US09734343B2

Examples of techniques for detecting and preventing sensitive information leaks are described herein. In one example, a method for detection of sensitive information leaks includes computing, via a processor, a set of rules that identify sensitive information, and sending, via the processor, the set of rules to a dispatcher application using a protocol. The method can also include detecting, via the processor, that at least one data block of the transmitted data matches the set of rules, and executing, via the processor, a corrective action in response to detecting that at least one of the transmitted data blocks matches the set of rules.
US09734336B2

Techniques for process security validation are described herein. In one example, a method includes determining, via a processor, that a process is in a first idle state based at least in part on system activity and process activity being below an activity threshold. The method can include detecting, via the processor, that the first idle state of the process transitions to an active state of the process based at least in part on the system activity or the process activity being above the activity threshold, and detecting, via the processor, that the active state of the process transitions to a second idle state based at least in part on the system activity and the process activity being below the activity threshold. Furthermore, the method can include generating, via the processor, the security validation data in response to detecting that the process has executed malicious content during the active state.
US09734330B2

An inspection and recovery method and apparatus for handling virtual machine vulnerability, which inspect the security status of a virtual machine in a hypervisor domain, and recover a main system file or limit the use of a virtual machine suspected of being damaged due to hacking depending on the results of inspection, thus providing a secure virtual machine use environment for cloud computing. In the presented method, collection target information and inspection criteria including vulnerability inspection criteria, recovery criteria, and hacking damage criteria are updated. Then, the collection target information is collected from the virtual disk and virtual memory of each virtual machine. Vulnerability is inspected in conformity with the inspection criteria, based on the collected information. A damaged main system file depending on inspection results is recovered based on recovery criteria.
US09734327B2

In response to a request for launching an application within an operating system of a data processing system, one or more extended entitlements are extracted from the application, where the one or more extended entitlements specify one or more resources the application is entitled to access. One or more security profile extensions corresponding to the one or more extended entitlements are dynamically generated. A security profile specifically for the application is created based on the one or more security profile extensions and a base security profile that has been previously compiled, where the base security profile specifies a list of a plurality of base resources. The application is then launched in a sandboxed operating environment that is configured based on the security profile specifically generated for the application.
US09734318B2

A method is provided including: generating, by a first device, a first signal indicating a first pattern of movement of the first device; receiving, by the first device, a second signal indicating a second pattern of movement of a second device that is paired to the first device in accordance with a wireless communication protocol; comparing the first pattern of movement of the first device to the second pattern of movement of the second device; and unlocking the first device based on the first pattern of movement of the first device matching the second pattern of movement of the second device.
US09734317B2

A smartcard-enabled BPID Security Device integrates a smartcard reader with a biometric authentication component to provide secured access to electronic systems. The device allows for an individual to insert a smartcard into an aperture in the physical enclosure of the BPID Security Device, allowing the smartcard and the BPID Security Device to electronically communicate with each other. The BPID Security Device is based on a custom application specific integrated circuit that incorporates smartcard terminals, such that the BPID Security Device can communicate directly with an inserted smartcard. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the BPID Security Device is based on a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor, and may communicate with a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor smartcard receiver using a serial, USB, or other type of communication protocol. The device allows for enrolling a user's credentials onto the BPID Security Device and for authenticating an individual using the BPID Security Device.
US09734316B2

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for detecting liveness of a user during biometric authentication. The method comprising identifying a speech signal in a pre-determined time interval associated with the speech signal. Furthermore, the method comprising determining a speech respiration co-occurrence (SRC) score associated with the speech signal. In addition, the method comprising detecting liveness of the user, if the SRC score is above a predefined threshold, wherein the detection of liveness further aids in increasing the security of biometric authentication system.
US09734307B2

A user terminal includes a communication circuit, a certification circuit, an execution circuit, and a control circuit. The communication circuit receives a normal code of an application from an application providing server to install the application. The certification circuit receives a registration request message, which includes distinct information of a peripheral device, from the peripheral device storing a core code of the application, to certify the peripheral device, transmits a registration response message, which includes distinct information of the user terminal, to the peripheral device, and receives the core code of the application from the peripheral device. The execution circuit executes the application using the normal code and the core code. The control circuit restricts at least one of functions of the user terminal while the application is executed.
US09734301B2

Systems and methods can support presenting patient alarms to clinical care users. An alarm management system can maintain a mapping of patients to users as well as user context information. The alarm management system can receive alarm indications from medical devices associated with the patients along with alarm context information associated with the alarm indication. The alarm management system can determine a target user among the users according to evaluating the mapping of patients to users, the user context information, and the alarm context information. The alarm management system can determine a notification modality according to evaluating the alarm indication, the target user, a portion of the user context information associated with the target user, and the alarm context information. The alarm management system can transmit the alarm indication, the alarm context information, and the notification modality to a mobile device for presentation to the target user.
US09734299B2

A diagnosis support system obtains input information corresponding to a case, identifies a diagnosis corresponding to the case based on the input information, obtains the inference probability of the diagnosis, and displays supporting information corresponding to the inference probability of the identified diagnosis on a display unit.
US09734296B2

An embodiment of the invention includes (a) modeling a first internal force applied to a model of a user's joint based on a first external force externally applied to the joint at a first position; (b) modeling a second internal force applied to the model based on a second external force externally applied to the joint at a second position unequal to the first position; (c) comparing the first and second modeled internal forces; and (d) simulating the user based on the comparison. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09734287B2

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for managing information exchange between medical care applications and an analytical infrastructure for medical care information. The disclosure also describes implementations that manage user access to medical care applications and communications between medical care applications.
US09734285B2

Example systems and methods provide anatomy map-based navigation and review of current and historical images and associated evidence. A method for navigating current and reference images and associated evidence includes loading a current image and a reference image for review via a navigator interface based on a time entry selection by a user. One or more markers indicating clinical findings or evidence are registered with at least one of the current image and the reference image. The one or more markers are displayed in conjunction with the current image and the reference image. A synopsis of information associated with a selected marker is provided upon selection of the marker by a user. A user can navigate through image and marker data over time by selecting each of a plurality of time entries to display images and associated markers for user review.
US09734282B2

Methods and systems for evaluating biological dataset profiles relating to inflammatory cardiovascular conditions are provided, where datasets comprising information for multiple cellular parameters are compared and identified, and used in the evaluation of candidate pharmacologic agents for suitability as therapeutic agents.
US09734269B2

Various implementations described herein are directed to a system and methods for generating timing data for an integrated circuit. In one implementation, the method may include generating first timing data for the integrated circuit, and the first timing data may be related to one or more variations of operating conditions for the integrated circuit. Further, the method may include extracting parameter values from the first timing data in association with the one or more variations of operating conditions. Further, the method may include generating second timing data for the integrated circuit, and the second timing data may be based on the extracted parameter values.
US09734266B2

In one aspect, a computer-implemented method of performing multi-user design negotiation on a computer-aided design (CAD) software is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, from a first user, a design change to the geometric shape design, and obtaining information of the design change implementable on a CAD model of the geometric shape design through the CAD software; storing the information of the design change as a design change suggestion (DCS) object; transmitting the DCS object, together with the CAD model, to a second user; and receiving, from the second user, an instruction to the DCS object, and performing an operation corresponding to the instruction to the DCS object. In response to a what-if instruction, the operation is a what-if operation to the geometric shape design with the design change according to the DCS object. In response to an accepting or rejection instruction, the operation includes accepting or rejecting the design change.
US09734263B2

Described is a method and apparatus for efficient pre-silicon validation of an integrated circuit. The method comprises: analyzing an architectural verification environment associated with a hardware description language (HDL) architecture of an integrated circuit, recognizing method calls associated with the architectural verification environment, and generating a list of recognized method calls that is loaded for a debug program to debug the HDL architecture of the integrated circuit.
US09734258B2

The present disclosure discloses a method and a system of displaying cross-website information. The method includes obtaining, by a first server of a first website, product information under a category of at least one desired product of a first user. Next, the first server obtains information of similar product units under a product category of a second server, where a similar product unit includes a set of displayable products. The first server then computes degrees of similarity between the product information under the category of the at least one desired product and respective product information of the similar product units. For the product information under the category of the at least one desired product, the first server selects a predetermined number of top similar product units in a descending order of the degrees of similarity, and renders products included in the predetermined number of top similar product units as products to be displayed. The first server displays the products on a web page of the first website that is viewed by the first user.
US09734254B2

An apparatus for automatic completion of an entry into an input field is provided. The apparatus may include a webpage. The webpage may include a search box. The search box may include a user input field. The apparatus may further include a processor and a machine-readable memory. When a user begins to type a query into the user input box, the processor may be configured to complete, pending user confirmation, the user's query. The completion may be based, for example, on information stored on the machine-readable memory pertaining to the user. The information may be available to an authorized accessor of the machine-readable memory via a secure communications channel. However, the information may be restricted from the user's access via a communications channel associated with the user.
US09734251B2

Techniques are described herein for providing locality-sensitive search suggestions. When users issue search queries, the localities of the users who issue those search queries are associated with the search queries. The users may be grouped into populations, such that each population has a locality that corresponds to the localities of the users in that population. The issuances of the search queries induce a distribution of interest with respect to the issued search queries among the populations. A subset (e.g., one or more) of the issued search queries is suggested to a user who provides a search query (e.g., a preliminary search query or an issued search query), which is deemed to be relevant to the subset of the issued search queries, based on the distribution of interest.
US09734243B2

Certain embodiments provide methods and systems for managing a sound profile. An example playback device includes a network interface and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions are to configure the playback device to receive, via the network interface over a local area network (LAN) from a controller device, an instruction. The example playback device is to obtain, based on the instruction, via the network interface from a location outside of the LAN, data comprising a sound profile. The example playback device is to update one or more parameters at the playback device based on the sound profile. The example playback device is to play back an audio signal according to the sound profile.
US09734242B2

In a system for distributing data, distribution device is configured to distribute timestamp, offset and source location information for a digital data stream to an execution device, and the execution device is configured to seek digital data corresponding to the received information. The execution device is further configured to execute the digital data relative to a clock rate maintained by the distribution device. Related methods include receiving timestamp, offset and source location information for the digital data stream and seeking digital data corresponding to the received offset and source location information.
US09734232B2

A system and method for transacting data using meta-models to express data relationships is provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises requesting, from a computing system, a meta-model expressing a data relationship. The data relationship relates to a topology of a deployed computing system, and the requesting specifies the meta-model from among a plurality of data models stored within the computing system. The requested meta-model is received from the computing system, and at least a portion of the meta-model is provided to an application. A data transaction based on the meta-model is received from the application and issued. In some such embodiments, a navigational interface is provided in order to navigate the meta-model and specify the portion to provide.
US09734223B2

Techniques are disclosed to determine differences between a source table and a target table in a database environment, as being persistent or transient. A first set of differences between the source table and the target table is determined at a first point in time. A second set of differences between the source table and the target table is determined at a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time. At least one of a set of persistent differences and a set of transient differences is determined. The set of persistent differences includes a set intersection of the first and second sets of differences, the set intersection being filtered based on matching non-key values of the differences. The set of transient differences includes a relative complement of the second set of differences in the first set of differences.
US09734220B2

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for collecting, integrating, processing, distributing, and analyzing spatial and/or spatio-temporal information associated with a variety of data sources and/or locations. In some embodiments, systems and methods described herein allow for collection and integration of information included in one or more spatial and/or spatio-temporal data streams and/or other related information that may be utilized in connection with one or more analytical processes. In certain embodiments, the disclosed embodiments may allow a user to, among other things, interact with spatio-temporal information associated with a variety of diverse data sources, generate visualizations using such data, and/or perform desired analytical queries based on the data.
US09734217B2

Systems and methods are provided for analyzing entity performance. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes receiving a request with one or more filter selections and accessing a data structure comprising a plurality of categories of information showing interactions associated with multiple entities. The method also comprises identifying a set of categories of the plurality of categories within the data structure based on the one or more filter selections. The method further comprises processing the information of the identified categories to analyze a performance of one or more entities of the multiple entities in accordance with the one or more filter selections and providing the processed information to display the performance of the one or more entities on a user interface.
US09734209B1

In one aspect, a method includes identifying a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of post being associated with a score and a time, the plurality of posts being ranked according to the score associated with each post, selecting a first post of the plurality of posts as a candidate post, determining a score threshold and time threshold associated with the candidate post, determining if one or more posts of the plurality of posts meet the score threshold and the time threshold associated with the candidate post and reordering the candidate post and the one or more posts according to the time associated with each of the candidate post and the one or more posts when it is determined that one or more posts meet the score threshold and the time threshold.
US09734203B2

In an approach for calculating one or more access paths during bind time, a computer receives a query. The computer identifies one or more access paths for processing the received query, wherein the one or more access paths include steps associated with retrieving data from a database based on the received query. The computer calculates resource costs associated with processing the received query on the one or more identified access paths based on one of more of: resources utilized to perform steps associated with processing the received query, and system statistics associated with the one or more identified access paths.
US09734197B2

Methods and apparatus consistent with the invention allow a user to submit an ambiguous search query and to receive relevant search results. Queries can be expressed using character sets and/or languages that are different from the character set and/or language of at least some of the data that is to be searched. A translation between these character sets and/or languages can be performed by examining the use of terms in aligned text. Probabilities can be associated with each possible translation. Refinements can be made to these probabilities by examining user interactions with the search results.
US09734191B2

Embodiments of methods for asynchronous image repository functionality are presented. In an embodiment, a method includes storing user data in a data storage device that is local to a user interface device, storing a copy of the user data to a storage location that is remote from the user interface device, performing a service for a user of the user interface device using the copy of the user data stored to the storage location, and communicating information associated with the service back to the user interface device. Additionally, the data image may be directly scanned for malicious software. In a further embodiment, the method may include providing a software inventory associated with the user data, such as software, stored in the image.
US09734179B2

A method of creating a contingency table is provided. Whether or not a variable level list exists for a second variable in tree data is determined. When the variable level list exists for the second variable in the tree data, a first node memory structure is determined for the second variable from the variable level list, a first value of a first variable is determined using a first observation indicator and the tree data, and a first counter value is added to the contingency table in association with the first value of the first variable and a first value of the second variable. The first node memory structure includes the first value indicator, the first counter value, and the first observation indicator. The first value indicator indicates a first value of the second variable.
US09734171B2

The present invention includes a computer-implemented method including, classifying a data set in response to metadata corresponding to one or more data files located on a single database; and creating a data file topology comprising a data file identifier, a data file location and a data file type. The method may also include receiving a predetermined rule directory comprising a set of features corresponding to one or more file systems; and in response to the data file topology and the predetermined rule directory, reorganizing the data set such that at least a portion of the data set is moved to one of a set of new file systems having a predetermined optimized characteristic.
US09734164B2

The invention provides a method, server apparatus and terminal apparatus for providing an image, which can achieve an image search in accordance with a color, helps to make a user obtain an image of a color desired thereby, and can help a buyer to obtain a product of a color desired thereby in a comparatively accurate manner upon an application to the e-commerce field. The method comprises: a server receiving analysis data of color main components of an image to be inquired transmitted by a terminal device, then comparing the analysis data of the color main components of the image to be inquired with analysis data of color main components of a plurality of images in an image database, and transmitting identifications of the plurality of images having the greatest degree of similarity of a main color tone to the image to be inquired in the image database to the terminal device so that the terminal device acquires the images in accordance with the identifications.
US09734155B2

A clustered source code management system is described. The system comprises a plurality of cluster nodes, a shared file server storing repository data, and a load balancer. Each of the plurality of cluster nodes is configured to receive an incoming request sent from a client computer, the incoming request being a source code management request to access repository data stored on the shared file server and process the incoming request to determine if a type of the incoming request is a cacheable request type. If the incoming request is of a cacheable request type, the cluster node is configured to determine if a valid cached response to the incoming request is available on storage media locally accessible to the cluster node; and, if so, respond to the incoming request by communicating the valid cached response to the client computer.
US09734151B2

Voice-based input is used to operate a media device and/or to search for media content. Voice input is received by a media device via one or more audio input devices and is translated into a textual representation of the voice input. The textual representation of the voice input is used to search one or more cache mappings between input commands and one or more associated device actions and/or media content queries. One or more natural language processing techniques may be applied to the translated text and the resulting text may be transmitted as a query to a media search service. A media search service returns results comprising one or more content item listings and the results may be presented on a display to a user.
US09734150B2

Document management techniques to account for user-specific patterns in document metadata are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for facilitating document retrieval may comprise: assigning a first entitlement to a first user for accessing a first plurality of documents; identifying patterns in the first user's creation or modification of metadata related to the first plurality of documents; recording the identified patterns associated with the first user; receiving a document query from a second user who has been assigned a second entitlement to access a second plurality of documents; determining, based on the second entitlement, an access right of the second user with respect to the first plurality of documents; and modifying the document query based on the access right of the second user and the identified patterns, such that the document query returns relevant documents from the first plurality of documents despite the second user's ignorance of the identified patterns.
US09734146B1

Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for facilitating patient health care by providing discovery, validation, and quality assurance of nomenclatural linkages between pairs of terms or combinations of terms in databases extant on multiple different health information systems that do not share a set of unified codesets, nomenclatures, or ontologies, or that may in part rely upon unstructured free-text narrative content instead of codes or standardized tags. Embodiments discover semantic structures existing naturally in documents and records, including relationships of synonymy and polysemy between terms arising from disparate processes, and maintained by different information systems. In some embodiments, this process is facilitated by applying Latent Semantic Analysis in concert with decision-tree induction and similarity metrics. In some embodiments, data is re-mined and regression testing is applied to new mappings against an existing mapping base, thereby permitting these embodiments to “learn” ontology mappings as clinical, operational, or financial patterns evolve.
US09734140B2

There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program for parsing a message using a message model. A message is received comprising one or more message fields. This message is stored as a reference bitstream. The message model is used to compare a message field in one or more subsequently received messages with the equivalent field in the reference bitstream. Finally, responsive to determining that a message field in said one or more subsequently received messages matches a field in the reference bitstream a predetermined number of times, storing parser outputs for the matching field for future reuse.
US09734139B2

A system for monitoring and auditing data in one or more spreadsheets comprises a file store within which files containing spreadsheet data can be stored, a database, and monitoring means. The monitoring means is operative to detect changes in spreadsheet data within the file store and to record the changes in the database. The system may comprise an entity selector for selecting entities in a spreadsheet, and a tracker for tracking the shift in position of entities. An offset determinator derives offset values representing the shift in position of the entities. An offset applicator applies the offset values to the spreadsheet data before comparing the spreadsheet data with a version of the spreadsheet data at a different time point. In a further aspect, the invention provides a system for processing and storing spreadsheets.
US09734136B1

Mechanisms for natively rendering and optimizing Internet contents on different displays of mobile communication devices receive screen description for a webpage from a server supporting a Web server hosting a software application and prepare and transmit an inquiry to multiple painters to inquire whether these painters have native capability and functionality to paint a single screen for optimal viewing experiences on displays of mobile communication devices having different sizes or resolutions. A receiving painter includes its own decision mechanism to respond to the inquiry either affirmatively or negatively. A painter is selected from one or more painters receiving the inquiry and responding affirmatively. When no receiving painters respond affirmatively to the inquiry, a web view screen painter is selected to paint the screen on a mobile communication device display in a way that the screen resembles or appears exactly like the webpage when displayed on a computer display.
US09734104B2

A data transfer control apparatus includes a transferring unit that transfers data from a transfer source memory to a transfer destination memory, according to an instruction from a first processor; and a first processor configured to detect a process execute by the first processor, determine whether transfer of the data is urgent, based on the type of the detected process, and control the transferring unit or the first processor to transfer the data, based on a determination result.
US09734098B2

A method of managing a memory bus includes identifying sub-operations required for execution of commands, maintaining a list of released sub-operations containing only released unexecuted sub-operations directed to individual dies that are identified as available, accessing the dies until the list is empty, subsequently, polling to identify dies that are available, and subsequently resuming accessing the dies by executing only sub-operations from the list until the list is empty.
US09734095B2

Keys are generated at a memory device with a period of time elapsing between generation of each key. A request is received from a memory controller for the most recently generated key. The memory device communicates the first key to the memory controller. Access to nonvolatile memory on the memory device is locked. An unlock command with a second key is received from the memory controller. The memory device determines that the second key matches the first key and unlocks access to the nonvolatile memory in response.
US09734090B2

Resource use is recorded with a partitioned reference counter. The sum of all resource counter partitions is equivalent to the total references to a resource. When one resource counter partition reaches zero, it is possible that the resource should be destroyed. To determine if this is the case, all other partitions can be checked for a value of zero. If all the partitions are zero, the resource can be destroyed. Coarse grained partitioning and add/release on all partitions can be employed to avoid extra work associated with a local partition reaching zero. Further, destroying or deleting a resource can be accomplished in a manner that avoids a race condition.
US09734088B2

A method for accessing data blocks stored in a computer system. The method may include hardware components for controlling access to a memory unit of the computer system. The memory unit includes a page table and an operating system, where each data block of the data blocks is accessed via a virtual address. The method further includes: adding an entry in the page table for each data block of a first set of the data blocks, the page table represents the virtual address; checking that a first entry of the added entries represents a first virtual address, in response to receiving a request of a first data block via the first virtual address by a memory management unit of the computer system; and obtaining a first physical address of the first data block from the hardware components, and the added entry is provided without indication of the first physical address.
US09734080B2

A method and information processing system with improved cache organization is provided. Each register capable of accessing memory has associated metadata, which contains the tag, way, and line for a corresponding cache entry, along with a valid bit, allowing a memory access which hits a location in the cache to go directly to the cache's data array, avoiding the need to look up the address in the cache's tag array. When a cache line is evicted, any metadata referring to the line is marked as invalid. By reducing the number of tag lookups performed to access data in a cache's data array, the power that would otherwise be consumed by performing tag lookups is saved, thereby reducing power consumption of the information processing system, and the cache area needed to implement a cache having a desired level of performance may be reduced.
US09734076B2

A method for dynamically changing a buffer threshold in a tape drive, according to another embodiment, includes monitoring a history of sizes of data transactions between sync commands, the data transactions being from a host to a tape drive, determining that a next sync command is expected to be received relatively sooner or relatively later based on the history of data size transactions, writing buffered data to a magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively sooner, and increasing a buffer threshold for delaying writing to the magnetic recording tape in response to determining that the next sync command will be received relatively later. A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a processor to perform the foregoing method.
US09734074B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for data copy avoidance where after a data access request is received from the first storage node, what is sent by a second storage node to the first storage node is not an address of a second storage space in a second mirrored cache, but an address of a first storage space in a first cache corresponding to the second storage space. In this way, data access may be implemented directly in the first cache on the first storage node, and can reduce data communication across different storage nodes, eliminate potential system performance bottlenecks, and enhance data access performance.
US09734067B1

A hybrid storage system is described having a mixture of different types of storage devices comprising rotational drives, flash devices, SDRAM, and SRAM. The rotational drives are used as the main storage, providing lowest cost per unit of storage memory. Flash memory is used as a higher-level cache for rotational drives. Methods for managing multiple levels of cache for this storage system is provided having a very fast Level 1 cache which consists of volatile memory (SRAM or SDRAM), and a non-volatile Level 2 cache using an array of flash devices. It describes a method of distributing the data across the rotational drives to make caching more efficient. It also describes efficient techniques for flushing data from L1 cache and L2 cache to the rotational drives, taking advantage of concurrent flash devices operations, concurrent rotational drive operations, and maximizing sequential access types in the rotational drives rather than random accesses which are relatively slower. Methods provided here may be extended for systems that have more than two cache levels.
US09734066B1

A workload level associated with an expandable data buffer is determined, where the expandable data buffer and an expandable mapping table cache are stored in internal memory and the expandable mapping table cache is used to store a portion of a mapping table that is stored on external storage. An amount of internal memory allocated to the expandable data buffer and an amount of internal memory allocated to the expandable mapping table cache are adjusted based at least in part on the workload level.
US09734060B2

An electronic device is provided to include a semiconductor memory that includes: a substrate including a first region and a second region different from the first region; an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the substrate; a first conductive pattern located over the first region and formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, the first conductive pattern including a planarized top surface with a top surface of the interlayer dielectric layer; a second conductive pattern located over the second region and formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, the second conductive pattern including at least a portion recessed below a top surface of the interlayer dielectric layer; a variable resistance pattern formed over the interlayer dielectric layer the variable resistance pattern having a bottom surface coupled to the first conductive pattern and exhibiting different resistance values; and a capping layer pattern formed over the variable resistance pattern.
US09734059B2

A method of way prediction for a data cache having a plurality of ways is provided. Responsive to an instruction to access a stack data block, the method accesses identifying information associated with a plurality of most recently accessed ways of a data cache to determine whether the stack data block resides in one of the plurality of most recently accessed ways of the data cache, wherein the identifying information is accessed from a subset of an array of identifying information corresponding to the plurality of most recently accessed ways; and when the stack data block resides in one of the plurality of most recently accessed ways of the data cache, the method accesses the stack data block from the data cache.
US09734050B2

A multi-layer memory and method for performing background maintenance operations are disclosed. The memory includes a plurality of flash memory die having multiple layers, where each layer is made up of flash memory cells having a greater bit per cell storage capacity than then prior layer and each layer may have a plurality of partitions for different data types. A controller managing the flash memory die is configured to identify an idle die and determine if a layer in the die satisfies a background maintenance criterion. Upon identifying a layer satisfying the background maintenance criterion, the valid data from reclaim blocks in the layer is relocated into a relocation block in the same layer until the relocation block is filled and the background maintenance cycle ends.
US09734035B1

Functionality is disclosed herein for increasing input data quality across data targets. The mechanism disclosed herein may receive input data, aggregate and organize the input data, and determine an importance score for the organized data. The importance score may abstract both a quantitative measure and periodic measure for creating a sliding scale. The sliding scale may subsequently be used to associate desired alert information concerning data quality events at the data targets.
US09734033B2

A method and system are provided for implementing functional verification including generating and running constrained random irritator tests for a multiple processor system and for a processor core with multiple threads. Separate tests are generated, a main test for one thread, and an irritator test for each other thread in the configuration. The main test and each irritator test are saved and randomly mixed then combined together again, where the main thread is not forced to be generated with any particular irritator.
US09734029B2

Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a memory structure included in a memory device and a control unit included in the memory device. The control unit can provide information obtained from the memory structure during a memory operation to a host device (e.g., a processor) in response to a command from the host device. If the control unit receives a notification from the host device indicating that the host device has detected an error in the information obtained from the memory structure, then a repair unit included in the memory device performs a memory repair operation to repair a portion in the memory structure.
US09734028B2

Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring a first storage system to mirror first storage regions to corresponding second storage regions in a second storage system via a first data connection, and to mirror the first storage regions to corresponding third storage regions in a third storage system via a second data connection. Upon the second storage system receiving, subsequent to detecting a failure of the first storage system, a host I/O request to retrieve data from a given second storage region and determining that the respective timestamp of the corresponding third storage region on the third storage system is more recent than the respective timestamp of the given second storage region on the second storage system, the second storage system retrieves, via a third data connection, the data from the corresponding third storage region on the third storage system.
US09734023B2

Conventional semiconductor devices are problematic in that an operation cannot be continued in the event of a failure of one of CPU cores performing a lock step operation and, as a result, reliability cannot be improved. The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a computing unit including a first CPU core and a second CPU core that perform a lock step operation, wherein the first CPU core and the second CPU core respectively diagnose failures of internal logic circuits, and a sequence control circuit switches the CPU core that outputs data to a shared resource, in the computing unit based on the diagnose result.
US09734015B2

Systems and methods for providing pre-boot providing pre-boot self-healing and adaptive fault isolation. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) includes a processor and a Basic I/O System (BIOS) coupled to the processor, the BIOS firmware having program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: initiate the booting of devices within the IHS following a predetermined boot order, wherein the predetermined boot order includes a first device followed by a second device; determine that the first device has been marked for bypass; bypass the booting of the first device; and boot the second device.
US09734013B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing operating system independent error control in computing devices. One embodiment is a method comprising: defining with a reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) controller a first memory region for correctable errors and a second memory region for uncorrectable errors; receiving an error indication at the RAS controller; determining with the RAS controller whether the received error indication is a correctable error; and in response to the determination, if the received error indication is a correctable error, writing with the RAS controller information about the correctable error to the first memory region, and if the received error indication is an uncorrectable error, writing with the RAS controller information about the uncorrectable error to the second memory region and sending an interrupt request from the RAS controller to an operating system executing on a processor.
US09734009B2

A data storage device includes a controller and a non-volatile memory coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to generate first parity information based on first data and to generate second parity information based on second data. The non-volatile memory is configured to store the first data and the second data. The data storage device also includes a buffer configured to store the first parity information. The controller is further configured to generate joint parity information associated with the first data and the second data in response to a combined data size of the first data and the second data satisfying a threshold.
US09733996B1

Managing an application zone is provided. A request is received from a program on a client device to enter a zone of an application that provides a service. In response to determining that the zone does not currently exist in the application, the zone is generated in the application based on defined parameters of the zone. An enter notification is sent to the program on the client device indicating that the zone is ready for the program to enter to receive the service.
US09733993B2

Sharing an application in response to detecting one or more environmental events (such as user input). The mechanism operates multiple applications, and maintains a registry of endpoint interface entities. The endpoint interface entities may include hardware entities or hardware entities in association with environmental criteria. For each of at least some of the applications, the mechanism identifies at least one endpoint interface entity that is to interface with the endpoints at least a portion of the application. The selected endpoint interface entity is then allowed to interface with the application (or the portion). In some embodiments, the application is a transformation chain having endpoints.
US09733990B2

