US09658630B2
A digital filter includes: a minimum-value holder that holds a minimum value of a measurement value inputted in the minimum-value holder and that outputs the minimum value as a held value; a limit-value circuit that receives the held value and that outputs the held value as a limit value in a case where the held value remains minimum during predetermined cycles; and an output controller that receives a maximum value, the measurement value, and the limit value, the maximum value defining an upper limit, outputs the measurement value as an output value if the measurement value is smaller than the limit value, and outputs the maximum value as the output value if the measurement value is equal to or larger than the limit value.
US09658621B2
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for automatically pushing aircraft back from an airport gate and/or for automatically taxiing an aircraft. At least one engines-off drive is attached to at least one landing gear wheel to apply a rotational force and/or a rotation impeding force to the at least one landing gear wheel. At least one friction brake is attached to at least one landing gear wheel to apply a rotation impeding force to the at least one landing gear wheel.
US09658620B1
A system and method is provided of providing recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates autonomously and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendation, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.
US09658605B2
A method for controlling a surgical robot includes calculating an external force acting on a robot arm mounted with a surgical instrument, filtering the external force acting on the robot arm when a central point of an incision is set, calculating a virtual force to enable the surgical instrument which is positioned away from the central point of the incision to return to the central point of the incision, and applying the calculated virtual force to the filtered external force, to control movement of the robot arm. As a result, it is possible to compactly design the surgical robot and thereby reduce the volume of the surgical robot.
US09658601B2
The acoustic radiating membrane is provided to equip a musical watch or a striking watch. The dome-shaped membrane comprises an active central portion, a lateral wall and a peripheral edge portion for holding the membrane in a watch case. The central part is configured in a convex shape or a conical shape and with dimensions devised to amplify a first vibration mode of one or more notes within a frequency range of between 500 Hz and 3.5 kHz.
US09658593B2
A drum unit usable in the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion connected with the photosensitive drum, a second end portion having an outermost surface, an axle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, and at least one projection extending from the second end portion. For at least part of the outermost surface of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 increases as the distance along the axis L2 from the axle portion increases.
US09658592B2
A drum unit usable in the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1, a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, with a part of the drum flange being positioned within the photosensitive drum, and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes (i) a first end portion at least a part of which is positioned within the drum flange, and (ii) a second end portion including (ii-i) a surface recessed in the second end portion and facing away from the first end portion and (ii-ii) at least one projection projecting from a surface adjacent to the recessed surface, and (iii) a connecting portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion.
US09658590B2
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on a front of the housing near a first side of the housing. A first alignment guide is positioned on the first side of the housing and a second alignment guide positioned on the second side of the housing. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the exit port includes a main interface gear. A portion of the main interface gear is exposed on the front of the housing at a second side of the housing above the second alignment guide. A connector on the first side of the housing has a forward facing opening positioned above the first alignment guide. Electrical contacts are positioned within the connector and are accessible through the forward facing opening.
US09658587B2
A fixing device includes a heating member that has a heat source, comes into contact with a surface of a continuous medium having an image transferred thereto and heats the surface; a pressure member that is provided so as to oppose the heating member with the medium therebetween and applies pressure to the medium; and a tensioning member that is provided on a downstream side of a fixing area, where the heating member and the pressure member oppose each other, in a medium-transport direction, applies tension to the medium by pressing the medium toward the pressure member, and wraps the medium around the pressure member.
US09658586B1
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image formed on an image receiving medium. The fixing apparatus comprises an endless belt, a roller facing the belt, and a nip pad which faces the roller across the belt and presses the belt together with the roller. A coating layer is formed on a surface of the nip pad which faces the belt. The coating layer is constituted by a simple substance or a compound having at least one kind of elements selected from a group 6 element and a group 14 element.
US09658566B2
The present disclosure relates a developer container for accommodating a developer. The developer container includes a conductive path.The conductive path includes a resin.
US09658561B2
An image forming device scans and exposes a photoreceptor with a luminous flux by a light scanning device, which includes a polygon mirror that deflects the luminous flux and scans the photoreceptor in a main scanning direction, a correction unit that corrects a scanning position of the luminous flux in the main scanning direction such that the scanning position of the luminous flux coincides with each reference position, and a position deviation detection unit that detects the deviation amount of the scanning position of the luminous flux in a sub scanning direction. The correction unit corrects the scanning position of the luminous flux in the main scanning direction such that a screen line with an aimed screen angle is formed by scanning with the luminous flux whose scanning position in the sub scanning direction has deviated by the deviation amount detected by the position deviation detection unit.
US09658558B2
Provided is a blower pipe with an inlet, an outlet, a passage part formed with a passage space to cause air to flow therein, and suppressing parts that are provided in different parts in a direction in which air in the passage space of the passage part is caused to flow and that suppress the flow of the air, wherein an outlet suppressing part constructed so that the passage space in the outlet is closed by a permeable member dotted with ventilation portions is provided in the outlet of the passage part as one of the suppressing parts, and wherein the permeability of an end region present at least at one end in the lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction among regions along the longitudinal direction of the opening shape of the outlet is set to a smaller value than the permeability of regions other than the end region.
US09658548B2
The magnetic toner includes magnetic toner particles comprising a binder resin and a magnetic body and inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles, wherein the inorganic fine particles present on the surface of the magnetic toner particles comprise metal oxide fine particles, the metal oxide fine particles containing silica fine particles, and optionally containing titania fine particles and alumina fine particles, and a content of the silica fine particles being at least 85 mass % with respect to a total mass of the silica fine particles, the titania fine particles and the alumina fine particles, wherein; when a coverage ratio A (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particle's surface by the inorganic fine particles and a coverage ratio B (%) is a coverage ratio of the magnetic toner particles' surface by the inorganic fine particles that are fixed to the magnetic toner particle's surface, the magnetic toner has a coverage ratio A, a coefficient of variation on the coverage ratio A, a ratio of the coverage ratio B to the coverage ratio A, and a compression ratio in a specific range.
US09658536B2
An immersion lithography apparatus includes a lens system, an immersion hood, a wafer stage, an inspection system and a cleaning fluid supplier. The lens system is configured to project a pattern onto a wafer. The immersion hood is configured to confine an immersion fluid between the lens system and the wafer, and includes a peripheral hole configured to suck up the immersion fluid. The wafer stage is configured to position the wafer under the lens system. The inspection system is configured to detect whether there is contamination in the peripheral hole. The cleaning fluid supplier is coupled to the inspection system and configured to supply a cleaning fluid through the peripheral hole to remove the contamination, in which the inspection system and the cleaning fluid supplier are coupled to the wafer stage.
US09658535B2
A method for printing a periodic pattern of features into a photosensitive layer includes providing a mask bearing a periodic pattern, providing a substrate bearing the photosensitive layer, and arranging the substrate substantially parallel to the mask. A beam of collimated monochromatic light is formed for illuminating the mask pattern so that the light-field transmitted by the mask forms Talbot image planes separated by a Talbot distance. N sub-exposures of the mask with the beam are performed and the separation between sub-exposures are changed so that the relative separation during the ith sub-exposure with respect to that during the first sub-exposure is given by (mi+ni/N) times the Talbot distance. The mask pattern is exposed to the same energy density of illumination for each sub-exposure, wherein the period is selected in relation to the wavelength so that only the zeroth and first diffraction orders are transmitted by the mask.
US09658526B2
A pellicle mask assembly includes a mask, a pellicle frame, and a pellicle membrane. The pellicle frame has a bottom side attached to the mask, and a top side covered by the pellicle membrane. The pellicle frame includes a coating on its inner surface and the coating is configured to monitor a change of environment inside the pellicle mask assembly. In embodiments, the change of environment includes increased humidity and/or increased chemical ion density inside the pellicle mask assembly. Methods of making and using the pellicle mask assembly are also disclosed.
US09658521B2
An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; and a fluorescent member that includes a fluorescent substance that, when it is irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, transmits a part of the excitation light and reflects another part of the excitation light, and a first reflective film provided at a side of the fluorescent substance, which is opposite to an excitation light incidence side, the fluorescent member emitting multiplexed light including an excitation light component reflected from the fluorescent substance and the first reflective film and a light component emitted from the fluorescent substance.
US09658516B2
To provide a blade drive device capable of suppressing the increase in number of components while suppressing the bounding of blades, and an optical apparatus including the blade drive device. A blade drive device 10 includes a partition plate 21 having an opening 22, blades 31a to 34a, 31b to 34b which are expanded in a state where the opening 22 is closed and which overlap one another in a state where the opening 22 is opened, and a first regulating portion 23A and a second regulating portion 24A integrally formed with the partition plate 21, on which the blades 31a, 31b abut when being expanded. An optical apparatus includes the blade drive device 10.
US09658515B2
A diaphragm device of the present invention includes: a base plate having an aperture portion; a blade being supported by the base plate to be able to open and close the aperture portion; a drive ring being formed so as to surround the perimeter of the aperture portion, the drive ring being configured to drive the blade to open and close; a supporting pin pivotably supporting the blade being provided on the drive ring; and an engaging pin engaging with the blade and causing the blade to open or close in conjunction with the drive ring and the supporting pin, the engaging pin being provided on the base plate on an inner side of the supporting pin in the radial direction of the drive ring.
US09658506B2
An object is to reduce parasitic capacitance of a signal line included in a liquid crystal display device. A transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is used as a transistor provided in each pixel. Note that the oxide semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer which is highly purified by thoroughly removing impurities (hydrogen, water, or the like) which become electron suppliers (donors). Thus, the amount of leakage current (off-state current) can be reduced when the transistor is off. Therefore, a voltage applied to a liquid crystal element can be held without providing a capacitor in each pixel. In addition, a capacitor wiring extending to a pixel portion of the liquid crystal display device can be eliminated. Therefore, parasitic capacitance in a region where the signal line and the capacitor wiring intersect with each other can be eliminated.
US09658502B2
Disclosed is an LCD device having a dual link structure and a method of manufacturing the same, which can reduce a width of a bezel. A link line structure includes a plurality of first and second link lines which are alternately disposed. The first and second link lines are formed on different layers. Also, embodiments herein provide a method which can reduce the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment.
US09658500B2
To decrease graininess in a display surface. First openings comprise third openings each having a first area that extends at a −45 degree angle, and a second area that extends vertically, and fourth openings each having a first area that extends at a 45 degree angle, and a second area that extends vertically. Second openings comprise fifth openings each having a first area that extends at a 45 degree angle, and a second area that extends vertically, and sixth openings each having a first area that extends at a −45 degree angle, and a second area that extends vertically. The third and the fifth openings are disposed along horizontally so that one third opening and one fifth opening adjacent to each other overlap. The fourth and the sixth openings are disposed along horizontally so that a part of one fourth opening and one sixth opening adjacent to each other overlap.
US09658499B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a first common electrode in which a first slit extending in a first direction is formed, a first pixel electrode opposed to the first common electrode, and a second pixel electrode opposed to the first common electrode and neighboring the first pixel electrode in a second direction with the first slit being interposed, a second substrate including a second common electrode opposed to the first slit, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first alignment film and the second alignment film.
US09658495B2
In a liquid crystal display, a pretilt value provided by an upper alignment layer or a lower alignment layer is gradually changed in one domain, such that liquid crystal molecules have various arrangements in which azimuth angles of aligned liquid crystal molecules are gradually changed.
US09658494B2
The present invention provides a display substrate, a mother substrate for display substrates and a display device. The display substrate comprises a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, wherein an alignment layer is disposed in the display area and the non-display area. In the display substrate according to the present invention, by providing the same pattern of alignment layer in both of the non-display area and the display area of the display substrate, the Mura defect caused by the difference of surface roughness between the display area and the non-display area of the display substrate may be significantly reduced, and a large amount of small foreign matters gathered due to the rubbing between the rubbing cloth and metal residuals may also be significantly reduced. Therefore, the yield of production and the quality of products may be improved.
US09658493B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a first electrode which is disposed on the first substrate, and which includes a stem part for dividing a pixel into a plurality of domains, a plurality of micro branch parts extending in one direction from at least one stem of the stem part, and a peripheral bundle electrode connected to an end of at least one of the micro branch parts and disposed along an edge of the pixel, a first panel including protrusions arranged along an outer circumference of the peripheral bundle electrode and projected in the direction vertical to the first substrate, a second substrate, a second panel including a second electrode which is disposed on the second substrate and which faces the first electrode, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first panel and the second panel and which includes liquid crystals.
US09658492B2
A display panel is disclosed, which comprises: a first substrate with plural sub-pixel units disposed thereon; a first photo-alignment layer disposed on the first substrate and having at least two different alignment directions corresponding to one sub-pixel unit; and plural metal pads respectively corresponding to the sub-pixel units. When light passes through each sub-pixel, a dark line pattern is exhibited, comprising: a first main dark line disposed at an interface between two different alignment directions of the first photo-alignment layer; and a metal pad pattern corresponding to the metal pad and the first main dark line. Herein, a distance difference between an edge of the first dark line and an edge of the metal pad pattern at the same side is not identical to that between another edge of the first dark line and another edge of the metal pad pattern at another same side.
US09658486B2
A light emitting device package is disclosed. The light emitting device package includes a body, first and second reflection cups spaced apart from each other in a top surface of the body, a first connection pad disposed in the top surface of the body, spaced apart from the first and second reflection cups, a first light emitting diode mounted in the first reflection cup, a second light emitting diode mounted in the second reflection cup, and a partition wall disposed between the first reflection cup and the second reflection cup, the partition wall extended from the top surface of the body upwardly.
US09658484B2
A pattern structure includes a plurality of pattern structure units arranged on a same plane, where each of the plurality of pattern structure units includes a plurality of microstructures defined on a surface thereof and having a width of less than about 1 micrometer (μm); and a connection layer disposed between the plurality of pattern structure units and having a width of less than about 10 μm, where the connection layer connects the plurality of pattern structure units to each other.
US09658478B2
A laminated glazing with variable liquid-crystal-induced scattering, includes a first glass sheet; a first interlayer film for laminating the first glass sheet, made from a first plastic material; an electrically controllable, variable scattering system including the liquid crystals between a first support for a first electrode and a second support for a second electrode, the electrodes making contact with the liquid crystals; a second interlayer film, made from a second plastic material for laminating a second glass sheet; links to the electrodes; electrical wiring with two wiring inputs; a polymer material, for protecting the wiring inputs, which makes contact with the glass sheets; and a seal for sealing the liquid crystals and the electrodes from water. The protective polymer material forms a seal for sealing the electrode links and the wiring inputs from liquid water.
US09658476B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling a bias voltage supplied to an optical modulator, the modulator comprising a biasable component, the biasable component being configurable to be biased by application of the bias voltage (20) such that the modulator operates at quadrature, the method comprising: providing a target for the output power of the modulator, the target for the output power of the modulator being an output power corresponding to the modulator operating at quadrature; applying, to the biasable component, a bias voltage (20) having an initial value of 0V; and, thereafter, varying the bias voltage (20) until the value of the bias voltage (20) is the value that is closest to the initial value and that biases the biasable component so that the output power of the modulator is within a pre-defined range of the target output power.
US09658473B2
Improved wearable optics is disclosed. The wearable optics comprises a frame member and a lens. The wearable optics also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the wearable optics. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the wearable optics for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the wearable optics to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
US09658470B2
Provided herein is a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an algorithm to optimize a wavefront guided correction for a custom ophthalmic lens. The correction is determined from inputs of quantified wavefront error and registration uncertainty and a metric predictive of a visual performance task of interest and provides a level of visual performance within a user-defined performance range. Also provided is a method for optimizing a wavefront guided correction for a custom ophthalmic lens via inputting residual wavefront error values and quantified translational and rotational movements into an algorithm configured to determine the optimal wavefront guided correction therefrom and a custom ophthalmic lens comprising the correction.
US09658467B2
An ophthalmic lens that can be edged, includes a main front surface and a main rear surface, obtained by successive deposition on at least one of the main surfaces of the lens, of a first hydrophobic layer that has a thickness of between 6 and 16 nm and is obtained by deposition of a composition including a constituent A selected from fluorosilanes having a number average molar mass that is higher than, or equal to, 2000 g/mol, of a second hydrophobic layer that has a thickness of between 3 and 20 nm and is obtained by the deposition of a composition including a constituent B selected from the fluorosilanes having a number average molar mass than is lower than, or equal to, 900 g/mol, and of a layer including a metal fluoride having a thickness of between 22 and 50 nm.
US09658464B2
A diffractive optics element includes a substrate configured of a sapphire substrate and a diffractive optics structure, provided on the substrate, that forms an image when a laser beam is incident thereon. The diffractive optics structure has a diffractive optics portion, and the diffractive optics portion has a base material and a diffractive optics layer disposed on the base material. The thickness of the base material is no greater than 20 μm.
US09658461B2
In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate fast-axis collimation lenses and slow-axis collimation lenses (either separately or as portions of a single hybrid lens) optically upstream of an optical rotation system to thereby reduce or minimize cross-talk in the combined output beam.
US09658459B2
A head-mounted image display apparatus includes: a light source that emits laser light; a splitter that splits the laser light into first laser light and second laser light having a different optical intensity than the first laser light; an image drawing section that causes the first laser light to be reflected off a mirror and causes the mirror to make pivotal motion to perform image drawing; a controller that controls the pivotal motion of the mirror; and a notification section that notifies other persons by diffusing the second laser light that the image drawing section is performing image drawing.
US09658447B2
A DMD illumination system having multiple illumination sources. A DMD illumination system is provided that includes a plurality of illumination sources, each of the illumination sources directing light onto the digital micro-mirror device corresponding to a respective position of an array of micro-mirrors, each illumination source being positioned to cause reflected light from the array of micro-mirrors to be projected out of the system, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of illumination sources and to the digital micro-mirror device configured for controlling the position of the array of micro-mirrors and further configured for providing control signals for turning each of the plurality of illumination sources on and off, so that the light from the plurality of illumination sources strikes the array of micro-mirrors and the light is reflected from the digital micro-mirror device and out of the system. Methods are also disclosed.
US09658446B2
An interference filter includes a first substrate on which a fixed reflection film is provided, a second substrate which faces the first substrate and on which a movable reflection film is provided, a first bonding film that bonds the first substrate and the second substrate to each other, and a sealer that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate in a first interspace that allows a first internal space sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate to communicate with a space outside the interference filter, the sealer sealing the first internal space, and an inter-substrate distance between the first substrate and the second substrate in the first interspace decreases in a direction from outer circumferential edges of the substrates toward an inner portion of the first interspace in a plan view viewed in a substrate thickness direction.
US09658445B2
An endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope including at least an elongated insertion section having flexibility and an image pickup device, the insertion section including, at a distal end portion, an observation window forming an observation optical system and an illumination window forming an illumination optical system and the image pickup device including an image pickup surface on which an optical image passing through the observation window is formed; and an apparatus body incorporating a display section that displays an image picked up by the image pickup device, the apparatus body including the display section on one surface having a largest area of the apparatus body and including a holding member that holds the insertion section on a rear surface of the one surface in a wound state.
US09658435B2
A compact low-profile low-cost imaging lens which provides brightness with an F-value of 2.5 or less and a wide field of view and corrects aberrations properly. The elements are arranged from an object side as follows: a positive first lens having a convex object-side surface; a meniscus negative second lens having a concave object-side surface; a double-sided aspheric third lens; a double-sided aspheric fourth lens; a positive fifth lens having a convex image-side surface near an optical axis; and a double-sided aspheric negative sixth lens having a concave image-side surface near the axis. Each element is arranged with an air gap from a neighboring element. The sixth lens image-side surface has an off-axial pole-change point. The imaging lens satisfies conditional expressions below: 20<νd1−νd2<50 (1) 20<νd1−νd3<50 (2) where νd1: First lens Abbe number at d-ray νd2: Second lens Abbe number at d-ray νd3: Third lens Abbe number at d-ray.
US09658432B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an imaging lens, the imaging lens including, in an ordered way from an object side, a first lens having positive (+) refractive power, a second lens having negative (−) refractive power, a third lens having positive (+) refractive power, a fourth lens having negative (−) refractive power, wherein the imaging lens meets a conditional expression of D4−D3≦0, where D3 is a distance from an apex of an object side surface of the third lens to an apex of an image side surface of the third lens, and D4 is an axial distance from the apex of an object side surface of the third lens to an effective diameter of an object side surface of the fourth lens.
US09658427B2
A reaction compensated tilt platform assembly comprises a support base, and a reaction mass, pivotally coupled to the support base. A tilt platform which can function as or support a mirror is pivotally coupled to the support base. At least two linear actuator coil assemblies are carried by the reaction mass. At least two linear actuator magnet assemblies are carried by the tilt platform and are disposable within the at least two linear actuator coil assemblies. The linear actuator magnet assemblies taper from a larger diameter toward a center of the magnet assembly to a smaller diameter toward an end of the magnet assemblies. Actuation of the linear actuator magnets results in pivotal movement of the tilt platform relative to the reaction mass.
US09658426B2
The invention relates to an objective lens mount (39) with specimen protection and crush protection for objective lenses (4) on a microscope, consisting of an outer objective lens collar (1) having a unit (15) for mounting on an interface of the microscope, preferably on a microscope stand, and a safety element (22) arranged spring mounted and axially movable in the objective lens collar (1), which safety element contains the objective lens (4). According to the invention, in order to maintain a definable stand-off distance between the front lens (5) of the objective lens (4) and the safety element (22) in the objective lens mount (39), a sensor (6) is provided, coupled to a control unit.
US09658416B2
A photoelectric converter and a photoelectric connection device are provided. The photoelectric converter comprises a housing, wherein a driving controller, at least one information transmitting chip and at least one information receiving chip are provided on a substrate in the housing. The information transmitting chip, under the control of the driving controller, converts an electrical signal to be transmitted to an optical signal and transmits the optical signal through an optical fiber corresponding to the information transmitting chip. The information receiving chip, under the control of the driving controller, converts an external input optical signal that has reached a receiving surface of the information receiving chip to an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal, wherein the external input optical signal is transmitted through an optical fiber corresponding to the information receiving chip. Information transmitting chips and information receiving chips are provided in the same photoelectric converter, each information transmitting chip transmitting information through a corresponding optical fiber and each information receiving chip receiving information through a corresponding optical fiber, thus multichannel optical fiber transmission can be integrally achieved.
US09658409B2
A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector may include a reversible keying arrangement for determining the orientation for plugging the connector into an adapter to thereby allow for a change in polarity of the connection to be made on site. The connector housing may be configured to engage with a removable key that may be engaged with the housing in at least two different locations to provide the plug-in orientation, or the housing may have slidably displaceable keys movable between multiple positions on the housing.
US09658399B2
Embodiments are provided for a waveguide polarizer comprising a series of bends. The waveguide polarizer is suitable for used in optical waveguide devices or circuits, where a polarized light is required, such as for single polarization output. The polarizer design is independent of the function of the optical devices. In an embodiment, an optical polarizer comprises an optical waveguide configured to propagate light at a designated polarization mode, and comprising a bend in a same plane of the propagated light. The bend has a geometry configured to contain in the optical waveguide the designated polarization mode of the propagated light and radiate outside the optical waveguide a second polarization mode of the propagated light.
US09658395B2
The core region of an optical fiber is doped with chlorine in a concentration that allows for the viscosity of the core region to be lowered, approaching the viscosity of the surrounding cladding. An annular interface region is disposed between the core and cladding and contains a concentration of fluorine dopant sufficient to match the viscosity of the core. By including this annular stress accommodation region, the cladding layer can be formed to include the relatively high concentration of fluorine required to provide the desired degree of optical signal confinement (i.e., forming a “low loss” optical fiber).
US09658381B2
A backlight module includes a back plate having a side wall, a light guide plate disposed on the back plate and having a light incident surface, a light source disposed on the sidewall and adjacent to the light incident surface, a middle frame overlying the light guide plate and the light source, a first latching member disposed on a side of the middle frame facing toward the back plate and having a first groove, a second latching member disposed on a side of the back plate facing toward the middle frame and having a second groove, and a quantum bar, one end of which is latched in the first groove and the other end is latched in the second groove. The present invention also provides a LCD including the backlight module. The fixing manner of the quantum bar is simple and the cost is reduced.
US09658377B2
By provision of an A layer consisting of a resin having a positive intrinsic birefringence value; a B layer consisting of a resin containing a styrene polymer and having a negative intrinsic birefringence value; and a C layer consisting of a resin containing a polymer having an alicyclic structure, in this order; a phase difference film wherein, when the C layer is removed, retardation Re at an incident angle of 0° and retardation R40 at an incident angle of 40° satisfy a relationship of 0.92≦R40/Re≦1.08 is realized.
US09658376B2
A method of manufacturing a polarizing article including the steps of depositing a dichroic dye on a first surface of a substrate and fixing the dichroic dye to form a polarizing layer. The polarizing layer is impregnated with at least one silane compound to form an impregnated polarizing layer. A light curable primer is applied over the impregnated polarizing layer, and is cured using an irradiating light to form a cured primer layer. An abrasion resistant protective composition is applied to the cured primer layer, and the protective composition is cured to form a cured abrasion resistant protective coating. The light curable primer includes at least one (meth)acrylate reactive diluent, at least one unsaturated oligomer, and at least one photoinitiator for free radical-initiated polymerizations. The polarizing article includes a polarizing article made according to the method disclosed herein.
US09658374B2
A first polarizing member includes a polarizing layer, a phase difference layer and an infrared reflective layer. The polarizing layer linearly polarizes light and emits polarized light. The phase difference layer changes a polarization state of the polarized light. The infrared reflective layer is interposed between the polarization layer and the phase difference layer, wherein the polarized light passes through the infrared reflective layer and infrared rays are reflected from the infrared reflective layer.
US09658367B2
An image acquisition apparatus includes: an image acquisition lens that focuses light from a subject; an imaging device that detects an image signal by capturing the light focused by the image acquisition lens; and a microlens array that is provided between the imaging device and the image acquisition lens so that there is a space, in the direction of the optical axis, between the microlens array and a focal plane of the image acquisition lens, in which the microlens array is formed by setting, in an array in a direction intersecting the optical axis, a plurality of microlenses that each focus incident light to form an image in an imaging plane of the imaging device and that are of two or more types having an identical focal distance and different effective diameters.
US09658364B2
Disclosed is a method of storing a thioepoxy compound and a method of preparing a thioepoxy based optical material using the thioepoxy compound. Particularly, a method of preparing a high-quality thioepoxy based optical material having superior color and thermal stability and less time-dependent change, and being colorless and transparent by inhibiting time-dependent change of the thioepoxy compound during storage is disclosed. In addition, a method of storing the thioepoxy compound for an optical material, the thioepoxy compound having a water content of 500 to 2,500 ppm and stored at −78 to 10° C., and a method of preparing the thioepoxy based optical material, the method including polymerizing a polymerizable composition including the stored thioepoxy compound, are provided. The high-quality thioepoxy based optical material, which is colorless and transparent, prepared according to the present invention may be broadly used in a variety of fields as a substitute for conventional optical materials.
US09658362B2
The present disclosure introduces pressure-equalized packaging for electronic sensors utilized in conjunction with downhole tools and/or other extreme environments. Such sensors may be operable to detect, sense, and/or measure a parameter, such as may be associated with the downhole tool, or pressurized fluid in which the downhole tool is at least partially submerged, or a subterranean formation adjacent the downhole tool. A housing couples the sensor to a component of the downhole tool. The housing includes an equalizer operable to substantially equalize a first pressure internal to the housing with a second pressure external to the housing.
US09658354B2
Disclosed systems and methods provide enhanced seismic images through the use of partial image stacking weights that are based on the resemblance between the local partial image and a reference image. At least some method embodiments include obtaining partial images of a survey region and stacking the partial images to produce a reference image. The partial images are then recombined to form an enhanced image, wherein the recombining includes: measuring at each point the reference image's similitude with each of the partial images; and determining at each point an enhanced image value from a weighted combination of corresponding values in the partial images, the weighted combination using weights derived from the reference images' similitude at that point to each partial image.
US09658353B2
A technique includes receiving data indicative of a wavefield in a processor-based system and processing the data on the processor-based system to generate a modeled wavefield. The processing includes varying boundary conditions of the modeled wavefield with respect to time to regulate coherent boundary reflections in the modeled wavefield.
US09658351B2
A method for gain control of a radiation detector includes measuring standard gamma ray spectra for known concentrations of selected radioactive materials found in earth formations. A standards matrix is calculated from the standard gamma ray spectra. A singular value decomposition is computed from a matrix related to measurements of gamma ray spectra, of formations and the standards matrix. A radiation, detector gain is computed from a minimum ratio of null space with respect to data value space of a subsurface formation measurement related matrix and the standards matrix. Gain of the radiation detector is adjusted based on the computed radiation detector gain.
US09658350B2
A radiation detection device, including: a support structure; and a chalcopyrite crystal coupled to the support structure; wherein, when the chalcopyrite crystal is exposed to radiation, a visible spectrum of the chalcopyrite crystal changes from an initial color to a modified color. The visible spectrum of the chalcopyrite crystal is changed back from the modified color to the initial color by annealing the chalcopyrite crystal at an elevated temperature below a melting point of the chalcopyrite crystal over time. The chalcopyrite crystal is optionally a 6LiInSe2 crystal. The radiation is comprised of neutrons that decrease the 6Li concentration of the chalcopyrite crystal via a 6Li(n,α) reaction. The initial color is yellow and the modified color is one of orange and red. The annealing temperature is between about 450 degrees C. and about 650 degrees C. and the annealing time is between about 12 hrs and about 36 hrs.
US09658344B1
A radiation detector, such as for a PET scanner, may include an array of scintillator crystals, with each scintillator crystal having a polished end, a roughened end opposite the polished end, and polished sides extending between the polished end and the roughened end. The detector may also include a specular reflector layer between adjacent polished sides of adjacent ones of the array of scintillator crystals, and a diffusive reflector layer adjacent the roughened ends of the array of scintillator crystals. The detector may further include at least one photodetector adjacent the polished ends of the array of scintillator crystals.
US09658343B2
Methods for discriminating among x-ray beams of distinct energy content. A first volume of scintillation medium converts energy of incident penetrating radiation into scintillation light which is extracted from a scintillation light extraction region by a plurality of optical waveguides that convert the scintillation light to light of a longer wavelength. An x-ray beam initially incident upon the first volume of scintillation medium and traversing the first volume is then incident on a second volume of scintillation medium. The first and second scintillation media may be separated by an absorber or one or more further volumes of scintillation medium, and may also have differential spectral sensitivities. Scintillation light from the first and second scintillation volumes is detected in respective detectors and processed to yield a measure of respective low energy and high-energy components of the incident x-ray beam.
US09658333B1
An apparatus, system, and method for measuring height of one or more objects/users. Once the height-measuring device is calibrated, a retracting foot platform is positioned atop a user/object and its distance is captured, stored, and calculated by a laser sensor to determine the resulting heights of the objects/users. The height measurements may be displayed on a screen, including the screen display of the height-measuring device itself, or other devices such as a tablet, smartphone, or scale.The height data from each user/object may be compared to one another. The height measuring device also includes a predictive algorithm that determines the future height of one or more user.
