US09453620B2

A retrofit light fixture for retrofitting an existing strip-style light fixture includes a housing, a light emitting diode, a driver, and a bracket. The housing includes a top portion, a side portion, and an end cap, and the housing defines an interior space. At least one of the top portion and the side portion define an elongated opening. The bracket includes a locking flange configured to selectively engage with a portion of a housing of the existing strip-style light fixture. The bracket is slidably coupled to the housing with a fastener that extends through the elongated opening. The bracket is selectively repositionable between a disengaged orientation and an engaged orientation, and the bracket is configured to interface with a portion of the existing strip-style light fixture and thereby secure the retrofit light fixture in place when selectively repositioned into the disengaged orientation.
US09453619B2

A retrofit-style lamp is disclosed. The retrofit-style lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a one-dimensional linear batwing lens. The one-dimensional linear batwing lens beam shapes light emitted by at least two light sources of the plurality of light sources. The retrofit-style lamp also includes a housing including the plurality of light sources, and attached to the one-dimensional linear batwing lens. The combination of housing and lens is then itself fitted with endcaps, including electrical connectors, for placement within a fixture, such as within an existing conventional fluorescent tube fixture located within a storage structure, for example a refrigeration case. Alternatively, the plurality of light sources, the one-dimensional linear batwing lens, and the housing may be formed, along with a power supply, as a standalone retrofit fixture for use in enclosed storage structures, such as refrigeration cases, where the retrofit fixture replaces a conventional fluorescent fixture.
US09453617B2

A lighting device such as a light bulb is disclosed. The lighting device includes an optical sub-assembly adapted to generate light when electrically excited; a body sub-assembly thermally coupled to the optical sub-assembly to draw heat away from the optical sub-assembly and to dissipate it; an electrical sub-assembly electrically connecting the optical sub-assembly to the body sub-assembly; and a final assembly covering at least a portion of the optical sub-assembly.
US09453613B2

An apparatus configured for displacing fluid from a fluid container comprises first and second actuators configured to be movable together until the first actuator compresses a first part of the fluid container and then moveable independently until the second actuator compresses a second part of the fluid container. Fluid containers comprise a first vessel, a second vessel, and a sealing partition preventing fluid flow from the second vessel and further include piercing means for piercing the sealing partition to permit fluid flow from the second vessel. A fluid container comprises a vessel configured to be collapsed to displace fluid from the vessel, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the vessel, and a floating compression plate movably disposed within the housing and configured to permit an external actuator to press the compression plate into the vessel to collapse the vessel and displace the fluid contents therefrom.
US09453608B2

A self-adjusting support assembly for use on uneven surfaces that includes a support element; at least one pivoting leg assembly positioned beneath the support element; and at least one self-adjusting attachment assembly that connects the support element to the at least one pivoting leg assembly, and wherein the at least one self-adjusting attachment assembly further includes: at least one bracket that is adapted to attach to the support element, and wherein the at least one bracket further includes: a receiving channel formed therein that is positioned along an angled axis of insertion, and a locking ridge positioned in the receiving channel; and a proximal head portion that is adapted to rotationally cooperate with at least one bracket and to receive the at least one pivoting leg assembly, and wherein the proximal head portion further includes: a flange formed at one end thereof that rotationally engages the locking ridge; a stem positioned beneath the flange, wherein the stem rotationally engages the receiving channel; and a receiving portion positioned beneath the stem that is adapted to receive the at least one leg assembly.
US09453606B2

Movable systems and methods for making pipe, e.g., non-metallic pipe, either for stand-alone use as produced or for use as a pipe liner, the pipe made at a site at which it is to be used; and, in certain aspects, a transportable factory for simultaneous mobile field manufacturing and installation for making pipe, e.g., reinforced thermoplastic composite pipe, either for stand-alone use or for use as a pipe liner, the pipe made, in one aspect, at a site of use of the pipe. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US09453599B2

A bi-channel tube for use in a heat exchanger is disclosed having a passageway or window formed in the common wall or divider separating the adjacent channels. This arrangement permits a controlled amount of interaction of the fluids flowing in the adjacent channels in the bi-channel tube. The bi-channel coolant tube includes a first fluid-carrying channel, a second fluid-carrying channel, a common wall or divider separating the first fluid-carrying channel from the second fluid-carrying channel, and at least one fluid-passing passageway or window formed in the common wall or divider. The fluid-passing passageway or window is preferably an elongated window that is formed along the long axis of the bi-channel coolant tube. The bi-channel coolant tube may be composed of a metal such as aluminum, including aluminum alloy, and steel, including stainless steel.
US09453596B2

A member with flow passage includes: a base member; a plate-like member including two flat plate portions that are positioned at both widthwise ends and have main surfaces passing over one and the same plane, and a convex portion that is provided between the two flat plate portions and has a cross section shaped in a thickness direction so as to protrude with respect to the flat plate portions, and forming the flow passage; and a metal deposit layer that is formed by, while main surfaces of the flat plate portions opposite to a top of the convex portion are facing the base member, accelerating powder of metal or alloy together with a gas, and spraying and depositing the powder in a solid-phase state on a surface of the plate-like member at the top side of the convex portion and a surface of the base member.
US09453594B2

A fixing device for at least one line is provided, with a holding portion for mounting the fixing device and at least one receiving portion which includes a receptacle for at least one line. Between the holding portion and the at least one receiving portion at least one damping portion is provided, which connects the at least one receiving portion with the holding portion and vibrationally decouples the same from the holding portion. The connection between receiving portion and holding portion is formed exclusively by the damping portion. The holding portion consists of a first, hard material and the damping portion of a second, soft material, the receiving portion including at least one damping element protruding into the receptacle, at least one damping component being provided on the outside of the receiving portion at least one damping component, the damping element and the damping portion being integrally connected with each other.
US09453593B2

A fastener assembly is configured to secure a tubular member to a structure. The fastener assembly may include a stud retainer configured to receive and retain a fastener that is configured to securely fasten the assembly to the structure, a tube-retaining section having interior walls that define a tube channel configured to receive the tubular member, and an adaptable tube-engaging member extending into the tube channel. The adaptable tube-engaging member is configured to securely engage a portion of the tubular member.
US09453576B2

An actuation device especially for actuating a transmission for selecting a gear step and engaging and disengaging the selected gear step and/or for actuating at least one clutch. The actuation device includes at least one rotatable roll element that has guide tracks, into each of which a contact element of a selector fork engages to move the selector fork in order to select and engage or disengage a gear step of a transmission, and an actuation region for a clutch actuation means for actuating the at least one clutch.
US09453568B2

A drivable axle, in particular a rigid axle, is provided for a motor vehicle the axle has a differential gear, at least one gear bearing, at least one axle tube, and at least one axle shaft. The differential gear features a volume (V1) for lubricant separate from the axle tube. The differential gear is sealed at the axle tube by using a gap-type seal.
US09453555B2

A gripping device comprises a body having a longitudinal axis and including at least one elongate opening for receiving an elongate element, a gripping element, and means for bringing the gripping element into engagement with an elongate element located in the said opening, wherein the gripping element is mounted for translational movement in a slot having a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis of the slot is set at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the opening, and wherein a force component exerted on an elongate element located in the said opening causes the gripping element to move in the slot and towards the elongate element, and wherein said opening is defined by walls and wherein one of the walls includes two intersecting surfaces lying at an angle to one another, the angle between the two surfaces being concave.
US09453550B2

A shock damper is disclosed. The shock damper may have a shear control apparatus through which a shear-thickening fluid may flow. In this manner, the shock damper may compress at different rates for different applied impulse forces, in response to the changing viscosity of the shear-thickening fluid.
US09453548B2

The present application provides a method for adjusting spring characteristics of a spring to desired spring characteristics. In the adjusting method of the present application, first, the spring is compressed until a “load-displacement” measurement line obtained by measuring the load applied to the spring and the displacement of the spring meets a “load-displacement” target line determined based on “load-displacement” characteristics of the spring and the desired spring characteristics (S10-S14). Next, the spring is expanded such that the load applied to the spring decreases along the “load-displacement” target line (S18).
US09453541B2

A viscous clutch includes a shaft, a rotor attached to the shaft, a housing located adjacent to the rotor, a working chamber defined between the rotor and the housing, and a reservoir used to store a shear fluid. Selective introduction of the shear fluid to the working chamber facilitates selective torque transmission between the rotor and the housing. The reservoir is attached to the shaft separately from the rotor.
US09453539B2

A clutch cover assembly is provided whereby accurate wear compensation can be executed. The present clutch cover assembly includes a clutch cover, a pressure plate, a diaphragm spring, an wear-amount detecting mechanism and an wear tracking mechanism. The wear-amount detecting mechanism includes a detection member for detecting the wear-amount of a friction member and a moving member configured to be movable in accordance with the wear-amount of the friction member. The detection member is engaged with the fulcrum rings and detects the wear-amount through the fulcrum rings, while being engaged with the moving member and being configured to be disengaged from the moving member at a predetermined wear-amount.
US09453538B2

In an non-limiting embodiment, an isolator is provided for isolating a device driven by an engine via an endless drive member. The isolator includes a shaft adapter that is connectable with a shaft of the device, a rotary drive member that is engageable with the endless drive member, a torsion spring that is positioned to transfer torque between the shaft adapter and the rotary drive member, and a torque limiting surface. The torsion spring has a first helical end, a second helical end and a plurality of coils between the first and second helical ends. The torque limiting surface has a selected non-zero spacing from the coils. The spacing between the torque limiting surface and each coil is selected such that, during operation, the torsion spring has a spring rate that is below a first spring rate during relative movement between the shaft adapter and the rotary drive member within a selected angular range from a neutral position, and has a spring rate that increases progressively above the first spring rate during relative movement between the shaft adapter and the rotary drive member beyond the selected angular range from the neutral position.
US09453536B2

A wheel hub motor for driving a motor vehicle is provided. Aging of the rolling element bearings used to support the rotor is prevented, while at the same time minimizing the emission of electromagnetic waves, in that the wheel hub motor includes a—rotor,—a hub (1), —a wheel bearing having a first bearing ring (2) which is non-rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the hub (1), and a second bearing ring (3) which is non-rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the rotor, and—a contact element (4) for creating an electrically conductive connection between said bearing rings (2, 3), the contact element (4) being supported against the hub (1) via a spring (6) and has a pressure contact with a potential equalization element (5) that is non-rotatably and electrically conductively connected to the second bearing ring (3).
US09453515B2

A method for depositing a lost circulation material into a drilling fluid holding tank storing a quantity of lost circulation material in a storage receptacle at a well drilling site. A selected quantity of the lost circulation material is conveyed directly from the storage receptacle into the drilling fluid holding tank. A second end of a fluid port assembly is positioned in fluid communication with a fluid contained in the drilling fluid holding tank. The fluid is drawn from the drilling fluid holding tank through the fluid port assembly and discharged into the flexible exhaust hose and onto the lost circulation material.
US09453511B2

A regenerative pump (100) comprises at least one pump unit (105), the at least one pump unit comprising a casing or housing (110) comprising a fluid passage channel (115); and at least one impeller (120) provided inside the casing or housing for pumping the fluid through the fluid passage channel, wherein the casing or housing comprises at least one inlet channel (130) and at least one outlet channel (140) in communication with the fluid passage channel, the at least one inlet channel and/or the at least one outlet channel each comprising a first or axial portion (134) at least partially and preferably substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the at least one impeller. The pump can be arranged in a single stage or multistage configuration, and has improved weight/size ratio and performance characteristics.
US09453510B2

In a rotor blade cylindrical portion or a stator portion in which thread grooves are formed, convex surfaces (thread groove peak surfaces) configuring the peak sections of the thread grooves are cut by a desired amount over the entire circumference (a circumferential direction of the thread grooves) of a certain range in an axial direction. As a result, the gap on the lower side of the thread groove portion can partially be expanded by cutting the thread groove peak surfaces by a desired amount.
US09453509B2

A scroll compressor which can be mounted in an automobile has a slide bearing resulting from baking onto a back metal a sliding layer of 5-60 wt % graphite having an average diameter of 5-50 μm and a graphitization degree of at least 0.6, the remainder containing a polyimide resin and/or a polyamide-imide resin. The form of the graphite has: (a) an average shape factor (YAVE) as defined of 1-4 for the particles excluding the minute particles that are no greater than 0.5 times the average diameter, and there being at least 70% by number of particles having a shape factor (Y) in the range of 1-1.5; or (b) graphite particles having a particle ratio of at least 0.5 being at least 50% of the total by number.
US09453508B2

An electric oil pump is coupled to a pump receptacle including an oil inflow passage and an oil outflow passage. The electric oil pump includes a motor, a pump rotor, a housing, and a check valve. The housing accommodates the motor and the pump rotor. The housing closes an opening of the pump receptacle and includes at least a fitted portion fitted into the pump receptacle. An oil compartment is formed between the pump receptacle and the housing. Oil flows into the oil compartment from the oil inflow passage when the pump rotor is rotated. The fitted portion is partially immersed in the oil collected in the oil compartment. The housing includes a suction port and a discharge port. A check valve, located in the housing, limits reversed flow of the oil from the oil compartment to the oil inflow passage.
US09453505B2

Methods and systems for operating a fire pump controller are provided. An example method includes causing a power supply coupled to a an electric motor-driven water pump through a fire pump controller in a fire protection system to provide power to the water pump, and monitoring the performance of the power supply during the motor starting period by measuring the voltage and/or current of its output under motor load conditions. The method may also include providing visual indications, such as traces or starting signatures of motor power supply voltages and/or currents during the motor starting period for the purposes of observation and troubleshooting motor power supply and power train performance problems.
US09453489B2

A system and method for controlling a fuel supply system of an engine is disclosed in which an engine driven high pressure fuel pump is operated whenever possible at one of an optimum demand level providing optimum pump efficiency for the current engine speed or at a zero demand level to reduce the fuel used by the engine to drive the high pressure fuel pump. The operating mode used is dependent upon at least one of the amount of fuel currently stored in a high pressure fuel accumulator and whether a current fuel demand Fd exceeds an optimum quantity Po of fuel that can be provided by the high pressure fuel pump when operating at the current engine speed.
US09453487B2

A piezoelectric component (1), which serves in particular as a piezoelectric sensor or a piezoelectric actuator, comprises a main body (2). The main body (2) has a first ceramic layer (15), a second ceramic layer (16) and an inner electrode layer (17). An outer metallization (5) is provided here, applied to an outer side (3) of the main body (2) and contacting the inner electrode layer (17). The main body (2) has a removal of material (4), the removal of material (4) separating the outer metallization (5) from an end-face outer electrode (7), which is formed by a metallization (7) of an end face (6) of the main body (2). A method for producing a piezoelectric component (1) is also provided.
US09453479B1

A solid fuel grain suitable for use in hybrid propulsion systems has a generally cylindrical shape and defines a center port. The solid fuel grain is formed as a series of concentric layers arrayed around the center port. When incorporated into a rocket, an oxidizer is introduced into the solid fuel grain along a pathway defined by the center port, with combustion occurring along the exposed surface area of the solid fuel grain section adjacent to the center port. Each concentric layer has a surface pattern that serves to increase the surface area for combustion, a surface pattern that persists even as the fuel burns. To achieve such a construction, the concentric layers of the solid fuel grain are preferably manufactured using any one of several available freeform-fabrication machines capable of fabricating articles in a polymeric material suitable for a hybrid propulsion system.
US09453475B2

Methods and systems are provided for operating a fuel system configured to deliver a gaseous fuel to an engine. Following tank refilling, the fuel composition is selectively updated based on fuel tank pressure, temperature, and air content data. When the engine is subsequently restarted, the fuel rail is primed for a duration based on the updated composition.
US09453473B2

A method for actuating a piezoelectric actuator and a piezo injector of a fuel injection system having a nozzle needle which can be moved between the closed position and an open position by the piezoelectric actuator are disclosed. Current is applied to the piezoelectric actuator from a source for the duration of a charging time as a function of a required quantity of fuel, in order to move the nozzle needle into its opened position for a time period which is dependent on the required quantity of fuel. The charging time is selected according to the following relationships: tcharge(p)=tnom,charge (p) for TI>tEP,p and tcharge (p, TI)≦Ti for TI≦tEP,p.
US09453471B2

A control device for an internal combustion engine provided with an evaporated fuel processing device arranged to temporarily store an evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank, to purge the evaporated fuel during drive of the engine, and to introduce the evaporated fuel to an intake system, and a variable compression ratio mechanism arranged to vary a mechanical compression ratio, the control device includes: a section configured to sense a state in which the evaporated fuel is accumulated in the evaporated fuel processing device, during a drive of the engine after a warming-up of the internal combustion engine is finished, the control device being arranged to purge the evaporated fuel by decreasing the mechanical compression ratio by the variable compression ratio mechanism when it is sensed that the evaporated fuel is accumulated.
US09453464B2

A control device for a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine is equipped with a variable compression ratio device capable of changing an engine compression ratio of the internal combustion engine. The control device detects or estimates the temperature of an exhaust component (B11), and sets a target exhaust gas temperature based on the temperature of the exhaust component (B12). A mixing ratio and compression ratio set section (B13) sets a fuel mixing ratio and the engine compression ratio within such a range as not to exceed the target exhaust gas temperature such that energy loss becomes minimum.
US09453461B2

A gas turbine engine fuel nozzle apparatus includes: an annular outer body, the outer body extending parallel to a centerline axis, and having a generally cylindrical exterior surface extending between forward and aft ends, and having a plurality of openings passing through the exterior surface; an annular main injection ring disposed inside the outer body, the main injection ring including an annular array of fuel posts extending radially outward therefrom; a main fuel gallery extending within the main injection ring in a circumferential direction; a plurality of main fuel orifices, each main fuel orifice communicating with the main fuel gallery and extending through one of the fuel posts; and a suspension structure connecting the main injection ring to the outer body, the suspension structure configured to substantially rigidly locate the position of the main ring in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction.
US09453450B2

A method of estimating a mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas includes sensing a mass flow rate of a flow of exhaust gas from the engine. A nitrogen oxides base concentration for when the engine is operating at a reference state is defined, and a nitrogen oxides ratio for a current operating state of the internal combustion engine is calculated. The mass flow rate of the flow of exhaust gas, the nitrogen oxides base concentration, and the nitrogen oxides ratio for the current operating state of the engine are multiplied together to define an estimated value of the current mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides in the flow of exhaust gas from the engine. The estimated value of the mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides may be compared to the output from a nitrogen oxides sensor to determine proper functionality of the nitrogen oxides sensor.
US09453446B2

Exhaust aftertreatment assemblies and methods of manufacturing and operating exhaust aftertreatment assemblies. The exhaust aftertreatment assembly includes a reductant delivery device, a reductant source fluidly coupled to the reductant delivery device, a mixing chamber positioned between the reductant delivery device and the reductant source and thereby fluidly coupling the reductant source to the reductant delivery device, and a compressed air source fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber upstream of the mixing chamber with respect to the reductant delivery device. The compressed air source provides compressed air to mix with reductant in the mixing chamber.
US09453440B2

An oil pump includes a relief valve. The relief valve adjusts a pump discharge pressure depending on a differential pressure between the pump discharge pressure and a back pressure chamber pressure. An electromagnetic switching valve includes a movable member moved electromagnetically. The movable member brings a ball valve element selectively into a state pressed onto a valve seat portion, to selectively close and open an oil passage. The electromagnetic switching valve selectively supplies the pump discharge pressure to a back pressure chamber of the relief valve and drains the back pressure chamber of the relief valve by selectively opening and closing the oil passage. A pilot valve is disposed downstream of the electromagnetic switching valve, and operates upon receipt of the pump discharge pressure or the back pressure chamber pressure, and controls an oil pressure supplied to the back pressure chamber of the relief valve.
US09453437B2

A valve actuation system is described containing a collapsible pushrod device for use in a reciprocating piston machine cylinder such as an engine. The collapsible pushrod device replaces a conventional pushrod. The system can include a driver base, plunger, and a deactivation pin assembly. In normal operation, the pins lock the driver base and plunger together thereby providing regular valve motion. Under selected conditions, the pin assembly controller unlocks the driver base from the plunger. Valve lift is reduced or eliminated. When eliminated, the cylinder is deactivated. The system can vary the effective compression ratio between higher for cold starting and other selected operating conditions and lower for warmed-up running, as well as trap additional exhaust residuals to assist starting and light load. This is especially useful for Diesel engines. Various means may be used to unlock the pins including oil pressure, bi-metal spring temperature, or electromagnetic activation. The telescoping motion which limits the motion of the valve may occur in one or more steps.
US09453436B2

An overhead-camshaft internal combustion engine is disclosed, in which the fuel pumps are arranged to use efficiently the space within a cylinder head assembly of the engine. The cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head block, and the engine comprises a camshaft rotatable about a camshaft axis and having a plurality of inlet and exhaust cams for actuating associated inlet and exhaust valves of the engine, and at least one fuel pump comprising a unit pump assembly driven directly by a respective pump cam provided on the camshaft. The engine further comprises a plurality of rocker arms driven by the inlet and exhaust cams and arranged to actuate the inlet and exhaust valves. Each rocker arm is pivotable about a rocker arm axis which is substantially parallel to the camshaft axis. The or each pump assembly is mounted between the rocker arm axis and the cylinder head block.
US09453434B2

A combined-type gas turbine engine system is provided which achieves high efficiency by very effectively using exhaust heat from a gas turbine engine. In a gas turbine engine system including: a compressor for compressing a first working medium; a heater for heating the compressed first working medium by an external heat source; a turbine for outputting power from the first working medium; an intermediate cooler provided at the compressor for cooling the first working medium compressed by a low-pressure compression part of the compressor and supplying the first working medium to a high-pressure compression part of the compressor; and an exhaust heat boiler using as a heating medium an exhaust gas from the turbine, a Rankine cycle engine using the intermediate cooler and the exhaust heat boiler as heat sources and a cooling medium of the intermediate cooler as a second working medium.
US09453432B2

To provide a power generation system that recovers heat from low-temperature exhaust gas of not more than 150° C. and utilizes the heat to increase an amount of generated electric power of a steam turbine, whereby efficiency in thermal use can be improved. A power generation system includes heat exchangers and configured to exchange heat of a heat medium and heat of water, and a vacuum flasher configured to supply steam to a vacuum stage of a steam turbine, wherein heat media are supplied to the heat exchangers and so as to generate a water fluid having a temperature exceeding a water boiling point under vacuum of a vacuum stage, the water fluid is supplied to the vacuum flasher to generate steam under vacuum of the vacuum stage, and the steam is introduced into the vacuum stage of the steam turbine, whereby an amount of generated electric power is increased.
US09453430B2

A method for inspecting a turbine blade of a turbine. The method includes operating the turbine and providing a plurality of ablative material strips on the turbine blade. Each strip is fabricated from a common base material and is configured to ablate after exposure to a corresponding predetermined temperature for a corresponding predetermined time period Ablation of a strip indicates a corresponding amount of creep has occurred in the blade. In addition, the method includes visually inspecting the strips at predetermined intervals to determine whether one or more of the strips is ablated.
US09453426B2

A stator vane adjusting device of a gas turbine has a plurality of stator vanes each rotatable about a radial axis 44 and arranged in at least two radial planes, as well as at least one stator vane adjusting ring connected to the respective stator vanes and rotatable in the circumferential direction by at least one actuating device. The actuating device includes a crankshaft element rotatable about a stationary pivot axis by an actuator. A first lever is articulated by a joint to the stator vane adjusting ring, with its free end being connected by a joint to a center area of a second lever, the second lever being mounted at its one end on a stationary pivot point and at its other end being linked by a joint to a third lever, which is mounted by a joint at its free end on the crankshaft element.
US09453425B2

An axial flow turbine diaphragm is constructed without welding or other metal joining techniques as an annular array of static blade units. Each blade unit comprises an aerofoil and radially inner and outer platforms integral with the aerofoil. The radially inner platform consists of a segment of the inner diaphragm ring and the radially outer platform consists of a segment of the outer diaphragm ring. At least the outer ring segment has engagement features that mechanically engage with complementary engagement features on neighboring outer ring segments in the annular array of blade units, the engagement features acting to mechanically interlock neighboring outer ring segments and produce a self-supporting turbine diaphragm.
US09453421B2

An apparatus having reduced wear and friction between CMC-to-metal attachment and interface of the apparatus, including a CMC component having a surface. The CMC component surface is configured for sliding contact with a surface of a metal component, the sliding contact resulting in formation of debris along the contacting surfaces. The surface of the CMC component has an engineered surface feature formed therein to substantially prevent an accumulation of debris along the contacting surfaces.
US09453419B2

An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes pressure and suction walls spaced apart from one another and joined at leading and trailing edges to provide an airfoil having an exterior surface that extends in a radial direction to a tip. A camber line at the tip extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Pressure and suction side shelves are arranged in the exterior surface on opposing sides of the camber line respectively in the pressure and suction side walls. A plateau is proud of and separates the pressure and suction side shelves. The plateau is arranged along the camber line and extends to the leading edge.
US09453418B2

A hollow article includes a metallic hollow article formed from a having a first major surface, an internal cavity with an opening in the first major surface, and a socket around the opening; a cover of composite material received in the socket and covering the opening; and a filler material of foam in the internal cavity.
US09453417B2

Systems and devices configured to reduce windage and mixing losses in a turbine by redirecting and/or aligning a direction of a leakage flow with the flowpath of the main flow of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base configured to connect to a diaphragm of a turbine; and a radial portion connected to the base and extending radially inboard from the base toward a rotor of the turbine, the radial portion oriented to adjust a direction of travel of a leakage flow of working fluid radially inboard at an angle complementary to a primary working fluid path of the turbine.
US09453415B2

A blade cascade for a continuous-flow machine having a non-axisymmetrical side wall contour, whereby the side wall contour has at least one suction-side depression that, in the circumferential direction, is at a distance from a suction-side wall, and having a section located upstream from the leading edges and a section located downstream from the leading edges, it has a pressure-side elevation that makes a transition to a pressure-side wall and that is located in a front blade area, and it has a pressure-side depression that is located upstream from the pressure-side elevation, and also discloses a continuous-flow machine having such a blade cascade.
US09453414B2

A cleat for a blade foot of a blade of a propeller of a turboengine is provided. The cleat allows the discharge of ventilation airflow of the blade foot.
US09453413B2

A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a circumferential array of regularly spaced apart features provided on the disk which are each configured for receiving a balancing weight. The circumferential array of features has an angular orientation relative to the circumferential array of blades such that the features are each located at an at least substantially same offset angle from a stacking line of a respective adjacent blade.
US09453403B2

The invention concerns a method to establish communication between the inner cavity of a drill string and the surrounding material down in a drill hole (60) during the use of a down-the-hole drill unit with a drill string (10), a down-the-hole hammer drill (1), and a source of pressurized medium (11) that delivers a medium under pressure to the down-the-hole hammer drill. Communication is established through: (a) that a tube section (10:1) of the drill string (10) is assigned openings (17), (b) that a piston (15) with an axial channel (16) is arranged, (c) that the piston (15) is inserted into the cavity of the tube section (10:1) in a manner that allows sliding, (d) that the piston (15) allows driving fluid to be led through a channel (16) from the source of pressure (11) to the down-the-hole hammer drill (1), (e) that the piston (15) is assigned a first part (40) of a recovery means (45), which part can be united with a second part (41), (f) that a lifting arrangement (42) is arranged at the surface level, (g) that the second connector (41) of the recovery means (45) is lowered into the drill hole (60), the piston (15) is fished up out of the drill hole and the compartment in the cavity of the tube section (10:1) that is formed is used as a measurement compartment.
US09453401B2

The chelating fluid for enhanced oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs and the method of using the same utilizes a chelating fluid injected into a carbonate oil reservoir through a fluid injection system. The chelating fluid is a solution of a polyamino carboxylic acid chelating agent in brine, with the polyamino carboxylic acid chelating agent having a concentration of approximately 5.0 wt % of the solution, with the solution having a pH of approximately 11.0. The polyamino carboxylic acid chelating agent is preferably ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The brine preferably has a relatively high salinity, with a sodium chloride concentration preferably on the order of approximately 18,300 ppm.
US09453392B1

A bop tray and related method for providing fast and effective containment of various wellhead liquids above and around the high drill assembly of a hydrocarbon wellhead blowout preventer.
US09453386B2

A system, including a magnetorheological (MR) fluid locking system, including a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, wherein the piston is configured to move axially within the housing, an MR fluid disposed in the housing, an MR fluid pump fluidly coupled to the housing, wherein the MR fluid pump is configured to pump the MR fluid into the housing, and an electromagnet configured to magnetize the MR fluid to control axial movement of the piston.
US09453380B2

A well tool apparatus comprises a control arrangement configured to control response of the downhole tool by varying a bore-annulus pressure difference. The control arrangement includes a valve piston longitudinally slidable in a generally tubular controller housing that is in operation substantially co-axial with the wellbore, to open or close a valve port to a fluid flow connection between the drill string's interior and the tool. A latch mechanism is configured to latch the valve piston against movement in one axial direction, keeping the valve piston in an open or a closed condition. Unlatching of the valve piston requires displacement thereof in the other axial direction to a mode change position. A stay member is automatically displaceable under hydraulic actuation responsive to bore-annulus pressure differences above a trigger threshold value, to obstruct movement of the latched valve piston under hydraulic actuation to the mode change position.
US09453378B2