A first executing unit executes a first program by emulating information processing in a first operational environment in which the first program is executable. A generating unit generates, in parallel with the execution of the first program, a second program which is executable in a second operational environment of an information processing system and which is capable of acquiring the same processing result as the first program. A second executing unit terminates the execution of the first program by the first executing unit and also executing the second program, after the generation of the second program is completed.
US09733980B1

Techniques are described for managing virtual machines using input/output (I/O) device logging. For example, a system bus or other interface to a device may be monitored for traffic data elements. The traffic data elements may include, for example, transaction layer packets (TLPs) for communication across a PCI Express interface, or TCP/IP packets for communication over a network. These traffic data elements may be logged in an I/O device logging buffer. The I/O device logging buffer can then be used to ensure that all memory relating to a virtual machine is copied when transferring the virtual machine to another computing device. In addition, the I/O device logging buffer can be used to stop a virtual machine without waiting for the virtual machine to complete I/O processing.
US09733979B2

A communication device communicating in conformance with a prescribed communication standard. The device includes a storage storing at least a first virtual program that includes a program implementing a first function of the communication device and a second virtual program that includes a program implementing a second function of the communication device. It also includes an executor configured to successively execute the first and second virtual programs, and a switching controller configured to read at least a part of either one of the first and second virtual programs from the storage, to store the part of either one of the first and second virtual programs into a memory of the executor, to execute the part of either one of the first and second virtual programs in the executor, thereby, to switch the first and second virtual programs to be executed in the executor.
US09733975B2

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing network experience shifting, and, in particular embodiments, using either a roaming or portable hypervisor associated with a user or a local hypervisor unassociated with the user. In some embodiments, a network node in a first network might receive, via a first network access device in a second network, a request from a user device to establish roaming network access, and might authenticate a user associated with the user device, the user being unassociated with the first network access device. Based in part on a determination that the user is authorized to access data, content, profiles, and/or software applications that are accessible via a second network access device, the network node might establish a secure private connection through a hypervisor communicatively coupled to the first network access device to provide the user with access to her data, content, profiles, and/or software applications.
US09733968B2

An aspect of the present disclosure provides for migration of a virtual machine (VM) on a switched-fabric based computing system to another (external) switched-fabric based computing system or non-switched-fabric based (external) computing system. Both of such external computing systems are communicatively coupled to the switched-fabric based computing system by Internet such that the data transfer after the migration is based on IP packets on the Internet. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance contains multiple nodes for hosting virtual machines. A switched fabric switches packets between the nodes based on point-to-point connections between each pair of ports, wherein each port is coupled directly to a corresponding node. A bridge supports migration of a first VM to a first external system coupled to the first appliance by Internet Protocol (IP) based network.
US09733957B2

Changing operating states of a PHY interface which includes a plurality of blocks, changing operating states of a PHY interface includes: receiving parameters indicating desired feature settings of the plurality of blocks for changing the operating state of the PHY interface; and enabling the desired feature settings in a sequence, the sequence based on dependencies between the feature settings, the dependencies being stored in a dependency table.
US09733956B2

Various techniques for adjusting settings based on sensor data are described herein. In one example, a method includes detecting sensor data from a sensor and ranking the sensor data based on predetermined zones. The method can also include identifying a dominant zone from the predetermined zones, and adjusting the setting based on the dominant zone.
US09733955B1

A system and method for facilitating a user to initiate and accept an assistance request through a chat session is disclosed. Controls may be provided in a graphical chat interface to enable the user to specify inputs to request assistance from other users participating in the chat session. An assistance request may be generated and communicated to those users through the chat session. Graphical representation for the assistance request and controls that facilitate the users to accept the assistance request may be provided in the graphical chat interface. Upon an acceptance to the assistance request by a responding user through the graphical chat interface, an assistance command may be generated and executed in the virtual space.
US09733953B2

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the execution of application programs on computing devices with limited-capability operating systems by dynamically redirecting certain API calls are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products provide one or more API intercept layers and a rules engine that facilitates the ability to make dynamic decisions on how to handle specific API calls. The redirection may be initiated for any number of reasons/factors/characteristics related to the computing device that render the operating system to be considered “limited capability,” such as, for example, lack of local API implementation, power level, location, central processor unit usage, and any other pattern which determines that redirecting an API call to another entity is more efficient. Such entity may be a hardware component, a partitioned or virtualized operating system image, a network-based image or a cloud-based service.
US09733950B2

A multi-boot device capable of booting from a plurality of boot devices, each storing a boot image. The multi-boot device determines which boot device to load based on sequence numbers assigned to each of the boot devices. Some embodiments will make this determination using only hardware operations. The multi-boot device compares the sequence numbers of the available boot devices in order to determine the boot image to be loaded. The address of the selected boot image is then mapped to the device's default boot vector. The remaining images are likewise mapped to a secondary boot memory. The device then boots from the default boot vector. The user can change the boot device to be loaded by modifying one or more of the boot sequence numbers. The boot images can be updated without resetting the device by switching execution to and from boot images in the secondary boot memory.
US09733948B2

An information processing device, includes: a storage to store a program to be booted; a central processing unit to start a plurality of booting programs and read the program stored in the storage using a virtual address; a main memory to store the program based on a read instruction of the program; and a controller, including an address translator that translates a virtual address into a physical address, to read the program from the storage according to the read instruction, and write the read program in a plurality of discontinuous areas of the main memory on the physical address, wherein the central processing unit executes a start module which sets a virtual address space in the central processing unit and the controller before the plurality of booting programs are booted, and reads the written program from the main memory using the virtual address which is designated by the reading instruction.
US09733936B2

A new zSeries floating-point unit has a fused multiply-add dataflow capable of supporting two architectures and fused MULTIPLY and ADD and Multiply and SUBTRACT in both RRF and RXF formats for the fused functions. Both binary and hexadecimal floating-point instructions are supported for a total of 6 formats. The floating-point unit is capable of performing a multiply-add instruction for hexadecimal or binary every cycle with a latency of 5 cycles. This supports two architectures with two internal formats with their own biases. This has eliminated format conversion cycles and has optimized the width of the dataflow. The unit is optimized for both hexadecimal and binary floating-point architecture supporting a multiply-add/subtract per cycle.
US09733935B2

A method of processing an instruction is described that includes fetching and decoding the instruction. The instruction has separate destination address, first operand source address and second operand source address components. The first operand source address identifies a location of a first mask pattern in mask register space. The second operand source address identifies a location of a second mask pattern in the mask register space. The method further includes fetching the first mask pattern from the mask register space; fetching the second mask pattern from the mask register space; merging the first and second mask patterns into a merged mask pattern; and, storing the merged mask pattern at a storage location identified by the destination address.
US09733926B1

Techniques are disclosed for development of code for deployment on target devices within native code containers that provide access to native resources on the target devices. The native code containers on the target devices may provide only limited development capabilities. Thus, the disclosed development techniques may make use of a device that offers extended development capabilities in comparison to the native code containers on the target devices. A bridge may be established to connect an extended development capability device to a target device. The disclosed bridge may allow developers to benefit from extended development capabilities, while also enabling certain appropriate features to be tested on the target device in the environment in which they will eventually be used.
US09733924B2

An electronic product can be configured by a method that includes attaching a machine-readable identification (ID) tag containing an ID code to a hardware unit of the electronic product. The ID code is associated with a particular configuration of the electronic product, and can be read or scanned with a mobile device configured to send the ID code to a provider server device. In response to receiving the ID code, the provider server device can send product configuration instructions and a product configuration application to the mobile device. The product configuration instructions can guide a user through a customized series of electronic product configuration operations. The product configuration application can assist the user in performing configuration operations, can provide customized configuration help, and can establish a wireless link between the mobile device and the electronic product, allowing the user to interact with the electronic product.
US09733921B1

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for managing the deployment of extensions to the functionality of a multi-tenant data processing platform. A computing system, such as a multi-tenant distributed computing platform, may have multiple business related applications installed on the platform that are used by one or more users/tenants to perform business related functions. Developers may create and implement “extensions” to such applications, and make those extensions available to tenants/users of the platform. Such extensions may provide an enhancement to the underlying application, such as by introducing new or improved functionality, a new or improved user interface, new or improved reporting capabilities, etc.
US09733918B2

A cloud based installer package is converted to a version that can be deployed in physical machines, e.g., by extracting an installer with embedded middleware configured to run on a remote cloud deployment, and identifying a physical machine to install the package and extracting information from the physical machine and utilizing the extracted information to convert the installer to a version that can be installed in a physical machine.
US09733908B2

Systems and methods are provided for writing code to access data arrays. One aspect provides a method of accessing a memory array. Data is provided within a one-dimensional array of allocated memory. A dimensional dynamic overlay is declared from within a block of statements, and the declaration initializes various attributes within an array attribute storage object. The data is accessed from within the block of statements as a dimensional indexed array using the array attribute storage object. Another aspect provides a method of creating and accessing a dimensional dynamic array. A dimensional dynamic array is declared from within a block of statements, and memory storage for the array is dynamically allocated. A dynamic overlay storage object is also provided and its attributes are initialized from the dynamic array declaration. The data is accessed as a dimensional indexed array from within the block of statements using the array attribute storage object.
US09733905B1

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a computer implemented method of automatically generating and storing a data structure for displaying a Unified Modeling Language (UML) model of behavior of a network of computing devices, the behavior dependent on location of the computing devices, comprising: creating a UML model comprising a plurality of line charts arranged in parallel to a time indicating axis, adding to the displayed UML model a plurality of connectors indicating communication between two entities, where a distance between each two line charts of the plurality of line charts in the UML model maps a geographical distance therebetween, and wherein the distance and the value and the plurality of connectors are editable according to at least one user input indicative of a selection of an area of the displayed UML model.
US09733899B2

Processing circuitry performs a plurality of lanes of processing on respective data elements of at least one operand vector to generate corresponding result data elements of a result vector. The processing circuitry identifies lane position information for each lane of processing, the lane position information for a given lane identifying a relative position of the corresponding result data element to be generated by the given lane within a corresponding result data value spanning one or more result data elements of the result vector. The processing circuitry is configured to perform each lane of processing in dependence on the lane position information identified for that lane. This enables generation of results which are wider or narrower than the vector size supported in hardware.
US09733897B2

An apparatus and method are provided for searching content. The electronic device includes a display; an audio processing unit; and a controller configured to control the audio processing unit to output sound of first content from a foreground of the display at a preset foreground volume, detect a request to search for second content, and in response to the detected request, control the audio processing unit to simultaneously output sound of the second content from a background of the display at a preset background volume with the sound of the first content. The preset foreground volume differs from preset background volume.
US09733890B2

Streaming audio is adjusted within one or more real-time digital signal processors (DSPs) by entering audio adjustment parameters using a smart phone application on a Bluetooth® enabled smart phone, receiving streaming audio from a Cloud server, and transmitting the adjustment parameters and streaming audio to a Bluetooth® chip in an audio system. The audio adjustment parameters and streaming audio then enter two real-time DSPs where the streaming audio is adjusted according to the audio adjustment parameters and then sent to amplifiers and/or transceivers. The application enables entry of lighting parameters for control of a plurality of RGB LEDS and one or more LED fixtures. The lighting parameters are transmitted to the Bluetooth® chip and adjustments are made, within the Bluetooth® chip, to the lighting control signals based on the lighting parameters, the streaming audio, and by adjusted streaming audio provided by at least one transceiver.
US09733886B2

A method for remote screen sharing using only web-browsers is described. The presenter opens a web page containing an applet that sends the screen data to the server. The presenter may share their entire screen, or may only share a specially marked active display area. The server stores the data and makes it available viewers. Viewers are able to view the presenters screen directly in the web browser, without any downloads, plug-ins, or dialog boxes.
US09733885B2

A light-emitting display system has interlocking tiles. In an implementation, each tile has a portion of a clamp that joins with another portion of the clamp on another tile. A tile is removed from the display by unlocking the clamp portions. The tile is removed without affecting the position of the other tiles in the display.
US09733858B2

A processing system is provided that includes a memory for storing an input bit stream and a processing logic, operatively coupled to the memory, to generate a first score based on: a first set of matching data related to a match between a first bit subsequence and a candidate bit subsequence within the input bit stream, and a first distance of the candidate bit subsequence from the first set of matching data. A second score is generated based on a second set of matching data related to a match between a second bit subsequence and the candidate bit subsequence, and a second distance of the candidate bit subsequence from the second set of matching data. A code to replace the first or second bit subsequence in an output bit stream is identified. Selection of the one of the bit subsequences to replace is based on a comparison of the scores.
US09733851B2

A computer program product for defragmenting volumes in a mirrored system is provided. The computer program product includes program instructions for suspending one or more updates from being mirrored from a first set of tracks on a first server to a second set of tracks on a second server. A defragmenting process is performed on the second server. The defragmentation process stores a before and after mapping of the second set of tracks, wherein the before and after mapping includes information identifying at least one track of the second set of tracks and a corresponding first location of the respective track before the defragmenting and a second location of the respective track after the defragmenting. The computer program product further includes program instructions for, upon defragmenting, relocating at least one track of the first set of tracks on the first server according to the stored before and after mapping.
US09733843B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic caching module selection for optimized data deduplication. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic caching module selection for optimized data deduplication is provided. The method includes receiving a request to retrieve data and classifying the request. The method also includes identifying from amongst multiple different caching modules each with a different configuration a particular caching module associated with the classification of the request. Finally, the method includes deduplicating the data in the identified caching module.
US09733831B2

In a multiprocessor system, a central memory synchronization module coordinates memory synchronization requests responsive to memory access requests in flight, a generation counter, and a reclaim pointer. The central module communicates via point-to-point communication. The module includes a global OR reduce tree for each memory access requesting device, for detecting memory access requests in flight. An interface unit is implemented associated with each processor requesting synchronization. The interface unit includes multiple generation completion detectors. The generation count and reclaim pointer do not pass one another.
US09733827B2

Based on one or more characteristics of a received translation input, a computing device is switched between two or more states. The translation input may be a touch input, for example a drag operation. The states may relate to locked and unlocked states, idle screens, or other suitable examples.
US09733823B2

Embodiments provide systems and methods for activating applications in a distributed asynchronous system based on detecting touches on a display.
US09733812B2

A method is performed at a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display. The method includes: playing a first piece of content in a full-size mode on the display at a predefined aspect ratio; while playing the first piece of content on the display in the full-size mode, detecting a first gesture on the display; in response to detecting the first gesture: shrinking the playing of the first piece of content to a first region of the display while keeping the predefined aspect ratio and displaying information related to the first piece of content in a second region of the display.
US09733811B2

A method for profile matching includes receiving a plurality of user profiles, each user profile comprising traits of a respective user. The method includes receiving a preference indication for a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles. The method also includes determining a potential match user profile of the plurality of user profiles based on the preference indication for the first user profile. The method also includes presenting the potential match user profile to a second user.
US09733807B2

An attendee device in an online meeting displays content from a presenter device in a shared area of an attendee device display. The attendee device detects that the shared area is pressed continuously at a press point therein for a predetermined time and, in response, records a location of the press point in the shared area, records an image snapshot of the shared area, and records audio sensed by a local microphone. The attendee device also detects when the press point is released and, in response, ends the audio recording. The attendee device displays a dialog box that presents user selectable options to store locally, upload to the meeting server, and not retain any of the recorded snapshot and the recorded audio.
US09733806B2

An electronic device and a user interface operating method thereof. The electronic device comprises an input unit and a processing unit. The input unit detects an input from a user. The processing unit adjusts a home screen from a first display location to a second display location according to the input.
US09733803B2

A computing device includes a housing and a display assembly having a screen and a set of touch sensors. The housing at least partially circumvents the screen so that the screen is viewable. A processor is provided within the housing to manage an e-book library associated with the computing device. Specifically, the e-book library includes at least a first e-book. The processor further associates the computing device with a reading group having a plurality of group members, and detects that a copy of the first e-book resides in an e-book library of a first group member of the plurality of group members. Upon detecting the copy of the first e-book, the processor then selectively initiates a shared reading mode for the first e-book.
US09733802B2

A method includes receiving cards at data processing hardware. Each card represents a collection of application access mechanisms, each application access mechanism having reference to a corresponding application executable on the data processing hardware and indicating a performable operation for the corresponding application. The collection of application access mechanisms has one or more similar application access mechanism attributes. The method also includes displaying a graphical user interface on a display in communication with the data processing hardware, the graphical user interface including card user selectable links. Each card user selectable link is associated with a card and a card access mechanism having a reference to the collection of application access mechanisms represented by the card. The method further includes receiving a user input through the graphical user interface.
US09733794B1

A computing device that provides access to digital media items receives a command from an entity to share a digital media item. The computing device invokes a graphical user interface for sharing the digital media item in response to receiving the command. The computing device determines a start time to apply to the digital media item based on input received via the graphical user interface. The computing device then generates a link or embed code to the digital media item, the link or embed code identifying the start time, wherein accessing the link or embed code causes the digital media item to be presented from the start time.
US09733789B2

The present invention provides a system and method for interacting with a 3D virtual image containing activatable objects. The system of the invention includes a 3D display device that presents to a user a 3D image, an image sensor and a processor. The processor analyzes images obtained by the image sensor to determine when the user has placed an activating object such as a hand or a finger, or has performed a gesture related to an activatable object, in the 3D space, at the location where the user perceives an activatable object to be located. The user thus perceives that he is “touching” the activatable object with the activating object.
US09733778B2

A touch sensing circuit is configured to supply touch drive signals to electrodes of a touch sensitive display device and detect corresponding touch sense signals from the electrodes in response to the supplied touch drive signals, a touch sense signal indicating a change in self-capacitance of a driven electrode in response to a touch input on the driven electrode. The touch sensing circuit is further configured to integrate, for a first predetermined duration of time, a measure of each of the touch sense signals, to generate a first integrated signal corresponding to each touch sense signal; integrate, for a second predetermined duration of time, the first integrated signal, to generate a second integrated signal corresponding to each touch sense signal; and determine presence of one or more touch inputs on one or more of the electrodes based on the second integrated signal.
US09733773B2

A touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes a cover plate and a display element under the cover plate. A touch sensing layer is disposed at an active area of the touch panel and between the cover plate and the display element. A decorative layer is disposed at a peripheral area of the touch panel and between the cover plate and the display element, wherein the active area is surrounded by the peripheral area. The touch panel further includes a dielectric layer disposed between the cover plate and the display element, wherein the difference in reflectivity between the active area and the peripheral area is 0 to 0.5.
US09733765B2

Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including a curved display module having a curved surface bent in a y-axis direction, a surface overlay disposed on the front surface of the curved display module and having a refractive index differing from an air layer, at least one IR emitter arranged on the upper long side or the lower long side of the surface overlay and emitting IR light, and at least one first IR receiver arranged on the long side opposite the at least one first IR emitter and receiving the IR light emitted by the at least one IR emitter. The curved display apparatus may more accurately and effectively recognize touch input and thus, user convenience may be improved.
US09733763B2

A portable device (100) comprising a controller (210), a memory (240), a camera (160) and a passive proximity sensor (170). The controller being configured for receiving input from said passive proximity sensor (170) indicating a light environment in front of the passive proximity sensor (170) detecting a change in light environment, determining a light pattern (P) of changes in light environment, determining if the light pattern (P) matches a stored initiating pattern, which is stored in the memory (240), and if so, accepting the light pattern (P) and in response thereto activating the camera (160), identifying an object (H) in front of the camera (160) and tracking the object (H) thereby enabling touchless gesture control of the portable device (100), characterized in that the passive proximity sensor is an ambient light sensor and the light pattern consists of a series of changes between dark and light (dark is light below a threshold, light is light above a second threshold).
US09733759B2

A driving circuit, an array substrate, a touch display device and a driving method of the touch display device. The first gate driving circuits and the touch driving circuits electrically connected with the first gate driving circuits are disposed in the driving circuit, and the secondary trigger signals outputted from the shift registers of the first gate driving circuit function as the strobe signals of the touch selection outputting units from the touch driving circuits, respectively.
US09733748B2

A touch panel is disclosed herein. The touch panel includes a driving line, a gate line, a readout line, and a switching unit. The driving line is configured to transmit a driving signal. The gate line is configured to transmit a scan signal. The readout line forms a mutual capacitance with the gate line, and the mutual capacitance is configured to generate a first sensing signal in response to a driving signal according to a touch operation. The switching unit is electrically coupled to the gate line and the readout line, and configured to be selectively turned on to transmit the first sensing signal to the readout line according to the scan signal.
US09733743B2

In an in-cell touch panel and a display device, the common electrode layer in the array substrate is partitioned into a plurality of sub-electrodes arranged in an array, spaced sub-electrodes in each column of sub-electrodes serve as touch driving sub-electrodes (a) constituting a touch driving electrode and sub-electrodes other than them serve as common sub-electrodes (b). During line-by-line scanning of gate lines covered by a row of sub-electrodes, the row of sub-electrodes are applied with common electrode signals, touch driving sub-electrodes in other rows of sub-electrodes are applied with touch driving signals, and common sub-electrodes in other rows of sub-electrodes are applied with common electrode signals. The in-cell touch panel can avoid various display and touch problems resulted from deficiency of time caused by time-division driving.
US09733742B2

A touch panel, a touch display panel and a touch display device are provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate, a black matrix, and a transparent electrode layer. The first substrate has a display area and a mask area surrounding the display area. The black matrix is disposed on the mask area of the first substrate. The transparent electrode layer is disposed on the first substrate. The transparent electrode layer includes a first appearance electrode pattern disposed on the black matrix, and the first appearance electrode pattern includes two first edges and a first arc connected with the two first edges.
US09733741B2

One inventive aspect is an array substrate. The array substrate includes a plurality of touch leads, a common electrode layer, and a drive circuit. The common electrode layer is divided into a plurality of self-capacitive electrodes, and the self-capacitive electrodes are electronically connected to the drive circuit through the touch leads. The array substrate also includes a plurality of pixel units. Each touch lead is electronically connected to the self-capacitive electrode corresponding to the touch lead via a first via hole. At least one touch lead is continuous and passes through a whole column of the self-capacitive electrodes. In a direction perpendicular to the array substrate, a projection of the self-capacitive electrode covers projections of a plurality of pixel units. In addition, along a direction of the touch leads, an interval between two adjacent first via holes is greater than or equal to a length of two pixel units.
US09733733B2

A capacitive stylus, as an inputting device of a touch sensitive device, comprises a control circuit for emitting signals to the touch sensitive device, a power for providing electricity to the control circuit, two charging rings electrically connecting to the power, and a first magnetic member having a first magnetic pole and a magnetic second pole. The touch sensitive device comprises a recess for placing the capacitive stylus, two charging pads arranged within the recess for connecting with the two charging rings, a charging circuit for charging the power of the capacitive stylus via the two charging pads, and a second magnetic member having a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole. The first magnetic member and the second magnetic member assure the charging operation can be correctly proceeded.
US09733724B2

The present invention is directed to a system and method for typing phonetic characters using two keystrokes. An aspect of the invention relates to the rendering of characters is based on the timing between a first and second keystroke if a second modifying keystroke is used, or based on a first keystroke. The method may be used on computer devices, cellular devices, other devices (including, but not limited to tablets), and other abbreviated and non-abbreviated keyboards, whether actual or virtual.
US09733719B2

Provided is a mobile terminal including: a main body; a display unit that is arranged to the main body and to which screen information is output; a sensing unit that senses a gesture that is applied to a region outside of the main body; and a controller that performs a function associated with at least one portion of the screen information that is output to the display unit if a predetermined-type gesture is applied to the region outside of the main body.
US09733717B2

A computer-implemented method for a gesture-based user interface and a gesture-based user interface system are described. The method comprises receiving image data from a multi-aperture image sensor in said electronic device, said image sensor being configured to simultaneously expose an image sensor to at least a first part of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum using a first aperture and at least a second part of the EM spectrum using one or more second apertures; determining sharpness information in at least one area of said image data associated with at least part of an object imaged by said first aperture and said one or more second apertures onto the image plane of said image sensor; generating depth information on the basis of at least part of said sharpness information; and, recognizing on the basis of said depth information, at least part of a gesture associated with a movement of said object.
US09733716B2

An electronic device displays one or more views. A first view includes a plurality of gesture recognizers. The plurality of gesture recognizers in the first view includes one or more proxy gesture recognizers and one or more non-proxy gesture recognizers. Each gesture recognizer indicates one of a plurality of predefined states. A first proxy gesture recognizer in the first view indicates a state that corresponds to a state of a respective non-proxy gesture recognizer that is not in the first view. The device delivers a respective sub-event to the respective non-proxy gesture recognizer that is not in the first view and at least a subset of the one or more non-proxy gesture recognizers in the first view. The device processes the respective sub-event in accordance with states of the first proxy gesture recognizer and at least the subset of the one or more non-proxy gesture recognizers in the first view.
US09733715B2

The technology disclosed relates to operating a motion-capture system responsive to available computational resources. In particular, it relates to assessing a level of image acquisition and image-analysis resources available using benchmarking of system components. In response, one or more image acquisition parameters and/or image-analysis parameters are adjusted. Acquisition and/or analysis of image data are then made compliant with the adjusted image acquisition parameters and/or image-analysis parameters. In some implementations, image acquisition parameters include frame resolution and frame capture rate and image-analysis parameters include analysis algorithm and analysis density.
US09733708B2

According to an aspect, an electronic device includes: a display unit; a detection unit for detecting contact with the display unit; a vibration unit for vibrating the detection unit; and a control unit for switching between a first state where a predetermined process is not performed based on an operation by contact with the display unit and a second state where the predetermined process is performed based on the operation by contact with the display unit. When the detection unit detects contact at a predetermined position on the display unit in the first state, the control unit causes the vibration unit to vibrate the detection unit based on the contact, and switches from the first state to the second state.
US09733704B2

A system generates a haptic effect that simulates a mechanical button. The system receives a signal that indicates that a user has contacted a user interface of the system. The system includes an impact actuator. In response to the signal, a moving element of the impact actuator contacts the user interface, which generates the haptic effect.
US09733701B2

The present invention provides a display apparatus and a display method for realizing control for display operations by a user precisely reflecting the user's status, i.e., the user's intentions, visual state and physical conditions. Worn as an eyeglass-like or head-mount wearable unit for example, the display apparatus of the present invention enables the user to recognize visibly various images on the display unit positioned in front of the user's eyes thereby providing the picked up images, reproduced images, and received images. As control for various display operations such as switching between the display state and the see-through state, display operation mode and selecting sources, the display apparatus of the present invention acquires information about either behavior or physical status of the user, and determines either intention or status of the user in accordance with the acquired information, thereby controlling the display operation appropriately on the basis of the determination result.
US09733700B2

A ring-type terminal including a main body having a finger insertion space; a wheel surrounding the main body and being movable and rotatable on the main body; a touchscreen; and a controller configured to sense a rotated position of the wheel on the main body, display control graphic images on the touchscreen for controlling a function in response to the rotated position of the wheel being at a first position on the main body, receive a gesture input corresponding to a touch input on the touch screen or a moving of a finger wearing the ring-type terminal, in response to the rotated position of the wheel being at a second position on the main body, and deactivate the touchscreen in response to the rotated position of the wheel being at a third position on the main body.
US09733689B2

Methods and apparatuses relating to transactional power management are described. In one embodiment, a hardware apparatus includes a hardware processor having a core, a plurality of power domains to transition to one of a plurality of power states in response to a power management command for each power domain, and a power transaction unit to assign a first power management command as a first power transaction and a second power management command as a second power transaction for concurrent execution, perform a commit of the first power transaction and the second power transaction when there is no conflict between the first power transaction and the second power transaction, and perform an abort of the first power transaction and a commit of the second power transaction when there is a conflict between the first power transaction and the second power transaction.
US09733683B2

A motherboard includes a power module, a display module, a control module, and a protection module. The protection module is coupled to the power module, the display module, and the control module. The control module is capable of outputting a first control signal to control the protection module to connect the power module to the display module to be powered by the power module or disconnect the power module from the display module.
US09733680B1

Thermal management systems and corresponding use methods are described herein. A thermal management system includes components of a computing device. The computing device includes a housing. The housing includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The computing device also includes a heat generating component supported by the housing. The computing device includes a phase change device adjacent or physically connected to the heat generating component. The phase change device includes a first side and a second side. The first side is closer to the heat generating component than the second side. The second side is opposite the first side. The phase change device is compressible, such that when a force is applied to the outer surface of the housing, the inner surface of the housing flexes towards the second side of the phase change device and the phase change device is compressed.
US09733678B2

A component carrier can have a housing forming a receiving space configured to receive at least one component through a receiving opening. A pivotable sidewall can be coupled to the housing and transitionable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. A releasable latch coupled to the front portion of the housing capable of being secured the pivotable sidewall in the closed configuration. In the open configuration, the receiving opening is accessible. In the closed configuration, the pivotable sidewall secured to the housing by the releasable latch and the receiving opening is inaccessible.
US09733677B2

Computer-implemented methods, apparatus, and computer program product, the method comprising: receiving a reading from a sensor associated with a mobile computing device used by a user; determining based on the reading whether the device is in movement exceeding a threshold; responsive to the movement exceeding the threshold, displaying a message in a first manner; and responsive to the movement not exceeding the threshold, displaying the message in a second manner. The first manner may be associated with the message obstructing content displayed on the device; and the second manner may be associated with content displayed on the device being obstructed less than when the movement exceeds the threshold. The first manner may be associated with the message being bolder and the second manner may be associated with message being less bolder than when the movement exceeds the threshold.
US09733675B2

An elastic body and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a casing, an electronic component, and a conductive base. The electronic component and the conductive base are installed in the casing. The conductive base includes a base body and the elastic body. The base body has a first opening. The elastic body includes a bottom plate and an elastic part. The bottom plate is installed on the base body and has a second opening. The first opening is communicated with the second opening. The elastic part is connected to the bottom plate and has a contacting portion. The contacting portion is installed corresponding to the second opening, and the contacting portion contacts the electronic component.
US09733671B2