US09658332B2
A sensor for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a processor including first to sixth pins; first to third input pins connected with a connector; and an exchange circuit including first to third pins connected with the processor and the first to third input pins, and fourth to sixth pins connected with the processor, and a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of sensors for a vehicle, each of which includes: a processor including first to sixth pins; first to third input pins connected with a connector; and an exchange circuit including first to third pins connected with the processor and the first to third input pins, and fourth to sixth pins connected with the processor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the plurality of sensors for a vehicle by a bus topology method.
US09658324B2
A method of positioning a plurality of radar units in a defined area amongst one or more legacy radar units that provide legacy radar coverage in the defined area is disclosed. The steps of identifying a location of each legacy radar unit, setting a threshold altitude, and determining a legacy occultation of each legacy radar unit from a landscape level up to the threshold altitude are also disclosed. Mapping the legacy occultation of the legacy radar units to provide a three dimensional occultation map in the defined area and locating gaps below the threshold altitude in the legacy radar coverage as a function of the occultation map are also disclosed. Identifying a plurality of sites as a function of the gaps where the sites are accessible to receive a radar unit is also disclosed. Determining an anticipated radar coverage of a radar unit positioned at each of the sites and determining a reduction in the gaps as a function of the anticipated radar coverage are also disclosed. Selecting sites as a function of the reduced gaps is also disclosed. X band, C band or S band radar units can be positioned at the selected sites. The threshold altitude can be 10,000 or 15,000 feet. Affected populations and costs can also be considered in radar placement.
US09658322B2
An optical scanner system comprises a housing, a detector contained within the housing configured to produce at least two resolvable azimuth fields-of-view relative to a center-axis of the housing, and an external scanner rotating relative to the center-axis of the housing, and switching between at least two elevations relative to a nominal optical axis of a receiver. Motion of the housing azimuthally results in the receiver producing a continuous coverage pattern at multiple elevations produced by the external scanner.
US09658312B2
A system and method for detecting the location of a mobile device within an area, uses a plurality of wireless signals sent to or received by the device to derive a first estimate of the position of the device. This position estimate is then adjusted using a probabilistic model of the area, where the area is divided into zones or regions, and where each region is assigned a weighting according to the probability of the device being located in that region taking account of the prior position of the device. By using the weightings to adjust the position estimate, false or ambiguous position estimates are discounted and the true position of the device is more reliably detected. The method also includes techniques to take account of different wireless characteristics of different devices when each is supplied with the same model.
US09658305B2
A magnetic resonance system includes a magnetic resonance scanner (8) and a magnetic resonance scan controller (24). A plurality of markers (40, 140) are attached to the subject to monitor motion of a portion of a subject within an examination region. A motion control unit receives motion data from the markers indicative of the motion and controls the magnetic scan controller to adjust scan parameters to compensate for the motion. In one embodiment, the marker (40) includes a substance (44) which resonates at a characteristic frequency in response to radio excitations by the magnetic resonance scanner. A controller (52) switches an inductive circuit (48, 50) disposed adjacent the substance between a tuned state and a detuned state.
US09658293B2
A power supply unit comprises a battery, current and voltage detecting portions, and a remaining capacity computing portion. The remaining capacity computing portion comprises a first computing portion computing a first open circuit terminal voltage based on current and voltage values from the current and voltage detecting portions, and computing a first remaining capacity based on the first open circuit terminal voltage, a second computing portion computing a second open circuit terminal voltage based on the current and voltage values, an ohmic resistance voltage drop and a polarization resistance voltage drop, and computing a second remaining capacity based on the second open circuit terminal voltage, a third computing portion calculating a third remaining capacity based on an integrated value by integrating the current, and a main computing portion computing a real remaining capacity of the battery based on the first and/or third remaining capacity, and the second remaining capacity.
US09658286B2
An assembly strip test method and adapter allows for the concurrent loading of multiple assembly strips for testing in a concurrent and/or round-robin fashion in a strip tester. The test method and adapter allows the multiple assembly strips to be loaded into a strip tester in a single load cycle, reducing assembly strip load cycle overhead. Signals generated by test probes can be used to select between the loaded assembly strips for testing via the strip tester. Parallel coupling between corresponding pins of corresponding integrated circuits of different assembly strips allows a single test probe to be used as stimulus or monitor for two or more assembly strips. In certain configurations a stackable assembly strip test adapter is used. In other configurations the integrated circuits include at least part of the assembly strip selection decoding logic.
US09658281B2
Among other things, one or more techniques or systems for evaluating a tiered semiconductor structure, such as a stacked CMOS structure, for misalignment are provided. In an embodiment, a connectivity test is performed on vias between a first layer and a second layer to determine a via diameter and a via offset that are used to evaluate misalignment. In an embodiment, a connectivity test for vias within a first layer is performed to determine an alignment rotation based upon which vias are connected through a conductive arc within a second layer or which vias are connected to a conductive pattern out of a set of conductive patterns. In this way, the via diameter, the via offset, or the alignment rotation are used to evaluate the tiered semiconductor structure, such as during a stacked CMOS process, for misalignment.
US09658279B2
A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes an active semiconductor region and a perimeter semiconductor region surrounding the active semiconductor region. The active semiconductor region has an active surface area, and the perimeter semiconductor region has a perimeter surface area. The power semiconductor device further includes a test structure for contactless testing of the perimeter semiconductor region. The test structure includes an electrically conductive path mounted on the perimeter surface area. The test structure is configured to extract energy from a remotely generated electromagnetic radio frequency test field.
US09658278B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first layer, a second layer configured to overlap with the first layer at a plurality of positions, a plurality of first layer contacts configured to be selectively activated to test the first layer for a first layer leakage current, and a plurality of second layer contacts configured to be selectively activated to test the second layer for a second layer leakage current. The first layer contacts are arranged on the first layer on a first side and a second side of the plurality of positions at which the second layer overlaps with the first layer. The second layer contacts are arranged on the second layer on a third side and a fourth side of the plurality of positions at which the second layer overlaps with the first layer. A determined first layer leakage current or second layer leakage current is indicative of the presence of a crystal defect in the semiconductor device.
US09658277B2
A method of determining temperature ranges and setting performance parameters in a semiconductor device that may include at least one temperature sensing circuit is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various operating parameters to improve the operation of the semiconductor device over a wide temperature range. The performance parameters may be set to improve speed parameters and/or decrease current consumption over a wide range of temperature ranges.
US09658274B2
A light emitting element failure detector (4) includes a light emitting element (1), a constant current circuit (2) which supplies an electric current to the light emitting element (1), and an electric discharge path which discharges an electric charge such as the light emitting element (1). A light emitting element failure detector (4) further includes an instantaneous current interruption circuit (5) which instantaneously interrupts an electric current to the light emitting element (1) by a current supply path different from the electric discharge path, a diode (60), a DC power supply (61), and a current detector (62). The DC power supply (61) generates a direct-current reference voltage having a positive value lower than a voltage between the anode and cathode of the light emitting element (1) in a normal state. The DC power supply (61), the diode (60), and the current detector (62) which are connected in series constitute a parallel electric path of the light emitting element (1). An anode of the DC power supply (61) and a cathode of the diode (60) are arranged on the anode side of the light emitting element (1). The current detector (62) detects an electric current which flows in the parallel electric path when an electric current is instantaneously interrupted.
US09658273B2
Provided is a method of accurately detecting the location of a partial discharge in a power device. For this purpose, the present invention measures sequential positions of arrival of partial discharge signals and the differences in the time of arrival between the partial discharge signals with respect to a plurality of partial discharge sensors installed on the outside surface of a power device, divides the power device into a plurality of spatial sections, determines a spatial section where the location of a partial discharge is present using the sequential positions of arrival of the partial discharge signals, calculates the representative location value of the determined spatial section, and determines compensation values for the differences in the time of arrival to be applied with respect to the respective spatial sections.
US09658269B2
Systems and methods for connectors with insertion counters are provided. In one embodiment, a connector comprises: an interface configured to interface with a corresponding interface of a port to communicate signals between the port and a cable attached to the connector; at least one switch configured to change from a first state to a second state when the connector is inserted into the port; and a microcontroller configured to record insertion events, wherein the microcontroller increments an insertion count stored within the microcontroller when the at least one switch transitions from the first state to the second state.
US09658267B2
An analog signal input circuit with a first number of analog signal detection channels and a diagnostics circuit, with each analog signal detection channel including a third number of analog signal detection circuits and a first connection selection device, and each analog signal detection circuit comprising a first connection device and a second connection device. For each analog signal detection channel, for detecting analog input signals applied at analog signal inputs from a second number of analog signal inputs, and for the respective issuance of output signals for the detected analog input signals, respectively one analog signal detection circuit is alternatingly selected for a certain period of time, not connected to its first connection device comprising an analog signal input for detecting an analog input signal, but used for testing and/or diagnostic purposes.
US09658260B2
A power system grid is decomposed into several parts and decomposed state estimation steps are executed separately, on each part, using coordinated feedback regarding a boundary state. The achieved solution is the same that would be achieved with a simultaneous state estimation approach. With the disclosed approach, the state estimation problem can be distributed among decomposed estimation operations for each subsystem and a coordinating operation that yields the complete state estimate. The approach is particularly suited for estimating the state of power systems that are naturally decomposed into separate subsystems, such as separate AC and HVDC systems, and/or into separate transmission and distribution systems.
US09658250B2
A vertical probe device includes upper and lower dies having upper and lower installing holes, probe needles, a lower positioning film disposed between the dies and having lower positioning holes, and a dividing film disposed between the lower positioning film and the upper die and having through holes and dividing ribs. The needle tail is individually inserted through a lower installing hole. The needle head is individually inserted through an upper installing hole. Each lower positioning hole is located under at least one dividing rib and capable of accommodating a plurality of needle heads. Each needle head is inserted through a lower positioning hole and a through hole. Therefore, the films are easily installed, free of irregular hole but passable by narrow needle bodies, and facilitate easy and fast installation and less damage to the probe needles that are well positioned, and facilitate easy installation of the upper die.
US09658240B2
Aspects of the present invention provide a freestanding microfluidic pipette with integrated wells for solution storage. Further aspects of the invention provide a holding interface to provide connectivity with external control components. One aspect of the invention provides a system for applying a microfluidic device in microscopy. The system includes: a microfluidic device having an elongated shape and defining one or more wells for solution storage and processing; and an interface adapted and configured to hold the microfluidic device in a freestanding manner and facilitate simultaneous connection of the one or more wells with a flow controller. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for utilizing a microfluidic device. The method includes: providing a device as described herein; positioning the device adjacent to a microscope; and actuating the interface to operate the microfluidic device.
US09658234B2
The present invention provides a method for the analysis of a compound with amino group (e.g., an amino acid or peptide) contained in a sample and convenient manner with a high sensitivity. The compound with amino group in a sample containing the compound with amino group is labeled with a specific carbamate compound such as p-trimethylammonium anilyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate iodide to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity. The present invention is preferably used in conjunction with mass spectrometry such as MS/MS method to facilitate quantitative analysis. The present invention further provides labeling reagents for mass spectrometry.
US09658231B2
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using one or more polypeptide probes to profile an immune response. The polypeptide probe can be used to detect one or more antibodies from a sample. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides methods and compositions for characterizing a cancer based on the detection of one or more antibodies, such as autoantibodies.
US09658210B2
Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.
US09658186B2
A transistor includes a substrate, a two-dimensional material including at least one layer that is substantially vertically aligned on the substrate such that an edge of the layer is on the substrate and the layer extends substantially vertical to the substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode connected to opposite ends of the two-dimensional material, a gate insulation layer on the two-dimensional material between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer. Each layer includes a semiconductor having a two-dimensional crystal structure.
US09658181B2
The present invention pertains to a hemolysis sensor, a hemolysis sensor system and methods of utilizing the hemolysis sensor or hemolysis sensor system to monitor or detect hemolysis in a sample, such as a whole blood sample, a plasma sample, a serum sample or hemolyzed blood. The hemolysis sensor responds to extracellular hemoglobin levels, for example, extracellular hemoglobin in a whole blood sample as a method for detecting hemolysis in whole blood.
US09658176B2
The current disclosure describes an automated high-throughput small object sorting system for separating small object via oil and/or moisture content using novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems and methods. The disclosed systems and methods for measuring the oil and/or moisture content of a single small object in a low-field time domain NMR instrument are superior in sample throughput and signal-to-noise ratio to conventional NMR systems and methods (free induction decay or spin echo) for single small object oil/moisture measurement.
US09658173B2
A portable x-ray backscattering imaging system for creating a backscatter image representing an object is disclosed. The portable x-ray backscattering imaging system may include a drum, a radioactive source, a plurality of backscatter detectors, and a portable exterior shield. The drum may be rotatable about an axis of rotation at a rotational speed. The radioactive source may be connected to the drum and configured to generate x-rays. The plurality of backscatter detectors may be configured to detect backscattering radiation created as the x-rays generated by the radioactive source scatter back from the object. The portable exterior shield may enclose the drum. The exterior shield may be constructed of a material that substantially blocks the x-rays and defines a window that allows for the x-rays to pass through.
US09658167B2
Disposable or single-use sensor labels sense a parameter and record the sensed parameter having: a semi-permeable medium or substrate with a parameter-sensitive and activatable developer. The developer, when activated, exhibits a detectable manifestation of a changed state that progresses over time. The detectable manifestation of this changed state is read and recorded to log parameter change data. Further, a method of using the sensor label monitors viability of a material associated with the label, such as for freshness and security assessment that is recorded for archival or reporting or quality control purposes. A changed state is exhibited that progresses over time, associating the label with a material to be monitored and positioning same into a given environment, and the recording can track the changed state against time.
US09658154B2
A spectrometer has an entry aperture for coupling in electromagnetic radiation to be spectroscope, a refractive or diffractive optical element arranged such that electromagnetic radiation which is coupled in through the entry aperture is incident on the refractive or diffractive optical element to be spectrally split there, and at least two individual detectors which, for the detection of different spectral ranges of the split electromagnetic radiation, are arranged next to one another in the direction of the spectral splitting of the electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation from a predetermined ultraviolet wavelength range is directed onto one of the individual detectors by the optical element and electromagnetic radiation from a predetermined blue wavelength range is directed onto another of the detectors by the optical element. Electromagnetic radiation from the intermediate wavelength range between the predetermined ultraviolet wavelength range and the predetermined blue wavelength range are not detected.
US09658142B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for extraction and collection of sets of one or more cells from a formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sample. A laser is used to remove sets of one or more cells from an immobilized sample within a microfluidic device, and a fluid flow element washes the removed set of one or more cells away from the immobilized sample, preferably to be collected in a downstream sample collection device. Morphological and/or positional information may be preserved to permit at least one technique (e.g., amplification, sequencing, and/or analytical, optionally performed after cells are lysed downstream of the microfluidic device) to be related to the original spatial location of the set of one or more cells in the immobilized sample.
US09658133B2
A multigas sensor (200A) includes a multigas sensor element portion (100A) having: a NOx sensor portion (30A) which detects the concentration of NOx; and first and second ammonia sensor portions (42x, 42y) having different ratios between a sensitivity of ammonia and a sensitivity of NOx. The multigas sensor element portion has a plate-like shape which extends in the direction of the axis O. A temperature detecting portion (6) used for controlling the temperature of the NOx sensor portion is disposed in the multigas sensor element portion. The first and second ammonia sensor portions are disposed on the outer surface of the NOx sensor portion so that at least parts of the first and second ammonia sensor portions overlap with a first region (6s) which is defined in the width direction by ends in the axial direction of the temperature detecting portion.
US09658128B2
A defect inspection method according to an embodiment has: exposing a target object to a tracer having higher absorptance for a neutron ray than the target object; radiating the neutron ray to the target object exposed to the tracer; generating at least one neutron image based on the neutron ray having penetrated the target object exposed to the tracer; and detecting a defect of the target object based on the generated at least one neutron image.
US09658125B2
A fluid characteristic indicator for measuring and indicating a characteristic of body fluid from a medical or veterinary patient has a tubular housing with suction and fluid inlet ports at opposite ends and a fluid characteristic indicating element disposed within. A diffuser supports the indicating element and has at least one fluid channel to direct fluid toward the indicating element. The fluid channel may be formed as a spiral or helix, or as a plurality of longitudinal fluid channels. The housing and the diffuser may have additional structures forming channels that cooperatively direct fluid toward the indicating element. The diffuser may occupy nearly all the interior volume of the housing. Control of the fluid flow may make exposure and saturation of the indicator more accurate, avoid spurious indications due to the color of the fluid itself, and reduce the amount of fluid sample needed to obtain an indication or measurement.
US09658124B2
A method for determining a flow condition includes disposing a plurality of sensors on a surface and receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal from the plurality of sensors. The method further includes determining at least one correlation parameter based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. The method also includes receiving a plurality of stored parameters from a database, wherein each of the plurality of stored parameters is representative of a corresponding flow condition. The method also includes comparing the at least one correlation parameter with the plurality of stored parameters and selecting at least one matching stored parameter and determining a matching flow condition based on the at least one matching stored parameter.
US09658117B2
A total air temperature probe includes a probe head having an airflow inlet, a main airflow outlet, a main probe head wall extending from the airflow inlet to the main airflow outlet, and a flow separation bend wall positioned between the airflow inlet and the main airflow outlet. The flow separation bend wall is opposite the main probe head wall across a primary flow passage defined through the probe head from the airflow inlet to the main airflow outlet. A flow separation trip feature is defined on an interior surface of the main probe head wall for tripping a boundary layer flow separation in flow in the primary flow passage, e.g., for reduction of deicing heater error.
US09658114B1
A device for measuring point diffraction interferometric wavefront aberration having an optical source, an optical splitter, a first light intensity and polarization regulator, a phase shifter, a second light intensity and polarization regulator, an ideal wavefront generator, an object precision adjusting stage, a measured optical system, an image wavefront detection unit, an image precision adjusting stage, and a data processing unit. A method for detecting wavefront aberration of the optical system by using the device is also disclosed.
US09658111B2
Systems and methods are directed to contacts for an infrared detector. For example, an infrared imaging device includes a substrate having a first metal layer and an infrared detector array coupled to the substrate via a plurality of contacts. Each contact includes for an embodiment a plurality of metal studs each having a first end and a second end and each disposed between the first metal layer and a second metal layer, wherein the first end of each metal stud is disposed on a portion of the first metal layer that is at least partially on the surface of the substrate.
US09658108B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products for optically identifying hostile fire strikes to a vehicle. The identification can be that the hostile fire will hit the vehicle, will likely hit the vehicle, hit the vehicle, or likely hit the vehicle. In the case of predictive hits, a warning may be output and the vehicle can take evasive and/or countermeasure actions. In the case of actual or likely strikes to the vehicle, the optical identification can map a travel path of a detected projectile to positions on the vehicle, thus identifying a likely position or area of projectile impact. Such data can be used for inspection and maintenance purposes.
US09658098B2
The invention provides a device for weighing slaughter products. The device comprises conveying means for conveying the slaughter products, the conveying means comprising a frame, two pulley means which are connected to the frame a fixed distance apart, being rotatable about two respective first vertical axes of rotation, an endless flexible conveying element which is passed over the two pulley means, which conveying element extends along a rectilinear weighing path between the two pulley means, a guide extending along a conveying path, hooks for the slaughter products, which hooks are connected to the conveying element at regular intervals and which are each provided with a guide elements for guiding cooperation with the guide. The device further comprises weighing means for weighing slaughter products that are present within the weighing section and reducing means for reducing tensile stress in the conveying element insofar as it extends in the weighing section, said reducing means comprising transmission means that are operative between the two pulley means. The transmission means comprise a gear transmission with at least two meshing gears which are rotatable about respective second vertical axes of rotation, wherein the second axis of rotation of one of the at least two gears is in line with a first vertical axis of rotation, and wherein the second axis of rotation of another of the at least two gears is in line with the other first vertical axis of rotation.
US09658096B2
A radar level gauge arrangement for determining the fill level of a filling material in a tank is disclosed, which arrangement is mounted on a hatch of a tank and/or on a support which is adapted to be mounted on a hatch of a tank. The arrangement comprises a transmitter for transmitting measuring signals at least along a first axis for determining the fill level of the tank; a receiver for receiving echo signals corresponding to the distance to the surface; a first processing circuitry for receiving the echo signals and to determine a fill level of the tank based on the echo signal; an inclinometer attached to the support and adapted to generate an inclination output corresponding to the inclination relative the surface normal; a second processing circuitry for generating, based on the inclination output, an angular output when there is an angular difference between the first axis and the surface normal. The arrangement also comprises a presenter for communicating information about the angular difference externally of said system, or a communication path for communicating the angular output to said first processing circuitry.
US09658093B2
There is provided a water exchange meter being capable of automatically and continuously measuring the water exchange at the surface water/sediment interface in which a saturated vertical hydraulic conductivity of the sediment from the hydraulic head difference between a chamber and a storage pipe at a measurement location is measured, and after the measurement of the saturated vertical hydraulic conductivity, while the measurement device used in the measurement of the vertical hydraulic conductivity is maintained, a vertical hydraulic gradient between upper and lower portions of a chamber is continuously measured in situ.
US09658089B2
An electromagnetic flowmeter with voltage-amplitude conductivity-sensing function for a liquid in a tube includes a first microprocessor, a transducer, flow-sensing device, an exciting-current generating device, a voltage-amplitude conductivity-sensing device, and a switch. The transducer includes coils and sensing electrodes. The switch is electrically connected to the first microprocessor and the sensing electrode. The switch is selectively connected to the flow-sensing device or the voltage-amplitude conductivity-sensing device according to the signals sent from the microprocessor. The microprocessor drives the exciting-current generating device to generate an exciting current when the switch is connected to the flow-sensing device. The microprocessor stops the exciting-current generating device from generating exciting current and computing conductivity of liquid when the switch is electrically connected to the voltage-amplitude conductivity-sensing device.
US09658086B1
A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The detector housing defines a cavity therein. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit, a body, and a sealing member. The body defines an opening oriented in the imaging direction. The body is disposed at a distance from the detector housing within the cavity defining a passageway extending axially along the body. The sealing member includes a body extending across the opening. The sealing member is coupled to at least one of the shielding unit or the collimator, and is mounted within the cavity to provide a gas-tight seal along the imaging direction between the passageway and the detector unit.
US09658079B2
A vehicle accelerometer system comprises an accelerometer (290) for installation in a vehicle (500), a processor (210) for selection of accelerometer output data items for inclusion in an accelerometer output data set representative of measurements by the accelerometer (290) at a plurality of different vehicle locations, each accelerometer output data item being representative of a respective measurement by the accelerometer (290), and a storage device (230) for storing the accelerometer output data set, wherein the processor (210) is configured to process the accelerometer output data set to determine an orientation output representative of the orientation of the accelerometer (290) with respect to the vehicle (500).
US09658077B2
An apparatus remotely provides refueling management instructions for a vehicle. One or more initial vehicle parameters are determined, including an initial quantity of fuel, a plurality of route parameters including a starting point, an ending point and an estimated average fuel efficiency of the vehicle, and a plurality of refueling parameters including one or more refueling locations. The sufficiency of an initial quantity of fuel is evaluated in relation to the estimated average fuel efficiency and a distance to be traveled by the vehicle equal to a difference between the ending point and the starting point. One or more current vehicle parameters are interpreted at a first predetermined time, a refueling agenda is created, and an associated predetermined refueling amount at each of the identified one or more refueling locations is determined.
US09658074B2
Road geometries may be determined from sparse data by receiving mobile device data points comprising data indicating positions of vehicles having traveled on a roadway of a geographic area, the roadway involving a convergence or divergence of road branches for the roadway. At least one trajectory angle for a particular mobile device data point of the mobile device data points may be determined using at least one trajectory line connecting the particular mobile device data point to an adjacent mobile device data point, and mobile device data points may be grouped based on the trajectory angles.
US09658069B2
A method for determining a reference position as the basis for a starting position for an inertial navigation system which is designed to determine the location of a vehicle on the basis of the starting position and a change in the relative position of the vehicle, the method including the steps of: detecting an ambient condition around the vehicle, determining a position of the vehicle at the location of the detected ambient condition, and assigning the determined position to the detected ambient condition as a reference position.
US09658057B2
A facility for measuring the thickness of the wall of containers includes an optical system for collecting and focusing on the detection plane of a light sensor and light beams reflected by the outer and inner surfaces of the wall. An optical collecting and focusing system includes a first objective having is object plane located in the vicinity of the impact of the incident light beam with the wall, an at least translucent diffusing screen located in the image plane of the first objective, so as to physically represent the light beams collected by the first objective as hot spots (Ti), and a second objective including, the diffusing screen as an object plane and the light sensor as an image plane.
US09658056B2
The projection apparatus is used for a measurement system and projects a projection light onto an object. An image capturing apparatus performs, through an imaging optical system, image capturing of the object onto which the projection light is projected. The projection apparatus includes a projection optical system satisfying a condition of |EXP0−EXP1|/BL≦0.0015. EXP0 represents an exit pupil position of the projection optical system, EXP1 represents an actual exit pupil position of the projection optical system for a light ray of a maximum field angle in a measurable range for the object through the imaging optical system, and BL represents a base length between the projection optical system and the imaging optical system.
US09658052B2
A method for reducing interference from scattered light/reflected light of an interference path by generating carrier through phase. Phase modulation is applied on the terminal of a fiber path, and a target signal is separated from an interference signal by selecting a specific working point, to obtain a purer target signal, thereby lengthening the measurement distance. The signal demodulation manner used in this method is different from the traditional manner of modulation performed by generating a carrier through the phase, and does not need to use the modulation frequency as the reference signal during demodulation, so this manner is easily implemented. The method is applicable to long-distance pipeline monitoring and wide-range fiber perimeter security, and especially to an application environment in which the modulation end is far away from the signal demodulation end. The method can also be applied in an application in which measurement is implemented by modulating an optical transmission phase in a feedback device.
US09658051B2
The present invention relates to a resolver having a stator for detecting the rotational position of a rotor rotating at the inner center thereof. The stator includes: a stator core having a cylindrical shape; a plurality of excitation windings attached to the inner surface of the stator core at a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of excitation windings being tightly wound; a plurality of sine output windings stacked and attached to the patterns of the excitation windings in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of sine output windings being loosely wound; and a plurality of cosine output windings stacked and attached to the patterns of the excitation windings in the circumferential direction, the sine output windings and the cosine output windings being alternately attached such that the sine output windings and the cosine output windings have the same winding distribution.
US09658050B2
In a rotation angle detection device, when a condition that two sensors among three magnetic sensors sense one and the same magnetic pole for three consecutive sampling periods is satisfied, a rotation angle is computed based on output signals from the two sensors, sampled at three sampling timings. When the output signals sampled at the three sampling timings satisfy a prescribed requirement, an angular width error correction value corresponding to the magnetic pole sensed by the two sensors and amplitudes are computed, and stored in association with the magnetic pole. If the condition is not satisfied, the rotation angle is computed based on the information stored in a memory and the output signals from two sensors among the three magnetic sensors, the two magnetic sensors including one of the three magnetic sensors, which detects the magnetic pole of which the angular width error correction value is stored in the memory.
US09658047B2
A system is disclosed for use in measuring a component. The system may have a probe configured to generate signals associated with a proximity to actual target points of the component, an actuator configured to move the probe relative to the component, and a controller in communication with the probe and the actuator. The controller may be configured to receive coordinates of intended form target points, to determine coordinates of the actual target points of the component relative to a component datum based on the signals, and to make a comparison of the coordinates of the intended form target points and the coordinates of the actual target points. The controller may also be configured to generate a deviation report based on the comparison, and to filter information from the deviation report according to wavelength into a plurality of deviation categories corresponding to component specification requirements of the component.
US09658042B2
A bullet with controlled fragmentation has a core in the form of a generally cylindrical body having a forward end and a rear end and intermediate side portions extending there between, the forward end of the core defining a cavity, a jacket encompassing the rear end and at least selected portions of the sides of the core, the jacket having a sidewall having a first drive band portion having a first wall thickness, and a second portion immediately forward of the drive band portion having a second thickness less than the first thickness, the exterior of the jacket defining a cannelure groove encircling the bullet, and the cannelure groove being positioned forward of the first drive band portion. The drive band may have forward edge defining a step. The bullet of the present invention may also be received in the case mouth of a rimless case and be partially protruding therefrom.
US09658038B1
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an ammunition cartridge includes a cartridge casing having a longitudinal center axis, a primer pocket positioned adjacent to the cartridge casing, a powder pocket positioned adjacent to the primer pocket, a powder/propellant in the powder pocket, a piston bore positioned adjacent to the powder pocket, a piston in the piston bore, and a payload bay positioned adjacent to the payload bay, wherein the piston is not coupled to the cartridge, wherein the piston is in direct contact with the payload bay so that pressure from powder/propellant is immediately and directly applied to the payload bay having a payload, wherein a diameter of the powder pocket is less than an inside diameter of the cartridge casing to provide a reduced velocity to the payload.
US09658035B2
A target stand is disclosed and described. The target stand can include a first side member and a second side member. Each side member can have a base portion, and an upright portion extending from the base portion. The upright portion can have a lower engagement feature and an upper engagement feature. The target support can also include a lower transverse member and an upper transverse member. Each transverse member can have a main body portion with a target support portion for interfacing with a target support, and complimentary engagement features extending from opposite ends of the main body portion. The complimentary engagement features of the lower transverse member can be securable to the lower engagement features of the first and second side members to secure the lower transverse member to the first and second side members. The complimentary engagement features of the upper transverse member can be securable to the upper engagement features of the first and second side members to secure the upper transverse member to the first and second side members. A distance between the complimentary engagement features of the upper transverse member can be different than a distance between the complimentary engagement features of the lower transverse member such that the lower and upper transverse members bind with the first and second side members and cause the first and second side members to be disposed at an angle relative to one another when assembled.
US09658032B2
A turret system for use with a firearm scope is provided, wherein the turret system comprises a plurality of turrets connected in an interlocked and telescoping orientation. The system may include a first turret having a hollow body and a second turret that may be at least partially received within the hollow body of the first turret. The first turret can be selectively axially movable relative to the second turret such that the second turret may be at least partially exposed when the first turret is in a raised position and the second turret may be substantially covered when the first turret is in a lowered position. The first turret may include a first set of calibration data thereon tailored to a first set of shooting conditions and the second turret may include a second set of calibration data thereon tailored to a second set of shooting conditions.
