US09663828B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of C. hyointestinalis and polynucleotides encoding it, and novel methods for detection of C. hyointestinalis using the cdt genes. The present inventors focused on the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter bacteria, and detected the cdt genes of a Campylobacter-like bacterium isolated from an enteritis patient in Thailand. The present inventors discovered a bacterial strain whose cdtB gene was amplified by common primers in C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, but not by multiplex PCR that can specifically detect the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes of the three bacterial species. The bacterial strain was identified as C. hyointestinalis by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Furthermore, the entire nucleotide sequence of the cdt genes was determined by genome walking upstream and downstream of the cdtB gene.
US09663826B2
The present invention relates to a system and method of genomic profiling and is particularly useful in genomic differentiation of heterogeneous and polyclonal neoplastic cell populations, preferably of flow sorted formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples. The present invention includes methods of improving resolution for identifying aberration in variable carcinoma genomes and/or heterogeneous cell populations. The present invention also includes kits configured to improve genomic resolution and the ability to identify genomic aberration in variable and/or heterogeneous cell populations.
US09663822B2
Methods of capturing two or more nucleic acids simultaneously from a single sample are provided. Different nucleic acids are captured through cooperative hybridization events on different subsets of particles or at different selected positions on a spatially addressable solid support. Methods of capturing one or more long nucleic acids and methods of capturing one or more nucleic acid for sequencing are also provided. Compositions, kits, and systems related to the methods are also described.
US09663815B2
An imaging method comprising expressing in cells a Class I heme peroxidase, which optionally is fused with a protein of interest or a cellular localization signal peptide, and contacting the cells with a substrate of the Class I heme peroxidase to allow conversion of the substrate into a product via an oxidation reaction catalyzed by the Class I heme peroxidase, wherein the product releases a signal detectable by a microscope such as an electron microscope. Also disclosed herein are monomeric mutants of a Class I heme peroxidase and mutants of the enzyme that exhibit elevated enzymatic activity as compared to the corresponding wild-type counterpart.
US09663813B2
A method for filtering a sample comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample with eukaryotic cells and containing or suspected to contain a micro-organism; (b) performing a selective lysis of the eukaryotic cells to obtain a lysed sample; (c) filtering the lysed sample obtained in step (b) through a filter arranged to retain the micro-organism; and (d) washing the filter with a detergent based wash buffer to selectively solubilize proteins originating from the eukaryotic cells retained by the filter, by passing the detergent based wash buffer through the filter, to remove protein clogs from the filter in order to allow an additional step (c) of filtering said lysed sample.
US09663811B2
An object of the present invention is to provide: a novel gene (polynucleotide) encoding an FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase having excellent properties that it has excellent reactivity to glucose, excellent thermal stability, and excellent substrate-recognition performance and also has a low activity for maltose; a process for the production of the enzyme using a transformant cell transfected with the gene; and a method for the determination of glucose, a reagent composition for use in the determination of glucose, a biosensor for use in the determination of glucose and others, each characterized by using the enzyme obtained. The invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding an FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase, comprising a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence: X1-X2-X3-X4-X5-X6 (wherein X1 and X2 independently represent an aliphatic amino acid residue; X3 and X6 independently represent a branched amino acid residue; and X4 and X5 independently represent a heterocyclic amino acid residue or an aromatic amino acid residue); and others.
US09663808B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising: a polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity and an organic compound. The present invention also relates to methods of using the compositions.
US09663803B2
A genetically engineered yeast cell capable of producing lactate having increased TPI activity, a method of preparing the yeast cell, and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell.
US09663801B2
Disclosed are methods for producing butadiene from one or more of several diverse feedstocks including bioderived feedstocks, renewable feedstocks, petrochemical feedstocks and natural gas.
US09663788B2
In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a method for diagnosing fibrosis and/or fibrosis related diseases and to a method for screening a pharmaceutically active compound for the treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrosis related diseases. The present invention further relates to compositions for use in the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of fibrosis. In certain embodiments, the compositions modulate the activity of a miRNA for the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of fibrosis. In certain embodiments, the compositions inhibit the activity of miR-21 for the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of fibrosis.
US09663786B2
The invention is to methods of gene silencing in arthropods using dsRNA. The method is include contacting the arthropod with, and/or directly feeding the arthropod, the dsRNA to the arthropods to deliver the dsRNA to arthropod tissues. It is envisaged that the methods of the invention will have use in determining the biological function of genes in arthropods. Methods of pest control of arthropods, and of protecting arthropods against parasites and predators are provided. Transgenic arthropods expressing dsRNA molecules are also provided by the present invention.
US09663773B2
The present invention deals with examination of the alterability of part, or whole, of the surfaces of beta sheet-based protein structures, focusing especially on enzymes. The alteration is done by supplanting/transplanting a part, or whole, of the surface of one protein onto the surface of a homologous protein of superimposable polypeptide backbone, by exploiting the structural features of beta sheets to alter only the regions of the surface involved in substrate/ligand binding and catalysis. The transplantation involves replacement of a selected set of non-contiguous residues constituting the surface regions desired to be altered in one enzyme/protein, by a set of non-contiguous residues located at analogous positions in the other enzyme/protein, in a manner that is likely to facilitate folding and function of the new protein formed by combining residues from both enzymes/proteins. The present invention also deals with using this surface engineering approach to selectively combine enzyme/protein characteristics from different domains of life that are not ordinarily combined by natural evolution, such as the creation of novel proteins that retains the bulk of the thermostable scaffold of a thermophile enzyme onto which the active surface of a mesophile homolog is transplanted, so as to create a thermo-stable protein with meso-active functional characteristics of pH and temperature of optimal function.
US09663765B2
Subpopulations of spore-like cells expressing specific cell surface and gene expression markers are provided. In one embodiment, the cells express at least one cell surface or gene expression marker selected from the group consisting of Oct4, nanog, Zfp296, cripto, Gdf3, UtF1, Ecat1, Esg1, Sox2, Pax6, nestin, SCA-1, CD29, CD34, CD90, B1 integrin, cKit, SP-C, CC10, SF1, DAX1, and SCG10. Also provided are methods for purifying a subpopulation of spore-like cells of interest from a population of spore-like cells, and methods for inducing differentiation of the isolated spore-like cells into cells of endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal origin. The spore-like cells can be used to generate cells originating from all three germ layers and can be used to treat a patient who has a deficiency of functional cells in any of a wide variety of tissues, including the retina, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, nervous system, or endocrine system.
US09663760B2
The present invention efficiently and cost-effectively extracts and collects cells from a tissue. The inventors have discovered that the tissue can be effectively fragmented and the resulting cells can be purified using a system or kit with multiple components. An advantage of the present invention is that tissue processing takes place in a closed system such that sterility can be maintained throughout the process, even if certain components are removed during processing, for example through the use of valves, clamps, and heat seals. Furthermore, any or all of the steps can be automated or manually accomplished, according to the specific needs of the application or the user.
US09663752B2
A generally cylindrical collapsible mixing vessel, comprising: a) a flexible plastic film side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein both the top wall and the bottom wall are attached to the side wall and the side, top and bottom walls define an inner volume of the vessel; b) an agitator located in the inner volume and; c) at least one vortex breaker made from flexible plastic film, located in the inner volume and attached to the bottom wall and/or the side wall via string elements, wherein said vortex breaker extends along the side wall and inwards in a generally radial direction.
US09663750B2
A manufacturing article adapted for use in the production of pharmaceuticals comprising a tray comprising a base having a top surface; and a manifold extending from the top surface of the base, the manifold comprising a sidewall and an upper surface, the upper surface further comprising a channel, wherein, when viewed from the top surface, the base has an area, AB, the upper surface of the manifold has an area AM, and AB>AM, and wherein the base is adapted to support a plurality of vessels each adapted to contain a fluid.
US09663730B2
The present invention provides a method for the conversion of asphaltenes to light fractions, including: a process of reacting a hydrogen donor solvent with an asphaltene-containing feedstock, and fractionating reaction products, where a weight ratio of the hydrogen donor solvent to the asphaltene-containing feedstock is 0.1-5:1, a weight hourly space velocity of the reaction is 0.2-5 h−1, reaction pressure is 0.5-25 MPa, reaction temperature is 360-500° C., and the hydrogen donor solvent is a solvent containing polycyclic aromatic compound having α-hydrogen. The method according to the present invention can effectively achieve light fraction conversion of the asphaltenes to light fractions, and the process operation is simple.
US09663729B2
Methods and apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes separately introducing the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream into a reaction zone to form a mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream in the reaction zone. The mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream is catalytically cracked in the presence of a particulate cracking catalyst in the reaction zone. The pyrolysis oil stream is maintained at a temperature of less than or equal to about 100° C. substantially up to introduction into the reaction zone.
US09663725B2
A catalytic composition is disclosed, which exhibits an X-ray amorphous oxide, with a spinel formula and highly dispersed crystals of ZnO, CuO, and optionally CeO2. The composition is useful in oxidative and adsorptive processes for removing sulfur from gaseous hydrocarbons.
US09663716B2
A compound represented by formula (1-1) or (1-2) is provided. For example, R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 9 carbons; the ring A1, the ring A2, the ring A3, the ring A4, the ring A5 and the ring A6 are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; a, b, c, d, e and f are independently 0 or 1, and the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is 2; and g, h, i, j, k and l are independently 0 or 1, and the sum of g, h, i, j, k and l is 2.
US09663714B2
A phosphor includes (Sr1−x, Bax)3SiO5 with 1>x≧0.1 as a base material and europium (Eu) as an activator. The emission center wavelength of the phosphor is controlled to be 600 nm or more on the basis of the composition ratio of Sr, Ba, and Eu.
US09663713B2
Provided is a Li-solid-solubilized α-SiAlON phosphor containing Li+ solid-solubilized for stabilization of the structure which is higher in luminous efficiency than any phosphor currently available and a light-emitting element and a lighting device comprising the same. An Eu-activated Li-solid-solubilized α-SiAlON, having a lattice constant a of 0.7820 to 0.7835 nm, a lattice constant c of 0.5645 to 0.5670 nm, an oxygen content of 0.4 to 1.2 mass %, and an europium (Eu) content of 0.3 to 1.2 mass %, and emitting a light having a peak wavelength of 580 to 595 nm in the fluorescence spectrum obtained when it is excited by a monochromatic light having a peak wavelength in the range of 450 to 460 nm.
US09663712B2
An organic light-emitting device includes: an organic light-emitting device that includes: a cathode; an anode facing the cathode; a functional layer located between the cathode and the anode, the functional layer including a light-emitting layer; and an electron-injection layer located between the cathode and the functional layer, the electron-injection layer at least partially composed of a metallic compound containing a metal element, wherein the electron-injection layer includes crystal grains in which the metallic compound is crystallized and the metal element has a d10 electron configuration in the outermost shell, and at least one of the crystal grains is in contact with both the cathode and the functional layer.
US09663711B2
A light-emitting element includes an EL layer between a pair of electrodes. The EL layer contains a first compound and a second compound. The first compound is a phosphorescent iridium metal complex having a LUMO level of greater than or equal to −3.5 eV and less than or equal to −2.5 eV, and the second compound is an organic compound having a pyrimidine skeleton. The light-emitting element includes an EL layer between a pair of electrodes. The EL layer contains a first compound and a second compound. The first compound is a phosphorescent iridium metal complex having a diazine skeleton, and the second compound is an organic compound having a pyrimidine skeleton.
US09663702B2
A transition fluid comprises: a hydrocarbon liquid, wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is the external phase of the transition fluid; an aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid is the internal phase of the transition fluid and wherein the aqueous liquid comprises a water-soluble salt; and a calcium aluminate cement. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the transition fluid into the subterranean formation; and introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the step of introducing the cement composition is performed after the step of introducing the transition fluid and wherein the cement composition comprises cement and water.
US09663699B2
A suspension for protecting a semiconductor material, comprising a carrier medium, trimethylolpropane as a plasticizer, benzotriazole derivate as an absorber dye, and inorganic particles selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride, silicon nitride and boron nitride, wherein the thermal conductivity of the suspension is about 1 W/mk to about 2 W/mk.
US09663690B2
A curable composition comprising a silicone, a halomethyl-1,3,5-triazine and optionally a silicate tackifier is disclosed. The compositions are useful in the preparation of pressure-sensitive adhesives and release coatings.
US09663687B2
The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, a protective film for polarizers, which includes a cured product of the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, a polarizer, and a liquid crystal display (LCD). In the present invention, a pressure-sensitive adhesive showing excellent endurance reliability in high-temperature and/or high-humidity conditions and having superior physical properties such as cuttability, re-peeling property, and workability can be provided. In particular, it is possible to provide the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which can prevent light leakage that may occur in an LCD, even when being applied to a film having a low stress optical coefficient.
US09663683B2
An optionally VOC-free silicone containing furniture polish is prepared using one or both of 1) a low viscosity silicone fluid and 2) a polydiorganosiloxane; and 3) a phosphonic acid dispersant together with water and one or more suitable surfactants.
US09663679B2
The present invention relates to a curable coating composition, comprising: (a) a curable coating resin comprising thiol-reactive groups, (b) a thiolated norbornene curing agent for the curable coating resin, the thiolated norbornene curing agent comprising on average at least 1.0 thiol group per molecule, and (c) an accelerator for accelerating the reaction between the thiol reactive-groups on the curable coating resin and the thiol groups on the thiolated norbornene curing agent. These coating compositions can be cured at ambient temperature and provide a coated surface that can be walked on after only a couple of hours. The coating compositions in general have a VOC below 250 g/L. The coating compositions can be used for the protection of large steel structures, such as ships, buildings, bridges, industrial plants, and oil production installations.
US09663675B2
In a first aspect, the invention provides an ink formulation comprising: (a) a near infrared absorbing system comprising a compound of the formula M1W1.6O6, wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of H, He, alkali metals such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, alkaline earth metals such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, rare-earth elements, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, AL Ga, in, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, B, F, P, S, Se, Br, Te, Ti, Nb, V, Mo, Ta, Re, Hf, Os, Bi and I, or ammonium; (b) a color change agent; and (c) a binder. The invention also provides alternative ink formulations for laser marking, a method of forming an image using the ink formulations and a substrate coated with the ink formulation of the invention. Ink formulations according to the invention have been found to have good laser imaging efficacy, and an essentially negligible impact on the background color of the coating.
US09663674B2
A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes: a pigment; water; at least one of a water-soluble resin having a minimum film-forming temperature of not more than 80° C. and a water-dispersible resin having a minimum film-forming temperature of not more than 80° C.; and a micelle-forming compound having an alkyl group and an oxyethylene chain.
US09663673B2
An ink includes pigment particles, polymer particles in such an amount that a total volume thereof is from 0.3 to 1.6 when a total volume of the pigment particles is taken as 1, water, and an aqueous organic solvent.
US09663664B2
There is provided an ink for white reflective film formation including: a liquid binder resin component containing a crosslinkable silicone liquid resin and crosslinkable silicone resin particles; and titanium oxide particles, the ink containing 10 to 500 parts by mass of the titanium oxide particles relative to a solid content of a total of 100 parts by mass in the liquid binder resin component.
US09663663B2
A polyurethane or polyurea coating composition for use in protecting a leading edge substrate on an airfoil, such as aircraft wings, rotor blades and propeller blades, against liquid or solid particle erosion, the composition made from a polyisocyanate and curing agents, such as polyaspartic esters, aldimines and ketimines, polyamines and polyols or mixtures thereof with optional flatting agent for matte coatings.
US09663661B2
The present invention relates to an effect pigment comprising as a substrate a glass flake with a coating, said coating comprising at least one layer of at least one high refractive material, said material having a refractive index of at least 1.8, and/or at least one layer of at least one semitransparent metallic material, wherein said glass flakes comprising the following composition: 65-75 wt.-% silicon oxide, preferably SiO2 2-9 wt.-% aluminum oxide, preferably AI2O3 0.0-5 wt.-% calcium oxide, preferably CaO 5-12 wt.-% sodium oxide, preferably Na2O 8-15 wt.-% boron oxide, preferably B2O3 0.1-5 wt.-% titanium oxide, preferably TiO2 0.0-5 wt.-% zirconium oxide, preferably ZrO2 based on the weight of said glass flakes. The invention relates also to a method for producing the effect pigments as well as to the use of said effect pigments. The invention further relates to coating formulations based on the effect pigments.
US09663659B1
Software agents are assigned goals in accordance with network policies that define a desired operational characteristic of a network. A software agent achieves its assigned goal by executing a predefined task. An assigned goal may be dynamically modified as necessary based on the actual operational characteristics of the network. The software agent may request further policy if it cannot achieve its assigned goal by performing the predefined task.
US09663657B2
The present invention provides curable compositions that are substantially free of metal catalysts including both tin and non-tin metal catalysts. The curable compositions employ a catalyst system comprising the combination of a carboxylic acid, an amino-containing adhesion promoter or a mixture of amine-containing adhesion promoters and an amino-containing siloxane. The combination of these materials accelerates the condensation curing of moisture curable silicones/non-silicones even in the absence of a metal-based catalyst.
US09663647B2
A process for producing a propylene impact copolymer (ICOP), the process comprising the steps of feeding propylene and optionally one or more first comonomers into a first reactor; feeding into the first reactor a catalyst mixture; contacting the propylene with the catalyst mixture under first polymerization conditions to form an active propylene-based polymer; transferring at least a portion of the first reactor contents to a second reactor; feeding additional activity limiting agent, additional selectivity control agent and, optionally additional cocatalyst and one or more second comonomers into the second reactor; and maintaining the second reactor at a second reactor temperature in a range that is sufficient to allow copolymerization to form the propylene impact copolymer (ICOP), wherein the second reactor temperature is below 70° C.
US09663646B2
A resin composition including a thermoplastic resin, a glass fiber, a resin which is different from the thermoplastic resin and contains at least one of an amide bond and an imide bond, and a compatibilizer, wherein a part of the resin which is different from the thermoplastic resin and contains at least one of an amide bond and an imide bond forms a coating layer around the glass fiber, and wherein the thickness of the coating layer is from 50 nm to 700 nm.
US09663643B2
PVC-free polymer compound for producing seals containing scavengers for screw caps, in particular twist crown corks, characterized in that the Shore A hardness of the polymer compound lies between 50 and 90 and, in a compression set test analogous to ASTM D395-97, Method B, the polymer compound has a compression set of between 30% and 90% after it has been left for 22 hours at 70° C. under a compression of 25%.
US09663635B2
The present invention provides, as an aluminum nitride powder excellent in the water resistance, an aluminum nitride powder subjected to a surface treatment with a predetermined organic compound. The present invention also provides a resin composition including the aluminum nitride powder and a resin, and a thermal conductive molded article obtained by molding the resin composition.
US09663634B2
The present invention relates to a polymer composition having improved scratch resistance properties, the composition comprising (i) one or more polymers with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 25° C., and (ii) solid particulate material having a surface modified with an organic modifier of formula (I), an organic modifier of formula (I) being the only organic modifier used to modify a surface of the solid particulate material, wherein the solid particulate material is distributed at least throughout a surface layer of the one or more polymers, and wherein the improved scratch resistance is relative to that of the one or more polymers absent the distributed particulate material, (I) where R is selected from a quaternary ammonium cation, a quaternary phosphonium cation, and imidazolium cation and a pyridinium cation; x is an integer ranging from 1-5; Ry is selected from OH, C(O)OH, NH2, SH and CH3; and Z is a counter anion.
US09663632B2
The present invention relates to an improved modified polyamide having increased molecular weight and substantially the same or marginally increased viscosity versus shear weight as the unmodified polyamide. A method for modifying polyamides to provide these improved properties also is disclosed wherein a polyamide having an initial molecular weight is contacted with at least one organic peroxide, at least one coagent and/or one free-radical trap to form an improved polyamide having an increased molecular weight and substantially the same viscosity versus shear rate. The present disclosure also relates to polyamide compositions comprising organic peroxides and articles made from the modified polyamide.
US09663627B2
Amine groups can be introduced in porous materials by a direct (one pot) or post-synthetic modification (PSM) process on aldehyde groups, and the resulting porous materials have increased gas affinity.
US09663619B2
A thiol group-containing polymer is represented by HS—(R—Sr)n—R—SH, wherein R is an organic group including a —O—CH2—O— bond and/or a branched alkylene group, n is an integer of from 1 to 200, r is an integer of from 1 to 5, and the average value of r is 1.1 or more and 1.8 or less. A curable composition using the thiol group-containing polymer can be used in sealants, adhesives, paints and the like, which require properties such as a low specific gravity, a low viscosity and a low glass transition temperature.
US09663609B2
The invention relates to the use of bis- or multifunctional N,N′-(dimethyl) urons as curing agents for curing epoxy resin compositions in a controlled manner.
US09663608B2
A molding composition formulation includes a thermoset cross-linkable 12 to 45 micron polymeric resin. Hollow glass microspheroids are present from 2 to 12 total weight percent. An article formed from such a composition is further strengthened by the addition of a surface activating agent bonded to the surface of the glass microspheroids. Conventional particulate fillers when added to an inventive formulation provide enhanced performance when the filler particle has a size sufficiently small to insert within adjacent microspheroid interstitial voids. An unsaturated polyester resin so formed is particularly well suited for the formation of sheet molding compound formulations.
US09663601B2
The present invention provides a modified polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder which can be processed into molded articles high in thermal stability, chemical resistance and transparency and for which the extrusion pressure can be lowered. The present invention is a modified polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder, wherein the cylinder extrusion pressure at a reduction ratio of 1600 is not higher than 50 MPa and the haze value of molded article a for measurement formed therefrom is not higher than 60.
US09663597B2
The invention relates to compositions of hydroxyl functional acrylic resins (acrylic polyols) comprising a mixture of α,α-branched alkane carboxylic glycidyl esters derived from butene oligomers characterized in that the sum of the concentration of the blocked and of the highly branched isomers is maximum 55%, preferably below 40%, and most preferably below 30% weight on total composition.
US09663594B2
Disclosed herein are methods of making bis(phenol) ligand compounds and transition metal bis(phenolate) compounds. The transition metal bis(phenolate) compounds can be used as components in catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins.
US09663586B2
The present invention features anti-SOD1 antibodies and methods of using the antibodies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or the amelioration of symptoms associated with ALS.
US09663584B2
The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to P2X7 receptors and distinguish between function and non-functional P2X7 receptors, pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease conditions.
US09663574B2
The disclosure provides antibodies that are useful for, among other things, inhibiting terminal complement (e.g., the assembly and/or activity of the C5b-9 TCC) and C5a anaphylatoxin-mediated inflammation and, thus, treating complement-associated disorders. The antibodies have a number of improved properties relative to eculizumab, including, e.g., increased serum half-life in a human.
US09663571B2
The invention provides anti-oncostatin M receptor-β (OSMR) antigen binding proteins. e.g., antibodies and functional fragments, derivatives, muteins, and variants thereof. OSMR antigen binding proteins interfere with binding of OSM and/or IL-31 to OSMR. In some embodiments, anti-OSMR antigen binding proteins are useful tools in studying diseases and disorders associated with OSMR and are particularly useful in methods of treating diseases and disorders associated with OSMR and binding of OSM and/or IL-31 to OSMR.
US09663567B2
The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to serotransferrin (TF), hybridoma lines that secrete these antibodies or fragments thereof, and the use of these antibodies to detect TF antigens. Methods and uses for detecting prostate cancer, as well as methods and uses for distinguishing early and late stage prostate cancer are encompassed.
US09663565B2
The present invention relates to an insulinotropic peptide derivative with a modified N-terminal charge and a pharmaceutical composition including the same. Specifically, the insulinotropic peptide derivative is characterized in that the N-terminal positive charge of the insulinotropic peptide is modified to a neutral or net negative charge at neutral pH. The insulinotropic peptide derivative according to the present invention is rapidly dissociated from the GLP-1 receptor owing to the above modification in the N-terminal charge, and exhibits enhanced insulinotropic ability and blood glucose-lowering activity compared to the native insulinotropic peptide while maintaining its stability in blood. Accordingly, the insulinotropic peptide derivative of the present invention is very useful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
US09663563B2
The invention provides an aqueous liquid composition comprising a WT1 protein-derived cancer antigen peptide, wherein the peptide is stabilized. The aqueous liquid composition contains a peptide and an excipient, and has a pH of 3-6. The peptide has the amino acid sequence Arg-Met-Phe-Pro-Asn-Ala-Pro-Tyr-Leu (SEQ ID NO: 1), wherein optionally 1 to 3 amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, such that the peptide has a cytotoxic T cell-inducing ability. The excipient is (a) an alpha hydroxyl acid selected from glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, (b) a dicarboxylic acid selected from malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, and/or (c) methionine.
US09663559B2
The present invention relates to a chromatography ligand, which comprises Domain C from Staphylococcus protein A (SpA), or a functional fragment or variant thereof. The chromatography ligand presents an advantageous capability of withstanding harsh cleaning in place (CIP) conditions, and is capable of binding Fab fragments of antibodies. The ligand may be provided with a terminal coupling group, such as arginine or cysteine, to facilitate its coupling to an insoluble carrier such as beads or a membrane. The invention also relates to a process of using the ligand in isolation of antibodies, and to a purification protocol which may include washing steps and/or regeneration with alkali.
US09663549B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein R2 to R7 are as defined in the claims. The invention further relates to their use as inhibitors of 17β-HSD and in treatment or prevention of steroid hormone de-pendent diseases or disorders, such as steroid hormone dependent diseases or disorders requiring the inhibition of the 17β-HSD1 enzyme and/or requiring the lowering of the endogenous estradiol concentration. The present invention also relates to the preparation of the aforementioned compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising as an active ingredient(s) one or more of the afore-mentioned compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09663544B2
Heteroleptic cyclometallated complexes having a 6-membered ring cyclometallated to the metal, as shown in Formula (I), are provided: wherein ring A and ring B are each independently a 5 or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; wherein L1 is BR, NR, PR, O, S, Se, C═O, S═O, SO2, CRR′, SiRR′, or GeRR; wherein Z1 and Z2 are independently carbon or nitrogen; wherein at least one of Z1 and Z2 is carbon; wherein is a bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of: wherein R1, R2, Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd may represent mono, di, tri, or tetra substitution, or no substitution; wherein R1, R2, R, R′, Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd are each independently selected from various substituents; and wherein n is 1 or 2. Devices, such as organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) that comprise phosphorescent light emitting materials are also provided.
US09663537B2
Disclosed are novel compounds and a method of treating a disease associated with aberrant leukocyte recruitment and/or activation. The method comprises administering to a subject in need an effective amount of a compound represented by: or physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
US09663529B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or stereoisomers, tautomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein all the variables are as defined herein. These compounds are selective ROCK inhibitors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating cardiovascular, smooth muscle, oncologic, neuropathologic, autoimmune, fibrotic, and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US09663528B2
Compounds for use in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are disclosed. The compounds have the following Formula (I): including stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, X, W, Y1, Y2, Z1, and Z4 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.
US09663527B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more said compounds, and methods for using said compounds for treating or preventing thromboses, embolisms, hypercoagulability or fibrotic changes. The compounds are selective Factor XIa inhibitors or dual inhibitors of Factor XIa and plasma kallikrein.
US09663508B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (Ia), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels, in particular Nav 1.7. as described in the specification. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of sodium channels such as pain disorders. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of the present invention, as well as intermediates and processes useful for making the compounds.
US09663498B2
Provided herein are novel aromatic heterocyclic compounds or a stereoisomer, a geometric isomer, a tautomer, an N-oxide, a hydrate, a solvate, a metabolite, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a prodrug thereof, and their uses for treating Alzheimer's disease. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods for using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat Alzheimer's disease.
US09663496B2
Disclosed are substituted pyridine compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. One embodiment is a compound having the structure wherein E, J, T, the ring system denoted by “B”, T, R3, R4, w and x are as described herein. In certain embodiments, a compound disclosed herein activates the AMPK pathway, and can be used to treat metabolism-related disorders and conditions.
US09663493B2
The invention relates to novel chemical compounds, compositions and methods of making and using the same. In particular, the invention provides pyridazine compounds and/or related heterocyclic derivatives, compositions comprising the same, and methods of making and using pyridazine compounds and/or related heterocyclic derivatives and compositions comprising the same, for modulation of cellular pathways (e.g., signal transduction pathways), for treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), for research, drug screening, and therapeutic applications.
US09663487B2
A compound of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R1, R2, R3, R and R6 are each independently (LQ)mY; R4 is H, halogen, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted alkyl; and; each X is independently CR7 or N. The compounds are PI3K inhibitors and therefore have potential utility in therapy.
US09663483B2
Provided herein are substituted furanyl compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, methods of their preparation, and methods of their use. The compounds provided herein are useful for the treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of various disorders, including cancer and proliferative disorders. In one embodiment, the compounds provided herein modulate eIF4E activity. In one embodiment, the compounds provided herein modulate the Hedgehog pathway activity. In one embodiment, the compounds provided herein are used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, immuno therapy and/or one or more additional anticancer drugs for the treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of cancer and proliferative disorders.