A flexible display apparatus is disclosed. The flexible display apparatus includes a display panel, a cover substrate, a first receiving portion and a first fluid. The display panel includes a first region and a second region surrounding at least one sides of the first region. The cover substrate is disposed over the display panel. The first receiving portion is disposed between the display panel and the cover substrate. The first receiving portion overlaps the first region of the display panel and has an empty space. The first fluid is disposed in the first receiving portion.
US09733661B2

A power management circuit includes a voltage sensing circuit and a supply voltage adjusting circuit. The voltage sensing circuit is arranged for sensing a plurality of voltages respectively of a plurality of nodes of a PCB to generate a sensing result. The supply voltage adjusting circuit is coupled to the voltage sensing circuit, and is arranged for determining a voltage level of a supply voltage supplied to a power plane of the PCB by referring to the sensing result.
US09733655B2

A low dropout regulator is provided. The low dropout regulator includes an output-stage circuit, a reference-voltage generation circuit, a timing controller, and an active low dropout circuit. When the low dropout regulator is at an operation mode, the output-stage circuit is controlled by a first enable signal to generate first output voltage to an output node of the low dropout regulator. The reference-voltage generation circuit is controlled by a bias voltage to generate a first reference voltage. The timing controller is coupled to the output node and receives the first reference voltage. When the low dropout regulator is in the operation mode, the timing controller programs the first enable signal according to the reference voltage and the voltage at the output node. When the low dropout regulator is in a standby mode, the active low dropout circuit generates a second output voltage to the output node.
US09733653B2

Controllers and methods are disclosed for aiding a user in programming a schedule of a programmable controller. In an illustrative embodiment, a guided programming routine can be activated by a user, which then guides a user through two or more screens that are designed to collect sufficient information from the user to generate and/or update at least some of the schedule parameters of the controller.
US09733652B2

An apparatus control system includes a metabolic amount measurement device measuring a metabolic amount, and an apparatus control device controlling a heating-cooling combination apparatus. A control content storage unit stores thermal sensations and control contents of the heating-cooling combination apparatus. The metabolic amount measured by the metabolic amount measurement device is inputted to an input unit. A metabolic amount storage unit stores a history of the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit before. A calculation unit calculates the thermal sensation using the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit. A correction unit corrects the thermal sensation calculated by the calculation unit using the history of the metabolic amount stored in the metabolic amount storage unit. An apparatus control unit controls the heating-cooling combination apparatus according to a control content stored in the control content storage unit in association with the thermal sensation corrected by the correction unit.
US09733647B2

A system, apparatus, and method for use in delivery of items to a storage unit. The storage unit can include one or several storage receptacles and a control unit that controls and monitors the status of the one or several storage receptacles. The storage unit may be included in a storage unit system that can include one or several storage units and a central control unit. The central control unit can communicate with the one or several storage units, and can receive status and availability updates from the one or several storage units.
US09733645B1

A system and method are for controlling handling of a marine vessel having a steerable component that is steerable to a plurality of positions to vary a direction of movement of the vessel. A controller is communicatively connected to an actuator of the steerable component and a user input device provides to the controller an operator-initiated steering command to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions. A sensor provides to the controller an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel. The controller has a vessel direction control section that outputs a command to the actuator to change a position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions so as to automatically counteract the undesired course change. The vessel direction control section is active only when the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
US09733644B2

Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to participate in the performance of tasks, for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance, or for facilitating other interactions with such devices.
US09733643B2

A system and method for interrupting a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based automatic steering mode of a hydraulic steering system on a vehicle. When a steering wheel is manually turned by an operator, pressurized hydraulic fluid from a steering directional control valve activates an interrupter having an interrupter valve. The interrupter valve blocks pressurized fluid flow to the automatic steering system, thus overriding automatic steering and giving the operator full manual steering control via the steering wheel. The hydraulic interrupt system is mechanical with no electronic elements.
US09733639B2

Disclosed is a dynamic facility management system that is able to start quickly and monitor a state when various measuring instruments are attached to or removed from the facility to be securely monitored and maintained. The system includes a sensor as a measuring instrument. A measuring instrument reading device, which is a lower level device, transmits a type of the measuring instrument and a purpose of connecting the measuring instrument to a directory server. The directory server generates an instance by referring to class information and generates and registers a relation instance by referring to an inter-class relationship. The directory server transmits the generated instance to related devices on the basis of an inter-instance relationship, and the directory server exchanges facility management data between instances on the basis of the inter-instance relationship.
US09733636B2

A remote unit (1) that controls a control target (4) on the basis of a command from a CPU unit (2) is provided with: an external input section (11) to receive a detection result of a state of the control target from a detection means (3) that detects the state of the control target; an output section (13) to output a control output for controlling the control target; and an abnormality determining section (12) to determine an abnormality of the control target on the basis of the detection result and to output to the output section, a control instruction to instruct a change or a stop of the control output if the control target is determined to be abnormal.
US09733623B2

A microgrid includes a plurality of distributed energy resources such as controllable distributed electric generators and electrical energy storage devices. A method of controlling operation of the microgrid includes periodically updating a distributed energy resource schedule for the microgrid that includes on/off status of the controllable distributed electric generators and charging/discharging status and rate of the electrical energy storage devices and which satisfies a first control objective for a defined time window, based at least in part on a renewable energy generation and load forecast for the microgrid. The method further includes periodically determining power set points for the controllable distributed energy resources which satisfy a second control objective for a present time interval within the defined time window, the second control objective being a function of at least the distributed energy resource schedule for the microgrid.
US09733612B2

A packing member for packing a cartridge for an image forming apparatus, the packing member includes a frame portion having a recess for accommodating the cartridge; a closing member portion for openably closing the recess; a hinge portion for movably connecting the closing member portion relative to the frame portion to open and close the recess; a connecting portion connecting the frame portion and the closing member portion to close the recess; and the closing member portion being provided with a separating portion removable from the closing member portion while leaving the connecting portion on the frame portion.
US09733610B2

An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a unit, a high-voltage contact point pin, and a protective member. The unit is mountable/demountable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus. With the unit mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the high-voltage contact point pin is in contact with a contact point terminal that is provided at the unit. With the unit mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the protective member is disposed at a first position at which a tip end of the high-voltage contact point pin being in contact with the contact point terminal is exposed, and with the unit demounted from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the protective member is disposed at a second position at which the tip end of the high-voltage contact point pin is covered.
US09733599B2

An image forming apparatus has a fixing device for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material. The fixing device includes a heater having a heat generating element and a substrate, a heat leveling member contacting the heater and having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the substrate, and a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the heat leveling member. The apparatus also has a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the heat heater to maintain a target temperature. The period in which the heat controller raises the target temperature with an increase of a number of the recording materials is provided in a period in which recording materials having widths smaller a width of a maximum size recording material usable with the device are continuously subjected to fixing operations.
US09733594B2

A developing device includes a developing container, a developing sleeve, a magnet and grooves provided at a surface of the sleeve and formed along a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the sleeve. In a cross-section, each of the grooves is formed by a flat bottom portion contacting a carrier particle and a pair of side surface portions provided in both sides of the flat bottom portion with respect to the circumferential direction of the sleeve and satisfies the following relationship: r
US09733590B2

A developing device includes a developing housing that contains developer; a developer carrier that transports the developer; a layer-thickness regulating member that is provided for an upstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing and that regulates a layer thickness of the developer; and a sealing member that is provided for a downstream gap between the developer carrier and the developing housing. The sealing member is fixed to the developing housing at one side and is in contact with the developer on the developer carrier at the other side. The sealing member has cuts extending from a free end of the sealing member by approximately 60% or more of a dimension of the sealing member from the free end to a fixed end in the width direction, and is at an angle of approximately 30° or less with respect to a reference line.
US09733583B2

Provided is a toner, including toner particle having surface layer, in which: the surface layer includes organosilicon polymer which has a partial structure represented by formula (1); in 29Si-NMR measurement of tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter of toner particle, a ratio of a peak area for the partial structure represented by formula (1) to a total peak area for the organosilicon polymer is 5.0% or more; in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of a surface of toner particle, a ratio of a density of a silicon atom dSi in the surface of toner particle is 1.0 to 28.6 atom %; and in a roughness curve of toner particle measured by using a scanning probe microscope: an arithmetic average roughness Ra is 10 to 300 nm; σRa/Ra is 0.60 or less; an average length RSm of a roughness curve element is 20 to 500 nm; and σRSm/RSm is 0.60 or less.
US09733576B2

A photoresist modelling system includes a mathematical model for a photolithography process. The mathematical model may be executable using a computer processor. The mathematical model may be used to model a photoresist as formed on a semiconductor wafer surface. A blocked polymer concentration gradient equation may be implemented into the mathematical model. The blocked polymer concentration gradient equation may describe an initial concentration gradient of a blocked polymer in the photoresist being modelled by the mathematical model.
US09733568B2

A tool and a method of developing are provided. In various embodiments, the method of developing includes rotating a wafer at a first rotating speed. The method further includes dispensing a developer solution onto the wafer at the first rotating speed by a first nozzle above the wafer, wherein the first nozzle moves back and forth along a path during dispensing the developer solution. The method further includes rotating the wafer at a second rotating speed to spread the developer solution onto the wafer uniformly. The method further includes dispensing a rinse solution onto the wafer at the second rotating speed by a second nozzle above the wafer.
US09733565B2

A resin composition, a printed circuit board using the composition, and a method of manufacturing the printed circuit board. The resin composition includes: a photopolymerizable compound, such as one having an ethylenically unsaturated bond which is polymerizable in a molecule, a photoinitiator, and a surface-modified silica by an alkyl sulfonated tetrazole compound.
US09733564B2

A target variable analysis unit (11) calculates the triad fractions of monomer units in the composition of a known polymer sample from the copolymerization reactivity ratios of the monomer units to obtain a target variable. A waveform processing unit (12) processes NMR measurements, signals, etc. An explanatory variable analysis unit (13) obtains explanatory variables from the amount of chemical shift and signal strength in the NMR measurements of the known sample. A model generation unit (14) determines the regression equation of the regression model of the target variable and the explanatory variables by partial least squares regression, and obtains regression model coefficients. A sample analysis unit (15) uses the regression model to calculate the triad fractions for an unknown copolymer sample from the amount of chemical shift and signal strength in the NMR measurements of the unknown copolymer sample. By using a copolymer for lithography in which the total of the triad fractions obtained in this way is not more than 20 mole % in the copolymer, a resist composition with excellent solubility and sensitivity can be manufactured.
US09733560B2

A curved projection screen having a one-piece seamless substrate having a three-dimensional curvature. The screen is arranged for being bent to a certain degree around one of its axes so that the smallest deformation of the screen is elastic, where the edge of the screen has been shaped so that its deformation during the above mentioned degree of bending is also elastic.
US09733558B2

An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; a fluorescent substance that, when irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength and transmits a part of the excitation light, and thereby multiplexes and emits the transmitted excitation light having the first wavelength and the emitted excitation light having the second wavelength; and a driving unit that moves an irradiation position of the excitation light in the fluorescent substance with the passage of time.
US09733544B2

A tunable metamaterial has a two dimensional array of resonant annular ring elements; and a plurality of voltage controllable electrical tuning elements disposed in or adjacent openings in each of said ring elements, each of said voltage controllable electrical tuning element ohmically contacting portions of only one of said ring elements. The voltage controllable electrical tuning elements may comprise highly doped semiconductor tunnel diodes, or the charge accumulation layer at the semiconductor/insulator interface of a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure, or nanoelectromechanical (NEMs) capacitors. The tunable metamaterial may be used, for example, in an optical beam steering device using the aforementioned tunable optical metamaterial in which a free-space optical beam is coupled into a receiving portion of a plane of the optical metamaterial and is steered out of a transmitter portion of the plane of the optical metamaterial in controllable azimuthal and elevational directions. The tunable metamaterial additionally has other applications.
US09733532B2

The plurality of thin film transistors are provided corresponding to intersections between a plurality of gate wires and a plurality of source wires, respectively. The pixel electrodes are connected to the thin film transistors. The counter electrodes face the pixel electrodes. The leading line is provided outside a display area and connected to one of gate wires. The conversion portion is provided in the vicinity of the display area, at which the leading line is connected to another wiring layer. The insulating film is provided on the conversion portion at a side of the counter substrate. The conductive layer faces the conversion portion with the insulating film interposed therebetween and has transparency. To the conductive layer together with the counter electrodes, applied is a common potential.
US09733531B2

A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a first electrode formed on the first substrate; a second substrate configured so as to face the first substrate; and a second electrode formed on the second substrate. The first electrode includes a first portion having a plate shape and a plurality of branch electrodes extending from the first portion. The second electrode includes a cross-shaped cutout including a horizontal stem and a vertical stem which cross each other at a center thereof. A width of the first electrode and a distance between two adjacent ones of the branch electrodes are varied according to position.
US09733526B2

The present invention provides a curved display panel and a curved display apparatus. The curved display panel comprises a curved color filter substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a curved thin film transistor array substrate. The curved color filter substrate comprises a first curved substrate, a color-resisting array layer, a first protective layer and a common electrode; the curved thin film transistor array substrate comprises a second curved substrate and a pixel array layer. The present invention can diminish the dark fringes appearing in border areas of different domains.
US09733516B2

An illuminating apparatus includes a support member comprising a light source support member having four corner areas; and a light emitter that is disposed on a surface of the light source support member, the light emitter including one or more light emitting modules, wherein each of the light emitting module comprises a strip-shaped printed circuit board (PCB) mounted on the light source support member and a plurality of light source packages that is mounted on the strip-shaped PCB and generates light; and four corner side extending portions that configure a portion of any one of one or more the light emitting modules and are extended toward the four corner areas of the light source support member.
US09733515B2

A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit includes: a first surface light source array; a second surface light source array disposed on an upper portion of the first surface light source array and arranged such that a light emitting surface of the second surface light source array is parallel with a light emitting surface of the first surface light source array; and a reflection plate disposed on a lower portion of the first surface light source array and arranged such that a reflective surface of the reflection plate is parallel with the light emitting surface of the first surface light source array, wherein the second surface light source array is stacked on the first surface light source array such that the first and second surface light source arrays are offset from each other in a plane parallel to the light emitting surfaces.
US09733494B2

Lenses incorporate freeform power profiles that at least one of slow, retard or preventing myopia progression. An ophthalmic lens includes a first zone at a center of the lens; a first peripheral region continuously extending from the center, the first peripheral region having a different dioptric power than at the center; and a second peripheral region continuously extending from the first peripheral region and having a different dioptric power than the first peripheral region, thereby providing a continuous freeform power profile having substantially equivalent visual performance to a single vision lens, and having a depth of focus and reduced retinal image quality sensitivity that slows, retards, or prevents myopia progression.
US09733492B2

A set of eyeglass lens semifinished products is provided and is composed of at least three series of eyeglass lens semifinished products having spherical or rotationally symmetric aspherical front surfaces. The series of eyeglass lens semifinished products differ in pairs in the base material of the series. Each of the series includes at least three types of eyeglass lens semifinished products which differ in pairs and the front surface shapes. The front surface shapes of the at least three types are identical on a central partial surface within the actual surface refractive power range of the front surface of the series in relation to a standard index of refraction of 1.53 between 3.2 D and 6.7 D.
US09733486B2

Imager arrays, array camera modules, and array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize pixel apertures to control the amount of aliasing present in captured images of a scene. One embodiment includes a plurality of focal planes, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data. In addition, the pixels in the plurality of focal planes include a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information, and the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area.
US09733479B2

An optical element includes a reflective Fresnel element for deflecting light bundles which are incident on the Fresnel element along a direction of incidence, into a direction of emergence. The Fresnel element includes a plurality of reflective facets arranged next to each other, which are formed curved, and in each case, comprise a first reflective section and an adjoining second reflective section. The reflectivity of the first reflective section is greater than the reflectivity of the second reflective section. The second reflective section of a first reflective facet lies in front of the first reflective section of the directly neighboring reflective facet, seen in the direction of incidence, with the result that the portion of the incident light bundle which is transmitted from the second reflective section of the first reflective facet, strikes the first reflective section of the directly neighboring reflective facet, in order to be deflected.
US09733476B2

An image transmission device for a display intended to display a virtual image in a driver's field of view is disclosed. The transmission device includes a semi-reflective optical element configured to transmit light rays that can be used to display the virtual image in the field of view. The optical element is also configured to guide the light. A light source emitting a light beam is also part of the device, where the light source and the optical element are located relative to one another so that the beam is emitted by the optical element operating as a light guide.
US09733467B2

A smart glass uses a guided self-assembled photonic crystal, including a photonic crystal layer that is interposed between a pair of conductive glass plates. The smart glass includes a first material and a second material having a different refractive index from the first material and surrounding the first material. Thereby, the smart glass has a color, even when a dye is not included, by strongly reflecting light in a specific wavelength range incident to the photonic crystal layer. This is because the first material is formed regularly to have a constant distance by guided self-assembly, and the smart glass thereby may obtain a target color by randomly adjusting the distance between the first materials.
US09733466B2

An objective lens system for an optical biopsy device has a lens that comprises a first part configured for viewing at a first magnification, and a second part configured for viewing at a second magnification. The second magnification is substantially different from the first magnification. The first magnification enables viewing a larger area of a target and the second magnification enables viewing the target at a cellular level with high sensitivity and specificity. Combining viewing at two different magnifications in a single objective lens results in a compact optical biopsy device.
US09733454B2

A photographing optical lens assembly comprises, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region. The second lens element has refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side and an image-side surfaces both being aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an aspheric object-side surface and an aspheric image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region with at least one inflection point. The photographing optical lens assembly has a total of five lens elements with refractive power.
US09733449B2

An interchangeable lens includes a fixing frame in which a front movable lens group and a rear movable lens group are coaxially arranged and movable in the direction of an optical axis. An intermediate member is arranged between a movable range of a lens frame holding the front movable lens group and a movable range of a lens frame 12 holding the rear movable lens group. The intermediate member is a partition between the movable lens groups and prevents interference between them. In addition, the intermediate member blocks undesired light components which are part of the light incident on the fixing frame and traveling from the front movable range to the rear movable range.
US09733440B2

Optical connectors for connecting optical fiber to a light source are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a housing with a first end having an open aperture and a second end having a blind aperture. A chamber is disposed in the housing such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the chamber. The chamber includes a first material. A light collecting region formed from a second material is disposed in the housing between the second end of the housing and the chamber. A blind aperture is positioned in the light collecting region such that a termination of the blind aperture is spaced apart from the chamber by at least a portion of the second material. A refracting surface is disposed in the housing between the open aperture and the light collecting region such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the refracting surface.
US09733436B2

Example fiber optic connector systems have rugged, robust designs that are environmentally sealed and that are relatively easy to install and uninstall in the field. Some connector systems can be configured in the field to be compatible with different styles of fiber optic adapters. Some connectors include a first seal (90) on a release sleeve; and a second seal (88) between the release sleeve and a connector body. Other connectors include a seal (139) and a flexible latch (136) on a connector. Other connectors include a protective structure (228, 328, 428) that mounts over the fiber optic connector. Other connectors include a protective outer shell (528, 860) and a sealing and attachment insert (570, 570A, 876). Other connectors include a protective outer shell (728) and a fastener (780).
US09733434B2

Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing (10) and a single-piece sleeve mount (20), the sleeve mount (20) being designed with at least one latching nose (21) and the coupling housing (10) being designed with at least one latching mount which complements the at least one latching nose (21), wherein the latching mount is designed with at least one latching hook (14) and at least one stop (15).
US09733433B2

An optical connection box includes, a plurality of first optical connectors to which a plurality of first optical paths are respectively connected, a plurality of second optical connectors that respectively include an operation unit protruding from a peripheral edge side position further from a position of the plurality of first optical connectors on a first surface of the optical connection box, and that are respectively connected to a plurality of receptacle optical connectors which are disposed in the plurality of second optical paths, a plurality of relay optical fibers in which any one of the plurality of first optical connectors is disposed in the first terminal and any one of the plurality of second optical connectors is disposed in the second terminal, and a fitting structure with respect to a substrate in which the receptacle optical connectors are disposed.
US09733422B2

A reflective display apparatus includes a reflective display panel, a light guide plate, an elastic ring, a light permeable liquid and a holding device. The elastic ring is sandwiched between the reflective display panel and the light guide plate, and it spaces the reflective display panel and the light guide plate apart defines a space between the reflective display panel and the light guide plate. The light permeable liquid is located in the space. The holding device holds the reflective display panel and the light guide plate, thereby pressing against the elastic ring and making the elastic ring deform.
US09733416B2

The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a waveguide for providing first light (111) having a first spectral distribution and second light (121) having a second spectral distribution emanating from a waveguide (100) in different directions, wherein the first spectral distribution and second spectral distribution differ. For instance, the first light (111) and the second light (121) have different color temperatures.
US09733415B2

In an embodiment, a display panel unit includes a reflective polarizing layer, a transparent layer, and a display panel. The polarizing layer transmits a first polarized component of light incident on an incident surface to an exit surface and reflects a second polarized component of the light. The transparent layer transmits the first and second polarized component of the light incident on a second surface to a first surface adhered to the incident surface and transmits the second polarized component reflected by the polarizing layer to be incident on the first surface to the second surface. The panel faces the exit surface, and selectively transmits the light exiting from the exit surface.
US09733411B2

A light guide is provided. The light guide includes a first major surface comprising an array of Z-shaped extraction elements. Each Z-shaped extraction element includes: a first face; a second face adjoining the first face, wherein the first face and an upper portion of the second face define an indentation projecting inwardly from a plane defined by the first major surface; and a third face adjoining the second face, wherein the third face and a lower portion of the second face define a protrusion projecting outwardly from the plane defined by the first major surface.
US09733402B2

A sub-pixel unit for a reflective display includes a color filter including a tunable high contrast grating. The tunable high contrast grating reflects light within a first range of wavelengths, and the sub-pixel unit can exist in a first state and a second state, the first state reflecting at least one of (i) light within a different range of wavelengths, and (ii) light of a different intensity level, than the second state.
US09733393B2

Light-reflective materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. The materials can have multiple particles or voids arranged in a crystal structure. The materials can reflect various types of light such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light.
US09733390B2

A downhole tool measurement device mounting system and method are provided. The mounting system may include a chassis and a first sensor area and a second sensor area in the chassis capable of housing a first sensor and a second sensor that measure a characteristic along a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The system may also have a sensor assembly mounted in a cavity of the chassis in a third sensor area wherein a sensing axis of the sensor assembly is orthogonal to the first and second axes, the sensor assembly having a block and an orthogonal sensor mounted in the block to form a monolithic assembly that is secured into the cavity.
US09733383B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for analyzing a composition of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid. The methods include using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to conduct NMR measurements on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid to obtain NMR data. A non-NMR tool, such as an optical tool, is used to conduct additional measurements and to obtain non-NMR data on the fluid. The methods further include determining an indication of the composition of the fluid by using the NMR data and normalizing the indication of the composition of the fluid using the non-NMR data.
US09733377B2

Depth and tilt control systems for geophysical sensor streamers and methods of use are discussed. Such systems may include a plurality of tilt sensors disposed at spaced apart locations along the geophysical sensor streamer, each tilt sensor having a first tilt sensing element arranged to measure tilt of the geophysical sensor streamer proximate the associated spaced apart location, a plurality of LFD control devices, each disposed proximate one of the tilt sensors along the geophysical sensor streamer, and a plurality of microcontrollers, each microcontroller in signal communication with at least one of the LFD control devices and its associated tilt sensor, wherein each microcontroller is capable of utilizing the tilt measured by the associated tilt sensor to selectively operate the associated LFD control device to cause the geophysical sensor streamer to align with a selected depth profile.
US09733375B2

System and method for enriching a bandwidth of seismic data related to a subsurface of a body of water. The system includes streamers and sources that are towed at alternating depths during consecutive and/or adjacent line of sails or during the same line of sail.
US09733371B2

In the present inventive method, individual traces of seismic data are migrated (41) without any assembling of different midpoints or any summing of different offsets, so that post-migration processing or analysis, e.g. trace alignment, may be applied to the individual migrated traces (42) to compensate for any deficiencies among them, before stack and assembly. Thus, the present invention fully separates the steps of migration (41), assembly (43), and stacking (44), which are combined together in traditional migration. Thus, imaging deficiencies can be measured and addressed in the image space before they are obscured by summation. Afterward, summation can proceed to construct the improved final image (45).
US09733367B1

An apparatus for neutron detection is provided. The apparatus comprises a sensor medium in electrical contact with an electrode arrangement conformed to collect radiation-generated charge from the sensor medium. The sensor medium comprises a borazine and/or a borazine-based polymer.
US09733357B2

Disclosed are various embodiments of an infrared proximity sensor package comprising an infrared transmitter die, an infrared receiver die, a housing comprising sidewalls, a first recess, a second recess, a partitioning divider disposed between the first and second recesses, and an overlying shield comprising an infrared-absorbing material. The transmitter die is positioned in the first recess, and the receiver die is positioned within the second recess. The partitioning divider comprises liquid crystal polymer (LCP) such that the partitioning divider and the infrared-absorbing material of the shield cooperate together to substantially attenuate and absorb undesired infrared light that might otherwise become internally-reflected within the housing or incident upon the receiver as a false proximity or object detection signal.
US09733354B2

A concealed radar imaging system includes a visible light mirror, a radar device positioned behind the visible light mirror, and a processing circuit coupled to the radar device. The visible light mirror includes a reflective layer configured to reflect visible light, and allow a radar signal to pass therethrough. The radar device is configured to transmit the radar signal, receive a reflection of the radar signal, and generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the radar device, receive the reflection data from the radar device, and generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.
US09733322B2

Described is a local coil having a number of magnetic resonance antenna elements, a, strip-shaped, metamaterial signal conductor, and an adapter device for coupling signals into the metamaterial signal conductor and/or coupling signals out of the metamaterial signal conductor. Additionally described is a magnetic resonance system having a local coil communication interface and an adapter device for coupling signals out of a metamaterial signal conductor and transferring them to the local coil communication interface and/or for coupling signals from the local coil communication interface into a metamaterial signal conductor, and a method for transmitting signals between a local coil and a local coil communication interface of a magnetic resonance system.
US09733315B2

A biomolecular sensor system includes an array of magnetoresistive nanosensors designed for sensing biomolecule-conjugated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Materials and geometry of each sensor element are designed for optimized sensitivity. The system includes magnetic field generators to apply forces to superparamagnetic nanoparticles for 1) nanoparticle manipulation, 2) sensor magnetic biasing, 3) magnetic pull-off measurement for differentiation against non-specific association, and 4) removal of all particles from the sensor array surface.
US09733313B2

In a method of operating a generator connected to a power supply network, in particular a synchronous generator, during a network fault in the power supply network, in particular during an electric short-circuit, electric excitation of the generator is at least temporarily reduced based on the value of at least one operating parameter of the generator prior to the network fault and/or during the network fault.
US09733311B2

An electric storage device management apparatus includes a controller that is configured to perform a voltage drop determination process to determine a voltage drop value of a conductive member that connects electric storage devices, and perform a voltage between terminals determination process to determine a voltage value between terminals of one of the electric storage devices after the voltage drop determination process.
US09733304B2

Apparatus for testing semiconductor devices comprising die stacks, the apparatus comprising a substrate having an array of pockets in a surface thereof arranged to correspond to conductive elements protruding from a semiconductor device to be tested. The pockets include conductive contacts with traces extending to conductive pads, which may be configured as test pads, jumper pads, edge connects or contact pads. The substrate may comprise a semiconductor wafer or wafer segment and, if the latter, multiple segments may be received in recesses in a fixture. Testing may be effected using a probe card, a bond head carrying conductive pins, or through conductors carried by the fixture.
US09733299B2

An inspection jig may include a frame, an electrode body provided with electrodes, conductive contactors having a wire shape, a support block having a facing surface opposite to which an inspection circuit board is disposed, guiding one ends of the contactors to the inspection points of the circuit board mounted on the facing surface, guiding other ends to the electrodes, and configured to move relatively to the frame in a moving direction which crosses the facing surface, biasing parts configured to bias the support block in a direction moving away from the electrode body and close to the circuit board, and a regulating plate disposed between the support block and the frame so as to extend in a direction from the support block to the frame, having elasticity, and having regulation of deformation in a first direction which is parallel to the facing surface and which crosses the extending direction.
US09733298B2

A method and a device for testing an electronic appliance for determining at least one variable of a system. The electronic appliance is designed in the form of a sensor. The method includes defining an expected minimum and/or maximum value of the variable and producing an electric signal by means of the electronic appliance depending on the variable. The method also includes detecting at least one value of a parameter of the produced electric signal and defining an expected minimum and/or maximum value of the parameter depending on the defined minimum and/or maximum value of the variable of the system. A determination is made, based on whether the detected value of the parameter is greater than the minimum value defined for the parameter and/or smaller than the maximum value, whether there is a malfunction of the electronic appliance provoked by an external electromagnetic interference field.
US09733268B2

Various embodiments of the invention provide for stiction testing in MEMS devices, such as accelerometers. In certain embodiments, testing is accomplished by a high voltage smart circuit that enables an analog front-end circuit to accurately read the position of a movable proof-mass relative to a biased electrode in order to allow the detection of both contact and release conditions. Testing allows to detect actual or potential stiction failures and to reject defective parts in a Final Test stage of a manufacturing process where no other contributors to stiction issue can occur, thereby, minimizing stiction failure risks and extending the reliability of MEMS devices.
US09733265B2

Disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of an aspirator in a sample processing apparatus, the sample processing apparatus comprising the aspirator configured to aspirate a sample or a reagent from a container and a capacitance sensor connected to the aspirator to detect change in capacitance, the method comprising: moving the aspirator above a position adjustment part which is electrically conductive and which is disposed at a predetermined position; obtaining capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor while moving the aspirator; and setting reference position information indicating a reference position of the aspirator based on change in the obtained capacitance.
US09733262B2

A method for measuring blood coagulation, including: preparing a reaction solution including a plasma specimen, a blood coagulation activator, and at least one of amino-guanidine and an acid addition salt thereof; and measuring blood coagulation time by detecting a turbidity change in the reaction solution.
US09733261B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in stroke patients and in patients at risk for stroke. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker assays in such patients.
US09733260B2

Provided herein is a method of bioassay for the quantification of peptide fragments relevant to neurodegenerative conditions. The method comprises cleaving a Tau protein by a secretase, such as ADAM10, to form a neo-epitope. The method comprises contacting a blood derived sample with an antibody specific for the neo-epitope and determining the level of binding of the antibody to peptide fragments comprising the neo-epitope in the sample. Neo-epitope containing peptide levels are found to be inversely correlated to cognitive function.
US09733247B2

Provided herein are methods of detecting and/or monitoring the presence or severity of an immune disorder in a subject, including detecting a frequency of a Th2a subset of CD4+ T cells in a biological sample of the subject. In some embodiments, the detecting includes: (a) detecting a frequency of CD4+ T cells in a biological sample of said subject; (b) detecting a frequency of a Th2a subset of the CD4+ T cells in the biological sample; and (c) comparing the frequency of the Th2a subset with the frequency of the CD4+ T cells.
US09733245B2

An objective of the present invention is to provide chimeric receptors containing a mouse Fcγ receptor extracellular domain and a human Fcγ receptor transmembrane domain, or chimeric receptors containing a mouse Fcγ receptor extracellular domain and a human γ chain transmembrane domain. Another objective of the present invention is to provide methods for measuring the ADCC activity of mouse antibodies and methods of screening for mouse antibodies having ADCC activity, using the chimeric receptors.To accomplish the above-mentioned objectives, the present inventors produced chimeric molecules by fusing the extracellular domain of mouse FcγR3 or mouse FcγR4 with the transmembrane domain/intracellular domain of human γ chain or human FcγR3, and expressed the chimeric molecules in human NK92 cells. It was revealed that the ADCC activity can be induced by the chimeric receptors produced by any combination of the domains, and that the ADCC activity of mouse antibodies can be measured using the chimeric receptors of the present invention.
US09733238B2

A measurement chip (100) is disclosed for use with a microfluidic resistance network (20) comprising a microfluidic sample preparation stage (34, 38), a sample outlet (42) and a waste outlet (44) both in fluidic communication with said preparation stage. The measurement chip comprises a sample channel (104) for receiving a sample from said sample outlet (42), the sample channel comprising measurement means (120, 130) and having a first fluidic resistance; and a waste channel (114) for receiving a waste stream from said waste outlet (44) and having a second fluidic resistance.
US09733227B2

A dive computer with a free dive mode and/or wireless data transmission capabilities. In one embodiment the invention relates to a diving apparatus including a dive computer having a free dive mode, where the dive computer is configured to calculate a nitrogen loading in the free dive mode using a default value which is the fraction of oxygen in air, and where the free dive mode is used when a diver makes a dive without a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Another embodiment includes a method of operating a dive computer including recording two or more first identifiers, receiving pressure information from two or more pressure transmitters, the pressure information comprising second identifiers and pressure measurements, determining whether the pressure information contains one of the two or more first identifiers, and displaying a message indicative of the pressure information that contains one of the two or more first identifiers.
US09733222B2

The subject technology is directed to a CO2-based chromatography system and method for rapid determination of the levels and/or the presence or absence of steroids or steroid derivatives in a sample.
US09733220B2

An ultrasound probe comprises: a backing material; a plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing material; a first acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements; and a second acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the first acoustic matching layer, wherein the second acoustic matching layer comprises an upper organic layer constituting a plurality of organic piezoelectric elements, and a lower organic layer for performing, together with the upper organic layer, acoustic matching for the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements.
US09733214B2

MRM triggered MRM, where the triggered MRM transitions make use of mobility device parameter values for the same compound, is performed. A plurality of primary MRM transitions are received and stored together with a mobility device parameter value for each transition as an MRM cycle list. Control information instructs a mobility device and a mass spectrometer to interrogate each MRM transition on the MRM cycle list within an MRM cycle of the mass spectrometer. If a product ion intensity value of an MRM transition exceeds a threshold value for a primary MRM transition, a plurality of secondary MRM transitions of the primary MRM transition with different mobility device parameter values are added to the MRM cycle list. The intensities of the measured secondary MRM transitions provide information on the optimum mobility device parameter for each compound.
US09733209B2

Disclosed are an organic semiconductor element, a fabrication method thereof, woven and non-woven fabric structures therewith, and a semiconductor device therewith. The organic semiconductor element comprising an organic semiconductor layer; a linear source electrode and a linear drain electrode provided in the organic semiconductor layer and spaced apart from and parallel to each other; a linear gate electrode provided on the organic semiconductor layer to cross the linear source and drain electrodes; and an electrolyte layer in contact with the organic semiconductor layer and the linear gate electrode.
US09733201B2

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for tracking the thermal age of a self-regulating heating cable. Over a time period, current and voltage data for a cable signal are collected, from which spectral information is extracted. The spectral information has a frequency component and an amplitude component. The cable signal is processed to extract a line frequency signature that includes the electrical system's line current frequency and at least some of its harmonics. A ratio of the amplitudes of at least two of the odd harmonics of the line current frequency is calculated. The ratio is compared to an aging curve indicating the thermal age of the cable as a function of the odd-harmonic ratios. The curve may be obtained in a laboratory setting or in the field by characterizing a cable with zero hours of use. The characterizing may include aging the cable to determine the curve.
US09733199B2

Apparatus for improving a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a sample is programmed to execute instructions including: removing uncorrelated noise in said 3D reconstruction with COMET or other regularization techniques; and removing correlated noise in said 3D reconstruction by applying an Extended Field Iterative Reconstruction Technique (EFIRT) procedure.
US09733196B2

Provided are a foreign material detecting device and method for detecting only a foreign material on a surface of a substrate except for a foreign material on a lower surface of the substrate in a manufacturing process of a transparent substrate passing light therethrough, such as a glass substrate used in a flat panel display (FPD) such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), etc., a sapphire wafer used in some of semiconductors, or the like, and in a pattern forming process in a manufacturing process of the FPD and the semiconductor using the transparent substrate. More particularly, provided are a foreign material detecting device and method for detecting only a foreign material on a surface of an ultra-thin transparent substrate having a thickness of 0.3 T or less.
US09733192B2

Apparatus include a test cell body having a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, a cavity extending between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface, and a first textured wetted plate and a second textured wetted plate disposed within the cavity. A fluid flow gap is defined between the first textured wetted plate and the second textured wetted plate. An illuminator is disposed between the second textured wetted plate and the second exterior surface, and a viewing window formed within the first exterior surface. The first textured wetted plate and the second textured wetted plate may be transparent.
US09733190B2

A system and method for determining a remaining processing capacity of a scrubber having a flow path and a processing material disposed along the flow path. A device may comprise a plurality of optical sensors disposed within the processing material and arranged along the flow path, a light source, and a processor for determining the capacity according to signals received from the optical sensor. The device may be used to illuminate processing material adjacent to each optical sensor using the light source, measure a light value reflected by the processing material at each optical sensor, and determine the remaining processing capacity of the scrubber, using the processor, based on the measured light value. Devices may comprise a memory, such as a non-volatile memory to allow multiple uses of a scrubber without reloading with fresh processing material.
US09733189B2

The invention relates to a smoke analysis characterization cell employing optical spectroscopy, which comprises: a reaction chamber, an inlet orifice for injecting smoke into the reaction chamber; an outlet orifice for discharging the smoke from the reaction chamber; and an analysis window for the entry of a laser beam intended to form the plasma inside the reaction chamber, which cell is characterized in that the system further includes a blower for blowing an inert gas close to the analysis window; and a shielding gas injector for the shielded injection of the smoke into the reaction chamber, the shielding being provided by a jet of inert gas around the smoke.
US09733188B2

Apparatus for enhancing on-chip fluorescence detection. For example, an apparatus comprises a microfluidic channel, an excitation signal enhancing structure formed on a first side of the microfluidic channel and a photodetector structure formed on a second side of the microfluidic channel. For example, the excitation signal enhancing structure enhances an excitation signal and the enhanced excitation signal excites one or more samples in the microfluidic channel to emit signals at a fluorescence wavelength at a higher rate.
US09733171B2

Disclosed herein is a acoustic concentration of particles in a fluid flow that includes a substantially acoustically transparent membrane and a vibration generator that define a fluid flow path therebetween. The fluid flow path is in fluid communication with a fluid source and a fluid outlet and the vibration generator is disposed adjacent the fluid flow path and is capable of producing an acoustic field in the fluid flow path. The acoustic field produces at least one pressure minima in the fluid flow path at a predetermined location within the fluid flow path and forces predetermined particles in the fluid flow path to the at least one pressure minima.
US09733168B2

The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.
US09733164B2

A system for creating a substantially planar face in a substrate, the system including directing one or more beams at a first surface of a substrate to remove material from a first location, the beam being offset from a normal to the first surface by a curtaining angle; sweeping the one or more beams in a plane that is perpendicular to the first surface to mill one or more initial cuts, the initial cuts exposing a second surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first surface; rotating the substrate about an axis other than an axis normal to the first beam or parallel to the first beam; directing the first beam at the second surface to remove additional material from the substrate without changing the curtaining angle; and scanning the one or more beams in across the second surface to mill one or more finishing cuts.
US09733159B1

A system for on-stream sampling of pressurized process gas such as natural gas or the like, including pressurized process gas having liquid entrained therein, or otherwise referenced as “wet”. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a system for obtaining an accurate sample of process gas, as well as providing an apparatus for obtaining same.
US09733156B2

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to sample platforms that are configured to permit electrical coupling between a sample support and electrical ground. In some examples, a sample platform configured to receive a sample support effective to retain a sample for direct sample analysis and comprising an aperture for receiving at least one electrical coupler configured to engage the sample support and provide electrical coupling between the sample support and ground is described.
US09733151B2

An acceleration device includes an actuator configured to displace a mass in a reciprocating motion at a desired frequency, a mount configured to hold a device, such as an accelerometer device, and at least one spring connecting the mount to the mass. The actuator is used to apply a force to achieve resonance. The actuator may comprise a voice coil motor, wherein the voice coil motor includes a permanent magnet and an armature and wherein said armature comprises part of said mass. The actuator applies a periodic force to the mass. The periodic force may be a sinusoidal force. Preferably, the applied force is aligned with a resulting velocity of the mass. The mount may include a test socket to which the device is electrically connected. The spring may comprises one or more flexure elements. The acceleration device may be used with a handler device to connect and disconnect the device to and from the mount. Optionally, the handler device includes an environmental chamber surrounding the mount.
US09733149B2

The invention relates to a method for determining and/or monitoring the air tightness of an enclosed room (2) which is equipped with an oxygen reducing system (1) and in the atmosphere of which at least one oxygen content that can preferably be determined in advance and is reduced in comparison to the normal surrounding air can be set and maintained in order to prevent and/or extinguish fires by introducing an oxygen-displacing gas. The oxygen reducing system (1) has a compressor system (4; 4.1, 4.2) for compressing an initial gas mixture and a gas separation system (3; 3.1, 3.2) downstream of the compressor system (4; 4.1, 4.2) for separating at least one part of the oxygen contained in the initial gas mixture and for providing a nitrogen-enriched gas which is supplied to the enclosed room (2). The differential pressure set in the room (2) is ascertained and compared to a corresponding reference value, whereby information regarding the air tightness of the room (2) is provided.
US09733142B2

When a main body of a sensor chip (1) is in a grounded state, a shield layer (71) constituting a shield electrode formed on a circuit layer (72) is grounded through a resistor (46).
US09733137B2

The structure for detecting tooth-skipping of the speed reducer of the rotary driver is reduced in weight and size. In the rotary driver the occurrence of tooth-skipping is detected based on the difference in outputs from the encoders located at the input side (the side of the motor) and at the output side (the side of the load), which is opposite the input side in relation to the speed reducer. The rotary driver comprises a motor, a speed reducer located between the motor and a load to reduce the rotary speed of a rotary shaft at the side of the motor, to thereby transmit the reduced rotary speed to a rotary shaft at the side of the load, a first encoder for detecting a rotation of the rotary shaft at the side of the motor, a second encoder for detecting a rotation of the rotary shaft at the side of the load, a section for detecting any difference between a first detected value that is obtained by dividing an output of the first encoder by a rate for reducing the speed by the speed reducer and a second detected value that is obtained from an output of the second encoder, and a section for detecting tooth-skipping that detects tooth-skipping of the speed reducer based on the difference.
US09733136B2

A textile pressure sensor for the capacitive measuring of a pressure distribution of objects of any shape, in particular body parts, on a surface is proposed, having a first structure (30a) which is conductive at least in regions and a second structure (30b) which is conductive at least in regions, wherein the first and the second structure which are conductive at least in regions are separated from each other by a dielectric intermediate element (48), and wherein conductive regions of the first structure (30a) form capacitors with opposite conductive regions of the second structure (30b). The textile pressure sensor is distinguished in that the first and/or the second structure (30a, 30b) which is conductive at least in regions is designed as a knitted fabric.
US09733132B2

An in-mold transfer film includes a release layer, a scent-emitting hard layer, a color-changing print layer and an adhesive layer formed sequentially in one direction on one side of a base layer, wherein the scent-emitting hard layer includes aromatic microcapsules, and the color-changing print layer changes its color according to the temperature. An method for manufacturing an in-mold transfer film includes the following steps: forming a release layer on one side of a base layer; forming a scent-emitting hard layer on an upper surface of the release layer; forming a print primer layer on an upper surface of the scent-emitting hard layer; forming a color-changing print layer formed on an upper surface of the print primer layer; forming an adhesive primer layer on an upper surface of the color-changing print layer; and forming an adhesive layer on an upper surface of the adhesive primer layer.
US09733131B2

A cooled thermocouple arrangement (1) including a thermocouple (2) comprising two wires (3,4) joined at a first sensing end (5) to define a hot thermocouple function. At least a portion of the wires (3,4) are in thermal communication with a cooling arrangement, and the cooling arrangement has an inlet (14) for coolant and an outlet (15) for coolant. The thermocouple probe arrangement (1) includes a first inlet temperature sensor (21) for determining the temperature of the coolant as it enters the cooling arrangement, and a flow rate sensor (20) for determining the flow rate of coolant passing through the cooling arrangement. The thermocouple probe arrangement (1) includes connectors for connecting the outputs from the thermocouple (2), first inlet temperature sensor (21) and the flow rate sensor (20) to a correction data processor (23) whereby the data processor can correct the temperature sensed by the thermocouple to take account of the effect of the cooling arrangement. The pair of thermocouple wires (3,4) are arranged inside a sheath or casing, and a cooling jacket (12) is provided around the thermocouple probe. The cooling jacket (12) includes a pair of concentric tubes (16,17) defining a return coolant circuit from the end of the probe proximal the connectors (8), to a portion of the probe distal from the connectors, and then back to the proximal end (8) of the probe, and the portion of the thermocouple probe containing the sensing end (5) of the thermocouple projects from the distal end of the cooling jacket (12).
US09733118B2

A handheld scale for weighing luggage having a body housing a power source, a processor, and a display, a luggage engagement member rotatably coupled to the body and moveable between a first position and a second position in which the luggage engagement member presents a surface from which a piece of luggage can be supported, a load sensor, and a switch activated by the luggage engagement member, the switch being configured such that when the luggage engagement member is in the second position, the power source is operatively coupled to the display, and the processor is configured to receive, from the load sensor, a signal proportional to a force applied to the surface relative to the body, and to provide, via the display, an indication of the force; and when the luggage engagement member is in the first position, the power source is operatively decoupled from at least the display.
US09733112B2

The invention relates to a method of operating an ultrasonic flow meter by digitally sampling received signals. Acoustic wave packets are transmitted through a measuring distance in opposite directions, and the received signals are digitized at a sampling frequency being below the Nyquist-limit of two times the signal frequency of the wave packet to generate digitized under-sampled signals 31. From the digitized under-sampled signals, the difference in propagation time along the measuring distance is determined.
US09733104B2

One embodiment describes a utility metering system that includes metering infrastructure that facilitates data communication within the utility metering system in accordance with an expected metering platform, and a utility meter communicatively coupled to the metering infrastructure. The utility meter operates in a native mode when a native metering platform is compatible with the expected metering platform, in which the utility meter operates in a first manner in accordance with the native metering platform. The utility meter operates in an emulation mode when the native metering platform is not compatible with the expected metering platform and an emulation metering platform is compatible with the expected metering platform, in which the utility meter operates in a second manner in accordance with the emulation metering.
US09733099B2

The present disclosure provides an electronic device and operating method of the electronic device reflecting real traffic situation more precisely, by navigating a path in consideration of both real-time traffic information and statistical traffic information.
US09733098B2

A vehicle information providing device provides route information to vehicles. The vehicle information providing device has a history information accumulation unit that sequentially acquires at least one of driving location information, power consumption information and charging location information from vehicle-mounted devices of a plurality of vehicle, and stores as driving history information. A presentation route is determined by extracting the stored driving history information. The stored driving history information is referenced to determine a route travelled from the departure-point range to the target-point range, from among the routes travelled by the vehicle as the presentation route. Also, the vehicle information providing device alters the search conditions and the search is performed again, when there are no routes traveling from the departure location range to the destination range within a predetermined range.
US09733093B2

Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a potentially hazardous condition exists. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken relating to the hazardous condition. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching the location where the potentially hazardous condition exists.
US09733082B2

The invention provides a tilt detecting system comprising, a surveying instrument having a distance measuring function and a line laser projecting unit installed as horizontally rotatable for projecting a vertical line laser, and a photodetection device having at least two photodetection units provided at a known interval, a target with a retro-reflectivity and an arithmetic unit, wherein the line laser projecting unit is rotated, each of the photodetection units are made to scan the line laser and the arithmetic unit detects a tilting angle of the photodetection device based on a deviation between a photodetection time moment of each photodetection unit and the distance measurement result of the target of the surveying instrument.
US09733077B2

The present invention relates to a leveling apparatus, methods of using the leveling apparatus, and kits that include the leveling apparatus. The leveling apparatus is useful in various applications, including, without limitation, those applications that involve positioning a planar object (e.g., a wall stencil) against a substantially vertical surface (e.g., a wall) at a desired angle relative to horizontal (e.g., relative to the floor or ceiling).
US09733074B2

A method for analysing at least one fuel rod comprising a stack of nuclear fuel, a rod comprising packed zones completely filled with fuel and intermediate zones partially full of fuel, comprises: acquiring a count profile associated with a non-migrating isotope, a profile being made up of spectrometry measurements taken along the rod for this isotope; determining a set of at least one indicator K_i that makes it possible to quantify the reduction in material at an intermediate zone of index i, the said indicator being deduced from the count profile; detecting the change in geometry by comparing the set of at least one indicator K_i against a set of at least one reference value RK indicative of the initial geometry of the nuclear fuel stack.
US09733070B2

Provided is a shape measuring apparatus that is capable of suppressing adverse effects on measurement accuracy. A probe is provided with an illumination optical system that irradiates an object with light and an image capturing device that detects light reflected by the object. A rotation mechanism that rotates the probe is disposed at a position distanced from a rotation axis line. Attitude of the probe) relative to the object can be changed in accordance with the rotation of the probe. Signals detected by the image capturing device are calculated by a shape information acquisition unit.
US09733068B2

In an optical position measuring device for detecting the relative position of a first measuring standard and a second measuring standard, movable relative to each other along at least one measuring direction, at a splitting grating, a beam bundle emitted by a light source is split up into at least two partial beam bundles. When passing through scanning beam paths, the partial beam bundles undergo different polarization-optical effects. After the differently polarized partial beam bundles are recombined at a combination grating, a plurality of phase-displaced, displacement-dependent scanning signals is able to be generated from the resulting beam bundle. No polarization-optical components are arranged in the scanning beam paths of the partial beam bundles between the splitting and recombination. To generate the different polarization-optical effects on the partial beam bundles, a conically incident illumination beam bundle impinges upon the splitting grating, the incident illumination beam bundle extending in a plane perpendicular to the measuring direction at an angle other than 0°, the plane of incidence being defined by the grating normal to the splitting grating and the direction of incidence of the illumination beam bundle. The scanning beam paths of the partial beam bundles are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to the plane of incidence between the splitting and recombination.
US09733067B2

A detection apparatus includes four sets of transmitter and receiver wherein the transmitters are on a first sliding member of a frame and the receivers are on a second sliding member of the frame; and drives for moving the first and second sliding members back and forth. During the movements of the first and second sliding members, each transmitter emits laser beam toward the receiver of the same set by passing through a space above a photoresist-coated optical glass by 100 μm, no signal is generated at the receiver if the laser beam is not blocked, and a signal is generated at the receiver if the laser beam is blocked by at least one of a plurality of particles on the photoresist-coated optical glass.
US09733060B2

A method of finding a feature of an object using an analogue probe mounted on a machine tool. The method includes the analogue probe and/or object following a course of motion which causes the analogue probe's surface sensing region to traverse across the feature to be found a plurality of times whilst approaching the feature over successive traverses so as to ultimately arrive in a position sensing relationship with the feature so as to collect scanned measurement data about the feature along at least part of a traverse.
US09733048B2

A shooting training and game system with virtual targets is revealed. The system includes a main controller, a projection module, a lens module, and a shooting tool. The shooting tool can be a real gun or a laser gun. By hardware and software of the main controller, the projection module projects a light beam to a screen therefront to form a target image area with at least one static or dynamic virtual target. Then the lens module is aligned to the target image area for detecting and obtaining relative positions and coordinates of each shot formed on the target image area by the shooting tool. Thereby an error of each shot is calculated for evaluation of shooting accuracy. The shooting training and game system is more interesting, optional and used more efficiently.
US09733042B2

A paintball loader is provided having a body split vertically along a length of the body into two side portions, wherein the side portions are attached by a hinge along an upper portion of the paintball loader body.
US09733041B2

A trigger mechanism for use in a crossbow having a bowstring, the trigger mechanism comprising a housing, a trigger lever at least partially received in the housing and pivotally mounted thereto, a sliding block comprising a recess formed in a first surface, and a bowstring catch pivotally mounted in the housing. The bowstring catch has a first end configured to retain the bowstring in the housing when the crossbow is in a cocked position, and a second end that is configured to engage with the trigger lever. The sliding block is moveable between a safety on first position that prevents the trigger lever from rotating, a safety off second position where the trigger lever may be rotated, and a disarm position where a second arm of the trigger lever is partially received in the sliding block recess and a first arm of the trigger lever disengages from the bowstring catch.
US09733040B2

A stabilizer comprises at least two tubes, a first end cap comprising a fastening member formed on a proximal end of one of the at least two tubes wherein the end cap is formed to fixedly engage with a bow, a compression fitting for rigidly fixing the at least two tubes together, and a second end cap comprising a fastening member formed on a distal end of one of the at least two tubes wherein the second end cap is formed to fixedly engage with at least one weight.
US09733039B2

Debris control apparatus for a rocket propelled grenade launcher including a plug configured to be inserted into an opening at a rear end of a tube assembly of the rocket propelled grenade launcher, the plug forming an aperture at about the center thereof. A front cover configured to be coupled with a front end of the rocket propelled grenade launcher and configured to cover an inlet, at the front end, that receives a rocket propelled grenade. The front cover is configured to provide cross-hairs and the aperture cooperating to provide, when a target is provided down range at a predetermined distance, a bore sight with the cross-hairs and the front cover and plug cooperatively, when installed, seal the rocket propelled grenade launcher assists in preventing ingress of debris.
US09733034B1

A trigger assembly improved, having a trigger assembly with first and second shroud side edges that define an angled face. The angled face tapers and is sufficiently wide to partially cover a trigger spring to reduce debris accumulation thereon. First and second housing sidewalls are countersunk and have at least one debris hole. A disconnector assembly has first and second disconnector side faces that define a spring well to house a disconnector spring. The disconnector assembly further has a disconnector shroud and disconnector shroud top face that are sufficiently wide to cover the spring well and the disconnector spring. A hammer assembly has first and second hammer spring mounts to secure a hammer spring. First, second, third and fourth hammer spring shrouds are sufficiently wide to partially cover the hammer spring. The hammer assembly further has first and second debris bevels that extend to first and second hammer sidewalls respectively.
US09733033B1

A trigger lock that can be mounted to the trigger guard of a handheld firearm. The trigger lock has a cover assembly displaceably mounted to a lock housing assembly. The cover assembly is displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A mount adapter is removeably mated to a housing body within the lock housing assembly. The removeable mount adapter has a mount surface shaped to correspond with the outer surface of the trigger guard, allowing the trigger lock to be used on various makes and models of firearms. The trigger lock includes a locking means which in one embodiment has a lock rotor with a camming surface to displace one or more locking members into the cover assembly.
US09733031B1

Disclosed herein is an example including a firing mechanism for a firearm including a receiver having a cavity therein configured to accept a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism comprising a bolt guide rail fixed to the inner surface of the cavity of the receiver. The firing mechanism also comprises a bolt sliding along a longitudinal axis on the bolt guide rail. Also disclosed is a change handle rotatably mounted to the bolt so as to rotate relative thereto about a vertical axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The charge handle may be mounted to the bolt so as to longitudinally reposition therewith. The charge handle having a surface defining a cut therein aligned with a slot in the bolt when the bolt is in a rearward position; and wherein the surface defining a cut in the charge handle is not aligned with the slot in the bolt when the bolt is in a forward position.
US09733030B2

A modular charging handle assembly that includes a charging handle body that extends between a bolt engagement end and a pull end. The charging handle body is oriented along a longitudinal axis. The charging handle assembly also includes a base disposed at the pull end of the charging handle body and operatively connected thereto. The base includes a pair of mounting guides set on either side of the longitudinal axis to provide thereby a modular structure. The charging handle assembly also includes a pair of pull grips mateably and releasably secured to the pair of mounting guides to provide ambidextrous operating means.
US09733029B2

A cooling system for a vehicle may include a cooling water temperature sensor, a cooling circulation fluid passage including first, second and third fluid passages, wherein the cooling water exhausted from the engine may be branched into the first fluid passage provided with a heater core, the second fluid passage provided with a radiator, and the third fluid passage provided with an exhaust heat recovery apparatus, a fluid flow adjusting valve provided on a point at which the cooling water passing through the cooling water temperature sensor may be branched into the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage to adjust a flow of the cooling water, and a controlling part controlling the first fluid passage to the third fluid passage to be selectively opened or closed by operating the fluid flow adjusting valve depending on the temperature of the cooling water, in a heating mode and a non-heating mode.
US09733028B2

A valve includes an outer structure. The valve includes a hollow shaft that includes holes formed therein, the shaft disposed within the outer structure and translatable from a first position to a second position. A memory metal alloy (MMA) spring is coupled to the shaft and the outer structure, the MMA spring expanding and moving the shaft from the first position to the second position in response to a temperature of a fluid. A valve head is coupled to the shaft and adapted to be biased within the outer structure, the valve head closing a bypass inlet in the first position and allowing fluid to enter the bypass inlet in the second position, and transferring fluid from the bypass inlet into the hollow shaft so that the fluid can exit the valve via an outlet. A pressure relief mechanism may be included.
US09733027B2

Negative-stiffness-producing mechanisms can be incorporated with structural devices that are used on spacecraft that provide thermal coupling between a vibrating source and a vibration-sensitive object. Negative-stiffness-producing mechanisms can be associated with a flexible conductive link (FCL) or “thermal strap” or “cold strap” to reduce the positive stiffness of the FCL. The negative-stiffness-producing mechanisms can be loaded so as to create negative stiffness that will reduce or negate the natural positive stiffness inherent with the FCL. The FCL will still be able to provide maximum thermal conductance while achieving low or near-zero stiffness to maximize structural decoupling.
US09733025B2

A flat heat transfer tube is used for a cross fin tube type heat exchanger including the flat heat transfer tube having a bending portion and a plurality of holes extending in a direction parallel with an axis direction of the flat heat transfer tube, and a plurality of plate fins bonded by welding to the flat heat transfer tube, wherein an interval between an outer surface of the flat heat transfer tube and an inner surface of the hole of a portion which is curved with a small curvature during bending is larger than an interval between an outer surface of the flat heat transfer tube and an inner surface of the hole of a portion which is curved with a large curvature during bending in a cross section of a portion of the flat heat transfer tube which corresponds to the bending portion before bending.
US09733017B2

Described herein is a crucible with a rod fused thereon to optimize pouring of molten material, and method of using the same. The crucible has a body configured for receipt of an amorphous alloy material in a vertical direction, and the rod extends in a horizontal direction from the body. The body of the crucible and the rod are formed from silica or quartz. The rod may be fused to the body of the crucible and provided off a center axis so that pouring molten material is improved when the crucible is rotated.
US09733013B2

A compressed air stream is cooled in an exchanger to form a compressed cooled air stream. The stream is then cryogenically compressed in a first compressor to form a first pressurized gas stream. The first pressurized gas stream is further cooled in the exchanger, cryogenically compressed in a second compressor, and then it is cooled and partially liquefied. The cooled and partially liquefied product is then fed to a system of distillation columns. A liquid product is removed from the system of distillation columns. This product is then pressurized, vaporized and warmed in the exchanger to yield pressurized gaseous product.
US09733008B2

