US09817824B2

In a computer-implemented method and system, an electronic target document is provided in a data communication network. At least one computer program in a first domain in the data communication network provides a link to open a digital first form in the first domain. Upon activation of the link, redirection to a second domain takes place, and a second electronic form is provided in the second domain. The second form comprises a retrieval field which is configured to provide, when the retrieval field is activated, a plurality of domain access fields. After receipt of an activation of a selected one of the domain access fields, a third domain linked to the selected domain access field is accessed to retrieve target document data from the third domain. The second domain uploads the target document associated with the target document data to the first form of the first domain.
US09817817B2

Technical solutions are described for generating structured conversational data. An example method includes receiving an utterance that is part of a conversation and identifying the utterance as part of an adjacency pair. The adjacency pair includes two utterances, each produced by different speakers. The method also includes associating the utterance with a label from a predetermined set of labels based on the identifying of the adjacency pair.
US09817809B2

A system and method for homonym treatment in a speech recognition system and method are provided. The system and method for homonym treatment in a speech recognition system may be used in a mobile wireless communication devices that are voice operated after their initial activation. The system may use a voice command interpreter to identify a correct interpretation for a received word that has one or more homonyms based on the received word and the one or more pieces of grammar for the word includes the inserted information about the one or more homonyms.
US09817808B2

A method includes translating a source to generate a translated source, extracting a set of terms from one of the source and the translated source comprising at least a first term and a second term related to the first term, comparing the extracted set of terms with at least one translation pair, and determining a correct translation based on the comparison.
US09817805B1

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a summary of suggested changes made to an electronic document. A suggested change is iteratively selected from a first list of suggested changes. A second list of modified suggested changes is generated by processing each selected suggested change in the first list of suggested changes. The processing comprises marking the selected suggested change for including or excluding in the summary. If the selected suggested change is marked for including in the summary, the processing further comprises at least one of combining the selected suggested change with a previously processed suggested change to form one of the modified suggested changes for including in the second list, and truncating the selected suggested change to form one of the modified suggested changes for including in the second list. The second list of modified suggested changes is provided as the summary of suggested changes.
US09817778B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a USB host controller, and a wireless transceiver connected to the USB host controller through a USB bus. When it is detected that a USB device is present in a communication range of the wireless transceiver, a load is connected to the USB bus. When the USB host controller enters a compliance mode after connecting the load to the USB bus, the electronic device executes a process for directing the USB host controller to issue a Warm Reset for the USB host controller to exit the compliance mode.
US09817760B2

The disclosure relates to filtering snoops in coherent multiprocessor systems. For example, in response to a request to update a target memory location at a Level-2 (L2) cache shared among multiple local processing units each having a Level-1 (L1) cache, a lookup based on the target memory location may be performed in a snoop filter that tracks entries in the L1 caches. If the lookup misses the snoop filter and the snoop filter lacks space to store a new entry, a victim entry to evict from the snoop filter may be selected and a request to invalidate every cache line that maps to the victim entry may be sent to at least one of the processing units with one or more cache lines that map to the victim entry. The victim entry may then be replaced in the snoop filter with the new entry corresponding to the target memory location.
US09817758B2

A processor in described having an interface to non-volatile random access memory and logic circuitry. The logic circuitry is to identify cache lines modified by a transaction which views the non-volatile random access memory as the transaction's persistence storage. The logic circuitry is also to identify cache lines modified by a software process other than a transaction that also views said non-volatile random access memory as persistence storage.
US09817754B2

Disclosed aspects include managing the access of flash memory by a computer system. A physical memory address space which includes a flash memory portion is established. The flash memory portion may correspond to an input/output memory range. An access request may be detected with respect to the physical memory address space. Using a load-store technique to process the access request, the flash memory portion of the physical memory address space may be accessed.
US09817752B2

Systems, methods and/or devices are used to enhance data integrity to protect against returning old versions of data. In one aspect, a method includes (1) receiving a write request from a host that specifies write data for a set of logical block addresses, (2) mapping, using a mapping table, the set of logical block addresses to a set of physical addresses, where the mapping table includes a plurality of subsets, and (3) performing operations for each subset of the mapping table that includes at least one entry corresponding to a logical block specified by the set of logical block addresses, including: (a) generating metadata for the subset, the metadata including a version number for the subset, (b) calculating a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) checksum for the subset, and (c) storing the version number for the subset and the CRC checksum for the subset in a version data structure.
US09817742B2

A method for detecting hardware and/or software anomalies in remote systems. The method may include aggregating, in a centralized electronic database, by an electronic database server, data received via a network from each of the remote systems, the data relating to operating statistics of one or more subcomponents of the remote systems over time. The method may also include utilizing an electronic database client communicatively coupled to the centralized database to automatically periodically access and analyze data stored in the centralized database to identify anomalies in hardware and/or software components of the remote systems. In one embodiment, the data relating to operating statistics of the subcomponents may include data from statistics counters corresponding to the subcomponents, each statistics counter, in one state, indicative of an identifiable error. In this regard, analyzing data stored in the centralized database may involve comparing data from the statistics counters to identify the anomalies.
US09817735B2

Hardware component repair in a computing system while workload continues to execute on the computing system includes receiving an indication that an operational parameter of a first hardware resource of said computing system does not meet operational acceptability criteria; migrating workload of the computing system from said first hardware resource to a second hardware resource within the computing system; and halting operation of said first hardware resource for repair.
US09817732B1

Embodiments are described for systems and methods that facilitate control of virtual endpoint failover/failback operations in a SCSI target network environment. During failover, SCSI target virtual endpoints failover to a secondary SCSI target port when the primary port fails, and failback to the primary port when the primary port is corrected. Embodiments include a method of efficiently controlling failover and failback operations of virtual endpoints where such operations may have different operating characteristics and be asynchronously initiated, and a method of globally or selectively cancelling failover and failback operations based on multiple system and operating conditions.
US09817731B2

One or more processors execute one or more software commands that are capable of command failure on one or more computing devices. One or more processors detect one or more failed commands as a result of executing the one or more software commands. One or more processors determine whether the one or more failed commands are a first type of command failures that result from a first type of software commands. One or more processors reissue the one or more failed commands that are determined to be the first type of software commands at least once while at least one diagnostic program is executing. One or more processors capture diagnostic data for the one or more failed commands that are determined to be the first type of software commands.
US09817719B2

For efficient Flashcopy backup and a mount, clone, instant restore, and/or file level restore task collision avoidance using dynamic volume allocation with reuse and from a shared resource pool, performing at least one attempt to reuse an existing FlashCopy target volume in a Flashcopy chain of target volumes that is not currently being used for at least one of the mount task, the clone task, instant restore task, and/or file level restore task at the same time for a FlashCopy backup. If the at least one attempt to reuse the existing FlashCopy target volume fails, dynamically allocate a new Flashcopy target volume for the Flashcopy backup from a global pool of Flashcopy backup target volumes shared by a plurality of device classes.
US09817705B2