US09663470B2
The present invention relates to compounds defined by formula I wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, and m are defined as in claim 1, possessing valuable pharmacological activity. Particularly, the compounds are inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) 1 and thus are suitable for treatment and prevention of diseases which can be influenced by inhibition of this enzyme, such as metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes type 2, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
US09663466B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein all of the variables are as defined herein. These compounds are monoacylglycerol acyltransferase type 2 (MGAT2) inhibitors which may be used as medicaments.
US09663464B2
The present invention provides a carbazole derivative represented by Formula 1: wherein X is CH2 or C(O), Y is selected from NR1R2, piperidinyl groups in which two of the carbon atoms are substituted with R3 and R4, piperazinyl groups in which the nitrogen atom is substituted with R5, and morpholinyl groups, n is an integer from 2 to 5, R1 and R2, which may be identical or different, are each independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl, and benzyl, with the proviso that R1 and R2 may be bonded together to form a ring, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, are each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl, and benzyl, and R5 is selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C4 alkylcarbonyl, phenyl substituted with C1-C4 alkyloxy, hydroxyphenyl, benzyl, and benzoisoxazol-3-yl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09663460B2
The present invention relates to novel sulfur derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of chemokine receptors.
US09663455B2
The invention is directed to a method of treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a carbamoyl compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09663435B1
A method for generating desired platform chemicals from feedstocks such as cellulosic biomass feedstocks containing levulinic acid by decarboxylating a feed stock comprising levulinic acid to generate ketones. This is done by passing a feed stock comprising levulinic acid in a gas phase over a non-precious metal catalyst on a neutral support.
US09663433B2
A method of alkylating or acylating an arene includes reacting the arene with an organic halide in the presence of an aprotic solvent and a catalyst of formula (I) MR1mXn.Z(R2)(R3) (I) wherein M is Al, Ga, or Fe; R1 is C1-C12 alkyl; m is 0 or 1; R2 and R3 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C2-C12 alkyl; each occurrence of X is independently a halogen; n is 2 or 3; the sum of m and n is 3; and Z is S or O. When M is Al, then m is 1, n is 2, and R2 and R3 are each independently substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group. When M is Ga or Fe, then m is 0 and n is 3.
US09663428B2
The present invention provides for a derivative of monoterpene or sesquiterpene, such as a perillyl alcohol derivative. For example, the perillyl alcohol derivative may be a perillyl alcohol carbamate. The perillyl alcohol derivative may be perillyl alcohol conjugated with a therapeutic agent such as a chemotherapeutic agent. The present invention also provides for a method of treating a disease such as cancer, comprising the step of delivering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a derivative of monoterpene for sesquiterpene). The route of administration may vary, and can include, inhalation, intranasal, oral, transdermal, intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.
US09663427B2
Process for producing epichlorohydrin comprising subjecting to a dehydrochlorination operation, dichloropropanol produced from glycerol comprising aldehydes.
US09663422B2
A method for producing a lubricant base oil which comprises a first step of carrying out isomerization dewaxing by contacting, in the presence of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon oil containing normal paraffin having a boiling point of 360° C. or higher, with a hydroisomerization catalyst under conditions such that a cracking rate defined in the following formula (1) is 10 mass % or less, and a second step of carrying out the above isomerization dewaxing by temporarily switching the above conditions to conditions such that the cracking rate is 13 mass % or more. Cracking rate (mass %)=[(C1−C2)/C1]×100 (1) wherein C1 represents the mass ratio of a fraction having a boiling point of 360° C. or higher in the above hydrocarbon oil, and C2 represents the mass ratio of the fraction having a boiling point of 360° C. or higher in the above hydrocarbon oil after the isomerization dewaxing.
US09663404B2
A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component includes providing a formed ceramic member having a cavity, filling at least a portion of the cavity with a ceramic foam. The ceramic foam is deposited on a barrier layer covering at least one internal passage of the cavity. The method includes processing the formed ceramic member and ceramic foam to obtain a ceramic matrix composite component. Also provided is a method of forming a ceramic matrix composite blade and a ceramic matrix composite component.
US09663402B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing an optical element from glass after polishing and in which either or both of a cleaning liquid used in a cleaning step for the glass after polishing and a rinsing liquid used in a rinsing step after the cleaning step are a liquid that inhibits expansion of cracked parts present on the surface of the glass after polishing.
US09663396B2
A glass sheet has one surface and the other surface facing the one surface in a thickness direction, wherein a fluorine concentration (average fluorine concentration by SIMS at a depth of 1 to 24 μm) in the one surface is higher than that in the other surface. The following expression is satisfied: 0.07≦ΔF/ΔH2O. ΔF (mol %) is a value obtained by subtracting an average fluorine concentration in the surface having the lower fluorine concentration from that in the surface having the higher fluorine concentration, and ΔH2O (mol %) is an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting an average H2O concentration in the surface having the higher fluorine concentration from that in the surface having the lower fluorine concentration.
US09663394B2
A method for manufacturing an optical preform including the steps of providing a substrate tube having deposited layers of glass on an inside surface thereof, increasing an outer diameter of the substrate tube by means of applying a traversing heat source to heat the substrate tube to above a softening temperature thereof and by providing an internal pressure in the substrate tube higher than an ambient pressure, and collapsing the substrate tube of increased outer diameter by means of applying the traversing heat source to heat the substrate tube to above the softening temperature thereof such that an optical preform is manufactured.
US09663393B2
A process and an apparatus for imparting coloration to a glass container having a strikable glass container composition. One or more portions of the glass container are selectively and locally exposed to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature to affect a color change in the one or more portions of the glass container. The coloration process may be carried out by passing the glass container through an interior of an apparatus having a heating system configured to locally heat a first region within the interior to a temperature at or above a glass container striking temperature and a cooling system to locally cool a second region within the interior to a temperature below the glass container striking temperature.
US09663386B2
The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of metals from an aqueous phase by means of specific ionic liquids.
US09663385B2
The present invention relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods to cleanse water contaminated with hydrocarbons, hydraulic fracturing fluids, volatile organic compounds, sulfurous compounds, crude oil, and other petroleum products. The products recovered with the invention can be returned to the source, stored, transported, sold, or otherwise reused.
US09663379B2
A method is disclosed for preparing zeolite SSZ-98 using N,N-dimethylpiperidinium cations as a structure directing agent.
US09663376B2
A xerogel production method includes: adding, to water glass, a basic silicic acid solution having a sol with a particle size between a particle size of the water glass and a particle size of colloidal silica, to acidify and solate the water glass, and polycondensing the solated water glass at 20° C. to 90° C., to obtain a hydrogel; growing the hydrogel by leaving the hydrogel for a certain time period at a constant temperature; hydrophobizing the hydrogel; and drying the hydrophobized hydrogel.
US09663375B2
In particular, in alternative embodiments, the invention provides for a method to recover silicofluoride and phosphate species from wastewaters, or barometric condenser waters, that are typically utilized in wet-process phosphoric acid facilities. The species are recovered via a continuous ion exchange approach that allows for economic recovery of the materials and especially with the silicofluoride component allows for the production of valuable industrial materials such as hydrofluoric acid and other fluoride salts as well as industrial-grade precipitated silica materials. Return of the treated waste water to the phos-acid plant allows for optimization of reagent usage.
US09663360B2
A process for obtaining a solid form containing heat-stabilized borazane is described. The solid form is capable of generating hydrogen by thermal decomposition or by a self-maintained combustion reaction. Within the solid form containing borazane, the borazane is heat-stabilized. It has thus been heat-stabilized by making an oxidized layer at its surface.
US09663359B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a graphite powder composite supported by transition metal particles for storing hydrogen, and more specifically, to a method for preparing a graphite powder composite supported by transition metal particles having significantly improved hydrogen storage capacity, by means of introducing the transition metal particles having support capacity and particle diameters which are controlled, of transition metals such as nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and yttrium (Y), to an oxidized graphite powder that is provided with functionality through a chemical surface treatment.
US09663352B2
A microelectromechanical device that comprises a wafer plate, a group of one or more wafer connector elements, and an electrical distribution layer between them. For reduced device thickness, the wafer plate comprises at least two dies and bonding material that bonds the at least two dies alongside each other to the longitudinal extent of the wafer plate, wherein at least one of the dies is a microelectromechanical die. The electrical distribution layer covers the wafer plate and includes a layer of dielectric material and a layer of conductive material, wherein the layer of conductive material is patterned within the layer of dielectric material for electrical interconnection of the dies and the wafer connector elements. With the new configuration, significantly reduced MEMS device thicknesses are achieved.
US09663342B2
A funnel assembly used for adding motor oil to cars or motorcycles is revealed. The funnel assembly includes a main body, a first sleeve, an extension tube, a second sleeve and a cover. The main body is connected to the first sleeve and the first sleeve is assembled with the extension tube. The extension tube is connected to the second sleeve and the second sleeve is assembled with the cover. The first sleeve and the extension tube can be assembled with each other toward different directions and so do the second sleeve and the cover. Thereby the funnel assembly can be applied to and mounted into oil fill holes at different positions of various cars.
US09663341B2
A refillable bottle for dispensing a fluid product including a body in which a container for packaging the product is formed, the bottle including a device for dispensing the packaged product, which is mounted in a sealed manner on the body, the bottle being equipped with a valve for refilling the container arranged to enable a product source to be placed in communication with the container in order to refill the latter, the valve including a passage for communication between the source and the container, the passage having a seat equipped with a valve element that is mobile with respect to the seat between a closed position and a open position, the valve element being arranged so as to be mobile between its closed and open positions under the effect of gravity by the positioning of the bottle in an upright position and in an overturned position, respectively.
US09663334B2
A jib assembly has a sheath, a jib arm disposed within the sheath, and at least two gripping components disposed on the inner surface of the sheath. The sheath is operable to engage the jib arm to secure the jib arm and prevent the jib arm from extending and retracting relative to the sheath by aligning the sheath to be substantially parallel with the jib arm. The sheath is operable to disengage the jib arm to allow at least a portion of the jib arm to extend and retract relative to the sheath by rotating the sheath away from substantially parallel with the jib arm.
US09663333B2
A self-propelled work machine includes an undercarriage provided with drive wheels driven by a drive device. An upper structure is rotatably mounted on the undercarriage. A drive unit is arranged in the undercarriage and a boom for a work tool is mounted on the undercarriage. The drive unit drives a power generator that is a power source for an electric motor arranged in the upper structure, the electric motor being the drive device for the drive wheels arranged on the undercarriage.
US09663322B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to spooling and unspooling linear material. Such apparatus and methods can assist the user in deploying and/or retracting linear material.
US09663320B2
According to a method for forming packs of flat bags, a continuous line of bags moving in an oriented direction of advance is received. The bags are moved onto a receiving table on which the bags are stacked while being stopped from moving in the oriented direction of advance by an abutment. The continuous line of bags is converted into a line of overlapped bags before stacking the latter, and the bags are separated on the receiving table by separating means comprising a separating device. During this operation, a separating device is inserted by a movement in the separating direction perpendicular to the plane of the bags between a preceding bag and a following bag in the overlapped line in such a way that, when the following bag stops against the abutment, it is supported at least partially by the separating means.
US09663319B2
An apparatus is provided that may offer functionalities including printing, scanning and/or copying. The apparatus may include a manual sheet feeding tray disposed at the rear of the apparatus. The height of the sheet feeding tray might not exceed a height of the apparatus, allowing use of the apparatus in spaces having smaller depths. The apparatus may include a sheet guide configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the tray. In some arrangements, a surface of the sheet feeding tray may differ in height between lateral edges of the tray and a central portion. This difference may cause a sheet to be curved in a lateral direction, rendering the sheet more inflexible in a longitudinal direction. According to other aspects, a depressed portion of the tray may match a protrusion extending from the guide in shape such that the two portions may mate in a retracted position.
US09663317B2
A sheet processing device includes a housing, a sheet stacking portion, a sheet discharge portion, a contact member, a conveyance unit, and an association mechanism. A sheet discharge portion is disposed in the housing and faces a space over the sheet stacking portion, the sheet discharge portion including a pair of discharge rollers. The contact member is disposed in the sheet discharge portion, and is movable to project into a sheet conveyance passage to come into contact with a surface of the sheet. The conveyance unit is selectively mounted in the space of the housing, and is configured to receive a sheet delivered by the pair of discharge rollers and convey the sheet. The association mechanism is operable to cause the contact member to recede from the sheet conveyance passage in association with the mounting of the conveyance unit in the housing.
US09663311B2
A sheet feed device includes a device main body, a sheet feed cassette, a sheet conveyance path, a sheet feed roller, a retard roller, a support unit, and a pair of lock mechanisms. The retard roller is disposed to face the sheet feed roller in the device main body and, together with the sheet feed roller, forms a sheet feed nip portion through which the sheet is passed. The support unit is disposed in the device main body and supports the retard roller. The lock mechanisms are supported by the support unit in the device main body so as to face the wall portion of the sheet feed cassette. The lock mechanisms are disposed on both sides of the retard roller in the sheet width direction and lock the sheet feed cassette attached to the device main body and position the sheet feed cassette in the attachment direction.
US09663309B2
An automated palletizer system comprises a plurality of container buffers and a sensor for measuring containers in the buffers. A controller computes a selected tier layout for building by a pallet loading machine in a tier of a pallet within a defined periphery. The controller computes candidate tier layouts, each comprising a two-dimensional arrangement of containers in the buffers. The controller calculates a value of a tier quality metric for each candidate layout, representing at least one of stability, area utilization and volume utilization. One of the candidate layouts is selected based on the tier quality metric and the pallet loading machine arranges containers according to the selected tier layout.
US09663307B2
Process for operating a hot particle rotary valve having a rotor and a casing. The process includes subjecting the hot particle rotary valve to an internal temperature increase treatment in which the inside of the rotary valve is heated during the start-up of the particle rotary valve.
US09663302B2
The invention relates to a conveyor roller for conveyor systems for the purpose of conveying containers, pallets and the like, comprising a roller body with a roller axis, the outer peripheral area of which represents a bearing surface for material to be conveyed, and a head element that is inserted with an insertion section into a hollow end of the roller body. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a conveyor roller. In the case of the conveyor roller according to the invention, a holding element is arranged at the insertion section, which holding element has at least one point on the outer circumference thereof, the distance of which in a radial direction from the roller axis is greater than a distance between the roller axis and a point on an inner circumference of the hollow end of the roller body in the same radial direction.
US09663291B1
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a base and two sides, tracks attached to opposite sides, and a plurality of drawers. Each drawer has at least one drawer support which moves along the tracks during movement of the drawer. Rotatable members at the front of the container assist movement of the drawers. Each drawer has a latch assembly for locking the drawer in a closed position during shipment. Dunnage may be located inside one or more of the drawers.
US09663283B2
Provided is a packaging bag which can prevent the entry of water between a handle and a body, as well as can maintain proper degrees of easy-opening properties and bag-break strength. A packaging bag includes an easy-peel seal. The seal includes first regions in which multiple belt-shaped seals are spaced from each other in the width direction and second regions in which a single belt-shaped seal is disposed. The first regions and second regions are alternately disposed adjacent to each other in the length direction of the belt-shaped seals. The single belt-shaped seal in each second region has a wide width so that the multiple belt-shaped seals in the adjacent first regions can be connected to the single belt-shaped seal.
US09663281B2
Multiple layer coextruded films of high melting temperature polymers and polyethylene permit the effective ultrasonic sealing of wet, contaminated sealing surfaces to produce water tight, leak free packages for wet product. The slurry filled packages may be used and stored at room temperatures, or may be advantageously frozen for long term storage and transport while frozen.
US09663272B1
An apparatus for maintaining a bag in an open configuration has a base with a forward end and a rearward end, a first arm pivotally mounted to the adjacent to the rearward end of the base, and a second arm pivotally mounted adjacent to the rearward end of the base in spaced relation to the first arm. The first arm is movable between a generally horizontal first position and a second position extending at an obtuse angle with respect to said base. The second arm is movable between a generally horizontal first position and a second position extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the base. The first and second arms are adapted to receive an open end of the bag thereon. The base has a top surface that is inclined upwardly from the forward end toward the rearward end.
US09663271B2
One embodiment relates to a bistable hold open mechanism including first and second flexible flat, strip like members positioned relative to each other. The members include opposing first and second ends; an inner mating surface; and an opposing outer bonding surface. One or more pivot members and/or hinges is integrated into the second member separating it into a side seal portion and an operable portion, the side seal portion coupled to the operable portion. Embodiments include flexures which allow the pivot members or hinges to be biased in open or closed configurations. Applying a slight pressure to the members opens the mechanism. When the mechanism reaches a predetermined point, the pivot or hinges lock, maintaining an open configuration. Closing the mechanism only requires a slight pressure be applied to the external surface of the members, resulting in the pivot members or hinges unlocking and rotating towards a closed configuration.
US09663269B1
A container and lid system is designed to nest and positively attach to other identically sized portions. Stacks of containers and lids are subsequently connected together to form a unitary stack which provides compact storage and organization of the system. The container and lid portions of the system may be configured with various complementing an integrally-molded features which enable engagement and retention thereof.
US09663268B2
A container rollout warehousing system is contemplated that includes at least two inter-connectable modular platforms with each platform having at least one roller at one end. The two or more platforms are inter-connectable such that the central longitudinal axis of the platforms are collinear and the two or more platforms are also vertically stackable in a spaced apart relationship to receive cargo therebetween.
US09663266B2
A package has a tray slidably mounted in a carton. The carton has a front access port and at least one catch. The tray has a pair of stops positioned to successively engage at least one catch in order to restrict outward movement of the tray. The tray can be positioned with the pair of stops located inwardly of, and locked in place by, at least one catch. The catch on the carton can be manipulated to clear one of the pair of stops and allow it to move outwardly past the catch.
US09663254B2
A folding device and a method for folding over limbs of L-boards at the folding device located upstream of the sealing station in the production direction of a deep-drawing packaging machine. The folding device may include at least one folding member for folding over the limb in a production direction and a hold down device for holding down the folded over limbs. In one embodiment, the hold down device can be activated by a pneumatic cylinder. In another embodiment, the folding device may be moved by a servo motor or pneumatic cylinder. The method includes moving the thermo-formed troughs of a packaging film, placing the product and the L-boards in the trough, folding the limbs of the L-boards, and holding down the limbs once folded.
US09663253B2
Process and corresponding apparatus for wrapping a product in a wrapper of sheet material, adhering to the surface of the product, the process comprising the steps of: providing a first and a second sheet of wrapping material, shaping said first sheet according to a cup-shaped configuration comprising a bottom portion substantially complementary to a bottom portion of the surface of the product, a tubular portion which extends above the top of the product when inserted in said so-shaped sheet and defining a mouth adapted for the introduction of the product and an annular flange terminal portion surrounding said mouth, introducing the product in said first shaped sheet, and connecting said second sheet to said annular flange so as to form a closed wrapper around said product. Following the introduction of the product and prior to connection of said second sheet with said annular flange, it includes the operation to make a bottleneck of said tubular portion of said first sheet in its region immediately above the top of the product, exerting on said annular flange a pressure suitable to bind the edges of flange or to limit its radial movement, so as to cause the adhesion of said tubular wall to a substantial portion of the top surface of the product.
US09663252B1
The present invention provides a method for attitude control based on finite time friction estimation for a flexible spacecraft. The control method includes the following steps: a. introducing spacecraft flywheel friction disturbance into a spacecraft dynamics system, and establishing a flexible spacecraft dynamics system with flywheel friction disturbance; b. converting the flexible spacecraft dynamics system with flywheel friction disturbance into a state-space form; c. constructing a flywheel friction disturbance estimator; d. constructing a flexible appendage vibration disturbance observer; and e. combining the flywheel friction disturbance estimator in the step c and the flexible appendage vibration disturbance observer in the step d with a nominal controller to obtain a compound controller; the compound controller compensating for flywheel friction according to an estimated value of a flywheel friction moment; and the compound controller compensating for flexible appendage vibration disturbance according to an estimated value of flexible appendage vibration disturbance.
US09663251B2
Techniques for performing orbit raising, north-south stationkeeping, east-west stationkeeping, and momentum management with thrusters disposed on a spacecraft are disclosed. The spacecraft includes at least one thruster support mechanism (TSM), including a pointing arrangement and an elongated structural member, the structural member having a long dimension defining a first axis a proximal portion of the structural member is attached to the pointing arrangement each of the thrusters is fixedly coupled with a distal portion of the structural member. The pointing arrangement includes a first, second, and third revolute joint, the first revolute joint being rotatable about the first axis; the third revolute joint being rotatable about a third axis, the third axis being fixed with respect to the spacecraft; and the second revolute joint being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to each of the first axis and the third axis.
US09663245B2
Systems, devices, and methods are provided relating to improved mounting platforms for supporting a payload on a movable object. In one aspect, an apparatus for supporting a payload comprises: a first support member coupled to the payload and configured to rotate the payload; a second support member coupled to the first support member and configured to rotate the first support member relative to the second support member; and a flexible member electrically coupling the first and second support members, wherein a length of the flexible member winds around a portion of the first support member or second support member, such that the length winds up around the portion when the first support member is rotated in a first direction and unwinds from the portion when the first support member is rotated in a second direction.
US09663244B2
Systems, devices, and methods are provided relating to improved mounting platforms for supporting a payload on a movable object. In one aspect, an apparatus for supporting a payload comprises: a first support member coupled to the payload and configured to rotate the payload; a second support member coupled to the first support member and configured to rotate the first support member relative to the second support member; and a flexible member electrically coupling the first and second support members, wherein a length of the flexible member winds around a portion of the first support member or second support member, such that the length winds up around the portion when the first support member is rotated in a first direction and unwinds from the portion when the first support member is rotated in a second direction.
US09663236B1
Aerial vehicles may include propulsion units having motors with drive shafts that may be aligned at a variety of orientations, propellers with variable pitch blades, and common operators for aligning the drive shafts at one or more orientations and for varying the pitch angles of the blades. The common operators may include plate elements to which a propeller hub is rotatably joined, and which may be supported by one or more linear actuators that may extend or retract to vary both the orientations of the drive shafts and the pitch angles of the blades. Operating the motors and propellers at varying speeds, gimbal angles or pitch angles enables the motors to generate forces in any number of directions and at any magnitudes. Attributes of the propulsion units may be selected in order to shape or control the noise generated thereby.
US09663233B2
An aircraft comprises composite skin having an opening, and a ventilation conduit having an end portion that extends to the opening in the composite skin. The conduit is made of metal except for the end portion, which functions as an electrical insulator.
US09663227B1
Systems and methods for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle recognize and interpret gestures by a user. The gestures are interpreted to adjust the operation of the unmanned aerial vehicle, a sensor carried by the unmanned aerial vehicle, or both.
US09663222B2
The thrust vectoring apparatus has a nozzle, a jet tab arranged behind the nozzle, a rotation shaft 30 connected to the jet tab, and a gas seal member arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft is connected to the jet tab, and has the protrusion in the redial direction out of the rotation shaft on the rear side of the gas seal member. The protrusion restrains that the combustion gas exhausted from the nozzle flows toward the gas seal member.
US09663221B2
To provide an actuator device for a flight control surface which can reduce a stress applied to the flight control surface when one of two actuators is operated. The present invention relates to a hydraulically-operated actuator device 30 which drives a flight control surface of an aircraft 1, including a first actuator 31A that is provided with a first piston rod 39A, and drives an aileron body 11; a second actuator 31B that is provided with a second piston rod 39B, and drives the aileron body 11 when the function of the first actuator 31A is lost or reduced; and a single second connection fitting 41 to which the first piston rod 39A and the second piston rod 39B are both connected, wherein the first actuator 31A and the second actuator 31B are connected to the aileron body 11 via the second connection fitting 41.
US09663213B2
The authentication unit stores information for causing the outboard motor control unit to permit an engine start in order to enable setting of an unlock state in which the engine start is permitted without authentication of ID information of an electronic key and a child lock state in which the engine start is permitted by performing a predetermined release operation without necessity of authenticating the ID information of the electric key.
US09663207B2
A propulsion mechanism to propel a watercraft through water comprises paddle bars pivotally attached to a support at a first pivot, the paddle bars having a handle at a first end and a paddled second end. A paddle is pivotally attached to the second end of each paddle bar at a second pivot. When the mechanism is operated through the power stroke, the second pivot end allows the paddle to be supported by the respective paddle bar and to be forcefully driven through the water. When the power stroke is completed, the paddle is permitted to pivot about the second pivot and to disengage the respective paddle bar as the mechanism operates through the return stroke.
US09663206B2
A paddle handle has a handle having a handle outside member connected to a handle inside member by a handle lateral member. A handle attachment member is connected to the handle at the handle inside member. A swivel is connected to the handle attachment member. The swivel has a first position and a second position. A first handle swivel detent and a second handle swivel detent are selectively engaged by a handle swivel engagement member. The first handle swivel detent is at a different angle than the second handle swivel detent. A handle swivel control is connected to the handle swivel engagement member. The handle swivel control is biased to engage into either the first handle swivel detent or the second handle swivel detent.
US09663196B1
Disclosed herein is a marine vessel, which in one example comprises a hull with a substantially continuous deck. Also disclosed is a plurality of parallel longitudinally aligned channels extending from the forward deck to the aft deck. The vessel having a vessel cabin resting on and longitudinally movable upon the deck. The vessel cabin having a plurality of rolling wheels attached thereto; wherein the rolling wheels roll upon the deck and allow longitudinal movement of the vessel cabin between the aft region and the forward region. A drive unit (motor) may be provided. The drive unit optionally mounted to the cabin and in one example having a drive wheel mounted to the drive unit and configured to rotate the drive wheel. The drive wheel(s) contacting the deck such that rotation of the drive wheel repositions the cabin longitudinally between the aft region and the forward region.
US09663192B2
A method for towing marine geophysical sensor streamers in a body of water includes moving a towing vessel at a selected speed along the surface of the body of water. At least one geophysical sensor streamer is towed by the vessel at a selected depth in the water. A velocity of the streamer in the water is measured at at least one position along the streamer. The selected speed of the towing vessel is adjusted if the measured velocity is outside of a selected range.
US09663183B1
A towing frame for a bicycle includes a tow bar suitable for use with a two-wheeled style bicycle. The towing frame includes a “U”-shaped tow bar with mounting apertures and hardware for connection to a rear frame portions of the bicycle and a rear bracket for attachment of a towed vehicle such as a cart or wagon.
US09663181B2
A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
US09663179B2
A handlebar stem for bicycle handlebars has a stem element connected to a holding element. The holding element has a tube opening and surrounds a steer tube in the mounted state. A clamping element is arranged in the holding element. Using a clamping device, a clamping force is exerted on the clamping element for fixing the handlebar stem to the steer tube.
US09663176B1
A strut fixing device includes a base plate having a bottom plate portion, a fixing hook, and a coupling frame. The fixing hook has a connecting portion connected to the bottom plate portion, a curved bending portion extending from the connecting portion, defining an opening, and being resiliently deformable, an abutting portion formed at an end of the portion that is distal from the connecting portion, and a stop portion. The abutting portion abuts against the stop portion when the abutting portion is deformed to close the opening, thereby securing a strut to the bending portion. The coupling frame is disposed on the bottom plate portion of the base plate and is adapted to engage an engaging hole of a mudguard.
US09663166B2
An extendable nose bicycle seat allowing a rider to adjust seat nose length while riding for optimal comfort, performance, safety and style. Unlike any other bicycle seat, the adjustable seat nose embraces nose, cut-out and nose-less technology allowing the rider to leverage the strengths of each for the appropriate riding conditions. A sliding track system allows the rider to adjust the seat nose length for nose-less riding (zero contact with soft tissue areas) or alternatively to engage the nose for performance riding, like aggressive turning, racing or trail riding. Riders can adjust the nose while riding to pre-set lengths by pushing or pulling the nose in or out to activate pressure sensitive click and lock system.
US09663165B1
A method may include i) determining, by a robot having at least one foot, a representation of a coefficient of friction between the foot and a ground surface; ii) determining, by the robot, a representation of a gradient of the ground surface; iii) based on the determined representations of the coefficient of friction and the gradient, determining a threshold orientation for a target ground reaction force on the foot of the robot during a step; iv) determining the target ground reaction force, where the target ground reaction force comprises a magnitude and an orientation; v) determining an adjusted ground reaction force by adjusting the orientation of the target ground reaction force to be within the determined threshold orientation; and vi) causing the foot of the robot to apply a force on the ground surface equal to and opposing the adjusted ground reaction force during the step.
US09663164B2
An undercarriage system for a tracked work vehicle is provided that includes a tensioning system configured to provide tension to a continuous track. Additionally, the undercarriage system includes an undercarriage beam having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is located on an upper face of the undercarriage beam and is configured to enable insertion of the tensioning system inside a cavity of the undercarriage beam. The second opening is located at one longitudinal end of the undercarriage beam and is configured to enable a portion of the tensioning system to extend through the second opening. Furthermore, the tensioning system pivotably couples to an idler wheel via a pivot assembly, and the idler wheel is configured to engage the continuous track.