A spinner assembly for threading or unthreading tubular members above the floor of a well site has a spinner with an open throat, a plurality of rollers rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a motor for driving the plurality of rollers, and a plurality of brackets supporting the plurality of rollers. The open throat is suitable for receiving one of the tubular members therein. The spinner housing has a common axis. The plurality of rollers are adapted to engage the tubular member received in the open throat. The brackets are disposed within the spinner housing on opposite sides of the open throat. The brackets are movable inwardly and outwardly of the spinner housing in opposite directions at a substantially straight line along the common axis.
US09453372B2

A fluid-actuated directional percussive impact tool includes a back head for connection to a pressurized fluid source and a tool casing housing a drill bit longitudinally movable with respect thereto. The drill bit has a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough. A sonde housing is coupled between the back head and the tool casing and has a sonde disposed therein. The sonde housing has a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough. A bent sub is integrally formed with the sonde housing and connects the sonde housing to the tool casing such that the central axis of the drill bit intersects the central axis of the sonde housing at a non-zero angle.
US09453371B2

An electric rolling door including a rail, a rolling door coupled to the rail, a control module connected to the rolling door to drive the rolling door moved along the rail, a rotating member, a sensing module, and a weighting member is provided. The rotating member is pivoted along an axis next to the rail, wherein the axis is parallel to an extending direction of the rail. The sensing module electrically connected to the control module is disposed on the axis and senses a motion of the rotating member. The weighting member freely pivoted to a bottom of the rolling door has a weighting portion and a pressing portion extending between the rail and the rotating member. A first torque generated by the weighting portion relative to the rolling door is greater than and opposite to a second torque generated by the pressing portion relative to the rolling door.
US09453369B1

A lineal retainer kit for facilitating the covering of openings defined by porch framing with mesh screening and a second material. The primary components of the kit are a lineal retainer, two splines for the two opposing grooves in the lineal retainers, a cap, and fasteners to hold the lineal retainers to the framing, and possibly also including mesh screening material. The lineal retainers use opposing grooves and splines to hold two different coverings, such as mesh screening and plastic film or a fabric, at the same time. In particular, the kit enables homeowners or contractors to tailor the environment of a porch to better meet the homeowner's needs by providing an easy way to add shade, privacy, ultraviolet light protection, or a different aspect of the porch decor.
US09453358B2

An apparatus for selectively securing at least a first zipper closure mechanism (25) and a second zipper closure mechanism (135) of a luggage case (100), may include a lock device (145) coupled to the luggage case (100). The lock device (14) includes a lock mechanism (158) operable between a locked and unlocked configuration, at least two securing recesses (151, 152, 153, 154) for releasable receipt of at least a portion of each of the respective first and second zipper closure mechanisms (125, 135), and at least one release member (160) for actuating the lock mechanism (158).
US09453355B1

Method and apparatus for a pool vacuum having a wheeled vacuum head having an internal rotating impeller driven by water pressure from a hose connected to the water return inlet of the pool wherein the internal impeller shares a common shaft with a propeller extending into the vacuum head so that the impeller turns the propeller which in turn creates a powerful, upward water flow which will lift leaves, debris and trash from the bottom of the pool upwardly through a housing and into a filter mounted on the upper end portion of the pool vacuum.
US09453343B1

A skylight mounting system and assembly is disclosed. The skylight mounting system of the present invention may include providing skylight assembly components and mounting such components to create the skylight assembly of the present invention. The components of the skylight assembly may include an upper frame having a downwardly extending upper channel, a lower frame having an upwardly extending lower channel, a connector clip, a gasket having a first and second gutter channel, and a lens. The lower frame may be secured to the gasket, the connector clip may be secured within the lower channel of the lower frame, the lens may be secured above the first and second gutter channels of the gasket, and an inside leg of the downwardly extending upper channel may be inserted into the connector clip secured within the lower channel of the lower frame.
US09453338B1

In a balcony comprising parallel transverse boards forming a floor, transverse joists and longitudinal parallel joists supporting the transverse boards, the installation of a watertight underdeck membrane above each pair of longitudinal joists protects the structure from decomposing by recuperating water infiltrating between boards. The membrane comprises flat sloped zones and a foldable gutter shaped zone between two flat zones. The gutter zone becomes progressively deeper from upstream till downstream by stretching it with fingers. At the most upstream point of the balcony, above the first transverse joist attached against a wall of a construction, the gutter zone is completely flattened to bend the membrane and put it against the wall, thus acting as a flashing which collects water flowing along the wall before infiltrating into joists. The membrane is rollable for facilitating transportation and also to cut at a desired length according to balcony length for avoiding unnecessary junction.
US09453337B2

A wall system for improved water drainage, and diminished probability of occurrence of mold, mildew and rot formation behind cladding attached to the wall system. The wall system is generally material agnostic, and may be used as an interface between a structural-wall sheathing (including house wraps, gage-metal framing, and felt), and exterior-façade materials, including, but not necessarily limited to: faux masonry, faux stone, mortar, stucco, and other aesthetic or exterior-façade materials. The following disclosure is also directed to systems and methods of attaching faux stone to a wall.
US09453332B2

The system has filling plates (10) that are provided between an inner cover plate and outer cover plate. The frame rails are formed with an intermediate trapped insulation. A connection element configured for connecting the posts and bolt so that the filling plates are provided in the skeletal segments. An outer edge of the outer cover plate of a filler panel is overlapped adjacent to the post or bolt. The connecting portion configured to jam the overlapping portions of the outer cover plate with post or bolt.
US09453324B2

A cutter head (1) for removing material from a water bed. The cutter head (1) is arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation (RA). The cutter head (1) includes a base ring (10) and a hub (20), the base ring (10) and the hub (20) being positioned rotational symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation (RA). The cutter head (1) includes a plurality of arms (30) extending between the base ring (10) and the hub (20), the arms (30) including a plurality of excavating tools (40). The excavating tools are provided by bits (40) having rotational symmetric bit ends (41), wherein the arms (30) include one or more groups of bits (40), each group including three or more adjacent bits (40) of which the bit ends (41) define a straight line segment (LS).
US09453317B2

This invention relates to a new marine fender, and relates to a method of assembly a fender. The fender is comprised of four quadrant sections that are conjoined at mating surfaces with tapered wedges inserted into tapered mortises formed at interrelated surfaces. This method of assembly enables an articulated cam action joint which dynamically interacts with kinetic impact energy. Preferably, the components are made from resilient material that is suitable for compression molding, and are approved for use in the marine environment. One preferred embodiment of the invention encircles a single piling. The fender can be positioned to float with changing water levels, and rotate upon impact. The marine fender can be installed on existing isolated and independent marine structures, such as monopiles and dolphins, with little or no modification of the structure.
US09453306B2

In an automated molding machine for ultra small draft angle slurry molding products, a righting gear of a righting mechanism drives a turning mechanism to perform a turnover action to assist righting an ascending or descending action along a righting rack of a righting shaft synchronously. When a slurry suction die is moved up and down and/or turned over, the slurry suction die can be ascended to a designated position through the righting provided by the righting gear and the righting rack to achieve a precise closing when the slurry suction film is carried, ascended and closed with an extrusion die or descended and closed with a moving mold. Meanwhile, the extrusion die is controlled by a power cylinder to perform a descending stroke and close the mold with the slurry suction die.
US09453301B2

Compositions for and methods of digitally printing an ink image onto a woven textile material are provided. A base application is applied to the surface of a woven textile material, especially one comprising synthetic resin fibers prior to application of an ink image layer. The base application comprises an acrylic latex material that is formulated to imprinted upon with a digital ink while still wet, thereby eliminating the need for an intermediate drying cycle in between base application deposit and printing of the ink image.
US09453292B2

A method of making a spunbond fleece from continuous filaments wherein at least some of the filaments produced have natural crimp. The filaments are deposited in the deposition station of a conveyor creating a filament mass and the conveyor transports the filament mass toward a consolidating device. A gas stream is produced that flows along the upper surface of the filament mass in the travel direction of the filament mass.
US09453291B2

A single crystal pulling apparatus (1) has a quartz crucible (2) for accommodating silicon melt (3), a graphite crucible (4) for retaining the quartz crucible (2), a tray (5) for securing and holding the graphite crucible (4) from below, and a crucible rotating shaft (6) for supporting the tray (5) from below and for elevating and lowering the tray (5) and the crucibles (2), (4) while rotating them. A low heat conductive member (10) is interposed on a joint surface between the tray (5) and the crucible rotating shaft (6). The low heat conductive member (10) is formed in a substantially tubular shape, and is interposed in such a manner that a protruding portion of the crucible rotating shaft (6) is inserted through a center hole of the low heat conductive member (10). Thereby, a gap portion (11) is formed below a bottom portion of the tray (5).
US09453286B2

There is described a method for determining single cell current efficiency in an electrolyzer, the method comprising: measuring voltage of a plurality of single cells in the electrolyzer; measuring electrolyzer current feeding the single cells; detecting one of a shutdown period and a start-up period; and for each single cell: determining a time t taken for a voltage level to reach a predetermined occurrence in a voltage curve after a polarization current has been triggered; and calculating cell current efficiency as a function of the time t.
US09453284B2

The present invention relates to a process for chemically modifying, within its thickness, a polymer matrix chosen from matrices made of fluoropolymers and matrices made of aliphatic polymers, said process comprising at least one step consisting in irradiating said matrix with UV light having a wavelength of less than 300 nm in order to generate, within the thickness of said matrix, zones that have short polymer chains, formed by scission of the existing chains during the passage of the UV radiation and that have free radicals denoted hereinbelow as “activated zones”. The present invention also relates to the polymer matrix capable of being chemically modified by such a process.
US09453283B2

A method of manufacturing a nanowire includes: forming a silicon oxide layer by performing deposition of a silicon oxide on a substrate; forming a metal layer by performing deposition of a metal on the silicon oxide layer; forming a metal agglomerate by performing heat treatment on the substrate where the metal layer is formed; and growing a nanowire in an area where the metal agglomerate is formed by performing plasma treatment on the substrate where the metal agglomerate is formed.
US09453279B2

A method may include providing a substrate having a surface that defines a substrate plane and a substrate feature that extends from the substrate plane; directing an ion beam comprising angled ions to the substrate at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane, wherein a first portion of the substrate feature is exposed to the ion beam and wherein a second portion of the substrate feature is not exposed to the ion beam; directing molecules of a molecular species to the substrate wherein the molecules of the molecular species cover the substrate feature; and providing a second species to react with the molecular species, wherein selective growth of a layer comprising the molecular species and the second species takes place such that a first thickness of the layer grown on the first portion is different from a second thickness grown on the second portion.
US09453277B2

A furnace of heat treatment capable of keeping a stable nitriding quality for a long period of time is provided. The furnace of heat treatment performs a halogenation treatment and a nitriding treatment by heating a steel material under a predetermined atmosphere. An alloy containing Ni ranging between 50 mass % or more and 80 mass % or less and Fe ranging between 0 mass % or more and 20 mass % or less is used as a material of surfaces of core internals exposed to a treatment space where the nitriding treatment is performed. Accordingly, a nitriding reaction is hardly caused on the surfaces of the core internals, and the halogenation treatment and the nitriding treatment to an article to be treated can be stably executed for a long period of time. Further, a nitrided layer can be stably formed according to purposes on any types of steel materials including a steel type hard to be nitride.
US09453268B2

An apparatus for quenching a ring shaped article includes a heating station for heating the ring shaped article to a quenching temperature; a primary cooling station for cooling the ring shaped article to a deformation correction initiating temperature; and a secondary cooling station for cooling the ring shaped article down to a temperature lower than a martensitic transformation point. The heating station includes a preheating station for heating by induction heating the ring shaped article to a predetermined preheating temperature near to the quenching temperature and a soaking station for heating the ring shaped article, which has been heated to the preheating temperature by the preheating station, to the quenching temperature within a continuous heating furnace. The preheating station includes a rotary table and a heating coil arranged to straddle between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the ring shaped article.
US09453253B2

The present invention is directed to methods of diagnosing the presence or absence of a bacterial infection in a patient, in particular, a tuberculosis infection, by measuring exhaled, isotopically labeled nitrogen gas after administration of isotopically labeled isoniazid.
US09453252B2

An apparatus for assaying a tumor drug delivery vehicle and or drug can include an idealized microvascular network (IMN) of one or more interconnected idealized flow channels in fluid communication through a porous wall with a tissue space (e.g., idealized tissue space) containing animal cells and means for quantifying drug delivery through the IMN to the animal cells.
US09453240B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the production of viral vectors. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for faster, higher titer and higher purity production of viral vectors (e.g. adenoviral vectors). In some embodiments, the present invention provides gutted and helper viruses with identical or similar termini. In other embodiments, the present invention provides terminal protein linked adenoviral DNA. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides template extended adenoviral DNA.
US09453237B2

The present invention relates to means and methods for modifying the expression of a component in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway to modify the production of carotenoid towards accumulation of at least one of phytoene, phytofluene, zeta carotene or combinations thereof. The present invention further relates to genetically altered organisms having elevated content of these carotenoids. The present invention further relates to genetically altered organisms having elevated content of these carotenoids, particularly in chromoplast-containing cells.
US09453233B2

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide, for example, a method for producing a Kluyveromyces marxianus transformant by a method for conveniently and efficiently connecting the ends of DNA fragments without using specific restriction enzymes or their recognition sequences, and a method for producing a useful substance using the transformant. The present inventors have found, as means to solve the object, a method comprising introducing two or more linear double-stranded DNA fragments free from a Kluyveromyces marxianus autonomously replicating sequence into Kluyveromyces marxianus and selecting a transformant comprising a desired DNA ligation product with marker gene expression by the desired DNA ligation product as an index, or comprising introducing a linear double-stranded DNA fragment comprising a Kluyveromyces marxianus autonomously replicating sequence, alone or in combination with one or more linear double-stranded DNA fragment(s) different therefrom into Kluyveromyces marxianus and selecting a transformant comprising a desired circular DNA ligation product with marker gene expression by the desired circular DNA ligation product as an index.
US09453229B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material with the object of providing an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material whereby a biological material can be efficiently introduced into a host.The invention comprises: one or more packing units in which a mixture solution containing a large number of magnetic supports carrying a biological material to be introduced into a host such as cells upon using, together with a large number of the hosts in a liquid is pooled; and an introduction treatment unit in which a magnetic force affecting the inside of the packing unit is controlled so as to move the magnetic supports relatively with respect to the host so that the biological material can be introduced into the host.
US09453226B2

A method of protecting a cell includes inhibiting an inflammasome, MyD88, IL-18, VDAC1, VDAC2, caspase-8, and/or NFκB of the cell. Administering an inhibitor of MyD88, IL-18, VDAC1, VDAC2, caspase-8, and/or NFκB can protect the cell from Alu-RNA-induced degeneration. Protecting a cell, such as an retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), can be therapeutically useful in the context of age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy.
US09453225B2

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.
US09453221B2

This invention relates to a composition comprising an antisense oligonucleotide that down-regulates intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) for use in treating inflammation, pain and/or discharge in a rectal stump.
US09453215B2

A variety of methods, devices and compositions are implemented for light-activated molecules. One such method is implemented for generating secondary messengers in a cell. A nucleotide sequence for expressing a chimeric light responsive membrane protein (e.g., rhodopsin) is modified with one or more heterologous receptor subunits {e.g., an adrenergic receptor (alpha1, Beta2)}. The light responsive membrane protein is expressed in a cell for producing a secondary messenger in response to light.
US09453214B2

Isolated polypeptides comprising or consisting essentially of specific structural motifs (e.g., three β-sheets and two α-helices) are provided, wherein the polypeptides exhibit at least one cell signaling and/or other non-canonical activity of biological relevance. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, binding agents that bind such polypeptides, analogs, variants and fragments of such polypeptides, etc., as well as compositions and methods of identifying and using any of the foregoing.
US09453210B2

The invention relates to cells and a method for producing acetone.
US09453209B2

Methods of treating an age-related disorder in a subject are provided. Aspects of the methods include administering to the subject a nucleic acid vector including a coding sequence for telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and/or telomerase RNA (TR). Gene therapy methods are also provided. Aspects of the invention further include compositions, e.g., nucleic acid vectors and kits, etc., that find use in methods of the invention.
US09453208B2

This invention provides for an improved generation of novel nucleic acid modifying enzymes. The improvement is the fusion of a sequence-non-specific nucleic-acid-binding domain to the enzyme in a manner that enhances the ability of the enzyme to bind and catalytically modify the nucleic acid.
US09453207B2

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase activity, and 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. A polynucleotide encoding a peroxygenase was isolated from Thielavia terrestris.
US09453206B2

The present invention provides a means and method useful for measurement of a total branched-chain amino acid concentration. Specifically, the present invention provides a modified enzyme in which at least one amino acid residue is mutated so as to improve a property of a leucine dehydrogenase which is associated with the measurement of the total branched-chain amino acids, such as, for example, substrate specificities of leucine dehydrogenase for total branched-chain amino acids, activity of leucine dehydrogenase for any branched-chain amino acids, and thermal stability of leucine dehydrogenase; and a method of analyzing the total branched-chain amino acids, comprising measuring the total branched-chain amino acids contained in a test sample using the modified enzyme.
US09453203B2

The present invention relates to a method and to vectors for the immortalisation of cells independent of their type. It further relates to a cell or a cell line produced with the method or the vectors of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of this cell or cell line in in vitro applications and in the treatment of disease.
US09453201B2

Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.
US09453196B2

A method of culturing adherent cells is provided, wherein the method comprises providing a carrier for growing the cells, comprising one or more surfaces; and one or more relief features/indentations are present on one or more of the surfaces, wherein the carrier has a length at least about 0.2 mm, a width at least about 0.2 mm, and a height in a range from about 0.012 mm to 0.5 mm; and wherein each of the relief features/indentations has a height above the surfaces in a range from about 2 to 200 μm, and width in a range from about 20 to 200 μm; seeding the cells on the carriers; and growing the cells on the carrier.
US09453192B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a high-acidity vinegar with improved efficiency compared with conventional methods and a high-acidity vinegar obtained by such method. The method of the present invention is characterized in that acetic acid fermentation is conducted with a culture solution which contains a compound having a thiol group or an S-substituted derivative thereof or a compound having a disulfide bond as an additive wherein a total nitrogen content of the culture solution is 0.023 w/v % or less. According to the method of the present invention, a high-acidity vinegar, which has a total nitrogen content of 0.015 w/v % or less and an acidity of 10 to 25 w/v % and contains a compound having a thiol group or an S-substituted derivative thereof or a compound having a disulfide bond at a concentration of 17 μM or more in terms of sulfur atoms contained in the thiol group or disulfide bond can be obtained.
US09453191B2

The present invention relates to a pourable thixotropic detergent composition comprising a continuous phase and at least 0.3 wt. % of suspended particles comprising water-soluble surfactant, said continuous phase containing at least 10 wt. % of an aminocarboxylate chelant and at least 10 wt. % of water and said water-soluble surfactant being selected from aryl sulfonate surfactant, alkyl sulfate surfactant and combinations thereof. The pourable detergent composition offers the advantage that it does not exhibit significant demixing during storage.
US09453188B2

A laundry scent additive having polyethylene glycol and perfume. The laundry scent additive enables consumers to control the amount of scent imparted to their laundry.
US09453186B2

A dishwashing composition made by mixing vinegar powder and lemon powder for use in a dishwashing machine or for other cleaning purposes. The vinegar powder is mixed with the lemon powder in any of a variety of proportions. Both the lemon powder and the vinegar powder are non-toxic to humans and pets.
US09453185B2

Low-viscosity liquid fabric softening compositions are disclosed that comprise a fabric softener active system that contains at least one ammonium fabric softener compound and less than 8% added solvent. The fabric softening compositions have a Dispersion Parameter that is less than 100, provided the fabric softening active system has a viscosity of less than 2000 cP at 80° C. and the fabric softening composition has an initial viscosity of less than 400 cP. A method of preparing the liquid fabric softening composition and a method of softening fabric articles with the liquid fabric softening composition are also disclosed.
US09453183B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desatorase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
US09453177B2

High energy (e.g., ultrasonic) mixing of a hydrocarbon feedstock and reactants comprised of an oxidation source, acid, and optional catalyst yields a liquid hydrocarbon product having increased cetane number. Ultrasonic mixing creates cavitation, which involves formation and violent collapse of micron-sized bubbles, which greatly increases reactivity of the reactants. Cavitation substantially increases cetane number compared to reactions carried out using conventional mixing processes, such as simple mechanical stirring. An aqueous mixture comprising water and acid can be pretreated with ozone or other oxidizer using ultrasonic cavitation prior to reacting the pretreated mixture with a hydrocarbon feedstock to promote cetane-increasing reactions. Controlling temperature inside the reactor promotes beneficial cetane-increasing reactions while minimizing formation of water-soluble sulfones.
US09453175B2

A fuel package comprising a biomass fire-log bound by an adhesive consisting of a starch and a hydroxide and at least one ignition aid is provided along with a method of manufacturing the same.
US09453172B2

The present invention provides biological oils and methods and uses thereof. The biological oils are preferably produced by heterotrophic fermentation of one or more microorganisms using cellulose-containing feedstock as a main source of carbon. The present invention also provides methods of producing lipid-based biofuels and food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products using the biological oils.
US09453170B2

A gasification system including: a casing defining: a solid material inlet; a fixed bed drying zone proximal the solid material inlet; a fixed bed pyrolysis zone arranged below the drying zone along a gravity vector, distal the solid material inlet across the pyrolysis zone; a kinetic bed combustion zone surrounded by the pyrolysis zone; and a kinetic channel extending through the drying zone and pyrolysis zone and fluidly connected to the combustion zone, the kinetic channel defining a kinetic bed reduction zone fluidly isolated from and thermally connected to the pyrolysis zone and the drying zone by the kinetic channel.
US09453169B2

A process for converting Fischer-Tropsch liquids and waxes into lubricant base stock and/or transportation fuels is disclosed. The process includes the steps of feeding a Fischer-Tropsch wax to a first isomerization unit to produce an isomerized Fischer-Tropsch wax product; combining a Fischer-Tropsch liquid with the isomerized Fischer-Tropsch wax product to create a mixture of the Fischer-Tropsch liquid and the Fischer-Tropsch wax product; and feeding the mixture to a fractionation column to separate the mixture into a lubricant base stock fraction and at least one transportation fuel fraction.
US09453166B2

This invention relates to compositions and methods for fluid hydrocarbon product, and more specifically, to compositions and methods for fluid hydrocarbon product via catalytic pyrolysis. Some embodiments relate to methods for the production of specific aromatic products (e.g., benzene, toluene, naphthalene, xylene, etc.) via catalytic pyrolysis. Some such methods may involve the use of a composition comprising a mixture of a solid hydrocarbonaceous material and a heterogeneous pyrolytic catalyst component. In some embodiments, an olefin compound may be co-fed to the reactor and/or separated from a product stream and recycled to the reactor to improve yield and/or selectivity of certain products. The methods described herein may also involve the use of specialized catalysts. For example, in some cases, zeolite catalysts may be used. In some instances, the catalysts are characterized by particle sizes in certain identified ranges that can lead to improve yield and/or selectivity of certain products.
US09453160B2

A plastic scintillator material, a plastic scintillator prepared by shaping the material, a detection portal, and a method for discrimination a signal due to fast neutrons. The plastic scintillator material including a polymeric matrix into which is incorporated at least one fluorescent compound at a mass concentration greater than or equal to 10% by mass of the total mass of the material. The polymeric matrix comprises a crosslinked polymer obtainable by polymerization of a mixture comprising at least one aromatic monomer and at least one monomer which is a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl diacrylate, an alkyl dimethacrylate, and a mixture thereof, and molar proportions of the crosslinking monomer and of the aromatic monomer in the mixture are from 10% to 50% and from 90% to 50%, respectively.
US09453154B2

A refrigerant mixture for use in multistage auto cascade ultralow and cryogenic temperature refrigeration systems. Particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerant mixture comprising one hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and the major proportion includes hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons and natural gases. More particularly, the present invention relates to non-flammable, non-toxic refrigerant mixture having no chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). Further, the present invention aims in providing a refrigerant mixture having low Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) combined with low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
US09453149B2

An adhesive includes an acrylic copolymer synthesized from a composition including a solution polymerizable acryl-based monomer, a vinyl-based monomer that is copolymerizable with the solution polymerizable acryl-based monomer, a β-carboxylethyl acrylate monomer, and a reaction initiator, and a compound including at least three epoxy functional groups.
US09453146B2

A cover tape having at least a base material layer, and an adhesive layer that is heat sealed by a resin carrier tape, the cover tape wherein the base material layer has an antistatic layer on a surface thereof that is on the reverse side to the adhesive layer; the antistatic layer contains at least an inorganic antistatic agent and a wax having a particle diameter of 0.2-3.0 μm; the inorganic antistatic agent is 40%-80% by mass and the wax content is 10%-50% by mass, relative to the total components forming the antistatic layer; and the surface resistivity of the base material layer side is no more than 1013Ω/□ in a 23° C.×30% RH atmosphere.
US09453140B2

The present invention concerns a binder for a mat of fibers, especially mineral fibers, which comprises: at least one monosaccharide and/or at least one polysaccharide; at least one polycarboxylic organic acid with a molar mass of 1000 or less; and at least one vinyl acetate homopolymer or copolymer. It also concerns the products resulting from treatment of the fibers, especially mineral, with said binder.
US09453125B2

High impact polystyrenes and related monovinyl aromatic polymers generally have either a high modulus or good resistance to environmental stress cracking. The present invention is directed at polymeric materials having both a high modulus and good resistance to environmental stress cracking thus enabling the down gauging of parts, and or the use of the materials in new applications. The invention is predicated on the use of one or more, or even all of the following features: a high molecular weight matrix polymer, reduced concentration of elastomeric polymer, or methods that result in large rubber particle size.
US09453124B2

The invention relates to methods for producing modified composite particles by A) mixing one or more finely divided inorganic solids and one or more organic polymers in a solvent or a mixture of several solvents, wherein finely divided inorganic solids are fixed to organic polymers and composite particles are thus formed. The organic polymers are based on a) one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers having one or more additional functional groups selected from the group comprising carboxylic acid groups or derivatives thereof, silane groups, sulfonic acid groups, sulfate groups, phosphate groups, phosphonate groups, isocyanate groups, amine groups, quaternized amine groups, hydrazine groups, epoxy groups, ether groups, hydroxy groups, or CO groups, and b) one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are different from monomers a), characterized in that subsequently B) one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized in the presence of the composite particles from step A).
US09453115B2

The invention provides polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for the preparation thereof More particularly, the invention relates to open-celled, polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for their preparation. The foams are characterized by a fine uniform cell structure and little or no foam collapse. The foams are produced with a polyol premix composition which comprises a combination of a hydrohaloolefin blowing agent, a polyol, a silicone surfactant, and a catalyst which is an adduct of an amine and an organic acid.
US09453112B2

A phosphorus-containing polymer comprises a plurality of phosphorus atoms, wherein about 75% or more of the phosphorus atoms in the phosphorus-containing polymer are present in phosphine oxide moieties. An article comprises a textile material having at least one surface and a phosphorus-containing polymer disposed on a least a portion of the surface, wherein the phosphorus-containing polymer comprises a plurality of phosphorus atoms, and wherein about 75% or more of the phosphorus atoms in the phosphorus-containing polymer are present in phosphine oxide moieties.
US09453111B2

New methods for synthesizing boron-modified silazanes, their use as polymer-derived ceramic precursors, and polymer-derived ceramics and composites formed therefrom are disclosed. The polymeric ceramic precursors comprise a boron-modified silazane that is a room temperature liquid-phase polymer comprising a backbone having recurring monomeric repeat units comprising boron-nitrogen bonds. Nanocomposites comprising polymer-derived ceramics and carbon nanotubes are also disclosed.
US09453110B2

Optically clear silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described that comprise a polymeric lens body that is the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least 25 wt. % of at least one hydroxyalkyl methacrylate; and at least 20 wt. % of at least one HEMA-compatible bifunctional polysiloxane comprising at least 6 siloxane groups and having an HLB value of at least 5 and/or a hydroxyl group content of at least 1 wt. %.
US09453109B2

A curable silsesquioxane polymer, a composition including such polymer, an article having a layer disposed thereon that includes the curable polymer and/or the cured polymer, and a method of forming a cured coating, wherein the curable silsesquioxane polymer includes a three-dimensional branched network having the formula: (I), or (II) wherein: the oxygen atom at the * is bonded to another Si atom within the three-dimensional branched network; R is an organic group comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group; R2 is an organic group that is not an ethylenically unsaturated group, and n or n+m is an integer of greater than 3; and the —OH groups are present in an amount of at least 15 wt-% of the polymer.
US09453100B2

The present invention encompasses polyurethane compositions comprising aliphatic polycarbonate chains. In one aspect, the present invention encompasses polyurethane foams, thermoplastics and elastomers derived from aliphatic polycarbonate polyols and polyisocyanates wherein the polyol chains contain a primary repeating unit having a structure: In another aspect, the invention provides articles comprising the inventive foam and elastomer compositions as well as methods of making such compositions.
US09453099B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods of making novel covalently cross-linked polyimines that non-malleable under standard conditions but yet may be rendered malleable.
US09453095B2