Air flow designs for controlling the temperature in a temperature controlled compartment in a refrigerator are disclosed. One configuration includes a refrigerator with a cabinet having a freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator may be configured with a first air return pathway between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment for returning relatively warm air from the refrigerator compartment to the freezer compartment and a second air return pathway between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. A fan may be associated with the first or second air return pathway, that when activated the first or second air return pathway acts as an air supply pathway to supply cold air from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment.
US09733000B2

A refrigeration apparatus includes a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a receiver, a utilization-side heat exchange, a receiver degassing pipe interconnecting an upper portion of the receiver and a suction side of the compressor, and a receiver liquid level detection pipe connected to the receiver. The receiver liquid level detection pipe detects whether or not liquid level in the receiver has reached a predetermined position on a lower side of a position where the receiver degassing pipe is connected. The receiver liquid level detection pipe merges with the receiver degassing pipe via a capillary tube. The receiver degassing pipe has a refrigerant heater to heat refrigerant flowing through the receiver degassing pipe. Whether or not the liquid level in the receiver has reached the predetermined position is detected using a temperature of refrigerant flowing though the receiver degassing pipe.
US09732998B2

An HVAC system, including a reversing valve including a first port, a second port, and a third port, wherein the reversing valve may be placed into a first position in which the first port is operably coupled to the second port for the flow of refrigerant therebetween, and a second position in which the second port is operably coupled to the third port for the flow of refrigerant therebetween, a first HVAC component operably coupled to the first port, a second HVAC component operably coupled to the second port, and a third HVAC component operably coupled to the third port.
US09732996B2

An evaporator with a cool storage function includes flat refrigerant flow tubes, a cool storage material container disposed in at least one of all air-passing clearances each formed between adjacent refrigerant flow tubes, and an inner fin disposed in the cool storage material container. Each of left and right side walls of the cool storage material container has a contact portion in contact with the inner fin and a noncontact portion not in contact with the inner fin. In an overlap region where the left and right side walls of the cool storage material container overlap with the corresponding refrigerant flow tubes when the container is viewed from the left side or right side thereof, the area of the contact portion of each of the left and right side walls is greater than the area of the noncontact portion of each of the left and right side walls.
US09732995B2

A method for cooling or heating a building is provided. An air flow can be created in an air duct and the air flow can be cooled or heated by an air conditioning system or furnace. The cooled or heated air flow can then pass through a heat exchanger connected to a radiant heating loop running through a floor or slab with a liquid circulating through them. When the airflow is being cooled or heated by the air conditioning system or furnace, the air flow will alter the temperature of the liquid circulating through the heat exchanger herefore the temperature of the slab. When the temperature of the slab varies from the temperature of the building, liquid that has been circulated through the radiant heating loop can be used to alter the temperature of the air flow passing through the heat exchanger.
US09732992B2

An air-conditioning apparatus that can prevent freezing of a heat transfer medium even when using a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture. The air-conditioning apparatus is designed such that when a heat exchanger serves as a cooler that cools a heat transfer medium, it controls a heat medium passage reversing device. This is so that, when a heat transfer medium flowing through a heat medium flow passage will not be frozen, a refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant flow passage and the heat transfer medium flowing through the heat medium flow passage are in counter flow. It is also to control the heat medium passage reversing device so that, when there is a possibility of freezing the heat transfer medium flowing through the heat medium flow passage, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow passage and the heat transfer medium flowing through the heat medium flow passage are in parallel flow.
US09732985B2

A roof comprises a solar radiation heat recovery device that is invisible from the outside. The roof is made up of supports receiving a heat transfer network which has a longitudinal groove designed to receive the male profile of the protrusion of the heat recovery modules. The supports comprise arms which exert a lateral pressure on the flexible network. The resilient deformation of the network permits the sliding thereof between the arms to the clamped position. The groove of the network closes around the protrusion, immobilizing the module and holding the assembly in the support fixed to the roof frame. The roof is particularly intended to recover solar radiation heat in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, economical, simple and easy to install.
US09732980B2

An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component may include a rotatable output shaft having a full range of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft, and a housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component. The HVAC actuator may include a range adjustment lever manipulatable from the front side of the housing that allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to a reduced range that is a subset of the full range. In some instances, the range adjustment lever allows the user to select between two or more predetermined reduced ranges. The two or more predetermined reduced ranges may each include the first end position but have a different second stop position, or include the second end position but have a different first stop position.
US09732976B2

Systems and methods for providing constant airflow based on direct motor power control and advanced motor system modeling are described. A power and speed of a motor may be determined based on static pressure in the system. A target airflow rate for the system may be obtained, and a target motor power that yields the target airflow rate in the system may be determined based on the determined speed of the motor and the obtained target airflow rate for the system. A determination of whether the determined motor power is approximately equal to the target motor power may be made, and the power of the motor may be adjusted when the motor power is not approximately equal to the target motor power.
US09732975B2

There is provided an air-conditioning system in which at least one or some of a plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses are each controllable such that the indoor temperature is maintained between two set temperatures. All the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses are switched to either one of heating operation and cooling operation on the basis of a temperature difference between the indoor temperature related to an air-conditioning apparatus that is in the first operation mode and a set target temperature and a temperature difference between the indoor temperature related to an air-conditioning apparatuses that is in the second operation mode and an upper temperature limit or a lower temperature limit.
US09732973B2

An air conditioner includes an indoor fan motor driven according to a signal to control the indoor fan motor by a controller, and a controller that resets a reference value of a rated air flow rate according to the pre-set conditions by checking an indoor fan motor driving voltage when an indoor fan motor RPM reaches a reference value of a strong wind mode while the air conditioner operates in strong wind mode. The controller compares the checked indoor fan motor driving voltage with a reference indoor fan motor driving voltage of the rated air flow rate, and resets the reference value when the checked indoor fan motor driving voltage is different from the reference indoor fan motor driving voltage of the rated air flow rate.
US09732972B2

A processor determines a target value of a temperature of a processing unit included in the information processing system on the basis of the temperature of the processing unit when first power consumption indicates a relatively low power consumption by referring to correlation information that indicates a change in the first power consumption, which is a total sum of second power consumption of the processing unit and third power consumption of an air-conditioning machine included in the information processing system, with respect to a change in the temperature of the processing unit. Then, the processor outputs a control signal for controlling the air-conditioning machine on the basis of the target value.
US09732967B2

A system for using solar and wind energy for electricity generation and thermal regulation. The system may include a high altitude wind turbine, which may generate electric power and conduct cold to the ground and the rest of the system. The cold may be conducted to a crystallization tank, which may also include an input for heat, for example from solar energy. Cold and heat from the crystallization tank may then be stored or used to heat or cool one or more buildings. Generated electric power may be used in conjunction with or separately from the heating/cooling system.
US09732962B2

Described herein is a charging system for dust-free fuel feeding, comprising a loading chamber, container, and belt conveyor located in the chamber, wherein the loading chamber is bipartite and its lower part, charging is a rectangular body, closed in the lower part by the arched profiled surface of the bottom, located at an angle in respect to the walls of chamber, connected in the lower part with the chamber of the belt conveyor, wherein the brackets are placed in the upper part of the chamber, fastened horizontally to the wall of the charging chamber, in the lower part of the chamber there is an inlet of suction port of turbine, and the loading chamber has cylindrical shape, which the top edge has arched outline, forming funnel profile, closed at the inlet by a flexible membrane and the ratchet mechanism is placed on the external surface of the chamber.
US09732952B2

This invention provides low voltage lighting assemblies and lighting systems that are easy to install, and are particularly useful in landscape lighting applications. Electrical connections between all components, including lighting assemblies, switches, power supplies, etc., are simplified through use of connectors. In one embodiment a lighting assembly comprises a circuit card having first and second zones, and a spanning zone that separates the first zone from the second zone by a selected distance. The electrical connectors and other elements are disposed in the first zone, and at least one lighting element such as an LED is disposed in the second zone. Installation of the embodiments requires little or no modification of the structures in which they are installed, since the spanning zone is adapted to span across the structure. The electrical connectors and other elements in the first zone are concealed by the structure, and substantially only the compact, low-profile second zone with the LED is exposed, producing a highly aesthetic result.
US09732950B2

The present invention comprising a base having a base element comprising a mounting surface and at least two edged sides protruding outwards in relation to the mounting surface and where a number of electronic components are mounted at the mounting surface and between the edged sides; a yoke is connected to and rotatable relative to the base and a head is connected to and rotatable relative to the yoke. The head comprises at least one light source generating a light and the base element is formed as one piece molded body.
US09732947B1

A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes an enclosure, a trim, and at least one attachment mechanism. The enclosure can include at least one heat-generating device and an enclosure collar, where the enclosure is made of a first thermally conductive material. The trim can include a trim collar and at least one wall that defines a passage, where the trim collar abuts the enclosure collar, and where the passage has a reflector and a LED is disposed therein. The least one attachment mechanism can removably couple the trim collar to the enclosure collar, where the at least one attachment mechanism includes a back plate that is mechanically coupled to an upper flange and a lower flange, where the upper flange contacts the enclosure collar and the lower flange contacts the trim collar.
US09732945B2

A removable cover for a lampshade having a support frame of a ferromagnetic material. The cover includes a rectangular-shaped sheet of material having top, bottom, first side, and second side edges cooperating to form an inner surface and an outer surface configured to cover the lampshade, and first, second, third, and fourth pluralities of magnets. The first plurality of magnets is at the inner surface and is spaced-apart along the top edge. The second plurality of magnets is at the inner surface and is spaced-apart along the bottom edge. The third plurality of magnets is at the inner surface and is spaced-apart along the first side edge. The fourth plurality of magnets is at the inner surface and is spaced-apart along the second side edge. The pluralities of magnets are configured to be removably secured to the support frame to removably secure the cover to the lampshade.
US09732936B2

A lamp includes an extended planar light source, and an optical element arranged with the light source, wherein the optical element comprises an outer surface having an indented cusp substantially over the light source. A lamp includes an extended planar light source, and an optical element arranged with the light source, wherein the optical element comprises an outer surface having a portion at a peripheral edge comprising a curvature configured to redirect light emitted from the light source by total internal reflection.
US09732929B2

The invention relates to a light module for a vehicle headlamp, having at least one semiconductor light source and having at least one mounting plate. The semiconductor light source is accommodated on a receiving side of the mounting plate. The mounting plate is disposed on the heat sink with a cooling side lying opposite the receiving side, At least one semiconductor light source can be cooled. The heat sink has air guidance grooves on its side bordering the cooling side of the mounting plate, by means of which air guidance channels are formed over the cooling side of the mounting plate.
US09732928B2

A vehicle lighting unit can increase the light emission region of a light guiding lens to improve the aesthetic feature as the lighting unit when emitting light. The vehicle lighting unit can include an LED serving as a light source and a light guiding lens configured to guide the light from the light emitting element while totally reflect the light which are housed within a lighting chamber defined by a housing and an outer lens that can cover an opening of the housing. The light guiding lens has an aesthetic portion having a rear surface in part of which cuts are formed to cause the light to exit thereby. The aesthetic portion can further have a cut formed in a front surface where no cut is formed in the rear surface thereof.
US09732925B2

Headlight lens for a vehicle headlight having a monolithic body of transparent material, the monolithic body including at least one light entry face, a light passage section and at least one optically operative light exit face.
US09732921B2

The multiple functions wall cover plate has built-in USB and light means connect by prong means to existing wall inner-kit's receptacle to get AC power source to multiple function wall cover's circuit(s) to drive each circuit for predetermined functions. The said cover plate fasten by screw, prong or false prong to hold on inner-kit's holder and overlay at least one of the inner receptacle to offer people safety and quickly USB charger with desire light illumination and add extra functions.
US09732919B2

A multifunctional module-type light includes a light-emitting module and a supporting assembly. The light-emitting module includes at least one LED module, and a plurality of the LED modules is connected via a connecting assembly. The supporting assembly includes a supporting frame and a positioning assembly. The supporting frame is installed on the light-emitting module in the manner that the angle thereof is adjustable via the positioning assembly, and the supporting frame has installation feet for connecting the light-emitting module and a supporting plate for connecting the two installation feet. The supporting plate has a flat surface or an inclined surface, and the light-emitting module is secured on a surface via the supporting plate. Such multifunctional module-type light uses a modularized designed unit structure, which breaks the power constraints that a conventional lamp has only a single-housing.
US09732913B2

The present invention relates to a filament (100) comprising a light transmissive tubular member (110), a light emitting assembly (106) arranged within the tubular member (110), a wavelength converter (112) arranged at a surface of the tubular member (110) and configured to convert light from a first wavelength range to a second wavelength range. The light emitting assembly (106) comprises a plurality of solid state light sources (102) and interconnecting elements (104) being arranged in an alternating manner to form a string (106) of connected solid state light sources (102) and interconnecting elements (104). The interconnecting elements are portions of a lead frame (104) and at least a part of the plurality of solid state light sources (102) are arranged on opposite sides of the lead frame (104) in an alternating manner. The inventive filament (100) is simple, easy and cheap to manufacture, thus providing a good replacement and approximation for an incandescent wire.
US09732909B2

A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; and a control unit. The control unit performs, before processing the substrate to be processed, a processing gas supply control and an additional gas supply control by using the processing gas supply unit and the additional gas supply unit, respectively, wherein the additional gas supply control includes a control that supplies the additional gas at an initial flow rate greater than a set flow rate and then at the set flow rate after a lapse of a period of time.
US09732906B2

Hydrogen energy systems for obtaining hydrogen gas from a solid storage medium using controlled lasers. Also disclosed are systems for charging/recharging magnesium with hydrogen to obtain magnesium hydride. Other relatively safe systems assisting storage, transport and use (as in vehicles) of such solid storage mediums are disclosed.
US09732904B1

A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member and a first attachment head coupled to the first hanger bar member by a first coupling segment that is horizontally offset from the first hanger bar member. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member and a second attachment head coupled to the second hanger bar member by a second coupling segment. The first hanger bar member and the second hanger bar member are designed to interlock with each other. An end portion of the first hanger bar member is designed to extend past the second attachment head, and an end portion of the second hanger bar member is designed to extend past the first attachment head through a gap that is between the first hanger bar member and first attachment head.
US09732901B2

A video arm assembly includes a base attachable to a surface, a knuckle rotatably engaging the base, and an arm connected to the knuckle. A friction clutch is connected to the base. A one-way bearing engages the friction clutch and the knuckle, providing rotation of the knuckle with respect to the base in a first direction only. The friction clutch engages the one-way bearing such that the knuckle rotates with respect to the base in a second direction opposite the first direction, the one-way bearing rotating with the knuckle in the second direction, and the arm rotating with the knuckle in the first and second directions.
US09732900B2

A centering device for determining a position of a vehicle includes free roller parts configured to respectively seat left and right vehicle wheels of the vehicle. A driving body pushes the vehicle wheels when the vehicle is seated on the free roller parts. The centering device may be simply and rapidly installed on a floor with a minimal height. Thus, complicated construction is avoided. The centering device also has a plurality of sensors and a sensor cleaner on a first plate and a second plate. The first and second plates are driven at the same time, in opposite directions to center the vehicle.
US09732892B2

A quick connect coupling includes a male coupling and a female coupling. A stop may be associated with the male coupling and configured to prevent the male coupling from being inserted into a port of the female coupling beyond a predetermined depth. The stop may be axially slidable between a first position and a second position. The first position may be located between a leading edge of the male coupling and the second position. The stop may be biased towards the first position so that the stop substantially resets to the first position.
US09732889B2

A method of manufacturing at least one flange by first rotating a tubular element and two sheet elements with respect to one another until a radially enlarged portion and adjacent hub section have been formed on the tubular element. The sheet element is impregnated by a thermosetting resin. When the resin has cured, the radially enlarged portion is cut along a cut line, thereby also dividing the tubular element in two parts and generating at least a first flange having a first flange section and a first hub section. Optionally, a second flange having a second flange section and a second hub section, is generated. In a preferred embodiment, the cut line is arranged in the middle of the radially enlarged portion, whereby two similar flanges are generated.
US09732887B2

A twist-locking fitting for securing a strut to a rod includes first and second fitting pieces. Each fitting piece includes a half-nut portion having an interior surface defining an axis extending through first and second axial ends of the half-nut portion. Each fitting piece includes an outer flange extending outward from adjacent the first axial end of the half-nut portion and an inner flange extending outward from adjacent the second axial end of the half-nut portion. The inner flange is spaced axially apart from the outer flange to define a clearance gap. The fitting pieces are positionable on the strut in an unsecured position in which the fitting pieces are movable relative to one another. The fitting pieces are rotatable relative to the strut to move from the unsecured position to a secured position, in which the fitting pieces are fixed relative to one another on the strut.
US09732884B1

Improvements for tube separation assemblies currently used in oil field applications include tube assemblies for maintaining tube separation using a fastening system comprising preferably non-metallic tube spacers and a preferably locking mechanism on the fastening system. The present invention allows all parts of the system to be more easily visually inspected than prior systems known to the inventor.
US09732879B2

The present disclosure relates to monitoring the condition of fluid extraction components associated with a subsea hydrocarbon drilling and production operation and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides a sensor assembly for monitoring the extraction component which is easily installable and locally powered. The sensor assembly, in one embodiment, is contained on a patch. The assembly comprises a sensor, a power supply, and a communication device, all located on the patch. The patch can be easily coupled to fluid extraction components, such as a valve associated with a blowout preventer stack. The patch can include a coupling material on one side of the patch allowing the patch to adhere to the fluid extraction components. The patch can further include a power generator, such as a piezoelectric generator, thereby allowing for the sensor assembly to be locally powered.
US09732864B2

In one aspect, a pressure regulating valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a sleeve positioned within the housing, and a spool at least partially positioned within the sleeve. The spool includes an outer surface having a shoulder, and the spool is configured to translate within the sleeve between a closed position and an open position. The valve assembly further includes a cap coupled to the sleeve and surrounding at least a portion of the spool, and the cap includes an inner surface with a flange extending therefrom. In the closed position the spool shoulder abuts against the cap flange to define a sealed metering edge. In the open position the spool shoulder is spaced from the cap flange to unseal the metering edge and define a metering window to facilitate fluid flow therethrough to the fluid outlet.
US09732858B2

An example apparatus includes a disc-shaped valve plug having a first metallic sealing surface extending circumferentially about a peripheral edge of the valve plug. The first metallic sealing surface has a first curved profile. The example apparatus further includes a valve seat defining an orifice and having a second metallic sealing surface having a second curved profile that is complementary to the first curved profile so that the first and second metallic sealing surfaces form a metal-to-metal seal when the first and second metallic sealing surfaces are in contact.
US09732857B2

A solenoid actuated valve (10) holds pressure and volume of an accumulator with low leakage and provides low actuation drag during a release stroke for dumping fluid contents of the accumulator at very low current draw. Two elongate valve members (10a, 10b) are assembled to be movable axially relative to one another with a gland or groove (10c) formed in one of the two valve members (10a). An o-ring (12) located within the groove (10c) is in a non-contacting relationship to the other valve member (10b) when in a non-energized state. An energizer ring (14) located within the groove (10c) can reciprocate axially with respect to the o-ring (12). The energizer ring (14) moves axially toward the o-ring (12) in response to fluid pressure against a surface (14a) of the energizer ring (14) opposite from the o-ring (12) to axially compresses the o-ring (12), causing the o-ring (12) to expand radially outwardly into sealing contact with the other valve member (10b).
US09732852B2

A three-piece oil ring for an internal combustion engine may include an expanding element defining at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first upper annular segment may be associated with the first side of the expanding element. A second lower annular segment may be associated with the second side of the expanding element. The first annular segment and the second annular segment may each include a first internal side surface and a second external side surface. A metallic tungsten matrix coating may be disposed on at least one of the expanding element, the first annular segment and the second annular segment via chemical vapor deposition. The coating may contain a tungsten nanocarbide that may include at least one of WC, W2C, W3C and W12C. The coating may include a thickness between 5 μm and 150 μm and a hardness between 1000HV and 3500HV.
US09732849B2

A manual shift transmission is disclosed which includes a shaft, at least one loose wheel carried by the shaft and a gear shift sleeve, which is moveable along the first shaft between a gear position coupling the first loose wheel to the shaft and a neutral position allowing a rotation of the loose wheel against the shaft. A gear shift follower is configured to move the gear shift sleeve along the shaft and acts on the gear shift sleeve. An actuating rod can be shifted in the direction of the shaft for shifting the gear shift follower. The actuating rod carries a clutch body which is adjustable between an active position engaging in a recess of the gear shift follower and a passive position sunk into the first actuating rod.
US09732845B2

A shift range switching device of a vehicle includes a fixing member provided in a vicinity of an external-toothed gear, an electric motor, an eccentric shaft provided on an output shaft, the external-toothed gear rotatably supported by the eccentric shaft, and a ring-shaped double-toothed gear provided on an outer circumference of the external-toothed gear. The shift range switching device includes internal teeth defined on an inner circumference of the double-toothed gear and engaged with external teeth of the external-toothed gear and the external-toothed gear defined on an outer circumference of the double-toothed gear and engaged with an output gear. The shift range switching device includes a restriction portion provided on one of the external-toothed gear and the fixing member and a restricted portion provided on the other of the external-toothed gear and the fixing member and engaged with the restriction portion.
US09732833B2

An electromotive linear drive in the form of a dual drive adjust movably mounted parts of reclining and seating furniture. Two threaded spindles (2, 3) driven by a worm gear and which are arranged one behind the other and flush with one another for displacing a lifting element. Bearings are provided at both ends of each threaded spindle (2, 3). The bearings are designed as roller bearings (4, 5) having an inner ring (6) and an outer ring (7). The aim of the invention is to design an electromotive dual drive in such a way that a short overall length is achieved and that the stability of the structure is increased. Said aim is achieved by arranging an abutment between both roller bearings (4, 5), which accommodate the spindle ends, on which the roller bearings are supported on from both sides.
US09732825B2

A turbine damper assembly, for a torque converter, includes a driven plate and an intermediate plate. The driven plate engages and drives the intermediate plate through elastic drive elements. The driven plate includes an axially extended, circumferentially oriented, driven plate flange that both centers the intermediate plate with respect to the drive plate and also assists in containing the elastic drive elements in circumferential curved cavities during and after assembly of the turbine damper assembly.
US09732820B2

In view of the above, there has been described a load compensator including one or more tension spring assemblies that are contained within a tubular housing when tension from a load is applied to the tension spring assemblies. When the load compensator includes more than one tension spring assembly, the tension spring assemblies are mechanically connected to each other in series and stacked in-line with each other in the housing. In a preferred construction, each of the tension spring assemblies includes elastomeric tension elements mounted between two disks, and the tubular housing includes a tube having threaded ends and caps that screw onto the tube.
US09732817B2

The present disclosure provides an axial engagement-controlled variable damper comprising a rotor assembly coupled to a rotor shaft and disposed about an axis of rotation and a stator, coaxially aligned with the rotor assembly. The axial engagement-controlled variable damper may further comprise a flux sleeve, axially movable relative to the rotor assembly between at least a first position and a second position. The flux sleeve may comprise a circumferential flange portion disposed radially between the rotor assembly and the stator, and may be configured to alter magnetic coupling between the stator and the rotor assembly in response being moved axially. The axial-engagement controlled variable damper may be configured to generate a first drag torque in response to the flux sleeve being in the first position and a second drag torque in response to the flux sleeve being in the second position.
US09732816B2

A rubber-metal sleeve bearing includes an outer sleeve having a first outer edge and a second outer edge in opposing relationship to the first outer edge, when viewed in an axial direction. The first and second outer edges each have at least one section provided with radially inwardly recessed outer edge regions. An inner sleeve is disposed in concentric relation to the outer sleeve, and an intermediate sleeve is disposed concentrically between the outer and inner sleeves and connected to the outer sleeve via a first elastomer layer and to the inner sleeve via a second elastomer layer.
US09732804B2

A disconnect shaft of an integrated drive generator is provided including a body configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The body has a first end, a second opposite end, and a plurality of teeth formed adjacent the first end and configured to engage a complementary portion of an adjacent component. A relief is formed in the body such that a first portion is defined between the relief and the plurality of teeth. The first portion includes a plurality of threads having at least one of a major diameter between about 1.3044 and about 1.3125 inches (3.313-3.334 centimeters), a minor diameter between about 1.2482 and about 1.2547 inches (3.170-3.187 centimeters), a pitch diameter between about 1.2765 and about 1.2800 inches (3.242-3.251 centimeters), and a root radius between about 0.0075 and 0.0090 inches (0.0190-0.0029 centimeters).
US09732802B2

A rotary working component for use in a pump, compressor, blower or the like having an impeller, rotor, fan blade or other similar component includes a metallic insert and a composite structure overmolded on the metallic insert. The metallic insert can include an aperture adapted to mount the rotary working component to a drive shaft and a fluted catenoid or truncated spherical or spheroid outer surface having smooth contours between fluted regions thereof.
US09732800B2

A turbocharger is provided including a housing with a turbine and a compressor disposed in the housing. A central shaft is connected between the turbine and the compressor and is rotatably supported by a first journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the turbine and a second journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the compressor. A spacer is disposed directly between and adjacent to the first journal bearing and the second journal bearing and is neither coupled to or integrally formed with the first journal bearing.
US09732798B2

A grease composition includes a base oil, a thickener and at least one kind of an antioxidant selected from an amine-based antioxidant and a phenol-based antioxidant expressed by the following respective general formulas (1) and 2: The base oil contains a poly-α-olefin and a mineral oil. A mass ratio of poly-α-olefin/mineral oil is 1.25 to 9.
US09732796B2

A sintered metal bearing is formed through sintering of a compact obtained through compression molding of raw-material powder. The sintered metal bearing includes chamfered portions that are respectively formed at least along outer rims of both end surfaces of the sintered metal bearing, and a dynamic pressure generating portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the sintered metal bearing by sizing. An axial dimension of each of the chamfered portions is set larger than a radial dimension of the each of the chamfered portions, and a difference in axial dimension between the chamfered portions on one end side and another end side in an axial direction of the sintered metal bearing is set larger than a difference in radial dimension between the chamfered portions on the one end side and the another end side in the axial direction.
US09732792B2

A component of a rolling-element bearing, such as a bearing inner ring having an inner ring flange, a bearing outer ring having an outer ring flange or a rolling element having an end surface, includes a solid slide layer having a lower coefficient of friction than a material to which the slide layer is attached which slide layer reduces frictional contact between the component and another component against which the slide layer slides during bearing operation.
US09732782B2

A locking washer assembly includes a first locking washer and a second locking washer. The first and second locking washers include a mechanism for engaging an element to be attached by means of a screw joint. The first and second locking washers include a mechanism for engaging each other. The first locking washer includes a central through hole that is larger than a central hole of the second locking washer. An attachment assembly includes a screw intended to be used with the locking washer assembly.
US09732781B2

A connector assembly to fasten two members. The connector assembly includes an elongate fastener with an end for insertion into one of the members and a transverse aperture having at least one countersunk surface with an apex substantially aligned coaxially with the transverse aperture. The connector assembly also includes a grub screw insertable into the other member along a transverse axis substantially at the predetermined spacing from the shaped end. The connector assembly further includes a nipple formed onto one of the grub screw, the nipple being placeable into the transverse aperture for movement down the countersunk surface towards the apex thereof. The fastener moves with respect to the other member and brings the two fastened members closer together. The connector assembly also includes a housing for positioning the grub screw into the transverse aperture of the fastener, the housing having opposing apertures to allow the fastener to pass therethrough.
US09732776B2

A Marman clamp is disclosed. The Marman clamp includes a release mechanism with either pins or tubes formed with a shape memory alloy. The release mechanism opens and closes the clamp depending on the temperature of the pins or tubes. The temperature of the pins or tubes may be based on whether a space vehicle including the clamp is in a direct line of sight of radiation from the sun. Alternatively, a heat source may control the temperature of the pins or tubes. The Marman clamp may also open and close as a result of an independent force applied to the release mechanism.
US09732769B2

A servo-control having at least one movable cylinder that includes a hydraulic directional control valve. The hydraulic valve includes a control shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the control shaft being connected to a distributor slide. The servo-control including a stationary abutment member secured to a cylinder and an input lever situated outside the cylinder. The input lever is connected to the control shaft and includes a stop portion arranged in the abutment member. The servo-control includes movement means for moving the input lever longitudinally, a first abutment surface of the abutment member limiting a travel amplitude of the stop portion when the input lever is in a first position.
US09732766B2

An electric motor-driven compressor includes a housing assembly comprising a motor housing and a compressor housing mounted thereto. The compressor housing contains a centrifugal compressor wheel that is mounted on a shaft of the motor rotor and also defines an air inlet that leads air into the compressor wheel, and a volute that collects the compressed air. Air bearings rotatably support the shaft. Cooling air passages are defined in the housing assembly for supplying cooling air to the air bearings. A diffuser between the exit of the compressor wheel and the volute serves to diffuse the compressed air. The compressor includes a heat shield formed separately from the compressor housing and the motor housing and disposed between them. The heat shield defines one wall of the diffuser and also cooperates with the housing assembly to define part of the cooling air passages for the cooling air supplied to the bearings.
US09732764B2

A device for controlling positioning of variable-geometry equipment of a turbomachine, including a computer, an actuator of variable geometry driven by the computer, and a drive train, the actuator including moving parts including a sensor for measuring its elongation, the drive train being connected at one of its ends to a point of attachment of the moving parts and at another end to a point of attachment of the equipment, the point of attachment moving under action of the actuator along a travel limited by an end stop and the drive train being elastically deformable under the action of the actuator when the point of attachment is against the end stop. An elongation instruction supplied by the computer to the moving parts is defined as a difference with respect to the value of the elongation of the moving parts that corresponds to contact between the point of attachment and the end stop.
US09732761B2