US09663163B2
The presently claimed invention relates to a road wheel comprising a mounting disc, a dish-shaped transitional wall having an outer edge, a rim with an annular cylindrical wall attached along a first rim edge to the outer edge of the transitional wall, and a stiffening flange attached to the rim along a second rim edge opposite the first rim edge wherein the flange provides radial support to the second rim edge of the cylindrical wall to resist deflection.
US09663162B1
A hydraulic pivot arm positioning assembly includes a forward and aft pivoting arm on both the left and right ends of a paving machine configured to operate in a paving direction. Hydraulic cylinders or other linear actuators enable the forward and aft pivoting arms to rotate automatically through at least a 90-degree range including at least an operating configuration, wherein the pivoting arms extend parallel to the paving direction, and a transport configuration, wherein the pivoting arms extend parallel to the transverse framework of the paving machine, narrowing its overall width. The use of linear actuators enables the pivoting arms to change position with minimal downtime to the paving machine, and without the need for manual repositioning, disconnection, or reconnection of components or accessories of the pivot arm positioning assembly.
US09663160B2
A towing tractor includes a frame, a counterweight that is connected to a rear part of the frame, and a plurality of component parts supported by the frame. The frame includes a plurality of frame assemblies that are connected to each other by bolts. Each frame assembly includes a plurality of frame members. Each frame member is selected according to the component parts, from a plurality of members to be selected that is different from each other in at least one of dimensions in a longitudinal direction and a width direction of the frame.
US09663157B2
Embodiments provide an aerodynamic fairing system that may comprise a base configured to mount to a vehicle, an arm coupled to the base at a proximate end and extending laterally, an a fairing mounted to the arm having an inboard and an outboard surface. The fairing outboard surface may provide an aerodynamic outer surface to direct flow to an angle to the rear. The arm may a fixed or adjustable length arm. The arm may provide a mounting area for a mud flap such that aerodynamic system may act as a mud flap hanger. Embodiments also provide an adjustable mud flap hanger.
US09663152B2
The present disclosure relates to a structure for mounting an upper cabin suspension bracket, the structure configured to connect the upper cabin suspension bracket to a main sill front, wherein an upper cabin suspension bracket mount member for mounting the upper cabin suspension bracket is fixed to integrally form a closed curved surface from the bottom of the main sill front to a front side of a dash member.
US09663144B2
A steering knuckle comprising a bearing connection point for connecting a bearing to the knuckle and comprising a further connection point for connecting the knuckle to a further component. The bearing connection point is formed by a first insert and the further connection point is formed by a second insert, which are joined by a composite body comprising a fiber-reinforced material that is overmolded to the first and second inserts. The bearing connection point and the further connection point are additionally joined by one or more continuous fiber tows that are wound around part of a radially outer surface of the first insert and of the second insert.
US09663140B2
An electric power steering system includes a motor, rotation angle sensors, a determination unit, and a control unit. The determination unit determines whether each rotation angle sensor has a failure by one of determination methods depending on whether a situation is a first situation where one of the rotation angle sensors has a failure or a second situation where the rotation angle sensors have no failures. In the first situation, the control unit continues to control driving of the motor based on a rotation angle of the motor detected by a remaining rotation angle sensor having no failure. Only when determining, in the first situation, whether there is a failure in the remaining rotation angle sensor, the determination unit determines whether there is a failure based on whether a steering torque exhibits a specific behavior assumed to be detected when there is a failure in the remaining rotation angle sensor.
US09663132B2
In one aspect, the instant disclosure provides a cart including a push handle moveable from a first position to a second position; and a chair which further includes (i) a seat facing the push handle, the seat further comprising an abduction block; (ii) a safety belt; (iii) a backrest extending upwardly from the seat; and (iv) a foot rest and one or more wheels.In another aspect, a shopping cart suitable for carrying a special needs rider is provided including a generally rectangular cargo basket, four swiveling wheels, a chair further comprising: a rearwardly facing seat further comprising an abduction block, said seat inclined at approximately a five degree angle from a horizontal axis downwardly toward a backrest, which backrest extends generally upward from the seat and is reclined at approximately a five degree angle from a vertical axis, a five point restraint safety belt and a foot rest positioned to support the rider's feet when positioned in the seat; one or more push handle moveable from a first position to a second position by pivoting around a roughly horizontal axis; and two load bearing wheels positioned substantially in the same vertical plane as the rider.
US09663128B2
A system and method for determining a direction of travel of a vehicle and/or identifying a misplaced wayside device obtain location data from wayside devices. The location data are representative of locations of the wayside devices along a route being traveled by a vehicle. The system and method also determine whether the location data in a series of the wayside devices exhibit an increase or a decrease in the location data across the wayside devices in the series and, responsive to determining whether the location data in the series of the wayside devices does exhibit the increase or the decrease in the location data, the system and method determine a direction of travel of the vehicle along the route, determine a location of the vehicle along the route, and/or identify a misplaced wayside device.
US09663121B2
A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam extending in a car width direction and supporting a carbody; plate springs extending in a car longitudinal direction and supporting both respective car-width-direction end portions of the cross beam; axle boxes accommodating respective bearings for axles and supporting respective car longitudinal-direction end portions of the plate springs; plate spring receivers each located between the plate spring and the axle box and including an upper surface which is inclined toward a longitudinal-direction middle portion of the plate spring, the upper surface receiving the plate spring; and stoppers arranged so as to cover at least a part of an upper surface of the plate spring, the part being located above the axle box.
US09663120B2
A side bearer of a railcar truck is designed to limit reciprocal displacement of a truck and railcar under a frame. The side bearer includes a carrying body with a guiding opening wherein a bearing cup is mounted by applying a springing element. A thrust collar is implemented on a guiding wall in a groove. Upon off-loading the cup e.g., during dismantling of a truck from under a railcar, a thrust collar bears against a limiting face ensuring unreleasable connection of the side bearer. Indicator grooving is implemented on a working face and on a lateral wall of a carrying body, enabling visual control of a side bearer technical condition.
US09663107B2
A launch control method for a vehicle with a dry-type clutch includes: determining a target engine speed corresponding to an operation amount of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle when vehicle launch is started by operation of the accelerator pedal; calculating a feedforward component which is part of the torque to control the clutch using a rate of change over time of the target engine speed and a current engine torque; calculating a feedback component which is part of the torque to control the clutch based on a difference between the target engine speed and the current engine speed; calculating a compensation torque using a current engine torque and an estimated clutch torque which is estimated to be currently transferred by the clutch; and controlling a clutch actuator to drive the clutch with a sum of the feedforward component, the feedback component, and the compensation torque.
US09663106B1
A multidirectional wheel system, apparatus, and method to control one or more multidirectional wheels to provide multidirectional motion or movement for a movable apparatus, such as a skateboard, roller blades, a car, a motorcycle, a cleaning robot, to which the one or more multidirectional wheels are attached. The multidirectional wheel system can include a braking system to slow and/or stop the movement of the multidirectional wheel(s). At least one of the multidirectional wheels can be an omnidirectional wheel(s), with a plurality of multidirectional wheels acting thereon to control movement thereof.
US09663103B2
A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery that stores an electric power for driving the motor, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus is configured to control the engine and the motor in one of control modes, the control mode includes a charge sustaining (CS) mode and a charge depleting (CD) mode. During the CS mode, a first determination is made to determine that the engine malfunction has occurred when a number of times of abnormal combustion occurring during a current trip is equal to or larger than a threshold. During the CD mode, instead of or in addition to the first determination, a second determination is made to determine that the engine malfunction has occurred when a cumulative number of times of abnormal combustion is equal to or larger than the threshold.
US09663097B2
Systems and methods for improving launching of a stopped hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods adjust speed of a motor to reduce the possibility of noticeable impact between driveline gears during vehicle launch. In one example, motor speed is adjusted to a pump pressurization speed where driveline components may be moved to reduce impact between driveline gears during vehicle launch.
US09663096B2
Methods and systems are provided for performing mitigating actions in response to detecting a fuel injector leak. In one example, a method may include in response to detecting a fuel injector leak, performing first high pressure mitigating actions including increasing a fuel rail pressure, increasing a pulse width delivered to the leaking fuel injector, and commanding fuel injection during compression stroke; in response to the first mitigating actions not reducing the leak below a threshold rate, performing second high pressure mitigating actions including increasing the fuel rail pressure, increasing the pulse width delivered to the leaking injector, and commanding fuel injection during intake stroke for a cylinder receiving fuel from the leaking injector; and in response to the second mitigating actions not reducing the leak below the threshold rate, reducing the fuel rail pressure, and commanding intake stroke fuel injection to all cylinders.
US09663095B2
A traction control device reducing an output of an engine unit for suppressing a spin of a driving wheel of a motorcycle, includes: a first spin detection unit detecting a spin of a rear wheel based on a vehicle speed calculated from a rotation of a front wheel being a driven wheel to which a driving force is not transmitted from the engine unit, and a vehicle speed calculated from a rotation of the rear wheel being the driving wheel to which the driving force is transmitted; and a second spin detection unit detecting the spin of the rear wheel based on a vehicle speed calculated from the rotation of the front wheel, and a vehicle speed calculated from a rotation of the engine unit.
US09663093B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a clutch disengagement control mechanism that is for a mechanical automatic transmission and that can perform clutch disengagement control at an optimal timing during both ordinary driving and low-speed driving at the verge of stopping. To this end, the present invention is provided with a vehicle speed measurement device (3 and 6, or 4), a brake-operation-speed measurement device (8), a clutch operation device (9), and a control device (10). The control device (10) has: a function for generating a control signal that disengages the clutch from the clutch operation device (9) when the brake operation speed is at least a second threshold (B) in the case that the vehicle speed (X) is at least a first threshold (A); and a function for generating a control signal that disengages the clutch from the clutch operation device (9) when the brake operation speed is at least a third threshold (C) in the case that the vehicle speed (X) is less than the first threshold (A).
US09663092B2
A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake having a hand operated handle, which device has a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the linkage of a railcar handbrake system so that the force applied to the brake system passes through the load bearing member. A strain gauge mounted on the load bearing member measures the strain. The information from the strain gauge is indicative of the force applied by the handbrake to the brake and is used to determine the status of the handbrake. Means for determining motion of the railcar is also provided. In one form, if it is determined that the brake is on and the railcar is in motion, information, such as an alarm, is transmitted. A system and method of monitoring a railcar handbrake are also provided.
US09663090B2
Systems and methods for a vehicle brake booster having first and second chambers separated by a diaphragm coupled to a brake pedal are provided. In one example approach, a method comprises applying an exhaust pressure from a vacuum pump to a first chamber of the brake booster, and applying a vacuum pressure from the vacuum pump to a second chamber of the brake booster.
US09663089B2
A mount member is fixed to a support member by first and second fastening members, and a caliper is mounted to the mount member by first and second guide members. A motor axis of an electric motor and an axis of a shaft member configured to press a pressing member are different from each other. The electric motor is fixed to the caliper. When viewed from an axial direction of the first guide member, the motor axis is positioned inside a fastening quadrangle having four corners corresponding to positions of respective axes of, and is perpendicular to the axis, and the motor axis is orthogonal to a plane of the fastening quadrangle. As a result, there may be provided a vehicle electric braking device in which an axial direction dimension may be reduced to suppress an amplitude caused by vibration, and components sensitive to vibration influence are appropriately arranged.
US09663086B2
The vehicular brake device according to the present invention is provided with a first flow passage connecting a first electromagnetic valve and a wheel cylinder, a second flow passage connecting a reservoir portion capable of storing brake fluid and the first flow passage and a second electromagnetic valve disposed in the second flow passage. A pressure differential generating portion generates a predetermined pressure differential by moving a master piston by a drive pressure generating portion after an execution of an advancement control to advance the master piston so that the stroke position of the master piston is within an advanced side area. A second electromagnetic valve control portion places the second electromagnetic valve in an open state for a period including at least a portion of the period of time in an execution period of the advancement control.
US09663085B2
A circumferential wall of a circumferential groove near a bottom section of a cylinder main body has an outer wall section extending from a bottom section of the circumferential groove in a radial direction of the cylinder main body, a stepped surface section extending from the outer wall section in a bottom direction of the cylinder main body, and an inner wall section having a flat surface section parallel to the radial direction of the cylinder main body and formed further inside in the radial direction of the cylinder main body than the stepped surface section. The inner wall section is formed at a position at which the center lip section first abuts the inner wall section prior to the outer wall section when the seal member moves toward the bottom section of the cylinder main body.
US09663083B2
A retaining assembly for fixing a flange part, which is provided on a braking device, to a firewall of a motor vehicle, the firewall separating an engine chamber from a vehicle interior. A retaining plate is secured to the firewall face facing the engine chamber, and the flange part and the retaining plate are engaged with each other by both a form-fitting as well as force-fitting connection.
US09663076B2
A vehicle braking control apparatus includes an obstacle detection unit to detect an obstacle ahead of a vehicle, and a distance and a relative speed of the obstacle; a time to collision calculation unit to calculate time to collision with the obstacle; an estimated distance calculation unit to calculate an estimated distance to the obstacle when the obstacle has gone out of detection; and a braking control unit to generate a braking force automatically when the time to collision is a predetermined time or less, and when the obstacle has gone out of detection while the braking force is generated, to release the braking force when the estimated distance is a predetermined threshold (<0) or less, wherein the obstacle is classified into a type depending on precision of the distance and relative speed, to set the predetermined threshold less while the precision is worse.
US09663070B2
A wiper device is provided that suppresses plastic deformation of a blade rubber of a wiper blade without wasting power of a battery installed to a vehicle. A wiper device is equipped with wiper blades that wipe a vehicle front glass, a wiper motor that swings the wiper blades in alternating between an upper turn position and a lower turn position by accompanied rotation of the output shaft, and a control unit that controls the wiper motor. In a case of the vehicle ignition switch being ON or OFF, the control unit controls the wiper motor such that from a stopped position where the wiper blades are located, the wiper blades are swung in a specific range of between a first stopping position and a second stopping position, and then stopped.
US09663068B1
A rodent bait system for use with a vehicle to prevent rodents from entering an interior of the vehicle includes a base assembly having tubular members coupled together by connecting joints, the base assembly being disposed on a ground surface such that the tubular members and connecting joints conform around a tire of the vehicle, the tubular members having at least one entryway for permitting a rodent to enter the base assembly, a housing assembly coupled to a tee coupling of the base assembly, a pair of rods coupled to an interior wall of the tee coupling, and a bait member disposed within the housing assembly and supported by the pair of rods. The rodent enters the entryway of the base assembly and is directed along an interior path defined by any number of the tubular members and connecting joints to permit the rodent access to the bait member.
US09663067B2
Methods and systems for processing communication with electronics associated with a vehicle and with a portable device to provide access to the vehicle. One method includes receiving, at a server, a request from a user via the portable device to grant access to use the vehicle via an electronic key (e-key). The vehicle is pre-associated to a user account that defines use options of the vehicle. The server is configured to generate a unique access code for the request, and the unique access code is configured with privileges for use of the vehicle. The privileges are defined for the unique access code based on an identity of the user and the privileges being active for use of the vehicle. The server is configured to encrypt the unique access code. The encrypting is predefined for decryption by the electronics associated with of the vehicle. The unique access code is sent as an encrypted unique access code to the portable device over a wireless network. The encrypted unique access code is configured for local wireless transmission to the electronics associated with said vehicle. The electronics associated with said vehicle is configured to decrypt the encrypted access code and enable access to use said vehicle in accordance with the privileges for use defined by said unique access code. The privileges for use further defining a period of time during which the unique access code is to remain active for use of the vehicle. The unique access code when active operates as the e-key for the vehicle to enable one or more functions of unlocking of the vehicle, starting the vehicle, driving the vehicle, or locking the vehicle.
US09663062B2
Airbags including tethered inflatable chambers are disclosed. The tethered inflatable chambers can include internal tethers that are configured to break when an internal pressure of a tethered inflatable chamber reaches a predetermined value. Methods of forming an airbag fabric including internal tethers are also disclosed.
US09663059B2
A divider for an airbag includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and at least one opening structured to enable fluid communication between the first side and the second side. A valve cover is positioned on the second side over the at least one opening. The valve cover has a first pair of opposed edges attached to the divider, and another edge extending between the edges of the first pair of opposed edges, the other edge being attached to the divider.
US09663048B2
A control unit for operating a motor vehicle includes a basic module and a function module, which is constructed in a secured run-time environment. The control unit includes predefined first and second interfaces, which each couple the basic module and the function module. The basic module is designed for determining one or more function input quantities, depending on at least one operating quantity, and for providing the function input quantities at the first interface. The basic module is further designed for determining control variables of the actuators, depending on one or more output quantities, which are provided at the second interface. The function module is designed for determining the one or more output quantities, depending on the function input quantities provided t the first interface and a predefined quantity of rules, which output quantities characterize an operating strategy from a quantity of predefined operating strategies, and for providing the output quantities at the second interface.
US09663033B2
Systems and methods for collision avoidance using scored-based collision region of interest are disclosed. One method includes receiving data relating to a plurality of machines disposed at a worksite, the data comprising at least one of a position, speed, and direction of movement for at least one machine of the plurality of machines; determining based at least on the data, a score for at least one machine of the plurality of machines, the score representing a criticality; based at least on the determined score, selecting, a group of machines from the plurality of machines; determining, a spatial map representing a position for at least one machine of the selected group of machines; and determining, based at least on the spatial map, a likelihood of collision for at least one machine of the selected group of machines.
US09663030B2
A vehicle-interlocked terminal lighting control system includes an integrated lighting control interlocking setting unit configured to determine whether to perform integrated lighting control between vehicle interior lighting and terminal lighting. A lighting setting initialization unit is configured to generate an illuminance mapping table defining a mapping relationship between vehicle illuminance level information and terminal illuminance level information. A lighting controller is configured to perform the integrated lighting control using an illuminance value of the vehicle interior lighting and the illuminance mapping table.
US09663028B2
One embodiment induces a display system for use on the exterior of a vehicle having a display, a vehicle speed sensor, a trigger device, and a processor coupled to the speed sensor and the trigger device. The trigger device is configured to identify a trigger event. The processor is configured to implement one of four operational modes of the display system based on the speed and state of the vehicle: a first operational mode when no trigger event is identified, the vehicle is on, and the vehicle is at a first speed; a second operational mode when no trigger event is identified and the vehicle is at a second speed different than the first speed; a third operational mode when the trigger event is identified, and a fourth operational mode in which content is displayed at a second power consumption level less than the first power consumption level. The processor is further configured to render content on the display based upon the operational mode.
US09663025B2
A method of controlling an illumination system for an autonomous vehicle is provided. The method includes: storing, in a memory, a plurality of lighting pattern definitions for controlling the illumination system; receiving, at a processor connected to the memory and the illumination system, state data defining a current state of the autonomous vehicle; at the processor, determining whether each of a plurality of ranked sub-states is active in the autonomous vehicle, based on the state data; at the processor, selecting one of the lighting pattern definitions corresponding to the highest ranked sub-state determined to be active in the autonomous vehicle; and controlling the illumination system according to the selected lighting pattern definition.
US09663023B2
A method for automatically adapting vehicle lighting to the surrounding area of the vehicle is provided. According to the method, an image of an illuminated surrounding area of the vehicle is acquired. It is determined whether a road sign is present in the surrounding area of the vehicle. Once the position of the road sign has been determined, a light emitted by the lighting device of the vehicle is changed in the direction of the determined position of the road sign so as to reduce the reflection of the emitted light from the road sign.
US09663015B2
A transport apparatus for transporting heavy objects includes a chassis, which includes at least two side parts and a platform part and rear part between them, a load space arranged in the middle of the chassis, and at least one wheel mounted on each side of the load space of the chassis, with the aid of an axle. The chassis also includes a front part and second side parts, of which the second side parts, the front part, and the rear part together form a frame enclosed on the horizontal plane, inside of which frame is located at least one wheel on each side of the load space, its axle being supported on at least the second side part.
US09663011B2
A sliding wall system for a storage space structure having a guide, a sliding wall and a drive for displacing the sliding wall along the guide, the drive including a drive cylinder, and a movement of a movable portion of the drive cylinder in a first movement direction is transmitted to the sliding wall via a first pulling means, and a movement of the movable portion of the drive cylinder in a second movement direction is transmitted to the sliding wall via a second pulling means.
US09663009B2
A conveyance seat includes a seatback frame disposed in a seatback and supporting an end of a wire member for supporting an occupant in a manner such that the wire member is movable. The seatback frame includes a supporting plane part that the end of the wire member is disposed therein, the supporting plane part being provided along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wire member. A support portion that supports the wire member in a manner such that the wire member is movable is formed in the supporting plane part.
US09663006B2
A vehicle seat provided in a vehicle includes a headrest with a pad in which an insert member is provided at a portion at which a head of an occupant is received. The insert member has rigidity that is higher than rigidity of the pad. When a rear-side collision occurs in the vehicle in a state in which the head of the occupant is away from the headrest and an inertia force applied to the occupant, the insert member allows the head of the occupant to sink into the headrest after the head of the occupant comes in contact with the headrest.
US09663005B2
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; and a link member coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion, wherein the link member is coupled to be slidable relative to either of the seat back and the seat cushion so that, when the seat back is moved within a region in which the seat back is raised from a forward tilted down position, the link member transmits power from the seat back to the seat cushion to pull up the seat cushion, and when the seat back is tilted within an adjustment region of a backrest angle of the seat back, the link member releases the transmission of the power from the seat back to the seat cushion.
US09662996B2
A method determines the remaining range of a motor vehicle which has an energy store for an electric motor drive which acts the wheels of the motor vehicle. Consumption values which describe the current consumption of the drive and of a secondary consumer are determined using a sensor. A drive prediction value which is assigned to the drive and describes the consumption over a predetermined distance is determined from the consumption values of the drive. A secondary consumption prediction value which is assigned to the secondary consumers and describes the consumption over a predetermined distance is determined separately from the consumption values of the secondary consumers, and the remaining range is determined for a distance which is to be travelled by the motor vehicle and is described by the route data, by taking into account the drive prediction value and the secondary consumption prediction value.
US09662990B2
A door assembly for a charging port for an electric vehicle may include a link assembly mounted to a back of a charging port door to perform a swing operation, in which the door is mounted in a structure capable of being kept at a minimum distance between the door and a vehicle body when the door is open according to the swing operation.
US09662989B2
A fault diagnostic device of a vehicle includes a starting circuit which causes a charger mounted on the vehicle to output a charging start signal and thereby activate a control unit for controlling charging of a battery mounted on the vehicle when a charging gun is connected to the charger. The control unit causes the charger to output the charging start signal when the charger is activated in response to turning on of an ignition switch, and has a fault determination function whereby, if the control unit is not input with the charging start signal, it is judged that a disconnection or power-supply short circuit has occurred in a charging start signal circuit of the starting circuit.
US09662988B2
A method to adjust power management of off-board devices being powered by a vehicle is provided. The method includes entering a plurality of user selected charging levels for each of the off-board devices, each user selected charging level corresponding to one of a plurality of threshold levels of a state of charge (SOC) level; determining a current SOC of a battery pack of the vehicle; adjusting charging levels of individual off-board devices from first user selected charging levels to second user selected charging levels when the current SOC of the battery pack changes from a first threshold value to a second threshold value.
US09662985B2
A switching transistor is configured such that its on resistance RON is switchable between at least two values RON1 and RON2. When the switching transistor is switched from off to on, a control circuit sets the on resistance of the switching transistor to the first value RON1 for a first period immediately after the switching of the switching transistor. Subsequently, for a second period until the switching transistor is turned off, the control circuit sets the on resistance of the switching transistor to the second value RON2 that is smaller than the first value RON1.
US09662982B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an instrument panel support comprising a receiver for an attachment, in particular a head-up display, wherein the instrument panel support is configured as an elongated component extending in the motor vehicle transverse direction, characterized by the following method steps: producing an instrument panel support as a welded component with fastening points at the ends for coupling to a motor vehicle body and at least two protruding arms for receiving the head-up display, inserting the welded component with the fastening points in a calibration tool, moving a die toward the arms, moving one respective stamp die toward the opposing side of the arms and pressing the stamp die against the die, wherein receiving surfaces are stamped in the arms for receiving the head-up display, removing the instrument panel support.
US09662969B2
Provided is an engine device that facilitates fastening between a main machine frame (140) and a side surface of an exhaust gas purification case (38) so that workability of mounting the exhaust gas purification ease (38) can be easily improved. The engine device is provided with the exhaust gas purification case (38) for processing exhaust gas from an engine (1), and the exhaust gas purification ease (38) is disposed on a main machine (120) side on which the engine (1) is mounted. The engine device is provided with the main machine frame (140) on which the engine (1) and the like are mounted. The main machine frame (140) is provided with a bottom support member (141) for supporting the exhaust gas purification case (38) and side support devices (143, 144) for fastening and fixing the exhaust gas purification case (38) to the main machine frame (140) in an attachable and detachable manner.
US09662968B2
A mounting assembly for mounting a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) system within a work vehicle may generally include a support. bracket having a first side and a second side. The mounting assembly may also include a mount plate configured to be coupled to the first side of the bracket. The mount plate may include first and second plate walls and may define an elongated slot through the first plate wall. Additionally, the assembly may include a retention hand configured to at least partially wrap around a housing of the DOC system between a first end configured to he coupled to the mount plate and a second end configured to be coupled to the second side of the support bracket. The mount plate may be configured to he moved laterally relative to the support bracket to allow the retention band to he tightened and loosened around the housing.
US09662958B2
A work vehicle includes a condenser, a fan, a variable mechanism, a fan control unit, an outside air temperature sensor, and a storage unit. The condenser cools a cooling medium used in an air conditioner. The fan cools the condenser. The variable mechanism can change a number of rotations of the fan. The fan control unit controls the variable mechanism. The storage unit stores a plurality of control maps for setting the number of rotations of the fan to respective different numbers of rotations of the fan in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor. The fan control unit controls the variable mechanism in accordance with one control map selected from the plurality of control maps stored in the storage unit based on an operating state of the air conditioner, to control the number of rotations of the fan.
US09662955B2
A vehicle mounted time of flight camera provides repeating images of the scene ahead of a vehicle. Such images are processed to determine topographical features in the scene, and the vehicle suspension is commanded to adopt in advance a configuration appropriate to the nature of the topographical features.
US09662951B1
A method for protecting the suspension and frame of a vehicle is provided. The method may include providing a first working mode where the strut is at a fully expanded state, providing a second working mode where the strut is at a partially collapsed state, and providing a fail-safe working mode where the strut is at a fully collapsed state. The method may further comprise alerting the user that the strut is operating in the fail-safe working mode and servicing the strut by placing a fail-safe member into the strut.
US09662950B2
Energy storing suspension components for use in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles and trailers are disclosed. The energy storing suspension components include an axle seat portion, an end, and a limb extending between the axle seat portion and the end. The limb includes a first taper wherein the limb decreases in width as the limb extends toward the end, a second taper wherein the limb decreases in thickness as the limb extends toward the end, wherein along the limb there is at least a portion where both the first taper and second taper are present, and a third taper that is further from the axle seat portion than the first taper and wherein the limb increases in width as the limb extends toward the end. Also disclosed are combinations of bushings and energy storing suspension components having an end configured to include an eye.
US09662944B2
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to a regulator device. The regulator device regulates the inlet air flow to the air tube and the outlet air flow to the tire cavity.
US09662941B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire with a tread pattern that includes two first circumferential main grooves, shoulder land portions, shoulder lug grooves, shoulder sipes, and narrow circumferential grooves, the shoulder lug grooves being closed off midway in the region of the shoulder land portions without connecting with the first circumferential main grooves and including first regions and second regions that are disposed in the regions closer to the first circumferential main grooves than the first regions and have a groove depth that is less than that of the first regions. The shoulder sipes are connected with the second regions and extend toward the first circumferential main grooves. The narrow circumferential grooves extend in the tire circumferential direction and have a groove width that is less than the groove width of the shoulder lug grooves. The narrow circumferential grooves intersect with the second regions of the shoulder lug grooves.
US09662940B2
Tire and tread for a vehicle for agricultural use having reduced attack to leading faces of tread bars, at axially outer ends thereof, by stubble remaining after harvest, thereby reducing risk of chunking of axially outer ends of the bars. The tire and tread has a plurality of bars, a bar having, in any axial plane (Pxy) parallel to the axis of rotation, a leading profile and a trailing profile. The angle (A) of the straight line (T) tangential to the leading profile at a point (M) on the leading profile, with respect to an equatorial plane (P), increases continuously, from an axially outermost point (E) of the leading profile, when the axial distance (L) between the point (M) and the point (E) increases, the angle (A) reaches a maximum value (Am) at a point of inflection (I) of the leading profile, and the radius of curvature (R) at any point (M), positioned axially between the axially outermost point (E) and the point of inflection (I), is at least equal to 0.4 times the height of the bar.