The invention relates to a method for enabling in a processing system a communication between at least two activated processes 22, 23. In order to improve the communication between different processes 22, 23 of a processing system, it is proposed that for said communication signals are transmitted between said at least two processes 22, 23 in virtual channels using the same physical channel 28. This enables an efficient use of physical resources. A corresponding processing system comprises at least one processor 50-52 for running different processes, at least one physical channel provided for enabling a communication between at least two of said different processes, and means 55-57 for distributing signals which are to be transmitted for such a communication between said at least two different processes to different virtual channels on said at least one physical channel.
US09817700B2

A method, computer program product, and system for dynamically distributing data for parallel processing in a computing system, comprising allocating a data buffer to each of a plurality of data partitions, where each data buffer stores data to be processed by its corresponding data partition, distributing data in multiple rounds to the data buffers for processing by the data partitions, where in each round the data is distributed based on a determined data processing capacity for each data partition, and where a greater amount of data is distributed to the data partitions with higher determined processing capacities, and periodically monitoring usage of each data buffer and re-determining the determined data processing capacity of each data partition based on its corresponding data buffer usage.
US09817689B2

An example method of providing a dirty bitmap to an application includes receiving a request for a snapshot of an internal dirty bitmap. The internal dirty bitmap indicates whether a guest has updated one or more pages in guest memory since a previously received request for a snapshot of the internal dirty bitmap. The method also includes copying a set of bits of the internal dirty bitmap into a shared dirty bitmap, which is accessible by the hypervisor and application. The method further includes for each bit of the set of bits having a first value, setting the respective bit to a second value. The method also includes invalidating all cache lines in a set of pages corresponding to one or more bits having the first value in the shared dirty bitmap. The method further includes after invalidating the cache lines, providing the shared dirty bitmap to the application.
US09817687B2

Provided herein are systems and methods for providing isolated virtual image communication in a virtual computing environment. Initially, a guest virtual machine that is activated in a virtual computing environment may be isolated into a private network. A service request may then be formulated at the guest virtual machine and addressed to a predetermined non-existent address. The request is then ostensibly sent to the predetermined address, whereupon the service request is actually transmitted to a shared resource with a security appliance machine in the virtual computing environment. The request is then forwarded to the security appliance machine and a reply formulated. The reply is sent back to the guest virtual machine via the shared resource.
US09817682B2

A computer system for processing machine vision data and performing active control of a mobile platform includes a plurality of sensors configured to acquire inertial and positional data. The system further includes a first plurality of co-processors having a hardware logic configured to control the acquisition of the inertial data. A second plurality of sensors is configured to acquire image data related to the mobile platform. The system further includes a second plurality of co-processors having a hardware logic configured to control the acquisition of the image data. The system further includes state management logic to perform state management operations for the acquired inertial and positional data in a computer-readable memory. The state management is performed using a state vector. The state management logic coordinates sharing and updating the acquired machine vision data in a parallel fashion between the first and second co-processors.
US09817673B2

Technologies for fast low-power startup include a computing device with a processor having a power management integrated circuit. The computing device initializes platform components into a low-power state and determines, in a pre-boot firmware environment, the battery state of the computing device. The computing device determines a minimum-power startup (MPS) configuration that identifies platform components to be energized and determines whether the battery state is sufficient for the MPS configuration. If sufficient, the computing device energizes the platform components of the MPS configuration and boots into an MPS boot mode. In the MPS boot mode, the computing device may execute one or more user-configured application(s). If the battery state is sufficient for normal operation, the computing device may boot into a normal mode. In the normal mode, the user may configure the MPS configuration by selecting features for the future MPS boot mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09817672B2

A server computer includes an SDRAM and a service processor that transmits a boot firmware program. The server computer further also includes a CPU that includes a cache for the boot firmware program transmitted from the service processor to be stored in. The CPU executes the boot firmware program stored in the cache to activate the SDRAM, and performs a startup of the server computer by using the activated SDRAM.
US09817667B2

A dispatch stage of a processor core dispatches designated operations (e.g. load/store operations) to a temporary queue when the resources to execute the designated operations are not available. Once the resources become available to execute an operation at the temporary queue, the operation is transferred to a scheduler queue where it can be picked for execution. By dispatching the designated operations to the temporary queue, other operations behind the designated operations in a program order are made available for dispatch to the scheduler queue, thereby improving instruction throughput at the processor core.
US09817666B2

A method for a delayed branch implementation by using a front end track table. The method includes receiving an incoming instruction sequence using a global front end, wherein the instruction sequence includes at least one branch, creating a delayed branch in response to receiving the one branch, and using a front end track table to track both the delayed branch the one branch.
US09817663B2

Systems, apparatuses and methods for utilizing enhanced macro scalar predicate operations which take enhanced predicate operands that designate the element width and which elements are to be processed. The element width and the number of elements per vector are determined at run-time rather than being defined in the architectural definition of the instruction. This enables additional parallelism when processing smaller-sized data. The instruction performs the requested operation on the elements specified by the enhanced control predicate, assuming an element-width also specified by the enhanced control predicate, and returns the result as an enhanced predicate of the same element width.
US09817650B2

An agent software application for controlling distribution of files and managing updates to files. The agent automatically downloads files upon request by a user and can download a file in multiple portions by tracking received byte numbers. The agent searches for updates to files by using application signatures to uniquely identify files stored on a user's machine and transmitting the application signatures to a server storing the updates. The user can set parameters related to control of the downloading and searching for file updates, including scheduling of downloads for selected files and scheduling of automatic searching for updates on a periodic basis.
US09817649B2

A solution for installing software applications on a mobile computing device is proposed. A corresponding method comprises monitoring a position of the mobile computing device, selecting one or more software applications available to be installed on the mobile computing device according to the position of the mobile computing device, and installing the selected software applications in a container of the mobile computing device providing an execution environment for the selected software applications with controlled access to one or more resources of the mobile computing device.
US09817633B2

Upon detecting input of an instruction to change a display layout of a document on a display screen, display control of the document on the display screen is performed so that a character output as a voice by a voice output unit at the time of detection is displayed on the display screen.
US09817630B2

There is provided a server including a reception section which receives, from a client terminal, present position information showing a position of the client terminal, and direction information showing an orientation of the client terminal, a retrieval section which retrieves sensory data to which detection position information is added corresponding to a position in a vicinity of an axial line extending in a direction shown by the direction information from the position of the client terminal, and a transmission section which transmits the sensory data retrieved by the retrieval section to the client terminal.
US09817627B2

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a multicast video stream directed to an array of a plurality of display modules movably attached to a modular display, extracting, by the system, video display data from the multicast video stream according to a location within the array of a first display module of the plurality of display modules, and updating, by the system, a video display of the first display module according to the video display data that is extracted from the multicast video stream, wherein the updating is synchronized to a master clock of the modular display. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09817622B2

One embodiment is a portable electronic device that prints a document to a printer. A common user print experience is displayed regardless of a type of operating system installed on the portable electronic device.
US09817620B2