An article of manufacture having a nominal airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in a scalable TABLE 1, wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z are non-dimensional values convertible to dimensional distances by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z by a number, and wherein X and Y are coordinates which, when connected by continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each Z height, the airfoil profile sections at each Z height being joined with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US09732757B2

A thin fan and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The thin fan has a fan frame, a sleeve, a bearing, an impeller, a magnetic element and at least one coil. The fan frame includes a base and a cover connected to the base. The fan frame has an inlet and an outlet. The sleeve is disposed on the base, and the bearing is disposed within the sleeve. The impeller and the magnetic element are disposed on the fan frame and a metal housing, respectively. The coil is disposed opposite the magnetic element. The base has at least one plastic portion and at least one metal portion. The metal portion has at least one non-magnetic metal, and the plastic portion is integrated with the non-magnetic metal by injection molding.
US09732749B2

Embodiments provide a rotary lobe pump for conveying a fluid medium containing solids. Two rotary lobes have rotational axes that are spaced apart from each other a minimum length distance. A housing enclosing the two rotary lobes has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, each with a continuously decreasing convergence and defined lengths.
US09732738B2

A pumping device includes a working chamber and a piston provided to slide in the working chamber so as to vary the useful volume of the chamber during pumping, and anti-rotation elements for the piston. Advantageously, the anti-rotation elements include an index (107) mounted radially with respect to the axis of the piston and the device includes a longitudinal slot (108), the index being provided so as to move in the slot. Advantageously, the index (107) has two approximately parallel planar faces that extend longitudinally.
US09732728B2

A wind turbine assembly comprising a generally cylindrical wind turbine rotor that is supported by a rotor support and operable to rotate about a rotational axis, the rotor comprising a plurality of aerofoil blades with each aerofoil blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction surface, a pressure surface, and an aerofoil chord having a chord length between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the aerofoil blades being in a generally cylindrical arrangement around the rotational axis with the leading edges at a larger radial separation from the rotational axis than the trailing edges, and the chords being angled relative to radii through the rotational axis such that the suction surfaces and pressure surfaces respectively face generally outwardly and inwardly from and to the rotational axis, wherein the minimum separation (S) between the leading edge of a first aerofoil and the suction surface of an adjacent aerofoil is less than the chord length (LC), and wherein the location of the maximum thickness of each aerofoil blade (LTmax) along the chord (LC)) is less than 20% of the chord length (L) from the leading edge.
US09732725B2

An automatic height adjusting paddle wheel comprising a housing, where the housing includes a pair of side portions; a paddle wheel positioned along a shaft within the housing; a pair of hoists attached to shaft on each side of the paddle wheel, where each hoists includes a cable coupled to a top portion of the housing; a means to detect a water level fastened to the cable within the hoists, where the means to detect the water level activates the hoists to lift the shaft as the water level raises and lowers in turn raising and lowering the paddle wheel; and a generator at each end of the shaft, where the generator produces electric power as the paddle wheel rotates within the water.
US09732718B2

Disclosed herein is a diesel ISG vehicle, including an engine ECU controlling a rail pressure of a common rail engine system, in which the engine ECU determines a cold start of the engine based on detected cooling water temperature and detected fuel temperature at the time of engine restarting by idle go of the idle stop & go (ISG) and then restarts the engine by a quick rail pressure control mode in which the pressure of the fuel pumped to a common rail is controlled or restarts the engine by a normal rail pressure control mode in which the flow rate and the pressure of the fuel is controlled, thereby improving the fuel efficiency by the ISG restarting which does not increase a driving torque of a high pressure pump, particularly, reducing a fuel injection quantity by reduction in a loss of accessories such as pump and compressor.
US09732713B2

A fuel system for an engine has a cylinder with an inlet air port, an air box surrounding the inlet air port, and a gaseous fuel injector positioned in the air box and having a nozzle located at the inlet air port. The fuel system also has a gaseous fuel control valve, a fuel supply line fluidly extending from the gaseous fuel control valve to the gaseous fuel injector, a purge valve, and a purge fluid supply line fluidly extending from the purge valve to at least one of the fuel supply line and the gaseous fuel injector. The fuel system also has a return valve and a return line fluidly extending from at least one of the fuel supply line and the gaseous fuel injector.
US09732705B2

A purge vapor system, which includes a fuel tank, a fuel tank isolation valve in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a carbon canister in fluid communication with the fuel tank isolation valve. The purge vapor system also includes a canister vent valve in fluid communication with the carbon canister, an air filter in fluid communication with the canister vent valve, and a latching mechanism for changing the canister vent valve between an open position and a closed position, where the latching mechanism is part of the canister vent valve. The latching mechanism is energized as the latching mechanism changes the canister vent valve between the open position and the closed position, and the latching mechanism is de-energized as the canister vent valve is held in the open position or the closed position.
US09732699B2

A high efficiency, thermodynamically interactive power system incorporating a “thermodynamic battery” operating in the cryogenic range. The “thermodynamic battery” is drawn upon to optimize the efficiency of power generation during times of peak demand and is “recharged” during periods of low demand. The system is ideally suited for (although not limited to) micropowerplants suitable for widely distributed generation of power in or associated with homes and small businesses, reducing transmission loading on the grid and capable of supplying power into the grid during peak load periods. The widely distributed power generation made practical by present inventions also enables distribution of heating and chill service locally on a much larger scale than is possible with large, centralized generation plants. A novel form of gear pump mechanism makes possible inexpensive and effective multi-stage compression and expansion of gaseous working fluid particularly suitable for incorporation into micropowerplants for distributed and localized power generation.
US09732695B2

Methods and systems are presented for adjusting an amount of fuel supplied to an engine via port and direct fuel injectors during transient engine operating conditions where the fuel injection amount is adjusted responsive to the transient engine operating conditions. In one example, a fuel injection amount is adjusted based on a time constant for a filter that is based on a direct fuel injection fuel fraction.
US09732682B2

Systems and methods are provided for operating an internal combustion engine in a two-stroke mode or a four-stroke mode to achieve greater fuel efficiency and minimize emissions. The system comprises a mode-adaptable valve; a valve rocker arm to actuate opening and closing of the mode adaptable valve; a cam follower of a first cam for carrying out a two-stroke mode; a cam follower of a second cam for carrying out a four-stroke mode; and a pin to mechanically couple the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the first cam or the cam follower of the second cam. Coupling the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the first cam enables a two-stroke mode and coupling the valve rocker arm to the cam follower of the second cam enables a four-stroke mode.
US09732681B2

A turbo-generator system generates electricity from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine 1. The electric current generated by the generator 11 (e.g. a switched reluctance machine) is controlled so as to maintain the turbine 3 at a first pre-set rotational speed. The amount of electric current demanded from the generator 11 is limited or reduced if the electrical system 17 cannot accept a greater electric current or if the exhaust gas pressure upstream of the turbine 3 is too great. In such cases, the proportion of the exhaust gas permitted to bypass the turbine 3 is controlled so as to maintain the turbine 3 at a second pre-set rotational speed that is slightly greater than the first. The turbine's preset speeds are chosen to maximize electrical generating efficiency and for turbine safety. The system maximizes the amount of electricity generated, avoids excessive exhaust gas back-pressure on the engine 1, and avoids overloading the electrical system 17.
US09732679B2

An engine that can implement cylinder deactivation (CDA) includes: a plurality of cylinders; a variable valve duration apparatus that is mounted in at least one of the plurality of cylinders and that performs a long duration mode and a short duration mode of an intake valve of a corresponding cylinder; a CDA apparatus that is mounted in at least another one of the plurality of cylinders and that performs a general operation mode and a CDA mode of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of a corresponding cylinder; and a controller that controls operation of the variable valve duration apparatus and the CDA apparatus according to an operation state of an engine, wherein the controller controls the variable valve duration apparatus to operate in a short duration mode, when the CDA apparatus operates in the CDA mode.
US09732672B2

A method of augmenting power output by a gas turbine engine includes channeling fuel into the gas turbine engine at a predetermined fuel flow rate to generate a first power output. Steam is then injected into the gas turbine engine at a first steam flow rate, and a firing temperature bias is determined based at least on the first steam flow rate. The predetermined fuel flow rate is then adjusted based on the determined firing temperature bias such that the gas turbine engine generates a second power output greater than the first power output.
US09732668B2

The invention concerns a discharge valve (17) intended to be fitted in a discharge duct of an apparatus designed to be driven by a fluid, in particular a turbocharger driven by the exhaust gases from an engine. The discharge valve (17) comprises a cavity (83) having a first (85), a second (87) and a third aperture (89), each intended to be connected to a respective duct, the discharge valve (17) also comprising first (91) and second (93) means for closing the first (85) and second (87) apertures, respectively, in order to control communication between the ducts.
US09732664B2

An ignition device with a pre-combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine may have a plurality of cylinders. Each cylinder may define a main combustion chamber. The ignition device may have a first pre-combustion chamber part configured to at least partially accommodate a spark plug. The ignition device may also have a second pre-combustion chamber part defining at least a portion of the pre-combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may include at least one orifice configured to be fluidly connected to the main combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may be detachably mountable to the first pre-combustion chamber part, such that the first and second pre-combustion chamber parts are axially secured to one another and rotatable with respect to one another.
US09732663B2

A cooling system for cooling a hybrid vehicle apparatus includes a compressor that circulates a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger that carries out heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger that carries out heat exchange between the refrigerant and air-conditioning air, a cooling portion that cools the hybrid vehicle apparatus using the refrigerant that flows between the heat exchanger and the expansion valve, a gas-liquid separator that separates the refrigerant that flows between the heat exchanger and the cooling portion into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant, and a liquid accumulator that is provided between the gas-liquid separator and the cooling portion, and that retains the liquid-phase refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator.
US09732660B2

An integrated sensor-catalyst is disclosed for an after-treatment (AT) system used to filter an exhaust gas flow emitted by an internal combustion engine. The integrated sensor-catalyst includes a sensor element configured to detect a parameter of the exhaust gas flow. The integrated sensor-catalyst also includes a micro-catalyst element configured to filter a pollutant from the exhaust gas flow. Additionally, the integrated sensor-catalyst includes a housing configured to hold the sensor element and the micro-catalyst element and fix the micro-catalyst element relative to the sensor element such that the micro-catalyst element is arranged and maintained in the exhaust gas flow upstream of the sensor element. A vehicle including such an AT system with the integrated sensor-catalyst is also disclosed.
US09732657B2

In this invention, an EMF oxygen sensor is subjected to an activation process applying unidirectional voltage between an atmosphere electrode and an exhaust electrode thereof. A control device controlling the oxygen sensor in which a voltage was applied with the atmosphere electrode being positive, additionally applies unidirectional voltage between the electrodes to make the atmosphere electrode positive, for example, when the oxygen sensor was used under an environment in which the air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine was rich relative to the theoretical air-fuel ratio. Conversely, a control device controlling the oxygen sensor in which a voltage was applied to make the atmosphere electrode negative, additionally applies unidirectional voltage between the electrodes to make the atmosphere electrode negative, for example, when the oxygen sensor was used under an environment in which the air-fuel ratio was lean relative to the theoretical air-fuel ratio.
US09732656B2

A method for regenerating an exhaust gas filter for vehicles includes controlling an engine to operate in a high RPM range by a controller and regenerating the exhaust gas filter, controlling the engine to operate in the high RPM range by a temperature sensor unit provided on an exhaust pipe, controlling the engine to operate in a middle RPM range above a measured exhaust gas temperature threshold, and controlling the engine to operate in the middle RPM range by the temperature sensor unit, and controlling the engine to operate in an idle state if the temperature of the exhaust gas measured by the temperature sensor unit in secondary measurement is a middle RPM escape temperature predetermined by the controller or lower.
US09732650B2

An exhaust gas purification apparatus includes: a reduction catalyst converter that reduces and purifies nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas; a tank that stores a liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof; and an injection nozzle that injects the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof stored in the tank on an exhaust gas upstream side of the reduction catalyst converter. Some of the exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust pipe is diverted to the tank by a bypass pipe, to cause an exchange of heat between the diverted exhaust gas and the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof stored in the tank, thereby thawing the liquid reducing agent or precursor thereof frozen in the tank.
US09732649B2

An evaporative emission control canister system comprises an initial adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of greater than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, and at least one subsequent adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of less than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, an effective butane working capacity (BWC) of less than 3 g/dL, and a g-total BWC of between 2 grams and 6 grams. The evaporative emission control canister system has a two-day diurnal breathing loss (DBL) emissions of no more than 20 mg at no more than 210 liters of purge applied after the 40 g/hr butane loading step.
US09732648B2

An exhaust gas purification catalytic device 1 contains Pt, Pd, and Rh as catalytic metals. The catalytic metal Pt is loaded on silica-alumina which serves as a support, and Pt-loaded silica-alumina obtained by loading the Pt on the silica-alumina is contained in a catalytic layer with which an exhaust gas contacts first.
US09732646B2

Methods and systems are provided for opportunistic regeneration of a diesel particulate filter based on cloud based traffic information and navigation information. In one example, a method may include determining initiation of regeneration, termination of regeneration and a degree of regeneration based on information from a lead vehicular network and navigation information in order to reduce a regeneration fuel penalty.
US09732643B2

An engine valve actuation mechanism for producing a variable engine valve event includes a cam, a rocker arm, a rocker arm shaft, an eccentric rocker arm bushing, and a bushing actuation device. The eccentric rocker arm bushing is disposed in an axial hole in the rocker arm, the rocker arm shaft being disposed in the eccentric rocker arm bushing with the rocker arm shaft and the eccentric rocker arm bushing having offset axial centerlines. One end of the rocker arm and the cam is connected to form a kinematic pair and the other end of the rocker arm is located above the engine valve with a gap between the cam and the engine valve. The bushing actuation device is placed in the rocker arm and drives the eccentric rocker arm bushing to rotate, and the rotation of the eccentric rocker arm bushing changes the gap to generate the variable engine valve event.
US09732637B2

A waste heat recovery system includes: a heater which evaporates a working medium by exchanging heat between supercharged air supplied to an engine and the working medium; an expander which expands the working medium which has flowed out from the heater; a power recovery device connected to the expander; a condenser which condenses the working medium which has flowed out from the expander; a cooling medium supply pipe for supplying a cooling medium to an air cooler which cools the supercharged air which has flowed out from the heater; a cooling medium pump which is provided in the cooling medium supply pipe and which sends the cooling medium to the air cooler; and a branch pipe which bifurcates a part of the cooling medium flowing in the cooling medium supply pipe, to the condenser, in such a manner that the working medium is cooled by the cooling medium.
US09732632B2

A multi-component fastener is provided having a body and a sleeve. The body has a shank that extends lengthwise between a head and a distal end. The shank includes a first outer surface. The body includes a first material. The sleeve has a wall defined by an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an interior cavity. The wall extends lengthwise between a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the sleeve outer surface contiguous with the first end is threaded. The sleeve includes a second material that is dissimilar to the first material. A portion of the shank including the distal end is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve. The sleeve and the shank are fixed to one another.
US09732625B2

A control system for a gas turbine engine including a power turbine is disclosed. The control system may include a control module to receive engine operating goals and an estimated current engine state, wherein the estimated current engine state is produced by a model-based estimation module using a bandwidth signal produced by an adaptation logic module. The control module is operative to determine fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules and stability bleed schedules based at least in part on the received engine operating goals and the estimated current engine state, and to send signals to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine in order to control the gas generator according to the determined fuel flow, inlet guide vane schedules and stability bleed schedules.
US09732621B1

An air riding seal for a turbine in a gas turbine engine, where an annular piston is axial moveable within an annular piston chamber formed in a stator of the turbine and forms a seal with a surface on the rotor using pressurized air that forms a cushion in a pocket of the annular piston. A purge cavity is formed on the annular piston and is connected to a purge hole that extends through the annular piston to a lower pressure region around the annular piston or through the rotor to an opposite side. The annular piston is sealed also with inner and outer seals that can be a labyrinth seal to form an additional seal than the cushion of air in the pocket to prevent the face of the air riding seal from overheating.
US09732612B2

A barrier forming apparatus for forming a barrier between an exposed tunnel face (107) and a tunnel boring machine (100), the barrier being formed by the application to the tunnel face of a barrier mixture comprising two highly reactive first and second components. The barrier forming apparatus (10) includes a first reservoir (11) for storing the first component, a second reservoir (12) for storing the second component, and a plurality of applicators (13, 14 and 15). The barrier forming apparatus (10) also includes a third reservoir (56) that is used to store a clearing fluid and a piston flow divider (58) having an inlet (59) and three chambers having respective outlets, (61, 62 and 63) that are in fluid communication with a respective applicator (13, 14 and 15). The applicators are maintained in a state of readiness by a regular supply of clearing fluid passing there through.
US09732611B2

Methods and systems for improving operations of a formation tester are disclosed. The formation tester (400) is placed in a wellbore at a location of interest. The formation tester comprises a first isolation pad (402) coupled to a pad carrier (410) and a second isolation pad (404). The first isolation is extendable to substantially seal a probe of the formation tester against a wellbore wall. The first isolation pad is then replaced with the second isolation pad if it is determined that the first isolation pad should be replaced with the second isolation pad.
US09732607B2

Apparatus and methods are provided. An ultrasonic tool with an array of axially spaced receivers and a transmitter is located in a borehole and is activated. Ultrasonic waveform indications recorded by the receivers are processed and analyzed to determine the presence of non-dispersive headwave signatures. If a non-dispersive headwave signature is located, the presence of a solid such as cement in the annulus is confirmed, and one or more of the compressional and shear velocities of the cement can be determined. If only casing dispersive mode signatures are found, the annulus is determined to possibly contain no cement at the location of interest and additional processing is required.
US09732601B2

An electrical device for well stimulation comprising a plurality of sections configured to be assembled, end to end, to form a tool. The tool comprises first and second electrodes. The second electrode is an electrically insulated peripheral electrode of the first electrode. The first and second electrodes of the tool forming, at one of the ends of the tool, a stimulation head. Additionally, one end of a body of a first section comprises a peripheral ring that is rotatably movable and translatably immobile relative to the body of the first section. The peripheral ring comprises a thread configured to engage with a thread of the second electrode of one end of a second section.
US09732598B2

The downhole electromagnetic pump includes a pumping chamber that is provided with a throughbore through which fluid may be pumped. An electrode arrangement is provided in order to produce an electro-hydro-dynamic force on fluids within the pump such that fluid may be pumped through the pump in a desired direction. A method of utilizing the downhole electromagnetic pump in order to pump fluids in a downhole environment is also provided.
US09732596B2

A method of commissioning one subsea hydrocarbon well terminating by a wellhead, wherein, from a petroleum drilling rig, the method includes: screwing double-walled pipe segments together in mutual succession to form a thermally insulated floor-to-surface 1 hydrocarbons, and an outer pipe, between which pipes a thermally insulating material is disposed; connecting the floor-to-surface link pipe to wellhead; and extracting the hydrocarbons via the floor-to-surface link pipe to the drilling rig on the surface.
US09732593B2

Embodiments of systems, non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored therein, and computer-implemented methods are provided to enhance data storage and retrieval during performance of a plurality of hydrocarbon reservoir simulation runs of one or more hydrocarbon reservoir simulation models. Embodiments can relate to performing hydrocarbon reservoir simulation runs while efficiently storing simulation files by utilizing file links rather than duplicate copies of simulation files. Efficient storage can also include use of one or more shared storage locations and other separate individual hydrocarbon reservoir simulation model storage locations. Simulation files stored in the shared storage locations can be shared among a plurality of hydrocarbon reservoir simulation models. Embodiments can further relate to efficient data storage during the building, copying, or editing of a hydrocarbon reservoir simulation model.
US09732586B2

A tool for forming a valve seat within a well that is capable of catching an obstruction will prevent flow of fluid downstream of the seat. The seat is formed by expanding a sleeve with a ring positioned around its periphery or as a subsequent step in the process. As the sleeve is expanded over the ring, the seat is formed. Once the seat is formed, an obstruction in the form of a ball or dart is dropped down to the seat. The sleeve acts as a stop for a secondary valve seat which catches the obstruction.
US09732581B2

A well bore packer includes a packer element and an anti-extrusion backup system disposed on a mandrel and located within a well bore wall. Packer element includes longitudinally spaced end regions and a central region. The backup system includes an anti-extrusion device adjacent each of the end regions. The devices each include a collar and a flexible wire mesh mat. The packer element and devices have a smaller diameter configuration before the packer element is expanded. When the packer element is expanded to seal its central region against the well bore wall, the expansion of the packer element activates or deploys the devices and expands the mats to reach between the mandrel and the wall to resist longitudinal extrusion of the packer element.
US09732577B2

The disclosed embodiments are directed to a blowout preventer with a hinged bonnet assembly having components designed to improve the maintenance and serviceability of the blowout preventer. The blowout preventer includes a body with intersecting passageways extending therethrough. The blowout preventer also includes a bonnet including a ram unit capable of seating in a ram location of the body and a bonnet door removably coupled to a first side of the body. The blowout preventer further includes a pin or hinge adapter disposed along the body and defining a hinge axis, and a hinge rotatably coupled to the pin or hinge adapter. The hinge is coupled to the bonnet door to rotate the bonnet about the hinge axis, and the hinge and the bonnet door are selectively separable. The separable hinge allows an operator to access, remove, and replace the hinge if the hinge becomes worn or impacted during operation.
US09732575B2

A subsea arrangement comprising a first subsea structure, a second subsea structure, and a clamp connector. The first subsea structure is provided with at least one coupling member which is designed to mate with a corresponding coupling member on a first side of the clamp connector so as to allow the clamp connector to be releasably connected and secured to the first subsea structure through these coupling members. The second subsea structure is provided with at least one coupling member which is designed to mate with a corresponding coupling member on an opposite second side of the clamp connector so as to allow the clamp connector to be releasably connected and secured to the second subsea structure through these coupling members.
US09732555B2

A covering for an architectural opening including a first rail, a second rail moveable relative to the first rail, a third rail moveable relative to the first rail, and a lift assembly coupled to the first rail. The lift assembly includes a first drum rotatable about a first axis, a second drum rotatable about a second axis; a first lift cord coupled between the first drum and the second rail, and a second lift cord coupled between the second drum and the third rail. The first drum is offset from the second drum, and a portion of the first drum overlaps a portion of the second drum along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.
US09732553B2

A shutter assembly including a plurality of shutter panels arranged side-by-side. Each shutter panel has a respective plurality of louvers and a respective operable tilt mechanism configured to adjust the tilt angle of the respective plurality of louvers. A control shaft operates the tilt mechanisms. The control shaft is configured to drive simultaneously the respective tilt mechanisms of all of the plurality of shutter panels.
US09732547B2

A door opening and closing device includes: a resin-made base attached to an inner panel of a door; and a transfer mechanism provided on an interior side of the base, and transferring power to a locking device via a power transfer cable, wherein the base includes first and second parts in which the transfer mechanism and the cable are disposed respectively, and a fixing portion fixing an outer casing end portion of the cable, and wherein the first and second parts are configured to locate at different levels so that the second part is positioned closer to an inner side than the first part in a width direction, a step portion is provided between the first and second parts, and the fixing portion is provided in the step portion.
US09732540B1

A system of for installing unanchored fence posts accurately with one or two persons comprising tools to align the fence post while it is being set into an anchored state.
US09732533B2

A stair protection device includes a protection sheet having a first riser protection portion, a tread protection portion, and a second riser protection portion. The protection sheet also has at least one slit in the tread protection portion, a first score in the protection sheet between the first riser protection portion and the tread protection portion, and a second score in the protection sheet between the second riser protection portion and the tread protection portion. The protection sheet can be secured to a stair by adhering tape on a top of the tread protection portion over the at least one slit such that at least a portion of the tape passes through the at least one slit and adheres to a tread of the stair.
US09732530B2

A flooring system in contact with a floor includes a foam pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, and having a tapered section having a slope. The flooring system also includes a coating of a primer material disposed upon at least the slope of the tapered section of the upper surface of the foam pad. A coating of an adhesive is disposed upon at least the coating of the primer material. The flooring system also includes a covering where at least a portion of a surface of the covering is in contact with the coating of adhesive.
US09732525B1

A method of manufacturing building panels includes assembling a frame of a building panel. The frame defines at least one cavity and at least one injection aperture in fluid communication with the at least one cavity. The method also includes positioning the frame on one of a base and a shelf of a multi-panel consolidation device having a plurality of shelves, with the shelves being in an expanded configuration, and at least substantially enclosing the at least one cavity. The method also includes forcing the shelves of the multi-panel consolidation device into a collapsed configuration, and injecting an expandable polymer through the at least one injection aperture into the at least one cavity. The method further includes forcing the shelves into an expanded configuration after a predetermined period of time selected to permit the expandable polymer to form a foam bonded to the frame.
US09732512B2

A mounting device (100) for installation on a hollow rib of a panel is disclosed. The mounting device (100) includes a mounting body (102), an insert (160), and at least one clamping fastener (180). The mounting body (102) includes an upper section or base (104), along with a first leg (112) and a second leg (122) that each extend downwardly from the base (104) in at least generally diverging relation to one another. The first leg (112) includes a first projection (116) positionable in a recess on one sidewall of a rib, while the insert (160) includes a second projection (164) positionable in a recess on the opposite sidewall of this same rib. The clamping fastener(s) (180) extends through the second leg (122) of the mounting body (102) and forces the insert (160) in the direction of the first leg (112) of the mounting body (102).
US09732508B1

Individual hexagonal shaped modules used in an assembly for underground storage of storm water and other fluid storage needs. Modules are assembled into a resultant honeycomb shape for maximized structural strength and material use efficiency. Adjacent modules are in direct fluid communications with one another via openings or windows in module side walls. Assemblies include various top and side pieces along with access ports for entry into said assembly.
US09732506B2

A toilet configuration includes a toilet fixture, a detachable primary drain, and a detachable secondary drain. The primary and secondary drains can be assembled together or formed unitarily. The fixture includes a toilet bowl, a primary drain interface at a bottom of the bowl configured to permit liquid to flow from the toilet bowl into a detachable primary drain, and a secondary drain hole. The detachable primary drain fluidly is connected to the primary drain interface and is configured to be fluidly connected to a sewer pipe to discharge the liquid directly into the sewer pipe. A detachable secondary drain fluidly is connected to the secondary drain hole and is configured to be fluidly connected to the sewer pipe to discharge backed up fluid from the toilet fixture directly into the sewer pipe.
US09732496B1

An attachment configured to be captured and lifted by a bucket of a vehicle includes a back end proximate the bucket, in operation; a left side; a right side; a front end distal from the bucket, the front end defining a bottom surface; connection means for receiving a forward edge of the bucket, wherein the bucket can engage and lift the attachment; and means defining a material handling area between the left side, right side, front end, and back end, the material handling area including apertures for sifting, wherein material rolls up into the material handling area when the attachment moves forward so that material can be sifted in the sifting area.
US09732493B2

An apparatus and a method for attenuating water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when a percussion mechanism is used, including the stage of driving at least one pile into an earth by a percussion mechanism, while along at least a part of its axial extension, the pile is surrounded by water and at least partly by a tubular outer sleeve; and at least one gas-filled space is provided between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile. The apparatus includes mechanisms for providing the gas-filled space.
US09732486B1

An animal waste collection assembly includes a box that has a first half that is hingedly coupled to the second half. The first half is positioned in an open position and the box may collect animal waste. A pair of wheels is provided and each of the wheels is coupled to the box. Thus, the box may be rolled along a support surface. A handle is coupled to the box and the handle may be manipulated. An actuator is coupled to the handle and the actuator may be manipulated. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the first half such that the actuator selectively urges the first half into the open position wherein the second half is configured to receive animal waste.
US09732484B2

A highway crash attenuation system having W-beam rail elements attached to a plurality of vertical posts. An impact terminal with a feeder chute guides one or more of the W-beam rail elements through the impact terminal. The feeder chute has an impact shield extending along a traffic-facing side of the chute from an upstream-most end to a downstream-most end of the chute closing the traffic-facing side of the chute. The system also has an anchor cable release mechanism for releasing the cable downstream of the first vertical post and an improved first breakaway post.
US09732483B2

A vehicle barrier system that helps prevent instances of “tailgating,” where non-paying cars closely follow a paying car into (or out of) an automated garage facility or other venue to avoid fees and/or authentication.
US09732480B2

The invention relates to pelletizing thermoplastic road marking substance containing light-reflective agents, such as glass beads. A dry formulation of the ingredients is transported to a heating station, where the dry mix is heated to a molten state. The melted mix is extruded into form pockets of a moving conveyor. As the conveyor moves through a cooling station, the molten substance in the form pockets solidifies forming individual pellets. The pellets are then removed from the form pockets, packaged and shipped to customers.
US09732477B2

An apparatus for controlling airborne pollution comprises a leeward wall located near a polluted region, and a windward wall located between the leeward wall and the polluted region. The leeward wall and the windward wall are spaced apart so as to define an airflow passageway therebetween. The windward wall extends upwardly to a first wall height. The leeward wall includes an upper portion extending above the first wall height. The upper portion is adapted to direct airflow downward through the airflow passageway towards at least one opening located below the first wall height for exhausting the airflow from the airflow passageway.
US09732474B2

A hydrophobic coated paper substrate formed from a paper substrate of paper fibers and internal sizing agent, a surface size layer of one or more surface sizing starches, optionally one or more non-starch hydrophobic surface sizing agents, and optionally one or more paper pigments, on at least one surface of the paper substrate, and at least one hydrophobic pigmented coating layer of a paper pigment component and a hydrophobic pigment binder component on at least one surface size layer. Also a method for preparing such coated paper substrates.
US09732472B2