Photocurable or thermally curable thiosulfate-containing polymers have a Tg of at least 50° C. and (a) recurring units comprising pendant thiosulfate groups, and (b) recurring units comprising organic charge balancing cations that are associated with the (a) recurring units sufficiently to provide a net neutral charge with the pendant thiosulfate groups. These polymers can be represented by the following Structure (III): wherein R represents the organic polymer backbone, G is a single bond or a divalent linking group, M+ represents the organic charge balancing cation, and “a” represents at least 0.5 mol % and up to and including 50 mol % of (a) recurring units, and “b” represents the (b) recurring units and is at least equal to the “a” mol %, based on the total recurring units. These thiosulfate-containing polymers can be used to made dielectric compositions and gate dielectric layers in various devices.
US09453093B2

Polypropylene resin comprising at least 50 mol % propylene, an MWD (Mw/Mn) of greater than 5, a branching index (g′) of at least 0.95, and a melt strength of at least 20 cN determined using an extensional rheometer at 190° C. A catalyst system comprising a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a non-aromatic internal electron donor, and first and second external electron donors comprising different organosilicon compounds, and a method to produce a polypropylene resin comprising contacting propylene monomers at propylene polymerization conditions with the catalyst system are also disclosed.
US09453088B2

Prepolymerized catalyst component for the polymerization of olefins CH2═CHR in which R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical with 1-12 carbon atoms, having average particle size equal to or lower than 30 μm comprising a solid catalyst component comprising magnesium halide, a titanium compound having at least a Ti-halogen bond and at least two electron donor compounds one of which being selected from 1,3-diethers and the other one being selected from esters of aromatic mono or dicarboxylic acids, said solid catalyst component being prepolymerized with an olefin, having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, to such an extent that the amount of the olefin prepolymer is equal to or lower than 50 g per g of solid catalyst component.
US09453086B2

Described herein is a composition comprising an aqueous polymerization reaction product of fluorinated monomers and wherein the polymerization is initiated (i) in the absence of a fluorinated emulsifier and whereby no fluorinated emulsifier is added during polymerization or (ii) in the presence of an fluorinated emulsifier selected from: [Rf—O-L-COO-]i Xi+ (I) wherein L represents a linear or branched, non-fluorinated, partially fluorinated, or fully fluorinated alkylene group, Rf represents a linear or branched partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group or a linear or branched partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group interrupted with at least one oxygen atom, Xi+ represents a cation having the valence i and i is 1, 2 or 3; wherein the reaction product and/or the resulting aqueous phase are substantially free of di- and tri-alkylamines and substantially free of low molecular weight fluoroorganic compounds and methods thereof.
US09453085B2

An initiator composition, including at least two compounds represented by the chemical formula R—CO—O—O—CO—R and a compound represented by R1—O—O—R2, where R represents a C2-C12 alkyl or a C6-C10 aryl or substituted aryl, and R1 and R2 independently, at each occurrence, represent a C1-C10 alkyl or a C6-C10 aryl.
US09453075B2

Antigen binding proteins with TCR-like paratopes, that is, with an antigen binding region specific for an HLA-A2 restricted peptide are disclosed. The antigen binding proteins encompass antibodies in a variety of forms, including full-length antibodies, substantially intact antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′)2 fragments, and single chain Fv fragments. Fusion proteins, such as scFv fusions with immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor domains, incorporating the specificity of the antigen binding region for each peptide are also contemplated by the invention. Furthermore, immunoconjugates may include antibodies to which is linked a radioisotope, fluorescent or other detectable marker, cytotoxin, or other molecule are also encompassed by the invention. Among other things, immunoconjugates can be used for delivery of an agent to elicit a therapeutic effect or to facilitate an immune effector function.
US09453069B2

A diagnostic test for preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease is based on plasma levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, their ratio, or their rate of entry following administration of antibodies that sequester Aβ. Alterations of any of these parameters from control values identifies preclinical or clinical Alzheimer's disease.
US09453068B2

This disclosure provides antibodies that specifically bind to and typically neutralize botulinum neurotoxins (e.g., BoNT/A, BoNT/B, BoNT/E, etc.) and the epitopes bound by those antibodies. The antibodies and derivatives thereof and/or other antibodies that specifically bind to the neutralizing epitopes provided herein can be used to neutralize botulinum neurotoxin and are therefore also useful in the treatment of botulism.
US09453064B2

GLP-2 analogs are disclosed which comprise one of more substitutions as compared to h[Gly2]GLP-2 and which may have the property of an altered GLP-1 activity, and their medical use. The analogs are particularly useful for the prophylaxis, treatment or ameliorating of the gastro-intestinal associated side effects of diabetes.
US09453053B2

The present invention relates to shortened peptides comprising a muscle function enhancing amino acid sequence which is derived from the S100 calcium binding protein family. Furthermore, the present invention provides said peptides for medical use, in particular, for treating or preventing disorders associated with muscular malfunction, such as skeletal muscle or cardiac muscle disorders. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides and a method for treating or preventing disorders associated with muscular malfunction using said peptides or said pharmaceutical compositions.
US09453044B2

The invention relates to the synthesis of peptides, proteins and related bioconjugates, and in particular, to such synthesis using a peptide ligation method whereby a C-terminal salicylaldehyde ester peptide is reacted with an aminoacyl-N-hydroxl peptide. The invention also relates to the synthesis of cyclic peptides, including serinyl- or threonyl-containing cyclic peptides. The invention further relates to a solid phase synthesis of C-terminal salicylaldehyde ester peptides.
US09453042B2

Described herein are processes for the preparation of compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and hydrates thereof.
US09453038B2

Novel pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed as useful for treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and similar conditions. The compounds are effective as glucokinase activating agents. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also included.
US09453035B2

Compounds and method of preparation of Si—X and Ge—X compounds (X=N, P, As and Sb) via dehydrogenative coupling between the corresponding unsubstituted silanes and amines (including ammonia) or phosphines catalyzed by metallic catalysts is described. This new approach is based on the catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of a Si—H and a X—H moiety to form a Si—X containing compound and hydrogen gas (X=N, P, As and Sb). The process can be catalyzed by transition metal heterogenous catalysts such as Ru(0) on carbon, Pd(0) on MgO) as well as transition metal organometallic complexes that act as homogeneous catalysts. The —Si—X products produced by dehydrogenative coupling are inherently halogen free. Said compounds can be useful for the deposition of thin films by chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition of Si-containing films.
US09453031B2

Provided are chemical entities selected from compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R2 and m have meanings given in the description, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and stereoisomers thereof, which are inhibitors of ATR and are potentially useful in the treatment of cancer. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions of the chemical entities, combination products containing the chemical entities, the use of the compositions as therapeutic agents, and methods of treatment using these compositions.
US09453030B2

The present invention relates to oxidative degradation products of atorvastatin calcium and the process of the preparation thereof. The present invention also relates to atorvastatin calcium substantially free of oxidative degradation products and the pharmaceutical compositions containing such atorvastatin calcium.
US09453025B2

Tricyclic compounds are provided. These compounds are PBK inhibitors, and are useful for the treatment of PBK related diseases, including cancer.
US09453024B2

The present invention provides new pseudopolymorphic forms of darunavir as well as a novel amorphous form of darunavir, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods for their preparation and use thereof in treating retroviral infections, in particular, HIV infection.
US09453021B2

Provided are a compound represented by general formula (I), or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, (wherein Ra represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R1 and R2 may be the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, optionally substituted lower alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R1 and R2 are combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom thereto to form nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, and Z represents a bicyclic heterocyclic group in which optionally substituted two six-membered rings are fused to each other, or the like) and the like.
US09453020B2

Provided are compounds having formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are as disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically salt thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of their use, for instance in treating senility, senile confusion, psychoses, psychoneuroses when anxiety and nervous tension were present, cerebral arteriosclerosis, nausea, depression, fatigue, debilitation, mild behavioral disorders, irritability, emotional instability, antisocial attitudes, anxiety, vertigo or incontinence, or symptom thereof, or in improving cognitive function in individuals, for instance, in individuals with Down syndrome and other conditions, are also provided.
US09453005B2

Provided are compounds that are capable of modulating the activity of the influenza A virus via interaction with the M2 transmembrane protein. Also provided are methods for treating an influenza A-affected disease state or infection comprising administering a composition comprising one or more compounds that have been identified as being capable of interaction with the M2 protein.
US09453001B2

Disclosed is a method for preparing avanafil (I) by using cytosine as the starting material. The preparation steps comprise: using cytosine as the raw material, and enabling the cytosine to react with side chain 3-chlorine-4-methoxybenzyl halogen, N-(2-methylpyrimidine) methanamide and S-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidine, to prepare the target product avanafil (I). For the preparation method, the raw material is easily obtained, and the process is simple, economical, and environmentally friendly, so the method meets the requirement of industrial boost.
US09452998B2

PKC inhibitors are disclosed. The PKC inhibitors are useful for treating PKC associated diseases, including certain cancers. The PKC inhibitors have improved efficacy at lower dosage amounts to achieve tumor regression, improved potency, PK profile, absorption, gastrointestinal tolerance and kinase selectivity.
US09452988B2

The present invention is directed to bendamustine esters and bendamustine amides and their use for the treatment of cancer.
US09452987B2

A pentacyclic anion salt is provided for use thereof in electrolyte compositions. The compound has an inorganic, organic or organometallic cation M of valency m (1≦m≦3) and m anions corresponding to the formula (I) in which Rf is a —CFZ′Z″ group in which Z′ is F or a perflouroalkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and Z″ is an H, F or Cl group, an optionally fluorinated or perfluorinated alkoxy group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an optionally fluorinated or perfluorinated oxaalkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an optionally fluorinated or perfluorinated alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; Z″ being other than F when Z′ is F. An electrolyte composition comprises said salt in solution in a liquid solvent or a polymer solvent.
US09452986B2

Compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, amides, or radiolabelled forms thereof, wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined in the specification, are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by voltage-gated sodium channels, e.g., Nav1.7 and/or Nav1.8. Methods for making the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of compounds of formula (I), and methods for using such compounds and compositions.
US09452982B2

A method of providing a cooling effect to a product includes the incorporation into the product of at least one compound of the formula I in which m is a number between 0 and 2, X, Y and Z are selected independently from the group consisting of H, halogen, OH, Me, Et, MeO and EtO, and R1, R2 and R3together comprise at least 6 carbons, selected such that (a) (i) R1 is selected from the group consisting of H, Me, Et, isopropyl and C4-C5 branched alkyl; and (ii) R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of Me, Et, isopropyl and C4-branched alkyl; or (b) any two or all of R1, R2 and R3 together form a monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic radical having up to 10 carbons. The compounds confer substantial cooling effects on compositions applied to the skin or taken orally, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes, foodstuffs, beverages, confectionery, tobacco products, skin creams and ointments.
US09452979B2

An organic substance synthesis method according to an embodiment of the present invention is carried out using a submerged plasma device (1000), for example, and the method includes: forming a plasma through discharge in a gas including a carbon dioxide as in contact with water; and generating an organic substance including performic acid or diformyl peroxide in the water by contact between the plasma and the water.
US09452976B2

This disclosure describes the molecular cloning of a pactamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456, characterization of individual genes in the gene cluster and the proteins encoded thereby as well as uses thereof. The pactamycin gene cluster is located within an 86.35 kilobases genetic locus and includes 53 open reading frames, 26 of which are considered to be the core cluster directly involved in the biosynthesis of pactamycin. The present disclosure also relates to the use of the pactamycin biosynthetic genes located within the identified gene cluster for drug design and development purposes, including the development of pactamycin analogs that are more efficacious and less toxic. Also provided are drugs and antibiotics so produced, as well as methods of their use.
US09452974B2

Provided herein are compositions including diastereomers in substantially diastereomerically pure form and enantiomers in substantially enantiomerically pure form, and processes for preparing them and converting them to metyrosine.
US09452972B2

Prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate, pharmaceutical compositions comprising prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate, and methods of using prodrugs of methyl hydrogen fumarate and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating diseases such as psoriasis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis are disclosed.
US09452971B2

A method for manufacturing 3,5-dimethyl-1-adamantanamine of the present invention comprises: (i) a step of reacting 3,5-dimethyl-1-adamantanol with an acid and nitrile in an organic solvent to obtain a reaction solution; (ii) a step of adding water to the reaction solution obtained in step (i) to obtain 1-amido-3,5-dimethyladamantane; and (iii) a step of hydrolyzing 1-amido-3,5-dimethyladamantane obtained in step (ii) in the presence of an alcohol-containing solvent and an inorganic base.
US09452966B2

Methods to recover or separate cesium formate or rubidium formate or both from a mixed alkali metal formate blend are described. One method involves adding cesium sulfate or rubidium sulfate to the mixed alkali metal formate blend in order to preferentially precipitate potassium sulfate from the mixed alkali metal formate blend. Another method involves adding cesium carbonate or cesium bicarbonate or both to preferentially precipitate potassium carbonate/bicarbonate and/or other non-cesium or non-rubidium metals from the mixed alkali metal blend. Further optional steps are also described. Still one other method involves converting cesium sulfate to cesium hydroxide.
US09452965B2

A process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone is described in which cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to produce an oxidation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and at least part of cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide is contacted with a cleavage catalyst under conditions effective to produce a cleavage effluent containing phenol and cyclohexanone. At least one of the oxidation effluent and the cleavage effluent contains at least one phenylcyclohexanol as a by-product and the process further comprises contacting the phenylcyclohexanol with a dehydration catalyst comprising a molecular sieve of the MCM-22 family under conditions effective to convert at least part of the phenylcyclohexanol to phenylcyclohexene.
US09452964B2

The present invention relates to novel cycloalkyl-hydroxyl compounds, compositions comprising hydroxyl compounds, and methods useful for treating and preventing a variety of diseases and conditions such as, but not limited to aging, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, a disorder of glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, impotence, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid elimination in bile, obesity, oxysterol elimination in bile, pancreatitis, Parkinson's disease, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, phospholipid elimination in bile, renal disease, septicemia, Syndrome X, thrombotic disorder. Compounds and methods of the invention can also be used to modulate C reactive protein or enhance bile production in a patient. In certain embodiments, the compounds, compositions, and methods of the invention are useful in combination therapy with other therapeutics, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic agents.
US09452952B2

A new fertilizer comprising Urea Phosphite, which is made by reacting phosphorous acid with urea. Urea Phosphite is characterized by being a liquid produced in an unprocessed reaction, and by having phosphite as a phosphorus source and urea as a nitrogen source. The reaction product may be blended with an admix and spray dried, or dissolved in water.
US09452951B2

The invention provides a system for calcining active lime, including a precalcining furnace for receiving limestone materials to be calcined and precalcining the limestone materials, and a rotary kiln for receiving the materials containing precalcined product from the precalcining furnace, outputting the formed active lime, and at the same time supplying a first flue gas to the precalcining furnace. The calcining system further includes a precalcining furnace combustion device, which generates a second flue gas and supplies it to the precalcining furnace, such that the limestone materials are precalcined in the precalcining furnace under the action of the first flue gas and the second flue gas. In this way, the precalcining rate of the limestone materials in the precalcining furnace is significantly improved. Since the heat exchange in the precalcining furnace is mainly in the form of convective heat exchange having a high heat efficiency, the heat exchange efficiency of the whole system is improved, and thus the heat consumption of the system is reduced.
US09452946B2

A porous soot sheet is formed using a roll-to-roll glass soot deposition and sintering process. The soot sheet formation involves depositing glass soot particles on a deposition surface to form a supported soot layer, removing the soot layer from the deposition surface to form a soot sheet, and heating a portion of the soot sheet to locally-sinter the glass soot particles and form a porous soot part having a sintered peripheral edge.
US09452944B2

A method for manufacturing an optical element includes floating an optical element material in gas to heat the optical element material, and thereafter making first and second shaping molds contact the floating optical element material at the same time, and pressurizing the optical element material by using the first and second shaping molds.
US09452941B2

Pyrophoric material such as iron sulfide is frequently found in refinery equipment. When the equipment is opened to the atmosphere for maintenance, an exothermic reaction can take place that may cause injury to personnel and catastrophic damage to equipment. A process used to treat pyrophoric material uses sodium nitrite injected into a gaseous carrier stream to oxidize iron sulfides to elemental sulfur and iron oxides. The sodium nitrite solution may be buffered to a pH of about 9 with disodium phosphate or monosodium phosphate. A chemical additive that provides a quantitative measure of reaction completion may be added to the treatment solution.
US09452922B2

A microelectromechanical device includes: a body accommodating a microelectromechanical structure; and a cap bonded to the body and electrically coupled to the microelectromechanical structure through conductive bonding regions. The cap including a selection module, which has first selection terminals coupled to the microelectromechanical structure, second selection terminals, and at least one control terminal, and which can be controlled through the control terminal to couple the second selection terminals to respective first selection terminals according, selectively, to one of a plurality of coupling configurations corresponding to respective operating conditions.
US09452917B2

An apparatus is provided for guiding a vehicle onto a service lift having a pair of runways for receiving the wheels of the vehicle. In one embodiment, sensors attached to the runways generate sensor signals responsive to a position of the vehicle relative to the runways. The sensor signals are processed to determine and monitor the position of the vehicle relative to the runways, and a visual reference is displayed to guide an operator of the vehicle to drive the vehicle wheels onto the runways. In another embodiment, each runway includes a turntable for receiving the wheels. An actuator is connected to one runway and to its corresponding turntable, and is configured to move the turntable relative to the runway. The sensor signals are processed to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the runways, and to cause the actuator to align the turntable with the vehicle wheel.
US09452907B2

A manual device for applying a coating on a medium by means of a tape, the device comprising an applicator endpiece assembled to a casing and projecting from said casing, the endpiece presenting a tongue extending along a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, an applicator portion being formed at the distal end of the tongue, the applicator portion having an applicator edge, and a tape arranged longitudinally around the endpiece covering the tongue so as to go around the applicator portion, the width of the applicator portion being greater than the width of the tape. The width of the applicator edge is greater than or equal to the width of the tape and less than the width of the applicator portion, recesses being provided in the applicator portion in the vicinity of the lateral ends of the applicator edge, and width being measured along the lateral direction.
US09452906B2

A winding device for winding up at least one material to be wound onto at least one exchangeable tube, having at least one winding mandrel which is provided to receive the at least one tube in at least one operating state and/or drive it in rotation about a winding axis, comprising at least one winding mandrel has a first mandrel unit and at least one second mandrel unit, wherein the mandrel units are introducible from opposite sides into the at least one tube.
US09452904B2

There provided a guide member including: a first guide member that is disposed to face a first surface of a sheet which is transported to a first direction and that guides the sheet in front and at the rear of a processing position at which a process is performed on the first surface; and a second guide member that is disposed to face a second surface of the sheet and guides the sheet, wherein the second guide member includes specific plural convex portions.
US09452889B2

A tipper retrofit bearingless reciprocating slat-type conveyor assembly 200 for use in a load-holding compartment including a plurality of elongate hold down strips 220, a plurality of elongate guide trough subdecks 230, and a plurality of longitudinal slats 210 adjacent to and parallel to each other is described herein. Also described herein is a snap together bearingless reciprocating slat conveyor for use in a load-holding compartment (that has at least one cross-member having an overhang) that includes at least one reciprocating slat-type conveyor assembly 300, 400 and at least one elongate slat 310, 410 at least partially supported by at least one subdeck 330, 430. The at least one reciprocating slat-type conveyor assembly preferably includes at least one anchor 320, 420 (having at least one upper anchor subdeck engager 322, 422 and at least one lower anchor cross-member engager 324, 424) and at least one subdeck 330, 430 (having at least one upper subdeck anchor-slat engager 320, 420 and at least one lower subdeck cross-member engager 344, 444).
US09452879B2

A basket for holding beverage grounds includes a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at a top of the frame, a bottom portion that is closed, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, plurality of ribs and rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. A filter material is positioned in the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on an outside surface of the frame. The outer sleeve is configured to cover at least the plurality of openings to thereby provide an air-tight seal within the frame.
US09452877B2

A childproof and senior friendly packaging container having a housing that defines a chamber for removably receiving a blister card or sheet. The blister card includes a blister or node on its end that is designed to engage a pair of slots within the sleeve of the housing to retain the blister card within the housing in a stored position and an extended position. The node may include a sloped rear surface to allow the blister card to be returned to a stored position. Squeezing the sides of the housing about the interior slot biases both the top panel of the housing and the panels defining the slot to release the node from the slot to allow the blister card to be withdrawn.
US09452872B2

A lockable cap is disclosed that is a security feature for a medical prescription bottle. The lockable cap may have a dial locking mechanism and the dial locking mechanism and the cap can be attached or removed from the bottle only when the user has the correct combination on the dial lock. When the combination is incorrect a mechanism, including a dog plate within a housing, is disengaged and the inner cap cannot be removed from the bottle.
US09452864B2

A pallet includes a deck having columns supporting the deck. The deck includes a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from an upper sheet. A reinforcement sheet is secured to lower ends of the ribs. The reinforcement sheet is a coextruded sheet having a first material selected to bond well with the ribs and a second material selected for other improved physical properties. In the example disclosed herein, the second material is chosen for improved fire retardant properties. As one example, the reinforcement sheet can be vibration welded or hot plate welded to the lower ends of the ribs, thereby providing a strong weld between the reinforcement sheet and the ribs, which provides increased performance of the upper deck while the fire retardant layer of the reinforcement sheet provides fire retardant properties to one of the largest surfaces on the pallet.
US09452859B2

A carton and carton blank for forming a carton, and comprising first, second, third and fourth substantially four-edged panels, each comprising a side wall part (4,6,8,10), a top closure obturating part (24,26,28,30) and a top sealing fin part, one of the panels being substantially free from any line of weakness extending inwardly from lateral edge zones of the one of the panels from an outermost boundary of the side wall part (8) to an outermost boundary of the top sealing fin part. Alternatively, the one of the panels is substantially free from any line of weakness extending inwardly from lateral edge zones of the one of the panels from an innermost boundary of the top closure obturating part (28) to an outermost boundary of the top sealing fin part. A further alternative of the one of the panels being substantially free from any line of weakness extending inwardly from lateral edge zones of the one of the panels from an outermost boundary of the side wall part (8) to an outermost boundary of the top closure obturating part (28) is also disclosed where the obturating part includes a loop of weakness (44). Transition sub-panels (68,74) in the carton top closure area are also disclosed.
US09452858B2

A cap-free closable neck end for a filler neck of a tank of a motor vehicle may include an upper entry space forming an insertion region for a fuel nozzle and being surrounded by a side wall, a lower sealing flap arranged in the upper entry space and closing mechanism arranged above the lower sealing flap, which includes an upper filling opening and an upper cover, which in a closed state at least partially covers the upper filling opening, and such that the upper cover is displaced by inserting an outlet pipe of a fuel nozzle into the upper entry space for releasing the upper filling opening to allow for the insertion of the outlet pipe through the upper filing opening and the lower sealing flap.
US09452844B1

A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap comprises: a flight data recorder; a tracking device comprising at least one camera; a rapid ejection system for ejecting the flight data recorder and tracking device; a soft landing system; and a tow system, wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; and wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device.
US09452843B1

An aircraft airbag inflation system includes an airbag mounted on an external surface of an aircraft. The airbag is configured to inflate in one of multiple stages prior to the aircraft crashing, and each stage is associated with a respective pressure. The system also includes multiple sensors disposed on-board the aircraft and configured to sense aircraft velocities and an aircraft attitude. The system also includes a controller disposed on-board the aircraft and configured to receive multiple signals from the sensors, the multiple signals representing the aircraft velocities and the aircraft attitude sensed by the sensors, determine a crash event for the aircraft based on the received multiple signals, the crash event including an aircraft sink rate, an aircraft attitude at crash time, and an aircraft distance from the impact surface, and determine a stage at which the airbag is to be inflated based on the crash event.
US09452841B2

An aircraft comprises a turbine engine suspended from a wing by means of a pylon. Compressed hot air is bled off from the turbine engine. A bleed air duct in the wing conveys the compressed hot air towards a fuselage. In order to prevent overheating of aircraft parts that are relatively close to the bleed air duct, the following solution is proposed. The pylon comprises an opening with a covering structure projecting into a bypass exhaust flow from the turbine engine. The covering structure leaves a slit facing away from the bypass exhaust flow. An airflow path extends from openings in the wing to the slit left by the covering structure.
US09452839B2

The assembly for aircraft cockpit comprising a seat in which a crew member is intended to sit and a display and control device. The display and control device is configured to be mounted relative to the seat displaceable between a first position in which the display and control device is arranged to be used in front by the crew member when the latter is sitting in the seat and a second position in which the display and control device is arranged to be used by said crew member to the side and leave free the frontal zone of the crew member when the latter is sitting in the seat. The invention also relates to an aircraft cockpit and an aircraft.
US09452836B2

An aircraft fuselage comprising a structural wall and a floor delimiting a cabin for passengers, said wall being covered by a plurality of adjacent trim panels arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage and spaced from one another with a gap between two adjacent panels. Each panel is also fixed to the wall and has a concave shape adapted to the shape of the fuselage. At least one lighting device is disposed at the level of at least one of the gaps and is arranged perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage. The lighting device comprises a housing fixed to the wall. The housing is provided with an opening on a face oriented toward the interior of said cabin. The housing further comprises at least one lighting element making it possible to light the cabin through the gap.
US09452829B2

A method for controlling rotor blades of a co-axial rotor assembly of an aircraft including a first rotor co-axial with a second rotor includes identifying a first zone of rotor rotation angles of the co-axial rotor assembly. The first zone defines a range of rotor rotation angles corresponding to an up-flow of air to the coaxial rotor assembly, and the remainder of the rotor rotation angles other than the first zone of rotation angles is defined as a second zone. The method includes receiving a yaw command to adjust a yaw moment of the aircraft and applying a different rotor blade angle change to rotor blades in the first zone than a rotor blade angle change applied to rotor blades in the second zone to adjust the yaw moment of the aircraft according to the yaw command.
US09452824B2

Embodiments are directed to obtaining a first analog signal corresponding to a position error between a commanded gang output of a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators configured to be run in parallel with one another and a measured gang output of the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators, obtaining a second analog signal corresponding to an output torque, and processing, by a circuit, the first analog signal and the second analog signal to generate and output a discrete that indicates a status of the torque in terms of direction and magnitude.
US09452800B1

The bicycle-mounted personal hydration system includes a bladder having a profile that is nested inside of a portion of a bicycle frame so as to not interfere with operation of said bicycle. The bladder includes a first port located on a side surface. The first port enables the bladder to be refilled. The bladder also includes a second port located at a bottommost portion of the bladder. The second port may be in fluid communication with a hose, which travels across the bicycle frame. The hose is further defined with a distal end, which includes a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is configured to deliver water from the bladder to a bicyclist. The bladder may be made of a flexible material, and include a polygonal shape that is consistent with the opening in a bicycle frame associated with top tube, head tube, and down tube.
US09452796B2

A suspension system for a tracked work vehicle is provided that includes an undercarriage beam and a roller wheel beam assembly having a plurality of roller wheels and a roller wheel beam having a front clevis and a rear clevis. The suspension system also includes a front bushing mount coupled to the front clevis and a rear bushing mount coupled to the rear clevis. Moreover, the front bushing mount and the rear bushing mount are rigidly coupled to the undercarriage beam and configured to damp roll of the roller wheel beam relative to the undercarriage beam. Additionally, the suspension system includes at least one vertical mount disposed between the roller wheel beam and the undercarriage beam. Each of the at least one vertical mount is configured to provide vertical support for the roller wheel beam and to damp vertical movement of the roller wheel beam relative to the undercarriage beam.
US09452795B2

Outer side end sections 16a of a floor undercover 16 in a width direction of a vehicle are provided so as to overlap, in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, with rear wheels 19 forwardly of the rear wheels 19b in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Front parts of the side end sections 16a in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are composed of concavities 20 concave upward in a vertical direction of the vehicle relative to other parts of the floor undercover 16. Fronts of the concavities 20 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are open, while rear end surfaces 22 of the concavities 20 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are inclined obliquely downwardly toward the rear of the vehicle.
US09452791B2

A vehicle front end load bearing bolster is provided with improved structural performance and a lower component weight, while also minimizing material, tooling, and production costs. The front end assembly is formed with a hydro-formed cross car reinforcement tube secured or bonded with mechanical fasteners and room temperature adhesive to a bolster, thereby improving stress distribution and increasing cross car system stiffness. The bonded hydro-form tube/bolster assembly provides increased torsion stiffness and dimensional stability to the vehicle frame. The hydro-formed cross car reinforcement tube have flattened terminal ends with apertures for integrated attachment to a bolster. The hydro-formed cross car reinforcement tube is formed of aluminum, brass, carbon, steel, stainless steel, copper and high strength alloys. The bolster is formed of high strength plastics and composites including sheet molding compounds (SMC), bulk molding compounds (BMC), and thermoplastic compounds such as glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) and direct long fiber thermoplastic (DLFT).
US09452786B2

A side panel structure (20), including a side outer panel (21) provided on the vehicle exterior side, and a side inner panel (22) provided on the vehicle interior (12) side. The side outer panel (21) and the side inner panel (22) form, as a closed cross-section structure, a peripheral edge section forming door openings (35, 36). The side outer panel (21) comprises an inner frame (26) formed from a high-strength steel sheet having a high tensile strength, and an outer frame (27) provided to the outer periphery section (26a) of the inner frame (26). The outer frame (27) is formed from a low-strength steel sheet having a low tensile strength.
US09452781B2

A vehicle framework member is provided with a framework member, a reinforcing member and a connecting plate. The framework member has a closed cross section structure including plural wall portions structuring a framework of a vehicle. The framework member includes an inflection portion that is inflected at a portion partway along a length direction. The reinforcing member is fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin and includes a pair of side walls formed in inflected flat plate shapes along the inflection portion. The reinforcing member is disposed in the closed cross section structure at the inflection portion of the framework member. The connecting plate connects the pair of side walls of the reinforcing member and connects a compression deformation side wall portion of the inflection portion with an extension deformation side wall portion of the inflection portion.
US09452780B2