US09662932B2
A connection between a face portion (12) and a hub portion (14) of a composite wheel (10). The hub portion (14) comprises a generally disc shaped hub plate (16), and the face portion (12) comprises a plurality of spokes (18). The connection comprises an annular hub ring (22) surrounding the hub plate (16), the hub ring (22) comprising a plurality of layers of reinforcement fibers extending in an at least generally circumferential direction about the hub ring (22). The connection also comprises a first plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (24) extending in a generally radial direction R relative to an axis of rotation of the wheel (10), and along a front face of each spoke (18), across a front edge (26) and an inner annular surface (28) of the hub ring (22) and across a front face (30) of the hub plate (16); and a second plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (32) extending in a generally radial direction R along a rear face (33) of each spoke (18), across a rear edge (34) of the hub ring (22) and across a rear face (36) of the hub plate (6). The connection further comprises a third plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (36), the third plurality of layers (36) of reinforcing fibers overlaying the first and second (1) layers of reinforcing fibers (24, 32), the third plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers 36 extending in a direction between +30 degrees and +60 degrees to the radial direction R; and a fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40), the fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40) overlaying the first and second layers of reinforcing fibers (24, (32), the fourth plurality of layers of reinforcing fibers (40) extending in a direction (20) between −30 degrees and −60 degrees to the radial direction R.
US09662930B2
Provided is a painting structure that comprises a reflecting plate and one or more painting layers. The reflecting plate may have a reflective surface. The one or more painting layers may comprise a painting region and a non-painting region. The non-painting region may be oppositely arranged with respect to the reflective surface. The one or more painting layers may be spaced a predetermined distance away from the reflecting plate. At least the painting region may have a plurality of through holes, which may be irregularly arranged and may differ in shape.
US09662928B2
A method for fabricating a curved decoration plate and a curved display device includes the following steps. First, a flexible film is provided. The flexible film is pre-cut along a pre-cutting line with a laser in an unfolded state to form a first part and a second part. Then, a curved substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface is provided. The inner surface includes a light-transmitting region and a peripheral region. Next, the flexible film is stuck on the inner surface and the first part is removed. A decoration material layer is then formed on the exposed inner surface of the curved substrate and the second part. Subsequently, the second part and the decoration material layer disposed thereon are removed.
US09662925B2
The invention relates to anisotropic, reflective, magnetic flakes. In a liquid carrier and under influence of an external magnetic field, the flakes attract to one another side-by-side and form ribbons which provide higher reflectivity to a coating and may be used as a security feature for authentication of an object.
US09662917B2
There is provided a printing control apparatus that is communicably connected to a printing apparatus, the printing control apparatus including a medium information obtaining unit that obtains medium information from the printing apparatus, the medium information including at least one of amount information of a medium mounted in the printing apparatus and mounted state information of the medium, a screen generating unit that generates an information display screen according to the medium information, and a display unit that displays the information display screen.
US09662916B2
A sub-scanning distance in a case in which a gap between a recording head and a platen is broader than a second gap broader a first gap is lengthened more than a sub-scanning distance in a case in which the gap is the first gap more when sub-scanning which is sub-scanning of a longer distance than a pitch of nozzles of a nozzle line in a sub-scanning direction is performed. A sub-scanning distance in a case in which the record density of a print image of a specific print region is second record density higher than first record density may also be lengthened more than a sub-scanning distance in a case in which the record density is the first record density when the sub-scanning which is the sub-scanning of the longer distance than the pitch of the nozzles of the nozzle line in the sub-scanning direction is performed.
US09662912B2
A tape cartridge detachably installed on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus having a first shaft and a second shaft on the cartridge installation portion. The tape cartridge includes a printing tape wound on a tape core, two grasping portions that allow the tape cartridge to be grasped when the tape cartridge is installed to or detached from a tape printing apparatus and are disposed at two opposite places on a side surface of the tape cartridge, a platen that has a first reception portion in which the first shaft is inserted when the tape cartridge is installed and a second reception portion into which the second shaft is inserted when the tape cartridge is installed in the cartridge installation portion. The first reception portion is disposed on an opposite side of the tape core to the second reception portion.
US09662910B2
The disclosure discloses a printer including a controller. The controller executes a reception process, a determination process, a first notification transmission process, a second notification transmission process, a data acquisition process, and a coordination control process. In the determination process, it is determined whether any of a print formation process, a feeding process, and a standby process is executed when a first print instruction is received. In the case that the print formation process or the feeding process is in execution, a first notification is transmitted in the first notification transmission process. In the case that the standby process is in execution, a second notification is transmitted in the second notification transmission process. In the case that none of the print formation process, the feeding process, and the standby process is in execution, print data included in the first print instruction is acquired in the data acquisition process.
US09662909B2
A detector device is disclosed for detecting an edge of a medium in a media processing system, the detector device comprising a spectrophotometer and a processing unit, the spectrophotometer scanning a medium in a media processing area and generating an output tuple, the processing unit comparing the output tuple to at least one reference tuple for detecting an edge of a medium. A printing system and method of detecting an edge of a medium in a media processing system are also disclosed.
US09662908B2
A printer performs a multi-pass printing including a (a)-print process, a (b)-print process, and a (c)-print process between the (a)-print process and the (b)-print process. The (c)-print process includes a (c1)-pass process, a (c2)-pass process, and a process for conveying a sheet feed amount greater than feed amount used in the (a)-print process after the (c1)-pass process and before the (c2)-pass process. An upstream gradient of dot recording rates of active nozzles used for the (c1)-pass process is greater than that for the (a)-print process. A downstream gradient of the dot recording rates for the (c1)-pass process is greater than or equal to that for the (a)-print process. A downstream gradient of the dot recording rates of for the (c2)-pass process is the same as the upstream gradient for the (c1)-pass process.
US09662901B2
A control method for printer, the control method includes: controlling a first group of heating units of a printing head to output first printing energy to form printing dots with a first density on a printing medium; and controlling a second group of heating units of the printing head to continue outputting second printing energy to form printing dots with a second density on the printing medium, wherein the second group of heating units consists of heating units need to implement printing energy compensation in the first group of heating units. By means of the control method, the printing densities of the printing dots corresponding to the heating units need to implement printing energy compensation are improved, and the problem of non-uniform printing density of each printing dot caused by non-uniform pressure exerted on the printing platen by the printing head can be effectively solved.
US09662898B2
A liquid storage container supplies ink to a printer which consumes the ink, and includes a liquid storage body which includes a liquid lead-out port communicating with the printer and a filler port formed to pour the liquid to the liquid storage container, an auxiliary holding member which is mounted to be slidable to a side in which the filler port is formed, and a memory unit holding member which is detachably configured to the auxiliary holding member and includes a memory unit.
US09662897B2
Many devices, such as printers, work with one or more removable unit. Often, the removable units have an electronic circuit that used to communicate with the device. It may be desirable to provide a replacement unit in these devices. The replacement unit must include an electronic circuit that is able to communicate with the original device. Disclosed is a method and apparatus where a replacement unit is provided with a new electronic circuit and a used electronic circuit. The new electronic circuit is electrically connected to the used electronic circuit and uses the used electronic circuit to facilitate communication with the host device.
US09662896B2
A cap attached to an ink supply unit that supplies ink to a liquid ejection apparatus is provided. The cap has a sealing portion adapted to seal a liquid supply portion of the ink supply unit and an engagement portion adapted to engage with the engaging portion of the ink supply unit. The cap also has an opening provided in a portion opposed to the terminal portion of the ink supply unit such that at least a part of the terminal portion is exposed through the opening in a state where the protection member is attached to the liquid supply unit.
US09662885B2
A process for producing a liquid ejection head includes steps of providing an element substrate having an element for generating energy to be utilized for ejecting a liquid, a wiring substrate electrically connected to the element substrate through a lead wire, and a support member having a first support portion and a second support portion; applying a sealant to the second support portion; placing the element substrate on the first support portion and bringing the lead wire into contact with the sealant applied to the second support portion; and curing the sealant.
US09662884B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid jetting apparatus includes: a wire formation step of forming a wire so that a part of the wire covers a piezoelectric film; and an electrode formation step of forming a second electrode, after the wire formation step, on a surface of the piezoelectric film on a side far from a vibration film so as to be in electrical conduction with the wire. The liquid jetting apparatus includes: a flow passage formation portion; and a piezoelectric actuator having the vibration film provided on the flow passage formation portion, the piezoelectric film arranged on the vibration film, a first electrode arranged on a surface of the piezoelectric film on a side near to the vibration film, the second electrode arranged on the surface of the piezoelectric film on the side far from the vibration film, and the wire connected to the second electrode.
US09662883B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a set-up surface that faces a support body in a negative Z direction and that is fixed to the support body, an ejection surface that faces in a positive Z direction and in which are located nozzles that eject ink, and a first support surface and a second support surface that face in the positive Z direction and are located on the negative Z direction side of the ejection surface, and, when viewed in the Z direction, are separated from each other with the ejection surface interposed therebetween in the Y direction.
US09662871B2
An automatic applicator of a sticky back material to a printing sleeve is disclosed. The applicator includes a controller that is programmable with data relating to the size and desired positioning of the sticky back material to the sleeve. The sticky back material is secured to a transport system and cut to the desired size by a cutter, creating a sheet. The sheet is then transported between a pressure roller and the sleeve. The pressure roller applies pressure to the sticky back sheet, applying the sheet to the sleeve. A mandrel grips and rotates the sleeve to apply the sticky back sheet around an exterior surface of the sleeve.
US09662867B2
Die-cuttable and printable adhesive containing labelstocks for use in preparing die cut adhesive labels, and methods of preparing the labelstocks and die cut labels are described. The labelstocks comprise extruded machine direction oriented monolayer or multilayer films and an adhesive layer. The monolayer films comprise a mixture of about 25% to 80% by weight of a propylene polymer or copolymer, and from about 20% to about 75% by weight of a polyethylene. The films are stretch oriented in the machine direction at a temperature at about or above the melting temperature of the polyethylenes.
US09662859B2
A roll of composite edge trimming tape made by adhering masking tape to filament-bearing adhesive tape. The filament-bearing adhesive tape is made from a double-coated tape having a substrate layer and two adhesive layers. A filament is placed along the length of the masking tape in contact with one of the adhesive layers at equal distances from the edges of the tape. The tape is then folded so that the portions of the tape on either side of the filament are bonded together by the adhesive layer, and the tape surrounds the filament at one end of the filament-bearing adhesive tape. The composite edge trimming tape is formed by bringing the adhesive side of the masking tape in contact with an adhesive surface of the filament-bearing adhesive tape so one longitudinal edge of the masking tape is proximate to the portion of the filament-bearing adhesive tape containing the filament.
US09662858B1
Provided is a molding packaging material that can have an increased use life, can suppress a decrease over time in inter-layer lamination strength, and has superior molding properties in extrusion molding, draw forming, and the like. The laminate molding packaging material contains: an outside substrate layer (2) comprising a heat-resistant resin; an inside sealant layer (3) comprising a thermoplastic resin; and a metal foil provided between the two layers as a barrier layer (4). In the heat-resistant resin of the outside substrate layer (2), a biaxially oriented polyethyleneterephthalate film is used that, when the tensile breaking strength in the M direction is MB and the tensile breaking strength in the T direction is TB, the following are satisfied: formula (I) 500 MPa=MB+TB=700 MPa; and formula (II) ¦MB−TB¦=30 MPa.
US09662857B2
A stitched multi-layer fabric including a face layer, a barrier layer disposed over the face layer, where the barrier layer is configured to inhibit fluid flow, a batting layer disposed over the barrier layer, a first yarn disposed over the batting layer, and a second yarn securing the first yarn to the batting layer, securing the face layer, the barrier layer, and the batting layer together, and forming stitch holes in the barrier layer. A melted portion of the barrier layer fills a portion of the stitch holes in the barrier layer.
US09662854B2
A sandwich component (10) having a honeycomb core layer (4) and at least one fiber-reinforced thermoplastic outer layer (3) and the corresponding production method. The outer layer (3) is connected to the honeycomb core layer (4) by a thermoplastic material. At least one side of the sandwich component (10 has a decorative layer (1,1′), which is arranged on the outer layer (3). The sandwich component (10) furthermore has at least one foam layer (2), which is arranged between the outer layer (3) and the decorative layer (1,1′), and which is connected to the outer layer (3) and the decorative layer (1,1′).
US09662844B2
Self-sealing elastomer composition that can be used especially as a puncture-resistant layer in an inflatable article, comprising: as predominant elastomer, an unsaturated diene elastomer; between 30 and 90 phr of a hydrocarbon resin; and 0 to less than 30 phr of a filler. Also disclosed is an article such as a tire provided with a puncture-resistant layer comprising the self-sealing elastomer composition. The puncture-resistant layer is advantageously combined with an airtight layer, for example based on butyl rubber, so as to form, in the inflatable article, a puncture-resistant airtight laminate.
US09662840B1
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium. The disclosure delineates real time manipulation of three-dimensional printing to reduce deformation. The present disclosure further provides 3D object formed using the methods, apparatuses, and systems.
US09662836B2
A method for forming three-dimensional objects is disclosed. The method includes printing building material, layer by layer, to form a three dimensional object by depositing building material in layers onto a printing tray to form a three dimensional object and maintaining the uppermost layers being deposited in a flowable state by a temperature control after layers below the uppermost layers are solidified.
US09662829B2
Advanced ultrasonic welding components of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/925,652 are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but owners of existing machines utilizing heat-seal stations were unsuccessful at swapping the sealing packages. Retrofit kits to a replace heat sealing station with an advanced ultrasonic sonotrode and anvil comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; first and second bearing carriages being slidable upon the rail; and first and second fluidic muscles. Each of the fluidic muscles is mounted with a first end fixed to a respective housing wall, and a second end fixed to a respective bearing carriage, permitting actuation of each carriage through pressurization and depressurization of the muscles. The advanced anvil and sonotrode may be secured to respective carriages. In-line arrangements of anvil/sonotrode, bearing carriages, the first fluidic muscle, and the second fluidic muscle provides a narrow profile, permitting side-by-side kit installations for retrofits accomplishing duplex sealing on a horizontal machine.
US09662828B2
An apparatus for controlling a tempering device of a blow-molding machine for tempering at least one blow mold member of a blow mold or a blow mold member carrier to a target temperature, with a device for receiving a temperature actual value of the blow mold member or the blow mold member carrier, where the temperature actual value is measured by a temperature measuring device in the blow mold member or the blow mold member carrier, devices for receiving a temperature target value of the blow mold member or the blow mold member carrier, analyzing the received temperature actual value and the received temperature target value, calculating a setting value for the tempering device from the received temperature actual value and the received temperature target value, and transmitting the setting value to the tempering device.
US09662814B2
The invention relates to a process for generating a porous material having homogeneous, gas-containing inclusions in the micrometer and sub-micrometer range, and also to the material produced by such process.
US09662811B2
A number of variations may include a method that may include providing a composite material that may include nano-tubes that may include pressure activated resin, forming the composite material such that the resin within the nano-tubes may begin to cure, holding the composite material in a formed state, removing the composite material from the formed state, and curing the composite material.
US09662810B2
A sheet manufacturing method includes defibrating a defibration object in the atmosphere, mixing, in the atmosphere, additive agents including resin into a defibrated material that has been defibrated, adjusting moisture of a mixture of the defibrated material and the additive agents, and heating the mixture that has been moisture-adjusted.
US09662807B2
Disclosed are methods and devices for the formation of fabric preforms that may be subsequently impregnated with a resin to form a composite component. One end of the fabric is received on the form such that the axial tows of the fabric extend in a direction generally perpendicular to a central axis of the form. At least some of the plurality of axial tows are separately tensioned on an end of the fabric not attached to the form and the fabric is wrapped around the form by rotating the fabric and form relative to one another about the central axis.
US09662806B2
A kneading device includes: a preliminary kneading device that produces a preslurry by agitating a powder and a liquid introduced and transferring them while wetting the powder with the liquid; and a main kneading device that causes the powder to be uniformly dispersed in the preslurry supplied from the preliminary kneading device to produce a slurry. The main kneading device includes a gap defined by two conical surfaces that face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween and rotate relative to each other about their central axes. The slurry is produced by passing the preslurry through the gap. With the preliminary kneading device, the powder is dispersed in the liquid after conforming to the liquid, which suppress damage to the powder. The conditions of main kneading can be changed only by adjusting the gap, which facilitates the operation of changing the conditions of the main kneading.
US09662800B2
A cutting and dust or slurry collecting assembly that includes: a circular saw blade, a blade guard, and a cover device. The cover device has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, a bottom surface, elongated sidewalls, and a longitudinal passage for the saw blade. The blade guard and the cover device are pivotally connected or connectable to one another via a hinge in or adjacent to a lower rear corner of the blade guard. A discharge member is provided at the rear of the hinge and has an outlet which can be connected to a vacuum source. A connection member connects the discharge member with the longitudinal passage and the cut created rear of the longitudinal passage.
US09662788B2
A communication draw-in system that enables robot-human communication to start smoothly is provided. The communication draw-in system is a communication draw-in system provided in a robot that communicates with a target human, and includes: a human specifying unit 200 for specifying a position of the target human; a light source control unit 201 for moving light toward the specified position of the target human; a draw-in control unit 203 for instructing the robot to perform a draw-in operation for making the target human recognize a direction of the robot; and a human recognition specifying unit 204 for determining whether or not the target human has recognized the robot, wherein the robot is instructed to start communicating with the target human, in the case where the target human is determined to have recognized the robot.
US09662783B2
The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to a micromanipulator arrangement that includes at least one drive stem, at least one movable element arranged on the drive stem to move along the drive stem wherein the drive stem being arranged to cause a change in a position of the movable element with respect to the drive stem; wherein an additional factor exists having an effect in the change of the position of the movable element and the micromanipulator arrangement further comprises means for compensating said additional factor such that said effect is diminished.
US09662782B2
Disclosed is a mobile robot for detecting and repairing damages of a hull, including: a mobile robot unit which includes at least one frame to which motor-driven drive wheels are installed, frame connectors which flexibly connect the frames with each other, and at least one robot electromagnet and adsorption module mounted on each of the frames, and is configured to be attached to the hull through the robot electromagnet so as to move or stop on a surface of the hull by the drive wheels; a stage unit which includes a rechargeable battery mounted therein to supply power to the mobile robot unit, and a docking module provided to dock with or separate from the mobile robot unit; and a connection line configured to be wound or unwound while receiving tension controlled by the stage unit, and electrically connected between the mobile robot unit and the stage unit.
US09662779B1
An ergonomic counter-balanced handled tool that is ergonomic and counter-balanced includes a tube that is angled proximate to a midpoint of the tube defining a lower section and an upper section of the tube. The lower section extends transversely from the upper section. A counterweight is slidably coupled to the upper section proximate to a first end of the tube. The counterweight is positionable at a user-selected distance from the first end. A tool is reversibly couplable to a second end of the tube. A harness is couplable to the upper section of the tube, such that the harness is configured to position around a user's shoulder. The counterweight is positioned to extend from the first end of the tube such that the tool and a respective load positioned at the second end are substantially balanced relative to the harness.
US09662777B2
The invention provides, in one aspect, a pneumatic fastener driver including a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder. The piston is moveable between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The driver also includes a magnetic latch emitting a magnetic field that magnetically attracts the piston and is capable of holding the piston in the top-dead-center position with a magnetic force. The magnetic latch is adjustable to vary the magnetic force acting on the piston for driving fasteners into a workpiece at different depths.
US09662775B2
A tool for removing a stud includes a housing, a cage and a canted coil spring. The housing has an interior sidewall with a three-lobed cam and a groove. Each lobe has a counterclockwise cam inner surface and a clockwise cam inner surface on the opposite side of the lobe center line. The cage has a top surface, a tapered terminus and a groove disposed between the top surface and the tapered terminus. The cage includes jaws, in which the jaw outer cam surface of each jaw interfaces with the cam inner surface of the interior sidewall. The canted coil spring rotatably couples the cage to the housing. During stud removal, the housing rotates counterclockwise relative to the cage and the cage rotates counterclockwise to engage the stud.
US09662771B2
A fixing fixture adapted to fix an assembling component is provided. The fixing fixture includes a base and at least one positioning component. The positioning component is pivoted with the base and has a supporting portion and a positioning portion. When the positioning component is located at a first position, the assembling component is adapted to push the supporting portion to drive the positioning component to rotate to a second position, such that the positioning portion is closely pressed against the assembling component. When the positioning component is located at the second position and the positioning portion is closely pressed against the assembling component, a fastening component is adapted to rotate along an axis to be fastened onto the assembling component, and the positioning portion stops the assembling component from rotating along the axis with the fastening component.
US09662767B2
A sanding drum assembly in one embodiment includes at least one elastic friction member defining an outer perimeter, a plurality of feet located inwardly of the at least one elastic friction member, each of the plurality of feet including a movable portion movable between a first position whereat the plurality of feet define a first outermost circumference and a second position whereat the plurality of feet define a second outermost circumference, wherein the second outermost circumference is larger than the first outermost circumference, and an actuator, wherein the plurality of feet and the actuator are configured such that as the actuator and the plurality of feet change from a first configuration to a second configuration, the plurality of feet are forced from the first position to the second position.
US09662763B2
Provided is a polishing composition containing at least aluminum oxide abrasive grains and water, and having a pH of 8.5 or higher. The aluminum oxide abrasive grains have a specific surface area of 20 m2/g or less. It is preferable for the aluminum oxide abrasive grains to have an average secondary particle size of 0.1 μm or more and 20 μm or less. The polishing composition is used for polishing hard and brittle materials having a Vickers hardness of 1,500 Hv or higher, such as sapphire, silicon carbide, and gallium nitride.
US09662761B2
A polishing apparatus capable of stably controlling a pressure in a pressure chamber of a top ring is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table for supporting a polishing pad; a rotatable top ring having a pressure chamber for pressing a substrate against the polishing pad; a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of a gas in the pressure chamber; and a buffer tank provided between the pressure chamber and the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator includes a pressure-regulating valve, a pressure gauge configured to measure the pressure of the gas at a downstream side of the pressure-regulating valve, and a valve controller configured to control an operation of the pressure-regulating valve so as to minimize a difference between a target value of the pressure in the pressure chamber and a pressure value measured by the pressure gauge.
US09662756B2
Feed tools and methods of use for initiating a change in a spindle feed direction from an advance direction that moves the spindle towards a workpiece to a retract direction that moves the spindle away from the workpiece. The tool and methods may use a thrust overload force that is generated on one or more of the components to initiate the shift from forward to retract and/or a lift ring that acts on one or more of the components. The tool and methods may also include a two-stage piston to accomplish the shift. The various components may be used independently or in combination within the tool.
US09662753B1
Disk drive spindle with fluid journal bearing having increased radial clearance in axial end regions
A method to fabricate a fluid bearing spindle includes creating a hollow cylindrical bore through a solid workpiece. The hollow cylindrical bore has a journal bearing portion including first and second distal tapered bearing segments separated by a central bearing segment having a constant radius. Each of the first and second distal tapered bearing segments has a tapered bearing radius that increases with distance from the central bearing segment to a maximum tapered bearing radius that is in the range of 0.5 microns to 1.5 microns greater than the constant radius. Subsequently, a cylindrical spindle shaft is inserted into the hollow cylindrical bore. In an alternative embodiment, a cylindrical outer surface of the spindle shaft includes the tapered bearing segments, rather than the hollow cylindrical bore.
US09662750B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus for attachment to a pipe cutter having a saddle portion is disclosed comprising a first member suitable for mounting to the saddle portion, a second member suitable for mounting to a pipe and a pivoting joint to pivotally connect first member to second member. In another embodiment, an apparatus for attachment to a pipe cutter having a saddle portion is disclosed comprising a first member suitable for mounting to the saddle portion, a second member suitable for mounting to a pipe, a pivoting joint to pivotally connect first member to second member, pipe mounting means to securely mount second member to said pipe, angle adjustment means and at least one fastener to securely fasten first member to the saddle portion of the pipe cutter.
US09662748B2
There is provided a metal nanoparticle dispersion which can be bonded at a lower temperature (for example, 200° C. or less), and enabling to obtain excellent mechanical properties and electric properties of the bonded portion, the metal nanoparticle dispersion, including: metal nanoparticles, with at least a part of a surface of each particle coated with amine A having 8 or more carbon atoms; and a dispersion medium for dispersing the metal nanoparticles, wherein the dispersion medium contains amine B which is primary, secondary, or tertiary amine having 7 or less carbon atoms, and which is linear alkyl amine or alkanol amine.
US09662744B2
A laser irradiation device in which laser light is adjusted to create a laser beam, including a protective glass window arranged in an emission region that emits the laser beam; a reflection mechanism that passes the laser beam and reflects visible light; a wavelength-dependent optical screening mechanism that cuts off light of a wavelength region other than visible light from the light that is reflected by the reflection mechanism; image pickup camera configured to capture the visible light reflected with the reflection optical element; and an image adjustment lens unit that adjusts an image in the visible light that is input from the wavelength-dependent optical screening mechanism. The wavelength-dependent optical screening mechanism is provided between the reflection optical element and the image camera.
US09662741B2
The metal forming method includes deforming a member to be formed (2) that includes a second metal and that has been heated and bringing the member into contact with a member to be bonded (3) that includes a first metal and that has been heated, in which the temperature of the member to be bonded (3) is a temperature at which a liquid phase percentage in the member to be bonded (3) is from 5 to 35%.
US09662740B2
A method for making a tube is described in which a multi-layer billet is extruded to provide a tube having a wall comprising an inner layer metallurgically bonded to an outer layer.
US09662734B2
A welding device for a production system having a welding tool and a control device operatively connected to the welding tool. The control device can be configured to control the control the welding tool to connect at least two components with a welded connection with reference to a first parameter. The first parameter defines the welded connection. The control device can be furthered configured to access the first parameter for the welded connection with reference to a hierarchy, wherein the hierarchy identifies a second parameter assigned to the first parameter and the second parameter contains a third parameter, wherein the second parameter defines a welding task and the third parameter defines a first combination of values.
US09662731B2
A reflow oven includes a chamber housing including surfaces that are in contact with heated air mixed with contaminants, including flux, and a water-soluble layer selectively applied to the surfaces of the chamber housing. Embodiments of the reflow oven include an acrylic-based layer, such as an acrylic paint. In one embodiment, the acrylic paint includes a water-soluble polymer, a polymer emulsion, and water. The water-soluble polymer includes butyl benzyl phthalate. In some embodiments, the acrylic paint includes 1-10% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 30-55% by weight acrylic polymer emulsion, and balance water. In a certain embodiment, the acrylic paint includes 1-5% by weight butyl benzyl phthalate, 35-50% by weight acrylic poly emulsion, and balance water. Methods of treating surfaces of the reflow oven are further disclosed.
US09662718B2
A drill includes a cutting section having a cylindrical shape and configured to be rotated about a rotation axis. The cutting section includes a first cutting section and a second cutting section, at a front end portion thereof, a first flute continuous with the first cutting section and extending helically around the rotation axis toward a rear end of the cutting section, and a second flute continuous with the second cutting section and extending helically around the rotation axis toward the rear end of the cutting section. The first cutting section includes a first inner cutting edge and a first outer cutting edge positioned closer to the outer peripheral surface than the first inner cutting edge and gradually inclined to the rear end of the cutting section toward the outer peripheral surface. The first inner cutting edge is positioned closer to the rear end of the cutting section than the inner end of the first outer cutting edge.
US09662717B2
A drill bit or boring tool having cutting edge that includes a pair of generally smooth curvilinear shaped portions that are positioned near the radial outer portions of the cutting edge and connected to one another by a pair of generally linear portions that traverse the longitudinal centerline of the tool.
US09662714B2
A hydraulic expansion chuck for receiving a tool includes a chuck body, an expansion bushing which is received in the chuck body and defines a chuck opening, a pressure chamber which is interposed between the expansion bushing and the chuck body, and a reduction sleeve. The reduction sleeve is received in the chuck opening of the expansion bushing and defines a tool holder receptacle for receiving the tool to be chucked. The reduction sleeve includes a connector element configured to releasably attach the reduction sleeve to the chuck body. The reduction sleeve also may include an adjustment element configured to adjust the axial position of the tool in the tool holder receptacle.
US09662713B2
A jaw for use in a drill chuck having a longitudinal center axis, comprising a chuck body which includes a jaw face formed on an inner surface of the chuck body and a plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the chuck body, the jaw face being substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis. A ridge depends inwardly from the jaw face toward the longitudinal center axis. The ridge includes a tool engaging surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center axis and has a width of between 0.020 to 0.060 inches.