Described herein is a composition that can be used for treating media. The composition includes an organosilane treated water dispersible organic acid salt, a water soluble organic acid salt, a chelating agent, and an optical brightening agent.
US09732468B2

A spliced rope apparatus and a method of forming the same are disclosed. The apparatus has a first rope including a first plurality of strands and a second rope including a second plurality of strands. The apparatus also has a splice connecting the ropes and defined by the first and second pluralities of strands. The splice has a spiral section including a first pair having strands of the first plurality of strands that are positioned proximate each other. The first pair extends helically and the strands of the first pair together pass under a plurality of picks defined by the second plurality of strands and together pass over a remainder of the second plurality of strands. The splice also has a tuck section in which at least some of the first plurality of strands extend longitudinally to pass under and over sequential picks defined by the second plurality of strands.
US09732462B2

The present invention discloses a sterilizable drying machine using ultraviolet radiation, and a sterilizable drying method in the same. The sterilizable drying machine using ultraviolet radiation includes a casing having an inlet at its front surface, so that the user can put the washed laundry into the drying machine through the inlet, a drum supported by a front supporter inside the inlet of the casing, and rotatably installed inside the casing, to perform drying, an ultraviolet light source installed at the front supporter, for sterilizing the inside of the drum by radiating ultraviolet rays, and a control means connected to the ultraviolet light source, for controlling the ultraviolet light source to generate the ultraviolet rays.
US09732461B2

A liquid detergent mixer includes a main body, a detergent inlet pipe, a wash water inlet pipe, and a wash water dispersing unit. The main body defines a mixing space in which wash water and liquid detergent are mixed. The detergent inlet pipe allows liquid detergent to flow into the mixing space. The wash water inlet pipe has one end protruding from the other side surface of the main body to the mixing space to allow wash water to flow into the mixing space.
US09732458B2

A frictional vibration damper for washing machines is disclosed. The damper comprises a piston body and a piston rod which adapted to move along the primary axis of said piston body. A friction element is located in between the piston rod and the piston body. The piston rod and piston body is equipped with joint at one of their ends for connection to the frame and the drum of the washing machine. The piston rod comprises a tubular body which is made of sheet material and which is fixedly rolled around a carrier piece. The frictional damper according to the present invention preferentially comprises, on one or both sides of the tubular body, with connection elements in the longitudinal direction for engaging to corresponding connection elements located on the carrier piece.
US09732454B2

A method of manufacturing a textured element may include (a) collecting a plurality of filaments upon a textured surface to form a non-woven textile and (b) separating the non-woven textile from the textured surface. Another method of manufacturing a textured element may include depositing a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments upon a first surface of a polymer layer to (a) form a non-woven textile and (b) bond the filaments to the polymer layer. A textured surface may then be separated from a second surface of the polymer layer, the second surface being opposite the first surface, and the second surface having a texture from the textured surface.
US09732451B2

A fine knitwear of circular knitting machines with air permeable holes is a single face fabric knitted via a circular knitting machine with knitting fineness ≧24 needles/inch. Each air permeable hole includes: at least one yarn located above the air permeable hole and formed via interactive movements of a Dial sinker and a plurality of latch needles perpendicular to the Dial sinker, and a first support loop and a second support loop that are formed via interactive movements of the Dial sinker and the latch needles and symmetrical against the yarn on the left side and the right side to support and tie the transferred yarn. The fine knitwear can meet market and consumers' requirements of providing more comfortable cooling, and the width of the air permeable holes can be changed flexibly in response to different requirements in the industry.
US09732446B2

The present invention relates to a thermally-resistant woven fabric and/or multiple ply fabric sheet for use as single or outer layer of protective garments, of the type comprising an inside fabric layer and an outside fabric layer joined together by an array of connecting lines. The woven fabric and/or multiple ply fabric sheet comprise yarns, wherein said yarn comprises i) meta-aramid ii) from about 5 to 10 weight % of polyamide and iii) at least 2 weight % of antistatic fibers, the weight % being based on the total weight of the yarn.
US09732444B2

A method for synthesizing silica nanofibers using sound waves is provided. The method includes providing a solution of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, adding sodium citrate and ammonium hydroxide to form a first mixture, adding a silica-based compound to the solution to form a second mixture, and sonicating the second mixture to synthesize a plurality of silica nanofibers having an average cross-sectional diameter of less than 70 nm and having a length on the order of at least several hundred microns. The method can be performed without heating or electrospinning, and instead includes less energy intensive strategies that can be scaled up to an industrial scale. The resulting nanofibers can achieve a decreased mean diameter over conventional fibers. The decreased diameter generally increases the tensile strength of the silica nanofibers, as defects and contaminations decrease with the decreasing diameter.
US09732434B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for electroplating nickel which employ substantially sulfur-free nickel anodes. The methods may include placing a semiconductor substrate in a cathode chamber of an electroplating cell having an anode chamber containing a substantially sulfur-free nickel anode, contacting an electrolyte solution having reduced oxygen concentration with the substantially sulfur-free nickel anode contained in the anode chamber, and electroplating nickel from the electrolyte solution onto the semiconductor substrate placed in the cathode chamber. The electroplating systems may include an electroplating cell having an anode chamber configured for holding a substantially sulfur-free nickel anode, a cathode chamber, and a substrate holder within the cathode chamber configured for holding a semiconductor substrate. The systems may also include an oxygen removal device arranged to reduce oxygen concentration in the electrolyte solution as it is flowed to the anode chamber.
US09732427B2

The invention is directed to a composite polymer/nanoporous film system and methods of fabrication of tunable nanoporous coatings on flexible polymer substrates. The porosity of the nanoporous film can be tuned during fabrication to a desired value by adjusting the deposition conditions. Experiments show that SiO2 coatings with tunable porosity fabricated by oblique-angle electron beam deposition can be deposited on polymer substrates. These conformable coatings have many applications, including in the field of optics where the ability to fabricate tunable refractive index coatings on a variety of materials and shapes is of great importance.
US09732426B2

According to the present disclosure, a film containing carbon added at a high concentration is formed with high controllability. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a film containing silicon, carbon and a predetermined element on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The predetermined element is one of nitrogen and oxygen. The cycle includes supplying a precursor gas containing at least two silicon atoms per one molecule, carbon and a halogen element and having an Si—C bonding to the substrate, and supplying a modifying gas containing the predetermined element to the substrate.
US09732425B2

Disclosed is a coating chamber having a process passage in which a coating process is performed, a particle supply means configured to supply nanoparticles into the process passage, a gas supply means configured to supply a carrier gas and a reactive gas serving as a source of a shell material into the process passage, and a low pressure forming means configured to form a low pressure in the process passage. The coating chamber has a speed adjustment member formed of a porous material or a grid and installed in the process passage, and as a moving speed of the nanoparticles is decreased due to flow resistance or collision of the nanoparticles passing through the speed adjustment member, first and second precursors supplied as the reactive gas move more rapidly than the nanoparticles to coat a thin film on the nanoparticles with the material.
US09732414B2

A sputtering target containing, as metal components, 0.5 to 45 mol % of Cr and remainder being Co, and containing, as non-metal components, two or more types of oxides including Ti oxide, wherein a structure of the sputtering target is configured from regions where oxides including at least Ti oxide are dispersed in Co (non-Cr-based regions), and a region where oxides other than Ti oxide are dispersed in Cr or Co—Cr (Cr-based region), and the non-Cr-based regions are scattered in the Cr-based region. An object of this invention is to provide a sputtering target for forming a granular film which suppresses the formation of coarse complex oxide grains and generates fewer particles during sputtering.
US09732412B2

A gas lance unit configured for a reactive deposition process with a plurality of spaced apart crucibles, wherein spaces are provided between the crucibles, is described. The gas lance unit includes a gas guiding tube having one or more outlets for providing a gas for the reactive deposition process, and a condensate guiding element for guiding a condensate, particularly an aluminum condensate, to one or more positions above the spaces.
US09732404B2

Steel sheet, the composition of the steel of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.08%≦C≦0.23%, 1%≦Mn≦2%, 1≦Si≦2%, Al≦0.030%, 0.1%≦V≦0.25%, Ti≦0.010%, S≦0.015%, P≦0.1%, 0.004%≦N≦0.012%, and, optionally, one or more elements chosen from: Nb≦0.1%, Mo≦0.5%, Cr≦0.3%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting.
US09732400B2

In an autoclave apparatus for a high-pressure acid leaching process which advances leaching by stirring heated and pressurized material slurry and sulfuric acid by stirrers in compartments in an autoclave main body of a plurality of compartments, transfers slurry from an upstream side compartment to a downstream one to advance leaching, liquid flow ports for slurry transfer that open and close by doors are provided on the partition walls, the liquid flow ports for slurry transfer are installed at positions where the heights from the lowermost portion the autoclave to the center of gravity are 0.1 to 0.3 times an autoclave diameter and distances from the center lines of the partition walls to the center of gravity are 0.05 to 0.25 times the autoclave diameter, and the liquid flow ports for slurry transfer have shapes which do not reach end portions of the partition walls.
US09732383B2

Methods, systems and compositions where a target nucleic acid includes a registration sequence disposed therein for identification of the number or relative position of determined sequence from the template sequence. Particularly preferred aspects include a registration sequence in a circular template nucleic acid sequence which is, in turn, used in sequence by incorporation processes that rely upon template dependent, polymerase mediated primer extension in the identification of the sequence of the template.
US09732382B2

Compositions, devices, systems and methods for reducing and/or preventing photo-induced damage of one or more reactants in an illuminated analytical reaction by addition of one or more photoprotective compounds to the reaction mixture and allowing the reaction to proceed for a period that is less than a photo-induced damage threshold period.
US09732381B2

The invention relates to a method for sequencing a heteropolymeric target nucleic acid sequence that involves stochastic sensing. The invention also relates to a method for improving a pore for sequencing a target nucleic acid sequence by modifying one or more sites in the pore.
US09732380B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
US09732375B2

A molecular detection assay including treating a biological sample directly with a bisulphite agent under conditions that allow cell disruption and nucleic acid treatment; removing the bisulphite agent from the treated sample; and detecting a target nucleic acid in the treated sample.
US09732368B2

The device permitting an early detection, without measurement of the fluorescence, of colonies resulting from the multiplication of micro-organisms present in a sample to be tested, includes a substantially flat and horizontal detection surface, on which at least one support for growing the micro-organisms in the form of colonies is arranged immobile. The support is of the type membrane or agar medium. There is a detection system, such as a linear scanner, mounted movable and flat for scanning the whole or part of the surface, including at least one CCD sensor associated with an optical system comprised of at least one lighting and at least one optical device, such as a lens. The CCD sensor has a resolution higher than or equal to 2400 dpi. The detection system images colonies having a diameter smaller than 50 [mu]m through a useful magnification higher than or equal to 60.
US09732360B2

Disclosed is a method for improving biological production of hydrogen from protein-containing wastewater comprising two stages: ultraviolet radiation pretreatment of protein-containing wastewater and biological production of hydrogen under a neutral pH condition and intermediate temperature condition.
US09732353B2

This invention relates to soybean event pDAB8264.42.32.1 and includes novel expression cassettes and transgenic inserts comprising multiple traits conferring resistance to glyphosate, aryloxyalkanoate, and glufosinate herbicides. This invention also relates in part to methods of controlling resistant weeds, plant breeding and herbicide tolerant plants. In some embodiments, the event sequence can be “stacked” with other traits, including, for example, other herbicide tolerance gene(s) and/or insect-inhibitory proteins. This invention further relates in part to endpoint TAQMAN PCR assays for the detection of Event pDAB8264.42.32.1 in soybeans and related plant material. Some embodiments can perform high throughput zygosity analysis of plant material and other embodiments can be used to uniquely identify the zygosity of and breed soybean lines comprising the event of the subject invention. Kits and conditions useful in conducting these assays are also provided.
US09732342B2

This invention relates generally to segmented oligonucleotides capable of modulating gene expression. Specifically, the instant invention relates to segmented microRNA (miRNA) oligonucleotides, including segmented miRNA precursors and segmented pre-microRNAs. The invention also relates to compositions comprising such segmented oligonucleotides, as well as to methods of making and using such oligonucleotides for diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated or causally linked to aberrant levels or activities of gene expression, including aberrant levels of coding and/or non-coding RNA.
US09732338B2

The promoter of the present invention causes a desired gene to be highly expressed, especially in thermotolerant yeast. The promoter is located upstream of the PIR1 gene or the CTR1 gene on the Kluyveromyces marxianus chromosome and comprises a region controlling expression of the PIR1 gene or the CTR1 gene.
US09732335B2

The invention relates to methods for the screening, identification and/or application of microorganisms of use in imparting beneficial properties to plants. In one embodiment, the method involves subjecting one or more plants to a growth medium in the presence of a set of microorganisms, selecting one or more plant, acquiring one or more microorganisms associated with the selected plant(s) and repeating the process one or more times. The method further involves the step of subjecting the one or more microorganisms to a conditioning and/or directed evolution process.
US09732333B2

Nucleic acid expression constructs are provided and, more particularly, nucleic acid constructs for expression of human alpha-galactosidase in plant cells, cells expressing the nucleic acid construct, producing the human alpha-galactosidase and uses thereof.
US09732331B2

The present invention relates to an isolated synthetic polynucleotide encoding the mature amylase AX856 from Bacillus akibai, using codon modified polynucleotide constructs for the expression of the amylase.
US09732330B2

A genetically modified organism comprising: at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide involved in at least partially degrading, cleaving, transporting, metabolizing, or removing polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups; and at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide involved in fermenting sugar molecules to a product. Additionally, enzymatic and/or proteinaceous extracts may be isolated from one or more genetically modified organisms. The extracts are utilized to convert biomass into a product. Further provided are methods of converting biomass into products comprising: placing the genetically modified organism and/or enzymatic extracts thereof in fluid contact with polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, and/or xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups.
US09732328B2

The present invention encompasses modified luciferases, methods for making modified luciferases, and assays utilizing modified luciferases. Modified luciferases of the invention show increased activity over wildtype luciferases and also show increased stability of signal. The present invention also encompasses multiplex assays utilizing multiple luciferases with different emission spectra.
US09732325B2

The present invention relates to a novel Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus. The present invention also relates to a method for culturing said MVA virus and to a method for producing said MVA virus. Further, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said MVA virus and one or more pharmaceutical acceptable excipient(s), diluent(s), and/or carrier(s). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vaccine comprising said MVA virus. In addition, the present invention relates to said MVA virus for use in medicine.
US09732324B2

The invention provides a method of reducing viral infectivity in a sample comprising contacting the sample with a earner matrix wherein lipids are attached to the carrier matrix, and wherein at least one virus-specific agent is attached to the lipids The virus-specific agent is capable of binding to at least one viral component The virus specific agent may be a receptor The earner matrix may be a silica particle, which may be coated with a lipid bilayer The invention further provides a method of inactivating a virus comprising contacting the virus with a earner matrix wherein lipids are attached to the earner matrix, and wherein at least one receptor is attached to the lipids, binding the receptor to at least one viral receptor-binding protein, and activating at least one viral fusion protein, wherein activation inactivates the virus, and releases the virus from the earner matrix.
US09732316B2

A cell culture device comprising a microscale chamber dimensioned to maintain a cell under conditions that give rise to a value for at least one pharmacokinetic parameter in vitro that is comparable to a value for the same at least one pharmacokinetic parameter obtained with respect to the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the microscale chamber is configured for flow of culture medium, and wherein the at least one pharmacokinetic parameter is selected from tissue size ratio, tissue to blood volume ratio, drug residence time, flow rate, circulatory transit time, liquid residence time, and liquid to cell ratio.
US09732314B2

An apparatus for culturing cells of the present disclosure includes: a cabinet that has a main surface and a side surface, the main surface having a window; a main surface aspiration port disposed at the main surface of the cabinet; and a side surface aspiration port disposed at the side surface of the cabinet. In the cross section of the cabinet taken along the horizontal direction, a first vessel supplying part for supplying a first vessel is disposed at a midportion of the cabinet, and a second vessel supplying part for supplying a second vessel is disposed at an inner peripheral portion of the cabinet. The first vessel supplying part has a first lid capable of entirely covering the first vessel supplying part. The first vessel has no lid. The second vessel supplying part has no lid. The second vessel has a second lid.
US09732308B2

Polyesters according to the following formula (I) are described wherein R1 and R2 independently of one another are X—(OC2H4)n—(OC3H6)m wherein X is C1-4 alkyl, the —(OC2H4) groups and the —(OC3H6) groups are arranged blockwise and the block consisting of the —(OC3H6) groups is bound to a COO group or are HO—(C3H6), n is based on a molar average a number of from 12 to 120, m is based on a molar average a number of from 1 to 10, and a is based on a molar average a number of from 4 to 9. The inventive polyesters have an advantageous stability in alkaline environment, possess a beneficial solubility and advantageously are clearly soluble in alkaline compositions such as alkaline heavy duty washing liquids and also possess advantageous soil release properties.
US09732307B2

A composition comprising (a) an esterquat that is a quaternized reaction product of an alkanol amine and a fatty acid, wherein from at least 90 wt % to up to 100 wt % of the esterquat is comprised of triesterquat and from 0 wt % to up to 10 wt % of the esterquat is comprised of at least one of monoesterquat and diesterquat, and (b) a cationic surfactant. Also, a method of producing such a composition and a method of softening a fabric, and increasing fragrance delivery, comprising treating the fabric with the composition.
US09732299B2

Method and device implemented in a reactor for the plasma treatment of carried fragmented material or of pulverized elements by a support gas where the main element is an intermediate temperature plasma (PIT) generator fed by a source of electric pulses, the amplitude of whose current is limited and for which the generating frequency, the duration of the pulses and the duration of the time spans between the pulses are determined in such a way as to generate a nonthermal plasma (PIT) of large extent, the plasma and the carrier gas flux (4) laiden with the fragments of material or of pulverized elements to be treated (5) moving along helical trajectories coaxial with the axis of the reactor at controlled angles a and B respectively relative to the plane perpendicular to the axis of the reactor, the angles a and B being able to vary in a given manner according to the properties of the material to be treated and the technological parameters and the dimensions of the reactor. Use of the invention both for the combustion of combustible powders in the boilers of electric power plants and for the generation of solid or gaseous combustible products, of given properties and dimensions, effected through the organization of plasmochemical reactions on fragments or pulverized elements of organic materials in the reactor.
US09732282B2

Methods are provided for refining natural oil feedstocks. The methods comprise reacting the feedstock in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesized product comprising olefins and esters. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise separating the olefins from the esters in the metathesized product. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise hydrogenating the olefins under conditions sufficient to form a fuel composition. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise transesterifying the esters in the presence of an alcohol to form a transesterified product.
US09732277B2

A liquid crystal cell includes substrates defining a gap and electrodes having one of (i) an in-plane geometry generating an electric field parallel with the substrates and (ii) a top-down geometry generating an electric field across the gap between the two spaced apart substrates. A liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the substrates comprises a chiral nematic material formed by a mixture of: 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)hexane (CB6OCB) or α,ω-bis(4,4-cyanobiphenyl)nonane (CB9CB) dimeric liquid crystal material; at least one additional dimeric liquid crystal material; and a chiral dopant. The liquid crystal material within an operational range of electric field applied by the electrodes exhibits a heliconical state with an oblique angle helicoid director whose helicoid axis is oriented parallel with the electric field and whose helicoid pitch is sized to provide diffraction or Bragg reflection of light in a spectral range of interest impinging on one of the substrates of the liquid crystal cell.
US09732267B2

A hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises a first blend of C24-28 internal olefin sulfonates and an injectable fluid composition comprising the hydrocarbon recovery composition, water and/or brine wherein the hydrocarbon recovery composition is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of the total injectable fluid composition can be used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from a formation.
US09732266B2

An encapsulated composition for polymerization includes an initiator composition for initiating a polymerization reaction, and a capsule prepared from an elemental metal or fusible alloy having a melting temperature from about 20° C. to about 200° C. A fluid for polymerization includes the encapsulated composition and a monomer. When the capsule melts or breaks open, the initiator is released.
US09732262B2

The invention relates to the use of a composition comprising 2,4,4,4-tetra-fluoro-but-1-ene and 1-methoxyheptafluoropropane as a heat transfer fluid. The invention also relates to associated units, methods and compositions.
US09732261B2

The present invention relates to a cross-linkable, elastomeric silicone composition and to a method using the composition according to the invention to form seals for sealing and assembling components of a power train. The silicone elastomers prepared from the composition according to the invention have: good resistance to ageing in chemically aggressive fluids such as those used e.g. in a power train, in this case engine oils, gearbox and axle lubricants, oil/gasoline mixtures, coolants, fuels, or antifreeze; good adhesion properties, even to surfaces soiled by the oils used in a power train; and good mechanical-strength properties, such as breaking strength, elongation at break, and Shore hardness.
US09732260B2

An adhesive for laminated sheets comprising a urethane resin obtainable by mixing an acrylic polyol with an isocyanate compound. The acrylic polyol is obtained by polymerizing a mixture including a first monomer having a hydroxyl group and acrylonitrile. The isocyanate compound includes both an isocyanate compound having no aromatic ring and an isocyanate compound having an aromatic ring. Also cured reaction products of the adhesive and films laminated using the adhesive.
US09732257B2

A curable composition based on a curable acrylate or methacrylate component; an organoborane initiator component; a vinyl ether component; and an activator for the organoborane component. The composition exhibits good storage stability and good bonding properties when used to bond low surface energy substrates.
US09732252B2

Provided are reactive compositions for making a polyurethane-based rain-erosion protective coating for rotor blades, the reactive composition comprising an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate-functional component and wherein the isocyanate-reactive component comprises a first component i) being a short chain hydroxyl-functional compound having two terminal (α-ω) hydroxyl groups, a molecular weight of less than 250 g/mole and containing at least 2 carbon atoms and a second component ii) comprising a high molecular weight hydroxyl-functional compound having two terminal (α-ω) hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of at least 250 g/mol and comprising one or more units selected from oxyalkylene units and polyoxyalkylene units and wherein the isocyanate-functional component is an isocyanate prepolymer of the general formula NCO—Z—NCO, wherein Z is a linking group comprising at least two urethane (—NH—CO—O—) units and additionally one or more units selected from alkylenes, oxyalkylenes, polyoxyalkylenes, alkylene esters, oxyalkylene esters, polyoxyalkylene esters and combinations thereof. Also provided are protective coatings obtained from the reactive compositions and methods of applying the coatings to articles.
US09732248B2

Polyethylene composition with improved balance of impact resistance at low temperatures and Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance (ESCR), particularly suited for producing protective coatings on metal pipes, said composition having the following features: 1) density from 0.938 to 0.948 g/cm3; 2) ratio MIF/MIP from 15 to 25; 3) MIF from 30 to 45 g/10 min.; 4) Mz equal to or greater than 1000000 g/mol; 5) LCBI equal to or greater than 0.55.
US09732242B2

The present invention provides an ink jet recording ink including a dye which has a weight average molecular weight of 850 or less and is represented by Formula (1) below, a water-soluble organic solvent which has an SP value of 9.4 or more and less than 9.75 and is represented by Formula (2) or (3) below, and water, in which the content of a surfactant is less than 0.1% by mass. R1, R2: H, a halogen atom, OH, COOH, C1-C6 alkyl group, C1-C6 alkoxy group, NO2, an azophenyl group, -L1-Ra and the like, L1: O, CH2, C6H4, N═N, SO2 or a combination thereof, Ra: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, or the like, R3: H, an azophenyl group, an azonaphthalene group, -L2-Rb or the like, L2: C(═O), C6H4, N═N, NH, SO2 or a combination thereof, Rb: a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a pyrimidyl group, or the like; M+: H+, Na+, NH4+, an alkylammonium ion or the like, R: C2-C6 unsubstituted alkyl group, and n is 1 to 3.
US09732239B2

Various embodiments disclosed related to UV-curable silicone composition, cured products thereof, and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a shear-thinning UV-curable silicone composition. The composition can include (A) a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane having the unit formula [(CH3)3SiO1/2]x[(CH3)2SiO]y[R(CH3)SiO]z wherein x is about 0.01 to about 0.1, y is about 0 to about 0.94, z is about 0.05 to about 0.99, and at each occurrence R is independently a mercapto(C1-30)hydrocarbyl group. The composition can include (B) at least one of (B1) a polyorganosiloxane comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, and (B2) an organic molecule comprising at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds; the composition can include (C) a filler. The composition can also include (D) a photoinitiator.
US09732238B2

A method of coating a carbon nanotube material with a solventless coating composition is described. The resulting coating has been shown to preserve the conductivity of the conductive layer and protect the conductive layer from the effects of subsequent coating compositions. Examples are shown in which the coating formulation comprises a polyol and an isocyanate. A layer material comprising a polyurethane coating on a carbon nanotube network layer is also described.
US09732236B2

After there is prepared a conductive paste which contains fine copper particles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm, each of the fine copper particles being coated with an azole compound, coarse copper particles having an average particle diameter of 0.3 to 20 μm, a glycol solvent, such as ethylene glycol, and at least one of a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) resin and a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin and wherein the total amount of the fine copper particles and the coarse copper particles is 50 to 90% by weight, the weight ratio of the fine copper particles to the coarse copper particles being in the range of from 1:9 to 5:5, the conductive paste thus prepared is applied on a substrate by screen printing to be preliminary-fired by vacuum drying, and then, fired with light irradiation by irradiating with light having a wavelength of 200 to 800 nm at a pulse period of 500 to 2000 μs and a pulse voltage of 1600 to 3800 V to form a conductive film on the substrate.
US09732234B2

An acoustic paint to be applied to the walls of a room in which a source of audible sound is located to improve the acoustic characteristics of the room and correspondingly improve the clarity (e.g., the warmth, richness and detail) of the sound that is generated by the source and detected by the ear of a listener located within the room. The acoustic paint includes a paint foundation into which is mixed a powdered piezoelectric material or a powdered non-piezoelectric crystalline material having a resonant frequency so that the powdered material will react to the sound generated within the room and thereby control the room acoustics depending upon the type of material and the resonant frequency thereof. An optional catalyst, such as an electrically conductive powdered graphite or powdered graphene, is mixed into the paint foundation. The mixture is stirred and then applied to the walls of the room by means of a brush, a roller, or the like.
US09732230B2

A composite oxide black pigment has characteristics to absorb visible rays and near infrared rays, and is composed of an oxide of main constituent metals including copper, manganese and iron. In a wavelength region of 400 to 1,000 nm, the composite oxide black pigment has a minimum wavelength, at which a transmittance becomes minimum, in a wavelength region of 600 to 800 nm, a molar ratio of manganese/iron is 3/1 to 30/1, and a molar ratio of copper/(manganese+iron) is 1/2 to 1.2/2. Its sole use makes it possible to obtain a transparent vivid bluish, neutral gray color, and also to maximize an absorption in a near infrared region. It is, therefore, excellent in near infrared absorption characteristics.
US09732225B2

A curable polymer composition containing: (A) a thermoset benzoxazine resin precursor component; (B) optionally, an aryl sulphone-containing benzoxazine component, and (C) a polyarylsulphone thermoplastic toughening agent, wherein in the absence of component (B), component (C) contains one or more benzoxazine pendant- and/or end-groups.
US09732218B2

A flame retardant polycarbonate compound is disclosed. The compound comprises a polycarbonate and non-halogenated polyphosphazene as a flame retardant, along with talc, polytetrafluoroethylene, and optionally, a potassium salt of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid. The compound can achieve a UL 94 rating of V-0 at two different thicknesses of less than 1 mm.
US09732211B2

A thermoplastic resin composition having improved weather resistance includes an acrylic graft copolymer, an aromatic vinyl-vinyl cyanide copolymer, and a coloring agent including an inorganic pigment and an organic pigment mixed with each other at a predetermined ratio to maintain mechanical properties of the resin and have improved color mixing ability and weather resistance.
US09732210B2

The present invention relates to a process for the production of thermoplastic molding compositions, in particular styrene copolymer compositions, to a process for production of these, and also to use thereof. The thermoplastic molding compositions produced by a process of the invention offer improved temperature-resistance and mechanical properties, which have better flow properties than known molding compositions.
US09732208B2

Provided are: a polyethylene laminate that exhibits excellent flexibility, barrier properties, and cleanliness (a low occurrence of fine particles), that does not deform even after sterilization treatment at 121° C., and that maintains high transparency; and a medical container using same. The medical container is configured by layering: an outer layer and an inner layer that comprise from 20 to 80 wt % of a high-density polyethylene (A) having specific properties, from 0 to 50 wt % of a linear low-density polyethylene (B1), and from 5 to 40 wt % of an ethylene-based polymer (C); and an intermediate layer that comprises from 10 to 40 wt % of the high-density polyethylene (A) and from 60 to 90 wt % of the linear low-density polyethylene (B1).
US09732205B2

Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide flame retardant compositions and methods comprising organic polymers, mineral fillers, high surface area mineral fillers and process aids. Compositions of the disclosure additionally are comprised of high surface area hydrated metal carbonate fillers, including the mesoporous amorphous magnesium carbonate filler Upsalite. The filler's porous structure and high surface area provides high water capacity, enhanced physical and chemical interaction with a polymer in composite, lower by weight loadings of filler in a composite, as well as effective flame retardancy.
US09732201B2

A method for producing infra-red inert substrates, including molded polymeric articles, films, fibers and coatings and other organic and inorganic materials, by incorporating into the substrate or onto the surface of the substrate an effective amount of a dispersed bis-oxodihydroindolylen-benzodifuranone colorant. The thus obtained, also claimed substrates so produced are reflective and transparent to much of the near infra red radiation not reflected. There are multiple applications for cases of devices comprising electronic components, outdoor construction elements, outdoor furniture, automotive, marine or aerospace parts, laminates, artificial leather or textile materials, as well as in polychrome printing processes and optical fibers. The thus obtained substrates can also be subjected to laser welding. New bis-oxo-dihydroindolylen-benzodifuranone compounds are also claimed.
US09732199B2