A reusable sequence of display list objects is determined, by extending the repeated sequence to further consecutive display list objects, each occurrence of the reusable sequence being associated with a z-order position in a corresponding display list. At least one display list is divided, at the z-order position of the reusable sequence in the display list, into a plurality of z-bands including a reusable z-band for the determined reusable sequence. A reusable intermediate graphical representation is generated for the determined reusable sequence and a further intermediate graphical representation for at least one other z-band. The further intermediate graphical representation is merged with the reusable intermediate graphical representation in accordance with an order of the z-bands. The page description language (PDL) document is rendered using the merged representations.
US09817619B2

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for printing on a paper-like device are disclosed. For example, the method includes configuring a print path to the paper-like device, providing an option to print a document on the paper-like device, receiving a selection of the option to print the document on the paper-like device and sending a print command to the paper-like device via the print path to print the document on the paper-like device.
US09817617B2

An image processing apparatus performs processing for registering information about a print controller communicably connected to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus performs control to display on an operation panel a display item related to a print controller about which information is registered by the registration processing and which is able to communicate with the image processing apparatus, and not to display on the operation panel a display item related to a print controller about which information is registered by the registration processing and which is not able to communicate with the image processing apparatus.
US09817606B1

A method for transitioning a data replication policy from an asynchronous data replication policy to a synchronous data replication policy for data replication between a source vDisk at a source networked virtualization environment and a destination vDisk at a destination networked virtualization environment.
US09817605B2

A method performed in a host device includes receiving an input based on a user-visible code associated with a data storage device. The user-visible code corresponds to an identifier of the data storage device. The method includes sending first data associated with the identifier to a server via a network and receiving, from the server at a first time, a copy of second data identifying content stored in the data storage device. The second data is stored in a network-based storage device associated with the server. The method includes displaying, via a user interface of the host device, an indication of the content of the data storage device to enable the content of the data storage device to be identified at the host device independently of whether the data storage device is coupled to the host device.
US09817604B2

In one example of a method to access data, selected data stored in a virtual tape library (“VTL”) maintained in a selected format in a first non-tape storage medium is examined. One or more first directories and one more first files are identified within the selected data. One or more second directories, and one or more second files, comprising information identifying at least one of the one or more first files, are generated and are stored in a second non-tape storage medium. A request specifying at least one of the one or more second files is received from a device, and information identifying at least one of the one or more first files is retrieved from the specified second file. The at least one first file is accessed based at least in part on the information, and data from the at least one first file is provided to the device. Systems are also disclosed. Methods and systems to enable users without system administrator rights to access and store data in a backup storage system are also disclosed.
US09817597B2

A method for a dispersed storage network (DSN) receives a data request and issues a read threshold number of read slice requests to storage units of a storage set, by receiving read slice responses from at least some of the storage units within a response timeframe and, when the received read slice responses include less than a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices, generating at least one forced read slice request for an encoded data slice other than the received encoded data slices. The method continues by sending the at least one forced read slice requests to at least one other storage unit of the storage set and, when receiving the decode threshold number of encoded data slices, dispersed storage error decoding the received decode threshold number of encoded data slices to reproduce a data segment of the data reduce recovered data.
US09817596B2

A non-volatile memory system and a method of managing the power of the same are provided. The non-volatile memory system includes a non-volatile memory configured to store a first mapping table comprising a list of a logical address and a physical address corresponding to the logical address with respect to a code region and a list of a logical address and a physical address corresponding to the logical address with respect to a general purpose (GP) region, and a controller configured to load the first mapping table from the non-volatile memory to a first memory and load the second mapping table from the non-volatile memory to a second memory. Power-up of the second memory is delayed with respect to power-up of the non-volatile memory system and the first or second memory is powered down if a condition is satisfied, so that power consumption of the non-volatile memory system is reduced.
US09817595B2

A controller includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with one or more memory devices that include multiple memory blocks. The processor is configured to hold information regarding power consumption of the memory blocks, to group at least some of the memory blocks into one or more storage groups, based on the information, such that the memory blocks in each storage group jointly consume less than a predefined power limit when the memory blocks in the storage group are applied a storage operation in parallel, and to apply the storage operation, in parallel, to the memory blocks in a selected storage group.
US09817588B2

A memory device includes a memory controller and a non-volatile memory communicatively coupled to the memory controller and storing a mapping table and a journal table. The memory controller is configured to write data and a logical address of the data into the non-volatile memory, load mapping information related to the logical address of the data from the mapping table of the non-volatile memory into a mapping cache of the memory controller, update the mapping cache with an updated mapping relationship between the logical address of the data and a physical address of the data, and perform a journaling operation to write the updated mapping relationship into the journal table.
US09817570B2

A keyboard has a first row of keys, a second row of keys, and a third row of keys. Each key in the first row of keys has a first three-dimensional volumetric shape having a first height, a visible top face, and at least one visible side face; each key in the second row of keys has a second three-dimensional volumetric shape having a second height that is greater than the first height, a visible top face, and at least one visible side face; and each key in the third row of keys has a third three-dimensional volumetric shape having a third height that is greater than the second height, a visible top face, and at least one visible side face. The keyboard is electrically connected to a computing device for delivering user inputs from the keyboard to the computing device.
US09817564B2

Techniques for managing display of content include identifying a document to present to a user on a graphical user interface (GUI); extracting at least one property of the document, the property including metadata associated with the document; determining a correlation between the document and one or more document topics associated with the user; determining an amount of time to display a portion of the document to the user through the GUI based at least in part on the property and the correlation; and displaying the portion of the document to the user through the GUI for the determined amount of time.
US09817563B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a data analysis system configured to implement cross-application coordination between a chart creation tool and a data analysis workspace, in order to create one or more charts from customized sets of data points, synchronize chart manipulations between charts, and drill down into the metadata of data points in the created charts. The user uses the data analysis workspace to select, remove, or cherry-pick data items to be used to create a chart, which may be transmitted from the workspace to the chart creation tool as data points. In addition, the user may select the data points in the chart to retrieve one or more identifiers to be transmitted back to the workspace, where they are used to identify the data items associated with the data points, and retrieve the full metadata of the data items.
US09817562B2

A computer-implemented method of interacting with at least one data item includes configuring each of the data items into a distinct information object by extracting, from each data item, extracted data including a heading, a source, graphical and textual material, and a hyperlink. The method additionally uses the extracted data to make available for display a representation of each of the information objects in a uniform format, wherein the format includes a card, and, within the card, an icon area for graphical and textual material, the heading, the source, a set of indicators, and a mechanism giving graphical access to a set of functions.
US09817556B2

Systems and methods are disclosed to share comments regarding a content item presented among via different Internet services. For example, a method for sharing comments among Internet services may include presenting a first content item to a plurality of users over the Internet via a first Internet service; receiving at the first Internet service a first comment that is related to the first content item and is received from a user through the Internet; presenting the first comment in conjunction with the first content item via the first Internet service; sending the first comment from the first Internet service to a second Internet service; receiving at the first Internet service a second comment from the second Internet service, wherein the second comment is different than the first comment; and presenting the second comment in conjunction with the first content item via the first Internet service.
US09817555B2