US09662701B2
A method for expanding a rectangular section ring to form a non-rectangular section ring. The method includes heating a rectangular section ring of an alloy to a temperature of between 1000 and 1020° C., preheating an expanding block to a temperature of between 260 and 320° C., nesting the inner circumferential surface of the rectangular section ring on the outer circumferential surface of the expanding block; enabling the expanding block to press the inner circumferential surface of the ring in the radial direction, expanding the inner and outer diameter of the rectangular section ring and decreasing the wall thickness thereof for deforming the rectangular section ring to yield a profiled ring billet, whereby finishing a first expanding; rotating the profiled ring billet for 45° along the central axis, whereby finishing a first rotation; and repeating the expanding process and the rotation to obtain a non-rectangular section ring.
US09662689B2
A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.
US09662687B2
A cleaning method involves: disposing in a cleaning liquid held in a cleaning tank an object to be cleaned; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid via an intermediate medium in contact with the cleaning tank to clean said object, the ultrasonically vibrating involving: ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium allowing sonic velocities, respectively, having a first difference; and ultrasonically vibrating the cleaning liquid with the cleaning liquid and the intermediate medium allowing sonic velocities, respectively, having a second difference different from the first difference.
US09662684B2
The application describes several methods and an apparatus for treatment of a substrate. In those methods, at least one liquid is applied thereto and electromagnetic radiation is generated in the liquid by means of radiation before applying the liquid to the substrate. Electromagnetic radiation is introduced into the film such that at least a portion of the radiation reaches the substrate surface. In another method for changing the surface characteristics of a substrate having an at least partially hydrophobic substrate surface such that at least a portion of said surface gets a hydrophilic surface characteristic, a liquid is applied to at least the partial area of the surface of the substrate, and UV radiation of a predetermined wavelength is guided onto at least the partial area of the surface of said substrate.
US09662680B2
An ultrasonic transducer is provided that includes an ultrasonic wave generator having piezoelectric vibrators, and cases having ultrasonic wave emission holes and accommodating the ultrasonic wave generator. Acoustic paths in which air serves as a medium are formed by the ultrasonic wave generator and the and extend from the piezoelectric vibrators to the ultrasonic wave emission holes. Resonance of air is generated in the acoustic paths by ultrasonic waves generated by the piezoelectric vibrators in which the ultrasonic wave emission holes are open ends of the resonance. The piezoelectric vibrators are driven at a driving frequency at which the temperature-sound pressure characteristic for the resonance of air and the temperature-amplitude characteristic at the driving frequency of the piezoelectric vibrators have opposite tendencies.
US09662677B2
Method of coating an expandable member, e.g. balloon, is provided, the method comprising providing an expandable member having an outer surface. The method includes a plasma treatment with a supply of gas performed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable member. A therapeutic agent is applied on at least the plasma treated portion of the outer surface of the expandable member after the plasma treatment is performed. The plasma treatment can reduce the adhesion of therapeutic agent to the surface of the expandable member. A medical device made by the disclosed method is also provided.
US09662676B2
An attachment part with a coupling part by means of which coupling part the attachment part can be attached to a dispensing unit. The coupling part has a female cone area, with a continuous inlet opening, and a locking structure arranged around the female cone area. The female cone area can be pushed onto a male cone area of the dispensing unit, in order thereby to connect the attachment part to the dispensing unit. The locking structure serves to secure the attachment part on the dispensing unit. The first coupling part additionally has a rotation element, which is rotatable concentrically about the female cone area and on which the first locking structure is formed. The rotation element has an actuating element, which serves to rotate the rotation element relative to the female cone area.
US09662674B2
A fountain system and method of providing same is provided. This involves a plurality of communication nodes, each communication node being configured to operate when submerged in a liquid; and a plurality of fountain components for providing a plurality of fountain jets of liquid, each fountain component being linked to a communication node in the plurality of communication nodes and being operable to provide a fountain jet of liquid in the plurality of fountain jets of liquid. The plurality of communication nodes are operable to receive a plurality of fountain control signals transmitted through the liquid. The plurality of communication nodes are operable to control the plurality of fountain jets by communicating to each communication node in the plurality of communication nodes an associated fountain control signal for controlling the fountain component linked to that communication node. The plurality of fountain control signals are transmitted at a frequency in the range of 100 MHz to 1.2 GH.
US09662673B2
A coating agent pump for conveying a coating agent, in particular a paint, an adhesive or a sealing agent. The coating agent pump comprises a pump inlet for admitting the coating agent to be conveyed and a pump outlet for delivering the coating agent conveyed by the coating agent pump. In addition to the pump inlet and the pump outlet, a cleaning opening is provided for cleaning the coating agent pump of the coating agent situated in the coating agent pump.
US09662656B2
A tub grinder has a rotor with hammers that pass between adjacent slug bars. The slug bars have a riser bar portion disposed on the top of the slug bars, the riser bar portions extending vertically higher on one end of each respective slug bar than on the other end of each respective slug bar so that the hammers extend farther beyond the top of the riser bar and slug bar when they pass by first end than when they pass by the second end of the riser bar.
US09662655B2
A system including a nearly horizontal jaw movable to reduce a size of frangible material, a stationary cover around a top side of the jaw, an area is defined between an outer surface of the jaw and an inner surface of the cover, and a drive mechanism to cause the jaw to move to vary the area between the cover and the jaw to reduce the size of frangible material within the area. Another system and method are also disclosed.
US09662642B2
A method of making for aluminosilicate zeolite SSZ-98 is disclosed using a structure directing agent selected from trimethylphenylammonium cations, cationic 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, and combinations thereof.
US09662635B2
The catalytic composition for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is a metal oxide supported by multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The metal oxide may be nickel oxide (NiO) or tin dioxide (SnO2). The metal oxides form 20 wt % of the catalyst. In order to make the catalysts, a metal oxide precursor is first dissolved in deionized water to form a metal oxide precursor solution. The metal oxide precursor solution is then sonicated and the solution is impregnated in a support material composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to form a slurry. The slurry is then sonicated to form a homogeneous solid solution. Solids are removed from the homogeneous solid solution and dried in an oven for about 24 hours at a temperature of about 110° C. Drying is then followed by calcination in a tubular furnace under an argon atmosphere for about three hours at a temperature of 450° C.
US09662633B2
The invention relates to a desiccant suitable for being used with an organic EL element having a solid sealing structure. The desiccant is provided for suppressing any effect on an organic layer, and guaranteeing flowability while being filled. An organic EL element has a container, which includes an element substrate on which a laminate of a pair of electrodes and an organic layer located between the pair of electrodes is disposed, a sealing substrate spaced apart from the element substrate, a sealing agent disposed between the element substrate and the sealing substrate thereby hermetically sealing the container, and the desiccant disposed inside the container. In this configuration, the container is filled with the desiccant, and the laminate is thus surrounded by the desiccant. The desiccant is obtained by mixing a water-trapping agent with silicone. The water-trapping agent is present in an amount of 50-95% by weight and the silicone is present in an amount of 5-50% by weight based on the total weight of the desiccant.
US09662632B1
A method including exposing a gas mixture comprising a noble gas to a metal organic framework (MOF), including an organic electron donor and an adsorbent bed operable to adsorb a noble gas from a mixture of gases, the adsorbent bed including a metal organic framework (MOF) including an organic electron donor.
US09662630B2
An agglomerate is provided that can include an aluminosilicate (ash) base material and one or more of a binding agent or leach reduction agent. Each of the agglomerate and binding agent can include no more than about 25 wt. % cement.
US09662629B2
The present invention relates to carbon nanocomposite sorbents. The present invention provides carbon nanocomposite sorbents, methods for making the same, and methods for separation of a pollutant from a gas that includes that pollutant. Various embodiments provide a method for reducing the mercury content of a mercury-containing gas.
US09662627B2
An embodiment of the invention includes a riser reactor for reacting a feedstock and catalyst. The riser reactor wall defines an interior. A continuous refractory lining is attached to the reactor wall and defines a plurality of flow disruptors that extend inward from the wall into the reactor interior and disrupt flow patterns of the feedstock and catalyst.
US09662621B2
A drug reconstitution device comprising a disposable liquid transfer unit (18) and a reusable control and drive unit (16) removably connectable to the liquid transfer unit, the liquid transfer unit including a housing (26), a docking interface (30) configured for coupling at least one of the first and second constituent containers (2, 4) to the housing (10), and a pump engine (28) and fluid flow system (36) configured for transferring liquid from the first constituent container (2) to the second constituent container (4). The control and drive unit comprises a pump drive (22) configured to drive the pump engine during a liquid transfer action, the pump drive comprising a transmission output coupling (34) removably engaged with a transmission input coupling (50) of the pump engine (28) when the liquid transfer unit and control and drive unit are connected.
US09662615B2
A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes the step of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the step of applying the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to the porous support includes the step of combining the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer with a non-polar solvent at a concentration of at least 0.18 weight percent to form a coating solution which is applied to the surface of the porous support, and wherein the interfacial polymerization is conducted in the presence of a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound which is provided in a molar ratio of at least 0.5:1 with the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer. Many additional embodiments are described including membranes made from the subject method and applications for such membranes.
US09662614B2
A system, method and device are disclosed for bio-processing a feed stream and providing a constant output by operating a continuous single-pass tangential-flow process. The single-pass process provides high conversion concentration while operating at relatively low feed flow rates, and the process can also be used to provide constant output diafiltration.
US09662612B2
An object of the present invention is to appropriately remove, from an exhaust gas, HC, CO, and ammonia flowing out from a filter (SCRF) on which an SCR catalyst is carried. In the present invention, a post-catalyst 8 is provided for an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine on a downstream side from SCRF along with a flow of the exhaust gas. The post-catalyst 8 is constructed to include an adsorption reduction part 81c which adsorbs ammonia and which reduces NOx by using ammonia as a reducing agent, a first oxidation part 81b which oxidizes ammonia, and a second oxidation part 82 which oxidizes HO and CO.
US09662606B2
The problem of providing a metal complex having excellent gas adsorption performance, gas storage performance, and gas separation performance is solved by a metal complex comprising a dicarboxylic acid compound (I) including 20 to 99 mole % of a dicarboxylic acid compound (I-1) selected from terephthalic acid derivatives having an electron-donating group in the 2nd position such as 2-methoxyterephthalic acid, 2-methylterephthalic acid, and terephthalic acid, and 80 to 1 mole % of a dicarboxylic acid compound (I-2) selected from terephthalic acid derivatives having an electron-withdrawing group in the 2nd position such as 2-nitroterephthalic acid, 2-fluoroterephthalic acid, 2-chloroterephthalic acid, 2-bromoterephthalic acid, and 2-iodoterephthalic acid; at least one kind of metal ion selected from metal ions belonging to Group 2 and Groups 7 to 12 of the periodic table; and an organic ligand capable of bidentate binding to the metal ion.
US09662602B2
The invention relates to a method of sorting submillimetric particles entrained in a fluid flowing in an axial direction of a main channel, the particles being of density different from the density of the fluid, and the method being characterized in that it implements, in a first region of the main channel, focusing of the particles along a wall (7) of the main channel (1) by means of at least one focusing device (3), and downstream from said region, collecting of particles in at least one sorting and take-off device (40) in communication with the main channel (1) via an opening such that the particles collected are selected by the take-off device as a function of the size of said particles, and in that said at least one sorting and take-off device is a recirculation chamber (40) in communication with the main channel (1) and presenting at least one recirculation zone (41) for concentrating the collected particles.
US09662600B2
High efficiency and high capacity glass-free filtration media include a blend of synthetic non-fibrillated staple fibers and fibrillated cellulosic staple fibers, wherein the fibrillated cellulosic fibers are present in the media in an amount to achieve an overall filtration efficiency at 4 microns of 95% or higher and a ratio of filtration capacity to media caliper of 0.5 mg/in2/mils and greater. The filtration media is made by forming a wet laid sheet from a fibrous slurry blend of the synthetic non-fibrillated staple fibers and fibrillated cellulosic staple fibers, followed by drying the sheet to obtain the filtration media. Optionally, the filtration media may be provided with a resin binder and may be grooved and/or pleated.
US09662597B1
Methods for handling raw oil are disclosed herein. Systems for handling raw oil are disclosed herein. Housing module structures related thereto are disclosed herein.
US09662583B2
Provided are a portable game device and a method of controlling the portable game device capable of making improved use of an image generated by image pickup unit. A pickup object image generating unit (52) picks up an image of a pickup object and generates a pickup object image. A pickup object distance measuring unit (54) measures a distance to the pickup object. An information processing execution unit (56) executes information processing based on the pickup object image and the distance measured by the pickup object distance measuring unit (54).
US09662581B2
Player character related information stored in a player character related information memory changes in accordance with progress of a video game. Initial area information stored in an initial area information memory indicates an initial state of each of a plurality of areas on which a player character can move. Latest area information stored in a latest area information memory indicates a progress status of the video game in the same area as the area indicated by the initial area information, and is updated in accordance with progress of the video game in the area. It is determined whether to use the initial area information or latest area information in response to an operation of the player. The player character related information is updated in accordance with control content using the latest area information in a case where it is determined to use the latest area information.
US09662580B2
A social game capable of adding or improving unexpectedness, dramatic impact, and taste when a reward is provided to a player, and hence capable of raising the player's motivation to participate in or continue the game. A unit for storing information related to a game in which multiple players can participate stores a reward providing condition, rewards, and reward box information, and a control unit for accessing information related to the game, performing computation on the game, and displaying images of the game on terminal devices operated by players allocates at least one reward out of the rewards to the reward box, determines whether the reward providing condition is met based on match-up situations or match-up results between players and first game characters in the game, and displays, on the terminal devices, a screen for providing the reward to players based on the determination results.
US09662566B1
A system and method for providing in-game advertising to assist in recruiting of affiliation members in an online game. The system and method include receiving affiliation advertising bids from affiliations for advertising opportunities. A bid indicating an aggregate amount of consideration is pledged by multiple users in an affiliation on behalf of the affiliation in a competitive auction with other affiliations for an advertising opportunity and determining winning affiliation advertising bids in competitive auctions for advertising opportunities. The system and method further include effectuating presentation of affiliation advertising content in advertising opportunities for affiliations that submit winning affiliation advertising bids such that in response to the first affiliation advertising bid being determined to be the winning affiliation advertising bid in the competitive auction for the first advertising opportunity, affiliation advertising content associated with the first affiliation is presented in the first advertising opportunity.
US09662556B2
An electronic tracking and coaching system adapted for use in training for various sports is provided. The present invention includes a sports ball that contains a plurality of sensors, a wireless transceiver, a storage medium adapted to store voice commands or noises to be played upon the occurrence of a pre-determined event, and a speaker. The ball's sensors are adapted to monitor the movement of the ball, the level and direction of force applied to the ball, and other such variables relevant to playing a sport with a ball. The device further includes a monitoring apparatus that is worn by the user and tracks all of his or her movement and stores that movement data for later access. The voice commands of the ball provide coaching direction to the user and the user can upload the stored data to data visualization software to precisely monitor his or her actions.
US09662553B2
The present invention provides a base for golf bag, comprising a base plate, an upper frame and a number of coupling pieces. The base plate is in the shape of a shell with an upward opening. Its periphery is configured with a number of inserting plates. A number of through portions are configured on the ring body at positions corresponding to the inserting plates. The upper frame is coupled on the base plate in a detachable form, with its periphery configured with a number of inserting slots with downward openings and through-holes connecting with the inserting slots. The inserting plates are to be correspondingly inserted into the inserting slots, so that the base plate and the upper frame can be combined together. The through-holes are corresponding to the through portions. The coupling pieces can be inserted into the through-holes and through portions in a detachable form.
US09662548B2
The present invention is a unique advanced hybrid iron type golf club. The club is characterized by a long heel blade length section, while having a small club moment arm, Zcg, and volume. The golf club incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among key club head engineering variables.
US09662547B2
Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion and a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having a plurality of ports. Each port of the plurality of ports may be configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions. The plurality of ports may include a first set of ports and a second set of ports. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09662544B2
An adjustable golf club putter head is disclosed herein. The putter head includes a removable alignment feature that can be swapped with a different alignment feature to change the alignment pattern, and a removable divider piece that contrasts with the alignment feature and can be swapped with different divider pieces to affect the cosmetics of the putter head and also adjust the putter head's mass properties.
US09662525B2
Provided are an upper limb rehabilitation robot including: a sensing member that is mounted and fixed to an upper limb of a user and captures motion of the upper limb according to a movement intention of the user; a motion control unit that is electrically connected to the sensing member, calculates a movement direction, a distance or angle, a speed, and an auxiliary force (target value) needed for the upper limb to move, intended by the upper limb, based on the motion captured by using the sensing member, and generates and outputs a control signal according to the calculated movement direction, distance or angle, speed, and auxiliary force (target value); and a multi-joint robot, to an end of an arm of which the sensing member is coupled, wherein the multi-joint robot guides movement of the upper limb fixed to the sensing member to selectively move or rotate toward a food tray placed at a designated position of a table along an X-axis, a Y-axis, or a Z-axis and provides an assistance force to the upper limb.
US09662524B1
A sports training device designed for attachment to the shaft of a swinging sports apparatus, such as a golf club, tennis racket, baseball bat, hockey stick, or any other sports apparatus that is intended to be swung while playing a sport. The training device generally includes a drag panel/chute/airfoil, two (2) distinct connection points to the sports apparatus, and a support rod is disposed between the connection points substantially parallel to the shaft of the sports apparatus and to the length of the drag panel. The connection points include coupling mechanisms (e.g., pipe clips, snap clamps, etc.) that allow for 360° rotation about the sports apparatus. In use, the drag panel provides additional air resistance during the swinging of the sports apparatus.
US09662518B1
A remotely attachable personal fall arrestment apparatus includes a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) having an upwardly protruding carabineer connector ring which has a gate link that is pivotable open to expose a downwardly protruding upper front hook link which is attachable to an anchor member such as a rebar or bolt eye located above a work site, and a lifeline retractably extendable downwardly from the SRL and releasably attachable to a safety body-harness worn by a worker The apparatus includes an SRL remote attachment device comprising a pole having an upper end which supports the connector ring, and a gate link operating mechanism that has a flexible cable deployed downwardly along the pole and having a lower end which may be grasped and tensioned to open the gate link and enable the hook link hook an anchor member, and released to allow a spring to close and lock the gate link.
US09662514B2
An electro-mechanical surgical device, system and/or method may include a housing, at least two opposing jaw, and at least one electrical contact associated with at least one of the jaws. The electrical contact may include at least one of a bipolar electrical contact and an ultrasonic electrical contact. The electrical contact may be a row of electrodes located on one or all of the jaws. A sensor may also be associated with any tissue located between the jaws to sense and report the temperature of that tissue. A pierceable ampulla containing fluid may also be placed on at least one of the jaws so that the fluid is releasable when the jaws are in closed position and the electrode(s) pass through the tissue into the pierceable ampulla.
US09662512B2
The invention provides for a medical instrument (200, 300, 400, 500, 502, 600, 700, 702, 800, 802) comprising a LINAC guided by a magnetic resonance imaging system (204). Execution of the instructions by processor to controlling the medical instrument cause the processor to: receive (100) a treatment plan (260) for irradiating the target zone; modify (102) the treatment plan in accordance with an X-ray transmission model of an accessory; acquire (104) magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system; reconstruct (106) a magnetic resonance image (268) from the magnetic resonance data; register (108) a location (272) of the target zone in the magnetic resonance image; generate (110) control signals (274) in accordance with the location of the target zone and the X-ray transmission model; and control (112) the LINAC to irradiate the target zone using the control signals.
US09662509B2
An intraluminal activation system for activating an inactive agent includes a catheter defining an inflation lumen and a medical device lumen. A longitudinal distal segment of the catheter defines a transparent treatment region. An inflation balloon is disposed at the distal end of the catheter and over at least a portion of the transparent treatment region. An elongate energy transmission wire is configured to transmit activation energy from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The activation system has a configuration in which the balloon is expanded, the energy transmission wire is received within the medical device lumen such that the distal end of the energy transmission wire is within the transparent treatment region, and activation energy is emitted from the energy transmission wire, through the transparent treatment region, through the balloon, and toward the inactive agent.
US09662508B2
Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.
US09662494B2
The present invention relates to a probe comprising at least one lead and an Advanced Lead Connector (ALC) element, the lead comprising at least one thin film, whereby the thin film comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the lead further comprising a plurality of electrodes on the distal end of the thin film, the ALC element comprising electronic means to address the plurality of electrodes and at least one ALC connecting means, whereby the proximal end of the thin film and the ALC connecting means are connected by an interposing means so as to form at least an electric and/or electronic connection between the electrodes and the ALC element. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a neurostimulation and/or neurorecording system, an interposing means, an assembly comprising at least one thin film for a lead of a probe and an ALC element and a method of manufacturing a probe.
US09662491B2
A stimulation therapy device provides an electrical stimulation therapy to branches of the tibial nerve of a patient. The device comprises a support member configured to be worn around the ankle or foot of the patient, first and second pairs of electrodes attached to the support member, and a stimulation circuit attached to the support member. The stimulation circuit is configured to deliver electrical stimulation pulses through the first and second pairs of electrodes.
US09662488B2
Systems and methods are provided for migrating cells implanted or endogenous in tissue. The system may include first and second delivery electrodes configured for insertion in tissue and a direct current (DC) power source operatively coupled to the first and second delivery electrodes. The system further may include a programmable controller operatively coupled to the DC power source, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to direct the DC power source to deliver an electric field between the first delivery electrode and the second delivery electrode at a stimulation to nonstimulation ratio sufficient to cause the cells to migrate within tissue selectively.
US09662486B2
Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by electrically stimulating nerves that activate the BAT and/or electrically stimulating brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.
US09662484B2
A skull mountable, implantable percutaneous fluid delivery device is described for use in delivering fluids to target sites in the brain. The device includes a subcutaneous base portion including one or more ports for supplying fluid to one or more implanted catheter devices. A percutaneous portion of the device includes an extracorporeal surface, the one or more ports of the subcutaneous base portion being accessible from the extracorporeal surface of the percutaneous portion. The subcutaneous base portion is at least partially insertable into a complementary recess formed in a bone and includes one or more anchoring features including at least one radially protruding wing for directly anchoring the subcutaneous base portion to the bone.
US09662476B2
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that secures a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) in place relative to a skin penetration point using subcutaneous anchors. In some implementations, the anchor device can be installed using a technique in which the subcutaneous anchors undergo relatively little or no flexing when being inserted through the skin into the subcutaneous region between the skin and underlying muscle tissue which may be occupied by fatty tissue.
US09662473B2
A deflectable, catheter includes a catheter body, an intermediate section, a tip electrode and a control handle for deflecting the catheter by manipulation of a puller element that is made of a high modulus fiber material and extends through the catheter body and the intermediate section. The proximal end of the puller element is housed in the control handle and the distal end of the puller element is in a wrapped configuration and engages with a distal tip member or the intermediate section.
US09662464B2
An automatic wireless pairing method includes causing a base unit to wirelessly communicate with a number of wireless peripheral devices and wirelessly receive a peripheral device data signal from each of the wireless peripheral devices, wherein the peripheral device data signal received from each of the wireless peripheral devices is based on one or more measurements made by a sensor of the wireless peripheral device, analyzing in the base unit each of the peripheral device data signals, selecting in the base unit one or more of the wireless peripheral devices based on the analyzing of the peripheral device data signals, and responsive to the selecting step, establishing or maintaining wireless communication according to the wireless communications protocol between the base unit and the selected one or more of the wireless peripheral devices and not the wireless peripheral devices other than the selected one or more of the wireless peripheral devices.
US09662463B2
A PAP device includes a casing adapted to fit on top of the patient's head in use and a blower including a blower outlet provided within the casing. The blower outlet is angled and/or curved towards a lower wall of the casing.
US09662459B2
A control circuit that operably couples to a display and to a nerve block injection pressure sensor provides a display of both a current nerve block injection pressure value and a current nerve block injection pressure categorical range. That categorical range can comprise, for example, one of a plurality of available categorical ranges which may be visually differentiated from one another by color. The control circuit can also detect (and display) a maximum nerve block injection pressure value (and/or calculate a mean nerve block injection pressure value) as corresponds to a given monitored nerve block injection procedure. The control circuit can also detect negative nerve block injection pressure events and identify those events as aspiration events to facilitate keeping a count of aspiration events during the course of a given nerve block injection procedure. The control circuit can also help ensure observe of the proper patient laterality if desired.
US09662458B2
A catheter system includes a positioning catheter for receiving an injection needle into its lumen. Structurally, the injection needle incorporates a plurality of loops that are mounted directly onto its shaft. As the injection needle is moved in a distal direction to exit from the lumen of the catheter, the loops are individually biased to transition from a folded configuration, and into a deployed configuration. In their deployed configurations, the loops create a barrier that is oriented perpendicular to the needle. Thus, the barrier acts to limit the depth of insertion of the needle into target tissue of a patient, to a predetermined depth, and to prevent perforation of the target tissue by the catheter tip.
US09662452B2
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device comprising a drive means configured to act on a medicament container for expelling a medicament; a holding means configured to hold said drive means in a pre-tensioned state; an activation means configured to interact with said holding means for releasing said drive means from the pre-tensioned state; wherein the device further comprises feedback means configured to interact both with said holding means and with said drive means for generating an audible and/or tactile and/or visual signal indicating that the medicament has been completely expelled.
US09662446B2
Provided is a pericardial-liquid level control system with which a good viewing field can be ensured for an endoscope image without causing cardiac tamponade. A pericardial-liquid level control system is employed, including a sheath that is inserted into the pericardium; pumps that supply and expel liquid to and from the sheath; electrocardiogram electrodes that detect electrocardiographic information; and a pump control device that, in synchronization with the electrocardiographic information detected by the electrocardiogram electrodes, controls the pumps so that the liquid is supplied to the pericardium via the sheath during contraction of the heart and the liquid is expelled from the pericardium via the sheath during expansion of the heart.
US09662445B2
An electronic controller for an insulin infusion device includes at least one processor device and at least one memory element that cooperate to provide a processor-implemented closed-loop initiation module. The initiation module is operated to obtain a most recent calibration factor for a continuous glucose sensor, the most recent calibration factor representing a first conversion value applicable to convert a first sensor value to a first blood glucose value. The initiation module also obtains a prior calibration factor for the sensor, and calibration timestamp data for the most recent calibration factor and the prior calibration factor. The initiation module regulates entry into a closed-loop operating mode of the insulin infusion device, based on the most recent calibration factor, the prior calibration factor, and the calibration timestamp data.
US09662439B2
The invention concerns an device for injecting a patient with a liquid product contained in a container (4), the system comprising a pressurizing unit for driving the liquid product contained in the container, the system further comprising a calculator for estimating the injection flow rate at the outlet of the container, said injection flow rate at the outlet being estimated on the basis of a law of deformation of the system under the effect of the pressure inside the container.
US09662436B2
A fail-safe drug infusion system, including a user interface controller (UIC) and at least one pump motor controller (PMC), with protocols that enable the PMC to operate therapy delivery for a limited amount of time if the UIC fails or the communication link between the UIC and the PMC is interrupted. Includes synchronization methods to synchronize the delivery information back to the UIC after the UIC reboots or after the communication link is restored. The PMC may apply intelligent fail-safe drug infusion therapy by temporarily displaying therapy information, for example information normally displayed by the UIC, while taking control of alarm signaling and providing minimal user control of the therapy until the UIC restores itself, the infusion completes normally, or the user stops the infusion. If the PMC becomes inoperable, the UIC may wait for the PMC to reboot, or attempt to switch infusion channels to provide robust drug infusion.
US09662429B2
An apparatus and system for fluidly connecting a reduced-pressure source to a dressing and a method for manufacturing and using the same include a base having an aperture and a wall having a peripheral portion coupled to the base. The wall may form a cavity in fluid communication with the aperture. The apparatus also may include a conduit port fluidly coupled to the cavity and adapted to receive a conduit. The base may be adapted to couple to the dressing, and the wall may be adapted to collapse from a first position to a second position in response to a supply of reduced pressure from the reduced-pressure source.
US09662428B2
A system and method for regenerating damaged or necrosed tissue. Negative or vacuum pressure is applied to a surface of the damaged tissue to stimulate the revascularization of the area and/or increased blood flow to the area, which encourages the regeneration of the damaged tissue. A negative pressure device is provided that is capable of providing a sequenced vacuum treatment regimen to damaged tissue.
US09662426B2
A medical waste fluid collection and disposal system includes a medical waste fluid collection cart including first and second fluid collection canisters. A valve assembly selectively communicates with the canisters and a valve drive system controls the valve assembly. A liquid level sensor is positioned within each of the canisters. A cart processor communicates with the liquid level sensors and the valve drive system. A cart drain line communicates with the valve assembly and a receptacle, a cart flushing line communicates with the valve assembly and the receptacle and a cart data line and a cart power line communicate with the cart processor and the cart receptacle. A station includes a drain pump that communicates with a drainage system and a station drain line, a flushing pump that communicates with a source of washing liquid and a station flushing line and a station processor in communication with the drain and flushing pumps. A station data line communicates with the station processor. A coupler communicates with the station drain line, flushing line and the station data line and a station power line. The station coupler removably engages the cart receptacle so operation of the cart and station components can be coordinated by the processors for drainage and flushing of the cart canisters.