A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle includes: a longitudinal guide controller; a transverse guide controller; at least one operating element via which the transverse guide controller is able to be activated only in common with, or in addition to, the longitudinal guide controller; a steering sensor which detects an operation of the steering wheel by the driver, the transverse guide controller being able to be deactivated by a signal of the steering sensor without the longitudinal guide controller being deactivated; and a brake pedal sensor which detects an operation of the brake pedal of the vehicle, the transverse guide controller and the longitudinal guide controller being able to be deactivated by a signal of the brake pedal sensor.
US09452775B2

A friction compensation control unit includes a contact state determination unit that determines the contact state of a speed reducer, a friction coefficient estimation unit that estimates a friction coefficient of a power column, and a frictional force estimation unit that estimates a frictional force generated in the power column. The contact state determination unit determines the contact state of the speed reducer based on a first assist torque command value, a detected steering torque, and an estimated load torque. The friction coefficient estimation unit estimates a friction coefficient of the power column based on an estimated motor angular velocity. The friction force estimation unit computes a second assist torque correction value based on the result of determination made by the contact state determination unit, the friction coefficient, the detected steering torque, the estimated load torque, and the estimated motor angular velocity.
US09452770B2

A steering wheel of the present invention is provided with: a spoke cored bar portion configured to couple a boss cored bar portion and a rim cored bar portion to each other. At least a surface of a respective one of the rim cored bar portion and the spoke cored bar portion is covered with a synthetic resin. An inclined longitudinal wall portion is coupled to the spoke cored bar portion at a connection portion, and at an intermediate part of the connection portion, an easily deformable portion is formed. In this manner, it is possible to provide a steering wheel which is not degraded in appearance quality, even if a rib for preventing shrinkage of a resin is increased in size, the steering wheel having an excellent dynamic performance thereof.
US09452766B2

A goods fixing structure for a trolley contains: two support columns, a connection mount, and at least two retainers. A control bar is disposed between two top ends of the two support columns, and the connection mount is mounted between two bottom ends of the two support columns and includes two locking recesses defined on one side thereof. Each retainer has an abutting face and two contacting faces. Each contacting face has an engaging rib arranged thereon to retain with each of the two locking recesses. Thereby, the at least two retainers are connected with the connection mount of the trolley, and each retainer has the abutting face. Thus, the at least two retainers position columnar or cylindrical goods stably when pushing the trolley, thus avoiding the goods dropping from the trolley.
US09452765B2

A method of casting a core includes the steps of preparing a first half of a corebox, preparing a second half of a corebox such that the parting line of a core formed from the first and second coreboxes runs along the vertical axis of the core.
US09452764B2

A railcar coupler having a head portion extending from a shank portion, the coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler has weight reduction features that also are configured to provide strength to the coupler when handling forceloads. The coupler may have a head with a front face with bores provided in the front face a cavity extending through the coupler, a guard arm with cavities formed therein, and a shank having a plurality of longitudinal cavities and adjacent ribs separating the cavities. Preferred embodiments may be constructed from an austempered metal.
US09452762B2

In the event that a steering device is damaged, the damaged component is prevented from dropping onto a surface of a track or prevented from making contact with a surface of a track, even if a component to prevent dropping is not newly installed. A railway vehicle steering truck having a steering device with a steering link which is rotatably connected to an axle box which supports a steering axle, and a connecting link rotatably connected to a bolster, and these are each rotatably connected to a steering lever which is rotatably connected to a truck frame. A length A1 or A2 from one center of rotation of the steering link is shorter than a radius B of a wheel that has reached a wear limit.
US09452753B2

A hybrid vehicle control device includes a drive system including a starter motor, an engine and a motor/generator, and a power supply system including a high power battery, a capacitor, and a hybrid control module which controls charging and discharging of the capacitor. The hybrid control module performs a starter start-up control, a motor-generator start control and charging and discharging control: during EV mode, when the operating point in accordance with the vehicle speed and required driving force is present in a M/G start-up region, the hybrid control module maintains the capacitor voltage at or below a deterioration free voltage, and when the operating point is deviated from the M/G start-up region, the hybrid control module recharges the capacitor to or above a starter start-up permission voltage.
US09452750B2

A method of operating a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator in a vehicle drive includes operating the vehicle drive in a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the first operating mode including operating the first motor/generator as a generator and operating the second motor/generator as a motor, the second operating mode including operating both the first motor/generator as a generator and the second motor/generator as a generator when a first power generation capability associated with the first motor/generator is below a first threshold level, the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator providing electrical power to the DC bus without doing either of (a) providing electrical power to an energy storage device or (b) consuming electrical power from an energy storage device.
US09452746B2

A method for controlling a flow of air includes establishing a level of vacuum in a booster device by generating the flow of air from the booster device using a pump. The method also includes determining whether the level of vacuum in the booster device has reached a predetermined value. The method additionally includes terminating the flow of air from the booster device when the level of vacuum in the booster device has reached the predetermined value. A system for controlling a flow of air according to the method may be incorporated into a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine that is adapted to drive the pump.
US09452743B2

A braking method for a motor vehicle including a hybrid or electric propulsion system, a hydraulic braking system, an electric braking system recuperating electrical energy, a brake pedal, systems to assist with driving of the vehicle, and a vehicle electronic stability control system. The method includes: selecting one of torque setpoints from between a pedal torque setpoint relating to position of or force supplied to the brake pedal, and a torque setpoint relating to the driver assistance systems; formulating a hydraulic braking torque setpoint independent of a state of the pedal by the electric or hybrid propulsion system; acquiring information relating to stability of the vehicle; formulating a hydraulic braking torque setpoint and an electric braking torque setpoint intended for the hybrid or electric propulsion system based on the selected torque setpoint, the independent hydraulic braking torque setpoint, and the information relating to the vehicle stability.
US09452740B1

A wheel roller for a chain conveyor of an automated carwash has a direct connection of the wheels to the carrier link. The wheel roller contains a carrier link and a roller frame supported by the carrier link. The roller frame has a plurality of pins rigidly connected to the carrier link. A plurality of wheels is supported by the pins of the roller frame. Because the roller frame is rigidly connected (e.g. welded) to the carrier link, the wheels cannot rotate about the carrier.
US09452736B2

The invention relates to a wiper blade for cleaning the windshields of vehicles, comprising at least one elongated carrier element (6) on which a wiper strip (5) having at least one wiper lip (5.1) is held, a wiper blade adapter attached to the carrier element (6), said adapter being designed to mechanically connect the wiper blade (2) to a wiper arm (1) or to a wiper arm adapter (11) provided on the wiper arm (1) in a joint direction, at least one electric heating element provided on the wiper blade (2), and at least one electrical connecting element provided on the wiper blade adapter on the wiper blade side, said connecting element having at least one electrical contact for establishing an electrical connection between the heating element and a power supply provided or held on the wiper arm (1).
US09452732B1

A remote sensing device is utilized to activate boundary alert sensors in a vehicle to reduce current loading during a key-off condition. Communication between the remote sensing device and the vehicle is via a radio-frequency interface that is part of a remote keyless entry system. The remote sensing device transmits a signal to the vehicle when an object is detected within a predetermined range of the remote sensing device. In response to the signal, the vehicle activates one or more boundary alert sensors. The boundary alert sensors may include a camera, a radar, and an ultrasonic sensor. The remote sensing device can be configured to extend a range of the radio-frequency interface by repeating messages that it receives.
US09452731B2

Provided is a mounting apparatus for a buckle transmission apparatus. The mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket to couple the buckle transmission apparatus, which comprises a transmission cable coupled to a buckle head and a driving unit coupled to the transmission cable to transmit the buckle head to a required position, to a vehicle body, and a cover member provided under the buckle head, allowing the transmission cable to pass the cover member, and fitted into an internal structure of a vehicle.
US09452728B2

A seat assembly that may include a seat back, an airbag module having an airbag, and a reinforcement chute. The seat back may have a seat back frame that may have a side member. The reinforcement chute may be fixedly coupled to the side member above and below the airbag module.
US09452725B2

An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes an airbag module arranged in a hub region of a vehicle steering wheel used for steering vehicle wheels about a steering angle when the steering wheel is turned to a rotary position. The airbag module has an airbag configured for deployment between a driver and the steering wheel in the event of a crash. An adjustment unit is provided to turn the steering wheel from the rotary position to a crash position while the steering angle of the vehicle wheels remains unchanged so as to align the airbag with a posture of the driver in the event of a crash.
US09452717B2

A mounting system includes a vehicle seat having a seatback frame with a forwardly rolled support flange. The forwardly rolled support flange defines a cavity and is disposed on an upper portion of the seatback frame. A support member is received on the support flange and has a generally inverted U-shaped body portion and a loop portion. In assembly, the support member rolls on to the support flange to define a landing for mounting an accessory to the upper portion of the seatback frame.
US09452716B2

A folding tonneau cover or lid is configured for selectively enclosing at least a portion of an open topped bed of a pick up or SUV type motor vehicle. The tonneau cover includes one or a plurality of flexibly linked panels extending between cooperating side walls of the open topped bed, and is manually operable for displacement between a deployed position wherein the open topped bed is fully covered and a retracted position wherein the open topped bed is partially or fully exposed. At least one panel forms a generally planer first surface facing downwardly when in the deployed position and upwardly when in the retracted position, and a second surface facing upwardly when in the deployed position and downwardly when in the retracted position. A cup holder is integrated with one of the panel surfaces and forms a beverage container receiving cavity opening away from the panel surfaces.
US09452715B2

In one aspect, a coupling system is provided. The coupling system includes a first component comprising a body, a second component comprising an inner wall defining at least one receiving aperture, wherein a notch is formed in the inner wall, and at least one tab extending outwardly from the body. The at least one tab is biased in a direction away from the body, and a retention feature is formed on the at least one tab and configured to interferingly engage the notch. When the at least one tab is inserted into a corresponding receiving aperture of the at least one receiving aperture, the at least one tab is biased against the inner wall and the retention feature interferingly engages the notch to facilitate coupling the first component to the second component in a desired orientation.
US09452711B2

The present invention provides a horn sound output control apparatus of a vehicle, including: a vehicle speed comparing unit; an object determining unit which, when it is determined that the current speed of the principle vehicle is equal to or lower than the reference speed, determines that an object located within a predetermined distance from the principle vehicle is the other vehicle; a horn volume adjusting unit which, when it is determined that the object is the other vehicle, adjusts a horn volume of the principle vehicle to maintain a reference volume and when it is determined that the object is not the other vehicle, adjusts the horn volume of the principle vehicle to be equal to or lower than the reference volume; and a horn sound output unit which outputs a horn sound of the principle vehicle to the outside based on the adjusted horn volume.
US09452708B2

A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a housing attached to a substrate to form a viewable portion, a peripheral portion, and a rear portion. A light source is operably coupled with an optical device. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed between the light source and housing and is configured to emit a first converted light in response to a first excitation light. A second photoluminescent structure is disposed between the first photoluminescent structure and the housing and is configured to emit a second converted light in response to a second excitation light.
US09452705B2

Lamp comprising: a light source comprising one or more LED type diodes; control means for controlling the geometry of the light beam of said light source in response to a control information or a control signal; a control unit for generating said control information or said control signal; wherein the control unit comprises a image sensor generating at least one image of the area illuminated by said light source and processing means for processing said image so as to generate said control information or said control signal.
US09452699B2

A vehicle seat air-conditioning device includes a vehicle seat, an electric blower, and a plurality of ducts. The vehicle seat includes a plurality of regions. The electric blower includes a plurality of fans and one electric motor. The plurality of fans correspond to the plurality of regions, respectively. The electric blower drives the plurality of fans by the one electric motor to have blowing capacity corresponding to the plurality of regions respectively. Each of the plurality of ducts is provided between a corresponding one of the plurality of regions and a corresponding one of the plurality of fans. An air flow produced by each of the plurality of fans passes through a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts. The air flow passing through each of the plurality of ducts air-conditions or ventilates a corresponding one of the plurality of regions.
US09452695B2

A car seat and base are provided for controlling movement of the car seat during deceleration of a vehicle in which the car seat and base are secured.
US09452691B2

A transportation apparatus includes a payload receiving unit, a transportation body, and a compensation system arranged there between providing adjustment of a desired spatial relationship of a payload surface of the compensation unit. The compensation system has at least one of a first compensation unit and a second compensation unit for adjustment of the spatial relationship. The compensation units adjust the spatial relationship in different directions. Thus the compensation system maintains a desired orientation of the payload surface independent of changes of orientation of the transportation surface. Further, the compensation system substantially maintains a common point of gravity of the transportation apparatus including the payload by displacing the center of gravity of the payload receiving unit and the payload substantially opposite to a displacement of a center of gravity of the transportation apparatus. At least one of the compensation units are extendable from at least one end thereof during operation.
US09452684B2

Methods and apparatus for managing energy services are disclosed. One method includes: reporting, by a respective asset of the first type, an identifier associated with a grid connection point that establishes a location of the respective asset of the first type at the grid connection point on the electric grid; receiving, by the respective asset of the first type, operating conditions for realizing the energy service, the received conditions being based on the established location of the respective asset of the first type on the grid; and operating the respective asset of the first type in accordance with the received operating conditions to realize the energy service. An energy service controller includes a communication unit for receiving, from a mobile asset, an identifier associated with a grid connection point connected to the asset and a processor for determining a location of the asset on the grid based on the identifier.
US09452682B2

A transmission for a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission includes a casing defining a first cavity and a second cavity inside the casing, with the first cavity selectively open to outside of the casing. The transmission also includes a platform at least partially disposed inside the casing to separate the first and second cavities. Furthermore, the transmission includes a power inverter module selectively disposed in the first cavity. The power inverter module includes a cooling system for cooling the power inverter module. The transmission also includes a guide attached to the platform and the casing within the second cavity such that the guide provides fluid communication between the cooling system of the power inverter module within the first cavity and outside of the casing while bypassing the second cavity.
US09452674B2

A work vehicle includes an engine and a hood enclosure at least partially surrounding the engine. The hood enclosure may include a front grille and a secondary grille spaced apart from the front grille. The hood enclosure may also at least partially define an airflow compartment. The work vehicle may also include a heat exchanger disposed in the airflow compartment between the front grille and the engine and at least one cooling fan disposed in the airflow compartment between the heat exchanger and the engine. The at least one cooling fan may generally be configured to generate a reversible airflow within the airflow compartment between the front grille and the secondary grille.
US09452661B2

A vehicle air conditioning system includes a compressor configured to compress refrigerant, a condenser, an evaporator, a temperature sensor and a controller. The condenser receives the refrigerant from the compressor and the evaporator receives the refrigerant from the condenser. The temperature sensor is positioned proximate the evaporator to measure a temperature of air passing through the evaporator prior to entering a vehicle passenger compartment. The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor to cycle the compressor on and off based upon the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and correlation data stored in the controller that correlates temperatures at the evaporator to estimated moisture densities at the evaporator to maintain the moisture density of the air in the vehicle passenger compartment below a predetermined moisture density threshold.
US09452655B2

A ride height control system includes a velocity monitor, corner ride height sensors, a processor receiving height inputs from the height sensors and velocity inputs from the velocity monitor. A cross-flow averager cooperates between the front airbags and is in communication with the processor. The cross-flow averager and the processor cooperate with the height sensors corresponding to the front corners, so as to provide a single pseudo height controller controlling, by selective actuation of the cross-flow averager, airflow between the corresponding front corners. The velocity monitor monitors forward velocity of the vehicle and provides velocity information to the processor. The processor causes the cross-flow averager to isolate the front airbags when the velocity is above a non-zero pre-set velocity and to allow a cross-flow of the airflow between the front airbags below the pre-set velocity. The pre-set velocity may be a range of velocities.
US09452651B2

A suspension mount comprises an inner plate, an elastomer member, a lower case, and an upper plate. A plate includes an extended portion extending from the circular-cylinder portion. An incline portion is integrally formed on the extended portion and clamped by the elastomer member. The elastomer member clamps the incline portion of the extended portion from the outer periphery side. Thereby, when the plate is fixed in a status that the plate and the elastomer member are contained in the case, the input in the axial direction of the mount will be decomposed into a compressive load in an axial direction and a compressive load in an axially-perpendicular direction by the incline portion. Therefore, the elastomer member is held in a status that it is precompressed in the axial direction and the axially-perpendicular direction.
US09452650B2

[Problem] To provide a vehicular arm component which is easily manufactured and advantageous in reducing a cost without causing a steep change in a cross section.[Solution] A vehicular arm component is formed by subjecting a workpiece (W), the workpiece being a flat plate extending in a plane formed by a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, to press processing in stages so as to butt and joint two side surfaces in the second direction. The vehicular arm component includes: a cylindrical portion (10) configured to be provided along the first direction and have a cylindrical shape; a bracket portion (20) configured to be provided in either end in the first direction of the cylindrical portion and have an outer diameter expanding as it goes to the outside in the first direction; and two flange portions (30) configured to be provided to face each other along the second direction in the bracket portion and provided with through holes (20H) at positions facing each other along the second direction.
US09452637B2

A vehicle wheel includes a rim portion, a hub portion, a plurality of spokes and a plurality of decorative attachments. Each pair of adjacent spokes defines a window therebetween. The plurality of decorative attachments are secured to the wheel and each define a plurality of rearwardly extending boss portions. Each boss portion abuts the wheel. In certain applications, the boss portions may be received within a respective countersunk hole in the wheel and engaged by a fastener for securing the decorative attachment to the wheel. A free end of each of the boss portions abuts a bottom of its respective countersunk hole and the decorative attachment is otherwise spaced from the wheel to reduce noise issues. Alternatively, the ends of the boss portion may be spaced from the wheel and drawn toward the wheel with the threaded fasteners.
US09452629B1

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a fusing device, a cooling device, and a processor. The fusing device includes a fusing member and a pressure member, the fusing member being heated by a heat source. The fusing device conveys a sheet, the sheet being heated and pressed between the fusing member and the pressure member. The processor causes the cooling device to perform the cooling process to cool the fusing member every predetermined timing when the image erasing process is performed.
US09452625B2

An architecture is presented that provides a dual port printer device for printing food safety labels. The dual port printer accommodates multiple widths of supply rolls and comprises two ports for the printed labels to exit from and a touch panel screen. Specifically, the touch panel screen is positioned in the center of a pivoting front door, with the printed labels exiting lower on the door, below the touch panel screen. Further, the dual port printer device comprises removable supply flanges which easily accommodate any width of supply roll within its minimum and maximum width limits, and an adjustable loading chute which would direct the supply web from the supply roll to the printing module for printing of the labels.
US09452624B2

A printing position and cutting position adjusting method includes: printing on a medium an origin point adjusting image having multiple checking blocks using an ink-jet head; cutting the medium using a cutting head along a contour of the origin point adjusting image; removing a part of the medium cut by the cutting head from the medium; and inputting an amount of misalignment between a position at which the image is printed on the medium and a position at which the medium is cut to a controller. The amount of misalignment is inputted as a correction value between the printing position and the cutting position. The printing of the origin point adjusting image or the cutting of the medium includes a check process of producing a position shift per a predetermined dimension by each checking block in a main scanning direction or a sub scanning direction of the ink-jet head.
US09452604B2

In an embodiment, a fluid level sensor includes a sensor plate and a current source. The fluid level sensor also includes an algorithm to bias the current source such that current applied to the sensor plate induces a maximum difference in response voltage between a dry sensor plate condition and a wet sensor plate condition.
US09452600B2

An infeed system for a can body decorator in which undecorated can bodies are transported from an upstream supply in a conveyor (21). In the conveyor (21), the can bodies have a linear pitch as they are touching each other. One or more infeed turrets (22, 23; 25, 27; 28, 9, 3) separate each can body and change the pitch to the circular pitch of a separator turret and, ultimately to that of the mandrel wheel (10) in the decorator assembly.
US09452591B2

A tempered glass screen protector includes a substrate structure, a protection structure, and an adhesion structure. The substrate structure has a transparent portion and a non-planar decorative portion extended from the transparent portion. The protection structure includes a first transparent adhesive layer disposed on the bottom surface of the transparent portion and a transparent protective layer disposed on the first transparent adhesive layer. The adhesion structure includes a first adhesive layer disposed on the bottom surface of the non-planar decorative portion, a base layer disposed on the first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer disposed on the base layer. The thickness of the protection structure is smaller than the thickness of the adhesion structure, so that there is no any watermark or Newton ring formed between the transparent protective layer and the display area of the portable electronic device when pressing the transparent portion.
US09452590B2

A multilayer film includes 50 or more layers of each of two or more thermoplastic resins having different optical properties are alternately laminated with each other, wherein the average reflectance in a wavelength range of 900 to 1,200 nm is 70% or higher; both of the differences between the a* values (Δa*) and between the b* values (Δb*), respectively, of transmitted light incoming at an angle of 12° and of transmitted light incoming at an angle of 45° are 10 or less; and the multilayer film comprises a bandwidth of not less than 50 nm where the transmittance is 80% or lower in a wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm.
US09452589B2

A composite liner includes first and second basalt fabric layers with at least one of the first and second basalt fabric layers formed from woven basalt fibers. The composite liner further includes a core positioned between the first and second basalt fabric layers, where the first and second basalt fabric layers are secured to the core.
US09452584B2

A partition assembly comprising a partition matrix made up of intersecting first and second slotted partitions, each of the partitions having at least one slot and a rounded edge. The slots of the partitions are engaged with each other at a plurality of intersections. The partitions are made by rounding an edge of a multi-layered blank using a rotatable tool and then cutting the partition material to a desired size. Slots may then be formed in the edge sealed material.
US09452582B2

An aircraft collapsing device that collapses an aircraft fuselage inward includes: a gate-shaped shell which covers a circumference of both sides and an upper portion of a fuselage of an aircraft body from which horizontal wings and a vertical wing have been decoupled, a wedge-shaped pressing member that is mounted to an upper portion of the shell to press at least one portion of a circumference of at least one of annular frames juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage toward a center of the fuselage, a pair of sidewall pressing members that is mounted to both sides of the shell to press the fuselage simultaneously from two directions crossing a pressing direction of the wedge-shaped pressing member at the center of the fuselage after pressing by the wedge-shaped pressing member, and a moving unit that moves the fuselage of the aircraft and the shell relative to one another.
US09452575B2

The invention provides novel processes for producing in-mold labeled containers and the containers produced using such processes. The processes involve setting a multilayered label having an oxygen barrier layer into a mold and injecting a melted resin suitable for forming a container into the mold. The process forms a container with an oxygen barrier layer. In preferred embodiments, the multilayered label has at least an oxygen absorbing resin layer containing ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and an oxygen absorbent and the container is retortable.
US09452573B2

A method is proposed for access to optical fibers contained in an optical module, with a flexible structure for example, of an optical fiber transmission cable. The optical module includes a protective sheath in which the optical fibers are housed. Such a method includes: extracting the optical module from the transmission cable; degrading a portion to be stripped of the sheath of the optical module by heating to a specific temperature, for a predetermined duration; and accessing the optical fibers by stripping the portion to be stripped that has been degraded.
US09452559B2

A vertically closing closure unit for an injection molding machine includes a moveable mold mounting plate, and at least one frame bar for guiding the moveable mold mounting plate. A vertical restraint device holds and locks the moveable mold mounting plate to the at least one frame bar.
US09452546B2

A method for producing material panels includes scattering material onto a belt with a scattering device to form a mat to be compressed, and compressing narrow sides of the mat transversely to the production direction with a compaction device. A plant for producing material panels includes at least one compaction device arranged between a press and a scattering device and configured for compressing a mat by displacing narrow sides of the mat in the direction of the longitudinal central axis of the mat and/or by compressing a region adjoining the narrow sides of the surface side of the mat. A device for producing material panels includes at least one compaction device for compressing a mat by displacing narrow sides of the mat in the direction of the longitudinal central axis of the mat and/or by compressing a region adjoining the narrow sides of the surface side of the mat.
US09452529B2

A robot includes: a base; a first arm rotatably coupled to the base about a first axis of rotation; a second arm rotatably coupled to the first arm about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation or being an axis parallel to an axis perpendicular to the first axis of rotation; a third arm rotatably coupled to the second arm about a third axis of rotation, the third axis of rotation being an axis parallel to the second axis of rotation; a first angular velocity sensor installed to the first arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the first axis of rotation; and a second angular velocity sensor installed to the third arm and having an angular velocity detection axis parallel to the third axis of rotation.
US09452525B2

A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident.
US09452522B2

A magnetic base for selectively magnetically latching to a ferromagnetic surface includes a magnet holder, a fixed magnet assembly supported within the magnet holder, a movable magnet assembly supported within the magnet holder, and a transmission. The transmission includes an input, an output coupled to the movable magnet assembly for moving the rotatable movable assembly relative to the fixed magnet assembly through a predetermined range of motion, and a plurality of transmission elements positioned between the output and the input. The transmission elements are configured to provide a variable mechanical advantage between the output and the input during at least a portion of the predetermined range of motion.
US09452521B2

A magnetic drill press includes a main housing, a drill unit supported by the main housing for relative movement therewith in a direction of a rotational axis of the drill unit, and a magnetic base coupled to the main housing for selectively magnetically latching to a ferromagnetic workpiece. The magnetic base includes a plurality of grooves formed on a surface of the magnetic base engageable with the ferromagnetic workpiece.
US09452520B2

An electric power tool includes a motor having a drive shaft, a tool output shaft rotated by rotational force of the drive shaft, a clutch unit that connects or disconnects a torque transmission line between the drive shaft and the tool output shaft according to load torque of the tool output shaft, a load detector that outputs a load torque signal in accordance with the load torque of the tool output shaft, and a control unit that performs a rising detection mode, which detects rising of the load torque signal to stop rotation of the motor, and a falling detection mode, which detects falling of the load torque signal to stop rotation of the motor. The control unit selects the rising detection mode or the falling detection mode according to a usage condition signal indicating a usage condition of the electric power tool.
US09452519B2

A tool includes a handle that defines an axis, a stabilizer mounted along a length of the handle and a hook mounted to the handle, the hook angled with respect to the handle.
US09452511B2

A combination ER wrench is disclosed for use in installing and tightening collet holders in connection with milling machines or machining centers. The disclosed wrench combines the function of multiple wrenches. The disclosed wrench has two open ends and two box ends that fit various collets and collet holders common in the industry, along with a box end to fit a retention knob. The open ends of the wrench have arcurate jaws and five points to contact the collet and/or collet nut. The box ends of the wrench are openings shaped to contact the collect and/or collet nut.
US09452510B2

A device comprises supports (3, 4) which can be moved relative to each other, and on mutually facing walls of which toothed profiles (6, 7) are provided. Each toothed profile interacts with opposing segments (31, 32) of a rotatable gear (2), by the rotation of which the supports (3, 4) can be moved in opposite directions simultaneously in a synchronized manner. The gear (2) has a varying tip circle diameter (d) along the gear circumference, wherein the tip circle diameter (d) increases along a segment (31, 32), and an effective outer diameter (dw) of the gear (2) is arranged between the supports (3, 4) in a clamped rotational position, so that the effective outer diameter (dw) matches a target diameter.
US09452508B2

Adjustable knife holder adapted to maintain sharpness of a knife blade and method of manufacturing the knife holder. The knife holder comprises a housing defining an interior volume therein and a sharpener disposed in the interior volume for slightly sharpening the knife blade each time the knife blade is inserted into or withdrawn from the holder, thereby obviating a need to periodically resharpen the knife blade. The sharpening component can be conveniently removed and interchanged with another sharpener for maintaining sharpness of various types, styles and sizes of knives.
US09452507B2

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a polishing pad suitable for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method obtains a liquid polyurethane material formed from an isocyanate-terminated molecule and a curative agent. The liquid polyurethane material contains 4.2 to 7.5 weight percent fluid-filled polymeric microspheres in the isocyanate-terminated molecule. The fluid-filled polymeric microspheres are a blend of preexpanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres. The liquid polyurethane material contains a blend of preexpanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres having a relative viscosity μ μ 0 of 1.1 to 7. Then the liquid polyurethane material solidifies into a polyurethane matrix that contains preexpanded and expanded fluid-filled polymeric microsphere for forming the polishing pad.
US09452505B2

A flexible membrane for use in a carrier head has a generally circular main portion with a lower surface, an annular outer portion for connection to a base assembly, and an annular flap extending from the main portion on a side opposite the lower surface for connection to the base assembly. At least one surface of the flap has a surface texture to prevent adhesion.
US09452504B2

A digital panel of a belt sander includes a control module. The control module is electrically connected with a conveyer motor and an abrasive belt wheel motor of the belt sander. The control module is connected with a detection module. The control module is further connected with a digital display module and an operation module. Thereby, the operation module controls the conveyer motor and the abrasive belt wheel motor of the belt sander, and detects the running state of the conveyer motor and the abrasive belt wheel motor through the detection module, and displays the running data of the conveyer motor and the abrasive belt wheel motor through the digital display module for the belt sander to be digitalized.
US09452502B1

A tool and a method are provided for processing a workpiece. A housing is provided having a base, an exterior and an interior. A first inlet port is provided on the exterior of the housing and the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. A first outlet port is provided on the exterior of the housing and the outlet port is in fluid communication with the interior of the housing and the first inlet port. A cutter is rotatably supported within the housing.
US09452499B2