Disclosed herein is an information processing device for displaying contents formed by a plurality of pages according to user operation. The information processing device includes: an operation receiving section receiving an operation of changing a page as an object of display; and a display image control section displaying a slide bar displaying a handle indicating a position of the displayed page on a bar representing the pages of a whole of the contents as a GUI on a display device with an image of the page being displayed. When the operation receiving section receives a user operation of sliding the handle, the display image control section changes display to a page corresponding to a handle reached position. When the operation receiving section receives a user operation on predetermined operating means of an input device, the display image control section changes display to a page serving as a predetermined break.
US09817544B2

According to an aspect, a device includes a touch screen display and a controller. The touch screen display displays a home screen where an icon is arranged. When hen a first gesture is performed on a partial area of the home screen displayed on the touch screen display, the controller enlarges or reduces the area of the home screen to be displayed on the touch screen display.
US09817537B1

A capacitive touch sensing system for a capacitive touch panel uses analog circuitry to perform capacitive sensing and signal processing. The system operates over several time phases to charge and discharge a capacitive sensor of the touch panel and determine its capacitance. The system actively reconfigures and reuses circuit components over the several phases to minimize circuit size, complexity and power usage. The result is greatly reduced chip area by performing major signal processing functions in a small piece of analog circuitry. This reduces cost by combining the signal processing functions into a small, time-sequenced switched-capacitor analog circuit.
US09817534B2

In one aspect, an illumination device with integrated touch sensor capability includes a light guide having a metalized light-turning feature and an electrode system for sensing changes to the capacitance between electrodes in the electrode system induced by the proximity of an electrically conductive body, such as a human finger. The metalized light-turning features may be electrically connected to and/or part of the electrode system.
US09817526B2

A wirelessly enabled content delivery apparatus includes a surface. The surface has a front side and a back side. An electronics board has a through hole. A conductive touch pad layer is placed between the back side of the surface and the electronics board. The electronics board further includes a conductive element. The conductive element passes through the through hole. A wireless data module is part of a wireless data system. The wireless data system is attached to the electronics board and the wireless data module is electrically connected to a first end of the conductive element. The electronics board is coupled to the back side of the surface and is aligned so that a second end of the conductive element is in electrical contact with the touch pad layer. The wireless data module is configured to receive a control input when a user touches the front side of the surface in the vicinity of the touch pad wherein the touch pad and the conductive element are part of the control circuit which controls the wireless data system. A method includes creating a touch pad from a conductive layer of material. A through hole of an electronics board is positioned to align with the touch pad. A spring pin is inserted into the through hole of the electronics board. The electronics board contains a wireless data module, and a first end of the spring pin is electrically connected to the wireless data module. The touch pad is located onto a back side of a surface. The electronics board is attached to the back side of the surface wherein a second end of the spring pin makes electrical contact with the touch pad such that when a user touches a front side of the surface a control signal is sent to the wireless data module.
US09817521B2

A supplemental surface area allows gesture recognition on outer surfaces of mobile devices. Inputs may be made without visual observance of display devices. Gesture control on outer surfaces permits socially acceptable, inconspicuous interactions without overt manipulation.
US09817514B2

Invention principally regards a remotely controllable touch-sensing apparatus. The apparatus comprises a planar light guide, a plurality of light emitters arranged to emit light into the light guide for propagation by total internal reflection inside the light guide, and a plurality of light detectors, each being arranged to detect at least a portion of the emitted light propagating inside the light guide and at least a portion of the ambient light, said detectors being distributed along the periphery of the touch surface such that the optical plane of detection of light coincides with the plane of the light guide, at least one of said detectors being adapted to detect light emitted by an external device configured to emit light. The apparatus also comprises a processor unit configured to, ultimately, generate a digital signal containing data regarding light generated by the external device. Invention also regards a method for enabling control of a touch-sensing apparatus by an external device.
US09817511B1

A mobile computing device and method performed by a mobile computing device are provided. The mobile computing device includes a touch screen display, a touch enabled border surface, and a processor. The processor is configured to generate image data representing a viewport of the device. The processor is configured to add a graphic representation of at least one user interface element to the image data. The processor is configured to determine a press intensity of a touch pressure applied by a user of the device to the touch screen display in a region where the graphic representation of the at least one user interface element is displayed. The processor is configured to determine a position of the hand of the user using the touch enabled border surface. The processor is configured to slide the viewport downwards based on the press intensity and the position of the hand of the user.
US09817504B2

The present invention discloses a touch display driving method, a touch display driving device, a display device and an application processor. The touch display driving method includes steps of: outputting, by an application processor, display data for a current row to the driving module after a driving module completes display driving and touch driving for a previous row; and outputting, in a display stage, the display data for the current row by the driving module so as to perform display, and outputting, in an H-blank stage, a touch driving signal by the driving module so as to perform touch detection.
US09817499B2

A conductive pattern formation method of the present invention includes a first exposure step of radiating active light in a patterned manner to a photosensitive layer including a photosensitive resin layer provided on a substrate and a conductive film provided on a surface of the photosensitive resin layer on a side opposite to the substrate; a second exposure step of radiating active light, in the presence of oxygen, to some or all of the portions of the photosensitive layer not exposed at least in the first exposure step; and a development step of developing the photosensitive layer to form a conductive pattern following the second exposure step.
US09817498B2

Disclosed are a display device and a method for controlling the same. The display device includes: a body formed to be mountable to a wearer's head, and having a touch sensor for sensing a touch input; a display unit coupled to the body at positions corresponding to two eyes, and configured to output visual information; and a controller configured to determine and execute a control command corresponding to the touch input, based on bio information including a wearer's bio-signal.
US09817496B2

A touch panel comprises a protection substrate, a first transparent substrate, a first patterned electrode layer and a first transparent adhesive layer. The first transparent substrate is disposed opposite the protection substrate. The first patterned electrode layer is disposed on the first transparent substrate and between the protection substrate and the first transparent substrate, and includes a patterned portion and a non-patterned portion. The first transparent adhesive layer is disposed between the protection substrate and the first patterned electrode layer. The refractive index of the first transparent adhesive layer is greater than or equal to 1.65 and less than or equal to 1.72, wherein reflectivity of the patterned portion is substantially the same as the reflectivity of the non-patterned portion.
US09817490B2

In one aspect, a device includes a touch-enabled display, a processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive first input from a body part of a user at a first location of the touch-enabled display and receive second input from a stylus at a second location of the touch-enabled display, where the second input is identified as a request to present a window on the touch-enabled display. The instructions are also executable to, at least in part based on the first location and the second location, present the window on the touch-enabled display at a third location on the touch-enabled display, where the third location is different from the first and second locations.
US09817488B2

An automatic magnification adjusting method is applied to an optical navigation device. The optical navigation device has an illumination channel, a reference channel and an imaging channel. The reference channel has a reference feature with a known parameter. The automatic magnification adjusting method includes driving the illumination channel and the reference channel to alternatively output a detecting image and a reference image, capturing a series of navigation images consisting of the detecting image and the reference image by the imaging channel, analyzing the reference image to recognize the reference feature, calculating a compensating factor according to a detected parameter of the reference feature, and adjusting magnification of the detecting image by the compensating factor to output corresponding coordinate displacement.
US09817486B2