US09658029B1
A system for mounting a plurality of tactical attachments to firearms is disclosed. Tactical attachments such as laser illumination sights, flashlights, bayonets, and breaching tools are interchangeable and attached with a single adapter mounted to the end of a magazine ammunition tubes and auxiliary accessory rails such as Picatinny rails. Adapters of varying lengths provide increased ammunition capacity. The tactical attachments have a common mounting structure for mating to the adapter, which includes a optional locking ring to assure the tactical device cannot become dislodged from the adapter during firearm usage. The adapter/tactical device interface allows rapid swapping of tactical devices without the need of tools. Tactical attachment lighting devices such as flashlights and laser sights are provided with wireless remote turn on/off and lighting mode switching capability.
US09658024B1
Embodiments include a sling bow designed to shoot a projectile. The sling bow can include a handle; a first limb comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the handle; a second limb comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the handle; a drawstring comprising a first elastic portion, a second elastic portion, and a non-elastic portion between the first and second elastic portions, wherein a first end of the first elastic portion is coupled to the distal end of the first limb and a first end of the second elastic portion is coupled to the distal end of the second limb; a first drawstring guide, the first drawstring guide defines a first drawstring void; and a second drawstring guide, the second drawstring guide defines a second drawstring void. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US09658015B2
There is disclosed herein systems, methods and apparatus relating to a trigger block for mechanically blocking the trigger of a firearm and preventing the trigger from being pulled to actuate the firing mechanism when the trigger block is in a blocking position. The trigger block is secured in the blocking position and can only be moved to an unblocked position by an authorized user via operation of a security device, such as a key, sensor, and/or keypad.
US09658004B2
Heat storage apparatus comprising at least one thermal store (300) comprising a chamber (301) having a gas inlet (306), a gas outlet (307), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media (303) disposed therebetween, the apparatus being configured such that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the chamber (301) from inlet (306) to outlet (307) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (303) can be selectively altered in response to the progress of the thermal transfer, thereby enabling the flow path to bypass inactive upstream or downstream regions of the storage media where thermal transfer is complete or minimal, so as to minimize the pressure drop across the storage media. A baffle system (305) in a main flow passageway (312) may be used to control the gas flow path.
US09658001B2
A system for cooling packing material utilized for sealing a shaft moving therethrough is described. The packing material held in place by at least one packing cup, wherein a coolant is directed axially through a significant volume of each packing cup close to the packing material. The present system finds use for compressors and pumps where pressure requirements of the fluids acted upon demand the use of packing materials in close contact with the moving shafts.
US09657999B2
A lightweight, high-efficiency alternating channel counter-flow heat exchanger structure is disclosed. A matrix of alternating hot and cold channels defining a heat exchanger structure is provided. A portion of each of the inlets and outlets of each of the hot and cold channels is blocked to prevent fluid flow through the blocked portion, thus creating hot-only and cold-only fluid communication regions on the ends of the heat exchanger structure. Alternating hot and cold headers provided on each end of the heat exchange structure service the respective hot and cold channels. The partial blocking structures on the channel-ends enable a single hot or cold header/plenum to be offset with respect to individual rows of channels and thus service a pair of adjacent rows of alternating hot and cold channels in the matrix of channels. The true alternating channel counter-flow design provides a higher heat transfer rate than a similarly-sized cross-flow design.
US09657987B2
An apparatus for compressing air and producing a carbon dioxide-rich fluid includes an air compressor, an element for bringing the air bound for the air compressor into contact with water to produce humidified air and cooled water, a pipe for sending the humidified compressed air from the air compressor to an installation producing a carbon dioxide-rich gas, a carbon dioxide-rich gas compressor for compressing the carbon dioxide-rich gas, at least one heat exchanger upstream and/or downstream the carbon dioxide-rich gas compressor and pipes for conveying into the heat exchanger water cooled in the contact element and the carbon dioxide-rich gas.
US09657986B2
The invention relates to a method and an installation for producing liquid helium, said installation comprising a cooling/liquefaction device comprising a working circuit that subjects a helium-enriched working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle in order to produce liquid helium, said circuit comprising at least one working fluid compression body and a plurality of heat exchangers. The installation also comprises a plurality of fluid recovery lines having respective upstream ends to be selectively connected to respective reservoirs, and a first collection line having an upstream end connected to the recovery lines and a downstream end connected to a receiving body that can supply the working circuit with a working fluid. The installation is characterized in that it comprises at least one second and one third collection line that each have an upstream end connected to the recovery lines and a downstream end connected to the working circuit, the upstream ends of the second and third collection lines being connected at separate determined positions of the working circuit, that respectively correspond to separate temperature levels of the working fluid in the working circuit.
US09657983B2
An apparatus for defrosting an evaporator in a refrigeration system using an infrared emitting diode includes i) a frost detection sensor configured to receive a frost sensing signal from an output part of a control processor and to transmit a frost detection signal into an input part of a control processor, wherein the frost detection signal is generated by projecting infrared to the frost and receiving reflection-infrared from the frost; ii) a control processor configured to convert the frost detection signal into a digital signal in the signal converting part, to evaluate if the frost detection signal is higher than a threshold value which is set from a signal setting part, and to transmit the operation signal to the defroster, as well as the display signal to the signal display part; and iii) a defroster.
US09657977B2
A cascade refrigeration system includes an upper portion. The upper portion includes at least one modular chiller unit that provides cooling to at least one of a low temperature subsystem having a plurality of low temperature loads, and a medium temperature subsystem having a plurality of medium temperature loads. The modular chiller unit includes a refrigerant circuit, an ammonia refrigerant, an ammonia refrigerant accumulator, and an oil separation system. The refrigerant circuit includes at least a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The ammonia refrigerant is configured for circulation within the refrigerant circuit. The ammonia refrigerant accumulator is configured to receive the ammonia refrigerant from the evaporator. The oil separation system is configured to remove oil from the ammonia refrigerant. The oil separation system includes an oil separator that is configured to remove oil from the ammonia refrigerant flowing from the compressor to the condenser, an oil drain pot that is configured to collect oil from the evaporator, and an oil reservoir that is configured to collect oil from the oil separator and the oil drain pot.
US09657970B2
A cryogenic refrigerator includes a compressor, an expansion space where a high-pressure working gas discharged from a discharge side of the compressor is caused to expand, and a valve. The valve includes a first member including a first channel connecting to the discharge side and a second member including a second channel connecting to the expansion space. The first and second members are configured to rotate relative to and in contact with each other to connect or disconnect the first and second channels. In a plane where the first and second members are in contact, a first distance that is a distance of closest approach between the first channel and a valve circumference defined by a circumference of one of the first and second members having a smaller diameter is greater than a second distance that is a distance of closest approach between the second channel and the valve circumference.
US09657955B2
To obtain an air-conditioning apparatus that does not make a refrigerant circulate up to an indoor unit and further can achieve energy-saving. A refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor that pressurizes a refrigerant, a four-way valve that switches a circulation path of the refrigerant, a heat source side heat exchanger that performs heat exchange, expansion valves for pressure-adjusting the refrigerant, and a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat medium to heat and cool the heat medium, with piping. A heat medium circuit is configured by connecting intermediate heat exchangers, pumps that pressurize the heat medium, and a plurality of use side heat exchangers that perform heat exchange between the heat medium and the air in the indoor space, with piping.
US09657950B2
A fire-resistant collapsible enclosure can include three or more sidewalls coupled with a cross plate internal to the enclosure. A top portion of the enclosure can include a non-linear edge configured to be an airflow outlet, or a bottom portion of the enclosure can include a non-linear edge configured to be an airflow outlet. The fire-resistant collapsible enclosure can be configured for use as an oven, a stove, or a smoker. In an example, two or more of the fire-resistant collapsible enclosures can be used together, such as where one enclosure is configured as a heat source and a second enclosure is configured as a smoker. In an example, the cross plate can include a throttle to control airflow through the enclosure.
US09657939B2
A burner is provided for a pulverous feed material. The burner has a structure that integrates the burner with a reaction vessel, and has an opening that communicates with the interior of the reaction vessel. The burner also has a gas supply channel to supply reaction gas through the opening into the reaction vessel, and a feed supply for delivering pulverous material to the reaction vessel. The burner also has a fluidic control system having at least one port capable of directing a stream of fluid at an angle to the direction of flow of the reaction gas so as to modify the flow of the reaction gas. In addition, components are provided to modify the swirl intensity and turbulence intensity of the reaction gas independently of the exit velocity.
US09657934B2
A lighting device or a lamp bulb (100, 200) comprises at least one light source (101) and a driver assembly (108), said driver assembly comprising driver electronics; wherein during operation of the light source, a distance between an optical axis (120) of the lighting device and a heat flow of the lighting device is less than a distance between the optical axis (120) and a component of the driver electronics having the highest temperature sensitivity.
US09657930B2
A low-cost, efficient, high intensity LED luminaire (HILL) assembly for use indoors or outdoors in wet, damp, or dry environments. In various embodiments, the HILL assembly can be powered by a universal AC or a DC electrical supply and can operate in a temperature range from about −40° C. to about +85° C. The HILL assembly can include a lens element comprising one or more concavo-convex lenses; an interchangeable LED module comprising a plurality of LEDs positioned in a LED array; and a heatsink housing containing a power supply for the LEDs. The HILL assembly can optionally comprise a circuit board for the LED array that employs thermal via technology, a lens with a frosted lip for attenuating the light source as seen from an angle, and/or a sensor for sensing an environmental parameter of interest. Driver circuitry and the LEDs are preferably mounted directly on a common circuit board.
US09657923B2
A light emitting module includes a module body, a light source unit disposed at one side of the module body, an air hole formed through the module body from one side of the module body to the other side of the module body for allowing air to flow therethrough, and an optical cover for covering the light source unit. The optical cover has a cover hole at a location corresponding to the air hole. The optical cover includes a partition wall protruding downward from a bottom of the optical cover such that the partition wall is inserted into one side of the module body to seal the light source unit, and a pair of fitting wings protruding outward from opposite ends of the optical cover such that the fitting wings are inserted into the module body.
US09657920B2
Provided is an illumination device that makes it possible to enhance utilization efficiency of light, and a display device that includes the illumination device. The illumination device includes: a light source that is configured to generate light of a first wavelength; a luminescent body that is configured to wavelength-convert the light of the first wavelength to light of a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength; and a wavelength selective filter that is provided on a light-incident side of the luminescent body, the wavelength selective filter being configured to transmit the light of the first wavelength and to reflect the light of the second wavelength.
US09657919B2
A light emitting device includes a mount base, a light source portion, and a reflector. The mount base includes a first plane portion and a second plane portion that inclines with respect to the first plane portion. The first plane portion is provided to be parallel to an emission direction of the light emitting device. The light source portion is mounted on the second plane portion and includes at least one light emitting element. The reflector includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. Light emitted from the light source portion is reflected on the first reflective surface to be emitted from the light emitting device in the emission direction. The light emitted from the light source portion is reflected on the second reflective surface toward the first reflective surface.
US09657913B2
Disclosed is a vehicle lamp module, including a lamp cup structure, a light-emitting structure, and a lens structure. The lamp cup structure has multiple light-focusing curved surfaces, where each of the light-focusing curved surfaces has a first focal point and a second focal point, and the first focal point and the second focal point of each light-focusing curved surface are located on an axis of the light-focusing curved surface. The light-emitting structure includes multiple light-emitting elements, where each of the light-emitting elements is disposed corresponding to the first focal point of a corresponding one of the light-focusing curved surfaces. The lens structure has a lens focal point, a primary optical axis, and a reference line, where the lens focal point is located at an intersection point of the primary optical axis and the reference line and the reference line is parallel to the lens structure.
US09657910B2
Various components for artificial candles and other lighting devices are described that can be used to create a realistic flame effect in the devices. The devices include a flame piece or element that extends upwardly from a body of the device. A light source can be disposed with respect to the flame piece such that the flame piece is illuminated. A variety of drive mechanisms could be disposed within the body of the device that can cause movement of the flame piece with respect to the body or housing. The flame piece can be coupled to a body or housing of the device using various components to suspend at least a portion of the flame piece within the body or housing.
US09657903B2
A method of forming a light sheet includes depositing a reflective conductor layer over a substrate, printing a layer of microscopic inorganic LEDs on the conductor layer, depositing a first dielectric layer, having a first index of refraction, over the conductor layer and along sidewalls of the LEDs, and depositing a transparent conductor layer over the LEDs so that the LEDs are connected in parallel. The transparent conductor layer may be a wire mesh with openings. A liquid or paste polymer layer is then deposited over the transparent conductor layer and directly contacts the first dielectric layer. The indices of refraction of both layers are similar to reduce TIR. The top surface of the polymer layer is then molded to contain light extraction features to reduce waveguiding in the light sheet. In another embodiment, the substrate surface is the light exit surface that has the light extraction features.
US09657892B1
A supporter includes a connecting body, a pair of supporting plates, and a pair of supporting arms. The pair of supporting plates is rotatably connected to the connecting body. The pair of supporting arms is rotatably connected to the supporting plates. When the supporter is in an open state, the pair of supporting arms are rotated to rest against each other. The pair of supporting arms and the corresponding supporting plates respectively form an angle therebetween so that the supporting arms and corresponding supporting plates are positioned in a manner to cooperatively support an electronic device. When the supporter is in a close state, the pair of supporting arms are received in the receiving chambers.
US09657883B2
An apparatus and method for installing a liner in a pipe, including a flexible tube assembly (2) with a proximal and a distal end, where the proximal end is attached to a proximal collar fitting (3) and the distal end is attached to a distal collar fitting (4). An inflatable bladder (110) is disposed over the tube (2) and the ends of the bladder (110) are secured to the collar fittings (3,4) forming sealed connections with the collar fittings. The proximal collar fitting (3) has connection means to connect to a guide hose (5), and includes at least one conduit for a fluid to inflate the inflatable and deflate bladder.
US09657881B2
The present invention relates to safety mechanisms for high-pressure fluid delivery systems. Particularly, the invention relates to a breakaway device which prevents uncontrolled “whipping” of the conduit ends upon a rupture. A heat dissipating coupling, permitting operation of the conduit system at desired temperatures, is also included, as is a breakaway device provided with such a heat dissipation feature.
US09657880B2
A heating device which transfers heat isothermally to an object to be heated. The heating device includes: a block and a base plate which surround a pipe; a first heat insulating cover which covers an outer periphery of the block and the base plate and forms a first heat insulating layer; and a second heat insulating cover which covers an outer periphery of the first heat insulating cover and forms a second heat insulating layer. The first heat insulating cover includes first heat insulating covers fixed to the block and the base plate respectively. The second heat insulating cover includes second heat insulating covers fixed to each of the first heat insulating covers respectively. The heating device further includes snap locks which detachably fixes the second heat insulating covers.
US09657872B2
The ends of two pipeline units are joined together at a pipe joint. Each pipeline unit has a pipe member and a pipe coating surrounding the pipe member. The pipe coating extends along a length of the pipe member. A joint coating surrounds the pipe joint and is made from a material comprising a silicone.
US09657865B2
A two-stage valve system includes a safety latch configured to at least partially cover an actuation lever, such as a foot pedal, to prevent inadvertent operation of the actuation lever. The safety latch needs to be lifted to a certain level to gain access to the actuation lever in a first stage, and then the actuation lever is operated to actuate a valve assembly in a second stage.
US09657852B2
A flow through isolation valve having a stationary member; a movable member, with a surface of the stationary member interfacing with a surface of the movable member; and at least one pin isolation valve. The pin isolation valve has a flow through internal conduit and is movable so that the internal conduit can fluidically communicate with at least one blank opening in the movable member and with a flow through internal conduit in the movable member. Movement is by rotation, linear or curvilinear translation. At least one pin isolation valve is fluidically coupled typically to a sample loop of a face seal valve, or to a pump supplying high pressure liquid to or to a column discharging liquid from a face seal valve of a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system or directly to the face seal valve.
US09657851B2
A spool switching valve device may include a columnar spool housing and spherical valve bodies. The spool housing includes first input port cavity portions, valve body movable portions and valve seat members. Each valve seat member has a through hole and includes a second input port portion. A second valve seat portion is provided to open and close the gap between valve body movable portion and the second input port portion. Each valve body movable portion includes an output port penetrating the side surface of the spool housing to communicate with the outside of the spool. Each valve seat mounting portion includes an engagement receiving portion suppressing the detachment of the valve seat members when the valve seat member is actually mounted. Each valve seat member includes an engagement portion fitted into the engagement receiving portion when the valve seat member is mounted to the valve seat mounting portion.
US09657850B2
A subsea pressure regulator includes: a spring housing; a spring disposed therein; a body having a bore formed therethrough and inlet and outlet ports; drive and balance adapters connected to opposite ends of the body; drive and balance plungers; and a supply seal assembly. Each plunger has: a piston shoulder engaged with the respective adapter, a first portion in fluid communication with an outlet chamber, and a second portion in fluid communication with ambient pressure. The supply seal assembly includes a seal carrier connected to the plungers and a seal bore formed therethrough. The spring biases the seal carrier toward an open position. The drive plunger is operable to move the seal carrier to a closed position in response to sufficient pressure in the outlet chamber overcoming the spring bias.
US09657849B2
A diaphragm-type control valve having a diaphragm and a valve body is provided preferably for use in the separation of and fluid control between a fluid source and a pressurized gas volume. The diaphragm element and a port in the body together form an intermediate chamber that eliminates the need for a check-valve downstream of the valve. In one preferred embodiment, an inner surface of the valve body defines a chamber having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber, and an elongated seat member defining a groove in communication with the port. A diaphragm member having upper and lower surfaces is disposed within the chamber. The lower surface preferably includes a pair of spaced apart elongated members defining a channel therebetween. The diaphragm member engages the seat member placing the channel in communication with the groove to define an air seat in communication with the port.
US09657836B2
A parking mechanism arrangement for a motor vehicle transmission has a housing and a shaft supported so that it can rotate in relation to the housing. A parking mechanism gear is rotationally fixed to the shaft and comprises a parking mechanism tooth system. A parking mechanism pawl is supported so that it can pivot about a pawl axis in relation to the housing and comprises a pawl tooth, which is capable of engaging in a tooth space of the parking mechanism tooth system in order to establish a locked position. An actuating mechanism comprises an actuating element, which acts upon an actuating portion of the parking mechanism pawl in order to pivot the parking mechanism pawl from a release position into the locked position. The actuating element is embodied as a cam ring, which is arranged concentrically with the shaft and which comprises a cam portion, which acts on the actuating portion in order to establish the locked position.
US09657829B2
A pinion assembly having a pinion and at least one bearing unit. The bearing unit may have a set of bearing elements and an outer race. The bearing elements may be rotatably disposed on a bearing surface of the pinion such that the bearing elements may be disposed between and may engage the bearing surface and the outer race.
US09657812B2
A planetary gearing which includes a predetermined number of planet gears and a planet gear carrier with two walls on which the planet gears are mounted, supported by supporting pins defining a respective axis and the ends of which are fixed to a respective wall of the planet gear carrier, wherein each supporting pin is provided with, at an end thereof, an annular groove obtained in the thickness thereof, and wherein the groove has an extension along the axis lower than the extension of the meshing band of the planet gear along the axis. A ring may be provided partly inserted in the groove and having a profile equal to that of the portion of groove in which it is inserted. Such a ring acts as a mechanical stop for the yielding part of the pin which yields, under a predetermined load, up to a contact with the ring.
US09657811B2
A center axis of a worm shaft is offset in an offset direction with respect to a plane that is orthogonal to a center axis of a worm wheel and that passes through a central position of the worm wheel in a tooth width direction. A bias member biases a second end of the worm shaft in a preloading direction in which a center distance between the worm shaft and the worm wheel decreases. When the worm shaft is configured like a right-hand thread, in a left-handed coordinate system, a direction toward a first end of the worm shaft in an axial direction (a direction toward an electric motor) corresponds to a thumb direction. The preloading direction corresponds to an index finger direction. The offset direction corresponds to a middle finger direction.
US09657808B2
Arc coil springs utilize coil spring wire formed in a substantially trapezoidal or other shape such that when bottomed, the side surfaces of the coil abut and carry the bottoming load. The angles of the sidewalls of the substantially trapezoidal cross section wire are preferably coincident with lines of radius when the spring is installed in an arc in a clutch, damper or flywheel. The radius of the outer surface of the arc coil spring wire is matched to the radius of the inner surface of the guide or housing so that the area of contact is large.
US09657806B2
An electromagnetic damper includes a torque detection unit that detects a torsional torque of an output shaft of an electric motor or a torsional torque of a transmission shaft, which transmits an external vibration to the electric motor, and a control device that controls the electric motor. The control device controls the electric motor so as to cancel the torsional torque detected by the torque detection unit.
US09657803B2
A hydraulic damper (1) includes a tube (3) filled with working liquid, wherein at least one end of the tube (3) is provided with a narrower section (31) of a smaller diameter provided with at least one axial groove (12). The damper (1) includes at least one additional piston assembly (13) having diameter (D3) smaller than diameter (D1) of the main section of the tube (3), displaceable along with the main piston assembly (4) and apt to be introduced in the narrower section of the tube (3) to generate additional damping force. The narrower section (31) extends through a conical section (32) into the main section (33) of the tube (3) and the conical section (32) of the tube (3) is internally shaped to form axial bridges (15) defining said axial grooves (12) extending along the length of said conical section (32), each comprising a cylindrical section (151).
US09657801B2
A shock absorber protector including an arcuate member having opposing arcuate member interior and exterior faces bounded by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the arcuate member interior face defining an arc between the first and second side edges; a mounting flange outwardly extending from the arcuate member interior face proximate the lower edge; and an aperture element disposed in the mounting flange, the aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which communicates between opposing mounting flange interior and exterior faces.
US09657799B2
A suspension sub-assembly includes a fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) thermoplastic composite upper control arm/spring assembly having a control arm portion and a spring member portion. The suspension sub-assembly can tune roll stiffness of a vehicle during cornering. The FRP thermoplastic composite upper control arm/spring assembly comprises a thermoplastic matrix material reinforced with fibers embedded and aligned in the matrix of the assembly.
US09657796B2
A frequency-variable hand rubbed-type motor speed reduction clutch apparatus, and a washing machine. The clutch apparatus includes: an input shaft (5) connected to a motor rotor (1); a dehydration shaft (18); and a clutch apparatus housing (8) in which the input shaft (5) and the dehydration shaft (18) are mounted. A braking wheel (12) and a braking belt (15) fitted to the braking wheel (12) are disposed on the dehydration shaft (18). A dehydration shaft sleeve (20) rotating together with the input shaft (5) is mounted on the input shaft (5). A clutch shaft sleeve (3) sliding up and down, and engaging with or separated from the dehydration shaft sleeve (20) is mounted on the dehydration shaft (18). The braking belt (15) and the clutch shaft sleeve (3) are separately connected to a traction motor (11) by means of a control apparatus.
US09657795B2
A fluid cooled vehicle brake includes a fluid flow passage disposed in fluid communication with a brake shoe rim carrying a layer of friction material. A pair of spaced support webs are coupled to an inner surface of an annular inner surface of the rib. A water jacket is sealingly joined to the pair of webs and the inner surface of the rim to form a fluid flow passage between an inlet port formed in one of the support webs along the inner surface of the rim and out through an outlet port formed in one of the support webs. High thermal conductive members may be disposed within the layer of friction material to conduct heat to the rim. Heat radiator members are mounted within the coolant passageway.
US09657794B2
A composite disc rotor includes a disc main body, a coupling bracket and coupling units. Each of the coupling units includes a bobbin, a clip and a coupling bolt. A head part of the bobbin includes a torque receiving portion inserted in the notch and a projection projected in a circumferential direction from an end of the torque receiving portion. A pipe part of the bobbin is extended from the head part and is fitted in a coupling through hole of the disc main body. The clip includes a connecting portion between the torque receiving portion and the notch and a pressing portion extended from the connecting portion between the head part and the coupling bracket. The coupling bolt is inserted into each of through hole of the bobbin to fix the coupling bracket to the coupling unit.
US09657792B2
A caliper piston adjuster includes a body defining a passage, a push rod, a resilient member, a holding rod, a positioning stop plate, and a positioning member. The push rod is fixedly connected with a positioning cart, and mounted with the resilient member, and inserted through the passage of the body, such that one end of the resilient member contacts the positioning part fixed at the push rod. The push rod is connected with a connector and an activating disc respectively at two ends thereof. The connector is connected with the holding rod. The positioning member is inserted through an opening of the positioning stop plate to be connected to the body. With the aid of the resilient member, the caliper piston adjuster can adjust the piston of a caliper cylinder more easily by rotating the holding rod.
US09657791B2
An actuator is provided for preventing rotation of a rotary component and includes a first pawl pivotable about a first pivot axis and engageable with the rotary component for preventing rotation of the rotary component in a first rotary direction. A second pawl is pivotable about a second pivot axis and engageable with the rotary component for preventing rotation of the rotary component in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction. The pawls are each biased toward an engaged position with the rotary component by a pawl spring. A first and a second solenoid each include an electrically activated solenoid and an armature movable from a first position for holding the pawls out of engagement with the rotary component to a second position for allowing the pawls to be engaged with the rotary component.
US09657785B2
A rolling bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and (a) at least one seal fixed to one of the inner ring and the outer ring as well as (b) at least one internal sealing lip cooperating with a first portion of the other of the inner ring and the outer ring. The seal further includes at least one external sealing lip offset axially relative to the internal sealing lip on the exterior side of the bearing. The external sealing lip cooperates with a second portion of the other ring, wherein the second portion of the seal is separate from the first portion and situated axially facing the seal.
US09657782B2
A drivetrain assembly includes a transmission and a driveshaft that are joined together by a transmission flange and a driveshaft flange that has a plurality of pre-assembled bolts. The driveshaft flange defines a plurality of holes and countersink recesses and the bolts are secured to the driveshaft flange by a bolt retainer disposed in each of the countersink recesses between the transmission flange and the driveshaft flange. A method is disclosed for assembling a transmission flange and a driveshaft flange that defines a plurality of holes and countersink recesses. A bolt is assembled into each of the holes and countersink recesses and a bolt retainer is attached to each of the bolts and nested inside the countersink recesses to retain the bolts on the driveshaft flange. The bolts on the driveshaft flange are then installed into the threaded holes of the transmission flange.
US09657780B2
An axial needle roller bearing assembly is provided having first and second axial end washers, each with a radial body having a concave outer profile and a convex inner profile in radial cross-section and each including an axial flange on one of a radially inner or outer side. First and second intermediate washers having respective intermediate radial bodies with first and second axial sides are provided with the first axial sides defining first and second bearing races and the second axial sides defining contact surfaces for the respective first and second axial end washers. A cage and roller assembly is located between the first and second bearing races, and includes a cage with a plurality of radially extending needle roller pockets, and a plurality of needle rollers received in at least some of the pockets.
US09657778B1
A convertible bearing cage is provided including a first cage part having a first rim with a plurality of first projections extending axially therefrom that form open, snap-in pockets for receiving bearing balls. Connection holes are located in the projections. A second cage part having a second rim with a plurality of second projections extending axially therefrom that form partial pockets is also provided. The plurality of second projections are aligned with the first projections. A ring guide extends circumferentially around the second rim. The second cage part is connectable to the first cage part with the second plurality of projections contacting the first priority of projections using connection elements that engage in or through the connection holes to form closed pockets. The first cage part is used alone as an open pocket, ball guided cage, or connected to the second cage part as a closed pocket, ring guided cage.
US09657776B2
A bearing includes a first member having a passageway configured to engage a shaft, the first member having a metallic material; and a second member disposed around at least a portion of the first member, the second member having a metallic material and at least one radially and inwardly bent portion capable of restricting axial movement of the first member. The first and second members are movable relative to each other.
US09657761B2
The present invention relates to a nail assembly having one or more double-pin nails. Each nail includes a nail body and two nail pins extending from the nail body. Each nail pin has a tail end having at least one inclined face formed as a nail edge, where the inclined face is provided with at least one of a concave structure and a convex structure. The concave structure includes one or more grooves, and the convex structure includes one or more tenons. The assembly of double-pin nails having nail pin inclined faces provided with at least one of the concave and convex structures enables, after entering an object, the two nail pins of a double-pin nail are staggered to interlock with each other, thereby effectively connecting the object firmly with a strong anti-pull capability, and having desirable economic and technical benefits.
US09657757B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method of dissipating process exhaust from a chamber. The method includes conveying the process exhaust from the chamber through an inner tube of a pipeline to abatement. The process exhaust has a first temperature while exiting the chamber, and a second temperature while exiting the pipeline. The method maintains an outer tube of the pipeline at a vacuum state by a pump such that the inner tube is substantially thermal isolated from the atmosphere outside the pipeline. The second temperature is negative offset from the first temperature within a predetermined value.
US09657756B2
An actuator system having various features is disclosed. An actuator system may have a first and a second electrohydraulic servo valve. A control selector may connect one of the electrohydraulic servo valves to a cylinder and may isolate the other electrohydraulic servo valve to ameliorate leakage in response to a switching solenoid valve operating. In this manner, one electrohydraulic servo valve may be connected to a cylinder to operate the cylinder, and the other electrohydraulic servo valve may be isolated from the cylinder, for example, to provide a standby electrohydraulic servo valve.
US09657753B2
A master cylinder assembly of the type comprises a housing (20) disposed along an axis (A) defining a chamber (22) having a cylindrical shape extending horizontally between an open end and a closed end. A first cylinder (42) and a second cylinder (44) are disposed for sliding movement axially along the axis. Each of the cylinders includes a cylindrical wall (48) defining a cylindrical bore (52). A piston (56) is disposed in each of the cylindrical bores. The cylindrical wall of each cylinder includes a cylinder ramp (70) to define a cylinder ramp shoulder (74). Each piston includes a piston ramp (76) to define a piston ramp shoulder (80). The piston ramp shoulder (80) of each piston and the cylinder ramp shoulder (74) of each cylinder radially engage one another in an assembled position to allow the cylinders (42, 44) and the pistons (56) to abut one another during the sliding movement axially along the axis within the chamber of the housing.
US09657752B2
A master cylinder for a regulated braking system having at least one piston, which is movable in a housing and which is sealed from a pressure chamber by a sealing element arranged in a ring groove of the housing, which can be connected to an unpressurized supply chamber by control passages designed in the pistons. In order to reduce the flow resistance of the control passages at the same dead stroke, the control passages have a control edge designed parallel to a piston end face of at least one of the pistons.
US09657748B2
A pneumatically actuated vacuum pump is disclosed, and includes a body defining a converging motive section, a diverging discharge section, at least one suction port, and a Venturi gap. The Venturi gap is located between an outlet end of the converging motive section and an inlet end of the diverging discharge section. The pneumatically actuated vacuum pump also includes a first check valve fluidly connected to the Venturi gap and the suction port. The pneumatically actuated vacuum pump further includes at least one second gap located in the diverging discharge section of the body downstream of the Venturi gap. A second check valve is fluidly connected to the second gap.