US09662425B2
A method for loading a hydroxyapatite coated implant with a therapeutic agent including the steps of providing an implant and applying a hydroxyapatite coating on a surface of the implant. The hydroxyapatite coated implant is contacted with a solution including the therapeutic agent. The hydroxyapatite coated implant and solution is heated to temperature of about 60° C. to about 100° C. Pressure is applied to the hydroxyapatite coated implant and solution from about 2 bar to about 10 bar, to load the hydroxyapatite coated implant with the therapeutic agent. An implant made according to the method has sustained therapeutic agent delivery and includes a base and a biomimetic hydroxyapatite coating disposed on a surface thereof.
US09662418B2
A bioremodelable encasement structure comprising a pouch formed from at least one sheet of bioremodelable material, the pouch including an internal region that is configured to receive a device therein, the bioremodelable material comprising mesothelial tissue.
US09662416B2
A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.
US09662410B2
A system for sanitizing a tray table may include a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table. The sanitation assembly includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light, and a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source. The sanitation control unit operates the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.
US09662405B2
Antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind GCC are disclosed. In some embodiments, the antibodies are humanized, chimeric or human. Nucleic acids and vectors encoding the antibodies or portions thereof, recombinant cells that contain the nucleic acids, and compositions comprising the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments are also disclosed. The invention also provides therapeutic and diagnostic methods utilizing the antibodies and antigen-binding.
US09662400B2
The invention provides improved methods for generating biodegradable chitosan compositions, and therapeutic methods of using such compositions to deliver therapeutic agents.
US09662398B2
The present invention generally relates to suspension compositions having a carboxyvinyl polymer such as a carbomer, a galactomannan such as guar, and a borate compound. A sparingly soluble particulate compound such as nepafenac is also included in the compositions. The sparingly soluble particulate compound has a small particle size to enhance bioavailability of the compound.
US09662396B2
The invention provides stabilized aqueous pharmaceutical etanercept compositions suitable for long-term storage of etanercept, methods of manufacture of these compositions, methods of administration, and kits containing same.
US09662385B2
This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.
US09662378B2
A vaccine against the Chagas disease, capable of stimulating the immune response against the trans-sialidase virulence factor of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which is a multicomponent vaccine comprising: (a) an immunogenic portion formed by one or more recombinant or synthetic polypeptides or fractions of thereof and (b) one or more polynucleotides including the regions codifying one or more immunogenic polypeptides, or a monocomponent vaccine comprising at least one component selected among an immunogenic portion formed by one or more recombinant or synthetic polypeptides or fractions of them and a group of polynucleotides including the regions codifying one or more immunogenic polypeptides derived from Trypanosoma cruzi and pharmaceutical compositions containing said multicomponent and monocomponent vaccines, the procedures for obtaining the immunogen portion of said vaccines and the nucleic acid used in the procedure.
US09662377B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for treating an animal diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
US09662376B2
The present application provides stabilized formulations of furin (e.g., rfurin) containing a sugar, sugar alcohol, and/or non-ionic surfactant. As compared to non-stabilized compositions, the furin formulations disclosed herein retain greater amounts of furin activity and monomeric furin content, while reducing furin aggregation when stored and/or subjected to mechanical stress. Also provided are methods for stably diluting furin (e.g., rfurin) compositions.
US09662374B2
The invention relates to a hemostatic composition in powder form comprising collagen of the fibrillar type comprising a content of fibrous collagen and/or fibrillar collagen of at least 70% by weight relative to the total weight of the collagen, and at least one monosaccharide, and optionally, at least one compound selected from coagulation factors and glycosaminoglycans. The invention further relates to a method for preparing such composition, and to a unit comprising such composition and a spraying device.
US09662372B2
The present invention is related to compositions and methods to treat, ameliorate and/or prevent morbidity and/or mortality from microbial infections. In particular, bacterial infections that are associated with the production and release of bacterial toxins. For example, many Clostridia bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, release toxins resulting in tissue and organ damage and death, even after antibiotic therapy that either reduces or eliminates the bacteria. In particular, various peptides, polypeptides, and proteins are disclosed herein that either inactivate Clostridium difficile toxin and/or reduce Clostridium difficile toxin production.
US09662371B2
Methods of treating certain behavioral characteristics associated with autism are provided. Additionally, methods of treating disorders associated with repetitive behaviors, social deficits and/or cognitive deficits are also provided. A therapeutic amount of oxytocin or oxytocin analogs, either alone or in combination, are administered to individuals demonstrating behavioral characteristics associated with autism or other disorders to reduce the severity of the debilitating behavior. In various aspects, characteristics such as deficit in social awareness or cognitive skills and repetitive behaviors are treated. Co-administration of oxytocin and/or oxytocin analogs with known psychopharmacologic agents is also provided. Advantageously, oxytocin and oxytocin analogs do not have deleterious effects with other drugs such that administration results in few side effects.
US09662370B2
Peptide and peptides that may be covalently linked to a lipid and methods of using such peptides and lipopeptides to prevent or treat disease are disclosed herein.
US09662361B1
A method for treating azoospermia consists of lowering a patient's testosterone for an extended duration in order to induce spermatogonia stem cell function to produce spermatozoa. The patient's testosterone is reduced through the incorporation of glycyrrhiza glabra in three medicinal mixtures. A first medicinal mixture is used to lower testosterone in the patient as the first medicinal mixture is primarily glycyrrhiza glabra, and the first medicinal mixture is administered for at least one month. The quantity of glycyrrhiza glabra is reduced in administration of the second medicinal mixture over at least two months, subsequent to the first medicinal mixture. The quantity of glycyrrhiza glabra is further reduced in administration of the third medicinal mixture over at least three months, subsequent to the second medicinal mixture. A plurality of additional ingredients is included in the second medicinal mixture and the third medicinal mixture in order to promote spermatozoa production and virility.
US09662360B2
An improved method (process) is provided to treat herpes, pseudomonas, staphylococcus (staph), and hepatitis and help treat or alleviate cold sores, rashes, skin conditions, or symptoms resulting from herpes, pseudomonas, staph, and hepatitis. The method uses a special medicinal composition which can be self-administered and maintained for a prescribed time. The attractive medicinal composition can comprise a quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, a skin protectant and an alcohol. The quaternary ammonium salt surfactant can comprise benzalkonium halide, preferably benzalkonium chloride. The skin protectant can comprise Allantoin. The alcohol can serve as a pain reliever and can comprise benzyl alcohol. The medicinal composition can also include other compounds, additives, herbal extracts and/or carriers. Desirably, the medicinal composition is maintained on the infected regions until external symptoms and physical manifestations of the symptoms resulting from herpes, pseudomonas, hepatitis, or staph substantially disappear from the infected regions.
US09662356B1
A composition for the treatment of otitis in a mammal includes therapeutically anti-otitis effective amounts of propolis compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, along with an antimicrobial metal-containing nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, aluminum, copper and zinc; and curcumin in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In addition, the invention is directed to a method of treating an animal suspected of suffering from otitis comprising administering to an ear of the animal a composition as described above.
US09662347B2
The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting the induction of cell death by inhibiting the synthesis or secretion of AGE-albumin in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, to an AGE-albumin synthesis inhibitor, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the AGE-albumin synthesis inhibitor for preventing or treating degenerative disease and autoimmune disease. The AGE-albumin of the present invention is synthesized and secreted in human microglia or human macrophages in an Alzheimer's model, stroke model, Parkinson's disease model and rheumatoid arthritis model. The AGE-albumin synthesis and secretion are caused by oxidative stress. The expression of RAGE increases in first-order human neurons or cartilage cells to which AGE-albumin is administered, whereupon a MAPK signaling pathway is activated and the expression of Bax increases to induce an increase in calcium in mitochondria, thus finally inducing cell death. Therefore, the AGE-albumin synthesis inhibitor of the present invention can be valuably used in the diagnosis or treatment of degenerative diseases or autoimmune diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, strokes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, AIDS, aging, pulmonary fibrosis, spinal cord injuries, etc.
US09662344B2
A composition for influencing carnitine retention in biological tissue is disclosed. The composition comprises a carnitine substance and an agent to increase sodium potassium ATPase pump activity in the tissue, and/or to increase the activity of a carnitine transport protein, and/or increase blood/plasma insulin concentration.
US09662341B2
A two-part aqueous composition for treating skin ailments, such as acne vulgaris, includes an acidic part having salicylic acid and an α-hydroxy acid, and an alkaline part having an alkaline nitrite salt. The α-hydroxy acid is preferably glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid or a combination thereof. The alkaline nitrite salt is preferably sodium nitrite. The acidic part and the alkaline part are an acidic aqueous solution and an alkaline aqueous solution, respectively, which may either be mixed with one another then applied to an affected portion of a patient's skin or, alternatively, may be sequentially applied to the affected portion of the patient's skin, preferably within 15 minutes of one another.
US09662340B2
Described are gel compositions containing active pharmaceutical ingredient such as testosterone, solvent, and thickener, the gel compositions being useful for transdermal administration of the active ingredient to a patient, and related methods. Certain embodiments of the gel composition specifically exclude Hsieh enhancer.
US09662337B2
Described are compounds that are modulators of the S1P receptors, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. Also described are methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating, alleviating, or preventing S1P receptor mediated diseases and conditions.
US09662332B2
Compounds, compositions, and methods of treatment and prevention of HIV infection are disclosed. The compounds are pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidine JAK inhibitors. Combinations of these JAK inhibitors and additional antiretroviral compounds, such as NRTI, NNRTI, integrase inhibitors, entry inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and the like, are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the combinations include a combination of adenine, cytosine, thymidine, and guanine nucleoside antiviral agents, optionally in further combination with at least one additional antiviral agent that works via a different mechanism than a nucleoside analog. This combination has the potential to eliminate the presence of HIV in an infected patient.
US09662325B2
The invention provides methods of attenuating, e.g., inhibiting or reducing, cellular proliferation and migration, particularly endothelial cell proliferation and migration, including that associated with angiogenesis, using opioid antagonists, including, but not limited to, those that are peripherally restricted antagonists.
US09662321B2
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US09662304B1
The present invention is directed to compositions and dietary supplements comprising the following compound
US09662301B2
Dissolvable unit dose constructs and their method of manufacture are disclosed in which the unit dose constructs are formed of a composition including a polymer matrix that includes a water soluble polymer, active ingredient, and a liquid carrier. The composition is deposited directly, such as by stenciling, to form individual unit doses without the need to cut and convert long, continuous rolls of film.
US09662300B2
The invention provides a composition consisting essentially of a solid naproxen concentrate, wherein the solid naproxen concentrate comprises (a) a solid naproxen free acid and (b) a solid naproxen alkali salt, and wherein at least 90% of the weight of the solid naproxen concentrate is naproxen free acid and naproxen alkali salt, as well methods of producing such a solid naproxen concentrate.
US09662299B2
The present invention generally relates to yeast cell wall microparticles loaded with nanoparticles for receptor-targeted nanoparticle delivery. In particular, the present invention relates to trapping nanoparticles either on the surface or inside a yeast glucan particles, for example, yeast glucal particles. The present invention further relates to methods of making the yeast cell wall particles loaded with nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to methods of using the yeast cell wall particles loaded with nanoparticles for receptor-targeted delivery of the nanoparticles, e.g., drug containing nanoparticles.
US09662293B2
A personal care conditioning and/or styling composition for a keratin substrate comprising: (i) about 50 wt. % to 95 wt. % of at least one cationic or pseudo-cationic monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride (APTAC) and/or Vinylpyrrolidone (VP); (ii) about 1 wt. % to 30 wt. % of at least one anionic monomer selected from the group consisting of (a) acrylic acid (AA), (b) acrylamido methylpropyl sulfonate (AMPS), and/or (c) sodium methyl allyl sulfonate (SMAS); and (iii) about 0.1 wt. % to 20 wt. % of at least one hydrophobic monomer selected from the group consisting of (a) polyoxyethylene (PEG)-18-behenylether-methacrylate (BEM) (b) Lauryl-ethoxylated-methacrylate (LEM), (c) stearyl acrylate (SA), (d) Stream-10-allyl-ether, (e) Vinylcaprolactam (V-cap), and/or (f) Hydroxyethyl-pyrrolidone-methacrylate (M06). Also described is a process of preparing said polymer, and its method of use.
US09662290B2
The present invention relates to a process for dyeing keratin fibres in which a mixture is applied to the fibres, this mixture being obtained from: a dye composition comprising at least one oxidation dye precursor, and an oxidizing composition comprising at least one chemical oxidizing agent, at least one of the compositions being dispensed from a pressurized container, the mixture of the two compositions comprising at least one thickening polymer chosen from: associative polymer, anionic non-associative polymer chosen from anionic polymers bearing sugar units, anionic polymers not bearing sugar units chosen from crosslinked acrylic or methacrylic acid homopolymers or copolymers, crosslinked 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid homopolymers and crosslinked acrylamide copolymers thereof, ammonium acrylate homopolymers, or copolymers of ammonium acrylate and of acrylamide, alone or mixtures thereof, and mixtures thereof; and also to a device suitable for performing this process.
US09662289B2
The present invention concerns a process for permanent shaping of human hair used both for the permanent waving of human hair with an excellent waving effect as well as for the straightening of curled hair. Accordingly, the first object of the present invention is a process for permanent shaping hair wherein an aqueous composition comprising at least one inorganic salt is applied onto hair and optionally processed up to 20 min and optionally rinsed off and subsequently a composition comprising at least one reducing agent is applied and rinsed off from hair after a processing time of 1 to 30 min and at a temperature of 20 to 45° C. and a composition comprising at least one oxidizing agent is applied and processed for 1 to 20 min at a temperature range of 20 to 45° C. and rinsed off from hair.
US09662288B2
Compositions are provided and described herein which include cosmetic and hair conditioning compositions having a mixture of stearamidopropyl dimethylamine and behenamidopropyl dimethylamine. Also provided are methods for conditioning hair using such mixtures.
US09662283B2
A changing color composition for caring for and/or making up keratin materials is disclosed. The composition comprises in a physiologically acceptable medium, at least: a) microcapsules containing releasable colorant(s), said microcapsules comprising: a core comprising one organic material, at least one layered coating surrounding said core, the layered coating comprising at least one polymer, at least one colorant, and advantageously at least one lipid-based material, b) at least 3% by weight, preferably at least 5 by weight, more preferably at least 8% by weight and advantageously at least 10% by weight relative to the weight of the composition of an aqueous phase comprising water and at least one compound chosen from polyols, glycols and C2-C8 monoalcohols, and mixtures thereof, c) at least one hydrophilic gelifying agent, d) and optionally 0.1 to 70% by weight relative to the weight of the composition, of additional cosmetic ingredient(s) selected from volatile and non-volatile silicon or hydrocarbon oils, surfactants, filler, thickening agents, film forming agents, polymers, preservatives, silicon elastomer, self-tanning agents, additional non-entrapped colorants, cosmetic actives, pH regulators, perfumes, and mixtures thereof.
US09662280B2
Disclosed is a composition having a substrate comprising metal oxide particles. The substrate has a coating thereon that includes an organic dispersant present in a amount that renders the substrate self-dispersible. Also disclosed is a composition, such as a cosmetic composition, that includes that self-dispersible coated substrate, and a process that includes coating a particulate metal oxide with an organic dispersant to render the metal oxide self dispersible.
US09662277B2
A vegetable-based adhesive preparation for mandibular prostheses. The preparation has improved adhesive properties, consistency and stability as a result of a filler containing: 35 to 45 wt. % vegetable oil; 25 to 50 wt % structure-forming stabilizer; 5 to 15 wt % bonding agent; and silicon oxide making up the remainder.
US09662276B2
Disclosed are methods for detecting demineralization of a surface of a tooth, comprising a) contacting the tooth of a subject with an orally acceptable, binding composition comprising a binding agent that binds to a demineralized surface of the tooth; b) removing unbound binding compound; c) contacting the tooth with an orally acceptable, detector composition comprising a probe compound that reacts with the binding agent to form a visually detectable reaction product; and d) detecting formation of the reaction product as an indication of the presence or extent of surface demineralization of the tooth. Systems, kits, and compositions for practicing the methods are also provided.
US09662269B2
The invention relates to an electrical stimulation device with a stimulator containing a generator for generating electrical stimulation impulses with defined stimulation parameters, and a power supply for supplying the generator with electrical energy, and with at least one needle electrode array for insertion into the skin surface of an area that is to be stimulated. This includes an apparatus for stimulating auricular points on the human ear is provided using low voltage pulses that are generated and delivered by portions of the apparatus, particularly by percutaneously implanted needle electrodes into the cranial and/or peripheral nerves and corresponding neural vascular bundles of the auricular and periauricular areas. The system includes methods of evaluating and implanting of the electrode/needle array. The methods may include transillumination of the auricular and periauricular tissues and surrounding neurovascular anatomy.
US09662265B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing a Push-Pull perceptual learning technique to a subject demonstrating sensory eye dominance (SED), amblyopia, poor stereopsis, and the like. More specifically, the weak eye of the subject is forced to become dominant, while visualization in the strong eye is suppressed over the course of a treatment regimen. Such systems and methods are shown herein to result in a perceptual learning and a reduction of interocular imbalance or SED, as well as an improvement in the visual characteristics typically associated with amblyopia, poor stereopsis and similar visual deficiencies.
US09662263B2
A crutch includes a pole, a cuff, a handle, a forearm support member, and a second forearm support member. The cuff and the handle are attached to the pole. The forearm support member, comprising an actuator, is disposed between the cuff and the handle and is moveable between a constricted position and a non-constricted position. The second forearm support member is disposed within the forearm support member. The energy generating device is configured to move the forearm support member between the constricted position and the non-constricted position.
US09662256B2
A patient support system includes a first section and a second section which can be removably coupled to the first section. The first section is configured for attachment to a positioning system, thereby providing an interface between the removable second section and the positioning system. A combined support surface is formed when the second section is coupled to the first section.
US09662240B2
Feedback systems and methods enhance obstructive and other obesity treatments by presenting feedback regarding patients' actual eating. An ingestion restricting implant body can be deployed along the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, ingestion alters the implant body, which, in turn, generates signals. The generated signals can be used to inhibit unhealthy ingestion by the patient. In other embodiments, the implant body can be altered by signals so as to selectable change the restriction imposed on the gastrointestinal tract, optionally in response to ingestion events, an eating schedule, or the like. The implant body may comprise a gastric band. Sensor signals may be processed to identify ingestion and/or characterize ingestion material, and the results may be displayed on a screen for a patient or coach to view.
US09662239B2
Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.
US09662220B2
Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint implants include a trapezium implant defining an articulating surface and a cooperating first metacarpal implant with a base portion of the first metacarpal defining an articulating surface. The first metacarpal base articulating-surface is configured to articulate against the trapezium implant articulating surface.
US09662219B2
An orthopedic prosthesis (20, 100) including an implant body (22, 24, 26, 122) defining a number of suture anchor attachment locations (30, 120), and a plurality of suture anchors (40) each including one or more suture (S) extending from an anchor portion (42) that is engaged with a select one of the suture anchor attachment locations (30, 120) to selectively attach a corresponding one of the suture anchors (40) to the implant body (22, 24, 26, 122). A method of using the orthopedic prosthesis (20, 100) is also provided.
US09662218B2
This disclosure is directed to a resilient interpositional arthroplasty implant for application into a knee joint to pad cartilage defects, cushion a joint, and replace or restore the articular surface, which may preserve joint integrity, reduce pain and improve function. The implant may endure variable joint compressive and shear forces and cyclic loads. The implant may repair, reconstruct, and regenerate joint anatomy, and thereby improve upon joint replacement alternatives. Rather than using periosteal harvesting for cell containment in joint resurfacing, the walls of this invention may capture, distribute and hold living cells until aggregation and hyaline cartilage regrowth occurs. The implant may be deployed into debrided joint spaces, molding and conforming to surrounding structures with sufficient stability to avoid extrusion or dislocation. Appendages of the implant may repair or reconstruct tendons or ligaments, and an interior of the implant that is inflatable may accommodate motions which mimic or approximate normal joint motion.
US09662206B2
A transcatheter atrio-ventricular valve prosthesis for functional replacement of an atrio-ventricular heart valve in a connection channel, the prosthesis comprising a radially expandable tubular body extending along an axis, and a valve arranged within and attached to the tubular body. The tubular body is provided with an outer circumferential groove which is open to the radial outside of the tubular body, whereby the tubular body is separated by the outer circumferential groove into first and second body sections. The tubular body is provided with a first plurality of projections which extend from the first or second body section in an axial direction of the tubular body and each of which has a free end arranged to overlap the outer circumferential groove. An elongate outer member may be disposed at the exterior of the connection channel wall structure at a level of the circumferential groove.
US09662205B2
A device for gathering tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include an outer tube extending in an elongated direction, a capture tool moveable in the outer tube between a contained position and a use position, and a tissue securing component disposed at a distal end of the outer tube and adapted to be applied to tissue captured by the capture tool and to hold the captured tissue in a gathered configuration. The capture tool may include two grasping members that are moveable relative to one another in the elongated direction. Each grasping member may have a proximal portion and a plurality of fingers or barbs. The grasping members may be operable to capture tissue of the heart valve leaflet therebetween and to draw the captured tissue into the outer tube in the gathered configuration.
US09662204B2
An implantable prosthetic valve, according to one embodiment, comprises a frame, a leaflet structure, and a skirt member. The frame can have a plurality of axial struts interconnected by a plurality of circumferential struts. The leaflet structure comprises a plurality of leaflets (e.g., three leaflets arrange to form a tricuspid valve). The leaflet structure has a scalloped lower edge portion secured to the frame. The skirt member can be disposed between the leaflet structure and the frame.
US09662201B2
A medical implant device includes a prosthesis adapted to replace at least a portion of a bone. The prosthesis includes a drug-eluting polymer adapted to deliver a drug to at least a portion of an area surrounding the prosthesis.
US09662200B2
The present invention is directed to an intraocular lens delivery system with a multi-segment plunger. More particularly, the present invention relates to an intraocular lens delivery device that includes a disposable plunger tip segment that can be attached and removed from a reusable plunger base segment.
US09662197B2
Provided herein is an artificial muscle capable of being miniaturized, realizing precision movement, and performing selective relaxation/contraction deformation according to the power output necessary in the muscle, the muscle including a first operation unit that includes electro-active polymer where relaxation-deformation occurs based on electric energy being applied; a heating unit that generates heat energy based on the electric being applied; a second operation unit that has a yarn structure and where contraction-deformation occurs based on the heat energy generated in the heating unit; and a control unit that applies electric energy to the first operation unit and the heating unit.
US09662195B2
An implant device for placement within a salivary gland duct having a first end adjacent a parotid gland and a second end adjacent a submandibular gland. The implant device comprises an elongate body having a lumen, and a first and a second plate offset from the proximal end of the elongate body. The first plate is located on one side of the elongate body and the second plate is located on the other side of the elongate body. The first plate includes a first and a second hole operable to suture the first plate to a location adjacent the parotid gland. The second plate includes a first and a second hole operable to suture the second plate to a location adjacent the submandibular gland.
US09662188B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a dental restoration part, in which method, geometrical data, in particular data with respect to spatial dimensions, position and/or volume of the restoration part, are determined and stored in order to form a virtual restoration part. In a further process step, the virtual restoration part is provided for the tooth (10) to be replaced by using data of the tooth (10) to be replaced, a neighboring tooth (60) and/or a tooth stump, and said data is stored as color data and is used for the computer-assisted production of the virtual restoration part.
US09662186B2
The present invention relates to a dental component (10) for attachment to a dental implant (46), wherein the dental component comprises: a component body (12) including at least one concave recess (38); and a metal adapter (14) removably attachable to the component body, wherein the metal adapter includes at least one convex lobe (16) adapted to abut against the at least one concave recess in the component body for preventing rotation between the component body and the metal adapter, and wherein said at least one convex lobe extends apically of an apical end (34) of the component body when the metal adapter is attached to the component body.
US09662185B2
A scanning member includes a head portion and a body portion. The head portion has an at least partially flat top surface indicative of a first characteristic of a dental implant, an at least partially flat first side surface indicative of a second characteristic of the dental implant, and a second non-flat side surface that opposes the first side surface. The body portion has a non-rotational feature configured to non-rotationally couple the body portion to the dental implant. The body portion is physically attached to a bottom surface of the head portion to form a generally “T” shape. The scanning member has an internal through hole for receiving a screw to threadably couple with a threaded bore within the dental implant. A set of scanning members includes scanning members having different body portions configured to couple to dental implants from different manufacturers.
US09662178B2
Various embodiments are described herein for a system and a method for identifying the arrhythmogenic circuit of a patient or subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining data for electrograms recorded at various locations of the heart while programmed ventricular pacing with extra stimuli was performed, obtaining decrement values for at least two different locations of the heart using the recorded electrograms, generating at least a portion of a decrement map using the decrement values, and identifying the arrhythmogenic circuit based on electrograms having significant decremental properties.
US09662169B2
A catheter has at least two irrigated ablation electrodes and a coaxial irrigation tubing to transport fluid to the electrodes by separate and dedicated flow paths. A valve is used to control flow of fluid into the coaxial irrigation tubing by means of a plunger assembly that allows fluid to flow through one lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing while regulating the flow into the other lumen of the coaxial irrigation tubing in response to the fluid flow rate and pressure applied to the plunger assembly.
US09662167B2
A vaginal wall incision instrument includes a main body portion that is capable of being inserted into a vaginal canal; an incision portion that protrudes from a distal portion of the main body portion in a direction intersecting a center line of the vaginal canal and is formed by a conductive material; and an operating portion, wherein the main body portion includes an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the interior portion includes a contact portion, wherein a guide hole is configured on the interior portion, wherein the guide hole is capable of guiding the conductive member in a direction toward a boundary between the uterine cervix and the vaginal canal, and wherein the incision portion separates the vaginal canal along a circumference whose center is the center line of rotation by rotating the interior portion about the center line of rotation with respect to the exterior portion.
US09662166B2
The inventive ablation element comprises an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula defines an internal lumen within the cannula and a cannula axis. A plurality of conductors contained within the lumen, each of the conductors has a proximal end proximate the proximal end of the cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of the cannula. A plurality of ablation stylets each has a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled at the respective proximal end of the stylet to the distal end of a respective conductor, the stylets comprise a deflectable material, the conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement. A trocar point defined proximate the distal end of the cannula.
US09662160B2
A surgical tool for removing a portion of an implant is provided that includes a housing, a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the housing, and an output shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the motor and the distal end has an opening configured to rotateably engage an implant. The surgical tool further includes a counter-torque sleeve extending around the output shaft having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the housing and the distal end is configured to couple to the implant relative to the counter-torque sleeve. Upon a rotational force to the implant, the forces transmitted by the output shaft and the counter-torque sleeve are balanced by the coupling of the output shaft and counter-torque sleeve through the housing.
US09662153B2
A guide assembly for facilitating placement of a fixation member within a medullary canal of a radius is provided. According to one embodiment, a guide assembly includes a guide fastener configured to attach to a fixation member and a guide member configured to receive the guide fastener such that the guide member is secured to the fixation member. The guide assembly also includes an interchangeable distal guide member configured to engage and be disengaged from the guide member. The distal guide member defines a plurality of fastener guide openings for guiding respective fasteners through a plurality of fastener openings defined in the fixation member.
US09662152B2
A method of manufacturing a resorbable balloon designed to contain bone cement for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty applications is described. The resorbable balloon can be inserted into a vertebral body following vertebral cavitation and filled with bone cement. The balloon remains in place in the vertebral body and resorbs over time. Methods and apparatus are also described for delivering therapeutic agents using collapsible, resorbable balloons. The balloons may be nested and filled with various therapeutic agents that are released over time at rates dependent upon structures and degradation rates of the balloons. Furthermore, the function of the hollow devices can encompass both encapsulation and therapeutic substance delivery roles simultaneously.
US09662151B2
A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient.
US09662146B2
An improved anterior cervical plating system and methods of cervical fusion using such a system are provided. The cervical plating system includes an interlocking mechanism that integrated into each of the plates such that any two plates may cooperatively engage through the interlocking mechanism such that a new cervical plate can be interconnected with a pre-existing plate during revision surgery without removal of the pre-existing plate.
US09662139B2
A cannula assembly for use in laproscopic surgery includes a cannula having a proximal end for use in orientating the assembly into an abdominal cavity, a distal end for insertion into a patient, and a passage through which surgical instruments can be inserted. An expandable feature in the form of an anchor is located toward the distal end of the cannula and is selectively expandable and collapsible. The feature in its expanded state prevents withdrawal of the cannula. A collar is pushed distally until it releasably cinches to the outside of the abdominal cavity thereby creating an airtight seal and stabilizing the assembly. The collar has a friction fit with the cannula designed to prevent excessive force against the cavity walls.