A display method of a user terminal device including a bended touch screen divided into a main area and a sub area, includes receiving a signal requesting displaying of an application installed in the user terminal device, and selectively displaying an application in one of a first layout and a second layout, in response to receiving the signal, in which the first layout corresponds to the sub area and the second layout corresponds to the main area.
US09817480B2

Methods for the operator control of electronic appliances and appropriately set-up electronic appliances in which an input of at least one letter is captured independently of an input request, and a volume of data is displayed on a screen of the electronic appliance on the basis of the captured letter. The input may be made by handwriting or by voice input, for example.
US09817478B2

A vibration device includes a touch panel, a vibrator that is arranged on the touch panel, a frame that is separated from at least a part of the touch panel and is arranged to surround the touch panel in a planar view, and a first connecting member that is arranged on the touch panel and the frame to cover a space between a part of the touch panel and the frame in a planar view and that connects the touch panel and the frame. Furthermore the first connecting member includes a first member positioned on the operation panel, a second member positioned on the frame, and a third member covering a space in a planar view. The thickness of the third member is smaller than those of the first and second members.
US09817477B1

Techniques and systems described herein locate possibly-significant portions of electronic documents. In some examples, gaze movements, e.g., of users' eyes, are tracked while the users read a formatted version of an electronic document. The gaze movement may be analyzed to determine if a reading interruption occurs (e.g., a reading pause or irregularity in a regular reading rate for the user). The reading interruption may occur when the user, while reading, encounters or notices a problem or point of interest in the text. A reading location associated with the reading interruption may be determined in text that is currently displayed. The reading location may be mapped to a location in a standard version of the document. The location may be reported to a centralized entity where statistical analysis can be performed to determine if there is a problem in the document.
US09817469B2

In an embodiment, a digital power estimator (DPE) may be provided that may monitor the processors to estimate the amount of power being consumed. If the estimate exceeds a power threshold, the DPE may throttle one or more of the processors. Additionally, throttling events may be monitored to determine if a change in the operating point is desired. In one embodiment, the DPE throttling events may be counted, and if the counts exceed a count threshold, a change in the operating point to a reduced operation point may be requested. Additionally, if the DPE estimate is below the power threshold (or a second power threshold), a second count of events may be maintained. If the second count exceeds a threshold and the operating point is the reduced operating point, a return to the original operating point may be requested.
US09817466B2

A data processing apparatus has control circuitry for detecting whether a current micro-operation to be processed by a processing pipeline would give the same result as an earlier micro-operation. If so, then the current micro-operation is passed through the processing pipeline, with at least one pipeline stage passed by the current micro-operation being placed in a power saving state during a processing cycle in which the current micro-operation is at that pipeline stage. The result of the earlier micro-operation is then output as a result of said current micro-operation. This allows power consumption to be reduced by not repeating the same computation.
US09817464B2

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a portable device using an electric pen, and a portable device thereof, and more particularly, to a method of controlling a portable device using an electric pen capable of controlling the portable device based on an interrupt event generated by a manipulation of the electric pen, and a portable device thereof.The method includes controlling a portable device using an electric pen, including sensing an interrupt event by manipulation of the electric pen positioned in a area within a sensible distance of the electric pen, sensing separation of the electric pen from the area within the sensible distance, and performing a control operation of the portable device in response to the separation.
US09817460B2

A testing method for a smart wristband and a testing system thereof are provided. The Bluetooth function of the smart wristband is put into a sleep state through presetting of the system software before the test, and the testing method comprises the following steps of: carrying out electrical connection operations on the smart wristband under test during the test so that the Bluetooth function of the smart wristband is activated; completing pairing between the smart wristband and the testing apparatus, and synchronously displaying a corresponding function of the smart wristband on a screen of the testing apparatus so as to be tested, wherein the testing apparatus is a smartphone, and the testing of the corresponding function includes at least one of Bluetooth power testing, writing of the mainboard serial number, charging testing and motor vibration controlling.
US09817447B2

A method, a device, and a system are provided for recognizing a gesture based on multi-terminal collaboration, which are used to recognize an air gesture operation of a user in a multi-terminal collaboration scenario. The method includes receiving, by a first terminal after receiving a collaboration request activation signal, parameter information of second terminals; recording, by the first terminal according to the parameter information of the second terminals, an arrangement manner of terminals that participate in acquiring of gesture information, where the terminals that participate in the acquiring of the gesture information include all terminals or the second terminals; receiving, by the first terminal, sensor trigger information sent by at least one second terminal; and determining, by the first terminal according to the recorded arrangement manner and the acquired sensor trigger information, a type of a gesture that triggers a sensor.
US09817441B1

A dock includes a base, a fixing switch, a release component, a connector, and a connection component. When an electronic device is mounted on the base, the release component must be pressed in order for the fixing switch to be operable, allowing the connection component to drive the connector to connect with the electronic device. When no electronic device is mounted on the base, the connector is received in the base to protect the connector against damage while the dock is being carried around. That the release component must be pressed in order for the fixing switch to be movable protects the connector against damage in a situation where, while the dock is being carried around, the fixing switch is inadvertently pushed, causing the connector to protrude from the dock.
US09817438B2

Various embodiments of two-way communication devices and tracker devices are presented. Such a device may include a processing unit, comprising: a housing, one or more processors; a microphone, a speaker; and a first electrical connector for receiving power, wherein the one or more processors, the microphone, and the speaker are housed by the housing. Such a device may include a wristband that includes one or more integrated power sources that are permanently housed within the wristband. The one or more integrated power sources may have a second electrical connector to supply power to the processing unit when the processing unit is removably coupled with the wristband. The device may include a plurality of magnets to removably couple the processing unit with the wristband.
US09817436B2

A portable multifunction device identifies a plurality of user interface objects. If the user interface objects meet a first predefined condition, the device then displays at least two of the user interface objects on a touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a second predefined condition, the device then divides the user interface objects into at least first and second groups of user interface objects and then displays a first group icon corresponding to the first group and at least one user interface object from the second group on the touch screen display. If the user interface objects meet a third predefined condition, the device divides the user interface objects into at least third and fourth groups of user interface objects. The device then displays a third group icon corresponding to the third group and a fourth group icon corresponding to the fourth group.
US09817424B2

A method and apparatus for maximum power point tracking (MPPT). In one embodiment, the method comprises (i) modulating an operating voltage of a first DC source by a first perturbation function to generate a first output power; (ii) modulating an operating voltage of a second DC source by a second perturbation function to generate a second output power, wherein the first and the second perturbation functions are synchronized with one another and out of phase with one another; (iii) comparing the first and the second output powers; and (iv) adjusting MPPT set points for both the first and the second DC sources in the same direction based on a result of comparing the first and the second output powers.
US09817420B2

An apparatus, including a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), a facility consumption monitoring device, and a plurality of control nodes. Each device consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and performs a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC generates a plurality of run time schedules that is based upon modeled unmonitored consumption within the facility, and that coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource. Each of the control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the devices. The plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and executes selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices on and off.
US09817413B2