US09657745B2
An adjustment mechanism (85) for a seal assembly (80) for a pump drive shaft (52) of a pump, the pump shaft (52) mounted for rotation about a rotation axis. The seal assembly (80) comprises a rotating seal (81) mounted for rotation with the drive shaft (52) about the rotation axis and a static seal (84) adjacent the rotating seal (81) and axially moveable relative thereto. The adjustment mechanism (85) comprises an adjustment member (87) which is axially moveable so as to cause axial movement of the static seal (84) relative to the rotating seal (81). The mechanism further includes an actuator (88) and a transmission (93) for transmitting a motive force from the actuator to the adjustment member as a result of activation of the actuator. The transmission (93) is operatively connected to the adjustment member (87) at two spaced apart couplings (98) whereby activation of the actuator causes simultaneous transmission of the motive force to the two spaced apart couplings. The actuator (88) is disposed externally of all pump parts.
US09657744B2
A compression system may include a compressor having first and second sides separated by a division wall, first and second shafts, and first and second radial bearings. The first and second shafts may be axially connected to each other at respective first ends via a rotor portion of an intermediate radial bearing. The rotor portion may include a plurality of laminations stacked between first and second plates fastened to each other. The first radial bearing may be disposed on a first side of the intermediate radial bearing and may be proximate a second end of the first shaft. The first radial bearing may be configured to support the first shaft. The second radial bearing may be disposed on a second side of the intermediate radial bearing and may be proximate a second end of the second shaft. The second radial bearing may be configured to support the second shaft.
US09657737B2
A scroll compressor includes an orbiting scroll member disposed within a compressor housing. The orbiting scroll member has a substantially circular baseplate and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. A first seal is disposed proximal to the outer periphery of the orbiting scroll baseplate to provide an external seal between the baseplate and the housing. A second seal is disposed radially inward from the first seal to provide an internal seal between the baseplate and the housing. A space between the internal seal and the external seal defines a balance piston chamber. The balance piston chamber is pressurized via a high or intermediate pressure oil source to reduce thrust loading on the baseplate caused by an axial pressure differential across the baseplate.
US09657726B1
A mounting member for a hydraulic pump or other rotating kit for a hydraulic drive device includes a running surface having a pair of arcuate kidney ports formed thereon. The running surface also includes a plurality of pressure gradient grooves formed on the running surface, each pressure gradient groove having a proximal end adjacent to a respective one of the ends of one of the kidney ports and a distal end. The distal end of one of the pressure gradient grooves associated with one kidney port may overlap the distal end of a pressure gradient groove associated with the other kidney port. The distal end of at least one of the pressure gradient grooves is located outside the circumference of a pitch circle that passes through the center of each of the kidney ports. The distal end of at least one of the other pressure gradient grooves is located inside the circumference of the pitch circle.
US09657719B2
A ventilation arrangement for a wind turbine includes a manhole cover for covering a manhole of a rotor hub. The rotor hub is contained within the nose cone and spaced therefrom to form an internal space between an inner surface of the nose cone and an outer surface of the rotor hub. The manhole cover provides a vent opening for venting hot air from an interior space of the rotor hub into the internal space. A pipe extends from a forward internal space through the manhole cover and into the rotor hub. The pipe establishes fluid communication between the forward internal space and the interior space. A fan is mounted to the pipe, and draws air from the forward internal space. An exhaust, fluidly connected with the pipe, is located in the rotor hub and away from the manhole cover by 50% to 90% of a rotor hub axial length.
US09657717B2
The present invention relates to wind turbine towers and in particular to such towers having a damper for use when erecting the tower and prior to installing a nacelle on the top of the tower. The invention also relates to a method for damping wind turbine towers. One aspect of the invention involves a wind turbine tower (2) with an upper tower structure (24) and a damper (5) comprising, —a liquidless damper housing (7,8) fixed to the upper structure, —a cylindrical interior surface of the damper housing, and —a damper mass having a horizontal extent which is less than a horizontal extent of the cylindrical interior surface of the damper housing, and —at least one shock absorbing structure, where the damper mass is arranged to, when the tower oscillates, essentially stay in a standstill location, whereby a relative movement between the tower and the damper mass may cause an impact with between the tower mass and the shock absorbing structure dependent on the magnitude of the amplitude of the tower oscillation. A main technical progress is that the damper does not need detailed tuning to the towers natural frequency. As long as the damper mass is sufficient, it may be used for damping a range of tower sizes and heights.
US09657716B2
The invention resides in an assembly for rotationally supporting a wind turbine blade (110) relative to a wind turbine hub (120). The assembly comprises an intermediate ring (130) having an inner annular portion and an outer annular portion provided with means for attaching the turbine blade. The intermediate ring is rotatably mounted to the hub via a first bearing arrangement. According to the invention, the first bearing arrangement comprises a radial bearing (140) and a thrust bearing, whereby the inner annular portion is mounted to the hub via the radial bearing and the outer annular portion is mounted to the hub via the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is a plain bearing comprising first and second sliding surfaces (151, 152) which are clamped to the hub between first and second clamping members (161, 162).
US09657714B2
A vertical axis wind turbine with a symmetric airfoil having a concavely curved tail portion defining a trailing edge angle of between 0° and 5° on either side of the chord, a maximum thickness center point between 26% and 34% of the length of the chord from the leading edge, a leading edge curvature ratio (D1/D2) from 0.42 to 0.50, and a ratio of maximum thickness to chord length T/C from 0.12 to 0.19, preferably 0.16. Advantageously, the rotor may have helical blades defining a cylindrical swept envelope with a positive angle of attack and a solidity ratio NC/D from 0.125 to 0.270, and is governed at a tip speed ratio from 2.25 to 4.00.
US09657713B2
A rotary shaft device (3) includes a shaft body (20) rotatably supported by angular bearings (35, 36), and a support body (40) configured to rotatably support the shaft body (20) via the angular bearings (35, 36). A ball rolling groove (21) having a Gothic arch shape in which rolling elements (39) of the angular bearings (35, 36) roll is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the shaft body (20).
US09657711B2
A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit. The flow of waste water defines a free surface and a flow direction inside the waste water conduit. The waste-watermill comprises 1) a water wheel for being driven by the flow of waste water in an undershot configuration, 2) an axle for defining an rotational axis for the water wheel, where the flow of waste water passes below and transverse to the rotational axis in the undershot configuration, 3) a wheel support for rotationally supporting the water wheel in the undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to the underground waste-water conduit, and 4) an electric generator operatively connected with the water wheel and the axle for being driven by the water wheel to produce electrical energy.
US09657703B2
An internal combustion engine starting device includes: a starting requirement determination device that determines whether an internal combustion engine is required to be started when the engine stops combustion by stopping fuel supply to the engine, and the vehicle is in a freewheel running; and a driving control device that drives and rotates a motor in a starter by increasing a driving voltage to the motor from a voltage changing device for changing the driving voltage supplied to the starter in a case where a travelling speed is high to be higher than in a case where the traveling speed is low, when the internal combustion engine is required to be started.
US09657692B2
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and corresponding method for improved combustion efficiency of an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders, comprising one or more main cylinders connected to an intake manifold and one or more cylinders operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder(s). The dedicated EGR cylinder(s) have two independent intake flow paths for where one flow path provides only intake air and one flow path provides air and recirculated exhaust gas. The exhaust gas output of the one or more dedicated EGR cylinders are connected to an exhaust gas recirculation loop which delivers the exhaust gas output to the main cylinder intake manifold.
US09657689B2
A modulating bypass valve includes a valve housing defining a modulating fluid passageway and a bypassing fluid passageway through the valve housing. The valve also includes a throttle plate assembly that is inserted through the valve housing and has a rotating shaft on an axis that is generally perpendicular to the modulating fluid passageway and the bypassing fluid passageway. A modulating throttle plate is attached to the shaft and located within the modulating fluid passageway. A bypassing throttle plate is attached to the shaft and located within the bypassing fluid passageway. An actuator rotates the shaft.
US09657687B2
A hanger is disclosed that has a movable component and a bracket. The movable component has a shaft with a threaded portion, a slider connected to the shaft, and a cap configured to join with the threaded portion. The bracket defines a racetrack aperture and an ingress/egress aperture. The racetrack aperture and the ingress/egress aperture are connected.
US09657673B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide an exhaust purification system that is capable of purifying exhaust gas during both lean and stoichiometric driving. The exhaust purification system is equipped with: a feedback-use identifier, which identifies parameter values such that the error between the output value from a LAF sensor and the estimated value for the LAF sensor output as obtained from a model equation is minimized; and a stoichiometric driving mode controller. The controller performs feedback control and thereby determines the fuel injection amount such that in the stoichiometric driving mode the equivalence ratio value as calculated from the parameters reaches a target value which is set such that a three-way purification reaction occurs in an under-engine catalyst. The identifier identifies the model parameters before feedback control is initiated by the controller.
US09657666B2
In a failure diagnosis device of an emission control system that utilizes an electrode-based PM sensor provided downstream of a particulate filter in an exhaust conduit to diagnose a failure of the particulate filter, disclosed embodiments may suppress reduction of accuracy of diagnosis of a failure due to in-cylinder rich control. The failure diagnosis device of the emission control system starts application of a predetermined voltage to electrodes of the electrode-based PM sensor after a sensor recovery process that removes PM depositing between the electrodes of the PM sensor, and diagnoses a failure of the particulate filter based on an output of the PM sensor measured after elapse of a predetermined time period since the start of application of the predetermined voltage. The failure diagnosis device performs the sensor recovery process during in-cylinder rich control or triggered by termination of the in-cylinder rich control and subsequently performs a measurement process after termination of the in-cylinder rich control and the sensor recovery process.
US09657658B2
A method for controlling an air control valve in a diesel hybrid vehicle includes an engine stop detection step for detecting whether a diesel engine is stopped and a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed, a first noise and vibration blockade step for controlling a throttle valve to be closed when the diesel engine is stopped and the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined speed, and a first throttle valve control step for closing and then opening again the throttle valve for a predetermined time.
US09657652B2
A valve assembly has a housing with a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. A first flow path is between the first inlet and the first outlet, a second flow path is between the second inlet and the first outlet, and a third flow path is between the first inlet and the second outlet. A closure element is movably supported in the housing and in a by-pass position opens the first flow path and closes at least the second flow path, and in a normal position closes the first flow path and opens the second flow path and the third flow path. A flow guiding element is on the closure element, and which in the normal position protrudes into the second flow path and is coupled to the closure element to urge, in a gas flow from the second inlet to the first outlet, the closure element into the normal position. An exhaust gas system includes the valve assembly and an exhaust gas heat exchanger.
US09657614B2
A hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid module, a transmission and a torque converter. The lubrication system associated with the torque converter includes an oil sump within the torque converter housing which is intended to be managed as a “dry” sump oil lubrication system. There is an oil pump in communication with the sump in order to manage the sump oil level. By monitoring an operational parameter of the oil pump motor (pressure, torque, or current) oil aeration can be detected.
US09657612B2
A control system for electric vehicle is provided. The control system is applied to an electric vehicle (Ve) having a motor (2, 3) and an electric oil pump (19) driven by a pumping motor (20). The control system is configured to activate the electric oil pump (19) with a predetermined duty cycle when a main switch is turned on to bring the vehicle (Ve) into a ready-on state where the vehicle (Ve) is ready to travel.
US09657611B2
Methods are provided for improved control of valve activation/deactivation mechanisms. One example method comprises, adjusting an electromechanical actuator to actuate cylinder valve deactivation/activation mechanisms. The actuator is operated at multiple levels based on engine operating conditions.
US09657610B2
A hydraulic camshaft adjustment device (1) of the vane type, with a stator (2) and a rotor (3) arranged concentrically and rotatably inside the stator is provided. A locking device (6) for preventing a rotation between the rotor (3) and the stator (2) is arranged between these two components (2, 3) such that a locking element (7) of the locking device (6) creates an interlocking fit that blocks the rotation, the locking element (7) being designed in the nature of a plate.
US09657598B2
The method of generating immediate and thereafter continuous steam is used in a steam generating system comprising a steam accumulator, a steam outlet connected to the steam accumulator, an outlet valve at the steam outlet, and a quick response steam generator unit connected to the steam accumulator. The method comprises the steps of providing latent steam in the steam accumulator, opening the outlet valve to allow latent steam in the steam accumulator to exit through the steam outlet, feeding water to the steam generator unit, heating the water fed to the steam generator unit while the latent steam exits through the steam outlet and, before the latent steam has entirely exited the steam accumulator, generating steam with the steam generator unit to feed the steam accumulator and controlling the steam flow rate through the steam outlet to maintain it at a value which is essentially not greater than the steam flow rate from the steam generator unit to the steam accumulator. The steam generating system is capable of generating immediate and thereafter continuous steam from an initial steam generator unit cold condition due to the steam accumulator providing steam at the steam outlet while the steam generator unit heats the water fed therein.
US09657597B2
A system for inspecting a turbomachine is provided. The system includes a pressure isolation system configured to maintain a pressure resistant seal around a probe. The pressure isolation system has a probe bearing located adjacent to a pressure seal. The probe bearing is configured to facilitate back and forth movement of the probe by reducing friction. A gimbal mount is connected to the pressure isolation system. The pressure isolation system has a valve seal located between the gimbal mount and the pressure seal. The valve seal is configured to isolate the pressure seal from the gimbal mount when the probe is not in the valve seal. The system is configured to move the probe into and out of the turbomachine.
US09657575B2
The gas turbine engine (S1) includes: turbine blades (7b); and a cooling air supply unit (11) to supply cooling air to the turbine blades (7b). A flow path surface (31) is formed so as to be positioned in an upstream side of the turbine blades (7b) and so as to be connected to a base surface (32) in which the turbine blades (7b) are provided. The flow path surface (31) includes: depression portions (31a) depressed relative to the base surface (32), each depression portion (31a) including at least an area overlapping with a front end (7b1) of each turbine blade (7b), when viewed from a direction of the turbine axis (L); and protrusion portions (31b) protruding relative to the base surface (32), each protrusion portion (31b) being at least part of each area positioned between front ends (7b1) of the turbine blades (7b), when viewed from the above direction.
US09657570B2
A pulse jet liquid gas cleaning system has an ultrasonic transducer operable to transform a high-pressure stream of cryogenic fluid from a cryogenic fluid supply into pulsed jets of individual cryogenic fluid slugs.
US09657561B1
A dynamically controllable variable displacement axial piston pump is described. In an embodiment, the pump comprises a rotating cylinder with hydraulic pistons that contact the face of a swash plate. The angle of the swash plate can be controlled to thereby control the movement of the pistons, the displacement of the pump, and the power generated by the pump. The dynamically controllable variable displacement axial piston pump may be used in combination with a rotary steerable apparatus, including such an apparatus as described herein that uses hydraulic pistons to actuate the deflection of the bit, or in combination with other downhole tools and devices. When used down hole in a drill string with a drilling mud powered turbine, the dynamically controllable variable displacement pump limits and regulates the power provided to the tool over a wide range of drilling mud weights and flow rates.
US09657560B2
Methods of treating a fracture in a subterranean formation including providing a proppant-free fluid comprising a first gelling agent; providing a proppant fluid comprising a second gelling agent and proppant aggregates, wherein the proppant-free fluid and the proppant fluid are substantially immiscible; continuously pumping the proppant-free fluid into the subterranean formation; continuously pumping the proppant fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the proppant-free fluid and the proppant fluid are present simultaneously in a portion of the subterranean formation but remain immiscible; placing the proppant aggregates into a portion of the fracture in the subterranean formation so as to form a proppant pack having proppant-free channels therein.
US09657559B2
Methods and systems for causing reaction driven cracking in subsurface rock formations are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: drilling one or more holes in a substantially porous subsurface rock formation, the one or more holes in fluid communication with pores in the subsurface rock formation; injecting in the pores via at least one of the holes one or more fluids, wherein the one or more fluids include a gas; and chemically reacting the one or more fluids within the pores thereby causing cracking in the substantially porous subsurface rock formation.
US09657557B2
Methods for controlling fluid flow through one or more pathways in one or more rock formations penetrated by a borehole in a subterranean well, comprise injecting into or adjacent to the formation a treatment fluid comprising at least one polysaccharide polymer; at least one crosslinker; and fibers, or a mixture of fibers and particles. The fluids are pumped into the well through a tubular body that comprises at least one flow restriction. Shearing of the treatment fluid as it passes through the flow restriction causes the viscosity to decrease, allowing the fibers to form masses that migrate to formation-rock openings such as pores, cracks, fissures and vugs. As a result, the fibrous masses are useful for curing lost circulation, providing fluid-loss control and as diverting agents.
US09657549B2
Enhanced oil recovery techniques include introduction of alkali metal silicides into subterranean reservoirs to generate hydrogen gas, heat, and alkali metal silicate solutions in situ upon contact with water. The alkali metal silicides, such as sodium silicide, are used to recover hydrocarbons, including heavier crudes where viscosity and low reservoir pressure are limiting factors. Hydrogen, which is miscible with the crude oil and can beneficiate the heavier fractions into lighter fractions naturally or with addition of catalytic materials, is generated in-situ. It. Heat is also generated at the reaction site to reduce viscosity and promote crude beneficiation. The resulting alkaline silicate solution saponifies acidic crude components to form surfactants which emulsify the crude to improve mobility toward a production well. The silicate promotes profile modification passively via consumptive reactions or actively via addition of acidic gelling agents.
US09657540B2
A system for pump down operations in a wellbore includes a tool string disposed in a wellbore, the tool string including a cable head having an upper end coupled to an electric wireline cable, a downhole tool coupled to the cable head, the downhole tool selected from the group consisting of perforating tools and downhole logging tools. In this embodiment, the system further includes a downhole tension sensor located proximal to the upper end of the cable head, the sensor adapted to obtain downhole wireline tension data and transmit the downhole wireline tension data via the electric wireline cable, a fluid pump with a fluid output operatively connected to the wellbore above the tool string, and a controller adapted to selectively adjust a pump fluid output rate of the fluid pump during pump down operations based on the downhole wireline tension data received from the downhole tension sensor.
US09657525B2
A subsea wellhead assembly comprising at least a casing housing and a casing extending down inside the well, and a tubing hanger. The tubing hanger comprises first and second valves, each valve being a fail safe valve.
US09657515B2
An extendable and retractable cellular shade may include a plurality of vertically aligned shade cells and one or more divider webs extending within each shade cells to as to divide the shade cell into two or more cell structures. By adjusting one or more design parameters associated with the cellular shade, the configuration of the shade cells, such as the size and/or shape of the cell structures, and/or the illumination or lighting effects associated with the cellular shade may be specifically tailored to provide a desired aesthetic look or feel for the shade.
US09657512B2
A reverse molded, plant-on decorative panel component comprises a panel portion lying on a first plane, a skirt portion, and a contoured portion. The skirt portion has a first surface adapted to be exteriorly disposed and an opposite second surface adapted to be interiorly disposed in order to be adhesively secured to a planar surface. The contoured portion extends outwardly from and surrounds the panel portion and interconnects and is integral with the panel portion and the skirt portion. The skirt portion extends peripherally about the contoured portion.
US09657507B2
A hinge for a door anchored to a wall, the hinge including a fixed element coupled to the wall and a movable element coupled to the door. The fixed and movable elements rotate between an open position and a closed position about a first longitudinal axis. One of the movable and fixed elements includes cam means rotating about the first longitudinal axis, the other of the movable and fixed elements including follower means mutually interacting with the cam means for sliding along a second longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The follower means includes an elastic counteracting element. The cam means includes a first cam element interacting with the follower means for movement from end-stroke positions to an intermediate position and vice-versa. The cam means further includes a second cam element interacting with the follower means for movement from the intermediate position to the end-stroke positions and vice-versa.
US09657506B2
A sliding arrangement, in particular a slide-out device for drawers, sliding doors, etc., includes a sliding piece and a pulling arrangement which can be coupled together by a coupling piece. The pulling arrangement can be placed in a resiliently pretensioned manner in a parking position and can be blocked in the parking position by a locking element. In order to ensure a reliable movement of a drawer or the like into the closure position, the locking element may be locked in the parking position of the pulling arrangement by a bar.
US09657498B2
A handle assembly and related methods for actuating a mechanism such as a disconnect switch.
US09657495B2
A crane system includes a structural truss positioned within a central opening defined by an inside surface of an annular tower, a crane mast connected to an outside surface of the annular tower, and a jib arm connected to the crane mast.
US09657493B2
A post reinforcement including a panel having a body portion and a stake portion. The post reinforcement further includes a first barb coupled to and extending away from the panel, wherein the first barb is generally positioned on a first side of the panel. The post reinforcement also includes a second barb coupled to and extending away from the panel, wherein the second barb is generally positioned on a second side of the panel opposite the first side.
US09657487B2
A water overflow edge device for a swimming pool is having a channel consisting of bottom, rear and front walls is disclosed. The front wall is made of a plurality of modular structural elements arranged in sequence and coupled together “end-to-end”. The channel is also covered on top by a walking grid that allows swimming pool water to enter. Each modular structural element has a first component with structural function, provided at the bottom with coupling means with the bottom wall of the channel and with the top of the vertical inner wall of the swimming pool. The structural component includes at one side with a first surface, which forms the front wall of the channel, and with a second substantially vertical surface, opposite the first surface and configured to support a second coating component which forms the entire exposed surface of the water overflow edge device and which has a finishing function. Preferably, the first component is plastic and the second coating component is ceramic.
US09657480B1
A high snow-load ridge ventilator includes a pair of support brackets, a perforated support, a ridge cover and a plurality of cover spacers. A bottom of one support bracket is attached to one side of a ventilation opening and a bottom of the other support bracket is attached to the other side of the ventilation opening. A plurality of perforated support spacers may be attached to the roof along a length of a pair of support brackets to provide additional load carrying capability. The perforated support is a formed plate with a plurality of perforated openings. The perforated support is attached to a top of the pair of support brackets. The plurality of cover spacers are attached to a top of the perforated support. The ridge cover includes snap clips that are sized to receive snap flanges extending from the perforated support.
US09657475B1
A drop panel unit of a suspended ceiling system, for preventing, in event of a fire, a suspended ceiling panel from interfering with a sprinkler system installed above the suspended ceiling system, the drop panel unit having a frame defining a drop panel opening and at least one drop panel for covering the drop panel opening. Each drop panel has a hinge for hinging the drop panel to one side of the frame, to provide for each drop panels to rotate about the hinge by gravity from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation. An electromagnetic support magnetically holds the drop panel in the horizontal orientation when electric power is provided to the electromagnetic support and a damper slows the rotation of the drop panel from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation when the electric power is removed from the electromagnetic support in the event of a fire.
US09657454B2
A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.
US09657450B2
A snow-plough blade group for absorbing lateral impacts comprising: a first and a second snow-removing blade; a first support bearing the blades; the second blade being mobile with respect to the first support between a first position, in which the blades identify a first snow-removing surface, and a second position in which the blades identify a second snow-removing surface larger than the first one; a second support hinged to the first support; a first hydraulic cylinder connected between the first and second support for orientating the first support with respect to the second support; a discharge of liquid in overpressure; bypass valve means connecting the first hydraulic cylinder with the discharge, which bypass valve means are configured such that when the pressure in the first hydraulic cylinder exceeds a threshold value, the bypass valve means place the first hydraulic cylinder in liquid communication with the discharge; characterized in that a sensor detects a position assumed by the second blade; and the bypass valve means vary the threshold value according to the sensor reading.
US09657449B2
A waste receptacle for storing pet waste is provided. The waste receptacle includes a substantially planar base, peripheral sidewalls extending from the base, and an upper opening defining an interior volume configured to store animal waste therein. The peripheral sidewalls each include an upper portion connected to a lower portion. The upper portion includes ridges thereon so that a user can grip the upper portion and so that the user will not feel the pet waste when picking it up using the waste receptacle. In some embodiments, the lower portion of the waste receptacle is rigid so as to further avoid the sensation of contact between the user's hand and the pet waste stored in the waste receptacle.
US09657441B2
The present invention relates to a filler comprising clay and cellulose derivative having a degree of substitution of net ionic groups up to about 0.65.
US09657432B2
A drying apparatus having a structure capable of improving condensation efficiency, and a washing machine having the same. The washing machine including a cabinet, a tub installed inside the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed inside the tub, a condenser duct configured to condense moisture in air introduced from the inside the drum, a drying duct configured to heat the air introduced from the condenser duct and supply the heated air to the inside the drum, and a condensation water storage unit formed at a circumference of the condenser duct to store condensation water that is used to condense the moisture in the air moving inside the condenser duct.
US09657420B2
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a knitting machine having a processor programmed to cause the knitting machine to knit a wool pile fabric having a plurality of footwear components and simultaneously knitting wool fibers and a scrim to form the wool pile fabric including the footwear components.
US09657419B2
A system and method for tufting sculptured and multiple pile height patterned articles, including controlling placement of yarns fed to the needles of the tufting machine by a yarn feed mechanism to form varying patterns includes a backing support over which the backing is fed, and which lifts/and biases the backing to a raised position. As the backing material is fed through the tufting machine, a series of loopers or hooks engage and pick loops of yarns from the needles. The yarn feed mechanism will be controlled to create a tension in selected loops of yarns, to cause the backing material to be pulled against the bias or spring force applied by the backing support toward the needle plate of the tufting machine to create tufts of different pile heights.
US09657417B2
Elongate self-closing sleeve for protecting elongate members having improved sound dampening quality
The present disclosure concerns an elongate self-closing sleeve for protecting elongate members, said sleeve having internal and external opposite faces wherein said sleeve comprises a sound dampening textile substrate and a warp knitted textile stitched to said textile substrate. Said sound dampening textile substrate and said warp knitted textile having first and second longitudinal opposite free edges biased toward each other in order to define an internal space wherein said elongate member could be placed therein, and wherein said warp knitted textile comprises at least one first monofilament yarn that forms laying-in stitches and that is in plastic material(s).
US09657403B2
A method is described of preparing a tin-silver (Sn—Ag) alloy plating solution containing methanesulfonic acid tin, methanesulfonic acid silver, methanesulfonic acid, and an additive, wherein the method includes: (a) eliminating impurities such as released chloride compounds and released sulfur compounds, which are present in the methanesulfonic acid, (b) preparing the methanesulfonic acid tin and the methanesulfonic acid silver by dissolving, through an electrolytic process, tin and silver in the methanesulfonic acid from which the impurities are eliminated; (c) producing a mixture solution by adding the methanesulfonic acid, the methanesulfonic acid tin, the methanesulfonic acid silver, and the additive; and (d) filtering the mixture solution. And by the method thereof, current efficiency may be increased and a desirable plating film may be maintained by eliminating the impurities from the methanesulfonic acid used as a base material and preparing the Sn—Ag alloy plating solution.
US09657399B2
An ocean-powered hydrogen generator system includes: a transportable ocean-going vessel, the vessel is movable to a location with ocean kinetic energy; a generator for converting ocean kinetic energy into electrical energy, the generator is movable on the vessel between a transport position and a generating position; a dissociator for using the electrical energy to dissociate ocean water into hydrogen and oxygen, the dissociator is located on the vessel and operatively connected to the generator; and a container for storing the generated hydrogen and oxygen on the vessel, the container is in fluid communication with the dissociator.
US09657397B2
An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber, the rotary chuck being adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon. A lid is secured to an upper part of the closed process chamber, the lid comprising an upper plate formed from a composite fiber-reinforced material and a lower plate that faces into the process chamber and is formed from a chemically-resistant plastic.
US09657395B2
The present invention relates to a protective layer for TiAl materials for affording protection against oxidation, said protective layer having a layer sequence which, proceeding from the inner side facing toward the TiAl material (1), has an inner aluminum oxide layer (5), a first gradient layer (6) comprising aluminum and a base metal with a base metal content increasing outward toward the surface side, a base metal layer (7), a second gradient layer (8) comprising aluminum and a base metal with an aluminum content increasing outward toward the surface side, and an outer aluminum oxide layer (9), and also to a method for the production thereof.
US09657386B2
A transparent electroconductive film includes a transparent electrode layer on a transparent film substrate. The transparent electrode layer is formed of an amorphous indium tin composite oxide and has a tin oxide content of 3 to 12% by mass and a thickness of 15 to 30 nm. In an analysis range of the transparent electrode layer, a bond energy ESn of tin 3d5/2 and a bond energy EIn of indium 3d5/2 as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement satisfy the following requirements: a minimum point of a bond energy difference between the bond energies ESn and EIn is present closer to the surface of the transparent electrode layer than a maximum point of the bond energy difference ESn−EIn; and a difference Emax−Emin between the maximum value Emax and the minimum value Emin of the bond energy difference is 0.1 eV or more.
US09657383B2
There is provided a heat resistant ferritic steel including a base material including, by mass percent, C: 0.01 to 0.3%, Si: 0.01 to 2%, Mn: 0.01 to 2%, P: at most 0.10%, S: at most 0.03%, Cr: 7.5 to 14.0%, sol.Al: at most 0.3%, and N: 0.005 to 0.15%, the balance being Fe and impurities, and an oxide film that is formed on the base material and contains 25 to 97% of Fe and 3 to 75% of Cr. This heat resistant ferritic steel is excellent in photoselective absorptivity and oxidation resistance.
US09657380B2
A slab has a steel composition including 0.020% to 0.065% of C, 0.1% or less of Si, 0.40% to less than 0.80% of Mn, 0.030% or less of P, 0.005% or less of S, 0.08% to 0.16% of Ti, 0.005% to 0.1% of Al, 0.005% or less of N, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, in which Ti*(=Ti−(48/14)×N) satisfies [Ti*≧0.08] and [0.300≦C/Ti*≦0.375], is subjected to hot rolling to obtain a hot-rolled steel sheet in which the steel microstructure includes, in terms of area fraction, 95% or more of a ferrite phase; the average ferrite grain size is 10 μm or less; the average grain size of Ti carbides precipitated in steel is 10 nm or less; and Ti in the amount of 80% or more of Ti* is precipitated as Ti carbides.
US09657374B2
To obtain an Al—Mg—Si based aluminum alloy extruded material with a smooth surface and no burning without inhibiting the productivity. An aluminum alloy billet includes: Si: 2.0 to 6.0% by mass; Mg: 0.3 to 1.2% by mass; and Ti: 0.01 to 0.2% by mass, a Fe content being restricted to 0.2% or less by mass, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. The aluminum alloy billet is subjected to a homogenization treatment by keeping at 500 to 550° C. for 4 to 15 hours. The billet is forcibly cooled to 250° C. or lower at an average cooling rate of 50° C./hr or higher. Then, the billet is subjected to hot-extruding at an extrusion rate of 3 to 10 m/min by being heating at 450 to 500° C. The extruded material is forcibly cooled at an average cooling rate of 50° C./sec or higher and then subjected to an aging treatment. The extruded material can be manufactured that has its surface having a ten-point average roughness Rz of 80 μm or less.
