positioning measurement according to the optimal carrier. The present invention also provides a positioning measurement method, a positioning processing apparatus, and a terminal. By using the above solution, positioning measurement of terminal is implemented in a carrier aggregation scenario. Moreover, because an optimal carrier of each base station is selected for the terminal to perform positioning measurement, the accuracy of positioning measurement is improved, and thereby the accuracy of positioning is improved.
US09451523B2

A method for managing a packet in a system supporting network coding includes receiving, from a relay, information on a packet to which the network coding is applied, receiving, from the relay, the packet to which the network coding is applied, confirming whether a packet required for an operation of the UE can be acquired from the received packet on the basis of information on the packet to which the network coding is applied, and storing packets into different buffers by distinguishing between the packet required for the operation of the UE and a packet not required for the operation of the UE. Other embodiments including an apparatus for managing a packet are also disclosed.
US09451514B1

Methods and apparatus for supporting efficient communications of time varying data are described. A wireless device transmits a first identifier, e.g., an LTED OTACode, via a first network interface, said first identifier corresponding to first information that is available via the first network, said first information indicating a source of first time varying data and a description of the first time varying data. The wireless device further transmits a second identifier, e.g., a hash value, via a second network interface, e.g., via a WIFI, BT, or BLE network interface, corresponding to a second network, the second identifier corresponding to the first time varying data. The wireless device receives a request including said second identifier, and in response transmits the first time varying data.
US09451504B2

A processor-implemented method, apparatus, and/or computer program product move Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer 4 connections between wirelessly-connected user equipment to a series of cell-towers, wherein an OSI layer 4 connection is extracted out of the underlying cellular protocols at the series of cell-towers. A detection is made that user equipment, which has a broken-out layer 4 connection, has moved from a first cell-tower to a second cell-tower. Traffic for an existing layer 4 connection from the user equipment is tunnelled between the first cell-tower and the second cell-tower. A predetermined trigger event is identified. In response to the predetermined trigger event occurring, an ongoing bidirectional flow of data packets is migrated from the user equipment over to layer 4 connections maintained at the second cell-tower.
US09451496B2

A method and an apparatus of positioning a mobile terminal based on geomagnetism. The mobile terminal has at least one magnetic force sensor. The method includes obtaining magnetic induction values of the mobile terminal at a plurality of predetermined measurement angles at a position to be measured via a magnetic force sensor; generating a geomagnetic fingerprint of the position to be measured, the geomagnetic fingerprint including the plurality of predetermined measurement angles and a respective magnetic induction value measured at each of the plurality of predetermined measurement angles; sending the geomagnetic fingerprint of the position to be measured to a fingerprint map matching system to determine geographical position information corresponding to the geomagnetic fingerprint; and receiving the geographical position information corresponding to the geomagnetic fingerprint returned from the fingerprint map matching system, and setting the received geographical position information as geographical position information of the position to be measured. The present disclosure is able to perform matching through magnetic induction values of multiple measurement angles at a same position in a positioning and matching process to increase the accuracy of positioning and reduce the cost of positioning.
US09451495B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and generating an interference report based on the detecting of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09451492B2

A communications apparatus includes a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module transmits and receives radio frequency signals to and from a service network via a set of component carrier(s), which is configured by the service network and includes at least a first component carrier. The controller module receives a measurement configuration corresponding to the first component carrier from the service network via the wireless module. The controller module keeps the measurement configuration corresponding to the first component carrier when the first component carrier is removed from the set of component carrier(s).
US09451491B2

An initial reporting structure for an uplink dedicated control channel is used by a wireless terminal following a transition into a state of wireless terminal operation or action which makes it desirable to provide a base station with an initial set of control information which can be used to support uplink transmission of user data. Subsequently while continuing operation in a state supporting uplink transmission of user data, a recurring scheduled reporting structure for the uplink dedicated control channel is followed by the wireless terminal. The initial reporting structure provides for communication of at least some information reports, e.g., infrequently scheduled reports, which may not have been otherwise communicated during the same time interval if the recurring scheduled reporting structure had not been overridden. Thus the use of initial report sets facilitates a rapid overall understanding by the serving base station attachment point of the wireless terminal's status.
US09451484B2

The present invention relates to simulation on a lab workbench of conditions that would be encountered by a mobile device during a so-called drive test, which involves transporting the mobile device along a course so that it encounters fading and changing wireless access points used normally to connect the mobile device to a wireless network but in this case used to locate the device. The instrument and method also support parametric testing of transceivers used for WiFi positioning and, optionally, GNSS positioning by the same mobile device used for WiFi positioning.
US09451480B2