US09662120B2
A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the proximal attachment segment within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. In the delivery configuration, an inner surface of the delivery sheath is outwardly expanded and compressed around the deployment wire and the treatment device at the overlap. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is distally spaced from the attachment zone and the distal opening.
US09662118B2
One disclosed embodiment comprises a method for treating lesions in the carotid artery of a mammalian body. The method comprises transcervical access and blocking of blood flow through the common carotid artery (with or without blocking of blood flow through the external carotid artery), shunting blood from the internal carotid artery and treating the lesion in the carotid artery.
US09662106B2
A resorbable screw fastener and a method of firing with an applicator capable of applying a surgical fastener to tissue in order to form tissue connection to secure objects to tissue, the fastener including a body portion having a helical thread, a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion. The resorbable screw fastener is 100% resorbed in vivo during a period of time ranging from about 14 days to about one year after implantation.
US09662103B2
A bone anchor inserter according to embodiments of the present invention includes a shaft configured to interface with a bone anchor, a proper depth indicator on the shaft, an upper visual indicator on the shaft, the upper visual indicator located adjacent to the proper depth indicator on a first side of the proper depth indicator furthest from the bone anchor, and a lower visual indicator on the shaft, the lower visual indicator located adjacent to the proper depth indicator on a second side of the proper depth indicator opposite from the first side, the lower visual indicator being visually distinct from the upper visual indicator.
US09662102B2
A suture holding system including a suture and a block having first, second and third regions for receiving the suture, having proximal and distal ends, is provided. The suture is received in the first and second regions of the block, defining a first suture portion, and is then received in the third region before passing between the block and the first suture portion, defining a second suture portion. In this configuration, pulling on the distal end of the suture selectively locks the suture to block, whereas pulling on the proximal end of the suture allows the suture to advance freely in that direction. Suture holding system may also include a second block, being rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first block. A delivery device for implanting the suture holding system in soft tissue and methods for repairing a tear in soft tissue are also provided.
US09662097B2
A method of expanding a narrowed region inside a living body involves positioning a liquid introducer in the narrowed region in the living body and introducing liquid into the narrowed region by way of the liquid introducer. The liquid applies an outwardly directed force on the narrowed region to expand the narrowed region. The narrowed region includes the renal pelvis, the entrance to the lower calix, the ureter, etc.
US09662092B2
An ultrasound observation apparatus that generates an ultrasound image based on an ultrasound signal obtained by receiving ultrasound reflected by a contrast medium in a target region of a subject to which the contrast medium is administered includes a measuring section configured to measure predetermined measurement items related to administration of the contrast medium, an image quality setting changing section configured to change an image quality setting of the ultrasound image from one to another of a first image quality setting suitable for observing how the contrast medium flows into the target region and a second image quality setting suitable for observing how the contrast medium is retained in the target region, and a control section configured to control setting changing operation by the image quality setting changing section based on a measurement result of the measuring section.
US09662087B2
An evaluation aid serves as a phantom (imitation lesion) when a digital X-ray image is taken, and evaluation is then carried out through the digital X-ray image. The evaluation aid can simplify evaluating image qualities of a digital X-ray image for X-ray absorption parts having different X-ray absorption ratios all at once. The evaluation aid contains a substrate (plate-like body) including a plurality of regions having different X-ray absorption ratios for taking a digital X-ray image to carry out evaluation. Step members are provided on the plate-like body so as to correspond to the plurality of regions, respectively, where each step member includes a plurality of subregions having different X-ray absorption ratios. Preferably the thicknesses and/or constituent materials of the plurality of regions of the substrate are different from each other in order to have different X-ray absorption ratios in these regions.
US09662086B2
The radiographic imaging device that configures the disclosed radiographic imaging system has at least a camera that images a main cassette body. Said camera is integrally configured to a radiation source and a control device that controls the main cassette body or is integrally configured to a main radiation source body that houses the radiation source.
US09662081B2
This invention provides an X-ray CT image processing method that allows more flexible expression by expressing X-ray absorption coefficients probabilistically, makes it possible to acquire reconstructed images that are comparable to those obtained by conventional methods but involve lower X-ray doses, and can reduce beam-hardening artifacts. A probability distribution for the observation of projected X-rays is set and statistical inference is performed. Said probability distribution is expressed in terms of the process of observing a multiple-X-ray sum resulting from multiple projected X-rays being incident upon a detector. Bayesian inference in which the expected value of the posterior distribution is used for statistical inference is performed on the basis of a prior distribution for X-ray absorption coefficients, said prior distribution having parameters for the material and the observation process in terms of which the multiple-X-ray sum is expressed.
US09662076B2
A collimation system for a medical apparatus includes a collimation component having a laser emitting device, at least one photographing device, and a computing device. The laser emitting device is configured to the emit a laser beam to irradiate on a landmark on a body surface of a patient, the at least one photographing device is configured to take a photograph of a laser irradiation spot, and the computing device is configured to obtain a position of the laser irradiation spot by performing computation on images obtained by the at least one photographing device. The system further includes a moving component provided on the medical apparatus and configured to move to a target position for performing diagnosis or treatment. The medical apparatus automatically is configured to locate the moving component based on the position of the irradiation spot obtained from the computation.
US09662075B2
A method for controlling scanning preparation includes: obtaining a first scanning protocol of a current CT examination, controlling a CT scanner to perform a scanning preparation for a first scanning series according to the first scanning protocol; in case that there are one or more subsequent scanning series, controlling CT scanner to perform scanning preparations for the subsequent scanning series according to the first scanning protocol, where for each subsequent scanning series, the scanning preparation is performed during time interval between end of exposure of scanning series previous to the subsequent scanning series and starting of the subsequent scanning series; and obtaining a second scanning protocol of next CT examination and controlling the CT scanner to perform a scanning preparation for a first scanning series according to the second scanning protocol.
US09662058B2
Foley type catheter embodiments for sensing physiologic data from a urinary tract of a patient are disclosed. The system includes the catheter and a data processing apparatus and methods for sensing physiologic data from the urinary tract. Embodiments may also include a pressure sensor having a pressure interface at a distal end of the catheter, a pressure transducer at a proximal end, and a fluid column disposed between the pressure interface and transducer. When the distal end is residing in the bladder, the pressure transducer can transduce pressure impinging on it into a chronological pressure profile, which can be processed by the data processing apparatus into one or more distinct physiologic pressure profiles, for example, peritoneal pressure, respiratory rate, and cardiac rate. At a sufficiently high data-sampling rate, these physiologic data may further include relative pulmonary tidal volume, cardiac output, relative cardiac output, and absolute cardiac stroke volume.
US09662056B2
Method and apparatus for optimizing analyte sensor calibration including receiving a current blood glucose measurement, retrieving a time information for an upcoming scheduled calibration event for calibrating an analyte sensor, determining temporal proximity between the current blood glucose measurement and the retrieved time information for the upcoming calibration event, initiating a calibration routine to calibrate the analyte sensor when the determined temporal proximity is within a predetermined time period, and overriding the upcoming scheduled calibration event using the current blood glucose measurement are provided.
US09662052B2
Because reprocessing or refurbishing of physiological sensors reuses large portions of an existing sensor, the material costs for refurbishing sensors is significantly lower than the material costs for making an entirely new sensor. Typically, existing reprocessors replace only the adhesive portion of an adhesive physiological sensor and reuse the sensing components. However, re-using the sensing components can reduce the reliability of the refurbished sensor and/or reduce the number of sensors eligible for refurbishing due to out-of-specification sensor components. It is therefore desirable to provide a process for refurbishing physiological sensors that replaces the sensing components of the sensor. While sensing components are replaced, generally, sensor cable and/or patient monitor attachments are retained, resulting in cost savings over producing new sensors.
US09662046B2
A lancing actuator (114) includes a drive element (118) for driving a lancing element, the drive element being guided within a housing (112), a combined compression and torsion element (120) which, by a relaxing movement thereof, is adapted to drive the lancing motion, a combined triggering and driving device (122) having an actuating element (124) and a locking device (126), wherein the actuating element has an initial state and an actuated state and is accessible from the outside of the housing, wherein, in the initial state, the drive element is locked in the locking device under a torsional stress exerted by the combined compression and torsion element, wherein the combined triggering and driving device is configured in a manner that, when the actuating element makes a movement along an actuation path from the initial state into the actuated state, a torque is exerted on the drive element which prevails over the torsional stress exerted by the combined compression and torsion element such that the drive element is released from the locking device, which results in a triggering of the lancing motion.
US09662039B2
Systems and method for producing functional brain organization maps are provided. The method includes providing functional connectivity magnetic resonance image (fcMRI) data, a population atlas, a variation map indicative of inter-subject variability in the atlas. The method also includes initializing a subject map using the atlas, determining a reference signal for each functional connectivity network in the subject map using signals derived from the fcMRI data, computing correlations between the signals and reference signal of each functional connectivity network, and iteratively updating the subject map by reassigning locations in the subject brain when correlating with a functional connectivity network, updating at each iteration the reference signal using the subject map, the population atlas, the variation map, and the set of fcMRI data. The method further includes generating a report indicative of a functional brain organization for the brain of the subject using the subject map.
US09662032B2
A biosignal measuring apparatus and a method of measuring a biosignal is provided. A biosignal measuring apparatus includes a first interfacing unit including two or more first interfaces configured to detect first signals from a subject, a second interfacing unit including two or more second interfaces and a connecting unit, the second interfaces being configured to detect noise from the subject, the connecting unit being configured to connect the second interfaces, and a biosignal extracting unit configured to extract a biosignal of the subject from the first signals by using signals output from the second interfacing unit.
US09662029B2
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating an expected effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy. Electrocardiogram (ECG) data is received as at least one ECG lead from a set of electrodes. A frequency spectrum representing the ECG data is generated via a Fourier transform. At least one predictor value is extracted from the calculated frequency spectrum. A fitness parameter, representing the expected effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization, is determined from at least the extracted predictor value.
US09662025B2
Circuits and circuit systems to record activity (e.g., peripheral nerve activity) are provided. The circuits advantageously have good noise characteristics (e.g., low noise), as well as low power consumption and low area. A circuit can be implantable (e.g., in a human subject). Methods of designing, manufacturing, and using such circuits and circuit systems are also provided.
US09662023B2
Disclosed embodiments pertain to the measurement of heart rate in the presence of motion and noise. Spectral peaks in measurements by an optical sensor are compared with spectral peaks obtained from a motion sensor signal measurements, to obtain a fundamental frequency in the optical sensor signal, where the fundamental frequency is associated with a user's heart rate. A first heart rate may be estimated based on the fundamental frequency. A variety of quality metrics may be determined for the first heart rate estimate. A second estimated heart rate may be determined based by processing a frequency domain representation of the optical sensor signal based on a frequency domain representation of the motion sensor signal. One or more of the previously determined quality metrics may be dynamically adjusted based on a comparison of first and second estimated heart rates.
US09662020B2
An acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave from a subject, an optical fiber that guides light emitted from a light source to a probe body, and a light guide member that guides light from a light entrance end, which is optically coupled to the optical fiber, to a light exit end, which is located in the vicinity of the acoustic wave detector, are provided. The light guide member is secured in the probe body with a securing material provided at least partially around the light guide member. The conditional expression below is satisfied: sin−1(n2/n1)×(180°/π)<90°−θi where n1 is a refractive index of the light guide member, n2 is a refractive index of the securing material, and θi is a spread angle of incoming light from the optical fiber.
US09662003B2
A surgical device including a seal anchor that includes leading and trailing portions. A plurality of ports longitudinally extends between the leading and trailing portions. The ports are adapted and configured to receive surgical objects therein. At least one of the surgical objects is a viewing instrument including a viewing portion. During a surgical procedure, surgical objects inserted in the other ports are selectively positionable with respect to the viewing instrument.
US09662002B2
An endoscopic portal protective shield assembly has an elongate portal shaft and an elongated protective shield. The elongate portal shaft has a viewing portal. The shaft has a slotted tubular body with interior surfaces. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end and a slotted opening at the distal end extending partially along the slotted tubular body toward the proximal end. The elongated protective shield has a longitudinal shield body, a proximal end and a distal end. The protective shield is configured to be slid into the slotted opening of the tubular body with an interior portion of the longitudinal shield body being inserted inside the tubular body while maintaining the viewing portal open.
US09662001B2
A laryngoscope insertion section comprising a tube guide including at least an inferior tube guiding member and a superior tube guiding member, wherein the thickness of the insertion section in a first region is less than the external diameter of the largest diameter endotracheal tube in an operating range of endotracheal tube sizes plus the thickness of the inferior tube guiding member plus the thickness of the superior tube guiding member. Typically, the insertion section comprises an elongate member and the tube guide is lateral of the elongate member. Typically, an endotracheal tube is retained within the tube guide in flexural tension.
US09661997B2
An endoscope includes an image pickup unit and a treatment instrument channel. The image pickup unit and the treatment instrument channel are adjacent to each other. The image pickup unit includes an objective lens and an image pickup device. In a pixel formation region of the image pickup unit, a segmentation region is set as a region read out as a region for displaying a video. A center of the segmentation region is disposed to be shifted from a center of the pixel formation region toward the treatment instrument channel. An optical axis of the objective lens is parallel to a center axis of the treatment instrument channel. The center of the segmentation region is located on the optical axis.
US09661994B2
An enhanced flexibility auxiliary endoscope assembly for use with an endoscope, the assembly including at least one flexible elongate element and a flexible sleeve having a first lumen for accommodating a distal portion of an endoscope capable of assuming at least a first curvature and a second lumen for accommodating the at least one flexible elongate element, the second lumen being configured to allow the at least one flexible elongate element to assume the at least first curvature as well as at least a second curvature about the first curvature, thereby to enhance flexibility of the auxiliary endoscope assembly.
US09661993B2
An endoscope includes an insertion portion, a flexible member, a connecting member the proximal end side portion of which is fixed to the distal end side of the flexible member, an outer sheath, a first filling agent that is applied on the outer circumference side of the flexible member in such a manner as to come into contact with at least the distal end side of the outer sheath, an annular member that covers at least the outer circumference of the first filling agent, a protruding portion, and a second filling agent that is applied so as to continuously cover at least the outer circumference of the annular member and the outer circumference on the distal end side of the outer sheath.
US09661990B2
An endoscope (1) is provided in which a mechanically or electrically adjustable mirror (7) is interposed between two lenses (3, 4) adapted for stereoscopic image recording and an image recording chip (5), the mirror allows light captured by the lenses (3, 4) to be alternately guided onto the image recording chip (5).
US09661986B2
Endoscopes, multicore endoscope fibers and configuration and operation methods are provided. The fibers may have hundreds or thousands of cores and possibly incorporate working channel(s) and additional fibers. The fiber may be used at different optical configurations to capture images of tissue and objects at the distal tip and to enhance a wide range of optical characteristics of the images such as resolution, field of view, depth of field, wavelength ranges etc. Near-field imaging as well as far-field imaging may be implemented in the endoscopes and the respective optical features may be utilized to optimize imaging. Optical elements may be used at the distal fiber tip, or the distal fiber tip may be lens-less. Diagnostics and optical treatment feedback loops may be implemented and illumination may be adapted to yield full color images, depth estimation, enhanced field of views and/or depths of field, and additional diagnostic data.
US09661981B2
A dishwasher having a washing container; a controller to control the operation of the dishwasher by means of a wash program; a desorption drying system to dry items to be washed that are arranged inside the washing container; and input means that are connected to the controller and that modify the wash program.
US09661977B2
A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher (12) comprises a dishwasher (12), in particular wherein the dishwasher (12) comprises a dishwasher interface (14), a dispenser unit (26), in particular wherein the dispenser unit (26) comprises a dispenser interface (28), wherein the dispenser unit (26) is connected to the dishwasher (12) for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher (12), a logic unit (30), in particular wherein the logic unit (30) is connectable to the dishwasher interface (14) and the dispenser interface (28), and a current sensor (24) for measuring an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher (12), wherein the current sensor (24) is connected to the logic unit (30). By replacing costly water meters by a current sensor (24), the cost efficiency of the washing system (10) may be increased. In addition, the assembling and maintenance effort of the washing system (10) may be reduced.
US09661968B2
A cleaning system. The system has a floor cleaning device, disposable floor sheet removably attachable to the device pad, and a rotatable beater bar. The device has a single wheel, and moves on the target surface by rolling action of the wheel and gliding of the floor sheet. This arrangement, not having multiple wheels, provides enhanced maneuverability, and improves cleaning performance. The cleaning system may be used to clean hard surfaces, such as a floor.
US09661967B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a vacuum attachment for cleaning sprinkler heads. The vacuum attachment may include a cleaning extension head having a hollow upper head tube tapering to a hollow lower head tube, wherein the upper head tube has a larger diameter than the lower head tube. The upper head tube may have an upper head tube opening configured to accommodate a facility sprinkler, and the lower head tube may be configured to accommodate a vacuum hose, such that the vacuum hose is configured to removably attach to the cleaning extension head. In some embodiments, the attachment may also include a universal extension device to help users reach sprinklers on higher ceilings.
US09661966B2
A vacuum cleaner includes a main body including a fan motor to generate suction force, a suction unit connected to the main body to suction foreign matter from a surface to be cleaned in a state of contacting the surface, a dust collector separatably mounted to the main body to separate and collect dust from air suctioned by the suction unit, and a wheel assembly to move the main body, wherein the wheel assembly includes frames provided at a lower part and left and right sides of the main body and wheels rotatably mounted to the frames provided at the left and right sides of the main body, each wheel having a negative camber angle.
US09661957B2
A seat and storage unit for a bathtub includes a platform, a support panel and at least one drawer supported by the support panel. The support panel extends from the platform in a substantially perpendicular relationship thereto a distance from a rear end of the platform and with a first side and a second side of the support panel spaced inwardly relative to a first side and a second side of the platform to cooperate with the platform to define a first wall receiving notch and a second wall receiving notch such that a portion of a bottom surface of the platform is positioned on the top end of the sidewalls of the bathtub when the support panel is positioned between the sidewalls of the bathtub.
US09661950B2
A machine (1) for preparing a beverage comprises: a handle (10, 12) having a drive portion (12) arranged to be contacted and driven by a human hand to move the handle into a beverage preparation position; and a user-interface (20a) for initiating beverage preparation. This drive portion comprises this user-interface.
US09661944B2
A decorative and connectable display arrangement that includes a housing of multi-sided form having opposed first and second sides and a bottom, an inner support frame that is disposed within the housing and including a cap member having an open top port, and at least one decorative member that is supported within the housing and extends upwardly through the open top port. The decorative member includes a base piece that is pivotally supported in the housing and a stem piece extending from the base piece and extending through the open top port. A solar energy source or panel is supported in the inner support frame and is effective for driving the at least one decorative member in a predetermined motion direction. The housing has 3 on opposed sides thereof an interlock tongue and groove mechanism that enables adjacent ones of the housings to be engaged together.
US09661935B2
Steps for using an insert to restore sagging sofa cushions are provided. Over time, the cushion develops a depression on a sitting surface of a deformable member and an elevation on a base surface of the deformable member. The cushion also suffers from reduced elasticity in the deformable member. Positioning the insert between a cushion casing and deformable member of the cushion allows for sagging areas of the cushion to be fixed. The cushion restoring insert thus addresses both aforementioned issues. An elongated elastic member with similar elasticity to the original cushion provides a like-new level of elasticity for the cushion. The cushion restoring insert also increases volume within the cushion casing, causing tension in combination with the cushion casing. This tension counteracts the depression and elevation, helping to return the cushion to a like new state.
US09661922B2
An outdoor modular system includes a plurality of vertical support pieces and a plurality of panel wall assemblies selectively engagable with the plurality of vertical support pieces, wherein a respective panel wall assembly is secured between a pair of adjacent vertical support pieces via one of thumb screws and set screws positioned in the screw holes of vertical support pieces. Each of the plurality of vertical support pieces include a support piece mating feature comprising at least one of notches, grooves, channels, and flanges, and a screw hole formed in the vertical support piece for receiving one of a thumb screw and a set screw therein. In addition, each panel wall assembly includes a set of vertical and horizontal framing pieces encompassing a decorative panel assembly, and at least one fastener configured to secure the set of vertical framing pieces to the set of horizontal framing pieces.
US09661919B2
According to various embodiments, a furniture system and method of manufacture is disclosed. The furniture system may comprise one or more raised horizontal platforms. The plurality of platforms may flank a basin, such as a catch basin. The furniture system may comprise one or more support members to support and/or raise the platforms and/or basin from ground level. The furniture system may comprise one or more containers.
US09661917B2
A rail mounted table device for securing onto a rail and placing objects thereon. The rail mounted table device includes a planar member having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a pair of protrusions extend perpendicularly from the lower surface of thereof. The protrusions define a channel in order to accept a horizontal rail therebetween, allowing the lower surface of the planar member to rest flush against the upper surface of a rail. The protrusions are preferably rectangular, wherein the first protrusion is parallel to the second protrusion. In this way, the rail mounted table device is removably securable to a rail. In an alternative embodiment, each protrusion is L-shaped so as to fit over a corner of a rail. The upper surface of the planar member provides an area for users to rest objects thereon, such as food and drinks.
US09661914B2
A portable fighting assembly may include a housing comprising a power source compartment that opens to a first end, wherein a power source may be enclosed by a power source compartment closure. A cover may enclose the power source and power source compartment closure. The cover may removably attach to the first end of the housing. A light may attach to a second end of the housing. The housing and cover may attach to a base which may attach to a first end of a strap by a fastener. A second and a third fastener may be attached to the strap to removably hold the strap in position while the strap may surround an object such as a utility belt, pant belt or the like. In certain embodiments, instead of a strap, the base may have wings that removably attach to each other.
US09661904B2
The present invention relates to a travel bag having an extra storage compartment. The auxiliary storage compartment is formed of a flexible textile material and is attached to top of the travel bag in a folding manner. The auxiliary storage compartment is usually stored to be in close contact with the outside of the main body of the bag. When in use, the auxiliary storage compartment is unfolded upward for assembly so that another auxiliary storage compartment is formed. During travel, belongings such as a handbag, a camera, a cellular phone, etc. can be conveniently stored and kept temporarily during an immigration inspection at an airport or the like. Accordingly, utility of the travel bag can be more improved.
US09661902B2
A waterproof slide fastener with waterproof property in which covering the whole front and rear faces of a woven or knitted fastener tape with an elastomer, and fastener elements made of a thermoplastic resin are injection molded on the lateral edge of the fastener tape. In particular, a waterproof slide fastener that can maintain the watertightness and airtightness even when the fastener tape is bent in the lengthwise direction because, on the assumption that the minimum width between the outer end edges of the neck part of the fastener element in the lengthwise direction of the fastener tape that is a slide direction in which the slider slides is N and the width between the outer end edges of the body part of the fastener element in the same lengthwise direction is B, the value of B/N is between 2.5 and 3.5.
US09661892B2
An article of footwear includes an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having courses aligned along different knitting directions, including a first knitting direction and a second knitting direction. The knitting direction of the courses transitions gradually from the first direction to the second direction. The knitting direction of the courses of the knitted component is configured to be aligned so as to distribute forces acting on the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.
US09661888B2
A method for forming thermoplastic composites includes: (a). cutting a thermoplastic film and a cloth material, with the thermoplastic film including a surface layer and an adhesive layer, and with a melting point of the surface layer higher than the adhesive layer; (b). placing the thermoplastic film on a platform of a molding machine, facing the adhesive layer upwardly, and covering the cloth material on the thermoplastic film, with the platform including a plurality of channels defined therein, a plurality of concave and convex patterns arranged on a top surface thereof, and plural pores evenly formed on the top surface thereof and communicating with the plurality of channels; and (c). heating the thermoplastic film by using a heating unit to melt the adhesive layer and to soften the surface layer.
US09661886B1
This invention outlines a novel method for capturing the “state” of an intended design on an apparel pattern, and subsequently transforming that “state” to a new style or size and then applying that modified “state” to automatically recreate the original design, but for the new style or size. This invention captures the “state” of a design as a mathematical function, rather than the design itself and then applies a series of transformations to that “state” to map it to a new style. The system and method enables designers to seamlessly extrapolate designs across apparels and accessories of various sizes and styles. The automated system and method obviates the need for creating individual designs for each style or size, while ensuring that the transformed designs retain their visual characteristics even upon extrapolation.
US09661876B2
The present disclosure describes methods of obtaining and/or deriving a sugar-enriched extract from plants of the Nicotiana species and methods for incorporation of such extracts into various tobacco compositions. One exemplary method for preparing a sugar-enriched extract comprises contacting Nicotiana plant material with a solvent and extracting sugars into the solvent to form a liquid sugar-containing extract; separating a solid extracted plant material from the liquid sugar-containing extract; clarifying the liquid sugar-containing extract to form a clarified sugar-containing extract and a solids fraction; and isolating the liquid sugar-containing extract to provide a sugar-enriched extract comprising a combined weight of fructose and glucose of at least about 10% by dry weight. In certain embodiments, the sugars of the extract comprise at least about 50% by weight fructose.
US09661873B2
A primary composition comprises all essential nutrients of a fruit or a plant material, which has an increased stability, bio-availability and miscibility, and a process forms same. An oral composition can contain the primary composition in a foodstuff, food supplement, cosmetic preparation or a pharmaceutical preparation.
US09661863B2
The present invention concerns the production of a milk-based alternative product, using edible oil to substitute at least part of the milk fat. In particular, the present invention concerns the production of a cheese alternative product, an ice cream alternative product, a custard alternative product or a chilled or frozen dessert alternative product, using an edible oil to substitute at least part of the milk fat. Further, a milk based alternative product, in particular a cheese alternative product, an ice cream alternative product, a custard alternative product or a chilled or frozen dessert alternative product, and the use of an edible oil, in particular olive oil, for the production of the milk-based alternative product are disclosed.
US09661861B1
An apparatus and method for inflating a casing enclosing a sausage stick is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a holder configured to receive the sausage stick enclosed in the casing and move together with the sausage stick thereby received from an inflation starting position to an inflation end position, and an inflating needle configured to penetrate the casing of the sausage stick received by the holder and to follow the holder immoveably relative to the holder moving together with the sausage stick from the inflation starting position to the inflation end position to inflate the casing between the inflation starting position and the inflation end position.
US09661860B2
A food product rolling machine which comprises a combination of lower, upper and reciprocating functions with a vertical adjustment between upper and lower conveyers for the manufacture of a more precise food product.
US09661849B2
The present application provides processes for making pesticidal compounds and compounds useful both as pesticides and in the making of pesticidal compounds.
US09661839B2
A cage having an automatic door is described. A front side of the cage is provided with a door panel. A top edge of the door panel is hingely attached to the cage. A bottom edge of the door panel is attached to the cage through a spring. A pedal is provided on a bottom surface of the cage. A front side of the pedal is hingely attached to the cage. The pedal is connected with a connecting rod. An upper end of the connecting rod extends upward and forward along a sidewall of the cage and is bent towards an exterior of the door panel. A spring supporting seat is fixed on the sidewall of the cage. Said spring supporting seat is connected with a spring. The connecting rod is fixedly provided with a spring contact point. Spring can move the connecting rod up toward the top of the cage and forward toward the front of the cage to lift up the pedal. A hook is fixedly provided on an outer surface of the door panel. An opening of the hook faces the top of the cage. When the door panel is in its fully open position, a bending portion of the upper end of the connecting rod locks into the hook. When the pedal is pressed down, the connecting rod is pulled downwardly and detached from the hook. The door panel moves down automatically to close the cage. In case of trigger mechanism failure, the door panel can be lifted by one hand, and quickly and automatically locks in position to restart, no other manual adjustment is needed.
US09661808B2
An irrigation system that includes multiple interconnected spans that are supported by multiple tower structures. Each intermediate tower structure and end tower structure may include a dual-controller drive assembly that may include both a fixed-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the fixed-speed drive controller is selected and a variable-speed drive controller controlling the speed of movement of the dual-controller drive assembly when the variable-speed drive controller is selected, and one or more selector switches configured to either manually, based on manual operator input, or automatically, based on automatic sensor input, select between the fixed-speed drive controller and the variable-speed drive controller.
US09661807B2
A fluid supply line is provided to reduce the labor and cost required for dripline system installations by providing predetermined fitting locations where driplines can be attached. The supply line consists of a conduit having a side wall, a connector extending through the side wall of the conduit, the connector having a conduit connecting segment extending outside the conduit and an inlet segment extending into the conduit, and the inlet segment being connected to the side wall of the conduit.
US09668388B2
An electronic unit (1) having a circuit board, PCB, (2) arranged to be mounted in a main housing (6, 7 and having a first housing part (6) and a second housing part (7), where the first housing part (6) is at least partly electrically conducting. The PCB (2) having a first outer layer (3), a second outer layer (4), and a ground plane (5). The first outer layer (3) faces the first housing part (6) and the second outer layer (4) faces the second housing part (7) The ground plane (5) is in electrical contact with the first housing part (6) forming a first chamber (29), facing the first outer layer (3), and a second chamber (30), facing the second outer layer (4). The chambers (29, 30) are separated by the ground plane (5), providing electromagnetic shielding between the chambers (29, 30).