US09657370B2
A removal method of manganese in which manganese is removed by precipitating manganese selectively from sulfuric acid waste water containing aluminum, magnesium and manganese with inhibiting the precipitation of magnesium.The removal method of manganese from waste water in which manganese is removed by precipitating manganese selectively from the sulfuric acid waste water containing aluminum, magnesium and manganese with inhibiting the precipitation of magnesium, characterized in that said waste water is subjected to the following steps (1) and (2). (1) First, aluminum in said waste water is removed. (2) Subsequently, neutralizing agent is added into the wastewater after removing aluminum, then pH of the waste water is adjusted at 8.0 to 9.0, and oxygen gas is blown.
US09657365B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a seamless quenched and tempered steel pipe which can have a wall thickness WT higher than or equal to 6 mm and lower than or equal to 35 mm. Some embodiments of the steel pipe can have a chemical composition comprising C, Mn, Si, Cr, Ni, Mo, Al, N, Ca, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, and Ta based on the composition weight, the remaining being iron and impurities. In some embodiments, wherein (V+Nb) content is lower than 0.07 wt %; defining a first parameter P1=(60×C)+Cr+[5×e(35×Mo/WT)]+50×(V+Nb), the chemical composition satisfies a first condition P1≦14.5.
US09657363B2
An air hardenable steel alloy is disclosed comprising, in percent by weight: 0.18 to 0.26 carbon; 3.50 to 4.00 nickel; 1.60 to 2.00 chromium; 0 to 0.50 molybdenum; 0.80 to 1.20 manganese; 0.25 to 0.45 silicon; 0 to less than 0.005 titanium; 0 to less than 0.020 phosphorus; 0 up to 0.005 boron; 0 up to 0.003 sulfur; iron; and impurities. The air hardenable steel alloy has a Brinell hardness in a range of 352 HBW to 460 HBW. The air hardenable steel alloy combines high strength, medium hardness and toughness, as compared with certain known air hardenable steel alloys, and finds application in, for example, any of a steel armor, a blast-protective hull, a blast-protective V-shaped hull, a blast-protective vehicle underbelly, and a blast-protective enclosure.
US09657359B2
The invention relates to generic methods for the detection and quantification of mammalian reoviruses. These may uses a reverse transcription (RT-PCR) real time (q-PCR) assay which amplifies a conserved region within all MRV types. The assays allow the quantification of MRV RNA molecules, irrespective of the particular virus type (e.g. MRV-1, MRV-2). The methods are particularly applicable in the monitoring of vaccine production processes.
US09657355B2
Methods and kits are described for testing for the presence or absence of any fungus in a sample. Examples of fungi that can be detected include, but are not limited to, those belonging to the genera Candida, Aspergillus and Pneumocystis. The methods include obtaining a sample suspected of containing fungal nucleic acid, including at least one universal region of fungal nucleic acid, and testing for the presence or absence in the sample of the at least one universal region of fungal nucleic acid. Samples may be biological or non-biological.
US09657353B2
Methods, materials, and kits for distinguishing a population of cells or organisms truly present in a clinical specimen from contaminating cells or organisms is disclosed. The methods and kits use a suppressor to avoid false positive detection of contaminants in nucleic acid amplification reactions.
US09657348B2
A method of screening for a candidate compound for the treatment of a condition involving dysregulation of metabolism in a mammal, by bringing a compound into contact with cells that express a GPCR and that further express a GRK, determining whether the contacting causes a response of the GRK in cells brought into contact with the compound, determining whether the contacting causes a response of a classical secondary messenger in cells brought into contact with the compound; and identifying the candidate compound based on the determined GRK response and response of a classical secondary messenger in the cells. A kit for use in the method. A compound for use in the treatment of a condition involving dysregulation of metabolism in a mammal and a method of treatment of such a condition.
US09657346B2
The present invention is directed to methods, reagents, kits, and compositions for identifying and quantifying target polynucleotide sequences. A linker probe comprising a 3′ target specific portion, a loop, and a stem is hybridized to a target polynucleotide and extended to form a reaction product that includes a reverse primer portion and the stem nucleotides. A detector probe, a specific forward primer, and a reverse primer can be employed in an amplification reaction wherein the detector probe can detect the amplified target polynucleotide based on the stem nucleotides introduced by the linker probe. In some embodiments a plurality of short miRNAs are queried with a plurality of linker probes, wherein the linker probes all comprise a universal reverse primer portion a different 3′ target specific portion and different stems. The plurality of queried miRNAs can then be decoded in a plurality of amplification reactions.
US09657344B2
The invention provides methods for sequencing a polynucleotide comprising stopping an extension cycle in a sequence by synthesis reaction before the reaction has run to near or full completion.
US09657341B2
A microfluidic system for analyzing nucleic acid, the microfluidic system including a reagent supply device including a sample chamber into which a sample can be injected, one or more reagent chambers for containing one or more reagents for extracting nucleic acid from the sample, and a waste chamber in which the used reagent can be discarded; a binding-lysis chamber in which cells are captured from the sample and lysed to form a cell lysate containing nucleic acid; plurality of particles for cell binding disposed in the binding-lysis chamber; a plurality of rehydration chambers into which the cell lysate formed in the binding-lysis chamber can be distributed and mixed with a nucleic acid amplification reagent to form an amplification reaction mixture; a plurality of amplification chambers in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction is performed on the amplification reaction mixture introduced from the plurality of rehydration chambers; and a flow channel system including an outlet and a plurality of inlets connected to the reagent supply device and forming an integrated fluid flow between the binding-lysis chamber, the rehydration chambers, and the amplification chambers.
US09657339B2
A method for amplifying a target nucleic acid is disclosed, which includes: (a) fragmenting a nucleic acid sample to create a target fragment comprising a target nucleic acid and two probe-complementary portions; (b) contacting said fragmented nucleic acid sample with a probe comprising two target fragment-complementary portions complementary to the probe-complementary portions of the target fragment; (c) rendering the fragmented nucleic acid sample single-stranded; (d) allowing the probe-complementary portions to hybridise with the target-fragment complementary portions; (e) if the probe in step (b) is not immobilised, immobilising the probe-target fragment hybrid on a solid phase via immobilisation moiety; (f) separating non-immobilised nucleic acid fragments from the solid phase; (g) contacting the solid phase with a ligase to ligate ligatable 5′ and 3′ ends of the target fragment whereby the target fragment is circularized; and (h) amplifying said circularized target fragment.
US09657337B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a buffer composition for an integrated nucleic acid amplification and hybridization reaction. The buffer comprise about 50-200 mM of a salt, about 10-30 mM Tris-HCl, about 2-10M Water soluble magnesium salt, about 0.05-1.5% surfactant, about 0.05-0.15 mg/ml stabilizing protein about 50-300 nM of one or more primers, about 20-150 uM of one or more dNTPs, about 5-15% glycerine, about 0.5-1.5% formamide and at least about 5 unit/ml polymerase.
US09657334B2
Nucleic acid amplification assays for mutations to two short sections of the fungal gene FKS1. Mutations in these target sequences have been shown to correlate with resistance to echinocandin-class drugs. Assays may include detection by sequencing or by labeled hybridization probes. Also, primers, probes and reagent kits for performing such assays.
US09657331B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for in-system priming of microfluidic devices. Aspects of the present invention relate to compositions and methods for in-system priming of microfluidic devices utilizing a priming solution comprising adding and/or increasing concentrations of surfactant in a buffer solution.
US09657326B2
The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing an existing or developing acute pneumonia induced by a microorganism by detecting one or more volatile organic compound(s) in a subject's sample and the use of one or more volatile organic compound(s) for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenza and optionally opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans.
US09657315B2
The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction in the expression and/or activity of an endogenous transporter protein. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
US09657311B2
The present invention relates to the insertion of an MHC class I, MHC Class II, or β2 microglobulin upstream promoter sequence into a lentiviral vector to increase viral titers. The invention encompasses these vectors, methods of making the vectors, and methods of using them, including medicinal uses.
US09657301B2
The present invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of targeted integration of a polynucleotide to a pre-determined site into the genome of a filamentous fungal cell with a preference for NHR, wherein said polynucleotide has a region of homology with said pre-determined site, comprising steering an integration pathway towards HR. The present invention also relates to a mutant filamentous fungus originating from a parent cell, said mutant having an HR pathway with elevated efficiency and/or an NHR pathway with a lowered efficiency and/or a NHR/HR ratio with decreased efficiency as compared to said HR and/or NHR efficiency and/or NHR/HR ratio of said parent cell under the same conditions.
US09657299B2
Methods and compositions for the production of oil, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.
US09657295B2
The present disclosure provides modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids, and methods of using thereof.
US09657291B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for making paired tags and paired tag libraries.
US09657288B2
The invention relates to a complex comprising a phage particle, said phage particle comprising (i) a polypeptide; (ii) a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of (i); (iii) a connector compound attached to said polypeptide wherein said connector compound is attached to the polypeptide by at least three discrete covalent bonds. The invention also relates to libraries, and to methods for making complexes and to methods of screening using same.
US09657285B2
Methods to generate doubled haploid plants and plant components using low mammalian toxicity chromosome doubling agents are disclosed. Chromosome doubling agents provide low mortality rates and higher chromosome doubling rate in plants.
US09657283B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US09657282B2
The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids encoding proteins, methods for inducing cells to express proteins using nucleic acids, methods, kits and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods and products for altering the DNA sequence of a cell are described, as are methods and products for inducing cells to express proteins using synthetic RNA molecules. Therapeutics comprising nucleic acids encoding gene-editing proteins are also described.
US09657275B2
The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic host cells comprising artificial endosymbionts and methods of introducing artificial endosymbionts into eukaryotic host cells. The invention provides artificial endosymbionts that introduce a phenotype to host cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic host cells containing magnetotactic bacteria.
US09657273B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing differentiated cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cell, wherein undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are removed, the method comprising steps of: (a) preparing a cell sample including undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated cells by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells; and (b) causing selective apoptosis of the undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells by treating the resultant in step (a) with quercetin of Formula 1 below or with YM-155 of Formula 2 below.According to the present invention, the present invention makes it possible to effectively selectively cause apoptosis only of undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells by causing induced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into specific differentiated cells and then carrying out culturing in a differentiating culture medium comprising quercetin or YM-155, and, in the induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation method according to the present invention, only undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells that are a cause of teratoma formation are selectively caused to die, and thus differentiated differentiating cells are completely unaffected. In other words, the invention can be expected to ensure safety as the possibility of tumor formation during clinical use as a cell therapeutic agent is eliminated since the survival and functioning of the differentiated cells is maintained unchanged.
US09657271B2
Solutions and suspensions comprising polymerized hemoglobin derived from human blood are disclosed. The solutions and suspensions may comprise cell culture medium, an enzyme (such as a protease), and/or a buffer. Processes of preparing the solutions and suspensions are also disclosed. The solutions and suspensions may be employed in methods of isolating mammalian cells, such as pancreatic islets, methods of preserving mammalian tissue and organs, methods of aiding the recovery of mammalian cells following their isolation, methods of maintaining mammalian cells, methods of propagating mammalian cells, and methods of treating a mammal with diabetes.
US09657266B2
Methods for using vibration to harvest cells grown in 3D culture are provided. The methods entail the application of force to cells attached to a 3D matrix of sufficient amplitude, frequency, and duration to detach cells from the matrix and to flush the detached cells out of the matrix material. An apparatus for performing the methods of the invention as provided.
US09657263B2
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting infection and replication of influenza A and B virus, and the manufacture thereof. The pharmaceutical composition is produced by a manufacture of low-temperature disintegrating cyanobacteria, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing cyanobacteria and non-organic solvent to form a suspension containing cyanobacteria; (b) freezing the suspension with a temperature below 0° C. to form a ice block and the ice block being melted at a low temperature, the whole step being repeated at least twice; (c) separating the cyanobacterial residues and extract solution of the suspension; and (d) collecting the isolated cyanobacterial extract solution; wherein the cyanobacterial extract solution is a solution containing cyanobacterial bioactive substances. The pharmaceutical composition is able to effectively inhibit binding of sialic acid and hemagglutinin of influenza A and/or B virus, so as to inhibit infection and replication of influenza virus. Further, this pharmaceutical composition is able to inhibit infection of influenza virus resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors.
US09657249B2
Provided are devices and methods for discharging pretreated biomass from a pressurized reactor. Pretreated, hot biomass is added under high pressure at the top of a discharge vessel, which is partially filled with water or aqueous solution. The vessel comprises water jets situated on its sides through which water or aqueous solution is injected in order to establish a strong turbulence in the lower part of the vessel. This turbulence, preferably a vortex turbulence or “hydrocyclone,” blends biomass and water and disintegrates any clumped material prior to its ejection at high speed as a slurry through an orifice or valve at the bottom of the vessel. A stable temperature stratification is established within the discharge vessel, whereby hot water remains at the top of the vessel, reducing heat and steam loss from the pretreatment reactor.
US09657243B2
A process for the gasification of wet biomass. The process comprises heating wet biomass at a pressure in the range of from 22.1 MPa to 35 MPa. The wet biomass is heated from a temperature of at most T1 to a temperature of at least T2 by heat exchange with a first heating fluid. The gasification product is further heated. The further heated gasification product is used as the first heating fluid, upon which the further heated gasification product is cooled down from a temperature of at least T3 to a temperature of at most T4. The temperatures T1, T2, T3 and T4 can be calculated by using certain mathematical formulae. Also claimed: a reaction apparatus for the gasification of wet biomass.
US09657240B2
The invention relates to a method for improving the transportability of heavy crude oil.Proceeding from the disadvantages of the known prior art a method is to be provided, in which an additive can be used which is producible from a byproduct arising during mineral oil production. The method is to be performable with low expenditure and without any special safety precautions. Further the additive shall lead to an increased yield of conventional petroleum during subsequent refining.According to the invention, an aqueous hydrocarbon mixture having a chain length of predominantly C4 to C12 which does not contain any oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compounds is utilized. This is produced in the area of a mineral oil field from natural gas arising as by-product and/or mineral oil-associated gas. Thereby from the heavy crude oil a crude oil which is light in quality and transportable is obtained. During the subsequent refining of the light crude oil to give conventional petroleum, the amount of petroleum produced is increased by the amount of hydrocarbons present in the aqueous hydrocarbon mixture.
US09657239B2
The invention relates to a process for upgrading pyrolysis tar in the presence of a utility fluid. The utility fluid contains 1-ring and/or 2-ring aromatics and has a final boiling point ≦430° C. The invention also relates to the upgraded pyrolysis tar, and to the use of the upgraded pyrolysis tar, e.g., for fuel oil blending.
US09657235B2
The invention relates to a process for catalytic reforming of a naphtha hydrocarbon feedstock using a number of reaction zones in series, wherein the reaction zones contain a reforming catalyst bed. The process comprises comprising the following stages: sending hydrocarbon feedstock that is heated with hydrogen through the reaction zones to convert paraffinic and naphthenic compounds into aromatic compounds, with the effluent that is produced by each reaction zone, except for the last reaction zone, being heated before its introduction into the following reaction zone; drawing off a reformate from the last reaction zone.
US09657234B1
A mobile diesel fuel refinery system comprise a particulate filter adapted to remove particulates from diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system, a water filter adapted to remove water from diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the particulate filter, a magnetic field of sufficient strength to further refine the diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the water filter, a catalyst injector configured to inject the catalyst from a catalyst tank into the diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the magnetic field, a dispensing conduit configured to conduct the diesel fuel from the diesel fuel refinement apparatus following injection of the catalyst.
US09657232B2
A process for converting biomass to products is described. Biomass is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a fluidized bed of hydropyrolysis catalyst in a reactor vessel under hydropyrolysis conditions; and products and char are removed from the reactor vessel. The products leave the fluidized bed at an exit bed velocity, the char has a settling velocity that is less than the exit bed velocity and hydropyrolysis catalyst has a settling velocity that is greater than the exit bed velocity.
US09657230B2
A problem is to provide a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one physical property such as high stability to heat and light, high clearing point, low minimum temperature of liquid crystal phase, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, suitable elastic constant and excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device including the composition.The compound is represented by formula (1). In formula (1), for example, R1 is alkenyl; ring A1 and ring A2 are 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2, Z3 are a single bond or —COO—; X1 is hydrogen or fluorine; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are hydrogen or fluorine; and a and b are each independently 0 or 1, a sum of a and b is 1, and when a is 1, at least one of ring A1 and ring A2 is 1,4-cyclohexylene.
US09657227B2
A method for preserving and processing cell-free nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing cell-free nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the amount of cell-free nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while maintaining the structure and integrity of the nucleic acids.
US09657226B2
The present invention provides a composition for etching treatment of a resin material, the composition comprising an aqueous solution having a permanganate ion concentration of 0.2 mmol/L or more and a total acid concentration of 10 mol/L or more, and the aqueous solution satisfying at least one of the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) containing an organic sulfonic acid in an amount of 1.5 mol/L or more, (2) setting the divalent manganese ion molar concentration to 15 or more times higher than the permanganate ion molar concentration, and (3) setting the addition amount of an anhydrous magnesium salt to 0.1 to 1 mol/L. The composition for etching treatment of the present invention is a composition containing no hexavalent chromium and having excellent etching performance and good bath stability.
US09657225B2
The present invention relates to a nanophosphor which may be used as a wavelength conversion part of a solar cell, a fluorescent contrast agent, and a light emitting part of a display device, and a synthesis method thereof. The nanophosphor of the present invention is excited by ultraviolet light to exhibit strong green light emission, and has multicolor light emission characteristics capable of controlling a color such as green, yellowish green, yellow, and orange color by only adjusting the amount of a doping agent.
US09657219B2
A method of increasing hydrocarbon production, the method including fracturing downhole formation and disposing an expandable proppant into the downhole formation. The method further includes expanding the expandable proppant into contact with the downhole formation and holding open the downhole formation with the expandable proppant. A proppant having an expandable outer shell layer, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10 percent greater in an open position than in a closed position. A proppant delivery system having a tool body, an expandable injector disposed on the side of the tool body, and an expandable proppant disposed within the tool body.
US09657214B2
A drilling fluid system using retarded acid systems such as gelled acid (VES or polymer) and/or emulsified acid to drill carbonate formations (calcite and dolomite). Foamed acid may be used in low abnormal pressure carbonate reservoirs. The drilling fluid system permits drilling a target hydrocarbon-producing formation with zero-invasion of the drilling fluid system. A method for using the drilling fluid system for fluid loss control during drilling operations.
US09657206B2
The present invention relates to adhesive formulations based on uretdione-group-comprising polyaddition compounds that are free of isocyanate groups and monomeric polyisocyanates, and to the use thereof for the production of adhesive bonds between substrates, in particular for the production of flexible film composites.
US09657204B2
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a first copolymer derived from monomers comprising a (meth)acrylate monomer, an acid monomer, and optionally at least one additional monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, a-methyl-styrene, vinyl toluene, and mixtures thereof, wherein the first copolymer is derived in the absence of a molecular weight regulator and wherein the first copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 Daltons, and methods of making the same. The compositions and methods disclosed can be used, for instance, in pressure-sensitive adhesive applications.
US09657202B2
A kit for providing a polymerizable resin system is disclosed, which kit comprises a first Part A and a second Part B, which Part A and Part B upon mixing provides a working period of intermediate stage polymerization in which the mixture obtains a desired cohesiveness for a predetermined period of time. The first Part A comprises an acid and the second Part B comprises an organic compound that is water soluble or partially water soluble and that, in the presence of the acid, initiates curing of polymerizable monomer and/or resin that is present in Part A, Part B, or both. Also disclosed is a method of using the mixed composition as an adhesive, cement, glue, sealant, a base liner, a capping agent, a material for surface or structural repair and/or filling, an encasing material, a bodily implant, a dental material, and/or as a polymeric object having a living polymer surface property.
US09657180B2
A coating composition for application to a subsea component or structure has cellulose acetate an amount of approximately 47% by weight of the total composition, diisooctyl phthalate in an amount of approximately 17% by weight of the total composition, a fatty acid ester in an amount of approximately 23% by weight of the total composition, a vegetable oil in an amount of approximately 8% by weight of the total composition, a stabilizer and a silica amorphous in which the stabilizer and the silica amorphous are in amount of approximately 5% by weight of the total composition. The stabilizer can be either titanium dioxide or aluminum dioxide. The vegetable oil is canola oil.
US09657177B1
The present disclosure provides an ultraviolet light-C (UVC) reflective coating composition. The UVC reflective coating includes a polymer binder of a first volume having a first refractive index and an inorganic material of a second volume having a second refractive index at least 0.2 greater than the first refractive index, the second volume in ratio to the first volume such that the reflective coating is at or below critical pigment volume concentration (CVPC) (CPVC), wherein the reflective coating is configured to diffusely reflect at least 10% UVC.
US09657175B2
A silicone resin composition for sealing an optical semiconductor element includes (A) (A-1) an organopolysiloxane having a resin structure which contains at least two alkenyl groups in one molecule, the alkenyl groups being present at 10 to 70 mol % of the total substituent groups bonded to silicon atoms, (B) an organopolysiloxane oligomer having at least two alkenyl groups in one molecule and 2 to 5 silicon atoms, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane which contains at least one hydrosilyl group and may have an alkoxy group or hydroxyl group in one molecule, and (D) an addition reaction catalyst, and is capable of providing a transparent cured product.
US09657168B2
To provide a highly transparent thermoplastic resin composition without requiring, for example, a special molecular design or incorporation of an additive, with the refractive index of the composition being readily controllable.The highly transparent and refractive-index-controllable thermoplastic resin composition can be produced by blending a thermoplastic resin (A) containing a structural unit derived from a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer represented by a specific chemical formula and a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl monomer represented by a specific chemical formula, with a thermoplastic resin (B) obtained by hydrogenating aromatic double bonds of a thermoplastic resin which contains a structural unit derived from a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer represented by a specific chemical formula and a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl monomer represented by a specific chemical formula.
US09657167B2
A thermoplastic resin composition includes a thermoplastic resin; a pearlescent pigment; and a pigment that is not the same as the pearlescent pigment, wherein the pearlescent pigment and pigment have da and db satisfying da<15 and db<15 in an L*a*b* colorimetric system, respectively.
US09657164B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an emulsion coagulant capable of quickly coagulating an emulsion in an extremely low temperature environment. The present invention is an emulsion coagulant containing an amphoteric acrylic polymer, the amphoteric acrylic polymer having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group and having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or lower, and the emulsion coagulant being used to coagulate an emulsion. The present invention is also a tire puncture repair kit that uses the emulsion coagulant.
US09657163B2
The present invention provides a single-layer shape retaining material which is a fibrous, band-like, or sheet-like stretched formed material comprising 100 parts by weight of a high-density polyethylene resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 to 500,000 and a density of 0.945 to 0.960 g/cm3 and 3 to 50 parts by weight of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with an α-olefin having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, the copolymer having a density of 0.935 to 0.960 g/cm3, the difference in density between the copolymer and the high-density polyethylene resin being ±0.020 g/cm3 or less and a method for producing same.
US09657160B2
Organopolysiloxane gels produced by crosslinking an unsaturated organopolysiloxane resin with a crosslinking agent in the presence of a diluent have excellent sensory properties such as properties desirable in a variety of cosmetics products.
US09657157B2
A rubber composition is provided that includes a partially halogenated diene polymer that has a controllable microstructure, and no more than about 50% of the n repeat units are in blocks of three or more consecutive units. In embodiments, a reinforcing filler is also included in the rubber composition. In embodiment, the rubber composition is formed into a tire component. A method of making the composition is also provided.
US09657148B2
A method for forming a blend including graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), where the method includes melt mixing the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate) and the graphene nanoparticles to obtain a nanocomposite and exposing the nanocomposite to microwave irradiation to bond the methyl methacrylate copolymer to the graphene nanoparticles, in which a content of the graphene nanoparticles is from 0.05 to 2 wt % based on the nanocomposites. A blend composition, including graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), where the graphene nanoparticles are dispersed in the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), the graphene nanoparticles are modified with microwave induced defects, and the free radicals of poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate) is bonded to the graphene nanoparticles at the defects.
US09657147B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparation a glycolide polyester by ring opening polymerization characterized in that glycolide monomer with optional co-monomer(s) of cyclic ester(s) is/are subjected to ring opening polymerization in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer and a catalyst, said catalyst being selected for precipitating glycolide homopolymer or copolymer from solvent, said solvent being selected so that the glycolide monomer and the optional co-monomer(s), the dispersion stabilizer and the catalyst are soluble therein but said glycolide homopolymer or copolymer is non-soluble. The present invention further relates to an in situ ring opening polymerizing process product, and to use of said glycolide polyester, and to further processing of said glycolide polyester.
US09657138B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polyamide resin, comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a polyamide polymer by anionically polymerizing a monomer including 2-pyrrolidone; (b) refining an unreacted monomer and a catalyst in the polyamide polymer with water; (c) pH-controlling through an ion exchange of the refined water; and (d) recovering the unreacted monomer by concentrating the pH-controlled water.
US09657135B2
The invention relates to a method for producing polyether ester carbonate polyols by attaching at least one alkylene oxide, at least one cyclical anhydride, and carbon dioxide to one or more H-functional starter substances in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst. The method is characterized in that (α) a suspension agent, which does not contain H-functional groups, is provided in a reactor, and (γ) one or more H-functional starter substances are continuously metered into the reactor during the reaction process, and the one or more alkylene oxides, the cyclical anhydride, and optionally the carbon dioxide are metered simultaneously or sequentially.
US09657134B2
The present invention provides polyurethanes including a reaction product of components including: (a) about 1 equivalent of at least one polyisocyanate; (b) about 0.05 to about 1 equivalents of at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; (c) about 0.01 to about 0.3 equivalents of at least one polycarbonate diol; and (d) about 0.1 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one polyol different from the branched polyol and having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction product components are essentially free of polyether polyol and the reaction components are maintained at a temperature of at least about 100° C. for at least about 10 minutes; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.
US09657126B2
A polymeric membrane for separating oil from water has a pore size of 0.005 μm to 5 μm, a thickness of 50 μm to 1,000 μm, a water contact angle of 0° to 60°, an oil contact angle of 40° to 100°. The membrane contains a hydrophobic matrix polymer and a functional polymer that contains a hydrophobic backbone and side chains. The side chains each have an oleophobic terminal segment and a hydrophilic internal segment. The weight ratio of the matrix polymer to the functional polymer is 99:1 to 1:9. Also disclosed is a method of making the above described membrane.
US09657119B2
The present invention relates to a preparation method of a highly active supported metallocene catalyst which can prepare a polyolefin of high bulk density. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of preparing the supported metallocene catalyst in which one or more metallocene catalysts are loaded on the silica carrier of which the inside is penetrated by more cocatalyst than the prior art and the outside is attached with a substantial amount of the cocatalyst. The catalyst according to the present invention can prepare a polyolefin polymer with improved bulk density and efficiency while maintaining its highly active catalytic characteristic.
US09657118B2
An epoxy thermoset that includes a reaction product of a toughening agent prepared from a reaction of a first epoxy resin and a polyether polyamine, a second epoxy resin and a liquid amine hardener for the toughening agent and the second epoxy resin. The toughening agent is an adduct of the second epoxy resin and the polyether polyamine. The polyether polyamine phase of the toughening agent separates to form particles in the epoxy thermoset, where the particles have a volume average diameter in a range from 20 nanometers to 200 nanometers.
US09657105B2
A family of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) containing a CD123 specific scFv was developed to target different epitopes on CD123. In some embodiments, such a CD123 chimeric antigen receptor (CD123CAR) gene includes an anti-CD123 scFv region fused in frame to a modified IgG4 hinge region comprising an S228P substitution, an L235E substitution, and optionally an N297Q substitution; a costimulatory signaling domain; and a T cell receptor (TCR) zeta chain signaling domain. When expressed in healthy donor T cells (CD4/CD8), the CD123CARs redirect T cell specificity and mediated potent effector activity against CD123+ cell lines as well as primary AML patient samples. Further, T cells obtained from patients with active AML can be modified to express CD123CAR genes and are able to lyse autologous AML blasts in vitro. Finally, a single dose of 5.0×106 CAR123 T cells results in significantly delayed leukemic progression in mice. These results suggest that CD123CAR-transduced T cells may be used as an immunotherapy for the treatment of high risk AML.
US09657094B2
Methods, processes, systems, and compositions for treating disease are disclosed. In some cases, the present disclosure provides for delivery of therapeutic agents, in an active form, to a localized area, over an extended period of time. In one embodiment, the disclosed composition may comprise a therapeutic agent and a biodegradable polymer and/or a biodegradable polymer microsphere.
US09657090B2
The invention provides a method of treating alveolar bone loss involving administration of a sclerostin inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.
US09657088B2
The invention relates to an anti-HSV antibody as defined in the claims, a pharmaceutical composition comprising of an effective amount of the said antibody, an expression vector comprising of a nucleotide sequence which encodes the said antibody, a host cell comprising of the said nucleotide sequence, a hybridoma cell capable of producing the said antibody and the use of the said antibody as a drug, in particular to use for the manufacture of a drug for the prophylactical or therapeutical treatment of HSV-associated diseases in a subject; as defined in the claims.
US09657077B2
A mini-peptide and its analogs have been found to target gene products to tumors. The peptide, named Carcinoma Homing Peptide (CHP), increased the tumor accumulation of the reporter gene products in five independent tumor models, including one human xenogeneic model. A CHP-IL-12 fusion gene was also developed using CHP and the p40 subunit of IL-12. The product from CHP-IL-12 fusion gene therapy increased accumulation of IL-12 in the tumor environment. In three tumor models, CHP-IL-12 gene therapy inhibited distal tumor growth. In a spontaneous lung metastasis model, inhibition of metastatic tumor growth was improved compared to wild-type IL-12 gene therapy, and in a squamous cell carcinoma model, toxic liver lesions were reduced. The receptor for CHP was identified as vimentin. CHP can be used to improve the efficacy and safety of targeted cancer treatments.
US09657063B2
A porcine circovirus type-2 (PCV2) immunogenic composition includes an antigenic peptide. The antigenic peptide is a non-arginine-rich peptide of a PCV2 open reading frame 2 (ORF2) and/or a recombinant fusion protein having the non-arginine-rich peptide of the PCV2 ORF2, a PE peptide, and a KDEL signal peptide. The number of arginines of the non-arginine-rich peptide of the PCV2 ORF2 is not greater than half of the number of arginines of the arginine-rich domain of the N terminal of the PCV2 ORF2.
US09657062B2
The present invention relates, inter alia, to ghrelin analogs and their medical use, for example in the treatment of cachexia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., gastroparesis and/or inflammatory disorders such as colitis, gut barrier dysfunction, and ischemia reperfusion injury), loss of body weight, and decreased appetite.
US09657051B2
The invention relates to a compound of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 is C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy, CN, NO2, amino, COOH, COOCH3, OH, N3, or halogen and R2 is H, OH, C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 alkoxy, C2-C6 alkenyl, halogen, Bn-O—, Bn- optionally substituted, or Ph- optionally substituted.