The invention refers to a method for applying heat resistant protection components onto the surface of a heat exposed component. The method including providing at least two separate heat protection components, and joining the at least two separate heat protection components onto their top surface and/or bottom surface and/or at least one side surface by flexible means for obtaining an integrally handable entity. The method further includes fixing the integrally handable entity by applying and brazing the surface of each heat protection component on the surface of the heat exposed component. The materials of the flexible means and for joining the flexible means on the separate heat protection components are selected such that the materials withstand brazing being performed under protective atmosphere, i.e. an atmosphere without or with reduced amount of oxygen, at process temperatures between 700° C. and 1200° C., and that the materials are burned out after brazing during a following oxidizing thermal step.
US09452472B2

A wear resistant casting and method of fabrication thereof, the casting comprising inserts embedded in a matrix; each insert having a form such that a ratio A/B in any mutually perpendicular section that passes through the center of mass of the insert is comprised between 0.4 and 2.5, and a distance C between two insert is at least two times smaller that a width thereof; the inserts forming at least one grid.
US09452458B2

Disclosed are compositions of matter comprising at least one anaerobic degrading microorganism, particulate active carbon and a polymeric solid support wherein the anaerobic degrading microorganism and particulate active carbon are entrapped in the polymeric support and processes for preparing the same. The disclosed compositions of matter are used in processes of anaerobic degradation of waste materials resulting in high yields of biogas production.
US09452454B2

A dry type cleaning housing which causes a cleaning medium to fly with an air flow and places the cleaning medium on a cleaning object to clean the cleaning object is disclosed. The dry type cleaning housing includes an inner space which causes the cleaning medium to fly; an opening which abuts the cleaning medium against the cleaning object to collide the cleaning medium with the cleaning object; a ventilation path which passes air from outside into the inner space; a suction opening which suctions the air introduced into the inner space via the ventilation path to generate a revolving air flow in the inner space; a porous unit which passes removed matter removed from the cleaning object to the suction opening side; and a revolving air flow adjusting unit which arbitrarily reduces or stops the revolving air flow.
US09452453B2

A system and method for uniformly applying a wetting agent to a treatment surface. The method involves providing a reservoir for the wetting agent that is maintained at ambient pressure. The wetting agent is pumped away from the reservoir by an electrically driven suction pump to a nebulizing nozzle. A spray of droplets of the pumped wetting agent is created by passing through the nebulizing nozzle. The spray of droplets is uniformly applied to the treatment surface. In one embodiment, the wetting agent is a formwork fluid and the treatment surface is a concrete formwork. In another embodiment, the wetting agent is an asbestos dampener and the treatment surface is an asbestos containing material.
US09452450B2

The present invention relates to a rejecter for a product sorting system comprising at least two different co-located rejection means wherein each rejection means is independently activatable to deflect a product from a sorting stream.
US09452449B2

A conveyor assembly insertable within a conveying system including a low friction conveying surface having both forward and lateral conveying forces for moving articles toward a parallel lateral sidewall and a downstream conveyor. A first diverging sidewall gradually converges parcels toward the center of the conveyor. An inwardly directed offset extends from a first diverging sidewall to a second lateral sidewall for shifting parcels inwardly toward a second lateral sidewall. A raised high friction conveying surface or rail belt extends along an outer edge of the low friction conveyor. At least a portion of the high friction belt is raised above the surface of the adjacent conveying surface in flow communication with the low friction conveying surface. Parcels contacting the high friction belt are prevented from shifting over toward the sidewall and parcels having a center of gravity outside the tipover point fall over the belt onto a recirculation conveyor.
US09452447B2

An ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound imaging system including an acoustic layer with a plurality of transducer elements and a dematching layer coupled to the acoustic layer. The dematching layer has an acoustic impedance greater than the acoustic layer and the dematching layer has a thickness that varies in order to alter a bandwidth of the ultrasound probe.
US09452443B2

A motorized viscous material dispenser, especially a caulking gun, comprises a motor (27), an operation parameter sensor (51), a data processing device (35), a memory device (37), and at least one operator activated switch (7, 10). The dispenser has a first dispensing mode in which the data processing device (53) records operation parameter values read by the operation parameter sensor (51), when a switch (7) is activated by an operator, and stores at least one operation parameter value in the memory device (37), the motor (27) being activated in accordance with the activation of said switch (7), and a second dispensing mode in which the data processing device (35) activates the motor (27) in accordance with the operation parameter values stored in the memory device (37) when a switch (7) is activated by an operator.
US09452442B2

An electronic spray device comprising a spray generator and a spray controller for providing a drive signal to the spray generator, wherein the spray generator includes a perforate membrane which vibrates ultrasonically in response to the drive signal, said vibration causing liquid droplets to be ejected from one side of the perforate membrane, wherein the spray controller is adapted to modulate the drive signal sent to the spray generator, wherein such modulation of the drive signal is arranged to set the mean power level supplied to the spray generator to a target level.
US09452439B2

An airbrush having a nozzle (22) through which gas can flow, the end of the nozzle having an inclined surface (30). The apparatus also includes support means for a liquid source (28) which, in use, is directed towards the inclined surface of the nozzle.
US09452427B2

A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases is disclosed. The mechanical separator includes a float having a passageway extending between first and second ends thereof with a pierceable head enclosing the first end of the float, a ballast longitudinally moveable with respect to the float, and a bellows extending between a portion of the float and a portion of the ballast. The bellows is adapted for deformation upon longitudinal movement of the float and the ballast, with the bellows isolated from the pierceable head. The float has a first density and the ballast has a second density greater than the first density. The bellows is structured for sealing engagement with a cylindrical wall of a tube, and the pierceable head is structured for application of a puncture tip therethrough. The separation device is suitable for use with a standard medical collection tube.
US09452425B2

An ionic liquid is used as liquid matrix for organic synthesis in homogeneous phase on soluble support, the ionic liquid being presented in liquid or solid form at ambient temperature, of formula A1+X1−, A1+ representing a cation, functional or non-functional, or a mixture of cations in which either none of the cations is functional or at least one of the cations is functional, and X1− an anion, functional or non-functional, or a mixture of anions in which either none of the anions is functional or at least one of the anions is functional.
US09452422B2

Hydrotreating catalysts and processes useful for the conversion of methoxylated aromatic compounds to simple aromatic compounds are provided. The catalysts comprise transition metal selected from the group consisting of Group 8 metals, Group 9 metals, Group 10 metals, Group 11 metals, and mixtures thereof, and catalyst support selected from the group consisting of shape-selective zeolite, silica, titania, zirconia, and mixtures thereof.
US09452420B2

Provided is a process for preparing a diaryl ether compound through the dehydration of an aromatic alcohol compound in the presence of a dehydration catalyst. The dehydration catalyst is an oxide of a medium rare earth element, wherein the medium rare earth element is samarium, europium, gadolinium, or mixtures thereof.
US09452419B2

A carrier for an ethylene epoxidation catalyst is provided that includes an alumina first component and a mixed metal oxide of alumina second component. The mixed metal oxide of alumina second component comprises a corundum lattice structure having a plurality of O—Al—O bonds, wherein an Al atom of at least one O—Al—O bond of the plurality of O—Al—O bonds, but not all of the plurality of O—Al—O bonds, is replaced with a divalent or trivalent transition metal selected from the group consisting of scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). A catalyst containing the carrier, as well as a process for the epoxidation of ethylene using the catalyst are also disclosed.
US09452418B2

A gold/titanium nanotube-multiwalled carbon nanotube composite (Au/TNT-MWCNT) is presented. The gold composition comprises at least 3% weight of the nanotube composite based on the total weight of the nanotube composite and the gold composition is located in at least one of the wall of the titanium nanotube and the wall of the multiwalled carbon nanotube. Photocatalytic oxidation of neat cyclohexane (CHA) with H2O2 as an oxidant was carried out. Au/TNT-MWCNT catalysts promoted partial CHA oxidation with high conversion (6-7.5%) and selectivity (60-75%) to cyclohexanone.
US09452417B2

The catalyst disclosed is a catalyst including palladium-ruthenium alloy fine particles in which palladium and ruthenium form a solid solution. The palladium-ruthenium alloy fine particles used in this catalyst can be produced by a production method including the step of maintaining a solution containing a protective agent, a reducing agent, a palladium compound or palladium ions, and a ruthenium compound or ruthenium ions at a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.
US09452414B2

Metal exchanged and impregnated zeolite materials, methods for making metal exchanged and impregnated zeolite materials, and systems for reducing an amount of a contaminant species in a feed stream using a metal exchanged and impregnated zeolite material are provided. An exemplary metal exchanged and impregnated zeolite material comprises a metal exchanged zeolite material with the formula ((M2/nO)a.(M′2/n′O)a′). Al2O3.bSiO2; and a metal oxide with the formula M2/nO impregnated in the metal exchanged zeolite material such that the metal oxide is contacting an interior surface of the pore structure of the metal exchange zeolite material. In this example, M is a cation of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, n is a valence state of metal cation M, M′ is a cation of a metal other than an alkali or alkaline earth metal, n′ is a valence state of metal cation M′, 0 ≦a<1, 0
US09452403B2

A method and apparatus for determining the fluidization quality of a fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. The method includes measuring pressure within the fluidized bed reactor to obtain a pressure signal. The pressure signal is then transformed using wavelet decomposition into higher-frequency details and lower-frequency approximations. The dominance of the various features is then calculated based on the energy of each feature in relation to the normalized wavelet energies. The fluidization quality of the fluidized bed reactor is then determined from a comparison over time of the calculated energies.
US09452400B2

The present invention describes a device and a method for dense and homogeneous loading of catalyst into the annular space of bayonet tubes employed in a steam reforming reactor, said device being constituted by a series of removable deflectors.
US09452387B2

A dehumidifier includes a first air distribution assembly connected to a process air inlet for receiving process air, and to a regeneration air outlet for exhausting regeneration air; and a second air distribution assembly connected to a process air outlet for delivering process air, and to a regeneration air inlet for receiving regeneration air. The dehumidifier includes multiple stationary modules connected in parallel between the air distribution assemblies. Each module contains desiccant and has opposing apertures for connecting to the air distribution assemblies. The air distribution assemblies are configured to cycle between a number of positions equal to the number of modules. In each position, the air distribution assemblies establish a regeneration air flow from the regeneration air inlet to the regeneration air outlet via one module, and a plurality of process air flows from the process air inlet to the process air outlet via each remaining module.
US09452384B2

An acidic gas separation laminate includes a composite film formed of a porous support which is formed by laminating a porous film and an auxiliary support film and an acidic gas separation facilitated transport film which is disposed on the porous film side of the porous support; a permeating gas channel member which is laminated so as to face the auxiliary support film of the porous support and in which acidic gas permeated and passed through the acidic gas separation facilitated transport film flows; and a film protection unit in which an adhesive becomes impregnated into the porous film at an impregnation rate of 10% or greater in the lamination direction of the porous support and the impregnation rate of the adhesive in the auxiliary support film is smaller than the impregnation rate of the adhesive in the porous film.
US09452382B2

An apparatus and process is disclosed for the cooling of a reactor effluent gas stream. The apparatus includes a two stage contact cooling system with a first stage wash zone and second stage wash zone. Each wash zone has a packed bed, or other type of mechanical system for contacting the gas stream with the cooling liquid. The liquid in the first stage will remove heavy components, allowing for a cleaner second stage that can be reduced in size.
US09452373B1

A filter funnel has a funnel seat, a tubular stem, and a seal washer that is sleeved on the tubular stem and abuts against an abutment region of the funnel seat. The seal washer has a slot registering with a port of a vacuum intake duct formed in the funnel seat and is disposed to cover an access opening of a flask. When the flask is connected to a vacuum source through the vacuum intake duct to create reduced pressure in the flask, the seal washer presses against a flask neck of the flask to provide an air-tight seal between the access opening and the slot, thereby facilitating flowing of a liquid fraction of a mixture introduced into the filter funnel into the flask.
US09452372B2

A method for preparing a porous fluoropolymer precursor includes combining a fluoropolymer and a removable additive to form a composition, the removable additive having a thermal decomposition temperature greater than a sintering temperature of the fluoropolymer, compressing the composition to form a preform, and sintering the preform to form the porous fluoropolymer precursor. A method for preparing a porous fluoropolymer includes disposing the porous fluoropolymer precursor in a removing agent, contacting the removable additive with the removing agent, and removing, by the removing agent, the removable additive from the porous fluoropolymer precursor to form the porous fluoropolymer, wherein the porous fluoropolymer comprises a plurality of pores formed by removing the removable additive.
US09452369B2

The invention relates to a vaporizer comprising a housing, a housing cap, which covers an end of the housing and has a vapor discharge opening, and a heating element, which sits in the housing and protrudes into the housing cap, wherein an annular gap is provided between the heating element and the housing and also between the heating element and the housing cap and connects an inlet opening in the housing to the vapor discharge opening. In accordance with this disclosure, the annular gap has a starting portion, a middle portion and an end portion, wherein the starting portion and the middle portion are arranged in the housing and the end portion is arranged in the housing cap, and wherein the annular gap is wider in the middle portion than in the starting portion.
US09452368B2

A collapsible and expandable children's toy building block is described. The toy blocks may be made in various sizes and shapes. The toy block includes an internal frame. A cover is positioned over the internal frame to form the toy block. The toy block converts from a collapsed position to an expanded position, and the toy block converts from the expanded position back to the collapsed position.
US09452367B2

A toy apparatus includes a base having a first surface, a wall movably coupled to the base, and an actuation element located on the first surface of the base. The actuation element is rotatably coupled to the base, the actuation element being rotatable relative to the base in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. The actuation element includes a main body, and first and second extensions coupled to the main body. The first extension has first and second engageable surfaces, the actuation element rotating in the first direction when a force is applied to the first engageable surface and in the second direction when a force is applied to the second engageable surface. The second extension engages and moves the wall relative to the base when the actuation element rotates.
US09452363B2

A multi-player game environment is created for single-player use. A user may select a single-player game or a multi-player game. When the user chooses a multi-player game, the user is prompted to select one or more customized AI characters. The AI characters may be available individually or in themed “packs.” The selected AI character or pack may be downloaded, stored, or otherwise made accessible to an electronic entertainment system. The user may select a mode or skill level for each AI character. The user may begin playing the game in a multi-player mode with the game environment populated with an avatar effectuating behaviors of the selected AI character or characters.
US09452357B2

A game system which a customization in regard to an arrangement and a size of a panel image can be done with an easy operation is provided. A panel image including an operation panel image corresponded to an operation associated with a game progress is displayed on the second display unit having a touch panel. When an operation on an operation panel image is detected by the touch panel, a game image in which a processing corresponding to the operation is performed is displayed and supplied to a first display unit. In a customization mode for customizing, a panel image display area and a candidate image which is a candidate of the panel image displayed in the panel image display area are displayed on the second display unit. A selection operation of the candidate image is detected by the touch panel, and the candidate image operated for selection is arranged and displayed in the panel image display area as the panel image.
US09452333B1

An interchangeable golf grip secured by a snap compression unit that enters into a golf club shaft.
US09452331B2

A fitting method of a shaft of a golf club for selecting a shaft matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of a golf club; determining address, top, and impact of a swing from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft that matches a golfer through a usage of the swing characteristic amounts and values.
US09452326B2

Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09452319B2

Systems, apparatuses, and methods estimate the distance between a player and a ball by transmitting a chirp (sweep signal) to a radio tag located on the ball. During the chirp, the frequency of the transmitted signal is changed in a predetermined fashion. The radio tag doubles the transmitted frequency and returns the processed signal to a transceiver typically located on the player. The currently transmitted frequency is then compared with the received frequency to obtain a difference frequency from which an apparatus may estimate the distance. The apparatus may simultaneously receive the processed signal from the radio tag while transmitting the sweep signal.
US09452316B2

A wheel chair includes two pedals, two transmission devices, two clutch members and two control units. Each transmission device includes a driving unit, a clutch unit and a rear wheel driving unit. Each of the clutch units includes an intermediate disk and a clutch disk which is co-rotatably connected with the intermediate disk. Each of the rear wheel driving units is connected between the rear wheel and the intermediate disk. Each clutch device includes a shifter which controls the clutch disk to be disengaged from the intermediate disk. The control units each control the clutch disk to be engaged with the intermediate disk so as to connect the rear wheels with the force from the driving units so as to rotate the patient's legs counter clockwise.
US09452289B2

Retinal prostheses are configured to apply retinal stimulus signals based on retinal cell classification such as cell types or cell clusters identified based on retinal cell signals. Cell types are identified based on spontaneous or induced retinal electrical signals and analyzed based on temporal patterns of electrical activity, spatio-temporal voltage waveforms, and signal correlations that can be obtained from temporal spike patterns. Cell type indications are stored, and a signals are applied to the retina based on the stored cell type indications.
US09452281B2

A tattooing apparatus including a needle having at least one tip. The needle is configured to move between a first position in which the tip is located above the surface of a skin, and a second position in which the tip is located at a penetration depth underneath the skin surface. The needle is further configured to deposit an ink between the skin surface and the penetration depth. The tattooing apparatus further includes a needle drive mechanism configured to move the needle between the first position and the second position. The tattooing apparatus includes a sensor configured to output a feedback signal corresponding to a skin thickness characteristic. The tattooing apparatus further includes a controller configured to receive the feedback signal, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the penetration depth based on the skin thickness characteristic.
US09452280B2

In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.
US09452279B2

An inflation device that may comprise multiple plungers is disclosed. The inflation device may have multiple configurations wherein certain plungers are locked with respect to a body of the inflation device while others are configured to be displaceable within the body. Each plunger may be configured with a different effective surface area, allowing a practitioner to vary the amount of force required to attain certain pressures.
US09452277B2

An extension member is has a body with a proximal end and an opposing distal end. It includes a hollow lumen extending therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end. It has a female luer lock connector proximate its proximal end and a male luer lock connector proximate its distal end. Its body has an outer surface with a driven member.
US09452268B2

Embodiments of a retractable syringe assembly are provided that include a dual syringe barrel configuration. One or more embodiments include reuse prevention features and features that prevent premature activation of the retraction mechanism. Methods for aspirating and expelling liquid from medical devices are also provided.
US09452266B2

The present invention relates to an injection device (1) having a mechanical dose size display wherein a first scale drum (10) carrying a series of first ciphers (11) and a second scale drum (20) carrying a series of second ciphers (21) are both rotatable able and axially moveable relatively to a housing (2) of the injection device in such a way that one of the first ciphers (11) and one of the a second ciphers (21) appears simultaneously in a window provided in the housing (2) thereby informing the user of the set dose. Both the first scale drum (10) and the second drum (20) preferable carries five ciphers (11, 21) around one full circumferential perimeter. The ciphers (11, 21) are provided in different circumferential circles and/or helically provided.
US09452257B2

A system and method is provided for an injectable substance delivery device comprising a limiter, shoulder or post that controls how deep the needle is inserted into the tissue. The limiter is sized in proportions that control the maximum insertion depth of the needle into the tissue without excessively restricting the complete insertion of the needle. The system and method further comprises an normalization or stabilizer ring that prevents distortion of the tissue in the vicinity of the infusion, so that the needle length is the major determining factor as to how deep the infusion is delivered.
US09452256B2

A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The reservoir, a base and a cap are connected to form an integrated unit that is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing. The cap and the infusion pump are each provided with at least one sensor or at least one detectable feature, arranged to interact with at least one corresponding detectable feature or sensor on the other of the cap and infusion pump device, to detect one or more of the presence, position or other characteristic of the cap when the cap is aligned or coupled with the infusion pump housing. The detectable feature and sensor may be magnetic, RF, mechanical, optical or any combination.
US09452253B2

In an extracorporeal blood circuit system or a machine configurable in such a circuit, a bag blood reservoir has an infusion port at the upper end of the bag, an outlet port at the lower end of the bag, an inlet port at the lower end of the bag, and an IV port at the lower end of the bag. A split line is connected to the infusion port, having a first branch line connected to a source makeup fluid into the reservoir and a second branch line that evacuates from the reservoir. An air detector and a vent controller automatically configure a venting path in which the inlet lines to the pump and to the blood reservoir are open such that air rises to the upper end of the blood reservoir from which it can be vented through the infusion port into the air evacuation line.
US09452247B2

The invention refers to a device for the negative pressure wound therapy comprising a cover material for the air-tight sealing of the wound and the wound surroundings; a means suitable for the generation of a negative pressure in the wound area, preferably a means for the functional connection of the wound area with a negative pressure source outside of the cover material in such a way that a negative pressure can be generated in the wound area and fluids can be drawn out of the wound area by suction; and a wound dressing, whereby the wound dressing contains an open-cell foam on the basis of a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane. The invention also refers to the use of open-cell foam on the basis of a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane for use in the negative pressure wound therapy, in particular in patients with a BMI of less than 18.
US09452246B2

A system for applying reduced pressure to tissue includes a multi-lumen reduced pressure delivery tube having a proximate end, a distal end, a primary lumen extending through the conduit from the proximate end to the distal end, and an ancillary lumen extending through the conduit from the proximate end to the distal end. A vacuum pump is coupled to the proximate end of the primary lumen, and a reduced pressure adapter is coupled to the distal end of the reduced pressure delivery tube. The adapter includes channels to direct liquid away from the ancillary lumens and into the primary lumen.
US09452235B2

Systems and methods for air purification within an incubator using germicidal irradiation from an ultra-violet (UV) light source that is integrated in a path from ambient air into the cavity of an incubator.
US09452233B2

The proposal is for an active ingredient release system with optical endpoint display, comprising (a) a container for accommodating the components, (b) two solvents A and B located therein, which are immiscible or only minorly miscible with one another, (c) at least one active ingredient which serves as solubilizer for the solvents A and B, and (d) a mechanism which allows the release of the active ingredient, but restrains the other volatile constituents of the composition.
US09452227B2

The invention relates to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies or antibody fragments containing a specific epitopic specificity to treat conditions involving elevated Il-6. In some embodiments the anti-IL-6 antibodies contain specific CDRs.
US09452225B2

The invention relates to a GLP-1 prodrug of the general formula I: R1-(NHXaa1)-Xaa2-(OHis)-(GLP-1 peptide) (Formula I), wherein GLP-1 peptide is GLP-1(8-37) (SEQ ID NO: 1) or an analog thereof having a maximum of nine amino acid changes as compared to GLP-1(8-37), R1 is lower alkyl, (NHXaa1) is an amino acid, Xaa2 is an amino acid, and (OHis) is a radical of imidazole-lactic acid; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide, or ester of the prodrug. The invention also relates to specific GLP-1 parent drugs of the general formula II: (HOHis)-(GLP-1 peptide) (Formula II), as well as specific intermediate products. The invention furthermore relates to a method of achieving release in vivo of an active and stabilized GLP-1 parent drug of the general formula II: (HOHis)-(GLP-1 peptide), by administering a GLP-1 prodrug; as well as to such GLP-1 prodrug, and such GLP-1 parent drug, respectively, for use as a medicament, in particular for use in the treatment and/or prevention of all forms of diabetes and related diseases. The prodrug may be used to alter the PK and/or absorption profile of the drug, for example to a desirable bell-shaped curve. The parent drug has a good biological activity, and is stabilized against degradation by DPP-IV.
US09452206B2

The present invention includes a method and device for the isolation of lymphocytes, particularly splenic lymphocytes, for administration to patients. In particular for patients undergoing a splenectomy, administration of splenic lymphocytes may increase a patient's immunity and reduce the likelihood of post-splenectomy infections and other complications.
US09452199B2

Methods and systems for releasing growth factors are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a blood sample is exposed to a sequence of one or more electric pulses to trigger release of a growth factor in the sample. In certain embodiments, the growth factor release is not accompanied by clotting within the blood sample.
US09452194B2

The present invention features interferon-free therapies for the treatment of HCV. Preferably, the treatment is over a shorter duration, such as no more than 12 weeks. In one aspect, the therapies comprise administering at least two direct acting antiviral agents and ribavirin to a subject with HCV infection. For example, the therapies comprise administering to the subject effective amounts of therapeutic agent 1, therapeutic agent 2 (or therapeutic agent 3), an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (e.g., ritonavir), and ribavirin.
US09452193B2

The present invention relates to the novel use of panduratin derivatives or an extract of Boesenbergia pandurata for enhancing muscle mass growth, fighting fatigue and enhancing exercise performance, and more particularly to a composition for promoting an increase in muscles, anti-fatigue composition and a composition for enhancing muscle mass growth and recovery from fatigue to improve exercise performance, the composition comprising a panduratin derivative or a salt thereof or an extract of Boesenbergia pandurata as an active ingredient, and to a method for enhancing muscle mass growth, of treating or preventing fatigue syndrome and enhancing exercise performance, the method comprising a panduratin derivative or a salt thereof or a extract of Boesenbergia pandurata to a subject in need thereof. A panduratin derivative or a salt thereof or an extract of Boesenbergia pandurata of the present invention may be used without side effect and has the effect of increasing the expression of PPAR-δ in muscles to increase muscle mass, promoting recovery from fatigue and increase mobility, thereby improving exercise performance.
US09452191B2

Provided in one embodiment is an herbal compositions for the prevention or treatment of urogenital system disorders including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, enuresis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, nocturia, cystitis, urinary calculi, or a urinary tract infection. Specifically one embodiment provides compositions that contain Crateva nurvala, Equisetum arvense, and Lindera aggregata and methods of use thereof.
US09452183B2

Methods of treating hemorrhage are provided, comprising diagnosing one or more hemorrhaging or potentially hemorrhaging vessels in a patient and administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a vessel closing compound at a concentration between about 0.1% and about 45%. The vessel closing compound may comprise a polymer with hydrophilic properties, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). The composition may also comprise one or more active agent such as a blood flow modifier with a potential to form ionic bonds with the vessel closing agent.
US09452177B2

The present invention relates to compounds and methods for reducing intraocular pressure and treating ocular hypertension in a subject.
US09452170B2

Described herein are compounds and compositions for the amelioration of arthritis or joint injuries by inducing mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes.
US09452167B2

Provided herein are heterocyclic compounds for treatment of CSF1R, FLT3, KIT, and/or PDGFRβ kinase mediated diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions.
US09452162B2

Provided are methods for treating pancreatic cancer in a patient by administering liposomal irinotecan (MM-398) alone or in combination with additional therapeutic agents. In one embodiment, the liposomal irinotecan (MM-398) is co-administered with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.
US09452160B2

It is an object of the present invention that the novel nicotinic receptor antagonists disclosed herein may be used in a broad array of clinical or medicinal facets. For example, it is a contemplated use of the present invention that the novel nicotinic receptor antagonists be used to inhibit the growth cycle of non-small cell lung cancer cells. Without being bound by theory, it is an object of the present invention that the nicotinic receptor antagonists disclosed herein are believed to possess reversible binding properties. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention are selective for 0.7 nAChR. For example, the compounds of the present invention are not believed to bind to 0.4 (32 nAChR neuromuscular receptors. It is also contemplated that the nicotinic receptor antagonists of the present invention will be used as a counter measure to treat exposure, or potential exposure, to a wide array of potential neurotoxins.
US09452152B2

The invention relates to iron(III) complex compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them for the use as medicaments, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of iron deficiency symptoms and iron deficiency anemias.
US09452150B2

A composition in which a preparation of the composition itself has an excellent disintegratability in the right place and excellent active ingredient releasability within the digestive tract, the active ingredient and the preparation itself have long-term stability, excellent ease of operation such as manufacturability and filling into containers, an amount sufficient for achieving physiological effects can be easily taken and swallowed, and can be absorbed rapidly from the digestive tract, thus the physiological effect can be expected. The composition is an easy-release jelly composition containing an emulsified polyvalent unsaturated fatty acid or derivative thereof in an amount exceedingly 10 mass % and further containing an emulsifying agent and a gallant. The easy-release jelly composition includes an emulsified polyunsaturated fatty acid or derivative thereof in an amount greater than 10 wt %, an emulsifying agent, and a gelling agent.
US09452149B2

Dialysis fluid compositions including 0.5 to 3 mM citrate, 1 to 5 mM total calcium, and 0 to 1.5 mM total magnesium. These dialysis fluid compositions include 0.10 to 0.2 mM more total calcium per 1 mM citrate within the dialysis fluid as compared to the calcium concentration ordinarily prescribed for a non-citrate containing dialysis fluid.
US09452135B2

The present invention generally relates to dosage forms for oral administration including one or more gelling agents. In particular, the present invention is directed to gelling agent-based dosage forms that are easily administered and taken, or swallowed. The present invention is also directed to gelling agent-based dosage forms that exhibit relatively low syneresis, are thermally stable, exhibit substantially constant active ingredient concentration, and/or exhibit one or more advantageous rheological properties. In particular, the present invention is directed to such gels containing one or more omega-3 fatty acids. The gelling agent-based dosage forms of the present invention are suitable for administration of a relatively large dose of active ingredient. The gelling agent-based dosage forms of the present invention are also suitable for administration of multiple active ingredients. Dosage forms of the present invention also provide tamper resistance and, thus, prevent recovery or diversion of active ingredients contained therein. The gelling agent-based dosage forms are also suitable for use as gastro-retentive and sustained release dosage forms.
US09452133B2

The invention is directed to a method for preventing nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in a patient receiving high dose radioactive iodine for treatment of cancer which comprises administering to the eyes of said patient an effective amount of perchlorate anion.
US09452132B2