Methods and apparatus for communication comprise aspects that include performing a power management procedure for configuring a subset of network entities to receive one or more of downlink signal measurements and/or one or more uplink signal measurements. The methods and apparatus further comprise aspects that include storing the one or more one or more of downlink signal measurements and/or one or more uplink signal measurements associated with the subset of network entities at a database for managing transmit power at the subset of network entities. Moreover, the methods and apparatus comprise aspects that include adjusting a transmit power value of at least one of the subset of network entities from a first transmit power value to a second transmit power value based at least in part on the one or more of downlink signal measurements and/or one or more uplink signal measurements.
US09451478B2

A method for supporting a mobility of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: acquiring mobility context; performing the mobility with a target cell; determining whether non-updating criterion is satisfied based on the mobility context; updating a mobility counter of the UE based on the result of the determining; performing a mobility state estimation (MSE) by estimating a mobility state of the UE based on the updated mobility counter of the UE; and scaling a mobility parameter based on the estimated mobility state.
US09451472B2

An approach is provided for providing a WiFi network information service. A configuration client processes and/or facilitates a processing, by at least one module of at least one access point, of configuration data stored at the at least one access point to determine network information. The configuration client then causes a transmission of the network information by the at least one module to at least one server. A location client also determines at least one request, from at least one client, for network information associated with at least one access point, at least one location, or a combination thereof. The location client then processes and/or facilitates a processing of the at least one request to cause a generation of at least one query for the network information from at least one server, wherein the network information is determined from at least one module of the at least one access point.
US09451470B2

A method and apparatus may be configured to determine a plurality of rings. The plurality of rings surround a radar, and the plurality of rings encompass a plurality of networks surrounding the radar. The method also includes determining transmission powers corresponding to the plurality of rings. Each ring is associated with a determined transmission power. The method also includes instructing each network of the plurality of networks to perform transmissions in accordance with the determined transmission powers. Each network is instructed to use the determined transmission power that corresponds to the ring which encompasses that network.
US09451466B2

A base station includes a base unit and a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs). Each of the RAUs includes a physical layer circuit (PHY). The PHYs are configured to each use the same physical layer identifier, but each PHY includes its own hardware for supporting users in the coverage area of that PHY. The base unit controls resource allocation for the RAUs to increase the capacity of the base station and/or reduce interference between PHYs.
US09451464B2

The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus and system for readily and conveniently getting network access for a smart device. The method for network access for a smart device includes receiving, by a server comprising a processor and a non-transitory storage medium, a first identification identifying a wireless access point and a first terminal identifier; receiving a second identification identifying a smart device and a second terminal identifier; associating the wireless access point with the smart device if the first terminal identifier corresponds to the second terminal identifier, and sending the second identification for the associated smart device to the wireless access point. The wireless access point provides network access authentication information to the smart device so that the smart device can get access to a network provided by the wireless access point with the network access authentication information.
US09451463B1

A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitates delivery of mobile-terminated short message service messages to a mobile station attached with a femtocell system are provided. A convergence server deployed in a core network receives a short message for short message service delivery to a mobile station attached with a femtocell system. If there is no active traffic channel with the mobile station, or if the short message is to be delivered to the mobile station via a paging channel, the femtocell system triggers an authentication process. The convergence server constructs a short message service delivery request message, transmits the short message service delivery request message to the femtocell system, and receives one of an acknowledgement and a negative acknowledgment regarding delivery of the short message to the mobile station. The convergence server thereafter notifies the message center of the acknowledgment or negative acknowledgement received thereby.
US09451451B2

A system for managing the device operation rules that govern a device's operation, includes a profiling server configured to receive data from one or more data sources and a processor to aggregate and analyze the received data to dynamically generate profiles for distribution to a plurality of devices. The devices, which are in communication with the profiling server, being responsive to profiles generated by the profiling server to create, update, or modify the said operation rules and communicate with the profiling server the performance of the said profiles, the said rules, and/or the said device. The system allows the device operation rules to be dynamically updated in accordance with changing network conditions, and also can provide analytics information to third parties.
US09451449B1

Embodiments include a telephone system which allows a user to indicate their availability to receive phone calls and allows users to determine which other users are available to receive phone calls. The system allows for connection of phone calls between available parties, thereby eliminating unnecessary missed telephone calls and leaving and/or listening to repeated voicemails for the user. The system removes the uncertainty of whether a telephone call recipient is available eliminating frustration and wasted time for the caller. In one implementation, the system comprises an application or button installed on a telephone which may be activated to indicate to other users that the first user is available to receive and answer telephone calls via sending the caller a graphic and/or text, such as an animated icon “animaticon” showing what the user is presently engaged in doing, such as “golfing,” “in a meeting,” “in a class,” or the like.