US09657047B2
A crystalline epirubicin hydrochloride and a method for its production are provided. The method for producing the crystalline epirubicin hydrochloride includes the steps: (a) providing epirubicin hydrochloride, (b) producing a mixture containing the provided epirubicin hydrochloride and at least one alcohol selected from the group 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and 1-pentanol, and (c) crystallizing epirubicin hydrochloride from this mixture.
US09657045B2
A process for enabling the production of a particulate composition containing crystalline trehalose dihydrate is provided. Including allowing an α-glycosyltrehalose-forming enzyme to act on liquefied starch derived from a microorganism of the genus Arthrobacter and a trehalose-releasing enzyme derived from a microorganism of the genus Arthrobacter along with a starch debranching enzyme and a cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase; allowing glucoamylase to act on the resulting mixture to obtain a saccharide solution containing α,α-trehalose; precipitating crystalline α,α-trehalose dihydrate from the above saccharide solution; collecting the precipitated crystalline α,α-trehalose dihydrate by a centrifuge; and ageing and drying the collected crystals. Cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase derived from a microorganism of the genus Paenibacillus or a mutant enzyme thereof is used to increase the α,α-trehalose content in the saccharide solution to over 86.0% by weight, on a dry solid basis, without passing through a fractionation step by column chromatography.
US09657041B2
The invention includes processes for the synthesis of amphetamine, dexamphetamine, methamphetamine, derivatives of these, including their salts, and novel precursors and intermediates obtained thereby, by synthesizing aziridine phosphoramidate compounds in specified solvents at specified temperatures, and then converting to a novel aryl or aryl-alkyl phosphoramidate precursors using an organometallic compound such as a copper salt, where the novel aryl or aryl-alkyl phosphoramidate precursor is then easily converted to the target compounds using known reactions.
US09657039B2
Provided is a method for efficiently producing alkoxysilanes that are useful as various functional chemicals. In order to produce alkoxysilanes efficiently, an ethoxy- or methoxysilane and an alcohol are caused to react using, as a catalyst, for instance an inorganic solid acid having a regular-pore and/or layered structure. Zeolites, montmorillonites or the like can be used as the inorganic solid acid. When a zeolite is used as the catalyst, the silica/alumina ratio of the zeolite ranges preferably from 5 to 1000. The reaction can be promoted through irradiation of microwaves.
US09657035B1
A method for treating cancer and gold(III) complexes with diaminocyclohexane ligand as anticancer agents. Also described are a pharmaceutical composition incorporating the gold(III) complexes and a method of synthesizing the gold(III) complexes.
US09657023B2
Polymorphs of a bis-mesylate salt of a compound of Formula I: or a hydrate thereof, are provided. The bis-mesylate salt may also be depicted as a compound of Formula IA: Provided herein are also compositions thereof, methods for their preparation and methods for such polymorphs.
US09657015B2
Substituted bicyclic dihydropyrimidinones of formula 1 which are inhibitors of neutrophil elastase activity and useful as medicaments for the treatment of, inter alia, COPD. Exemplary is
US09657003B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present disclosure also relates to compositions and methods of treating comprising compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09657002B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted oxindole derivatives of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use for the treatment of vasopressin-related disorders.
US09657001B2
There is provided compounds of formula I, wherein E1, E2, E3, E4, L1, Y1, Y2, Y3, Ra and z have meanings provided in the description, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, which compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases in which inhibition of leukotriene C4 synthase is desired and/or required, and particularly in the treatment of respiratory diseases and inflammation.
US09656992B2
The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US09656988B2
Disclosed herein are reversible and irreversible inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are described, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US09656978B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds of Formula I capable of inhibiting tissue transglutaminase, and uses of the same in medicine. In particular, the invention provides compounds for use in the treatment of prevention of disease and conditions such as fibrosis (e.g. cystic fibrosis), scarring, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease), autoimmune diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis and coeliac disease), thrombosis, proliferative disorders (e.g. cancers), AIDS, psoriasis and inflammation (e.g. chronic inflammatory diseases).
US09656964B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of carboxamide derivatives of formula (I) R N O N N CF2H C H3F starting from 1-methyl-3-difluormethyl-.5-fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonyl halides in absence of an acid acceptor.
US09656944B2
A novel fatty acid ester having the general formula R1—COOR2 wherein R1 and R2 are hydrocarbon groups derived from a branched fatty acid and an alcohol, respectively. R1 is derived from a branched fatty acid which has been refined from a commercially available acid to give a product with a high concentration of monobranched fatty acids and a low concentration of polybranched fatty acids. The use of the ester derived from the refined fatty acid is found to be particularly useful in personal care compositions, for example as an emollient.
US09656943B2
The present disclosure relates to a recycling method for producing dimethyl carbonate. The process is unique in that it produces a by-product that can be re-used in the process as a raw material for repeating the process. For example, when the process is directed to synthesizing dimethyl carbonate, glycerol is used as a starting material. Glycerol is also a by-product produced during formation of dimethyl carbonate, and therefore it can be re-used as starting material to generate more dimethyl carbonate.
US09656937B2
The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
US09656936B1
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods related to the hydroformylation of cyclododecatriene to form cyclododecatriene trialdehyde, and the conversion of the trialdehyde to the polyphenols of Formula 1: where R, m p and Q are as defined herein. Curable compositions comprising compounds of Formula 1, including powder coating compositions, and methods of curing the compositions are also disclosed.
US09656935B2
A method for producing a polyol-ether compound, wherein a compound represented by the following formula (1) is subjected to hydrogenation reduction in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to obtain a polyol-ether compound having a skeleton represented by the following formula (2): wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same as or different from each other, each represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxymethyl group.
US09656912B2
The disclosure relates to a metal nanowire film. The metal nanowire film includes a substrate and a number of first metal nanowire bundles located on the substrate. The number of first metal nanowire bundles are parallel with and spaced from each other. Each of the number of first metal nanowire bundles includes a number of first metal nanowires parallel with each other. The first distance between adjacent two of the number of first metal nanowires is less than the second distance between adjacent two of the number of first metal nanowire bundles.
US09656910B2
Methods of forming a glass article are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a glass article includes translating a pulsed laser beam on a glass substrate sheet to form a laser damage region between a first surface and a second surface of the glass substrate sheet. The method further includes applying an etchant solution to the glass substrate sheet to remove a portion of the glass substrate sheet about the laser damage region. The method may further include strengthening the glass substrate sheet by an ion-exchange strengthening process, and coating the glass substrate sheet with an acid-resistant coating. Also disclosed are methods where the laser damage region has an initial geometry that changes to a desired geometry following the reforming of the glass substrate sheet such that the initial geometry of the laser damage region compensates for the bending of the glass substrate sheet.
US09656901B2
A method of manufacturing a glass roll, includes: a forming step (S1) of forming, while conveying a glass film, the glass film by a downdraw method; a temporary rolling step (S3) of rolling the glass film while superposing a protective film on the glass film at a downstream end of a path of the conveying in the forming step (S1), to thereby manufacture a source glass roll; and a main rolling step (S4) of unrolling, while conveying the glass film to a downstream side, the glass film from the source glass roll, and then rerolling the glass film while superposing a protective film on the glass film at a downstream end of a path of the conveying, to thereby manufacture a glass roll. Higher tension in a rolling direction is applied to the glass film in the main rolling step (S4) than in the temporary rolling step (S3).
US09656900B2
Provided herein are methods for preparing nano-macroporous glass articles, such as bioscaffolds, from starting materials such as phosphosilicate glasses made by melt-quench methods, mixed with a soluble pore former such as a sugar, followed by steps of dissolving, heating, and leaching to yield a glass composition having a highly interconnected system of both macropores and large scale nanoporosity.
US09656899B2
A process using a three-piece mold for making a three-dimensionally shaped glass article having a flat area and a curved/bend area is disclosed. The process includes placing a glass sheet on a mold having a shaping surface with a desired surface profile for the shaped glass article including a flat area and a bend area, moving a flat area plunger toward the glass sheet to compress the glass sheet, heating a portion of the glass sheet corresponding to an area above the bend area of the mold to a temperature above a forming temperature, and moving a bend area plunger toward the heated glass sheet to compress the heated glass sheet. A temperature of the glass sheet in the area above the bend area of the mold is higher than a temperature of the glass sheet in the area above the flat area of the mold when compressing the heated glass sheet with the bend area plunger.
US09656891B2
Disclosed is a process for the safe and efficient generation of chlorine dioxide while achieving a variable chlorine dioxide mass flow rate with a turn-down to turn-up ratio of at least 1 to 200. The process allows for a single chlorine dioxide generating system to safely provide variable mass flow rate of chlorine dioxide to applications that have wide ranging chlorine dioxide demand, like those experienced in oil and gas applications.
US09656888B2
New water treatment chemicals and corresponding water treatment or more generally aqueous systems treatment processes are provided, which greatly attenuate the NDMA problem, that is, decrease the formation of NDMA during the water or aqueous system treatment namely in the presence of a disinfectant, and decrease too the level of NDMA in the so treated water of aqueous system, and in the end products such as drinking water.
US09656883B2
The invention relates to a system for separating a product contained as solvent in a solution to be processed, comprising at least one forward osmosis device (816) through which the solution to be processed and a draw solution flow, and a device connected downstream thereof for obtaining the product (56, 62) from the diluted draw solution exiting the forward osmosis device, wherein the forward osmosis device comprises at least one flow channel conducting the solution to be processed and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution, the inner space of a respective flow channel conducting the solution to be processed is delimited at least partially by a semi-permeable membrane wall that is permeable to the solvent of the solution to be processed but not to the substance dissolved therein, and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution is delimited on opposite sides by membrane walls that are associated with two adjoining flow channels conducting the solution to be processed, such that solvent from the solution to be processed passes through the membrane walls into the adjoining flow channels conducting the draw solution.
US09656881B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for purifying and pumping liquids, and more particularly, for purifying and pumping water. The apparatus includes a chamber including a top portion and a bottom portion. A surface configured to be heated is proximate the bottom portion of the chamber. A baffle is disposed within the chamber and above the surface. The baffle is disposed at an angle relative to a vertical direction. The chamber further includes an inlet and a first outlet. The surface heats a liquid in the chamber, causing the liquid to boil. In operation, bubbles rise from the surface and are forced in a horizontal direction by the baffle disposed in the chamber.
US09656875B2
A method of making sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate is disclosed in which carbon dioxide gas is reacted with an aqueous solution sodium hydroxide solution in the presence of a compound of the formula (I): Na+[X—O]− where X is Cl, Br, or I.
US09656858B2
A method of reactive ion etching a substrate 46 to form at least a first and a second etched feature (42, 44) is disclosed. The first etched feature (42) has a greater aspect ratio (depth:width) than the second etched feature (44). In a first etching stage the substrate (46) is etched so as to etch only said first feature (42) to a predetermined depth. Thereafter in a second etching stage, the substrate (46) is etched so as to etch both said first and said second features (42, 44) to a respective depth. A mask (40) may be applied to define apertures corresponding in shape to the features (42, 44). The region of the substrate (46) in which the second etched feature (44) is to be produced is selectively masked with a second maskant (50) during the first etching stage, The second maskant (50) is then removed prior to the second etching stage.
US09656857B2
Some embodiments relate to multiple MEMS devices that are integrated together on a single substrate. A device substrate comprising first and second micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices is bonded to a capping structure. The capping structure comprises a first cavity arranged over the first MEMS device and a second cavity arranged over the second MEMS device. The first cavity is filled with a first gas at a first gas pressure. The second cavity is filled with a second gas at a second gas pressure, which is different from the first gas pressure. A recess is arranged within a lower surface of the capping structure. The recess abuts the second cavity. A vent is arranged within the capping structure. The vent extends from a top of the recess to the upper surface of the capping structure. A lid is arranged within the vent and configured to seal the second cavity.
US09656856B2
MEMS packages, modules, and methods of fabrication are described. In an embodiment, a MEMS package includes a MEMS die and an IC die mounted on a front side of a surface mount substrate, and a molding compound encapsulating the IC die and the MEMS die on the front side of the surface mount substrate. In an embodiment, a landing pad arrangement on a back side of the surface mount substrate forms and anchor plane area for bonding the surface mount substrate to a module substrate that is not directly beneath the MEMS die.
US09656855B1
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, a sensing structure disposed over the dielectric layer, a bonding structure disposed over the dielectric layer, a conductive layer covering the sensing structure, and a barrier layer disposed over the dielectric layer, the conductive layer and the bonding structure, wherein the conductive layer and the bonding structure are at least partially exposed from the barrier layer.
US09656848B2
A refrigerator capable of dispensing water adapted to an individual user's body temperature and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a selection unit for the user to select form body temperature water, cold water, and hot water. A temperature detecting unit is configured to detect a temperature of an external object through contact, for example a user's finger. The detected object temperature is interpreted as the user's body temperature. A controller is configured to receive a signal from the selection unit and a signal from the temperature detecting unit. Water stored in the refrigerator can be heated to the detected external object temperature before dispensing.
US09656847B2
Vacuum bottle stoppers for wine, particularly suited for partially consumed bottles of wine are disclosed. Systems are also disclosed for evacuating a partially consumed bottle of wine, filling the wine bottle head space with an inert or other gas and the storing the wine bottle while maintaining the inert or other gas in the bottle. The stopper has a vacuum valve and a vacuum indicator in a removable cap. The vacuum valve has a self-closing passageway due to the passageway traversing an elastomeric material. The vacuum indicator moves in response to vacuum and reveals a marking on a valve opener when a desired vacuum is achieved.
US09656841B2
Some illustrative embodiments of a fire tube implement for extraction and insertion of a fire tube may include an elongate shaft that is configured to extend outward and to be received within an opening in the fire tube. In some embodiments, the elongate shaft may carry at least one extender that is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position normal to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The at least one extender may be configured to engage an internal surface of the fire tube within the opening when the at least one extender is in the extended position. In some embodiments, a stabilizer may be laterally disposed from an exterior surface of the elongate shaft and securable to the fire tube. The elongate shaft may be operable by a powered machine.
US09656840B2
A work vehicle obtains determination information from information upon detecting inverting operation, the information upon detecting inverting operation indicating a traveling state of the work vehicle when an advancing direction detection device detects an inverting operation of an advancing direction switching device for inverting an advancing direction of the work vehicle while the work vehicle travels; decreases a first traveling instruction for allowing the work vehicle to travel in the advancing direction of the work vehicle upon the detection of the inverting operation, and increases a second traveling instruction for allowing the work vehicle to travel in the direction opposite to the advancing direction of the work vehicle upon the detection of the inverting operation, after detecting the inverting operation; and sets the first traveling instruction to 0 when speed information indicating a traveling state of the work vehicle becomes the determination information.
US09656837B2
An engine hoisting assembly for supporting an engine comprises a ground supporting frame, a substantially upright member having a longitudinal axis, a boom operably connected to the upright member, lifting means to selectively move the boom up or down along upright member's longitudinal axis and engine connecting means to operably connect the boom to the engine. The boom is maintained at a substantial horizontal orientation when lifting means selectively moves boom up or down.
US09656818B2
A paper feeding device of an image forming device includes a flotation air blowing unit and a separation air blowing unit. The flotation air blowing unit floats stacked uppermost paper through air blowing. The separation air blowing unit blows an end of other paper floated together with the floated uppermost paper to separate the other paper from the uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The flotation air blowing unit floats an end of the stacked uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The paper feeding device includes a resistance force applying mechanism which applies resistance force that gives a load against movement along the paper feeding direction to an end of stacked upper paper, the end being on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction.
US09656815B2
A system and method provides for controlling a pneumatic carrier system based on identification information read from a carrier or a payload of the carrier. Each carrier or payload which is to be employed within the system includes an identification device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which has stored thereon information for the carrier or payload. Positioned throughout the system are communications devices such as antennas and readers which are employed to read and/or write identification information on the identification device. Based on reading the identification device at locations within the system, the operation of the system is altered.
US09656811B2
Adjustment and tensioning of a drag slat chain system is necessary in order to best handle loads while keeping the drag moving and minimizing chances of the chain jumping the sprocket. An automated means of such adjustment is accomplished by providing a known force to tension the chain to a Known “slack” and then automatically setting a mechanical stop to maintain an “ideal” tension range.
US09656808B2
A tool (for gripping an object (e.g., a cylindrical object)) includes: an outer handle; a tubular neck having a proximal end connected to the outer handle; a linkage assembly having first and second ends connected to a distal end of the neck; an inner handle; a connecting rod having a proximal end connected to the inner handle and a distal end connected to a middle portion of the linkage assembly, partially disposed substantially coaxially within the neck thereby nesting the inner handle within the outer handle; and first and second claws attached to the linkage assembly, each claw having a compression surface (e.g., a concave cylindrical surface) configured to conform as a substantial complement to a portion of an outer surface of the to-be-gripped object (e.g., the to-be-gripped cylindrical object).
US09656805B1
A mobile base is provided that travels through areas for receiving items (e.g., from merchants, vendors, returns of items from users, etc.), wherein the items are transported to the mobile base by associated transportation units (e.g., automated aerial vehicles). The transportation units may be carried on the mobile base or may be stationed locally. Once an item is received by a transportation unit or at the mobile base, a credit or other payment may be issued to the supplier of the item, and the item may be recorded as available for sale in an inventory database. The mobile base may transport the received items to a materials handling facility, or the received items may be sold directly from the mobile base, for which transportation units may subsequently be utilized to transport the items to user specified delivery locations.
US09656802B2
A bin storage system includes a bin storage structure and robot vehicles for retrieving storage bins from the bin storage structure. The bin storage structure includes pillars that define storage columns for the storage bins, supporting rails, arranged on top of the pillars to provide a vehicle support for the plurality of robot vehicles allowing each robot vehicle to travel across the bin storage structure, a storage bin delivery station, and a bin lift device, arranged to receive storage bins from the plurality of robot vehicles and transport the storage bins from a top level of the bin storage structure to the delivery station. Each robot vehicle includes sets of rolling means for moving the robot vehicle along the supporting rails, a cavity for receiving a storage bin, and a lifting device for retrieving a storage bin from a storage column and storing the storage bin in the cavity.
US09656798B2
Capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, for instance roast and ground coffee, comprising a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, a perforate and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall arranged for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule, wherein the first, second and third wall enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product, wherein the extractable product in the inner space of the capsule has been, at least partly compacted. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a capsule, a system comprising such a capsule for preparing a beverage and a method for preparing of a beverage.
US09656794B2
An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and a door assembly. The manifold has a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum. The door assembly includes a door panel and a shield. The door panel is selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port. The shield defines a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel.
US09656790B2
A container for dispensing beverages is provided. The container includes at least six side walls coupled together along a plurality of parallel fold lines. The at least six side walls include two end panels and at least two side panels, and the at least six side walls define a substantially cylindrical shape of the container. A bottom wall is coupled to at least one of the two end panels, wherein a shape of the bottom wall corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the at least six side walls. The container further includes a spout cutout removably defined in a first end panel of the two end panels proximate to a fold line connecting the first end panel to the bottom wall.
US09656782B2
A container structure is provided for detachable coupling of containers. The detachable coupling structure of a first container includes a top portion with an upstanding perimeter having radial protrusions extending from a surface of the upstanding perimeter, and a container bottom portion having a complementary structure to engage the radial protrusions of the top portion of a second container for the purpose of detachably coupling two or more containers end to end. In one embodiment, two containers placed end to end with their respective structures aligned to be engaged are rotated in opposite directions to fully engage the protrusions of one container with the complementary structure of the other. A rim around the top portion of a container in a second embodiment has a larger diameter than the top portion. The rim may be pushed through a flexible opening into a recess in the bottom of another container.
US09656779B2
A collapsible box-like container or carton may be formed from a unitary foldable blank divided by fold lines into a bottom panel, a pair of side panels, a pair of end panels and corner sections. Each corner section may include triangular corner or pleat panels divided by a diagonal or oblique fold line. The triangular corner or pleat panels may be folded in intimate face-to-face contact on the outer surface of the adjacent end panels. Some of the triangular corner or pleat panels may be adhesively secured to the outer surface the adjacent end panel.
US09656778B2
A panel board can include a main body confined by an upper boundary, a lower boundary, a first side boundary, and a second side boundary. A plurality of folding lines can be disposed on the main body and can extend from the upper boundary to the lower boundary. The folding lines disposed on the main body can provide a plurality of panels. A base having multiple sides can extend from the lower boundary of the main body. One or more locking tabs can extend from one or more sides of the base and one or more locking tabs can extend from the lower boundary of the main body. One or more locking slots can be disposed through the panel board about the lower boundary of the main body.
US09656765B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a helicopter-mediated system and method for launching and retrieving an aircraft capable of long-distance efficient cruising flight from a small space without the use of a long runway.
US09656764B2
A skew detection system for a high lift system for an aircraft, wherein pairs of sensors 4a, 4b with onboard data processing capabilities provide an onboard determination of relative skew between the sensors of each pair as an indication of skew of a flap of the high lift system.
US09656763B2
An actuator for a ram air turbine system includes a piston rod that is cylindrical in shape and centered about a centerline, and stow lock pawls supported by the piston rod and able to move radially. Each of the stow lock pawls has a crown with a crown radius. The actuator further includes a lock bolt extending along the centerline radially within the piston rod and configured to be axially movable within the piston rod between a stowed position and a deployed position. The actuator further includes rollers radially outward from the centerline configured to be guided by the lock bolt and a cylinder having a mating surface with a mating radius. The cylinder is positioned radially outward from the piston rod and configured to be axially movable between the stowed position and the deployed position. A ratio of the crown radius of the stow lock pawls to the mating radius of the cylinder is less than 0.98.
US09656759B2
A collapsible securing system for securing medical oxygen cylinders for passenger seats including: (i) a base configured such as to be positioned on the passenger seat; (ii) an intermediate securing structure for oxygen cylinders connected to the base by three legs; (iii) a gripping structure, connected to the intermediate securing structure by at least one pivot in common with the intermediate securing structure, and (iv) a fitting system comprising the seatbelt and two straps secured from one end the gripping structure and from the other end thereof to the fitting of the seatbelt to the passenger seat.
US09656758B2
An emergency parachute is a device for allowing the user to eject from a perilous high-altitude structure and float to safety once clear of the structure. The emergency parachute features a vest that may be donned by the user. The user is required to face toward the structure that he or she is escaping. In order to activate the canopy of the emergency parachute, the user is required to engage a first activation handle and a second activation handle of a simultaneous activation dual switch. The simultaneous activation dual switch ensures that the canopy is not accidentally deployed. A chute-inflation gas generator inflates the canopy and simultaneously ejects the user backward. The ejection serves the twofold purpose of ensuring that the user is able to clear the structure that he or she is escaping as well as aiding the user in overcoming any fears of jumping from a high altitude.
US09656757B2
Systems and methods of deicing aircraft propellers include a deicing heater timing cycle, i.e. heater on/heater off schedule that is calculated as a function of ambient temperature and the airspeed of the aircraft.
US09656754B2
A ventilation system (10) for installation in an aircraft passenger cabin comprises an air supply pipe (12), which has a plurality of air outlet openings (14) disposed in a distributed manner along its longitudinal axis (L). An air chamber housing (16) is connectable to the air supply pipe (12) at various positions along the longitudinal axis (L) of the air supply pipe, such that air-conditioning air flowing through the air supply pipe (12) is supplyable, through an air outlet opening provided in the air supply pipe (12), into the air chamber housing (16). A connection device (34) is designed to connect the air chamber housing (16) to an air supply device (36) for supplying air-conditioning air into the aircraft passenger cabin.
US09656750B2
A vehicle cargo compartment, comprising a housing receivable in a vehicle, and at least one latch mounted to the housing for locking a cargo unit in a fixed position. The latch comprises a latch housing mounted to the housing, and at least a first latch claw moveably mounted to the latch housing moveable between a latched and an unlatched position. A latch sensor system comprises a position sensor and a target, the position sensor adapted to detect and generate a latch signal when the target is in the predetermined position. The vehicle cargo compartment can be monitored easily and reliably when the first latch claw is in the latched position due to the position sensor and the target being arranged and adapted such that the predetermined position of the target is detected and the latch signal is generated, when the first latch claw is in the latched position.
US09656736B2
In the case of an aircraft aft portion equipped with an engine mounting structure passing across the fuselage, assembly of the aft portion presents problems caused by the moving of the box structure of the mounting structure through lateral openings in the fuselage. In order to overcome these problems, a method of assembling an aircraft aft portion is proposed, in which method the box structure of the engine mounting structure is inserted into the fuselage through a top opening extending from one side of the fuselage to the other across a vertical midplane of the fuselage such that the top opening opens to the top and to the sides of the fuselage.
US09656732B1
A throwable rotateable rescue device with a retrieval cord and a set of peripheral handles that are retained within the rescue ring during storage and throwing of the rescue ring but are automatically extendable to a grasping position without interfering with the rescue device retrieval cord during the flight of the rescue ring thereby enabling a person in distress to easily and quickly grasp the handles and be pulled to safety through the retrieval cord.
US09656730B2
The present disclosure relates to a closed inclination change system (32) for a floating unit (10). The inclination change system comprises a plurality of inclination change assemblies (34, 36, 38, 40) and each one of the inclination change assemblies (34, 36, 38, 40) is adapted to be in fluid communication with each one of the other inclination change assemblies (34, 36, 38, 40).Each one of the inclination change assemblies (34, 36, 38, 40) comprises a tank assembly (44) comprising a first tank (46), the tank assembly (44) comprising a tank assembly top portion (48).Moreover, each one of the inclination change assemblies (34, 36, 38, 40) further comprises: a pump assembly (50) arranged to pump the fluid from the tank assembly (44), and an inlet conduit assembly (52) adapted to guide the fluid into the tank assembly (44) from another inclination change assembly (34, 36, 38, 40), the inlet conduit assembly (52) having a conduit top portion (54) that is located above the tank assembly top portion (48).
US09656726B2
Disclosed is a vessel with two watertight flaps attached in a tensioned state on the two sides of the longitudinal keel, each being under one of the two rear side portions of the V-shaped hull, the outer side edge of each flap being connected under the shell covering the bottom compartment on the same side, and the bottom side edge being connected to the bottom along a line which is angled from the rear to the front and angled toward the lower compartment, with a flap width tapering from the tensioned, free rear edge between the ends at the transom, toward a front portion connected to the bottom and/or to the shell at the connection between the upper and lower compartments, defining, with the latter and the bottom, a channel converging from front to rear and angled toward the rear end of the edge of the V-shaped craft hull.
US09656724B2
A snowmobile ski tip is configured to be removably fitted over a snowmobile ski and has a bottom surface for contacting the snow and a top surface configured to contact a bottom surface of the ski, a side wall, and a top wall extending from the side wall. The ski tip forms a pocket configured to accept a front end of the snowmobile ski such that the ski tip widens at least the front end of the ski when installed.
US09656718B2
A motorcycle having an adjusting mechanism that allows a user to change the setting of at least a part forming a vehicle body by performing adjusting operation on the adjusting mechanism includes: a storage unit configured to store at least a plurality of pieces of adjustment information related to degrees of adjusting operation on the adjusting mechanism; a receiving unit configured to receive a request based on an input operation of the user; a selecting unit configured to select adjustment information corresponding to the request received by the receiving unit from the plurality of pieces of adjustment information in the storage unit; and an indicating unit configured to indicate the adjustment information selected by the selecting unit to the user.
US09656716B2
The systems and methods described herein relate to cycling. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein relate to an integrated cycling tool. The cycling tool may be integrated into the bicycle components to reduce the external modifications to a bicycle. This may enable a cyclist to carry a tool with them without the worry of carrying the tool, or the tool falling off the bicycle. The cycling tool may comprise multiple components and may be used to fix various parts of a bicycle. The cycling tool may fit within the confines of the bicycle and provide minimal to no impact to the rider or the functionality and performance of the bicycle.
US09656708B2
A process for the manufacture of a washing system to clean process equipment and the resulted washing system is disclosed. The method involves the conversion and transformation of a small excavation tractor into a remotely operated hydroblasting system that removes the operator from the working environment and avoids the risks of harm and fatigue normally associated with existing cleaning processes.
US09656705B2
A track roller for a mobile machine is disclosed. The track roller may have a shaft defining a central axis, and a roller body connected to the shaft and configured to rotate around the central axis relative to the shaft. The track roller may also have a sealing member positioned between the shaft and the roller body, and a collar member secured to the shaft and at least partially covering the sealing member. A passageway having an opening may be defined between the collar member and the roller body. The track roller may further have a guard member secured to the shaft, the guard member having a main body and an upper rim extending from the main body towards the roller body. The guard member may also have a plurality of projections extending from the main body towards the roller body, and a plurality of openings formed between the upper rim and the projections.
US09656704B2
A robotic vehicle (10,100,150A,150B150C,160,1000,1000A,1000B,1000C) includes a chassis (20,106,152,162) having front and rear ends (20A,152A,20B,152B) and supported on right and left driven tracks (34,44,108,165). Right and left elongated flippers (50,60,102,154,164) are disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot. A linkage (70,156,166) connects a payload deck assembly (D1,D2,D3,80,158,168,806), configured to support a removable functional payload, to the chassis. The linkage has a first end (70A) rotatably connected to the chassis at a first pivot (71), and a second end (70B) rotatably connected to the deck at a second pivot (73). Both of the first and second pivots include independently controllable pivot drivers (72,74) operable to rotatably position their corresponding pivots (71,73) to control both fore-aft position and pitch orientation of the payload deck (D1,D2,D3,80,158,168,806) with respect to the chassis (20,106,152,162).
US09656703B2
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) equippable with a plurality of ground-engaging wheels or a plurality of ground-engaging track assemblies providing traction on the ground. The ATV is designed to facilitate its use whether it is equipped with the ground-engaging wheels or the ground-engaging track assemblies. A powertrain, a steering system, a suspension, a braking system, a body, and/or other components of the ATV have features which take into account that the ATV can be equipped with either the ground-engaging wheels or the ground-engaging track assemblies.
US09656701B2
A platform trailer neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure that includes: (i) a first beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the first beam; and, (ii) and a first beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the first beam. The neck reinforcement structure also includes a second beam reinforcement structure that includes: (i) a second beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the second beam; and, (ii) and a second beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the second beam. Internal cross members extend between and interconnect the first beam inner insert and the second beam inner insert. A first group of external cross members are located between the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and a second group of external cross members are located between the second beam outer insert and the right side rail. Each external cross member comprises an inner segment connected to an outer segment, said inner and outer segments of each external cross member of the first group connected respectively to the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and the inner and outer segments of each external cross member of the second group connected respectively to the second beam outer insert and the right side rail.
US09656695B2
A vehicle rear portion structure includes: a rear side member front-rear direction; a shock absorbing member that is placed at the rear side of the rear side member; and a lower bracket that has a reinforcement portion that is joined to a rear end portion of the rear side member, a load receiving portion that extends downward from a rear end portion of the reinforcement portion and to which the shock absorbing member is joined, and a load transmitting bead portion that is disposed spanning the distance between the load receiving portion and a lower wall portion of the reinforcement portion, with a length L to which the load transmitting bead portion projects in the vehicle front-rear direction becoming longer heading from the load receiving portion to the reinforcement portion.