Provided herein are pharmaceutical formulations, methods, and systems for treating regional fat deposits and fat-related conditions and indications. Methods comprise administering a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a long-acting beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, for example, salmeterol, suitable for subcutaneous administration. Formulations comprise a pharmaceutical formulation that is suitable for subcutaneous injection comprising: (a) a lipophilic long-acting selective beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, or a salt thereof; and (b) at least one subcutaneously acceptable inactive ingredient.
US09452129B1

An improved composition of hair oil for stimulation of hair growth, control of hair fall, dandruff and infections thereof. The composition of hair oil comprising active ingredients of Capric Caprylic Tri-Glycerides (CCTG), Mineral oil, Coconut Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Di-propylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract and Butylated Hydroxy Toulene. The composition of hair oil supports the hair growth and relaxation of the scalp. The composition of hair oil also effectively reduces/remove dandruff and thereby control hair fall in the subject (e.g., not limiting to male/female human). The composition of hair oil additionally demonstrates the properties of cooling effect, darkening of hair and promotion of hair upon continuous use of the hair oil by the subjects. The proposed composition is alternatively used to reduce/remove Psoriasis.
US09452127B2

Water-in-oil invert emulsions containing no surfactant are formed by simple mixing of water with organopolysiloxanes containing all of aralkyl, long chain alkyl, and hydrophilic groups. The surfactant-free water-in-oil invert emulsions have a wide variety of uses, for example in compositions for surface care, antifog coating compositions, cosmetic compositions, and hair care compositions.
US09452110B1

A method for holding a pacifier within easy reach of a child in a crib includes the step of providing a pacifier-holding assembly having a length sufficient for the assembly to be draped between top end rails of the crib while holding the pacifier near the child. Structurally, an elongated assembly includes a cloth cover component over a longitudinally extending elastic band and two transversely extending elastic strips that are disposed on opposite sides of a pacifier-receiving opening in the cover component. The user presses the pacifier into the opening in opposition to the elastic strips while they cooperate with the elastic band and the cover component to removably hold the pacifier in place so that a nipple-simulating member of the pacifier extends outwardly away from the assembly. Mounting components removably attach the assembly to the top end rails.
US09452106B2

The method described herein reduces the amount of aggregating metal released into solutions of Interferon-.beta.
US09452104B2

An Implantable ElectroAcupuncture Device (IEAD) treats cardiovascular disease through application of stimulation pulses applied at at least one of acupoints EX-HN1, BL14, HT7, HT5, PC6, ST36, LI11, LU7, and LU2. The IEAD comprises an implantable, coin-sized, self-contained, leadless electroacupuncture device having at least two electrodes attached to an outside surface of its housing. The device generates stimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. Power management circuitry within the device allows a primary battery, having a high internal impedance, to be used to power the device. The stimulation regimen generates stimulation pulses during a stimulation session of duration T3 minutes applied every T4 minutes. The duty cycle, or ratio T3/T4 is very low, no greater than 0.05. The low duty cycle and careful power management allow the IEAD to perform its intended function for several years.
US09452088B2

A wound dressing provides a tenacious occlusive seal against the skin of a wearer, even in the presence of excessive blood or heavy perspiration. The preferred embodiment combines an adhesive backing layer with a hydrogel island providing superior hydrophilic gel adhesion. The product performs under extreme temperatures (i.e., 32-140° F.), and may be used to hold other dressings in place. The preferred embodiments are entirely translucent, and include a large pull-tab for easy removal. Two dressings may be packaged in a pliable re-sealable protective pouch, thereby forming a portable “kit.” Different “vented” embodiments are disclosed. A preferred structure includes a cover layer peripherally bonded to backing and hydrogel layers having a central aperture therethrough. The cover layer has one or more vent holes, and pressure is released through the central aperture and out the vent hole(s).
US09452086B2

The present invention relates to an absorbent dressing comprising a breathable impermeable substrate (4) and an absorbent foam (2), which is particularly suitable for use in the care of chronic or acute wounds.The invention relates to a dressing comprising an absorbent foam (2) and a protective substrate (4) that is impermeable to fluids, but permeable to water vapor, said substrate being formed by assembling a film (4a) and an openwork reinforcement that is coated with an adhesive silicone gel (4b) without blocking the openings in the reinforcement. In addition, the dressing comprises a non-absorbent web (5) which is disposed between the absorbent foam (2) and the substrate (4), which adheres to the adhesive silicone gel coating on the reinforcement, and which adheres to the absorbent foam (2).
US09452077B2

An ankle brace includes upper and lower members with a hinge therebetween. The hinge is configured to be positioned at a location that corresponds to, or at least approximately corresponds to, a true axis of rotation of an individual's foot relative to the tibia bone in his or her lower leg. That axis of rotation is located below the tibialtalor junction, along which tibia and talus articulate as the foot is moved between dorsiflexion and plantarflexion orientations. A foot orthosis includes an arch support that is configured to support at least a portion of a longitudinal arch of an individual's foot regardless of whether or not a ground reaction force is applied to the arch support or to the foot. Such an arch support and an orthosis of which it is a part may be configured to exert an upward force on the longitudinal arch regardless of whether or not any weight is applied to the foot or to the arch support. The arch support may be configured to follow or substantially follow a path of the posterior tibial tendon through the ankle and foot. An orthsis may include both the arch support and the hinge. Methods for support ankles and feet are also disclosed.
US09452064B2

The invention relates to a spinal implant composed of a plurality of parallel plates. The deliberate introduction of contours in the plates allows for the creation of biomechanically advantageous functions and adjustment options. The elasticity of the anchoring elements enables the disclosed implant to be adjusted to the osseous endplates, resulting in uniform force distribution and thus prevention of the risk of compaction or endplate compression fracture. The plate structure allows for the use of production methods in which hook-like undercut contours can be created, thus enabling the implant to be superbly anchored in the bone without causing damage thereto. Furthermore, the plates can be interconnected by an actuator in such a way that the height and/or the angular position can be adjusted. The vertical adjustment can vary along the length of the implant such that the segment can also be angularly adjusted.
US09452058B2

An artificial implant for a carpometacarpal (CMC) joint used for replacing a CMC joint surface of the first metacarpal bone is provided and has: an insert portion having an inserting end for inserting into a bone marrow cavity exposed from an incision of the first metacarpal bone, and a front end; an articular replacement portion connected to the front end of the inserting portion and disposed outside the incision of the first metacarpal bone, and having an articular profile surface to replace the CMC joint surface of the first metacarpal bone; and an attached flange protruded from a peripheral of the articular replacement portion, attached to an outer bone surface of the first metacarpal bone adjacent to the incision, and having at least one suture hole, through which at least one suture passes for assisting to fix an abductor pollicis longus (APL) to the outer bone surface.
US09452056B2

An ankle implant for implantation at a distal tibia can include a first sleeve augment, a second sleeve augment, an intramedullary (IM) implant and a connecting peg. The first sleeve augment can have a first cannulated sleeve body comprising a first inner solid metal body portion and a first outer porous metal body portion. The IM implant can have an outer augment mounting structure. The second sleeve augment can have a second cannulated sleeve body comprising a second inner solid metal body portion and a second outer porous metal body portion. The second inner solid metal body portion can include a second sleeve first mating structure. The first and second sleeve augments can be assembled onto the IM implant in a stacked orientation with the connecting peg received by both the first sleeve first mating structure and the second sleeve first mating structure in a keyed relationship.
US09452046B2

A method for replacing a diseased aortic valve includes selecting a prosthetic heart valve based on a measurement of a patient's aortic annulus, the prosthetic heart valve stored in a storage container while in an expanded configuration. The preservative solution is drained from the storage container and the prosthetic heart valve is removed. The prosthetic heart valve is compressed to a contracted configuration and advanced through a patient's vasculature along a distal end portion of a catheter system. The prosthetic heart valve is positioned within the diseased aortic valve and re-expanded to an initial expanded configuration. A deployment mechanism is actuated via an operating handle to further expand the prosthetic heart valve into secure engagement with surrounding tissue until lockout features on the prosthetic heart valve secure the prosthetic heart valve in a final expanded configuration.
US09452044B2

A scleral prosthesis includes an elongated body configured to be implanted into scleral tissue of an eye. The elongated body includes (i) opposing first and second ends and (ii) multiple first portions that form the first end of the body and part of a remainder of the body between the ends. The first and second ends are wider than the remainder of the body. The first portions of the body are separated lengthwise along the body by empty space such that the first portions meet at a point between the first and second ends of the body and are not connected to each other between that point and the first end. The scleral prosthesis also includes an insert configured to be placed and retained between the first portions of the body. The insert has a length that is at least about half of a length of the elongated body.
US09452023B2

At least one embodiment is directed toward one or more disposable devices suitable for use in a surgical field of an operating room. One device includes a sensor communicatively coupled to a wand to register points of interest on a first or second bone of a muscular-skeletal system and transmits location data related to the points of interest to the sensor to assess orthopedic alignment with the points of interest.
US09452020B2

Robotic and/or surgical devices, systems, and methods include kinematic linkage structures and associated control systems configured to facilitate preparation of the system for use. One or more kinematic linkage sub-systems may include joints that are actively driven, passive, or a mix of both. A set-up mode employs an intuitive user interface in which one or more joints are initially held static by a brake or joint drive system. The user may articulate the joint(s) by manually pushing against the linkage with a force, torque, or the like that exceeds a manual articulation threshold. Articulation of the moving joints is facilitated by modifying the signals transmitted to the brake or drive system. The system may sense completion of the reconfiguration from a velocity of the joint(s) falling below a threshold, optionally for a desired dwell time. The system may provide a detent-like manual articulation that is not limited to mechanically pre-defined detent joint configurations. Embodiments of the invention provide, and can be particularly well-suited for manual movement of a platform supporting a plurality of surgical manipulators in a robotic surgical system or the like without having to add additional input devices.
US09452012B2

A bipolar forceps may include a first forceps arm having a first forceps arm aperture, a first forceps jaw, and a first forceps arm conductor tip; a second forceps arm having a first forceps arm aperture, a second forceps jaw, and a second forceps arm conductor tip; and an input conductor isolation mechanism having a first forceps arm housing and a second forceps arm housing. The first forceps arm may be disposed in the first forceps arm housing and the second forceps arm may be disposed in the second forceps arm housing. An application of a force to a lateral portion of the forceps arms may be configured to close the forceps jaws. A reduction of a force applied to a lateral portion of the forceps arms may be configured to open the forceps jaws.
US09452010B2

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.
US09452002B2

An intramedullary fixation device used in bone fixation and stabilization on a patient includes a longitudinally extending rigid body, a distal head disposed at a distal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a phalanx of the patient, the distal head having a central core portion and a plurality of extending distal wings radially projecting from the central core portion. A proximal head at a proximal end of the body is sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a phalanx of the patient. It has a central core portion and a plurality of proximal wings extending radially outwardly from the central core portion.
US09451999B2

A surgical instrument adaptor comprises a member that defines a longitudinal axis. The member is configured for connection to an image guide that is configured to generate a signal representative of a position of a surgical instrument. The member extends between a first end and a second end. The first end includes a first mating part configured for releasable engagement with a mating part of an actuator. The second end includes a second mating part configured for releasable engagement with a mating part of the surgical instrument. Systems and methods are described.
US09451996B2

An apparatus for securing facet joints of a spine of a patient is provided. The apparatus may include a first connection device configured to be positioned directly through a first facet joint of the spine of the patient. Additionally, the apparatus may include a second connection device configured to be positioned directly through a second facet joint of the spine of the patient. Furthermore, the apparatus may include a plate configured to engage the first and second connection devices after the first and second connection devices are positioned through the first and second facet joints respectively. The plate may include a first slot configured to engage the first connection device and a second slot configured to engage the second connection device. The first slot may be perpendicular to the second slot, and the first slot may be perpendicular to a long axis of the spine of the patient.
US09451986B2

An implantable device including a tapered body having a sidewall, an internal cavity, a first end, and a second end, the sidewall including a frusto-conical inner surface extending from the first end to the second end, the first end including a first end opening and the second end including a second end opening, a first side opening extending through the sidewall, a second side opening extending through the sidewall, the second side opening arranged diametrically opposite the first side opening, an external thread arranged helically about a central longitudinal axis of the tapered body, the external thread having a continuously decreasing outer diameter along the tapered body, a first ancillary member operatively arranged to be inserted through the first end opening and then the first or second side opening, and a second ancillary member operatively arranged to be inserted through the first end opening and then the first or second side opening.
US09451979B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for affecting an appearance of skin by harvesting small portions of tissue from a donor (first) site and applying them at a recipient (second) site. A plurality of micrografts can be formed from a piece of graft tissue and attached to a dressing material. The dressing material can then be expanded to increase a separation distance between the micrografts, and the dressing material having spaced-apart micrografts attached thereto can be applied to a prepared recipient site. An apparatus can be provided that expands the dressing material using a pressurized fluid. A further method can include providing a suspension of small portions of graft tissue in a solution. The solution can be injected into blisters formed at a recipient (second) site and the tissue portions allowed to attach and proliferate. A method and apparatus can also be provided for forming corresponding blisters at a donor site and at a recipient site. The raised (removed) portions of the blisters can be removed and attached to a dressing material, and the portions from the donor (first) site can be placed onto the exposed blister areas at the recipient site.
US09451976B2

A medical handle comprises a drive unit and a control device or circuit for driving a medical tool. The control device or circuit comprises a control and/or regulating circuit for controlling and/or regulating the drive unit, the drive unit comprises at least one magnetic element and a sensor system for determining the alignment of the at least one magnetic element. To achieve simpler assembly and a greater resistance to the ambient conditions that prevail during sterilization in comparison with known handles, the sensor system and the control and/or regulating circuit are combined in a joint control module, and the at least one magnetic element is arranged in the medical handle in such a way that at least a part of the control module can be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the at least one magnetic element and that the sensor system is arranged in the control module in such a way that it can be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the at least one magnetic element.
US09451975B2

The present invention relates to devices, methods, and systems for abrading the skin in preparation for attachment of an electrode. In some embodiments, the invention may provide for a simple, low-cost device 120 with a flat, abrading surface that removes the topmost layer of the skin without causing undue injury.
US09451973B2

A patient-specific guide tool for guiding an object toward a glenoid face of a scapula of a patient for implantation of a shoulder prosthetic device is disclosed. The guide tool includes a guide portion that includes a guide surface. The guide surface is configured to guide movement of the object toward the glenoid face. Furthermore, the guide tool includes a patient-specific portion that is operably coupled to the glenoid portion. The patient-specific portion includes at least one patient-specific surface that is three-dimensionally contoured and that is configured to nest and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the scapula to thereby position the guide surface at a predetermined position relative to the glenoid face.
US09451972B2

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US09451971B2

An intramedullary fixation assembly usable with different long bone types and a guide assembly for guiding deployment of the intramedullary fixation assembly. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a fixation member that has ends and a curved body extending between the ends. The curved body of the fixation member has a radius of curvature configured to extend through the medullary canal regardless of the long bone anatomy. Fasteners fix the fixation member to the bone fragments and are guided by a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a guide body defining openings configured to guide the fasteners through openings defined in the fixation member and into the bone fragments. A fixation end of the guide body includes a pair of opposing, converging surfaces that are configured to engage in a positive fit with an exposed end of the fixation member accessible through the side aperture in the first fragment.
US09451969B2

A femoral reamer (100) can include a base material (304) and a coating (302) disposed on the base material. The coating can be harder than the base material and, as a result, the femoral reamer can wear more slowly than if the coating was absent. The coating can be a different color than the base material. When the coating is worn off, such wear can be easily observed from a visual inspection of the femoral reamer. The coating can have an initial thickness (i.e., a thickness prior to use) that is related to a tolerance on a size and/or a shape of a hole drilled by the femoral reamer. When the coating is worn off, the size and/or the shape of the hole drilled by the femoral reamer may be at or near an edge of a specified tolerance range. The femoral reamer can be part of a kit and a method.
US09451964B2

A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly and a vaso-occlusive device detachably coupled to the pusher assembly by an attachment member is frictionally secured within a lumen of the pusher assembly. A heat generating member is disposed in the pusher assembly lumen, along with a pressure generating material, such that, when heat is generated by the heat generative device, the pressure generating material increases a pressure in the pusher assembly lumen, thereby dislodging the attachment member from the pusher assembly and detaching the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.
US09451963B2

Devices for the occlusion of body cavities, such as the embolization of vascular aneurysms and the like, and methods for making and using such devices. The devices may be comprised of novel expansile materials, novel infrastructure design, or both. The devices provided are very flexible and enable deployment with reduced or no damage to bodily tissues, conduits, cavities, etceteras.
US09451958B2

A surgical instrument system is disclosed. The surgical instrument system comprises an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration when a closing motion is applied to the end effector, a firing member configured to perform a staple firing stroke when a firing motion is applied to the firing member, and a handle comprising a closure actuator operable to generate the closing motion and a firing actuator. The surgical instrument system further comprises a motor configured to generate the firing motion, wherein the firing actuator is operable to operate the motor, a lockout configured to prevent the firing member from performing the staple firing stroke prior to the operation of the closure actuator, and a battery positioned in the handle.
US09451955B2

A staple constructed from shape memory material provides the ability to move from a first shape to any point up to and including a second shape. The staple includes a bridge having a first member and a second member, and allows the second member of the bridge to change elevation with respect to the first member, thereby creating compressive forces, offset forces, or distraction forces. Upon the application of energy, the second member moves upward or downward to deliver forces, dependent upon a desired effect. The staple further includes first and second legs for attaching to first and second bones. The offsetting forces may be utilized to offset the second bone relative to the first bone, or to align offset bones. The bridge may include a transition member or plurality of transition members in communication with the first and second members, whereby the transition member moves about the first member.
US09451949B2

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.
US09451947B2

A modification to a standard needle driver in the form of a deployable and retractable projection at the working end of the needle driver with which the operator can control the suture in order to facilitate tying a knot in the suture. This modification solves the difficult problem of controlling the suture during the rate-limiting step of knot tying allowing for faster, easier knot tying in laparoscopic and single port surgery.
US09451938B2

An insertion instrument is configured to eject a pair of anchor bodies across an anatomical gap so as to approximate the gap. The insertion instrument can include a single cannula that retains the pair of anchor bodies in a stacked relationship, or a pair of adjacent cannulas that each retain respective anchor bodies. The insertion instrument can be actuated so as to eject the anchor bodies into respective target anatomical locations.
US09451936B2

The present invention is related to an endoscopic treatment tool which is inserted to a body cavity endoscopically including a wire, a surgical section which is disposed on a first end of the wire and used for treatment inside the body cavity, and an operator section which is disposed on the second end of the wire and moves in conjunction with the wire so as to rotate by a rotary operation; and the movement of the operator section in conjunction with the wire is released upon exerting more than a predetermined torsional load on the wire.
US09451935B2

A cytological cell sample collection, storage, and transport device is disclosed. The device comprises a sheath, a collection assembly, a base, and a containment vial. The collection assembly is slideably coupled to the base to expose a swab head comprising the collection assembly. The containment vial may be configured to enclose the sheath and collection assembly within the internal volume defined by the containment vial and the base.
US09451931B2

The present invention provides a cart for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, having a high degree of flexibility in moving a top board on which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is placed, and enabling a stable operation wherever the top board is moved. In the cart for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a vertical movement mechanism 60 is fixed on a base. A movable part 62 of the vertical movement mechanism is provided with a swing mechanism 70 that swings in the up-and-down direction, enabling up-and-down movement of the top board 10 according to both the vertical movement mechanism and the swing mechanism. The position of the movable part with which the swing mechanism is coupled is displaced forward from the vertical central axis of the vertical movement mechanism. The top board for placing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is coupled with the swinging end of the swing mechanism, via a mechanism 80 for horizontal movement and/or a mechanism 90 for rotating the top board.
US09451927B2

Methods for computed tomography data-based cycle estimation and four-dimensional reconstruction are provided. A gated reconstruction is derived from CT data acquired without gating using an added artificial trigger. The resulting images for different slices are used to determine local or slice variations over time. The local variations over time for the various slices are combined to create a respiratory cycle signal. This respiratory cycle signal is used to bin the images for different phases, allowing four-dimensional CT reconstruction.
US09451918B2

The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the knee laxity, with or without use of additional means of diagnosis such as computed axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, evaluating the instability of the knee due to rupture of any ligament, namely the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, postero-internal capsule, postero-external capsule, as well as around the axis of an orthonormal referential, that comprises three parts respectively to accept and retain the thigh, leg and foot.The device (1) includes independent means (20) and (21) to push backward the anterior zone of the leg and to push forward the posterior zone of the leg, and independent means (12) and (13) to push the part (5) for support and fixation of the foot in clockwise direction and in anti-clockwise direction.
US09451913B2

Transdermal sampling and analysis device, method and system are provided for non-invasively and transdermally obtaining biological samples from a subject and determining levels of analytes of the obtained biological samples. The transdermal sampling and analysis device, method and system may cause disruption to the skin cells to create capillary-like channels from which biological samples may flow to the transdermal sampling and analysis device. The transdermal sampling and analysis device, method and system may collect the biological samples in a reservoir and transport the biological samples to a sensing chamber. The sensing chamber may contain at least two sensing electrodes coated with a biologically reactive element which reacts with the transported biological sample. The sensing chamber may be configured to mitigate the formation of air bubbles which may impede the transport and distribution of the biological sample across the entirety of the sensing chamber.
US09451907B2

In a measurement situation information storage unit, a plurality of sets of measurement situation information for identifying a measurement situation in which predetermined measurement is performed on a measurement target are stored in association with time periods. A measurement processing unit executes measurement on the measurement target. A display unit selects, from among the plurality of sets of measurement situation information, a set of measurement situation information corresponding to the measurement operation timing based on the time of the measurement operation timing or based on processing results obtained as a result of execution of measurement by the measurement processing unit, and causes a display to show the selected set of measurement situation information in a manner distinguishable from other measurement situation information.
US09451904B2

An apparatus is provided, which utilizes an adjustment platform for supporting a subject during the endoscopic examination. Additionally, a method for performing an endoscopic examination is also provided in which an endoscope is inserted into a subject and the endoscope is maintained at a generally fixed position while the position of the subject is adjusted to advance the endoscope into the subject. Further still, a method is provided for estimating the size of sample tissue using an endoscope and a reference element. Based on known parameters of the reference element, the size of the area being examined can be estimated.
US09451903B2

An MRI system and method for dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) imaging use multiplexed echo planar imaging (M-EPI) to essentially simultaneously acquire MR signals for perfusion parameter images of multiple slices. This essentially simultaneous acquisition of MR signals for multiple slices can be repeated in rapid succession without deteriorating T2* contrast, which makes it practical to image multiple perfusion phases and brings about other significant benefits.
US09451898B2

This invention discloses a system and a method for extracting VF signal in ECG recorded during uninterrupted CPR. The present invention provides a method for extracting a Ventricular fibrillation (VF) signal in Electrocardiography (ECG), comprising: receiving an ECG signal; adding a plurality of shadowing functions to the ECG signal, to obtain a plurality of modification signals; decomposing the plurality of modification signals by using an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method, to generate a plurality of Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs); calculating the sum of IMFs in different frequency regions based on time sequence, dividing by a number of the shadowing signal, to obtain a plurality of modification intrinsic mode functions; combining the plurality of modification IMFs with the same property, to obtain a shape function; modeling the shape functions to obtain a compression signal; and subtracting the compression signal from the ECG signal based on time sequence, to obtain the VF signal.
US09451897B2

In one configuration, an adherent device to adhere to a skin of a subject includes a stretchable base layer having an upper side and a lower side and an adhesive coating on the lower side to adhere the base layer to the skin of the subject. The base layer has at least two openings extending therethrough, each of the at least two openings having a size. The adherent device also includes a stretchable covering layer positioned above and adhered to the base layer with an adhesive to define at least two pockets. The adherent device also includes at least two gels, each gel having a size larger than the size of openings to retain the gel substantially within the pocket, and a circuit carrier supported with the stretchable base layer to measure at least one physiologic signal of the subject. Other configurations and methods are also claimed.
US09451892B2

Self-correlation enhancements and implementations are described. In particular, certain examples demonstrate the use of a tracking mechanism to identify and/or confirm cardiac rate using data from iterative self-correlation performed at intervals over time. This may enable the interpolation of cardiac rate in an implantable medical device when data is insufficient, and may provide confidence in cardiac rate analyzes.
US09451891B2

An implantable neurostimulator system adapted to provide therapy for various neurological disorders is capable of varying therapy delivery strategies based on the context, physiological or otherwise, into which the therapy is to be delivered. Responsive and scheduled therapies can be varied depending on various sensor measurements, calculations, inferences, and device states (including elapsed times and times of day) to deliver an appropriate course of therapy under the circumstances.
US09451874B2

A scope adapter for coupling a phone to an endoscope includes a base having a phone receiving portion for receiving and releasably supporting a phone. A first base end and a second base end define extents of a base cavity. A shaft is connected at opposite ends to each of the first and second base ends and spans across the base cavity. A threaded shaft is rotationally supported at opposite ends to the first and second base ends and spans across the base cavity. An endoscope positioned within the cavity is movably disposed along the shaft in each of a first direction and an opposite second direction by axial rotation of the threaded shaft. The endoscope includes a lens aperture that is positioned with respect to the phone receiving portion by displacement of the endoscope in either the first or second directions.
US09451868B2

The invention relates to a method for detecting a water level in a dishwasher comprising a circulation pump and a TRIAC connected to the circulation pump for providing electrical power to a motor (20) of the circulation pump. According to the invention, a firing angle condition (18) of the TRIAC is used to derive the water level in the dishwasher.The invention further relates to a dishwasher comprising a circulation pump and a TRIAC connected to the circulation pump for providing electrical power to a motor of the circulation pump, a drain pump connected to a sump of the dishwasher, means for detecting a firing angle condition of the TRIAC. Control means are provided for starting the drain pump and/or supplying additional water when predefined conditions of the TRIAC firing angle are reached.
US09451866B2

The invention relates to a water-using domestic appliance comprising a tub for accommodating articles to be cleaned and at least one interior surface containing a catalytically active substance, said catalytically active substance being a polyoxometalate and the interior surface being likely to come into contact with water during operation of the domestic appliance. The invention further relates to a method for operating said domestic appliance.
US09451865B2

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) produced without mounting the water softener unit (Y) that is offered for use in places where water hardness is low, but when the water hardness level increases and the water softener unit (Y) is desired to be adapted, only the stopper (10) closing the outlet of the accumulative chamber (6), the lid (11) closing the opening (7) under the tub (2) and the insulations at the electrical connection terminals (8) are removed and the hydraulic, mechanical and electrical connections of the water softener unit (Y) can be easily made by the serviceman.
US09451863B1

A wine-glass polisher includes a housing having at least one cleaning chamber defined by a bottom wall and at least one sidewall. Extending from the sidewall is a wine-glass holder including a horizontal arm having a C-shaped gripping member at a distal end for holding the stem of an inverted wine glass. Immediately above the gripping member is a motorized disc for engaging the base of a wine glass to rotate it during a cleaning and drying cycle. Mounted on the sidewall, below the wine-glass holder, is an upper dispensing nozzle for projecting either drying air or steam onto the exterior surface of a wine glass. Upwardly extending from the bottom wall of the cleaning chamber is a lower dispensing nozzle for projecting drying air or hot water onto the interior surface of a wine glass. Hot water and air are sequentially delivered to the nozzles to clean and subsequently dry a wine glass.
US09451862B2

A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation and having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and defining an access opening, a sprayer providing a spray of liquid into the treating chamber, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path for recirculating the sprayed liquid from the treating chamber to the sprayer and a drive system operable to control at least a position of the liquid diverter.
US09451859B2

A cyclonic separator comprising a first cyclone stage, a second cyclone stage, an inlet duct, and an outlet duct. The first cyclone stage comprises a first dirt collection chamber. The second cyclone stage is located downstream of the first cyclone stage and comprises a second dirt collection chamber. The inlet duct carries fluid to the first cyclone stage, and the outlet duct carries fluid from the second cyclone stage. The first dirt collection chamber then surrounds at least partly the inlet duct and the outlet duct.
US09451856B2

A surface treating head comprising a first body defining an inner aperture, and a support body defining an outer aperture, the outer aperture surrounding the inner aperture, and the support body being moveable relative to the first body to allow for relative movement between the inner and outer apertures in a substantially vertical direction, wherein the surface treating head further comprises a bellow seal provided between the first body and the support body that maintains a substantially airtight seal between the first body and support body irrespective of their relative positions and movements.
US09451853B2

A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the main body. The actuator for unlocking the cyclone bin assembly is provided on the cyclone bin assembly.
US09451851B1

A tissue dispenser with a tissue advancement features includes a multi-sided dispenser with a hollow interior. Tissues are supported upon an advancement plate within the interior. A dispensing opening is disposed in a top of the dispenser and the advancement plate lies on the bottom of the interior. The bottom of the dispenser includes two advancement flaps, or legs that are frangible formed with the dispenser bottom by way of perforated lines. The perforated lines are broken by a user and the advancement flaps rotated into the interior and into contact with the bottom of the advancement plate. Further pushing of the flaps engages them with tabs on the advancement plate to hold it in place within the dispenser at a level nearer the dispenser opening.
US09451849B2

A cooking device for roasting and basting food. The cooking device includes a roasting pan and lid forming a defined interior volume. The roasting pan includes a base, one or more sidewalls, and an open upper end. Along the interior of the sidewalls of the roasting pan, one or more tubes extend upwardly onto the lid and towards a centrally located reservoir. A pump is disposed on the exterior of the lid and allows a user to selectively baste food during the cooking process. The tubes and reservoir are operably connected to the pump, wherein the pump, once actuated, draws fluids through each tube and into the reservoir. The reservoir includes one or more openings for dispersing the fluids therefrom for basting food located within the roasting pan.
US09451842B2