Electrical power supply device for wireless sensor unit provided with a circuit for managing very low consumption electrical energy configured to limit the given level of electrical power between a lower limit and an upper limit, with the circuit being implemented with a JFET or MOSFET depletion transistor.
US09817412B2

A protection circuit is provided with: a suppression element that is coupled to a power source side of a main circuit and suppresses current flowing into the main circuit that drives a load; and a soft start circuit that is configured to gradually increase voltage of a control terminal of the suppression element when voltage is applied to the soft start circuit from a boosting circuit used for controlling the main circuit.
US09817404B1

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses provide a system for forming and managing a caravan of vehicles. The system may include computing devices in a plurality of vehicles belonging to a caravan. The computing devices participating in the caravan may communicate various information to each other. This information may be used to generate and manage a route for the caravan. The system may also be used to select a leader and/or order of the caravan for a particular trip. During the trip, the system may monitor the caravan and analyze inputs from participants and vehicles. Further, the system may modify the route based on such inputs and distribute the modified route to participating computing devices so that the caravan may be maintained.
US09817397B1

Aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying safety mechanisms in an autonomous vehicle. A projected future location of an object may be identified. The projected future location of the object will intersect with a projected future location of the vehicle at a time T. An impact point P corresponding to a three dimensional location in space where the vehicle and object will collide at the time T may be identified. One of a plurality of safety mechanisms of the vehicle that can be moved closest to point P before or at the time T may be selected. The selected safety mechanism may be moved from a first point on the vehicle to a second point on the vehicle such that the safety mechanism moves towards the point P. After moving the selected safety mechanism, the safety mechanism is then deployed based on the time T.
US09817395B2

This disclosure describes, according to some embodiments, a robot network comprising a plurality of robot units capable of providing navigational guidance to patrons requesting navigational assistance. In an example method, upon receiving a request from a first patron, the method selects an available robot unit from among a plurality of robot units comprising the robot network based on an estimated time to reach the first patron's location. The estimated time to reach the first patron's location is determined based on status updates of other of the robot units comprising the robot network. The method further assigns the available robot unit to the first patron, navigates the assigned robot unit to the first patron's location, engages the first patron using the assigned robot unit, and guides the first patron toward the requested destination using the assigned robot unit.
US09817390B2

An electronic control system is programmed to control movement of a cutting tool relative to a rotating workpiece. After engagement of the stock, the tool is controlled to follow a curved path until the cutting surface of the tool reaches a predetermined depth of cut in the stock. The tool is then controlled to follow a straight/linear path, with the cutting surface of the tool engaged with the stock at said predetermined depth of cut. The control system varies the feed rate as the tool rolls into cut along a known path of curvature, to control the thickness of the material which is removed as the tool rolls into cut, e.g. to induce fracture as the material begins to coil. The feed rate as the tool rolls into cut is programmed to vary in relation to an arc of engagement between a cutting surface of the cutting tool and the stock into which the cutting tool is being moved.
US09817389B2

A method includes receiving a design surface data set, obtaining a component surface data set from the inspection of a component, creating a modified surface data set in response to the design surface data set and the component surface data set, generating a machining path in response to the modified surface data set, and machining the component in response to the machining path to produce a machined component according to the modified surface data set. The machined component deviates from the design surface data set.
US09817388B2

A computer implemented method and apparatus for preserving structural integrity of 3-D models when printing at varying scales, by use of a cueing model.
US09817386B2

A joint guarantee system for vehicle assembly is applied to a vehicle assembly line that assembles an assembling object to a vehicle carried through on a conveyer line as an assembling element, and includes a vehicle detector that detects the vehicle entering the conveyer line, tool detectors disposed along the conveyer line that detect a position of an assembling tool on the conveyer line, an inertial sensor module installed in the assembling tool that detects an angle and a displacement of the assembling tool for an assembling point of the vehicle and the assembling object, a tool controller that applies control signals corresponding to a predetermined assembling point of the vehicle and the assembling object, a kind of assembling element, and assembling torque of the assembling tool, to the assembling tool, and a main controller that processes and stores the above information.
US09817384B2

A method of inspecting a RAM of a programmable logic controller is provided that enables all unit storage regions in a RAM inspection region to be inspected in about several minutes and that meets a predetermined safety standard. The inspection method includes the steps of: (a) dividing a RAM inspection region, which is a region of the RAM to be inspected, into a plurality of blocks; and (b) by a control device, writing a predetermined value into unit storage regions in a combination of blocks obtained by combining two blocks extracted from the divided blocks and thereafter sequentially inspecting whether or not values read from the unit storage regions each coincide with the written value. Step (b) is executed for all combinations of two blocks extracted from the divided blocks.
US09817366B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a charging section configured to charge a surface of an image bearing member; an air-intake duct having an air-supply port, and configured to guide air sucked from an outside to the charging section through the air-supply port; an exhaust duct having an air-intake port, and configured to suck air around the charging section through the air-intake port and eject the air thus sucked. The air-intake duct has a configuration in which air guided to the charging section through the air-supply port flows in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the charging section, or flows toward a center of the charging section in the longitudinal direction.
US09817363B2

An image forming apparatus with a detachable fixing device that is capable of printing with high quality without printing wastefully. A storage unit stores identification information about a fixing device in association with an attribute of a sheet that is printable with the fixing device concerned. A control unit executes printing when the storage unit does not store an attribute of a sheet corresponding to a fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus. The control unit determines whether to execute printing according to an attribute of a sheet used in printing and an attribute of a sheet stored in the storage unit when the storage unit stores the attribute of the sheet corresponding to the fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus.
US09817362B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a toner container, a reader and writer, a blocking control section, and a press mechanism. To the toner container, an RFID tag is attached. The reader and writer opposes the RFID tag. The press mechanism has a press member and a rotor reciprocally moving in an attachment and detachment direction of the toner container. The blocking control section permits power supply to the reader and writer when the press member has been pressed in conjunction with insertion of the toner container and the rotor in conjunction therewith has moved to a first tip position, and blocks the power supply to the reader and writer when the rotor has separated from the first tip position and has moved to a locking position.
US09817350B2

A positional deviation correction pattern includes a first and second pattern image portions adjacent in a sub-scanning direction at the same position in a main-scanning direction, with the same width in the main-scanning direction. Each image portion includes a first side extending in the sub-scanning direction, a second side continuing from one end of the first side and extending in a direction intersecting the sub-scanning direction, and a third side continuing from the other end and extending in a direction intersecting both the sub-scanning direction and the second side. The second sides have the same inclination angle to a virtual line parallel to the main-scanning direction. The third sides have the same inclination angle to the virtual line. A length of one image portion in the sub-scanning direction gradually increases from one end to the other end in the main-scanning direction, a length of the other image portion gradually decreases.
US09817346B2