US09656693B2
A structure for fastening a stiffening bar includes a floor panel covering a bottom side of a vehicle body. A sub-frame is mounted on the floor panel and extends in a width direction of the vehicle body. A pair of center side members are mounted to the sub-frame and extend longitudinally at both sides of the bottom side of the vehicle body. A pair of rear side members extend longitudinally below the pair of center side members. The stiffening bar is mounted to the pair of rear side members so that a bottom side of the stiffening bar is higher than bottom sides of the pair of rear side members.
US09656672B2
A derailleur-based electronic transmission system for an electric bicycle comprises a wheel; a driven sprocket set coupled to the wheel via at least a first one-way clutch, the driven sprocket set comprising two or more concentric sprockets of different effective diameters; a drive chain configured to engage the driven sprocket set; an electronically controllable derailleur configured to move the drive chain among the two or more sprockets; a pedal crank configured to cause rotation of the driven sprocket set by providing a user pedal force to the driven sprocket set through at least a second one-way clutch and the drive chain; a motor configured to cause rotation of the driven sprocket set by providing an electromechanical force to the driven sprocket set through at least a the drive chain; and an electronic controller configured to, responsive to a determination that a shift should occur at a time when neither the pedal crank nor the motor is causing rotation of the driven sprocket: operate the motor to rotate the driven sprocket at a rotational speed less than or equal to a current rotational speed of the wheel; and operate the derailleur to cause the shift to occur while the driven sprocket is being rotated by the motor.
US09656669B2
A control apparatus for a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission, having an acceleration requirement determining portion determining operator required acceleration, a first restricted accelerator operation amount setting portion setting an accelerating member restricted operation amount that increases with a running speed increase, when the determining portion has determined required vehicle acceleration, and a shift control portion controlling the transmission speed ratio on the restricted amount basis, the control apparatus having: a second restricted accelerator operation amount setting portion decreasing the restricted amount from a value immediately prior to an accelerating member rapid releasing action determination moment, at a rate lower than an accelerating member operation actual amount decrease rate after the rapid releasing action determination moment, and an upper limit stop processing portion to limit the restricted amount after a determination moment that the operator requires vehicle acceleration, the restricted amount is not larger than the actual operation amount.
US09656654B2
A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include a first input device, a torque transmitting device, a second input device, an output device, and a final reduction device. The first input device may receive either or both of torques of an engine and a first motor/generator. The torque transmitting device may be disposed at a rear or downstream of the first input device and selectively receive torque from the first input device. The second input device may be disposed at a rear or downstream of the torque transmitting device, convert torque of a second motor/generator, and output the converted torque. The output device may receive torque from the torque transmitting device and/or the second input device and output the torque. The final reduction device may output the torque transmitted from the output device as driving torque.
US09656652B2
A method for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle is provided, in which a driving area of a motor is decided when shifting gears during regenerative braking, and an amount of regenerative braking is determined based on the decided result. The method includes a first process of deciding whether motor torque is in a constant power mode, a second process of deciding whether the motor torque is in a constant torque mode, and a third process of deciding whether the mode of the motor torque is converted into the constant torque mode from the constant power mode.
US09656635B2
The invention relates to a screen wiper (1) for a motor vehicle screen (6) comprising a support frame (2) of principal longitudinal orientation, having lower means exhibiting a wiper blade (4), the said support frame (2) being intended to be caused to move between two end positions along a predetermined trajectory in a wiping cycle of the screen (6), and a device (7, 8) for spraying cleaning liquid comprising at least one first set of spraying orifices aligned in the said principal longitudinal orientation for at least one part of a first side of the wiper in such a way as to permit the spraying of washing liquid in front of the wiper in relation to the wiping movement.According to the invention, the spraying orifices are distributed over the said first side with a non-constant spacing, the distance separating two successive orifices being selected in such a way that the portion of the surface of the screen that is effectively sprayed by a spraying orifice in the course of a wiping cycle is substantially equal to the same target value for all the spraying orifices of the first set.
US09656629B2
An access system for a vehicle may include a controller. The controller may be configured to respond to receiving an unlock signal indicative of an unlock request by causing a compartment closure to unlock for a predetermined time. Or the controller may be configured to respond to receiving an unlock signal indicative of an unlock request and a vehicle operation signal indicative of a vehicle secure state by causing a compartment closure to unlock for a predetermined time. Upon expiration of the predetermined time, the controller may cause the compartment closure to lock. The controller may be configured to respond to receiving an unlatch signal indicative of an unlatch request during the predetermined time by causing the compartment closure to unlatch.
US09656623B2
A crash box of a vehicle includes a back-beam laterally mounted to a front side of the vehicle. A first panel is longitudinally mounted to a rear side of the back-beam and combined with the back-beam. A second panel is longitudinally mounted to the rear side of the back-beam, is combined with the back-beam, and faces the first panel.
US09656612B2
An apparatus for fastening a pressure vessel of a vehicle is arranged to fix the pressure vessel to a vehicle body, where the pressure vessel includes a cylindrical body, dome-shaped curved portions at both ends of the cylindrical body, and bosses at distal ends of the curved portions. The apparatus is arranged to receive the pressure vessel, and further includes: elastic bodies disposed along circumferences of the curved portions of the pressure vessel to support surfaces of the curved portions and to be disposed on a virtual flat cross section vertically crossing the curved portions along the circumferences of the curved portions to support the curved portions of the pressure vessel in all directions; and a fixed structure having one side connected to the elastic bodies and the other side connected to the vehicle body.
US09656611B1
A transportable ski rack is configured to be both mounted directly on a vehicle or indirectly on a bicycle rack mounted on a vehicle and also be manually transported. The ski rack has forward and rear frame members, ski retaining brackets extending between and interconnecting the frame members, and wheels connected to both frame members. Dual handles are connected to the forward frame member, the handles being rotatable from a first position in which the handles extend outward for maintaining the ski rack in spaced relation to a vehicle when the ski rack is mounted on the vehicle and at least one of the handles extend outward for manually transporting the ski rack, to a second position in which both handles are rotatable towards the forward frame member for storage of the ski rack. A removeable storage box is located between the frame members.
US09656609B2
A vehicle step apparatus including an extending and retracting device having a mounting bracket, a step bracket, and an arm assembly. A gear box has a cavity into which at least a portion of a motor shaft of a motor is inserted. A worm wheel is rotatably disposed in the cavity and has a worm wheel body meshing with the motor shaft. An output shaft is mounted to the worm wheel body. A sun gear is fitted over the output shaft. A planet carrier is rotatably disposed in the cavity and connected with the arm assembly. A planet gear is rotatably mounted to the planet carrier and meshes with the sun gear. An adjusting member is mounted in the gear box, and is movable in an axial direction of the motor shaft and abuts against a free end of the motor shaft.
US09656606B1
Methods and systems for displaying a user interface that warns a driver that a vehicle is located within or is near a geographical area (and/or intersection) associated with a higher than average risk of animal-vehicle and/or vehicle-vehicle collisions are provided. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may access a database that identifies a plurality of high risk areas, including areas associated with prior vehicle accidents. The electronic device may display a virtual road map, as well as an icon indicating the vehicle's current location and a plurality of visual indications of high-risk areas. When the electronic device detects that the current location of the vehicle is within and/or approaching a high-risk area, the electronic device may then warn the driver about the higher than average risk of experiencing a vehicle collision.
US09656605B1
A vehicle includes a power detector for detecting a power state of the vehicle, a transmission detector for detecting a transmission mode of the vehicle, a door detector for detecting a door state of the vehicle, and a processor for generating an inadvertent ignition warning by comparing the power state, the transmission mode and the door state with an inadvertent ignition reference, for generating an inadvertent ignition level according to the accumulation of the generated inadvertent ignition warning, and for providing an inadvertent ignition warning message corresponding to the generated inadvertent ignition level.
US09656595B2
A light control system is provided. In the system, an processor sets a maximum light quantity of a lighting device according to the curvature radius of the road the own vehicle travels. The processor then controls the light quantity of the lighting device so as to be equal to or less than the maximum light quantity. According to the system, a maximum light quantity of the lighting device is set according to a curvature radius. Accordingly, a light quantity is appropriately set so as not to dazzle the driver of another vehicle.
US09656593B2
An autopilot for a flight vehicle is described herein. Various configurations of the autopilot may be used in a gyro-less guidance and control system, which can be designed based on translational acceleration measurements only. In other configurations, the one or more components of the autopilot may be used as a backup to primary components of a guidance and control system. The autopilot may use state estimates to determine effector commands to control a flight vehicle.
US09656590B2
A structure such as a toy hauler recreational vehicle includes a bed lift that moves a bed vertically between a lowered position, a raised position, and an upright position. The bed is oriented horizontally and positioned to receive one or more persons to sleep on it in the lowered position. The bed is oriented horizontally and stowed adjacent to a ceiling of the vehicle in the raised position. At least a portion of the bed is oriented vertically and stowed adjacent to a wall of the structure when the bed is in the upright position. The bed lift can include a mounting member that: (a) moves between a first position where the bed is oriented horizontally and a second position where the bed is oriented vertically and/or (b) is vertically offset to allow the bed to be lowered below or adjacent to the bottom of the bed lift.
US09656584B2
An assist handle apparatus for a vehicle having a mounting plate positioned at a handgrip may include a damping mechanism having a hinge pin connected to the handgrip; hinge ends positioned at first and second sides of the mounting plate, wherein a damper seat is formed in a space defined between the hinge ends; a damper that is inserted in the damper seat with the hinge pin passing through the damper and the hinge ends, the damper having first and second damping ends protruding at a first side and a second side of an outer circumference of the damper respectively; and a stopper that is formed on an inner side of a hinge portion of the handgrip, wherein the stopper damps rotation shock in both rotation directions of the handgrip when the stopper selectively contacts with the first damping end or the second damping end according to rotation of the handgrip.
US09656581B2
A compact body support apparatus is provided for use with an armrest of a vehicle such as an airplane, train, or bus. The compact body support apparatus comprises a base, a support post, a housing, and a headrest cushion. The support post presents a lower end secured to the base and an upper end. The housing is secured to the upper end of the support post. The headrest cushion is secured to the housing for supporting a head of a user. The compact body support apparatus is configured to be selectively placed into a collapsed position and a deployed position, such that the support post and at least a portion of the base are disposed within the housing when the compact body support apparatus is in the collapsed position and the support post extends in a generally downward direction when the compact body support apparatus is in the deployed position.
US09656578B2
A vehicle seat including: a tilt down mechanism configured to sink down a seat cushion in conjunction with forward tilting down movement of a seat back, wherein the tilt down mechanism couples a rear part of the seat cushion to a base on a floor by a rotary shaft, couples a front part of the seat cushion to the base via a front link, and further includes a power transmission member that couples the front link and the seat back, and wherein the power transmission member is configured by a link member of a rigid body and is configured to, when the seat back is raised from a forward tilted down position, transmit the movement of the seat back to the front link to raise the front link to thus pull up the seat cushion from a downward sunk position.
US09656575B2
A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heater network including a heating element (11) and a capacitive sensing circuit connected to the heating element to sense a capacitive load. A first and a second interface are provided for connecting the heating element to a first and a second terminal of a power source, respectively. Each interface comprises electronically controlled switches (3, 5; 4, 6) arranged in series and defining an intermediate node (20; 21). An oscillator (8) is AC-coupled to the intermediate nodes to apply an oscillating voltage thereto. A current measuring means (9), AC-coupled between the oscillator and the heating element, keeps the AC-potential of the heating element at least substantially equal, in amplitude and phase, to the oscillating voltage on the intermediate nodes and to derive the capacitive load from a thus resulting current flowing into the heating element.
US09656572B2
A method for starting a motor vehicle with a fuel cell system for providing electrical drive power in the vehicle is disclosed. A starting procedure can be started by a remote control unit independently of the presence of the user in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. The starting procedure only takes place by the remote control unit if a start signal from the remote control unit exists, and if simultaneously a sensed temperature in the vehicle, the fuel cell system and/or the surroundings of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold value.
US09656570B2
A vehicle includes a battery configured to operate at a current, during a drive cycle, in a nominal current range for a time greater than in a maximum current range. A controller is programmed to output a voltage based on the current according to a gain calibrated to be greater in the nominal current range than in the maximum current range to increase resolution in the nominal current range. The gain may be based on an exponential function or piecewise linear function of the current. The gain may increase as a magnitude of the current increases. A second controller receives the voltage and derives a battery current according to an inverse of the gain.
US09656566B2
According to one embodiment, a charge management apparatus includes an input unit, a first estimation unit, a determination unit, a generation unit, and an output unit. The input unit accepts an input of traffic demand data indicative of a number of vehicles. The first estimation unit estimates charge wait times at plural charge stations based on the traffic demand data. The determination unit compares the estimated charge wait times at the respective charge stations, and determines whether a desired condition is satisfied. The generation unit generates charge recommendation information indicative of a charge station according to a determination result. The output unit outputs the charge recommendation information to an external terminal.
US09656561B2
A door assembly for a charging port of an electric vehicle includes a housing accommodating the charging port and a door connected to one side of the housing. A link bracket is mounted inside the door, and a link portion connects the housing with the link bracket. A crushing portion removes foreign materials being introduced in a slot formed at the link bracket.
US09656552B2
Systems, apparatus and methods for cancelling a noise voltage at a vehicle are presented. An noise cancellation system (NCS) can be configured to null an earth-to-body voltage at the vehicle to prevent its interference with a receiver system. An (NCS) can include a noise sensor (NSSR) configured to sense a noise voltage, and a noise-nulling device (NNDV) configured to provide an anti-noise output. An anti-noise injector (ANI) can be configured to drive the anti-noise output at an anti-noise injection site In an example embodiment, an anti-noise output can be provided directly to the receiver system by cable. Alternatively, an anti-noise signal can be inductively or capacitively coupled to a vehicle structure or component that is not part of the receiver system. A noise cancellation system can be arranged in a feedback or feed-forward arrangement. Radio frequency noise and non-radio frequency noise can be cancelled.
US09656544B2
A flap arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a moveably mounted flap that is in particular a preloaded tank flap, a holder for fixing the flap, an actuator for actuating the holder, and a switch for selectively operating the actuator. The actuator is equipped in order to actuate the holder for fixing and for releasing the flap.
US09656543B2
A tank for safely storing a fuel in a high-pressure gaseous state, and a method for manufacturing the tank are provided. The fuel gas storage tank includes a composite material that forms a tank shell and a liner disposed under the composite material. In addition, the liner has a structure in which a metal coil is integrally formed within the liner.
US09656535B2
The invention relates to a method for operating an air conditioner (1) for treating the air of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The air conditioner (1) exhibits a refrigerant circuit (2) configured for a combined cooling unit and heat-pump mode and for a post-heating mode. In the heat-pump mode with a first and a second heat source, two heat sources differing from each other can be used. A temperature of the first heat source, a temperature of the second heat source, and a regulation characteristic number and a maximum pressure are taken into account in the refrigerant circuit (2) for operating the air conditioner (1) in a heat-pump mode. The invention additionally relates to a method for switching between the two heat-pump modes.
US09656534B2
An active pressure relief system for a vehicle cabin in response to a cabin-door closure. An air-extractor may be configured to open when a cabin-door is opened, and remain open until the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed. The air-extractor allows for the increased pressure resulting from the cabin-door closure to be equalized with the external environment through the air-extractor. After the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed, the air-extractor closes to inhibit noise and external elements from entering the cabin through the air-extractor.
US09656521B2
A run-flat tire includes a carcass including at least one carcass ply, a belt layer, a pair of side reinforcing rubber layers, a pair of bead apex rubber components. A height of the one bead apex rubber component is greater than a height of the other bead apex rubber component. An inner end height of the one side reinforcing rubber layer is greater than an inner end height of the other side reinforcing rubber layer. In a radial region of the tire where at least the bead apex rubber components and the side reinforcing rubber layers are provided, the tire has a same thickness in the respective sides of the bead portions.
US09656517B2
A wheel bearing includes a constant velocity universal joint and a wheel bearing. The wheel bearing is separably coupled to the constant velocity universal joint with a screw fastening structure, in which a stem section of an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint is fitted to an inner diameter portion of the hub wheel. Projecting portions extending in an axial direction are formed on the stem section of the outer joint member, and depressed portions having an interference with respect to the projecting portions are formed on the hub wheel. The stem section of the outer joint member is press-fitted to the hub wheel, and a shape of the projecting portions is transferred to the other, to thereby provide a projection and depression fitting structure in which the projecting portions and the depressed portions are in close contact at an entire fitting contact portion therebetween.
US09656513B2
A paint palette system for holding and dispersing paint wherein a painter can pour paint into a low profile receptacle for later removal with a paintbrush or like tool is provided. A disposable and removable paint retaining fabric retains the paint in a drip-less and mess free fashion. The paint can be transported and stored in an improved manner allowing for a faster and more efficient painting effort.
US09656495B2
A tape cassette is provided with a cassette case, a tape, a tape discharge portion, a first indicator portion, a first indicator member and a first attachment portion. The cassette case includes a bottom case and a top case. The tape is a print medium. The tape discharge portion discharges the tape from the cassette case. The first indicator portion includes at least one indicator hole and indicates a type of the tape. The first indicator member is provided with the first indicator portion. The first attachment portion is provided on an upstream side of the tape discharge portion and to which the first indicator member is attached.
US09656492B2
A flatbed printer and a method for printing with a flatbed printer are disclosed. The flatbed printer includes a flatbed surface for placing media to be printed upon, a controller configured to control the printing of digital images on the media, a camera-projector system connected to the controller and situated above the flatbed surface, and a print head for ejecting recording material on the media. The method includes detecting an arbitrary position, an arbitrary shape, an arbitrary size and/or an arbitrary thickness of a media on the flatbed surface with a camera of the camera-projector system, projecting a digital image on the media with a projector of the camera-projector system, and printing the digital image on the media according to the projection by moving the print head over the flatbed surface.
US09656491B1
Gas bearing systems, print gap control systems, and methods of print gap control are provided. The gas bearing systems can accommodate one or more print module packages. The systems and methods can be used for inkjet and/or thermal printing applications such as manufacturing organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). Gas bearing systems can employ one or more of pressurized gas and vacuum. For oxygen-sensitive applications, an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas, can be employed as the pressurized gas. Fluid channels and apertures of the gas bearing systems can be varied in terms of size and relative position to one another. Fluid channels and apertures can be grouped and paired with one or more manifolds and ultimately a pressurized gas and/or vacuum source.
US09656488B2
A tape cassette includes a housing. The housing includes a top wall having a top surface and a bottom wall having a bottom surface. The bottom surface has a first surface portion being a flat surface portion and a second surface portion being a flat surface portion. The second surface portion extends generally parallel to the first surface portion and is located between the top surface and the first surface portion in a first direction. The first direction is orthogonal to the top surface or the first surface portion. A first indicator portion is provided on the second surface portion. The first indicator portion has a first protrusion protruding from the second surface portion. The first protrusion has a protruding end being located between the second surface portion and the first surface portion in the first direction.
US09656487B2
A print media holder device has first and second grip members. Permanent magnets are attached to the first and second grip members. An electromagnet is disposed between the first and second grip members, where when the electromagnet is selectively energized the permanent magnets attached to the first and second grip members are repelled in a manner that increases the outer dimension of the print media holder device to grip a media core.
US09656481B2
Systems and methods for imprinting different types of articles of manufacture and for selectively enabling one or more of pre-treatment, processing, and/or post-treatment processes according to the type of article of manufacture to be processed.
US09656477B2
An ink composition for ultraviolet curable ink jets including monomer A represented by a general formula (I): CH2=CR1-COOR2O—CH═CH—R3 (I) (in the formula, ‘R1’ represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group, ‘R2’ represents a divalent organic residue having a carbon number of 2 to 20, and ‘R3’ represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic residue having a carbon number of 1 to 11), and a photopolymerization initiator containing an acylphosphine oxide-based photopolymerization initiator and a thioxanthone-based photopolymerization initiator, in which the total content of the acylphosphine oxide-based photopolymerization initiator and the thioxanthone-based photopolymerization initiator is 8% by mass to 16% by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink composition.
US09656475B2
Methods and systems are provided for color printing onto nonwhite substrates and articles. For example, a method of color printing is provided, including printing multiple layers of ink each including a combination of a white ink and at least one color ink, and each printed layer having a ratio of white ink to color ink, wherein the ratio may be the same or may vary as a function of the number of layers and the color printed.
US09656473B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inkjet ink degassing method that can sufficiently remove bubbles contained in active ray curable inkjet ink and improve dispensing stability and curability. The inkjet ink degassing method according to the present invention comprises a step of using hollow fibers to degas active ray curable inkjet ink that has been heated to between 60° C. and 120° C. and contains a colorant, a photopolymerizable compound, and a photoinitiator.
US09656468B2
By appropriately defining a flow path capacity from an opening of an ink supply path to a nozzle in a pressure chamber, a progress of thickening ink toward the pressure chamber is suppressed. In other words, by setting the individual flow path capacity to be large, specifically, to 4400 pl or higher, desirably 6210 pl or higher, it is possible to suppress the progress of the thickening of the ink even in a small-sized liquid ejecting head of which the shortest formation pitch between each of the nozzles is 1/300 inches. More specifically, a nozzle communication opening is provided between the pressure chamber and the nozzle, and a total capacity of the nozzle communication opening and the pressure chamber is configured to be 4400 pl or higher, desirably 6210 pl or higher.
US09656467B2
Piezoelectric actuator, liquid discharging apparatus and method for producing piezoelectric actuator
There is provided a piezoelectric actuator including: a plurality of piezoelectric elements forming first and second piezoelectric element rows, and including first, second electrodes and piezoelectric portion; an electrode conductive portion; a contact section; a plurality of drive wires; and conductive wires. A part of the drive wires corresponding to the piezoelectric elements of the second piezoelectric element row are extended toward the contact section while passing between two adjacent piezoelectric elements of the first piezoelectric element row which are adjacent in the first direction. The conductive wires are arranged between two adjacent piezoelectric elements of the second piezoelectric element row, each of the conductive wires is conducted, at two locations thereof apart in the second direction, with the electrode conductive portion.
US09656463B1
Embodiments described herein provide determining an ink drop size. One embodiment comprises a system that includes a printhead fluidly coupled to an ink input supply, and a controller to direct the printhead to eject drops of ink of an ink drop type. The system further includes an ink output estimator to estimate an ink output amount ejected from the printhead based on an estimated quantity of the ejected drops of ink of the ink drop type and an estimated size of the drop type, and an ink measurement device to measure an ink input amount provided by the ink input supply to the printhead. The system also includes a correction module to adjust the estimated size of the drop type based on the ink output amount and the ink input amount for a printing operation.
US09656461B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a modulation circuit that generates a modulated signal obtained by performing pulse modulation on a source signal; a transistor that amplifies the modulated signal to generate an amplified modulated signal; a lowpass filer that smoothes the amplified modulated signal to generate a driving signal; a piezoelectric element that is displaced when the driving signal is applied; and a circuit substrate on which the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the lowpass filter are mounted. The transistor includes a die, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a conductive die pad, a first lead which is electrically connected to the second electrode by a bonding wire, and a second lead which is electrically connected to the third electrode by a bonding wire. The die pad, the first lead, and the second lead are electrically connected to different wiring patterns of the circuit substrate.
US09656460B2
The disclosure provides an ink jet printing apparatus. The ink jet printing apparatus includes a support base configured to support the to-be-processed substrate; and a solvent adjusting mechanism, configured to supply a dummy region of the to-be-processed substrate on the support base with a first solvent that is same as a solvent in an ink and adjust a solvent atmosphere of the dummy region of the to-be-processed substrate on the support base, to make the solvent atmosphere of the dummy region of the to-be-processed substrate and that of a center region of the to-be-processed substrate reach a predetermined condition. The solvent adjusting mechanism is arranged on the support base.
US09656449B2
A consolidation device has a dispensing assembly configured to dispense a composite precursor material onto a surface of a mould, and a first nozzle assembly configured to direct a fluid stream onto the free surface of the dispensed composite precursor material. The use of a fluid flow to consolidate the dispensed composite precursor material onto the surface of the mould makes the device simpler, more cost effective and causes less damage to the surface of the composite article.
US09656438B2
A multi-layered film in the form of a hose-shaped outer film for an insert hose of a pipe rehabilitation system includes silver-colored pigments in at least two layers of the film, or a metallization applied on both outer layers of the film, or silver-colored pigments in at least one layer of the film and a metallization is applied on an outer layer of the film. At least one UV absorber is inserted in at least one or several layers of the film of the film. The entire film is permeable to UV light and visible light in a wavelength range from 200 to 800 nm at a rate of less than 0.1%, and is opaque. The UV radiation and visible radiation are reflected in a wavelength range from 200 to 800 nm.
US09656437B2
A novel tubular or profile shapes of co-extruded multilayer polymers. These materials contain tens to thousands of layers of milli-, micro- to nano- polymer layers. These new shapes contain contiguous layers of milli- to nano- polymer layers in three dimensions and these contiguous layers may be twisted or turned to further expand the potential microlayer geometries.
US09656435B2
A tire vulcanizer system in which multiple tire vulcanizers, provided with a frame and a vulcanizing mechanism that is supported by the frame and is for vulcanizing green tires, are connected, wherein the tire vulcanizers are provided with respective alignment sections, which are provided on the respective frames and are for aligning the level positions of adjacent frames relative to each other.
US09656423B2
The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process, whereby a build platform for application of build material is provided and a support frame is arranged around the build platform, to which said support frame at least one device for dosing the particulate material and one device for bonding the particulate material is attached via the guiding elements and the support frame is moveable in a Z direction, which essentially means perpendicular to the base surface of the build platform. In so doing, the device provides a material feeding device having a particle material container to supply particulate material in batches from the storage area to the dosing apparatus and to do so with the least possible amount of shearing forces and without significant interaction with the atmosphere.
US09656415B2
The invention relates to a device (01) having at least two tool parts (03, 53, 63) that are separable at a parting face, wherein the closed tool parts (03, 53, 63) form a mold cavity (02, 52), within which (02, 52) particulate plastic material can be foamed and/or expanded to produce foamed molded parts. According to the invention, in particular to reduce the energy consumption, the tool wall forming the mold cavity (02, 52) is formed at least in sections by a multilayer structure (06, 56, 65) having a thin inner layer that is mechanically supported by a support element.
US09656414B2
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices that comprise a 3-D microfluidic network of microchannels of arbitrary complexity and to a method for fabricating such devices. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming microfluidic devices having 3-D microfluidic networks that contain open or closed loop microchannels using a single-step molding process without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication, and to the resultant microfluidic devices. The networks of such microfluidic devices may comprise one or more microchannel circuits which may be discrete or interconnected.
US09656396B2
On an inner peripheral surface of an outer peripheral member 10, a recess 11 is formed to which a pipe spring 30 is fitted. On an outer peripheral surface of an inner peripheral member 20 arranged concentrically with and rotatable relatively to the outer peripheral member 10 on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral member 10, a cam surface 21 is formed which abuts against the pipe spring 30. The cam surface 21 protrudes in the radial direction as it is farther away in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral member 10 from the point of contact with the pipe spring 30 in the state where no load is applied.
US09656381B2
An adapter for a dielectric hot stick, the hot stick having a hook, the hook being movable along an axis of travel that includes a retracted position where the hook is within an axial passage in the hot stick, and an extended position where the hook is extended past a work end of the hot stick, the adapter comprising: a frame with a hot stick seat shaped to be mounted on the work end of the hot stick, the frame defining a lever passage positioned to at least partially align with the axial passage in use; and a lever assembly pivotally connected to the frame, the lever assembly having a first end with a connector for the hook and being at least partially within the lever passage, and the lever assembly having a second end defining or connected to a tool part to move the tool part relative to the frame to carry out a function when the hook moves along the axis of travel.
US09656375B2
A simplified installation tool for installing a cover strip in a linear guide rail assembly is provided. The installation tool includes a body having a channel that extends across a bottom surface of the body that is adapted to receive a guide rail. The channel is defined by an upper surface with a lead-in angled projection and sides defined by two L-shaped guide portions that extend from the upper surface and that face each other. Two undercut areas of the channel are located between the L-shaped guide portions and the upper surface of the channel. Retention tabs of the installation tool can attach to the carriage of the linear guide rail assembly. The lead-in angled projection provides a downward force on the cover strip as the carriage travels along the guide rail to press the cover strip into a flattened state within a slot of the guide rail.
US09656373B2
A hand tool is provided that is configured to provide ready access to individual tool members. In this regard, the hand tool may provide improved features for facilitating storage and operation of the tool members. One example hand tool includes first and second jaws capable of translating between an extended position and a retracted position.
US09656368B2
A device for gripping a substrate without contact with which the substrate can be more securely transported. In the device, a housing cap has an air inlet in the upper surface and a lower opening, the lower opening communicating with the air inlet such that air introduced through the air inlet exits through the lower opening. A contour of the lower opening in its vertical cross section is convexly rounded such that the introduced air is guided along a horizontal undersurface of the housing cap. A nozzle is disposed in an inner hollow space of the housing cap, and has an inclined surface such that the width of the nozzle gradually decreases in the direction from the undersurface of the nozzle to the upper surface of the nozzle adjacent to the air inlet. The undersurface of the nozzle is at a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the housing cap. An ultrasonic shaker applies ultrasonic vibration to the housing cap.
US09656367B2
An assembly includes a carrier device having proximal and distal ends. The carrier device includes a workpiece platform along the proximal end. The workpiece platform supports one or more slider bars. The carrier device attaches to a lapping machine. An adaptive component, including at least one spring, has a first portion that couples to the carrier device and a second portion that couples to a grinding-slicing machine.
US09656365B1
The axial rotation of a honing tool head and the radial advance of the co-rotating honing stones are accomplished simultaneously by a magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling connects an inner and drive axle that are driven independently. When the inner axial is driven at a differential speed than the drive axle, a connected pinion gear mechanism is engaged to transfer torque and radially displace the honing stones in response to the speed difference.
US09656364B2
A hand sander and sanding disc fixture for attaching a sanding disc to a hand sander includes a table having a top with a sander storage station and an application station thereon. The storage station has a holder capable of holding a hand sander having a sander pad on the top of the table. The application station has at least two datum pegs extending from the top of the table that are capable of passing through two corresponding datum holes in the sanding disc. The at least two datum pegs having datum surfaces configured to be received in datum notches in an outer diameter of the sander pad. The datum pegs are capable of aligning the sander pad with the sanding disc when the sander pad is pressed against an attaching side of the sanding disc.