An insulated drinking vessel, e.g., a wine glass, and a method of making the same is disclosed. The vessel basically comprises a pre-molded outer vessel formed of a plastic material having a sidewall, a pre-molded ring formed of a plastic material, and an inner vessel having a sidewall. The ring includes a bottom end at which the vestige of a molding gate may be located. The inner vessel is formed of a plastic material molded in-situ on the bottom end of the ring to cause portions of the ring's plastic to melt and intermingle with the plastic material of the inner vessel to form a subassembly including a non-superficial homogenous joint between the ring and the inner vessel. The sidewall of the inner vessel of the subassembly is disposed within the sidewall of the outer vessel and the ring is welded to a top portion of the outer vessel to form the rim or lip of the insulated drinking vessel.
US09451839B2

The comforter includes a core portion which has dimensions approximately the same as the top of the mattress on which it is to be placed. A border member portion is attached to two longitudinal sides and a foot end of the comforter. The border member comprises two layers of fabric with little or no fill therebetween, with the inner edges thereof attached to the core portion and the outer edges attached together.
US09451838B2

A snap-in card top riser is provided having a riser and a display module. The riser has a hook profile that is adapted to be received into a channel on the display module so that the riser is secured to the display module in a manner that restricts removal of the riser from the display module. The channel has one or more tabs that are configured to cause the hook profile to compress while the tabs are engaging with the hook profile. The hook profile, once fully received into the channel, returns to an original or uncompressed position to prevent removal of the hook profile from the channel.
US09451834B2

The invention provides a portable baby supporting device designed to be used anywhere for taking care of a baby and can be easily moved and stored to anywhere. The portable baby supporting device includes a base and a platform rotatably coupled to the base. The platform can either be stowed to be in parallel with the base or opened to be perpendicular to the base. When opened to a use status, the platform provides a first supporting surface for diaper changing, food feeding, or entertaining, etc. Necessary supplies can be stored in the compartments of the base in hand. The portable baby supporting device may also be collapsed to a minimized size for storage purpose, or oriented upside down, so that a higher changing table provided by the platform is accessible.
US09451833B2

A support system includes a support frame and at least one modular leg assembly mounted to and supporting the support frame. The leg assembly includes a first leg member and a second leg member. The second leg member has a top-to-bottom length that is greater than the top-to-bottom length of the first leg member. The first and second leg members are connected individually or in combination to the support frame such that at least three leg heights are selectably provided. The leg members may each have a threaded connecting element extending therefrom for connecting the leg member to another leg member or to the support frame. The support system may be a mattress support frame. The at least one modular leg assembly may be a plurality of modular leg assemblies.
US09451826B2

A chair assembly includes a base structure, a seat support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure, and a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure and including an upwardly-extending portion adapted to move between upright and reclined positions and a lower portion extending forwardly of the upwardly-extending portion, and wherein the upwardly-extending portion is operably coupled to the forwardly-extending portion by a first quick connect assembly. The chair assembly further includes a generally forwardly-facing back support assembly and having an upper portion operably coupled to the upwardly-extending portion of the back support and a lower portion, and a back link releasably coupled to the lower portion of the back support surface by a second quick connect assembly and operably coupled to the seat support structure.
US09451818B2

A housing accessory convertible to a stand for a mobile computing device. The housing accessory includes a foldable cover member that has an upper portion, a flap portion, and a single folding hinge between the two portions and extending diagonally across the foldable cover. The flap portion can be rotated about the single holding hinge from a position coplanar with the upper portion to a folded position. Thereby the foldable cover is converted into a display stand operable to retain the mobile computing device in an inclined angle on a supporting surface.
US09451814B2

A two-piece case for a smart phone or other electronic device includes a base and a frame. Interengaging snap coupling elements on the base and the frame releasably attach the components together to hold a phone within the case.
US09451811B2

An adjustable flotation device is a device that is utilized to support the user's body in a variety of supported positions when the user is floating in a body of water. The device features an upper support member and a lower support member that are connected by a first adjustable strap and a second adjustable strap. The lengths of the first adjustable strap and the second adjustable strap may be adjusted to allow the user to utilize the present invention in a variety of supported positions. An at least one upper flotation aid and a lower flotation aid are utilized in conjunction with the upper support member and the lower support member in order to provide buoyancy to the device when in water. The upper support member and the lower support member may be separated from the first adjustable strap and the second adjustable strap for portability and storage.
US09451803B2

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole. The article of footwear also includes an outer surface defined on the upper or the sole. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a chamber wall operably coupled to one of the upper and the sole. The chamber wall defines at least a portion of a chamber operable to hold a vacuum for at least partially conforming the footwear to the foot of the wearer. Moreover, the footwear includes a valve including a passage that extends through the chamber wall to be in selective fluid communication with the chamber. The valve is operable to provide suction to draw the vacuum within the chamber. The valve is partially defined by an outer rim, and the outer rim is flush with the outer surface or recessed inward from the outer surface toward the chamber.
US09451790B2

An electronic cigarette atomizer is provided, comprising a suction nozzle cover, a fiberglass pipe sleeved on the suction nozzle cover, an oil cotton covered by the fiberglass pipe and a shell covered by the oil cotton, wherein, it also comprises multiple heat insulating layers and a connector far away from one end of the suction nozzle cover, the multiple heat insulating layers are sleeved on the outside of the oil cotton successively and located between the oil cotton and the shell, one end of the multiple insulating layers is butting connected with the connector inserted into the shell, the other end of the multiple insulating layers is butting connected with the suction nozzle cover inserted into the shell. It can effectively solve the problem that the electronic cigarette may run hot after been used continuously for a long time and improve the taste of smoking through using multiple insulating layers.
US09451789B2

A food coating apparatus includes a drum assembly with an input end for receiving coating material and food product, a hollow body for mixing the coating material and the food product to form coated food product and used coating material, and an output end for allowing coated food product and used coating material to exit the drum assembly. A basket is arranged adjacent to the output end of the drum assembly to retain the coated food product and pass the used coating material that exit the drum assembly. A funnel pan collects and funnels the used coating material passed by the basket into a sifter which separates the used coating material into refuse and reusable coating material. A reclamation receptacle receives the reusable coating material from the sifter and is removable from the food coating apparatus to enable pouring the reusable coating material from the receptacle into the drum assembly.
US09451787B2

An ozone-based disinfecting device is provided comprising a mixer having a generally hollow body with a water inlet for water under pressure, a spray nozzle for generating a generally conical spray of water introduced by way of the water inlet, a contact chamber communicating with a gas inlet for ozone rich gases, and an outlet aperture from the contact chamber that is coaxial with the spray nozzle and spaced apart therefrom. An electronic flow sensing device senses the extent of the flow of water through the spray nozzle according to vibration caused by water flowing through the mixer. The electronic flow sensing device is preferably located in a pocket formed in the mixer and preferably comprises a piezoelectric sensor embedded at least around its periphery in a settable material. A preferred construction of the mixer is also described.
US09451784B2

Disclosed are compounds that block off-notes in consumables and methods of blocking off-notes in consumables including off-notes provided by artificial sweeteners including aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K (Acesulfame potassium), sucralose and cyclamate; and including stevioside, swingle extract, glyccerhizin, perillartine, naringin dihydrochalcone, neohesperidine dihydrochalcone, mogroside V, rubusoside, rubus extract, and rebaudioside A.
US09451783B2

The present invention relates to a phytase which has at least 74% identity to a phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and comprises at least one alteration as compared to this phytase. These phytase variants have amended, preferably improved, properties, such as thermostability, temperature profile, pH profile, specific activity, performance in animal feed, reduced protease sensitiliby, and/or an amended glycosylation pattern. The invention also relates to DNA encoding these phytases, methods of their production, as well as the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and animal feed additives.
US09451780B2

A sausage suspending apparatus includes: a plurality of suspending members for suspending a sausage therefrom; a conveyor having the suspending members; and stick supporting members for supporting a stick. A stick discharging unit has a pair of stick latching arm bodies adapted to move upwardly in a forward direction, and, after the stick latching arm body has taken up the stick from the stick supporting member, the stick latching arm body discharges the stick from the stick latching arm body. The pair of stick latching arm bodies are located in correspondence with both end portions of the stick in a longitudinal direction of the stick, and a moving body and a driving body are provided outside a range between the both end portions of the stick.
US09451776B2

Herbicidal compositions containing (a) fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) flumetsulam or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof provide synergistic herbicidal control of undesirable vegetation, e.g., in wheat, barley, oats, rye, sugarcane, rice, sorghum, corn/maize, soybean, rice, sunflower, canola/oilseed rape, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, industrial vegetation management and rights-of-way; or crops comprising an aad-12 gene. Also provided herein are methods of using herbicidal compositions containing (a) fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) flumetsulam or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.
US09451769B2

Disclosed herein is a fungicidal composition comprising combination of fungicidally effective amount of mancozeb and a fungicidally effective amount of chlorothalonil in a predetermined ratio.
US09451767B2

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition comprising dicamba and a drift control agent; to a method for preparing a tank mix, which comprises the step of contacting water and said composition, and optionally further pesticides; to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or unde-sired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or the crop plants and/or their environment; and finally to a use of the alkoxylate of the formula (I) as defined below for reducing the wind drift of an aqueous composition comprising a pesticide.
US09451762B2

An electrochemically treated solution and method for cut flower and plant preservation, the solution having potassium, hypochlorous acid, dissolved oxygen, and a surfactant.
US09451758B2

A box-type pet dryer is provided, by using a unitization and modularization technique of an electric control device and a casing. An electric control device has a function to adjust air volume and temperature by a temperature sensor and controls a rotational speed of a fan motor by a humidity sensor. A partition plate is provided to divide between the electric control device and a side opening part of the casing A filtered window is attached to the partition plate, and a warm air discharge port is formed in a lower part of the partition plate. A door is attached to a front surface of the casing, and a side plate is attached to a side surface opposite from the side opening part. The pet dryer is configured to be easily assemblable and disassemblable by coupling the electric control device and the casing at the side opening part.
US09451748B2

The invention provides seed and plants of Catharanthus hybrid ‘PAS1053043’ and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of Catharanthus hybrid ‘PAS1053043’ and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a Catharanthus plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another Catharanthus plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants.
US09451744B1

An improved process for minimizing the rising of airborne dust from a substantially non-vegetated, wind-swept, ground surface (i.e., the ground surface to-be-treated, GSTBT) includes the steps of: (a) spreading directly on this GSTBT a continuous layer of a thin, porous, polymeric fabric, (b) adhering portions of the boundary edge of the fabric to the GSTBT at a plurality of locations that are proximate the GSTBT's perimeter edge, (c) utilizing this thin, porous, polymeric fabric in the form of a roll having a uniform roll width, (d) wherein the spreading step further includes unrolling a roll of the fabric so as to lay down and cover the GSTBT with parallel and adjoining strips of the fabric that have over-lapped edges, and (e) adhering together the over-lapped edges of the adjoining strips so as to create a continuous fabric that covers the GSTBT.
US09451742B2

A method of improved turf management comprises the steps of: removing the existing inefficient-to-maintain lawn/field; prepping the land for preferred planting conditions; then seeding with a mostly fine fescue mixture that includes: (a) about 20-50% by weight Hard Fescue; (b) about 20-50% by weight Creeping Red Fescue; and (c) about 20-50% by weight Chewings Fescue.
US09451741B2

A vacuum planter exhaust filtration system for preventing seed treatment particles used in seed planting from entering the atmosphere. The vacuum planter exhaust filtration system generally includes an air filter fluidly positioned between the fan and the planting units of the vacuum planter. The air filter removes the particulate material prior to being exhausted into the surrounding environment by the fan. The air filter utilizes cyclonic separation to separate the particulate material from the contaminated air from the planting units. A particle container collects the removed particulate material and allows for environmentally friendly disposal of the particulate material.
US09456536B2

A method and system for pins detection and insertion of an electronic component are provided. The method includes picking an electronic component having a plurality of pins by a pick and place device, acquiring a plurality of serial images with respect to the plurality of pins at different height along an image acquiring direction by an image acquiring device, separately detecting image positions corresponding to the plurality of pins in the plurality of serial images, determining whether the electronic component is qualified according to a distance between the image positions of two adjacent pins, and if the electronic component is qualified, inserting the electronic component to a circuit board according to a position relationship between the image positions of the pins and a geometric center position of the pick and place device.
US09456535B2

A replacement radio which can be used to replace a wide range of older automobile radios and fit into an almost unlimited number of dashboard configurations comprises an interchangeable radio display assembly having a radio display sized to fit into an original automobile dashboard radio display opening and a separate radio case having radio electronics therein. The separate radio display assembly is operatively connected to the radio electronics in the radio case, such as by a cable extending between the two. Separate control knob shafts and associated controls can also be provided which are operatively connected to the radio, such as by cables. With a separate radio display assembly and separate control knob shafts, there is no limit to where the radio case can be placed with respect to the dashboard mounting the display and controls and a radio display assembly that fits the particular radio display opening can be used with the radio case.
US09456532B2

Radio frequency (RF) power generator including an outer enclosure having a system cavity. The outer enclosure separates the system cavity from an exterior of the RF power generator. The outer enclosure is configured to reduce leakage of the electromagnetic radiation into the exterior. The RF power generator also includes a feedthrough assembly comprising a coaxial line configured to receive electric power generated by an RF amplification system. The coaxial line is positioned within the system cavity and has inner and outer conductors. The feedthrough assembly includes a connector shield that forms a feedthrough to the exterior of the RF power generator. The connector shield is electrically coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial line and integrated with the outer enclosure to reduce leakage of electromagnetic radiation into the exterior.
US09456531B2

A lightweight audio player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a fold-up case formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case is of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. Side wall closure members define self-engaging attachment features for affixing to the case, providing electrical self-grounding with the wire screen and thermal grounding with internal power devices. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment.
US09456529B2

A heat management structure for a wearable electronic device includes a first thermally conductive layer, a second thermally conductive layer, and insulating layer. The first and second thermally conductive layers and the insulating layer are arranged in a stacked configuration along their surface areas with the insulating layer disposed between and in physical contact with the first and second thermally conductive layers. At least one edge of the second thermally conductive layer extends beyond an edge of at least one of the first thermally conductive layer or the insulating layer.
US09456528B2

It is impossible in a cooling device using a phase-change system, seeking high heat transport performance, to obtain sufficient cooling performance due to the increase in thermal resistance with a heating element to be cooled, therefore, a connecting structure of a cooling device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a connecting board with an opening; a pressing plate of thin plate elastically deformable; first fixing means for fixing the pressing plate to the connecting board with the pressing plate disposed covering heat receiving means composing the cooling device; and second fixing means for fixing the connecting board to a substrate with the heat receiving means abutting against a heating element mounted on the substrate and disposed in the opening.
US09456526B2

A rack for electronic plug-in boards has board cages on the front and rear sides and at least one vertical backplane arranged between the board cages. The rack has an installation space provided underneath or above the board cages and into which fan modules can be horizontally inserted from the front side. A power supply module with an electronics unit supplies power to the backplane. The installation space continuously extends up to the region of the board cage on the rear side. The electronics unit is arranged in the region of the rear side of the rack underneath or above the board cage and defines the installation space toward the rear. The electronics unit is connected to the backplane by rigid electric conductors horizontally extending between the board cage on the rear side and the installation space parallel and at a distance from one another.
US09456519B2

A rack-based information handling system (IHS) includes a rack containing at least one chassis having a plurality of bays open to laterally receive sleds that contain a plurality of information technology (IT) components that, when operational, enable the rack to function as an IHS. A storage sled including a stationary tray received in the chassis and a moveable trace received in the stationary tray. One or more hot swap bays that are horizontally arrayed in the storage sled in less than one (1) Server System Infrastructure (SSI) rack unit of height, wherein the moveable tray is extendable from the rack to a service position to expose all of its hot swap bays. Storage devices are insertable into a respective one of the hot swap bays of the storage sled. Each storage device may include a latching handle to lift and downward position the storage device in the corresponding hot swap bay.
US09456518B2

The present invention relates to a carrier module (100) for fieldbus modules that can be snapped onto a carrier profile and is movable on the carrier profile, with a first plug connector (101L) for electrically and mechanically connecting a left-side fieldbus module to the carrier module (100) and with a second plug connector (101R) for electrically and mechanically connecting a right-side fieldbus module to the carrier module (100).
US09456503B2

An engagement structure for preventing the separation of a resin layer is formed in a contact surface of an insulating substrate in a connecting component, the contact surface being in contact with the resin layer. The resin layer engages with the engagement structure in the contact surface in the insulating substrate in contact with the resin layer, the contact surface forming the side surface of the connecting component.
US09456501B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a nanowire, including: forming a plurality of grid patterns on a grid base layer; forming a sacrificial layer on the grid base layer on which the grid patterns are formed; producing a nanowire grid structure by forming a nanowire base layer on the sacrificial layer; forming a nanowire by wet etching the nanowire base layer; and separating the grid patterns from the nanowire by etching the sacrificial layer.
US09456498B2

Power may be supplied to an electronic module according to various techniques. In one general implementation, for example, a system for supplying power to an electronic module may include a printed circuit board, the electronic module, and a conductive foil. The board may include a number of contact locations on a first side, with at least one of the contact locations electrically coupled to a via to a second side of the board. The electronic module may be electrically coupled to the contact locations on the first side of the board and receive electrical power through the at least one contact location electrically coupled to a via. The foil may be adapted to convey electrical power for the electronic module and electrically coupled on the second side of circuit board to at least the via electrically coupled to a contact location that receives electrical power for the electronic module.
US09456497B2

A nano graphene platelet-based conductive ink comprising: (a) nano graphene platelets (preferably un-oxidized or pristine graphene), and (b) a liquid medium in which the nano graphene platelets are dispersed, wherein the nano graphene platelets occupy a proportion of at least 0.001% by volume based on the total ink volume and a process using the same. The ink can also contain a binder or matrix material and/or a surfactant. The ink may further comprise other fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nano-fibers, metal nano particles, carbon black, conductive organic species, etc. The graphene platelets preferably have an average thickness no greater than 10 nm and more preferably no greater than 1 nm. These inks can be printed to form a range of electrically or thermally conductive components or printed electronic components.
US09456489B2

A memory system is provided with a motherboard, and a memory controller and a plurality memory devices mounted on the motherboard. The motherboard comprises a unicursal-shape main wiring, and branch wirings branched from the main wiring to the respective memory devices. Further, the motherboard comprises an open stub wiring branched from a connecting point between a start end and a branch point of the main wiring. Thus, a ringing of a waveform of a signal received by a receiving circuit can be suppressed irrespective of a wiring length of the branch wiring.
US09456487B2

A hard disk drive memory which stores pattern data of a high-frequency to be applied for each combination of energy and intensity of the generated particle beam and a local memory, which reads a plurality of pattern data of a high-frequency for each patient together with a sequential order of changing energy and intensity from the hard disk drive memory and stores data in order to perform a scanning irradiation method in which a layered particle beam irradiation region in a depth direction of an affected part of the patient is formed sequentially by changing energy and intensity of the particle beam sequentially to irradiate an affected part of a patient which is an irradiation subject with the particle beam, and which reads out data faster than the hard disk drive memory are provided.
US09456485B2

A pixel arrangement of color display panel includes a plurality of white sub-pixels extending along a first direction and forming a plurality of white sub-pixel columns and a plurality of first sub-pixels, second sub-pixels and third sub-pixels disposed between the white sub-pixel columns to respectively provide a first color light, a second color light and a third color light. The first, second, third and white sub-pixels respectively have a first length, a second length, a third length and a fourth length in the first direction. The first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels and the third sub-pixels are arranged in a specific sequence. The first length is equal to the second length, the second length is equal to the third length, and the fourth length is greater than the first length.
US09456481B2

A solid-state lighting system includes a light-emitting device connected in series with a variable dim setting resistor, an adjustable regulator, and a current sensor disposed in a feedback loop between an adjust input of the adjustable regulator and the variable dim setting resistor. The voltage dropped across the variable dim setting resistor is forced to remain constant irrespective of the resistance setting of the dim setting resistor. The current sensor measures or senses the current flowing through the variable dim setting resistor and causes the adjustable regulator to adjust its output voltage and the forward voltage drop across the light-emitting device so that the current flowing through the light-emitting device matches the current set by the variable dim setting resistor. Controlling the current in this manner allows dimming to be performed over an extremely wide dimming range, to very low light levels, and without producing light flicker at any dim level.
US09456480B2

A dimmer circuit may include: a rectification module, a control module and an output module, wherein the control module receives an input signal rectified through the rectification module and controls the output module to supply a load with an output signal in accordance with the input signal, and a compensation module which collects sampled signals characterizing dimming state of the dimmer circuit between the control module and the output module, and supplies the control module with a compensation signal in accordance with the sampled signals, the control module changing the value of the output signal according to the input signal and the compensation signal.
US09456468B2

A trailer electronic braking system comprising a braking device capable of generating a braking force on a wheel on the trailer. The braking force is applied to brake cylinders and is controllable by a braking ECU, which braking ECU is connected to a standards compliant communication bus on the trailer. The ECU is adapted to receive data inputs from sensors, on the trailer. The system further includes an arrangement to interface to trailer electronics and a communications interface having a 802.11 wireless card adapted to transmit an SSID. The braking system is adapted to transmit a trailer identifier comprising the SSID. The trailer identifier can be paired with a further device previously provided with the trailer identifier. The braking system enables the SSID to be changed to a second SSID when a pre-determined condition is met.
US09456467B2

A communication system having two communication units configured for wireless communication and a method for wireless communication. Each of the communication units includes a communication controller using at least two communication protocols: a first protocol for communicating having a first error rate threshold and a fixed data rate, and a second protocol for communicating having a second error rate threshold being higher than the first error rate threshold and a non-fixed data rate. The communication controller switches between the first protocol and the second protocol.
US09456465B2

Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques to speed up and improve silent redial success rates in wireless communications. A user equipment (UE) may determine how to attempt retrying a mobile originated (MO) call and procedures for selecting a subsequent system for attempting the call based, at least in part, on a restriction status of the call and a detected failure.
US09456464B2

Techniques for electronic devices to control a multipath transmission control protocol (MPTCP) connection. An MPTCP connection between two endpoints may be established. The MPTCP connection may include at least one MPTCP subflow. At least one of the endpoints may be configured to act as a master with respect to the MPTCP connection. The master may perform one or more control operations on the MPTCP connection, while if one of the endpoints is not a master, that endpoint may not perform control operations on the MPTCP connection. The control operations may include initiating or establishing new MPTCP subflows or modifying a priority level of one or more MPTCP subflows of the MPTCP connection.
US09456455B2

A method of transmitting feedback information at a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system comprising a network and a plurality of UEs is disclosed, the method comprising receiving information associated with a time-frequency region for transmitting feedback information related with downlink data, the time-frequency region being dynamically allocated by the network, receiving the downlink data from the network, and transmitting the feedback information for the downlink data to the network on the time-frequency region.
US09456445B2

A method and base station in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting, to a terminal, system information including information associated with a sub-frame configuration of multimedia broadcast multicast service single frequency network (MBSFN) sub-frames, identifying whether the transmission mode of the terminal is a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode, transmitting, to the terminal, dedicated message including configuration information of the identified transmission mode of the terminal, transmitting, to the terminal, control information in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and data in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in a first sub-frame of the MBSFN sub-frames, if the terminal is configured in the first transmission mode, and transmitting, to the terminal, the control information in the PDCCH and the data in the PDSCH in a second sub-frame of a non-MBSFN sub-frames, if the terminal is configured in the second transmission mode.
US09456442B2

The embodiments of the present invention disclose a reference signal sending method and apparatus. The method includes: determining, by a network node, ports and the number of layers used for transmitting downlink specific reference signals to user equipment; generating, by the network node, downlink control signaling according to the ports and the number of layers, wherein 5-bits signaling in the downlink control signaling is used to indicate the user equipment the ports and the number of layers used for transmitting the downlink specific reference signals, in order to support multiplexing of at most eight user equipment; and sending, by the network node, the downlink control signaling to the user equipment, and sending the downlink specific reference signals to the user equipment according to the determined ports and the number of layers. By adopting the present invention, the maximum number of multiplexed streams may be increased.
US09456439B2

Channel State Information (CSI) is reported by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless access system which supports carrier aggregation. A first type CSI for a first component carrier (CC) of two or more downlink (DL) CCs is measured. A second type CSI for a second CC of the two or more downlink (DL) CCs is measured. The first type CSI only is reported, when a collision of a report of the first type CSI with a report of the second CSI type is occurred in a same subframe. In addition, the first type CSI includes (1) a Rank indicator (RI) and a first Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), (2) only the RI, or (3) only the first PMI, and the second type CSI includes (1) a Wideband Channel Quality Indicator (WB-CQI) and a second PMI, (2) the WB-CQI and the first PMI, or (3) only the WB-CQI.
US09456433B2

A system includes one or more hardware processors causing performance of operations. The operations include transmitting, by a first access point, a set of one or more wireless signals that include a request for feedback information. The set of wireless signals incorrectly identifies a second access point as the sender of the set of wireless signals instead of correctly identifying the first access point as the sender of the set of wireless signals. The operations further include receiving, from a client device associated with the second access point, a feedback information corresponding to the receipt of the set of wireless signals by the client device, and, based on the feedback information: determining a distance between the first access point and the client device that is associated with the second access point.
US09456429B2

Provided is a terminal device that performs communication with a base station device, the terminal device including a reception unit that receives information relating to a first configuration, information relating to a second configuration, and a downlink control information (DCI) format; and a transmission unit that transmit an uplink signal to the base station device in a case where the uplink signal is scheduled based on the DCI format, and switching between DCI formats that are applied to subframe sets, respectively.
US09456428B2

Method and apparatus for base stations and subscriber units allows soft handoff of a CDMA reverse link utilizing an orthogonal channel structure. Subscriber units transmit an orthogonally coded signal over a reverse link to the base stations. A given base station provides timing control of the timing offset of the reverse link signal. Based on at least one criterion, an alignment controller determines that the given base station should hand off timing control to another base station, and a soft handoff process ensues. In response to a command or message for soft handoff of the subscriber unit from the given base station to another base station, the subscriber unit makes a coarse timing adjustment to the timing of the coded signal. The subscriber unit may make fine timing adjustments based on feedback from the base station controlling timing. Multiple base stations may provide power control feedback to the subscriber unit.
US09456427B1

The invention is directed to the optimization of power to increase a coverage area between a mobile device and the wireless communications network. Once it is determined that coverage is to be increased, a scheduling request is communicated to an access component (e.g., base station, eNodeB). The access component then sends a scheduling grant to the mobile device indicating that coverage will be increased. The determination to increase coverage is based on a total time delay of a packet sent from one device to another device, and a quality of the current voice or data session.
US09456425B2

A base station configured for carrier aggregation, includes: a receiver; and processing circuitry coupled to the receiver and configured to: allocate to a user equipment uplink resources for at least one activated serving cell configured with an uplink carrier, the uplink resources for new transmission and the allocated uplink resources may accommodate a power headroom report, and obtain, responsive to the allocated uplink resources, a configured maximum output power for an activated serving cell configured with an uplink carrier, where the activated serving cell has non-adaptive retransmission of uplink data, or the activated serving cell where the base station schedules channel state information but no allocated uplink grant for transmitting data of an uplink shared channel.
US09456420B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adaptive channel transmission using a channel state, and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for channel transmission of a remote node includes intermittently receiving a forward channel transmitted from a host node, estimating a reverse channel state based on the received forward channel, determining whether the estimated reverse channel state satisfies a preset channel condition, and adaptively transmitting a reverse channel based on the determined result.
US09456413B2

Apparatuses, systems and methods for reducing power consumption during standby operation of a mobile device are disclosed. A page decoding algorithm can be stored in nonvolatile memory during standby. The page decoding algorithm can be executed from the nonvolatile memory, when the mobile device is awakened from a sleep state to determine if there is any activity such as an incoming call. No power is required for the nonvolatile memory to maintain storage of the algorithm so that the power requirement during standby of the mobile device is reduced.
US09456412B2

Method of selecting an Access Point Name (APN) includes selecting one APN from an APN list when a network connection state of an electronic device is idle and the APN list has at least one APN. The electronic device includes a storage device that stores a APN list. A connection is established between the electronic device and a wide area network using the selected APN. When the connection is established using the selected APN, the method determines that the selected APN is a preferred APN.
US09456411B2

This disclosure relates to selection of transmission points in a communication system. Information of potential reference signals is sent from a network element to a mobile device to configure the mobile device for measurement of at least one received signal characteristic of the indicated potential reference signals. The mobile device then performs measurement on the indicated potential reference signals and sends to the network element information of at least one port selected by the mobile device based on the measurement.
US09456410B2

A method for supporting PDN GW selection, comprising the following steps of: receiving by an MME a local route optimization service request information; searching by the MME the IP address of a PDN GW which supports local route optimization according to the IP address of a PDN GWh; sending by the MME a bearer request establishment message to the PDN GWh. The method of the present invention can ensure core network equipment to find PDN GW correctly while HeNB system supports local route optimization.
US09456399B2