An electronic apparatus includes a first thermoelectric converter that converts thermal energy dissipated from a heat source into electrical energy, a second thermoelectric converter provided on a side of a low-temperature portion of the first thermoelectric converter and that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, and a power supply controller that controls supply of power to the second thermoelectric converter such that the low-temperature portion of the first thermoelectric converter is cooled or heated.
US09817340B2

An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer body, a plurality of image bearers, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of primary transfer devices, a secondary transfer device, and a cleaner. The plurality of image bearers are disposed side by side along the intermediate transfer body. In a refreshing mode, the plurality of developing devices form toner images on the plurality of image bearers during a non-image-formation period and the cleaner cleans a surface of the intermediate transfer body. In the refreshing mode, a toner image formed on one image bearer of the plurality of image bearers, which differs from a most downstream image bearer of the plurality of image bearers in a direction of conveyance of the intermediate transfer body, reaches the cleaner first of the toner images formed on the plurality of image bearers.
US09817326B2

A support, a conductive layer, and an intermediate layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member have a particular surface profile. The intermediate layer is a cured film containing particles.
US09817322B2

There is provided an optical imaging device, in particular for microlithography, comprising at least one optical element and at least one holding device associated to the optical element (109), wherein the holding device holds the optical element and a first part (109.1) of the optical element contacts a first atmosphere and a second part (109.2) of the optical element at least temporarily contacts a second atmosphere. There is provided a reduction device at least reducing dynamic fluctuations in the pressure difference between the first atmosphere and the second atmosphere.
US09817320B2

A method of correcting an optical image formed by an optical system, the method including obtaining a map indicative of a polarization dependent property of the optical system across a pupil plane of the optical system for each spatial position in an image plane of the optical system, combining the map indicative of the polarization dependent property of the optical system with a radiation map of the intensity and polarization of an input radiation beam to form an image map, and using the image map to correct an optical image formed by directing the input radiation beam through the optical system.
US09817319B2

A liquid immersion lithography apparatus includes a projection system having a final optical element and a nozzle member having a first opening disposed on a first side of the final optical element and from which an immersion liquid is supplied, a second opening disposed on a second side of the final optical element and from which the immersion liquid is recovered, and a liquid recovery portion disposed to surround a path of an exposure beam and from which the immersion liquid is recovered. A tank is fluidicly connected to the liquid recovery portion of the nozzle member. During exposure of a substrate to the exposure beam, an upper surface of the substrate faces the liquid recovery portion, and the immersion liquid is supplied from the first opening while performing liquid recovery from the second opening and the liquid recovery portion.
US09817312B2

A heat- or photo-curable composition comprising: a polysiloxane which is produced by reacting a silicon compound (i) represented by the formula: R1nSi(X)4-n (wherein R1 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or the like; X represents a chlorine atom or an alkoxy group; and n represents 0 to 2) with a silicon compound (ii) represented by the formula (b) or (c) (wherein R2 to R7 independently represent an alkyl group or the like; M1 and M2 independently represent an arylene group, an alkylene group or the like; and Y1 to Y6 independently represent a chlorine atom or an alkoxy group) in the presence of an alkali catalyst or an acid catalyst; a polymerization initiator which enables the generation of an acid or a base by the action of heat or light; and a solvent. The composition enables the formation of a thick film. When the composition is coated onto a substrate, is then heated or exposed to light, is then developed if necessary, and is then heated and cured at a low temperature, a cured film can be formed.
US09817311B2

A resist pattern-forming method is provided, including: providing a resist film using a photoresist composition; exposing the resist film; and developing the resist film exposed, the photoresist composition containing a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of no less than 1,000 and no greater than 7,500 and having a structural unit that includes an acid-labile group that is dissociated by an action of an acid, a radiation-sensitive acid generator and a solvent composition, and the photoresist composition having a content of solids of no less than 20% by mass and no greater than 60% by mass. The photoresist composition preferably has a viscosity of no less than 50 mPa·s and no greater than 150 mPa·s at 25° C.
US09817310B2

A fluorinated photopolymer composition is disclosed having a branched copolymer provided in a fluorinated solvent. The copolymer includes a branching unit, a first repeating unit having a fluorine-containing group, and a second repeating unit having a solubility-altering reactive group. The branched fluorinated photopolymer composition is particularly suited for the fabrication of organic electronic and bioelectronic devices, or other devices having sensitive active organic materials.
US09817307B2

Any defects in the reflective multilayer coating or absorber layer of an EUV mask are problematic in transferring a pattern of the EUV mask to a wafer since they produce errors in integrated circuit patterns on the wafer. In this regard, a method of manufacturing an EUV mask is provided according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. To repair the defect, a columnar reflector, which acts as a Bragg reflector, is deposited according to various embodiments so as to locally compensate and repair the defect. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the reflective loss due to the defect can be compensated and recover the phase different due to the defect from, so as to form a desirable wafer printed image.
US09817306B2

The present invention relates to an EUV pod having marks, which comprises a mask pod and one or more mark disposed on the mask pod. One or more sensor of a processing machine is used for detecting the one or more mark. By including the one or more mark, the surface roughness of one or more region of the mask pod detectable by the one or more sensor can be altered. The one or more sensor emits light to the mask pod, which reflects the light to the one or more sensor. The one or more sensor receives the reflection light from the mask pod and judges if the voltage generated by the reflection light falls within the reflection ranges of the mark. Thereby, whether the one or more sensor corresponds to the one or more make can be confirmed.
US09817304B2

There is provided a light source unit comprising a first light source having a solid light emitting device, a second light source having a luminescent material layer which emits light in a wavelength range which is different from light in a wavelength range which is emitted from the first light source by using the light emitted from the first light source as an excitation light source, and an optical device which is disposed between the first light source and the second light source, wherein the optical device has a dichroic layer which transmits a pencil of light emitted by the first light source and reflects a pencil of light emitted by the second light source, and a diffusing layer which diffuses the pencil of light emitted from the first light source.
US09817301B2

A projection system includes a projector and a light emitting device that emits detection light in a direction in response to a screen. The projector detects an operation to the screen based on detection light of the light emitting device by a position detection section and switches the light emitting device between an emission mode and a non-emission mode thereof in response to state of the projector.
US09817300B2

A system camera lens adaptor that enables iris adjustment by a cameraman at hand is provided. According to the present invention, provided is a system camera lens adaptor enabling mounting, on a camera device, of a lens device originally not mountable on the camera device, including an iris volume capable of adjusting an iris of the lens device.
US09817298B1

A camera includes a primary housing that has a cylindrical exterior surface and an opening located at a front end. The camera also includes a rotatable housing that has a spherical exterior surface and an aperture, where the rotatable housing is disposed in the opening of the primary housing and is rotatably mounted to the primary housing. The camera also includes an image sensor that is located in the rotatable housing for rotation in unison with the rotatable housing, where the image sensor receives light through the aperture of the rotatable housing.
US09817297B1