A method for producing a breathable film based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), including the following steps. Preparing a paste-like compound including a first fraction composed of PVC, a second fraction composed of a foreign material, and a third fraction composed of adjuvants and/or additives that that are mixed together to form the paste-like compound, applying the paste-like compound to a base, and drying and gelling the paste-like compound, which has been applied to the base, through the addition of heat, thus forming the film in which pores extending from the one surface of the film to the other are formed, which give the film breathability.
US09732198B2

An extruded air cooled blown film having a) a total thickness of 5 to 500 μm, b) a mono-layer structure or 2 to 9 coextruded layers, c) at least one layer L containing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene homopolymers, polypropylene random copolymers, hetero-phasic polypropylene block copolymers, or any mixtures thereof, said polymer having a melt flow rate, according to ASTM D-1238, of 0.1 to 10 dg/min at 230° C. and 2.16 kg, said layer L further containing 0.001 to 2%, relative to the weight of the polymer, of a particular nucleating agent, and optionally d) a Modulus according to EN ISO 527 enhanced by at least 10% versus a reference film without the nucleating agent.
US09732195B2

There is provided a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle of the present invention is a reinforcing carbon fiber bundle with a sizing agent adhered to surfaces of carbon fibers, and characterized in that the sizing agent is constituted by at least two components, a first component does not melt at 150° C., and a second component in flowable at 150° C., and the reinforcing carbon fiber bundle is improved in impregnation property and openability and is excellent in workability and optimum for a composite.
US09732193B1

In an example, a flame-retardant polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) phosphonate material has a polymeric backbone that includes a phosphonate linkage between a first PHA material and a second PHA material.
US09732192B1

In an example, a flame-retardant, cross-linked polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material includes a first PHA material that is cross-linked to a second PHA material via a phosphorus-based cross-linker.
US09732190B2

There is provided a production method of a crystalline polyamide resin by thermal polycondensation of a mixture including at least a diamine component, a dicarboxylic acid component and water as a starting material, wherein the diamine component includes (A) pentamethylene diamine at a ratio that is equal to or greater than 10 mol % and less than 80 mol % relative to a gross amount of the diamine component; and the dicarboxylic acid component includes (B) at least one selected from the group consisting of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid and dialkyl ester derivatives thereof at a ratio that is equal to or greater than 76 mol % and equal to or less than 100 mol % relative to a gross amount of the dicarboxylic acid component.
US09732189B2

Methods for preparing active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers are provided. Also provided are other methods related to the active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers, as well as corresponding compositions.
US09732181B2

A process of forming a polyurethane material includes forming an alkyne-terminated triglyceride material from an unsaturated plant oil. The process also includes forming a hydroxyl-terminated polyol material from the alkyne-terminated triglyceride material. The process further includes polymerizing a mixture that includes the hydroxyl-terminated polyol material to form a polyurethane material.
US09732176B2

The present invention provides a pigment dispersant that exhibits high fine dispersibility, stability, and fluidity in a small amount, a pigment dispersion liquid including the pigment dispersant, and a process of producing the pigment dispersant and pigment dispersion liquid. The pigment dispersant contains as a main component, a graft copolymer formed through living radical polymerization using two or more monomers containing including a methacrylate A having an acidic group or a basic group and a methacrylate-based macromonomer B having a methacrylate residue at one terminal of a particular polymer chain that has a molecular weight of from 500 to 5000. A ratio of a total molar number of the methacrylate-based monomers relative to 1 mol of a polymerization-initiating compound in the raw material monomers is from 20 to 50 mol. A ratio of the B component-derived polymer chain to the graft copolymer is from 50 to 90 mass %.
US09732169B2

Nanoparticles having a plurality of PVP chains covalently bonded to a surface of the nanoparticle are provided, along with their methods of formation and the RAFT agents for the polymerization of the PVP chains. RAFT agents are generally provided, along with their methods of formation and use. Methods are also generally provided for grafting a PVP polymer onto a nanoparticle. In one embodiment, the method includes: polymerizing a plurality of monomers in the presence of a RAFT agent to form a polymeric chain covalently bonded to the nanoparticle.
US09732150B2

The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof (especially chimeric and humanized) having binding specificity for HGF and their use in therapy and diagnosis. These antibodies inhibit or block HGF-associated activities including HGF's effects on cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and fibrosis. Particularly the antibodies may be used as a monotherapy or in combination therapies in treating cancer, other proliferative disorders and other conditions wherein inhibition of HGF and/or the HGF/HGF-R (c-met) interaction is desired.
US09732146B2

The invention provides for a fusion protein comprising a 3E10 Fv joined to a Hsp-70, Hsp-27, Hsp-90 or GRP-78 or portion thereof, and optionally, the 3E10 Fv comprising an amino acid sequence AGIH at its amino terminus.
US09732145B2

This disclosure generally relates to therapeutic antibodies for treating Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) infection, to specific variants thereof, pharmaceutical composition comprising them and to methods for their use.
US09732144B2

Provided herein are methods and compositions relating to Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV), and vaccines for treatment and prevention thereof.
US09732140B2

The present invention provides for the use of soluble forms of CD83 and nucleic acids encoding them for the treatment of diseases caused by the dysfunction or undesired function of a cellular immune response involving dendritic cells, T cells and/or B cells. The invention moreover provides soluble CD83 molecules specifically suited for said purpose, antibodies against said specific soluble CD83 proteins and assay methods and kits comprising said antibodies.
US09732139B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. In particular the invention provides the means and methods for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and specifically targeting cancer stem cells. The present invention provides a soluble FZD receptor comprising an extracellular domain of a human FZD receptor that inhibits growth of tumor cells. The present invention still further provides a soluble receptor comprising a Fri domain of a human FZD receptor that binds a ligand of a human FZD receptor and said soluble receptor is capable of inhibiting tumor growth. The present invention still further provides a method of treating cancer comprising administering a soluble FZD receptor comprising for example, either an extracellular domain of a human FZD receptor or a Fri domain of a human FZD receptor, in an amount effective to inhibit tumor growth.
US09732138B2

The invention includes a method of identifying a human subject at-risk of developing SeSAME syndrome. The invention also includes a method of diagnosing a human subject afflicted with SeSAME syndrome. The invention further includes a method of identifying a therapeutic agent that modulates a given KCNJ10 mediated K+ current in a mammalian cell. The invention also includes a method of diagnosing a subject as a carrier of SeSAME syndrome.
US09732136B2

The invention relates to composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) fragments, and the use of those compositions in the treatment of fibrosis, hypertension and other disorders.
US09732129B2

Disclosed herein are zinc finger peptides having at least 4 zinc finger domains, such as 6, 11, 12 or 18 zinc finger domains. The zinc finger peptides may be fused to effector domains for modulating gene expression. Zinc finger peptides of the invention are useful for targeting trinucleotide-repeat sequences in mutant genes and may have applications in gene therapy. The zinc finger peptides may have nucleic acid recognition sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 101. Also disclosed are methods for constructing poly-zinc finger peptides having arrays of at least 8 zinc finger domains, along with zinc finger frameworks that may be useful for selecting zinc finger peptides from libraries.
US09732112B2

Methods for preparation of 2′,3′-dideoxynucleotides support structures, such as 2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine, 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine, and 3′-deoxythymidine support structures are disclosed. Various methods of using such structures are also provided, such as their use for automated DNA synthesis and pyrophosphorolysis activated polymerization.
US09732100B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkaline earth metal-complexed metal bisamides of the formula (I) from metal monoamides of the formula (II). The present invention further relates to a process for preparing alkaline earth metal monoamides of the formula (II-AE), to novel LiCl-free alkaline earth metal monoamides of the formula (II-AE-L), and to the use of these alkaline earth metal monoamides for metallation of aromatics, heteroaromatics, alkenes, alkynes and other organic compounds having activated C—H bonds.
US09732092B2

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.
US09732090B2

Bicyclic and tricyclic pyrimidine tyrosine kinase inhibitors with antitubulin activity are provided in the present invention. The compositions of the present invention possess dual activity in a single agent of potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitory activity as well as antitubulin activity. Water soluble salts of these compositions are also described. Methods of treating a patient having cancer, macular degeneration, and arthritis with the compositions and salts thereof of the present invention are disclosed.
US09732067B2

N-substituted sulfonylphenyl-5-mitrofuranyl-2-carboxamide derived compounds, which selectively activate the apoptotic, but not the adaptive arm, of the Unfolded Protein Response are provided as is their use in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, hemophilia, lysosomal storage diseases and cancer.
US09732066B2

The present invention provides a novel heterocyclic derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. For example, the present invention provides a heterocyclic derivative of the general formula [1] or its tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different aromatic rings, etc., and ring A is a heterocyclic ring. The compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has potent mPGES-1 inhibiting activity and is useful as an agent for the treatment or prevention of a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint disorders, low back pain, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, overactive bladder, malignant tumors or neurodegenerative disease.
US09732058B2

The present invention relates to certain 2-(2,4,5-substituted-anilino)pyrimidine compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which may be useful in the treatment or prevention of a disease or medical condition mediated through certain mutated forms of epidermal growth factor receptor (for example the L858R activating mutant, the Exon19 deletion activating mutant and the T790M resistance mutant). Such compounds and salts thereof may be useful in the treatment or prevention of a number of different cancers. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and salts thereof, especially useful polymorphic forms of these compounds and salts, intermediates useful in the manufacture of such compounds and to methods of treatment of diseases mediated by various different forms of EGFR using such compounds and salts thereof.
US09732050B2

The invention provides novel compositions and compounds that inhibit CatSper channel activity, that preferentially inhibits sperm hyperactivity over sperm motility, or both. The compounds of the invention are useful as contraceptive agents that may be adminstered to males, females, or concurrently to both sexual partners. The invention further provides methods of conducting drug discovery business and of conducting a reproductive medicine business. The invention also provides methods of identifying compounds that modulate sperm hypermotility.
US09732048B2

The invention relates to N-(isoxazol-3-yl)-aryl-carboxylic acid amides and use thereof as herbicides. In formula (I), A stands for N or C—Y. R, V, X, Y, and Z stand for groups such as hydrogen, halogen, and organic groups such as substituted alkyl.
US09732042B2

A pyridazine compound represented by formula [1]: which is useful as an active ingredient of a plant disease control agent can be produced, by steps of obtaining a compound represented by formula [3]: by reacting a compound represented by formula [4]: with a compound represented by formula [5]: obtaining a compound represented by formula [2]: by deprotecting the compound [3]; and reacting the compound [2] with a chlorinating agent.
US09732037B2

Aminopyridine compounds, as can be used in conjunction with methods for modulation of nitric oxide synthase activity.
US09732036B2

[Problem]An organic compound of excellent characteristics is provided that exhibits excellent hole-injecting/transporting performance with electron blocking ability, and that has high stability in the thin-film state and high luminous efficiency, the organic compound being provided as material for an organic electroluminescent device having high efficiency and high durability. The invention also provides a high-efficient, high-durable organic electroluminescent device using the compound.[Means for Resolution] The compound is of the following general formula having a carbazole ring structure. The organic electroluminescent device includes a pair of electrodes, and one or more organic layers sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, and the compound is used as a constituent material of at least one organic layer.
US09732034B2

The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing aziridines including isotopically labelled aziridines, said methods comprising contacting an imine or one or more precursors thereof with a diazo compound in the presence of a phosphoramide or a phosphoramide-derived catalyst. The present invention also relates to aziridines, modified aziridines and aziridine-derived compounds preparable by the aforementioned methods, and to phosphoramide or phosphoramide-derived catalysts suitable for use in such methods.
US09732032B2

Compounds of the formula I in which R1, R4, R, X1, X2, X3, X4, q and W have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of fatty acid synthase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system injury and different forms of inflammation.
US09732030B2

The present invention provides process for preparation of Fingolimod hydrochloride (I). Fingolimod hydrochloride (I) as Form-β obtained by the process of present invention may be useful as active pharmaceutical ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of autoimmune related disorder including multiple sclerosis.
US09732026B2

The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to oligomeric reaction products formed by the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate polymers and methods thereof. More specifically, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to oligomeric reaction products formed by the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate polymer obtained from, for example but not by way of limitation, waste products, such as beverage containers made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The oligomeric reaction products can, in one embodiment, be used as a starting material for polyurethanes. The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) also relates to processes for producing oligomeric reaction products from the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate. More particularly, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a process of producing oligomeric reaction products of polyethylene terephthalate capable of controlling the removal of byproducts during the reaction. The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) also relates to ultraviolet curable urethane acrylate and polyethylene terephthalate compositions and methods of making and uses thereof.
US09732023B2

The invention relates to a process for preparation of at least one of methacrylic acid and a methacrylic acid ester, comprising the process stepsgas phase oxidation of at least one C4 compound, quenching of the reaction phase, separation and purification of the obtained methacrylic acid and optionally esterification, wherein the C4 compound is a methacrolein comprising mixture, originating from at least two different methacrolein sources, a first methacrolein source being a feed stream obtained by the heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase oxidation of isobutylene or tert-butyl alcohol or isobutylaldehyde or a mixture of two or more thereof, a second methacrolein source being a feed stream obtained by the reaction of propionaldehyde with a C1 extending agent, preferably formaldehyde, and where said methacrolein can be obtained either completely from the first methacrolein source, or completely from the second methacrolein source or from any mixture of both.
US09732022B2

A process for recovery of materials from a mother liquor residue comprising cracking a mother liquor residue with an aromatic sulfonic acid catalyst to form a cracked product mixture and separating phenol from the cracked product mixture wherein the mother liquor residue results from distillation of a mother liquor resulting from bisphenol A synthesis and isolation.
US09732018B2

A process for simultaneously hydrating and oligomerizing a hydrocarbon feed comprising mixed olefins incudes the steps of: (a) introducing the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of water into a fixed bed; (b) contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst within said fixed bed reactor, where the catalyst is of the type that hydrates the mixed olefins to form mixed alcohols and oligomerizes at least a portion of the mixed olefins into oligomers to produce a first product stream that includes an organic phase and an aqueous phase; (c) introducing the first product stream into a first separator which separates the organic phase from the aqueous phase; (d) introducing the separated organic phase into a second separator which separates unreacted olefins from mixed alcohols and one or more oligomers which comprise a final product stream; and (e) introducing the separated aqueous phase into a third separator which separates an alcohol-water azeotrope component from water.
US09732017B2

A process for the dehydrochlorination of a chlorinated hydrocarbon comprising at least one chlorine atom and at least one hydrogen atom on vicinal carbon atoms to yield the corresponding unsaturated hydrocarbon, said process comprising contacting the chlorinated hydrocarbon with a guanidinium salt or its guanidine precursor.
US09732013B2

Methods are provided for improving the yield of aromatics during conversion of oxygenate feeds. An oxygenate feed can contain a mixture of oxygenate compounds, including one or more compounds with a hydrogen index of less than 2, so that an effective hydrogen index of the mixture of oxygenates is between about 1.4 and 1.9. Methods are also provided for converting a mixture of oxygenates with an effective hydrogen index greater than about 1 with a pyrolysis oil co-feed. The difficulties in co-processing a pyrolysis oil can be reduced or minimized by staging the introduction of pyrolysis oil into a reaction system. This can allow varying mixtures of pyrolysis oil and methanol, or another oxygenate feed, to be introduced into a reaction system at various feed entry points.
US09732009B2

Disclosed is a process for purifying one or more chemical constituents from plant matter using extraction with a fluid that is not a solvent, for example, with a vegetable oil. The extracted chemical constituents may then optionally be further processed by heating in order to induce desired chemical transformations. The extracted chemical constituents are also processed by concentrating at reduced pressure, for example, by distillation.
US09732007B2

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing growth conditions for plants by growing the plants in soil containing, in proximity to the plant roots, both a phosphorus source and at least two strains of the fungus Penicillium, particularly P. bilaiae, more particularly strains NRRL 50162 and NRRL 50169.
US09732003B2

Wax emulsions for the manufacture of wallboard include water; a lignosulfonic acid or a salt thereof; and at least one wax selected from the group consisting of slack wax, paraffin wax and montan wax. The emulsions may have a pH of between about 6.5 and 7.9. Such emulsions can provide enhanced moisture resistance to the wallboard.
US09731996B1

This disclosure provides methods of manufacturing a controlled pore glass, including: (a) adding an acidic solution to a column containing borosilicate glass; (b) flushing the column from step (a) with an aqueous solution until the pH of the effluent is greater than about 6; (c) adding a basic solution to the column from step (b); and (d) flushing the column from step (c) with an aqueous solution until the pH of the effluent is less than about 9 to produce a controlled pore glass.
US09731995B2

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a lithium silicate crystalline or amorphous glass overlaying the top surfaces of zirconia and the manufacturing process thereof. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a lithium silicate glass or lithium silicate crystalline glass with high light transmittance and good coloring characteristics and the manufacturing process thereof, which overlays the top surface of zirconia with high mechanical strength, frameworks, or copings.The lithium silicate crystalline or amorphous glass may include 10-15 wt % Li2O, 71.1-85.0 wt % SiO2, 2-5 wt % P2O5 working as nuclear formation agent, 1-5 wt % Al2O3 to increase glass transition temperature and softening temperature, as well as chemical durability of the glass, and 0.01-1.0 wt % ZrO2 which increases the binding strength of the zirconia substructure.
US09731992B2

A glass tempering furnace and a method for heating a glass sheet. The glass sheet is heated in the glass tempering furnace by blowing heating air on the top surface of the glass sheet, and the blowing distance of the heating air from the top surface of the glass sheet is adjusted.
US09731987B2

A mobile water re-use system can include a chemical treatment apparatus, at least one weir tank in fluid communication with the chemical treatment apparatus, and two or more settling tanks in fluid communication with each other and at least one of the settling tanks in fluid communication with the weir tank. The weir tank can have a first end, a second end, an internal chamber, and a plurality of baffles that induce turbulent flow of fluid through the internal chamber. The settling tanks can provide, promote, facilitate, result in, and/or induce laminar flow of fluid through at least a portion of the internal chamber. Weir tanks, settling tanks, and method of treating flowback and produced water are also described.
US09731984B2

Systems for counter top and under the counter use having a self contained reverse osmosis filter system having a manifold assemble under which parts of the self contained reverse osmosis filter system are attached, and a raw water pressure regulator also attached under the manifold assembly, the raw water pressure regulator having an inlet for coupling to a source of raw water and an outlet coupled to the inlet for the self contained reverse osmosis filter system, whereby the ratio of product water to waste water may be maximized under normal operating conditions without clogging the self contained reverse osmosis filter system if the pressure of the source of raw water is high.
US09731981B2

A rare earth adsorbent of an embodiment has a chelidonic acid monoamide group as a ligand, and contains a functional group represented by the following general formula (1): wherein: X is selected from hydrogen or an alkali metal; R1 is a bonding group with a simple polymer; and R2 is a functional group selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, and an aryl group, and may be substituted by nitrogen or oxygen or contain a functional group containing the atoms in a side chain.
US09731974B2

The invention concerns a method for treating a hydrocarbon feed gas stream containing at least CO2 and H2S to recover a high quality purified CO2 gas stream, comprising a. Separating said hydrocarbon feed gas stream into a sweetened hydrocarbon gas stream, and an acid gas stream; b. Introducing said gas stream into a Claus unit, c. Introducing the tail gas into a hydrogenation reactor and then into a quench contactor of the Tail Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU); d. Contacting said tail gas stream with a non-selective amine-based solvent into a non-selective acid gas absorption unit of the TGTU; e. Sending the off gas to an incinerator; f. Contacting said enriched gas stream (vii) with a selective H2S-absorption solvent into a selective H2S-absorption unit thereby recovering a highly purified CO2 gas stream and a H2S-enriched gas stream, as well as the device for carrying said method.
US09731963B2

Semiconductor manufacturing processes include providing a first substrate having a first passivation layer disposed above a patterned top-level metal layer, and further having a second passivation layer disposed over the first passivation layer; the second passivation layer has a top surface. The processes further include forming an opening in a first portion of the second passivation layer, and the opening exposes a portion of a surface of the first passivation layer. The processes further include patterning the second and first passivation layers to expose portions of the patterned top-level metal layer and bonding a second substrate and the first substrate to each other. The bonding occurs within a temperature range in which at least the exposed portion of the first passivation layer undergoes outgassing.
US09731957B2

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever includes a base and a cantilever beam projecting from the base. The cantilever beam includes a piezo layer sandwiched between an inorganic material structural layer and an inorganic material encapsulating and immobilizing layer. A pair of electrical contacts are formed in the encapsulating and immobilizing layer in contact with the piezo layer. The base consists of polymer. A method includes depositing a sacrificial layer on a substrate; forming a MEMS cantilever beam on the sacrificial layer by depositing an inorganic material structural layer thereon; depositing a piezo layer on the structural layer; and depositing an inorganic material encapsulating and immobilizing layer on the piezo layer; forming a pair of electrical contacts in the encapsulating and immobilizing layer in contact with the piezo layer; forming a polymer base for the cantilever beam; and etching the sacrificial layer to release the MEMS cantilever beam from the substrate.
US09731956B2

A pouch connector includes a safety cap having a cap base portion and a main connector disposed opposite the safety cap. The main connector and safety cap are configured to receive a portion of a pouch therebetween. The main connector includes a piercing member for piercing the pouch, an actuating portion for actuating the piercing member and a main connector base portion. The piercing member is configured to pierce through a portion of the pouch so as to provide fluid communication between a substance inside the pouch and the interior of the main connector. A polymeric membrane is coupled to at least one of the cap base portion and the main connector base portion.
US09731953B2

A cylinder-and-piston assembly for a bottle attachment apparatus for handling liquids in which the stroke length of the piston of the cylinder-and-piston assembly is delimited by a stroke length stop when suctioning from the cylinder and is delimited by a readjustment stop when exhausting into the cylinder. The readjustment stop is disposed on the piston or on the cylinder housing and interacts with a fixed stop. The readjustment stop is accessible and adjustable by way of a removable seal. The seal is connected by way of ribs to a piston bearing. The readjustment stop is disposed below this removable seal. The seal has a molding and the piston bearing has a counter molding. Displacement of the seal in relation to the piston bearing moves the seal in the longitudinal direction, and by this movement, the seal is removed in a manner that preferably is not capable of re-assembly.
US09731950B2

An apparatus for controlling a load handling device of an industrial vehicle includes a lifted height detector that detects a lifted height of the load handling device, a tilt angle detector that detects a tilt angle of the load handling device, a loading pump that pumps hydraulic oil from a hydraulic tank in the industrial vehicle and supplies the hydraulic oil to a lift cylinder and a tilt cylinder, a drive that drives the loading pump, and a controller that controls the flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the lift cylinder and the tilt cylinder. When the forward tilt angle of the load handling device is greater than a first regulation tilt angle and a lifted height of the load handling device is higher than a predetermined reference height, the controller regulates the flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the lift cylinder.
US09731945B2

The present invention relates to a safety arrangement for a portable power driven system, such as an ascender/descender arrangement, specifically in relation to safety means for minimizing risks with items rotating during the operation of the power driven system.
US09731943B2

An egg lifting device is provided. Such a device includes a body and a securing arrangement extending from the body. The securing arrangement is configured to engage and deflect about an egg such that the egg is seated within the securing arrangement for lifting thereof. A plurality of egg lifting devices is arranged on an egg removal system such that multiple eggs are capable of being removed from an egg flat. Associated systems and methods are also provided.
US09731942B2

A lifting beam is provided. The lifting beam includes a lower beam and an upper beam arranged above the lower beam; an arranger for arranging the beams in close and releasable engagement with one another; and systems for gripping the load. The gripping systems are kept in an open position when the beams are in engagement with one another, and in a closed position when an engager is released.
US09731939B2

A method of fault detection of a belt or rope includes connecting a fault detection unit to at least a portion of a belt or rope including a plurality of wires arranged in a plurality of strands and/or cords. At least the portion of the belt or rope is subjected to an AC voltage of high frequency range and an electrical impedance of the portion of the belt or rope is measured via the fault detection unit. Using at least the measured electrical impedance of the portion of the belt or rope, a fault condition of the belt or rope is determined.
US09731935B2

In one or more example embodiments, an apparatus to control an elevator may include a motor having a rotor configured to rotate with a magnetic axis to drive the elevator at a speed based on a current applied thereto; and a processor configured to regulate the speed of the elevator without information on a speed or an angle of the rotor from an encoder or motion sensor.
US09731934B2

An exemplary elevator destination entry system includes a passenger interface device that presents a visual representation of at least one item that will accompany a passenger on an elevator car. The passenger interface allows the passenger to select the visual representation. A controller is configured to receive indications of passenger requests for elevator service and an indication from the passenger interface device regarding a selected visual representation. The controller determines an amount of space within an elevator car required to accommodate the item based on predetermined space information corresponding to the selected visual representation. The controller assigns a car to a passenger request based on a determination that the assigned car will have adequate space to accommodate the passenger and the item.
US09731932B2

An assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a cylindrical sleeve and a length of material that is wound upon itself defining a wound roll. The cylindrical sleeve includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve defines a passage extending through the cylindrical sleeve. The length of material includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A portion of the inner surface of the length of material forms a passage extending through the wound roll. The outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve is secured to the portion of the inner surface of the length of material that forms the passage extending through the wound roll. The wound roll forms an upper axial end and a lower axial end. The wound roll is defined by a length extending between the upper axial end and the lower axial end. The cylindrical sleeve forms a distal end and a proximal end. The cylindrical sleeve is defined by a length extending between the distal end and the proximal end. The length of the cylindrical sleeve is greater than the length of the wound roll to thereby define a first portion of the length of the cylindrical sleeve that extends beyond the upper axial end of the wound roll and a second portion of the length of the cylindrical sleeve that extends beyond the lower axial end of the wound roll. Both of the first portion of the length of the cylindrical sleeve and the second portion of the length of the cylindrical sleeve is defined by a Sheffield Smoothness that is less than 350. A method is also disclosed.
US09731931B2

Systems and methods for winding wire are disclosed. A system includes a wire take-up unit and a wire tensioning unit. The take-up unit includes a rotating mandrel and a wire directing device, the wire directing device arranged to cause the wire to be wound in a figure-eight configuration on the rotating mandrel to form a coil having many layers of wire. The wire tensioning unit applies tension to said wire as it is wound, and applies a first amount of tension to a predetermined amount of wire constituting at least a first two layers of the coil, and a second amount of tension to the wire beyond the predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the wire tensioning unit includes digital self-relieving air regulator pneumatically coupled to and controlling a pressure in said pressurized chamber of a pre-lubricating cylinder that is coupled to the wire being wound.
US09731928B2

An image processing apparatus performs a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets. When a binding unit configured to bind sheets without using a staple performs the binding process, the image processing apparatus adds a mark for identifying a position where the binding process is performed.
US09731915B1

A loading arm that transfers flowing bulk material from a storage vessel and into a transport tank through a top hatch of the transport tank that is carried on a truck or rail car for transport includes an articulating arm having a plurality of connected hollow pipes. A hatch plate connected to the discharge of the aim and defines a top member, a bottom member and an outer edge connecting the top and bottom members. At least one of the bottom member and the outer edge of the hatch plate defines a resiliently flexible section configured to deform upon engaging with the top hatch of the transport tank.
US09731911B2

An adjustable container handling device for handling containers, such as beverage bottles. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US09731909B2

Disclosed herein is a medicine package inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not accurate medicines have been packaged in medicine packages. The medicine package inspection apparatus includes: a conveying unit conveying the medicine packages; an image reading unit photographing the medicine packages and reading states of the medicines by the photographed image; an aligning unit uniformly spreading the medicines packaged in the medicine packages unit so as not to be overlapped with each other; and a displaying means pivotably installed on a front surface of the body and displaying a work state simultaneously with controlling a work of inspecting the medicine packages. The displaying means is pivotably installed on the body through a pivoting unit and configures a portion of the body, such that an inner portion of the body is opened when the displaying means pivots.
US09731901B2

A conveyor system, at least a portion of which may traverse a continuous slope sufficiently steep such that tensile forces associated with overcoming the effects of the slope are several times larger per unit length of run than tensile forces per unit length of run due to main frictional resistance of the conveyor system, may include a belt-on-belt drive. The belt-on-belt drive may include at least one internal belt configured to operably engage the carry belt of the conveyor system so as to frictionally drive the carry belt over the sloped run. The longitudinal stiffness of the at least one internal belt may be at least twice the external belt's longitudinal stiffness. At the portion of the external belt driven by the at least one internal belt, the rate of tension rise in the external belt may be configured to be approximately zero or a modestly higher rate.
US09731892B2

A single-use capsule for preparing a food liquid from a food substance contained therein. The capsule has an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall connecting the upper and lower walls, wherein the walls form an enclosure that contains the food substance. The capsule also has a sealed interface connecting the upper and lower walls and a liquid collecting cavity located between the side wall and sealed interface. The sealed interface is configured to open under a predetermined fluid pressure in the capsule to allow the food liquid to leave the capsule. Also, a method for preparing a food liquid from the capsule by passing water through the food substance using centrifugal forces for producing the food liquid.
US09731890B2

A piston pump for dispensing fluid from a closed container in which during the cycle of operation to dispense fluid, atmospheric air is discharged into the reservoir towards reducing a vacuum that might otherwise be created within the container.
US09731888B2

A blank made of a polymeric material is provided and used to form at least a portion of a container. The blank is folded to establish a base and a side wall included in the container.
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