US09656363B2
A vertical machining center includes a base; a tilting rotary table, a tool spindle, a tilting shaft, a recessed area, a slide door, and an inner cover. The tilting rotary table is disposed on the base and configured to turn and tilt a table face of a rotary table. The tool spindle is rotatable about a vertical axis line and movable in an X axis direction, a Y axis direction, and a Z axis direction. The tilting shaft is disposed in the tilting rotary table and oriented in the Y axis direction. The recessed area is disposed on a front surface of the vertical machining center. The recessed area is adjacent to a support supporting the tilting shaft. The slide door is configured to cover the front surface. The inner cover is integral with the slide door. The inner cover is configured to cover the recessed area.
US09656344B2
A method of forming an object includes installing multiple foil drums within a processing chamber of an ultrasonic consolidation system. The multiple foil drums each include different materials than the other foil drums. The multiple foil drums are positioned so that one of the foils is selected to be placed on top of the build platform. The selected foil is welded onto the build platform or onto a previously processed layer. A portion of the welded foil is then cut. The multiple foil drums are retracted away from the build platform. The portion of the welded foil that was just cut is then consolidated to the object. The build platform is incrementally lowered before the process is repeated to form the next layer of the object.
US09656341B2
A low-back-pressure penetrating arc welding apparatus and a welding method using the same are disclosed. Through vacuuming a central vacuum chamber of a low-back-pressure protection device by a suction device, a plume of a penetrating arc located in the central vacuum chamber, as well as a back side of a keyhole molten pool, are maintained in a negative-pressure vacuum state relative to an argon gas ambience. A pressure gradient in the keyhole molten pool is thus generated that points from a front side of the keyhole molten pool to the back side of the keyhole molten pool. The pressure gradient thus further enhances a stiffness of the front side of the keyhole molten pool as well as a stability of the penetrating arc, resulting in an enhancement in the piercing capability of the penetrating arc, without changing a force distribution and a temperature gradient of the keyhole molten pool.
US09656339B2
A machining pass generating apparatus for a wire electric discharge machine, which is configured to generate a machining pass for machining a key groove on a side surface of a round hole, includes a processor. The processor is configured to define a shape of the key groove to be machined, designate a diameter of the round hole, designate a position of the round hole, and generate a machining pass, the pass suppresses an opening of the key groove from being narrowed.
US09656336B2
An electric power saw/cutter includes a rotatable saw structure, a rear handle with a switch/speed control, a front handle and a drive unit for rotating the saw structure. The drive unit itself including a saw structure drive arrangement to which the saw structure is attachable, a transmission for driving the saw drive arrangement, an electric motor for driving an input shaft of the transmission, and a support structure for holding/carrying the saw structure drive arrangement, the transmission and the electric motor. The front handle and the rear handle are directly connected to each other to form a handle unit, which unit is resiliently connected to the drive unit, so that vibrations from the saw blade and drive unit will be reduced in the handle unit.
US09656335B2
A broach tool includes a broach tool rake face with a tailored surface topography.
US09656329B2
A machining jig for rotatably supporting a workpiece comprising: a rotary drive part which rotates a seating part about a rotation axis, a clamp arm which has a rotary type clamp member which cooperates with the seating part to fasten a workpiece at a position separated from the seating part in a direction along the rotation axis of the seating part, a linear drive part which moves the clamp arm in a direction along a rotation axis, a position adjusting part which adjusts a position of the clamp arm in a plane intersecting the rotation axis, and a tilt adjusting part which adjusts a tilt of the clamp member so that a rotation axis of the clamp member becomes parallel with the rotation axis of the seating part.
US09656312B2
The invention concerns a 4-high/6-high/18 HS cassette-type roll stand in which bending force is transmitted to bending journals (6) of roll inserts (7) by piston-cylinder units that are connected with Mae West blocks (3).Here, the piston at the piston rod (1) is fixedly connected with the Mae West block (3) and the cylinders (4) fit around the bending journals (6) at the inserts (7) of the rolls, so that thereby bending force can be transmitted directly to the bending journals (6) of the roll inserts (7).
US09656310B2
A fluid dispensing apparatus may be used to dispense a paint fluid from a paint container that is under pressure and that has a pierceable membrane. The fluid dispensing apparatus may include a valve body having a bore, an adaptor having a bore and a piercing member, and a nozzle having a bore. The fluid dispensing apparatus may be operable to pierce the pierceable membrane to communicate the paint within the paint container with the adaptor bore and with the valve body bore. The nozzle may be operable to permit the paint to flow under the pressure out of the paint container, through the adaptor bore, through the valve body bore and through the nozzle bore to ambient.
US09656301B2
A sorting system having a plurality of sorting assemblies where each sorting assembly has an image device that transmits an image of product to a controller that then actuates a robotic sorting device to remove damaged product through a suction tube based upon the transmitted image.
US09656294B2
Embodiments described herein are related to methods for processing substrates such as silicon substrates. In some cases, the method may provide the ability to passivate a silicon surface at relatively low temperatures and/or in the absence of a solvent. Methods described herein may be useful in the fabrication of a wide range of devices, including electronic devices such as photovoltaic devices, solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes, sensors, and the like.
US09656285B2
A roll member having an outer circumferential surface in which a plurality of grooves are formed, wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged at an angle relative to a direction parallel to a central axis of the roll member. A coating device for coating a film member with a coating liquid, the coating device comprising the roll member. A separator production device for producing a separator in which a heat-resistant layer is laminated over a substrate. The separator production device comprising the coating device. A secondary battery production device for producing a secondary battery comprising a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a pair of separators that sandwich the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate therebetween. The secondary battery production device comprising the separator production device.
US09656284B2
The present invention relates to a coating system for coating an elongated wood, plastic and/or metal workplace with a coating agent. Said system comprises a pre-treatment station, a coating station and/or a drying station. A transport means transports the workplace along the coating systems.
US09656283B2
A sprinkler protector including a housing which engages with a sprinkler or sprinkler pipe and a plurality of circumferentially disposed fingers forming a cage-like shroud over the sprinkler head. The protector shields the sprinkler from impact with foreign material but does not prevent the efficient spraying of water from the sprinkler for the purposes of irrigation.
US09656279B2
A top spraying shower head with reset function comprises a shower head main body having: a waterway switch valve, an inlet passage, a first outlet hole, and a second outlet hole concentrically arranged in the direction of the inlet passage. The inlet passage with the first outlet hole or the second outlet hole form a first outlet passage and a second outlet passage respectively. The waterway switch valve comprises: a valve body having a slidable valve body that moves between a first position and a second position to close the first outlet passage or the second outlet passage; a sealing element which can open the first and second outlet passage; an elastic element abutting between one end of the valve spindle and the inner wall of the valve body; and a W-shaped camshaft rotatably assembled in the valve body.
US09656276B1
A de-sanding tank with a vertical exterior wall and an interior conical bottom with a solids outlet located at a lower tip of the conical bottom. Downwardly and tangentially oriented water jet nozzles within the tank cause a swirling action to remove solids. An enclosing space located between the vertical wall and the conical bottom has a honey-combed structure of closed pore foam as reinforcement for the conical bottom. Compartments within the honey-combed structure fill with water as the vessel is placed in service to add support for the conical bottom. Water enters the compartments via downwardly facing bottom openings that fill a common void located at the bottom of the enclosing space and then into the compartments. Weep holes provided between the top of each compartment and the interior of the tank allow the air from the compartments to enter the tank as the compartments fill.
US09656273B2
A flotation separation apparatus for separating particles in suspensions, feeds slurry containing the particles through an inlet into a contactor where gas is fed through an inlet to mix with the slurry, for example in a downwardly plunging jet, to form a gas-liquid bubbly two-phase mixture under pressure from an outlet restriction in a throttling duct. The mixture is passed through a flow manipulator configured to induce a high energy dissipation rate, for example by way of a Shockwave formed in a diverging section of the throttling duct reducing the size of the bubbles and brining those bubbles into intimate contact with particles in the mixture which is released into a separation cell where a flow manipulating draft tube is provided to reduce turbulence in the mixture. Alternative apparatus and methods for inducing the high energy dissipation rate and for reducing turbulence in the mixture are also described and claimed.
US09656261B2
Aspects of the disclosure provide a microfluidic chip to facilitate DNA analysis. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, a dilution domain coupled to the first domain to dilute a PCR mixture received from the first domain, and a second domain that is coupled to the dilution domain so as to receive the amplified DNA fragments. The second domain includes a separation channel that is configured to perform electrophoretic separation of the amplified DNA fragments. In addition, the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to act on the microfluidic chip to perform an integrated single chip DNA analysis.
US09656256B2
The present invention relates to an n-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) type palladium catalyst and its preparation method as well as applications. Its preparation process is as below: select glyoxal as the raw material to synthesize glyoxaldiimine in the presence of Lewis acid or Bronsted acid, and then react with paraformaldehyde to get the NHC type ligand. Use palladium(II) to react with the compound containing carbon-nitrogen double bonds to get palladium(II) cyclic dimer; make the palladium cyclic dimer and the NHC type ligand coordinated to get the NHC type palladium catalyst. The palladium catalyst with a brand new structure according to the present invention, boasts high activity and multi-purpose. In addition, it shows excellent reaction activity in a lot of catalytic-coupling reactions including Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck, Buchwald-Hartwig, Kumada-Tamao-Corriu, Sonogashira, Negishi and α-ketone arylation reactions, and some reactions even can be carried out with the presence of an extremely low concentration of catalyst, exhibiting favorable industrialization prospect.
US09656251B2
The present invention relates to a full-Si molecular sieve, wherein the full-Si molecular sieve has a Q4/Q3 of (10-90):1 wherein Q4 is the peak strength at the chemical shift of −112±2 ppm in the 29Si NMR spectrum of the full-Si molecular sieve, expressed as the peak height relative to the base line; and Q3 is the peak strength at the chemical shift of −103±2 ppm in the 29Si NMR spectrum of the full-Si molecular sieve, expressed as the peak height relative to the base line.
US09656244B2
The invention relates to the use of a novel silica-supported trimetallic (La/Zr/Zn) catalyst in the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol. The presence of lanthanum in the catalyst further comprising zirconium and zinc increases the catalyst's yield and selectivity to 1,3-butadiene.
US09656242B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a super absorbent polymer. The method for preparing a super absorbent polymer according to the present invention comprises the steps of: preparing a hydrogel polymer by carrying out a thermal polymerization or a photopolymerization of a monomer composition including a water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomer and a polymerization initiator; drying the hydrogel polymer; pulverizing the dried polymer; mixing the pulverized polymer with a surface crosslinking agent and a polymer particle having a core-shell structure; and carrying out a surface crosslinking reaction. According to the present invention, the super absorbent polymer having improved permeability can be obtained by adding the polymer particle during surface crosslinking.
US09656225B2
A method and system for magnetic actuated mixing which use magnetic particles and electromagnetic field to facilitate the mixing. The method and system use magnetic particles and a generated electromagnetic field to facilitate the milling as well. The method and system can be used in any application that requires the preparation of small-sized particles at either the micro or nano scale, including for example, preparing toners, inks, wax, pigment dispersions and the like.
US09656224B2
A dynamic mixer for a plurality of fluid components contains a housing and a rotor element which is rotatably arranged in the housing, with the housing having an inlet opening for at least one respective component and having at least one outlet opening. A ring-shaped intermediate space is provided between the rotor element and the housing in which a mixing element connected to the rotor element is arranged. The mixing element has a vane element which is formed as a directing element for conveying the components from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The vane element is a directing element and has a directing surface which has a concave curvature with respect to the outlet opening and is further remote from the outlet opening at the onflow side than at the outflow side.
US09656222B2
Apparatuses and methods that reduce cavitation in interaction chambers are described herein. In an embodiment, an interaction chamber for a fluid processor or fluid homogenizer includes an inlet chamber having an inlet hole and a bottom end, an outlet chamber having an outlet hole and a top end, a microchannel placing the inlet hole in fluid communication with the outlet hole, wherein an entrance to the microchannel from the inlet chamber is offset a distance from the bottom end, and at least one of: (i) a tapered fillet located on a side wall of the microchannel at the microchannel entrance; (ii) a side wall of the microchannel converging inwardly from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; (iii) a top wall and/or bottom wall of the microchannel angled from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; and (iv) a top fillet that extends around a diameter of inlet chamber.
US09656219B2
A refrigerator includes a carbonated water tank in which carbonated water is stored; a water level sensor sensing a water level of carbonated water stored in the carbonated water tank; a water tank supplying filtered water to the carbonated water tank; a carbon dioxide cylinder supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank; and a controller, if the water level of carbonated water sensed by the water level sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum water level, supplying the filtered water to the carbonated water tank, and if supply of the filtered water is completed, supplying the carbon dioxide to the carbonated water tank so as to produce the carbonated water. If the carbonated water is discharged, the controller controls the water level sensor to sense the water lever of the carbonated water stored in the carbonated water tank.
US09656214B2
Technologies are generally described for composite membranes which may include a porous graphene layer in contact with a porous support substrate. In various examples, a surface of the porous support substrate may include at least one of: a thermo-formed polymer characterized by a glass transition temperature, a woven fibrous membrane, and/or a nonwoven fibrous membrane. Examples of the composite membranes permit the use of highly porous woven or nonwoven fibrous support membranes instead of intermediate porous membrane supports. In several examples, the composite membranes may include porous graphene layers directly laminated onto the fibrous membranes via the thermo-formed polymers. The described composite membranes may be useful for separations, for example, of gases, liquids and solutions.
US09656206B2
A combined desulfuration, denitration, and demercuration apparatus and method using a semi-dry process in a circulating fluidized bed. The apparatus comprises a flue (2) and a circulating fluidized bed reaction column (8) connected in sequence, the flue (2) being connected to a bottom inlet of the circulating fluidized bed reaction column (8). The flue (2) is further connected to an ozone generation apparatus (1). The ozone distributor (1) feeds ozone in the flue (2) and sends oxidized flue gas into the circulating fluidized bed reaction column (8), so that the SO2, high-valence NOx, and Hg2+ contained in the flue gas are removed through reactions with a Ca-based absorbent under the effect of atomized water in the reaction column (8).
US09656204B2
A method for obtaining highly pure hydrogen from a raw gas begins with heating and/or treating a semipermeable material made of metal or a metal alloy, preferably, conducting an electric current through the semipermeable material at the beginning of the method in order to increase the quantity of hydrogen passing through the material. A device for obtaining highly pure hydrogen from the raw gas includes a semipermeable material which forms a boundary between the interior of a pressure vessel and the outer region of the pressure vessel and which is permeable to hydrogen. The device is designed such that is can be heatable or treatable at least in sections, in particular, by means of electric energy.
US09656198B2
An oil separator is provided with a housing having an inlet for air, and an expansion chamber located inside the housing. The oil separator introduces air containing oil that has passed through the inlet into the housing, and separates and recovers the oil from the introduced air. The transverse cross-sectional area of the expansion chamber is larger than the opening area of the inlet. The oil separator is further provided with a collected liquid storage portion that is located below the expansion chamber and collects the separated oil, a liquid communication portion having a communication hole that connects the expansion chamber to the collected liquid storage portion, and a mounting and dismounting mechanism for mounting and dismounting the collected liquid storage portion to and from the housing.
US09656195B2
A coalescence media for separation of water-hydrocarbon emulsions, the coalescence media comprising an emulsion-contacting sheet formed as a single dry layer from a wet-laid process using a homogenously distributed, wet-laid furnish of (a) a mixture of fibrous components of (a1) at least one type of a first group of cellulose and/or cellulose-based fibers, and (a2) at least one type of a second group of fibers selected from the group consisting of fibrillated fibers and glass microfibers, and (b) at least one non-fibrous component selected from the group consisting of (b1) a dry strength additive, and (b2) a wet strength additive. The fibrous components of the coalescence media constitute at least about 70% of the coalescence media, and includes a pore structure sufficient to coalesce water droplets having a droplet size of <3.5 μm in biodiesel blends or in surfactant stabilized water-hydrocarbon emulsions.
US09656178B2
An exemplary posted information sharing system includes: a game processing unit configured to execute a multiplayer game application through a plurality of users each using a terminal; a group formation unit configured to form a playgroup for playing the game application, wherein the game processing unit includes: a group formation request unit configured to output, to the group formation unit, a playgroup formation request that specifies a group, according to input of the terminals, wherein the group formation unit is configured to form the users of terminals that specify the same group into a playgroup, based on the specified group.
US09656175B1
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players pricing of in-game virtual items associated with their experience and their progress in the game. For example, the first player and the second player may have similar triggers, similar in-game events, and actually have different prices and currencies inside each story depending on each player's progress in the game, thus creating an individualized experience that may alter from player to player.
US09656173B2
Example systems and methods involve an information processing apparatus configured to transmit transmission data to one or more of a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the transmission data including identification information for content data executed by the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus is also configured to receive reception data from one or more of the plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the reception data from each respective other information processing apparatus including identification information for content data executed by the respective other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus accesses purchase information associated with purchasing content data corresponding to at least one piece of identification information included in the reception data received from the one or more of the plurality of other information processing apparatuses.
US09656166B1
Methods and systems for receiving a request for content associated with a game, receiving at least one of a device identifier and at least one of game data, associating the device identifier with the game data to create a document, and retrieving the document to generate relevant content items for display on the web page.
US09656164B2
A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game is provided. A plurality of players addresses a common task in the video game. Task related information that indicates a task that a player can challenge in the video game is stored in a task related information memory. When a task providing request is received from the player, the video game processing apparatus specifies a task corresponding to the task providing request, and generates other player related information. The other player related information indicates other player corresponding to the specified task. A task screen showing the specified task is then displayed. At least part of the generated other player related information is also displayed on the task screen.
US09656160B2
Video server systems and methods for providing video streams to a plurality of remote clients are described. In one implementation, the video streams are based on game states received from a remote game server. The game states are dependent on game commands received by the video server system from the remote clients and forwarded to the remote game server. The video server system is configured to appear, from the point of view of the game server, as more than one client. For example, the video server system may receive game states from the remote game server at more than one different Internet Protocol address and each of these Internet Protocol addresses may be associated with a different game session.
US09656159B1
One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing players of an online game the option of performing one or more activities external to the online game instead of spend virtual currency to accomplish a specific action in the game. This option is presented through an interface that creates and displays separate “offer walls” for separation actions in the game. The activities may thematically correspond to the type of action the player wants to perform.
US09656156B2
A multi-game ticket assembly includes a single continuous substrate having a middle section and opposite end sections folded inwardly against the middle section. A portion of the front surface of each end section is adhered to the front surface of the middle section. Each of the end sections has a game area defined by lines of weakness in the substrate, with each game area further including a first game printed on the rear surface thereof and a second separate game printed on the front surface thereof. The first games of the end sections are adjacent and accessible to a player from a front aspect of the ticket assembly, and the second game of each end section is accessible to the player by separating the game area from its respective end section and folding the game area outwardly away from the middle section.
US09656151B2
The present invention is a skin cleat device for increasing grip while ski touring. The skin cleat is configured to be attached around a ski by a skier without disengaging the ski boot from the skis and can be removed and re-attached depending on the needs of the user. The skin cleat is a strap-like device that includes two end sections and a studded central section there-between. The central section is intended to be placed underneath the base of the ski and skin such that the studs extend into the snow. The two end sections can be attached together by a coupling to form a continuous structure around the waist of the ski. Using the coupling, the structure can be tightened around the ski securing it in place and preventing the skin cleat from rotating around the ski or the studs from moving substantially when in use.
US09656150B2
A glove comprises tip-covering portions, joint-covering portions, and surface-covering portions. Each of the tip-covering portions is made of a first material and configured to cover each palm or back side of tip portions of fingers. Each of the joint-covering portions is made of a second material, connected to corresponding one of the tip-covering portions, and configured to cover one of palm or back side of joint portions of the fingers. Each of the surface-covering portions is made of a third material, connected to at least one of the tip-covering portions and the joint-covering portions, and configured to cover surface portions other than hand portions covered by the tip-covering portions or the joint-covering portions. The second material is more flexible than the first or third material, so that the glove has one size and multi-size feature.
US09656143B2
A basketball shot determination system for use with a basket and a portable electronic device including a data acquisition device, a processing unit, a memory and an output device, the system includes a basketball, at least one sensor carried by the basketball, and a non-transient computer-readable medium. The medium contains code to direct the processor to obtain at least one attribute of a shot of the basketball towards the basket from the data acquisition device. The at least one attribute is sensed by the sensor or derived from signal output by the sensor. The medium contains code to direct the processor to determine whether the shot is a made basket by comparing the at least one attribute of the shot to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of a made basket, and to present output to a person based on the determination of whether the shot is a made basket.
US09656142B2
A basketball shot determination system for use with a basket and a portable electronic device including a processing unit, a memory and an output device, the system includes a basketball, at least one sensor carried by the basketball, and a non-transient computer-readable medium. The medium contains code to direct the processor to obtain at least one attribute of a shot of the basketball towards the basket. The at least one attribute being sensed by the at least one sensor or derived from signal output by the at least one sensor. The code also directs the processor to determine whether the shot is a made basket by comparing the at least one attribute of the shot to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of a made basket, and to present output to a person based on the determination of whether the shot is a made basket.
US09656125B2
A golf ball 2 has, on a surface thereof, a plurality of types of dimples 8 having different diameters from each other. A standard deviation Vσ of the volumes of all the dimples 8 is equal to or less than 0.095 mm3. The ratio (Vσ/Dσ) of the standard deviation Vσ to a standard deviation Dσ of the diameters of all the dimples 8 is equal to or less than 0.35. Preferably, the shape of each dimple 8 is a portion of a spherical surface. The standard deviation Vσ is preferably equal to or less than 0.087 mm3. The ratio (Vσ/Dσ) is preferably equal to or less than 0.29.
US09656124B2
Exercise equipment having the control system capable to switch the equipment in its existing highest resistance mode in order to impede and thus discourage the usage of this equipment by an unauthorized user. Exercise equipment capable to detect unauthorized use and activating an alarm in order to discourage the usage of this equipment by an unauthorized user.
US09656123B2
A computing system is described that determines one or more of modes of transportation available to a user of a computing device to travel from a current location of the computing device to a particular destination such that the user is predicted to arrive at the particular destination by a particular future time. The computing system determines, based at least in part on a fitness goal associated with the user of the computing device, a recommended mode of transportation from the one or more modes of transportation, the recommended mode of transportation being a particular mode of transportation predicted to aid the user in achieving the fitness goal. The computing system outputs, for transmission to the computing device, an indication of the recommended mode of transportation.
US09656114B1
A jaw-strengthening device has a first receiver that receives a first row of teeth having first and second molar sections, a first air chamber within the first receiver positioned in a first molar section of the first receiver, a second air chamber within the first receiver positioned in a second molar section of the first receiver, and an egress valve, that permits egress and prevents ingress of air, in communication with the first and second air chambers, a second receiver that receives a second row of teeth having first and second molar sections, a third air chamber within the second receiver positioned in a first molar section of the second receiver, a fourth air chamber within the second receiver positioned in a second molar section of the second receiver, and an ingress valve in communication with the third and fourth air chambers.
US09656111B1
Climbing wall configuration systems and methods suitable for use with both traditional protection and a primary substructure of a climbing wall.
US09656110B2
A soft edged trampoline includes a flexible mat supported from a base frame by a plurality of resiliently flexible rods. Each rod has an enlarged upper end. A plurality of fittings coupled to the mat about the periphery of the mat each include a socket cavity which receives the enlarged upper end of a flexible rod, so that the upper ends of the flexible rods are pivotally connected to the periphery of the mat.
US09656109B1
A process for preparing humic-mineral agent granules is disclosed. Such a process may comprise providing a humic acid-containing material; crushing the humic acid-containing material to obtain first granules; contacting a quantity of water with the first granules, thereby forming slightly wet granules; blending the slightly wet granules for a period of time, thereby forming blended granules; contacting an amount of alkali with the blended granules, thereby forming alkali-treated granules; and mixing the alkali-treated granules at a temperature high enough to melt organic carbon substances in the alkali-treated granules. The resulting product has biologically, geologically, and chemically active properties, and may be applied to the soil alone or in combination with a commercially available fertilizer. Additionally, the resulting product may be used to detoxify solid or liquid waste products.
US09656107B2
A trigger unit (1) for triggering an extinguishing-agent flow in the direction of a fire zone, connected to an energy supply, having a first actuating device (3) that can be switched between a release position in which the energy supply is released, and an interruption position in which the energy supply is interrupted, a second actuating device (5) that can be switched between a release position in which the extinguishing-agent flow is released, and a rest position, a coupling unit (7) that can be moved between an operating position and an extinguishing position and permanently couples together the switching of the first actuating device (3) and the second actuating device (5). A tensioning element is connected in a force-transmitting manner to the coupling unit (7) in such a manner that a change in the tensioning state of the tensioning element always results in a movement of the coupling unit (7).
US09656099B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for radiotherapy. Embodiments of the present disclosure may receive a medical image including images of a target and an organ at risk (OAR). Some embodiments may also receive a target dose and a constraint on an OAR dose. Some embodiments may also generate a dose application plan based on the target dose and the constraint. Generation of the dose application plan may include determining a placement of an arc along which radiation is to be applied based on the target dose and a location of the target; dividing the arc into a plurality of segments; determining a dose rate associated with each segment; calculating a predicted OAR dose based on the determined dose rate; and comparing the predicted OAR dose with the constraint on the OAR dose to determine whether the predicted OAR dose satisfies the constraint on the OAR dose.
US09656096B2
Apparatus and methods for delivering electromagnetic signals configured specifically to accelerate the asymmetrical kinetics of the binding of intracellular ions to their respective intracellular buffers, to enhance the biochemical signaling pathways plant animal and human molecules, cells, tissues, organs, portions of entire organisms and entire organisms employ for growth, repair and maintenance. Described herein are devices and methods that utilize repetitive bursts of waveforms configured to maximize the bound concentration of intracellular ions at their associated molecular buffers to enhance the biochemical signaling pathways living systems employ for growth, repair and maintenance. For example the systems and methods described herein may drive the binding of calcium to calmodulin (CaM), thereby enhancing the CaM-dependent nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway.
US09656091B2
Power saving communication techniques for communicating in a medical device system. One example medical device system may be for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a heart of a patient, and may include a first implantable medical device implanted in a first chamber of the heart and configured to determine one or more parameters, a medical device physically spaced from and communicatively coupled to the first implantable medical device, the medical device configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the heart of the patient, wherein the first implantable medical device is further configured to: compare a value of a first determined parameter to a first threshold; if the value of the first determined parameter passed the first threshold, communicate a first indication to the medical device; and if the value of the first determined parameter has not passed the first threshold, not communicating the first indication to the medical device.
US09656085B2
An example of a system may include an arrangement of electrodes configured to be operationally positioned for use in modulating targeted neural tissue, a neural modulator, a communication module, and a controller. The neural modulator may be configured to use at least some electrodes within the arrangement of electrodes to generate a modulation field. The communication module may be configured to receive user-provided selections. The controller may be configured to use the communication module to receive a user-provided selection of a desired electrode list where the electrode list identifies electrodes within the arrangement of electrodes that are available for use in modulating the targeted neural tissue, control the neural stimulation modulator to generate the modulation field, and use the electrodes identified in the electrode list to modulate the targeted neural tissue.
US09656077B2
The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a combination of burst and tonic stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder.
US09656075B2
A method for assessment, optimization and logging of the effects of a therapy for a medical condition, including (a) receiving into a signal processor input signals indicative of the subject's brain activity; (b) characterizing the spatio-temporal behavior of the brain activity using the signals; (c) delivering a therapy to a target tissue of the subject; (d) characterizing the spatio-temporal effect of the therapy on the brain activity; (e) in response to the characterizing, optimizing at least one parameter of the therapy if the brain activity has not been satisfactorily modified and/or has been adversely modified by the therapy; (f) characterizing the spatio-temporal effect of the at least one optimized parameter; and (g) logging to memory the at least one optimized parameter. A computer readable program storage unit encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method.
US09656074B2
Devices, systems and methods for treating at least one of a condition or a symptom of a patient by positioning a stimulation device at a target site adjacent to or near a nerve within a patient. The stimulation device comprising an antenna and one or more electrodes. Transmitting electrical energy to the antenna and generating electrical impulses within the stimulation device with the electrical energy and applying the series of electrical impulses to the nerve via the electrode. The electrical impulses sufficient to modulate the nerve and treat the condition or symptom of the patient; and which have on periods where the electrical impulses are generated and applied to the nerve and off periods between the electrical impulses, where the electrical energy is transmitted to the antenna.
US09656073B2
An external electronic ear device includes a housing, an external magnet, a microphone, a processing circuit and a wireless signal transmitter circuit. The external magnet is disposed in the housing and attracts a receiver magnet disposed under a scalp of a user. The microphone is disposed in the housing and receives an external sound and generates a sound signal corresponding to the external sound. The processing circuit is disposed in the housing and converts the sound signal into an electrode driving signal. The wireless signal transmitter circuit is disposed in the housing and transmits the electrode driving signal to a cochlear implant device in the cochlear system. The cochlear implant device converts the electrode driving signal into a plurality of electrode currents, and a plurality of electrical pulses are generated in a cochlear nerve of the user through a plurality of electrodes according to the electrode currents.
US09656057B2
In some examples, the present disclosure relates to an implantable medical lead and medical device systems employing such leads for medical applications, such as, e.g., neural stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and/or sensing of bioelectrical signals. In one example, the lead includes a thin film configured to be secured to at least a portion of a carrier core, wherein the thin film has a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one electrode between the proximal end and the distal end; and at least one fixation element configured to secure the distal end of the thin film to the carrier core, wherein the fixation element comprises at least one of a distal extension portion of the thin film at least partially wrapped around the carrier core distal to the at least one electrode or a jacket tube located around the carrier core and the thin film.
US09656055B2
This disclosure relates to an in vivo treatment of a skin lesion of a mammal comprising application of electrical energy to the skin lesion in a form of electrical pulses. At least one electrical pulse is applied. The pulse duration may be at least 0.01 nanoseconds at the full-width-at-half-maximum. This treatment may at least prevent growth of the lesion.
US09656052B2
An acoustic line tracing system for tracing a fluid transfer system tubing line includes an acoustic receiver operably connectable to the tubing line and configured to receive the vibratory signal. The acoustic receiver includes a vibration sensor disposed to contact the tubing line and configured for detecting vibration of the surface of the tubing line caused by the vibratory signal, and an indicator producing at least one of an audio and a visual cue when the vibration sensor detects the vibratory signal.
US09656047B1
An anchor device to simplify catheterization procedures, particularly for insertion and maneuvering of large catheters in tortuous arteries, vessels, or other lumen is disclosed. In some embodiments, the anchor device includes an anchor stent formed from a plurality of zig-zag shaped wire elements that are coupled together. The device further includes a plurality of connector struts attached at a proximal end of the anchor stent, the connector struts coalescing to form a strut tip. A guide device, such as a guidewire, is attached to the anchor stent at the strut tip and may be used to guide the anchor stent into the arteries or other vessels and toward a target treatment site.