US09668385B2
A system is described herein. The system can include an explosion-proof enclosure having an interior comprising a first region and a second region. The system can also include a heat-generating component positioned within the second region of the explosion-proof enclosure. The system can further include an air moving device positioned within the first region of the explosion-proof enclosure. The air moving device can draw a first portion of intake air from outside the explosion-proof enclosure. The air moving device can also pass the first portion of the intake air over the heat-generating component to generate first exhaust air, where the first portion of the intake air cools the heat-generating component. The air moving device can further remove the first exhaust air from the interior of the explosion-proof enclosure.
US09668384B2
A method for assembling a power conversion device is provided. The method includes mounting an electronic component on a heat-dissipating base, and electrically connecting a printed wiring board with the electronic component mounted on the heat-dissipating base.
US09668378B2
A receptacle assembly includes a cage having an interior cavity that includes a port. The cage has a front end that is open to the port. The port is configured to receive a pluggable module therein through the front end of the cage. The cage includes a spring. A heat spreader includes a body having a cage segment that is configured to be mounted to the cage such that the cage segment extends over at least a portion of the cage with a module side of the cage segment facing the port. The body includes an extension segment that extends from the cage segment in a direction generally away from the cage. The extension segment is configured to be engaged in thermal communication with a heat exchanger. The spring is configured to engage the pluggable module when the pluggable module is received within the port such that the spring is configured to press the pluggable module in thermal communication with the module side of the cage segment of the heat spreader.
US09668376B2
An electric converter system, including a housing configured to receive a dielectric fluid, at least two electric modules, each including a first space and a second space, the first space including a connecting portion and a cooling system configured to circulate the dielectric fluid to cool the electric modules. The converter system further includes an inter module bus bar portion including a complementary connecting portion, whereby the connecting portion is configured to be connected to the complementary connecting portion of the inter module bus bar portion, whereby the inter module bus bar portion is configured to interconnect one of the at least two electric modules with the other of the at least two electric modules, said one electric module being proximate to said other electric module, and whereby the connecting portion, the first space and the second space of each electric module are arranged in series.
US09668374B2
A heat dissipating component includes a plurality of heat absorbers each provided for a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic components and to absorb heat from the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic components, and a heat dissipator thermally connected to the plurality of heat absorbers and to dissipate the heat absorbed by the plurality of heat absorbers. The heat dissipating component may be incorporated in an electronic device.
US09668371B1
Systems and methods that may be implemented to secure a bezel over a face of an information handling system chassis by using magnetic force to draw in and retain a ferromagnetic bezel latch pin in a latching position relative to complementary latch structure of the chassis. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented in a manner that minimizes functional intrusions on the front (or other side) of a chassis enclosure to which a bezel is secured, that reduces the number and/or complexity of mechanical features that are conventionally employed, and/or that presents both an intuitive and pleasant user experience for the end user.
US09668369B2
A collapsible enclosure cover for facilitating air flow for an enclosure having a collapsible frame with a first guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a second guide rail having a mounting bracket and an elongated member. The collapsible frame also has a plurality of poles extending from the first guide rail to the second guide rail that swivel around the elongated members. The collapsible enclosure cover also has a fabric portion connected to and disposed over the plurality of poles.
US09668359B2
A circuit module for connecting to a circuit board is disclosed, the circuit module for connecting to a circuit board, wherein the circuit module comprises a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface and a lateral surface connecting the top surface and bottom surface, wherein at least one electrical component is disposed on the top or bottom surface and a plurality of surface-mount pads are disposed on the lateral surface of the substrate for electrically connecting to corresponding pads on the circuit board.
US09668358B2
A Cu ball that has low α dose and high sphericity even when containing at least a certain amount of impurity elements other than Cu. Even when the purity thereof is 99.995% or less and U and Th contents are 5 ppb or less in order to suppress any software errors and decrease connection failure, α dose is 0.0200 cph/cm2 or less. Further, the sphericity of the Cu ball is unexpectedly improved by making the purity not more than 99.995%.
US09668357B2
An electrical connector for electrically connecting a chip module and a circuit board, includes an insulation body having multiple receiving holes. A first conductor is disposed in each of the receiving holes. The chip module has multiple first conducting portions corresponding to the receiving holes. The circuit board has multiple second conducting portions corresponding to the receiving holes. The first conductor electrically conducts the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion. The first conductor is in a sphere shape, and gallium or gallium alloy is disposed on a surface of the first conductor, or the first conductor is made of a gallium or gallium alloy material.
US09668353B2
A capacitor element includes a plurality of flexible base material layers that are stacked upon each other, and conductor patterns that are provided on the flexible base material layers and that define a capacitor. The capacitor element also includes a flexible portion, and a rigid portion having a larger number of stacked flexible base material layers than the flexible portion. Conductor pattern pairs that define the capacitor are provided in both the flexible portion and the rigid portion. The conductor pattern pair that is provided in the rigid portion is connected in series with the conductor pattern pair that is provided in the flexible portion. The conductor pattern pair that is provided in the rigid portion has a larger number of tiers than the conductor pattern pair that is provided in the flexible portion.
US09668350B2
A semiconductor module includes a printed circuit board, and first and second embedded semiconductor chips. The first and second semiconductor chips each have a first load connection and a second load connection. The printed circuit board further includes a structured first metalization layer, which has a first section and a second section, and a structured second metalization layer, which has a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section of the second metalization layer and the second section of the first metalization layer have comb shaped structures having first and second protrusions. These first and second sections are electrically conductively connected to one another by a number of first plated-through holes each of which is permanently electrically conductively connected both at first protrusions to the first section of the second metalization layer and at second protrusions to the second section of the first metalization layer.
US09668344B2
A semiconductor package may include a first substrate including a first connection portion disposed on a surface of the first substrate and a second substrate including a second connection portion disposed on a surface of the second substrate. The second substrate may be disposed over the first substrate and the second connection portion facing the first connection portion. A first connection loop portion may be provided to include an end connected to the first connection portion. A second connection loop portion may be provided to include one end connected to the second connection portion and the other end combined with the first connection loop portion.
US09668341B2
A wiring substrate includes a core layer having a penetrating hole, a first insulating layer disposed on a first surface of the core layer and having a first opening at a position of the penetrating hole, the first insulating layer containing no filler, a penetrating electrode disposed in the penetrating hole and in the first opening, and a first wiring layer laminated both on the first insulating layer at a first surface thereof facing away from the core layer and on an end face of the penetrating electrode, wherein the first surface of the first insulating layer and the end face of the penetrating electrode are planarized.
US09668335B1
A heat sink fastener includes a bridge, a first latch lever coupled to a first end of the bridge, and a second latch lever coupled to a second end of the bridge. The bridge defines a first fulcrum between a first force receiver and a first latch and a second fulcrum between a second force receiver and a second latch. An application force to deflect the force receivers toward each other to spring load the bridge and separate the first latch from the second latch. The bridge is then operable to unload to return the first latch and the second latch to a rest position. The first latch and the second latch engage apertures in a substrate so that springs or cantilevered spring members can bias the heat sink toward the substrate and an electronic component disposed between the heat sink and the substrate.
US09668331B2
An X-ray exposure control device comprises: an X-ray detection element including a plurality of pixels for dose detection each detecting a dose during X-ray radiation; a region setting unit configured to set a use pixel region including pixels for use in dose detection from the plurality of pixels for dose detection during the X-ray radiation; a signal generating unit configured to generate a stop signal for stopping the X-ray radiation from an X-ray source according to the dose detected by each of the pixels for use in the dose detection within the use pixel region set by the region setting unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit to the X-ray source the stop signal to stop the X-ray radiation as generated by the signal generating unit.
US09668321B2
A safety checking apparatus is provided with a determining section and a result data control section. The determining section determines a safety level of an asset to an incident beam according to an irradiation beam based on the irradiation direction of the irradiation beam and a position or area of the asset. The result data control section carries out a notification to the asset according to the safety level determined by the determining section. Thus, the safety level is determined to a person and a thing one in a region out of a path of the beam.
US09668318B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a flexible substrate having a display region and a non-display region located at an outer region of the display region, the non-display region being folded with respect to the display region; at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) on the display region of the flexible substrate; and an encapsulation member encapsulating the display region.
US09668317B2
A light device that makes it possible to detect a short-circuited light-emitting diode in a series assembly of a plurality of such diodes. By taking into account the junction temperature of the diodes, the device and the method associated therewith make it possible to avoid false positive short-circuit detections. The device is also capable of learning the operating parameters necessary to the detection independently and dynamically, which makes it particularly adaptive.
US09668304B2
An apparatus, including a food processor having a housing having a first section and second section, which second section is elongate in shape and houses at least a portion of a rotating member; a food processing attachment connected or attached to an end portion of the second section; and a plate capable of serving as a cover or lid for a cooking pot capable of being heated by a heating source. The plate has an opening for receiving the second section which is capable of being slideably moveable in and through the opening in a bi-directional manner to raise or lower a position of the food processing attachment, or to move the food processing attachment up or down, inside the cooking pot by a movement of the second section vertically up or down through the opening during a cooking or food processing operation in the cooking pot.
US09668300B2
A portable radio provides operation in LTE and LMR radio bands. Improved filtering in the LTE receive path is provided through the use of a linear duplexer and a SAW filter. The SAW filter is implemented as a duplexer with one port terminated to provide a filter for the LTE RX path. The linear duplexer and SAW filter provide filtering for an LMR TX signal and an LTE TX signal which are simultaneously present at an LTE antenna of the radio. The linearity of the linear duplexer which reduces LTE TX and LMR TX signal levels combined with the selectivity of the SAW filter prevents intercept intermodulation in the LTE RX path.
US09668295B2
A method and a digital device for controlling a connection between a plurality of nodes through an interface are discussed. The method according to an embodiment includes receiving control information including identification information of a destination node and a connection command. The destination node is connected with the interface based on the connection command, and the destination node maintains a connection state until a disconnection command is detected. The method further includes transmitting, according to the control information, response information including identification information of a source node.
US09668293B2
A method, a mobility node 211 and a new mobility anchor 214b configured to operatively relocate the mobility anchor 214a for a mobile terminal 215a in a wireless communication system 200. The relocation is achieved by a request for redirecting an old bearer B-old configured to communicate user-data between the mobile terminal 215a and an old mobility anchor 214a, and by setting up a new standby bearer B-new configured to operatively communicate user-data between the Mobile Terminal 215a and the new mobility anchor 214b. The standby bearer B-old is ready to be activated once the old bearer B-old is deleted.
US09668281B2
Embodiments allow a wireless device configured to work with the 802.11n/ac standard to work in the communication bands where 802.11p devices operate with little change. Embodiments may receive signals using a receiver adapted for the wider bandwidth 802.11n/ac signals. Embodiments may also increase the sensitivity of the receiver to reduce the likelihood of missing the presence of a lower bandwidth 802.11p signal. When a signal is detected, embodiments may process the incoming signal as if it were an 802.11n/ac signal while also processing incoming signal samples in a way that effectively narrows the receiver bandwidth to identify whether an 802.11p signal is present. If the device detects the presence of an 802.11n/ac signal, it may terminate the 802.11p signal processing and proceed with normal 802.11n/ac operation. If the device detects the presence of an 802.11p signal, it may terminate 802.11n/ac processing and trigger collision avoidance processes.
US09668277B2
A method for wireless communications at a user equipment includes determining whether high speed data has been scheduled by determining whether a scheduling channel has been enabled. The method also includes adjusting a clock speed based on a presence or an absence of the scheduling channel. The clock speed is adjusted without decoding the scheduling channel.
US09668275B2
Method and apparatus for reporting channel state by reflecting interference cancellation performance
Disclosed is a method for reporting a channel state in a wireless communication system, the method performed by a terminal and including reporting channel state information (CSI) to a base station (BS), transmitting CSI correction information for correcting the reported CSI, to the BS, and receiving a downlink channel scheduled based on the CSI correction information, wherein the CSI correction information indicates a change in channel state due to dynamic interference.
US09668274B1
A method, system, and medium are provide for dynamically allocating frequency bands transmitted by a base station to a user device to optimize signal strength at the device. A distance from the base station to the user device is determined, and if the distance is greater than a distance threshold, a lower-frequency band is allocated to the device. If the distance is less than the distance threshold, a penetration loss factor for the device is calculated. If the penetration loss factor is greater than a penetration loss threshold, a lower-frequency band is allocated to the device, and if the penetration loss factor is less than the penetration loss threshold, a higher-frequency band is allocated to the device.
US09668273B2
A method and apparatus for applying autonomous denial in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) counts the number of aggregated denials of uplink (UL) subframes in all serving cells or each serving cell over a validity period including previous subframes and a current subframe. If the number of aggregated denials of UL subframes in all serving cells or each serving cell is less than a threshold, the UE is allowed to deny scheduled UL transmission at the current subframe.
US09668269B2
A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communication system comprising a master base station and a slave base station. The master base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a first set of data to a mobile station in a first transmission. The slave base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a second set of data to the mobile station in the first transmission. The master base station retransmits the second set of data to the mobile station during a first retransmission and the slave base station retransmits the first set of data to the mobile station during the first retransmission.
US09668268B2
A method of detecting interference caused by inter-modulation in a network node site comprising a set of network nodes for wireless communication capable of communication with a set of stations for wireless communication. The stations are wireless transceiver devices and communication from the network node to any of the stations is considered to be downlink communication and communication from any of the stations is considered to be uplink communication. The method comprises determining a received input signal interference level on at least a part of communication resources for uplink communication, determining a transmitted signal level on at least a part of communication resources for downlink communication, wherein the at least part of communication resources for downlink communication corresponds in time with the at least part of communication for uplink communication, correlating statistics from the determined received input signal interference level and the determined transmitted signal level, and determining whether significant interference caused by inter-modulation is present based on the correlation. A computer program, a controller and a network node are also disclosed.
US09668265B2
Techniques for mitigating interference in a wireless communication network are described. A terminal may desire to communicate with a weaker serving base station and may observe high interference from a strong interfering base station. The two base stations may be asynchronous and have different frame timing. In an aspect, high interference may be mitigated by having the interfering base station reserve downlink and/or uplink resources. The interfering base station may transmit at a low power level or not at all on the reserved downlink resources to reduce interference to the terminal. Terminals served by the interfering base station may transmit at a low power level or not at all on the reserved uplink resources to reduce interference at the serving base station. The terminal may then be able to communicate with the serving base station.
US09668262B2
The present invention aims to reduce an insertion loss or the like caused by a diplexer inserted to reduce leakage from an uplink bandwidth to a downlink bandwidth of different bands, and thereby to improve a communication quality. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: transmitting simultaneous transmission capability information from a mobile station UE to a radio base station eNB, the simultaneous transmission capability information indicating whether or not the mobile station UE is able to transmit uplink data signal via multiple carriers in multiple bands within a same sub-frame in performing uplink CA; performing scheduling for the mobile station UE by the radio base station eNB based on the simultaneous transmission capability information; and performing communications by the mobile station UE based on the scheduling information.
US09668253B2
A base station does not transmit any reference signal (RS) for channel measurement in a subframe in which transmission of an RS collides with transmission of a synchronization signal or a broadcast signal or in a resource block including the synchronization signal or the broadcast signal in the subframe. A user equipment assumes that any RS for channel measurement is not transmitted in a subframe or in a resource block when transmission of an RS collides with transmission of a synchronization signal or a broadcast signal in the subframe or in the resource block.
US09668246B2
In a mobile communication system in which a plurality of base stations included in a CoMP cooperating set allocate a same communication resource to a user terminal to perform a communication, each of the plurality of base stations comprises a notification unit that notifies another base station included in the CoMP cooperating set of a communication resource of allocation candidate for the user terminal in the base station itself; a receiver that receives a notification of a communication resource of allocation candidate for the user terminal in another base station included in the CoMP cooperating set from the other base station; and a selector that selects a communication resource to be allocated to the user terminal from communication resources of allocation candidates in the plurality of base stations, based on the notification received by the receiver.
US09668242B2
A method and apparatus for sending Network Aware data between a node in a radio network and a node in a service network. A first node generates a Protocol Data Unit, the Protocol Data Unit comprising Network Aware data. The Protocol Data Unit is then sent towards a second node using a transport bearer. This has the advantage that the second node is made aware of the Network Aware data and can, if necessary, adjust its behavior accordingly.
US09668237B2
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and arrangement in a telecommunication system, in particular to methods and arrangements relating to overlapping MBSFN-areas. A notification mechanism is introduced that allows a user equipment to distinguish notifications for different MBSFN areas and different MBMS Control Channels. The user equipment then knows already upon reception of the notification whether it has to wake up and read a specific MBMS Control Channel. The embodiments of the present invention thus support multiple MBSFN areas per cell while still maintaining the benefits of reduced battery consumption in the UE due to said MBMS notification mechanism.
US09668235B2
A method and an apparatus for controlling paging for a plurality of devices capable of wireless communication are disclosed in the invention. The method includes the following steps: paging locations in frames are determined for at least one device of the plurality of devices and a paging type indication indicative of a group paging or a dedicated paging is communicated to the at least one device to control calculation of paging locations according to the group paging mode or the dedicated paging mode in a predetermined manner. The device receives the paging type indication and in response thereto calculates the paging locations in received frames according to the group paging mode or the dedicated paging mode.
US09668234B2
A method and apparatus for triggering a machine type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. An MTC WTRU receives a message that indicates control period configuration information associated with an extended discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle. The MTC WTRU monitors a paging channel during a control period. The MTC WTRU connects, in response to receiving a paging message during the control period, to an MTC server and transmits data to the MTC server.
US09668232B2
Methods, systems, and devices are describe for signaling protocols for device-to-device discovery operations in a wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) may be communicating with a serving base station using a first frequency in a first frequency band. The UE may transmit, to the serving base station, information associated with performing a discovery scan procedure on a second frequency in a second frequency band during a discovery scan interval. The first frequency may be different from the second frequency. The UE may identify a capability to skip one or more downlink transmissions from the serving base station during the discovery scan interval.
US09668228B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for adjusting a transmit power at a first electronic device. A first Transmit Power Control (TPC) request message, including power mode information of the first electronic device, is transmitted from the first electronic device to a second electronic device. The first electronic device receives a first TPC report message, including power mode information of the second electronic device, transmit power information of the second electronic device, and link margin information for the first electronic device, from the second electronic device. The first electronic device adjusts the transmit power according to the power mode information of the second electronic device, using the transmit power information and the link margin information included in the first TPC report message.
US09668224B2
A radio base station apparatus including a function for determining a transmission power, including: a neighbor cell detection unit configured to detect a neighbor cell that interferes with a target cell that the radio base station apparatus can form; a received power measurement unit configured to measure, for each neighbor cell detected by the neighbor cell detection unit, a received power from the neighbor cell; and a transmission power determination unit configured to calculate, for each band part that overlaps with a transmission band of the radio base station apparatus in transmission bands of each neighbor cell, a sum of received powers for neighbor cells having transmission bands each including the band part, and to determine an interference amount in the target cell based on the sum of received powers so as to determine the transmission power by using the interference amount.
US09668219B2
Power reduction method for multi-path receiver including multi-receivers and the multi-path receiver
A power reduction method for a multi-path receiver including multi-receivers, includes detecting a state of the multi-receivers, and controlling clock gating or power gating of the multi-receivers based on the state.
US09668216B2
Techniques for device power management for wireless local networks are described. An apparatus may comprise a network access component for execution by circuitry to automatically determine whether a wireless device can access a wireless network based on security credentials of the wireless device, and generate a network status signal when the wireless device can access a wireless network. The apparatus may comprise a power interface component for execution by circuitry to send control directives to manage various power states of the wireless device based on the network status signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09668212B2
A physical layer low power communication method and apparatus are provided. The physical layer low power communication method may include receiving a data packet from a transmitter, measuring a channel quality using a preamble and signal field information included in the data packet and determining whether recovery of the data packet is possible, calculating an error generation rate according to a determination result, and discarding the data packet and operating in a power save mode when the error generation rate is higher than a predetermined reference.
US09668211B2
A UE paging method, a base station, and a UE are disclosed. The method includes receiving, by the base station, a paging message that is used for paging the UE and delivered by a core network side, where the paging message includes an eDRX cycle that serves as a first parameter, and a second parameter used for identifying a quantity of super frames for which a normal state lasts in the eDRX cycle; calculating, by the base station according to a UE identifier of the UE, the first parameter, and the second parameter, a super frame used for paging the UE; and if it is determined that a current super frame matches with the super frame used for paging the UE, that is, the current super frame is in a normal state, delivering, by the base station, the paging message to the UE in the current super frame.
US09668206B2
Techniques for multiplexing and transmitting multiple data streams are described. Transmission of the multiple data streams occurs in “super-frames”. Each super-frame has a predetermined time duration and is further divided into multiple (e.g., four) frames. Each data block for each data stream is outer encoded to generate a corresponding code block. Each code block is partitioned into multiple subblocks, and each data packet in each code block is inner encoded and modulated to generate modulation symbols for the packet. The multiple subblocks for each code block are transmitted in the multiple frames of the same super-frame, one subblock per frame. Each data stream is allocated a number of transmission units in each super-frame and is assigned specific transmission units to achieve efficient packing. A wireless device can select and receive individual data streams.
US09668201B2
A method of handling an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) for a network of a wireless communication system comprises determining an IP flow of a mobile device of the wireless communication system, which is with a packet data network (PDN) connection associated to an access point name (APN) of the wireless communication system, for the mobile device to route the IP flow; and configuring an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) policy for a policy node such that a value of an AccessTechnology leaf of a RoutingRule node is configured as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a value of an AccessId leaf is configured as a CSG identity of a plurality of CSG cells, and a PrioritizedAPN node is configured under the policy node for configuring the APN.
US09668192B2
A first network node has first antenna nodes located along a track and associated with a first cell. Some of them serve a first cell overlap region that overlaps a second cell overlap region of second antenna nodes connected to a second network node. Some first antenna nodes form downlink beams in a same direction with power levels controlled such that respective amounts of overlap between the downlink beams and respective power levels of the downlink beams jointly cause the first cell's overlap region to emulate a cell border for a user equipment travelling at high speed. Emulated cell border signal power is lower at locations closer to an emulated cell outer edge than at more distant locations. Emulated cell border length is sufficient to cause the travelling user equipment to be within the emulated cell border long enough to successfully perform a handover between the first and second cells.
US09668188B2
When a user equipment, UE, is in a situation involving selection or reselection of radio cell to use in subsequent communication, in addition to the signal strength, the UE considers the feature set supported in the cell. The type of phone, i.e. a “smart phone”, “feature phone”, “Facebook-only phone” etc. can also be considered together with information about the usage history. That is, the usage pattern of the mobile and web browsing history.
US09668182B2
A security capability negotiation method is applicable to perform security capability negotiation during a mobile network handover. Moreover, a security capability negotiation system is also provided. Consistent with the provided system and method, it may be unnecessary for the MME to know the security capability of the corresponding eNB in a certain manner during a handover from a 2G/3G network to an LTE network. Meanwhile, during the handover from the LTE network to the 3G network, the SGSN does not need to introduce new requirements.
US09668177B2
A method for handover in a wireless communications network includes the step of communicating information between a target network node and a source network node to enable the source network node to identify and to distinguish types of failures prior to, during or after handover. The information may relate to: “Handover command not received” due to RLF prior to handover or Handover command failure experienced in the source cell; or “Handover failure” where “Handover command received” is followed by Access failure in the target cell. The method is applicable, for example, to networks in accordance with LTE.
US09668175B2
Embodiments of the invention provide novel solutions, including systems, methods and/or software, for handling calls in a dual-mode VoIP/cellular environment. Merely by way of example, some systems can be configured to determine whether to use a VoIP system or a cellular system to handle a particular call, and/or to transition a call from one network to the other network. Other systems can be configured to substitute a public number (which might be, for example, a VoIP number) for a private number (which might be, for example, a cellular number) when routing a call originating from a dual-mode phone on a cellular network. Further systems can be configured to allow a VoIP system to serve as an anchor for calls originated and/or delivered on a cellular system, for instance to facilitate a transition between cellular and VoIP service during a call.
US09668174B2
A procedure for starting “Inter-site CA” is performed while minimizing modification of an existing network configuration. A mobile communication method of the invention includes the steps of: causing a radio base station eNB #1 to send a radio base station eNB #11 “CA preparation;” causing the radio base station eNB #11 to send the radio base station eNB #1 “confirmation;” causing the radio base station eNB #1 to send a mobile station UE “RRC connection reconfiguration;” causing the mobile station UE to send the radio base station eNB #11 “RRC connection reconfiguration complete;” and causing the radio base station eNB #11 to send the radio base station eNB #1 “CA addition complete.”
US09668166B2
The disclosure generally relates to network-initiated and client-initiated mechanisms to enable quality of service (QoS) for web-based client applications that may high efficiency, high performance, or otherwise guaranteed service levels. For example, to enable QoS for calls or other sessions associated a web-based application, one or more signaling messages may be exchanged between a server and a first user equipment (UE) to establish a call between the first UE and a second UE and to establish a peer connection between the server and at least the first UE. As such, QoS may be activated for at least the peer connection between the first UE and the server, wherein the server may route data associated with the web-based application between the first UE and the second UE over the established peer connection to implement the activated QoS.
US09668151B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, initiating first and second groups of communication sessions according to testing criteria where the first group of communication sessions is established via a local area wireless access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system and the second group of communication sessions is established via the second radio access technology utilizing the distributed antenna system, and measuring performance data for the first and second groups of communication sessions according to the testing criteria. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09668148B2
Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods.
US09668145B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to scan a wireless communication spectrum. In some examples, the methods and apparatus associate a first base station identifier with a first frequency by scanning a wireless communication spectrum at a first rate with a first scanner having base station identifier decoding enabled on the first scanner, measure a signal strength by scanning the wireless communication spectrum at a second rate with a second scanner having base station identification code decoding disabled on the second scanner, the disabling of the base station identification code decoding enables the second scanner to scan at the second rate, the second rate being higher than the first rate, determine whether the signal strength is associated with the first frequency, and when the signal strength is associated with the first frequency, populate a measurement record from the second scanner with the first base station identifier in association with the signal strength.
US09668143B2
A first and a second radio communication device and a respective method performed thereby for communicating between the first and the second radio communication device are provided. The method in the first radio communication device comprises transmitting (210), on an unlicensed frequency band, to at least the second radio communication device, an indication of a duration of a guard period, wherein an upcoming data transmission is to be performed to the second radio communication device after the expiration of the guard period. The method further comprises during the guard period, sending and/or receiving (220) information to/from at least one other radio communication device, the other communication device being the second radio communication device or a third communication device.
US09668139B2
A network (20) comprises an authenticator node (22) and a server (24) such as an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. A method comprises a terminal (30) sending authentication capabilities information (AC) across a network access interface (32) to the network (the authentication capabilities information provides an indication of authentication capabilities of the terminal). The network (20) then uses the authentication capabilities information to determine a first cryptographic value. The terminal (30) then uses the authentication capabilities information to determine a second cryptographic value. The network (20) compares the first cryptographic value and the second cryptographic value to authenticate the terminal.
US09668135B2
A method for access network signaling protocol interworking for user authentication includes receiving, from a node in an access network, a message formatted according to a signaling protocol of the access network and containing an authentication payload formatted according to an authentication protocol. The method further includes, in response to receiving the message, formulating a message formatted according to a signaling protocol of a cellular network, the message including the authentication payload formatted according to the authentication protocol. The method further includes forwarding the message formatted according to the signaling protocol of the cellular network to a node in the cellular network that implements the authentication protocol, the message including the authentication payload formatted according to the authentication protocol.
US09668130B2
A method is provided for putting in place a security association of GBA type for a terminal. The method includes the following steps, executed in a network access server, following the receipt of a request for attachment to the network from the terminal: dispatching a request to a subscriber server, receipt of a response including an indication that the user profile associated with the terminal supports the security association of GBA type.
US09668116B1
A sender telephone receives a text message to send to a receiver telephone. The sender telephone determines the transmission delay time by sending a predetermined message to receiver telephone, based on the time it receives an address complete message and a release message. The sender telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time and in response to the determining the constant value, ringing the receiver telephone to transmit the received inputted text message. A receiver telephone receives a predetermined message from a caller telephone to determine a transmission delay time, based on the time it receives the address complete message and a release message. The receiver telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time. The receiver telephone receives incoming rings from the caller telephone and converts the received rings into a text message to be displayed.
US09668103B1
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, presenting, in a map, an interaction region associated with a user, where the interaction region is determined according to a current location, an activity, a predicted future location, and a predicted future activity of the second user, and according to a relationship between the user and another users, where the interaction region represents a geographic area in which the user is determined to be available to meet with the other user. Other embodiments are disclosed.