A user equipment (UE) receives a circuit switched page from a first radio access technology (RAT) and a command instructing the UE to redirect to a second RAT. The command indicates a designated location area identity of the second RAT. The UE detects base stations of the second RAT and determines whether a strongest base station is in an area identified by the designated location area identity. The UE connects to the strongest base station based on the determining. When the designated location area identity is a permitted location area, the UE connects to the strongest base station when the location of the strongest base station is included in the permitted location area. When the designated location area identity is a prohibited location area, the UE connects to the strongest base station when the location of the strongest base station is not included in the prohibited location area.
US09456393B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for determining a starting symbol of a physical downlink shared channel; wherein, a Pico base station transmits information indicating a PDSCH starting symbol of the Pico base station to a Macro base station, the Macro base station transmits the information indicating a PDSCH starting symbol to a terminal, and the terminal determines the PDSCH starting symbol in accordance with the information indicating a PDSCH starting symbol. With the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal within a serving range of the Pico base station resulted from a high offset value will not incorrectly decode a PCFICH due to interference of the Macro base station, thereby making the terminal determine a demarcation symbol between a PDCCH and a PDSCH, further increasing the coverage of the Pico base station, and realizing load balancing of the Macro base station and Pico base station.
US09456387B2

A method of allocating resources for transmitting content from a network element in a communications network to one or more mobile devices each in communication with the network element may include receiving, at the network element, characteristic information corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices; and generating one or more adaptive guaranteed bit rate (AGBR) values at the network element corresponding to each of the one or more mobile devices, respectively. The AGBR values may be GBR values generated for each of the one or more mobile devices based on the corresponding characteristic information. A first scheduling algorithm may be executed at the network element based on the one or more AGBR values; and resources may be allocated to the one or more mobile devices based on an output of the scheduling algorithm.
US09456383B2

Methods, apparatus, and computer readable media may adjust an encoding rate based on network conditions between a transmitter and a receiver. Either the transmitter, receiver, or both the transmitter and receiver may determine the encoding rate. In one aspect, a ratio of received network data to transmitted network data is determined. An encoding parameter is then determined based on the determined ratio. In one aspect, the encoding parameter may be used to adjust an encoder. In another aspect, the determined encoding parameter may be transmitted to an encoding or transmitting node. In another aspect, an amount of data buffered in a network is determined. A sustainable throughput of the network is also determined. A transmission rate is then determined based on the sustainable throughput and the amount of data buffered. An encoding parameter is then adjusted based on the transmission rate.
US09456372B2

Embodiments contemplate methods, systems, and apparatuses for interference measurement in a wireless communication network, including wireless communication networks the employ MIMO in uplink and/or downlink communication. Embodiments contemplate identifying one or more interference measurement resource elements that may be received from one or more transmission points. Embodiments also contemplate performing interference measurement estimation based at least in part on the identified one or more interference measurement resource elements. Channel state information (CSI) perhaps in the form of reports may be generated based at least in part on the one or more interference measurement estimation. Embodiments also contemplate that the CSI report may be transmitted to one or more nodes. In some embodiments, the one or more interference measurement resource elements may be received as part of a set of resource elements.
US09456369B2

In an example, packets transmitted over a communication channel from a transmitter are received. Channel state information (CSI) from the received packets are obtained and signal-to-noise (SNR) values of the communication channel are computed based on the obtained CSI. In addition, effective bit error rate (BER) values are determined based on the SNR values, a coherence time period within which the effective BER values of the communication channel remain within a predetermined range is determined, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to be implemented by the transmitter is determined based on the effective BER values within the coherence time period, and the determined MCS is transmitted to the transmitter.
US09456363B2

A method of managing a cell of a radio telecommunication network, the cell including a site controller to control, via a packet network, a plurality of transmitters distributed over different sites of the cell such that the transmitters of the different sites transmitting over a same frequency band form a transmission channel, a channel of the transmission channel being a control channel dedicated to a transmission of signals relative to an operation of the cell, the signals including general operating signals and specific operating signals, the method including: transmitting a request comprising general operating signals from the site controller to a transmitter selected by said site controller to control storage of general operating signals in the selected transmitter, and to control handling of a transmission of the general operating signals addressed to all terminals present in the cell over the control channel in case of failure of the site controller and/or of the packet network.
US09456350B2

Techniques for acquiring, sending, receiving or using status information from a remote location over a network are disclosed. The status information is transmitted over the network between or among electronic devices. The status information can be provided by one or more sensors associated with the electronic device that is transmitting the status information. The status information can be transmitted with messages so as to enhance the messages. The electronic devices include at least computing devices, such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, pagers, and mobile telephones.
US09456347B2

A connection method for enhancing information security of an electronic system is disclosed. The electronic system comprises a plurality of communication devices. Each communication device is capable of establishing a plurality of wireless communication connections with another communication device. The plurality of wireless communication connections comprises a near field communication connection. The connection method comprises a first communication device and a second communication device utilizing the near field communication connection to perform a mutual verification process before the first communication device establishes a wireless connection with the second communication device, and the first communication device and the second communication device being allowed to establish a wireless communication connection of the plurality of wireless communication connections after the first communication device and the second communication device pass the mutual verification process.
US09456342B2

A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for obtaining cellular network load information in a secure manner are disclosed. For example, the method receives the cellular network load information, where the cellular network load information is encrypted. The method then decrypts the cellular network load information using a decryption key and performs a task responsive to the network load information that is decrypted.
US09456341B2

Network node and base station and methods therein for deriving a permanent identifier, such as an IMSI, for a UE in a cellular communication system of LTE type. The solution involves the use of a request for an inter-RAT handover, where the request comprises a temporary identifier of a process associated with the UE of which a permanent identifier is to be derived. The access to a permanent UE identifier is enabled in a radio access network where such an identifier is not readily available. The solution does not require any changes to procedures or nodes in the core network.
US09456338B2

A smart phone carried by a user being aboard a vehicle transmits an automatic Virtual Network Computing (VNC) request that is a request of a remote manipulation based on a trigger event that arises when a short range wireless communication is established with an in-vehicle apparatus in the vehicle. Further, the smart phone transmits a manual VNC request at the time when a manipulation for a VNC request is performed by a user. In contrast, the in-vehicle apparatus uses, as a start condition of starting a VNC connection, a reception of the automatic VNC request from a smart phone that is registered as a target of remote manipulation. In particular, when a plurality of smart phones are registered, the in-vehicle apparatus adds a reception of the manual VNC request from a smart phone into the start condition.
US09456335B2

A method and system for defining an offlinable model graph. In one embodiment of the method, a request is generated by a mobile device. The mobile device receives a response to the request. The mobile device updates a plurality of tables stored in memory of the mobile device, wherein the updating comprises adding a component of the response to a first table of the plurality of tables.
US09456334B2

Various embodiments detecting wireless communication device mobility in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data packets associated with a wireless communication device are analyzed. The wireless communication device is coupled with the edge entity. A determination is made, based on the analyzing, that the wireless communication device is a newly coupled device at the edge entity. A central entity disposed within the wireless communication network is notified that the wireless communication device is currently coupled to the edge entity.
US09456333B2

A mobile device utilizes a two-stage dialing solution when roaming on a visited mobile operator (MO) network to implement centralized routing so that a home network portion of a hybrid network is inserted into the path of outbound calls. A remote centralized routing (CR) service interoperates with a CR client on the mobile device. When a call is initiated to a remote party, the CR client calls into an arbitrary roaming routing number that is terminated in the home network. Once the call is connected between the mobile device and home network, the CR client sends a dialing string that includes a destination number of the remote party. The CR service calls the destination number and then bridges the calls to the mobile device and remote party to establish an end-to-end call path between the local and far ends of the call that traverses the home network.
US09456323B2

Methods and devices for providing naming information of a called party to a circuit-switched mobile terminal (300, 600, 900, 1000) of a calling party via a mobile telecommunication network are described. In particular, a method performed by a circuit-switched switching node (310, 610, 910, 1010) comprises the steps of receiving (S100) from the mobile terminal a request for setting up a call to a terminal (340, 640, 940-948) of the called party, obtaining (S110) an identifier of the called party, sending (S120) a request for naming information of the called party to a database (330, 630, 930, S22, S33) wherein the naming information of the called party is registerable in association with the called party identifier, the request comprising the identifier, receiving (S130) the naming information from the database, and executing (S140) a delivery of the naming information to the mobile terminal.
US09456308B2

A method (and structure) includes receiving an input from a sensor on a mobile device. Based on the sensor input, a processor determines whether a user of the mobile device is engaged in a specific physical activity. A control setting on the mobile device is set for delivering content during a period the specific physical activity is detected.
US09456307B2

An electronic device may be provided with electronic components such as mapping circuitry for measuring distances, areas, volumes or other properties of objects in the surrounding environment of the device. The mapping circuitry may include a laser sensor and device position detection circuitry. The device may include processing circuitry configured to gather laser sample data and device position data using the laser sensor and the device position detection circuitry. The laser sample data and the device position data may be gathered while pointing a laser beam generated with a laser in the laser sensor at one or more sample points on a surface such as a surface of a wall. By tracking the device position and orientation using the device position detection circuitry, the objects may be mapped while gathering laser sample data from any position with respect to the object.
US09456301B2

A network tracking server-based service that implements an efficient network management of location requests associated with tracking a prisoner's wireless tracking device. The tracking server initiates location requests associated with a given prisoner (or the like) tracking device in a trustworthy, but much more efficient and manageable technique, from the perspective of the network. Network management of prisoner device tracking is made efficient when inside a given geofence, but once outside the prescribed geofence a more detailed inquisition is immediately launched—even before the top of the hour (or whenever the typical periodic location request occur). From a management perspective, once detected to no longer be inside (and thus is outside) an expected or assigned geofence, the prisoner tracking device is presumed less trustworthy, and thus then periodic location requests to the tracking device are initiated.
US09456297B2

In one embodiments, a method for authorizing access for an application programming interface (API) client or API client device to data of one or more data models of one or more smart devices includes retrieving a number of access tokens from an authorization server, and providing, via a single connection, the number of access tokens in a request made by the API client or the API client device to the API, wherein the number of access tokens are used to verify access rights of the API client or the API client device to read data for a number of users associated with the one or more data models of the one or more smart devices.
US09456292B2

A communication apparatus to execute a direct wireless communication includes an identification unit, a determining unit, a display unit, and a connection unit. The identification unit identifies, by performing search processing, one device as a communication partner of the direct wireless communication. The determining unit determines whether a user's instruction is needed to establish the direct wireless communication between the one identified device and the communication apparatus. The display unit displays, where a user's instruction is needed, an instruction screen allowing a user to instruct establishing the direct wireless communication. The connection unit performs, where the user has issued the instruction, connection processing to establish the direct wireless communication via the instruction screen. Where the determination unit has determined that the user's instruction is not needed, the connection unit performs the connection processing without the displaying unit displaying the instruction screen.
US09456291B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a session processing method and apparatus of machine type communication. The method includes: receiving, by a first network device, a session request message; acquiring, by the first network device, subscription information according to a device parameter; and generating, by the first network device, a policy and charging control rule PCC rule of a subscriber of a UE according to the subscription information, carrying the PCC rule in a session response message, and sending the session response message. In the session processing method and apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, explicit binding of an MTC UE Category to a Low cost MTC service is implemented, so that it is ensured that the cost reduction technology does not affect the performance of a UE that belongs to an existing UE Category, thereby improving network performance of a communication system.
US09456288B2

A system for use in analyzing vibrations of an electrical machine is provided. The system includes a conversion computing device including at least one processor. The conversion computing device is configured to receive at least one analog vibration signal representing vibrations associated with an electrical machine, convert the at least one analog vibration signal to audio data, and transmit the audio data to an analysis computing device.
US09456284B2

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for minimizing mechanical-vibration-induced noise in audio signals. In one aspect, a microphone is disclosed that includes a first backplate, a first diaphragm, a second backplate, and a second diaphragm. The first diaphragm moves relative to the first backplate in response to acoustic pressure waves in an environment and mechanical vibrations of the microphone, thereby causing a first capacitance change between the first diaphragm and the first backplate. The second diaphragm is substantially acoustically isolated from the acoustic pressure waves, and moves relative to the second backplate in response to the mechanical vibrations of the microphone, thereby causing a second capacitance change between the second diaphragm and the second backplate. The microphone further includes or is communicatively coupled to an integrated circuit configured to generate an acoustic signal based on the first capacitance and the second capacitance.
US09456281B2

A miniature speaker includes a frame having a sidewall including a first upper thinner portion and a first lower thicker portion, a magnetic circuit unit, a voice coil having a lead wire, and a diaphragm driven by the voice coil. The magnetic circuit unit has a yoke, a magnet mounted on the yoke, a pole plate attached to the magnet, and a magnetic gap. The yoke further includes a lower plate and a side extending from the lower plate, the side including a second thinner portion and a second lower thicker portion. A recess is accordingly formed by the thinner portions and the thicker portions for accommodating the lead wire of the voice coil. The recess defines a bottom formed by the thicker portions and an opening formed by the thinner portions thereby providing an enlarged space to the lead wire.
US09456267B2

A noise reduction apparatus includes a microphone that picks up a noise from surroundings of a casing, a cancellation signal generating section that generates a cancellation signal for reducing the noise from surroundings, by applying filtering to a signal picked up by the microphone, a predicted signal computing section that computes a predicted signal by predicting a noise from surroundings leaking into the casing, on a basis of the signal picked up by the microphone, an additional-signal control section that generates an additional signal for improving a listening feel of an actual residual noise, on a basis of a predicted residual noise obtained by adding the cancellation signal and the predicted signal, and an addition/output section that adds and outputs the additional signal and the cancellation signal.
US09456256B2

A routing circuit and a circuit having the routing circuit are provided. The circuit includes a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs), a plurality of signal terminals and the routing circuit. Each of the ICs has a plurality of signal channels. The routing circuit is coupled between the ICs and the signal terminals to route the signal channels to the signal terminals. The routing circuit has a plurality of sequencers and a processing circuit. Each of the sequencers is configured to reconfigure an arrangement sequence of the signal channels of a corresponding one of the ICs. The processing circuit is coupled to the sequencers and has a first distributor. The first distributor routes the signal channels to the signal terminals in a group manner based on the arrangement sequences of the signal channels reconfigured by the sequencers according to a control signal.
US09456248B2

A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response.
US09456244B2

Embodiments of apparatus, computer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media are described herein for facilitation of concurrent consumption of media content by a first user of a first computing device and a second user of a second computing device. In various embodiments, facilitation may include superimposition of an animation of the second user over the media content presented on the first computing device, based on captured visual data of the second user received from the second computing device. In various embodiments, the animation may be visually emphasized on determination of the first user's interest in the second user. In various embodiments, facilitation may include conditional alteration of captured visual data of the first user based at least in part on whether the second user has been assigned a trusted status, and transmittal of the altered or unaltered visual data of the first user to the second computing device.
US09456241B2

Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.
US09456239B2

A wireless communication apparatus which performs wireless communication with onboard information equipment installed in a vehicle includes: receiver that receives media data from the onboard information equipment; playback processing unit that outputs the media data the receiver receives; communication state retaining unit that retains a communication state between the onboard information equipment and wireless communication apparatus; usage situation deciding unit that decides a usage situation of the wireless communication apparatus from the vehicle surrounding information and generates usage situation information; quality deciding unit that decides the quality of the media data using communication state information retained in the communication state retaining unit and the usage situation information generated by the usage situation deciding unit; and transmitter that transmits the quality generated by the quality deciding unit to the onboard information equipment as media data quality information.
US09456236B2

When switching sources, resolutions or refresh rates in a video distribution network, switching times are reduced by maintaining video lock and security authentication between a video switcher and a video sink. The scaler maintains video lock and security authentication by continuing to generate video timing data during switching events. The scaler also facilitates an aesthetically pleasing transition by generating image content data prior to and after the switching event.
US09456230B1

A system and method for generating and distributing overlay streams in real time over an overlay stream distribution channel that overlays events of a video stream distributed in a separate video channel. Overlay streams are distributed to subscriber recipient components via a unicast channel in order to enhance user viewing. A publisher subscriber component and caching techniques a low latency, high availability unicasting based real time overlay distribution system for a large numbers of concurrent overlay recipients.
US09456220B2

An image coding device encodes image data in units of encoding line number that is number of lines necessary for implementing encoding. The image coding device includes: an image-data transforming unit that transforms image data of lines, number of which is smaller than the encoding-line number, into to-be-encoded image data of the encoding-line number of lines; and an encoding unit that encodes the to-be-encoded image data.
US09456216B2

Techniques and tools for sub-block transform coding are described. For example, a video encoder adaptively switches between 8×8, 8×4, and 4×8 DCTs when encoding 8×8 prediction residual blocks; a corresponding video decoder switches between 8×8, 8×4, and 4×8 inverse DCTs during decoding. The video encoder may determine the transform sizes as well as switching levels (e.g., frame, macroblock, or block) in a closed loop evaluation of the different transform sizes and switching levels. The encoder and decoder may use different scan patterns for different transform sizes when scanning values from two-dimensional blocks into one-dimensional arrays, or vice versa. The encoder and decoder may use sub-block pattern codes to indicate the presence or absence of information for the sub-blocks of particular blocks.
US09456214B2

A moving picture coding method for calculating a motion vector predictor to be used when coding a motion vector of a current block, and coding the current block includes: (S102) obtaining motion vector predictor candidates a fixed number of which is two or more; (S103) selecting the motion vector predictor to be used for coding the motion vector of the current block, from among the motion vector predictor candidates the fixed number of which is two or more; and (S104) coding an index for identifying the selected motion vector predictor according to the fixed number of two or more, wherein the motion vector predictor candidates the fixed number of which is two or more include one or more candidates each having a predetermined second fixed value.
US09456191B2

A reproduction apparatus, which is provided to reproduce a moving image recorded in a recording apparatus, includes: a storage unit configured to store change information indicating a change of a position of a scene included in the moving image recorded in the recording apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive start information designating a reproduction start position of the moving image based on a reference position of the moving image before the change of the position of the scene; and an identifying unit configured to identify the distance from the reference position to the reproduction start position changed by the change of the position of the scene, on the basis of the change information and the start information received by the receiving unit.
US09456190B2

This disclosure articulates methods for calculating a metric based on actual time period of retention (ρα) in a given video recording system. The measurement is performed on a per-camera-stream basis for each camera stream being recorded on a system. The metric is related to Video Retention Compliance (VRC), which is another key performance indicators of video surveillance applications, as it is tied to a business and, sometimes, regulatory requirement of an organization. This disclosure describes methods of calculating retention for each camera stream recording on a server, and doing so in an efficient enough way so as to be practical for ongoing operations.
US09456184B2

An aircraft fuselage comprising at least one window equipped with a system for displaying images of the outside environment for a passenger. The display system comprises a camera for filming the environment outside the aircraft; a display surface; a display projector suitable for displaying an image of the outside environment on the display surface; and a first image processor suitable for receiving the images of the outside environment. The first image processor is configured to produce computed images which are in continuity with the images visible to the passenger through the window, and transmit the computed images to the display projector.
US09456175B2

The present disclosure provides a caption searching method including: obtaining characteristic information of a video file to be played, and searching for a caption, for the video file to be played, in a caption database according to the characteristic information, so as to generate a search result; performing, according to the search result, a voice textualization process on the video file to be played; and updating the caption database according to a textualized caption generated by the voice textualization process, and using an updated caption in the caption database as a caption of the video file to be played. The present disclosure further provides an electronic device and storage medium for the caption searching. In this manner, a search for a caption is based on audio information recognition from the video file, to increase a hit rate and reduce an error rate of caption matching.
US09456169B2

A method for implementing split-screen viewing of television, a set-top box and a television system are provided, wherein the method includes: a set-top box receiving a play control signal sent by a remote control terminal, generating a split-screen control signal according to the play control signal, and sending the split-screen control signal to a television terminal; the television terminal implementing split-screen playing of two or more than two programs according to the split-screen control signal. The abovementioned technical scheme can solve the problem in the prior art that, the television terminal can play a single program at a time, resulting in a poor user experience.
US09456168B2

The availability of a new information service is publicized by displaying an icon in an EPG when the presence of a new information service is detected. A list of new services is then displayed responsive to a user command. When one of the new services is displayed instead of the list.
US09456163B2

A method for providing Graphical User Interface (GUI) for selecting a broadcast channel, and a broadcast receiving apparatus having the same are provided. The GUI for selecting a broadcast channel includes a keypad having a pointer to be moved by manipulation of a user on a remote control apparatus and keys selectable by the pointer, and then the user is able to input a preferred broadcast channel by using the keypad and the pointer. Accordingly, the user is able to input a preferred broadcast channel without using the number keys, so the number keys may be omitted in the remote control apparatus. As a result, miniaturization of the remote control apparatus is possible.
US09456156B2

An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor 104 in which at least part of pixels arranged in two dimensions are configured as focus detection pixels with divided-pupil, a memory control circuit 113 configured to read out from a memory position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 stored in the memory, and a correction circuit 110 configured to identify positions of the focus detection pixels 401, 402 in the image sensor 104 based on the position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 and to correct a defective focus detection pixel signal using defect-free focus detection pixel signals.
US09456152B2

Provided is a blur processing method and apparatus that may determine whether a blur occurs in an image generated by a Time of Flight (ToF) camera, and may deblur a blur using a value of a normal adjacent pixel in which the blur is absent when the blur occurs.
US09456147B2

A video generating system includes: a plurality of image sensors, arranged to generate a plurality of images and a plurality of synchronization signals corresponding to the images; a combining circuit, coupled to the image sensors, arranged to generate a plurality of output images according to the images, and generate a plurality of output synchronization signals corresponding to the output images according to the synchronization signals; and a bus, coupled between the image sensors and the combining circuit, arranged to perform signal transmission. The image sensors comprise a first image sensor and a second image sensor; and when the combining circuit receives image data of at least a first image generated by the first image sensor, the combining circuit does not receive image data of at least a second image generated by the second image sensor at the same time.
US09456145B2

An apparatus for photographing by using an electronic flash has a photography controller that carries out a pre-flash photography by emitting strobe light in a pre-flash exposure period and subsequently carries out a main flash photography by emitting strobe light; and an exposure adjuster that sets at least one exposure value associated with the pre-flash photography and/or the main flash photography. The exposure adjuster sets an aperture value of a diaphragm that suppresses an occurrence of saturation in image-pixel signals that are generated in an image sensor in the pre-flash exposure period. The photography controller drives the diaphragm in accordance to the set aperture value for the pre-flash photography.
US09456144B2

A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device.
US09456143B2

Provided is an image capture controlling device including a controlling unit that analyzes a subject of a consecutive zoom shooting on the basis of an image generated before starting the consecutive zoom shooting, the consecutive shooting being performed by repeating a zooming operation and an image capturing operation, and that performs a control to perform the consecutive zoom shooting using a transition condition of a zoom magnification determined on the basis of a result of the analysis.
US09456135B2

An image synthesizing apparatus includes a subject region determination unit that determines a region of a nearby subject for each of taken images based on subject distance information of a plurality of points generated by distance measurement made during imaging and an image synthesizing unit that creates a synthetic image by cutting out an image from each of the taken images based on a position of the region of the nearby subject and combining the cut images of the taken images.
US09456133B2

The image shooting unit is configured to collect image information, and a formed image is a pixel block including one or several pixels, and the image shooting unit includes a tubular directional hood, a lens group, and a light sensitive module that are arranged sequentially along a light incidence direction and a same optical axis, where the tubular directional hood eliminates non-parallel light signals entering the tubular directional hood and enables parallel light signals parallel to an axis of the tubular directional hood to pass; the lens group converges, onto the light sensitive module, the parallel light signals passing through the tubular directional hood; and the light sensitive module converts the parallel light signals into electrical signals.
US09456127B2

A monitoring device, system, and blur detection method of images separate a monitored area into an in-focus area and an out-of-focus area after focusing is done and then analyze the following captured images for how the blocks that makes up the in-focus area change in the blurriness and the proportion of the blocks with changed blurriness to overall blocks in the in-focus area. When the proportion of a captured image meets a specific condition, the captured image is then determined as a blur image. A consecutive number of determined blur images will trigger an auto focus procedure.
US09456125B2

A focus detection apparatus comprises: a sensor unit, having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for receiving light that passed through an imaging optical system and accumulating charge, configured to generate an image signal to be used for correlation calculation for focus detection based on the accumulated charge; a control unit configured to control the photoelectric conversion elements to stop charge accumulation in a case where a first signal that represents contrast of the image signal reaches a predetermined voltage level; and a voltage level setting unit. The voltage level setting unit sets a larger voltage level in a first case, in which luminance change in a direction of the correlation calculation in the plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements is gentler than a second case, than in the second case.
US09456124B2

A detection device includes a first holding member holding a light receiving element, a second holding member holding an optical system, and first and second fixing members fixing the first and second holding members with the first and second holding members separated from each other, in a direction parallel to a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which an optical axis of the optical system extends, at least one of a first surface of the first holding member opposite to the second holding member and a second surface of the second holding member opposite to the first holding member has a plane inclined with respect to the first direction, and the first and second fixing members are provided on the inclined plane and disposed between the first and second surfaces.
US09456112B2

An endoscope system including: an optical endoscope including a fiber bundle that transmits an optical image; a camera head including an image pickup device; and a video processor including a moiré elimination section, a control section and an enhancement processing section, in which the moiré elimination section uses a processing circuit of the enhancement processing section as a processing circuit of itself by replacing a filter coefficient, the camera head includes a first identifier, the video processor includes a detection section that detects the first identifier, and the control section causes the moiré elimination section to perform moiré elimination processing corresponding to a detection result of the first identifier.
US09456109B2

An information communication method includes: obtaining a first image by capturing a subject; detecting a range of the subject from the first image; determining, from among a plurality of exposure lines, predetermined exposure lines for capturing the range of the subject; setting an exposure time so that, in a second image obtained using the predetermined exposure lines, a bright line appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; obtaining the second image including the bright line, by capturing the subject that changes in luminance using the predetermined exposure lines with the set exposure time; and demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained second image.
US09456105B2

Light guides emit light from the side surface thereof toward the subject to be read, the light emitted to one end surface of each of the light guides. A frame is frame shaped, the frame houses the light guides and a lens, the frame including light guide holders that support a first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guides. A cover covers at least a part of one opening of the frame, and does not restrict light from passing through between the light guides and the subject to be read, the cover including light guide holders that support a second to-be-supported section opposite of the first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guides. The light guides are fixed inside the frame by the flange portion including the light guide holders provided by the frame and the light guide holders provided by the cover.
US09456093B2

Provided is an image processing apparatus including a display part that has a display area on which output candidate images less than or equal to a predetermined number are selectably displayed, a distance detecting part that detects a spatial distance between the indicator and the display area, an area detecting part that detects an area of a projection image of the indicator on the display area when the detected spatial distance is less than or equal to a first distance, and a selection control part that executes a first selection process for displaying all the displayed output candidate images in a selected state when the detected area detected by the area detecting part is greater than or equal to a threshold and the detected area is not changed for more than a time limit.
US09456090B2

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to establishing a sponsored tethered connectivity (STC) connection by tethering a special purpose connected device (SPCD) through a tethering mobile device having network access. The SPCD accesses an application server on the network and is authenticated before service to the SPCD begins. Once authenticated, the service provider is billed for the STC connection instead of a user of the tethering mobile device.
US09456089B2

In addition to the transmission of a tone signal (ts) according to the RFC standard 2833 via a network using Internet protocol, the tone signal is transmitted in the data packets (dp). Subsequently, the phase difference (Δφ) between the transmitted tone signal (ts) and the generated tone signal (ts′) is ascertained, before beginning the insertion of the generated tone signal (ts′) in the data packets (dp), and compared to a predetermined phase difference (φν). If the ascertained phase difference exceeds the predetermined phase difference (Δφ,φν), the phase of the generated tone signal (ts′) is changed by a predetermined phase (φ) with the aid of the tone generator (TG). The ascertainment of the phase differences (Δφ) and the change of the phase (φ) of the generated tone signal (ts′) is repeated until the ascertained phase difference is less than the predetermined phase difference (Δφ,φν), upon which instead of the transmitted tone signal (ts), the generated tone signal (ts) is inserted into the data packets (dp). A substantial advantage of the invention can be seen in that a phase detector does not have to be continuously active for the synchronization, but rather the synchronization must only be performed if a tone signal (ts) or tone information (ti) is received and the insertion of the generated tone signal (ts′) is imminent.
US09456084B2

A messaging platform includes a text messaging subsystem that includes a suite of enhancements that facilitate implementation of a multi-channel communications strategy with high level and fine-grained control over outbound message creation or inbound message handling.
US09456077B2

A communication server includes a receiving unit for receiving a first terminal ID and a second terminal number from a first terminal via an IP network, a search unit for searching for the first terminal ID and the second terminal number in a database, and a notification unit for, upon detection of a specific phone number specifying the first terminal, notifying the second terminal of the specific phone number, using the second terminal number as an addressee, the specific phone number being associated with the first terminal ID and the second terminal number.
US09456064B1

An apparatus for coupling a mobile device to an automobile console area comprising a mobile device element configured to adhere to a mobile device surface and defining a middle elongated shaped element aligned parallel between a right and a left elongated shaped element. A right score is configured to allow a right shoulder element and the right elongated shaped element to break away from the middle elongated shaped element. A left score is configured to allow a left shoulder element and the left elongated shaped element to break away from the left side of the middle elongated shaped element. A middle score is configured to allow a portion of the middle elongated shaped element to break away from a remainder of the middle elongated shaped element. A coupling element is configured to be removably coupled with a console area of an automobile and to the mobile device element.
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