An apparatus comprising an optical filter located on a substrate. The optical filter including an optical splitter configured to receive an input light and an interferometer having two waveguide arms having different optical path-lengths from each other. The waveguide arms configured to receive the input light from the optical splitter. At least a portion of one of the two waveguide arms has a narrower core width than a wider core width of the other waveguide arm. The waveguide arm with the longest waveguide portion having the narrower core width has the longest total physical path-length of the two waveguide arms. At least one of the two waveguide arms having a set of discrete waveguide portions, the discrete waveguide portions of the set being connected by optical switches which are configured to tunably select from a plurality of different physical path-lengths through the discrete waveguide portions of the at least one waveguide arm.
US09817291B2

According to one embodiment, provide is a liquid crystal display device that suppresses potential change of a common electrode caused by potential change of a signal line. An electrode part is provided on an array substrate so as to surround a display region. A signal line is provided on the array substrate so as to be located in the display region. A passivation film is provided on the array substrate so as to cover at least the signal line and the electrode part. A one-side opening part is provided continuously along an edge part of the display region on the passivation film so that the electrode part is disposed. The common electrode is provided on the array substrate so that a part of the common electrode is located at the one-side opening part and another part of the common electrode is located facing the signal line on the passivation film.
US09817285B2

A liquid crystal panel includes: first and second substrates arranged to be opposite each other at a predetermined gap; a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates; alignment films; a counter electrode pattern formed on the first substrate; and a pixel electrode pattern formed on the first substrate so as to have a plurality of electrode branches, wherein the extension direction of at least one of slits formed at both ends from among slits formed between the plurality of electrode branches crosses the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer at an angle of 7° or larger.
US09817234B2

A head-up display positioning device includes a combiner configured to reflect a generated image to create a virtual image for viewing by an occupant of a vehicle. A housing is provided for stowing the combiner. A mechanism includes a motor and is configured to the move the combiner between a stowed position wherein the combiner is located fully within the housing and a display position wherein the combiner is at least partially located outside of the housing and viewable by the occupant. A cover is configured to close over the housing when the combiner is in the stowed position, and the cover is movable to allow the combiner to move into the display position. The mechanism is configured to automatically stow the combiner under certain conditions.
US09817229B2

According to one embodiment, a spatial light modulator unit is used in the illumination optical system for illuminating an illumination target surface with light from a light source and comprises: a spatial light modulator with a plurality of optical elements arrayed in a predetermined plane and controlled individually; a spatial light modulation element which applies spatial light modulation to the incident light from the light source and which makes rays of intensity levels according to positions of the respective optical elements, incident on the plurality of optical elements; and a control unit which individually controls the plurality of optical elements on the basis of information about the intensity levels of the rays incident on the respective optical elements.
US09817226B2

Provided is an endoscope objective optical system including, in order from an object side, a first group having negative refractive power, a second group having positive refractive power, and a third group having positive refractive power. The second group is provided so as to be movable in an optical-axis direction. The following conditional expression is satisfied, 9
US09817225B2

A telescopic sight has an objective lens system, an eyepiece lens system and an inversion system disposed in the optical path between the objective lens system and the eye piece lens system and pivotably supported by means of a height adjustment device, a lateral adjustment device, a reticle, and a projection means disposed at the end of the inversion system on the eyepiece side. The inversion system generates an image plane at the end on the eyepiece side having a perpendicular alignment relative to the inversion system optical axis. The projection means generates a projection in the field of view of the sight, which is located in a projection plane, wherein the projection plane is aligned perpendicularly relative to the optical axis and in the image plane of the inversion system. A display means assigned to the inversion system generates information and/or a target mark in the projection plane.
US09817224B2

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for Fourier ptychographic microscopy, the system comprising (i) an image capture apparatus including an objective lens, (ii) at least one processor, and (iii) data storage including program instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to: (a) capture, via the image capture apparatus, a plurality of initial images of an object, wherein each of the plurality of initial images of the object have a first resolution, and (b) process each of the plurality of initial images in Fourier space to generate a final image of the object having a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution.
US09817220B2

A projection exposure apparatus includes a catadioptric projection objective, an illumination system, a stage, and a control unit. The catadioptric projection objective includes multiple objective parts, and one or more active manipulators coupled to one or more optical elements of the projection objective. The control unit is programmed to cause the one or more active manipulators to act on one or more corresponding optical elements while the stage scans a wafer with respect to an image field to reduce errors in the image at the image field.
US09817213B2

An optical imaging lens assembly that may have five lens components. The first, third, and fourth lens components may have positive refractive power. The second and fifth lens components may have negative refractive power. The third lens component may have convex object-side and convex image-side refractive surfaces. The fourth lens component may have convex object-side and concave image-side refractive surfaces. The first lens component may include a wafer lens having a lens element molded on one or both surfaces of a planar substrate or two wafer lenses having a lens element molded on one surface of each of two planar substrates. The wafer lens may include an electrically controlled electrochromic surface having variable light transmittance in response to an applied electrical voltage. The refracting surfaces may be aspheric.
US09817205B2

The present disclosure discloses a lens module. The lens module includes a lens barrel and a lens group. The lens group is installed inside the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a first barrel wall extended horizontally and a second barrel wall bended and extended from the first barrel wall. The lens module also includes a stop and a press ring. The stop is fixed on the first barrel wall. The press ring is located on the stop and presses on the stop. The stop and the lens group are lined up in turn from object side to image side. The length of the lens barrel is reduced due to the stop and the press ring, when shaping of lens barrel is being done, production difficulty of shaping is decreased, and the yield of qualified lens barrel is increased.
US09817204B2

A lens barrel which is capable of accurately performing positioning of lenses and preventing a mounted external barrel unit from coming off unexpectedly. The lens barrel comprises a fixed cam ring having a rotation regulating cam groove disposed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the cam groove opening to an object side end part thereof in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a movable cam ring received in the fixed cam ring, and an external barrel unit having, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a rotation regulating section engaged with the rotation regulating cam groove. The external barrel unit is received in the fixed cam ring and outwardly fitted on the movable cam ring. The rotation regulating cam groove has a movement-regulating section, configured to regulate movement of the rotation regulating section in the optical axis direction, at an object side end part thereof in the optical axis direction.
US09817202B2

A telecommunications cable management assembly (100) for a distribution frame (10) is disclosed. The cable management assembly (100) includes a front plate (110) extending between first and second ends (110a, 110c) and is provided with apertures (112) for mounting telecommunications components (20). A first side bracket (120) is mounted with the first end (110a) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The first side bracket (120) supports cables (26) extending laterally from components (20). A second side bracket (130) is mounted with the second end (110c) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The second side bracket (130) can also support cables (28) extending laterally from components (20).
US09817200B2

Provided is an optical fiber cable having excellent flame retardancy, long-term heat resistance and mechanical characteristics. An optical fiber cable according to the present invention comprises an optical fiber and a cladding layer that is provided on the outer circumference of the optical fiber. The cladding layer contains a chlorinated polyolefin resin (A) and a polyolefin resin (B).
US09817176B2

A display device includes a backlight assembly and a display panel which displays an image. The backlight assembly includes a light emitting unit which generates light, and an optical member which adjusts a path of the light incident thereto and outputs the light toward the display panel. The optical member includes a first base film to which the light is incident, a second base film closer to the display panel than the first base film and for which are defined first and second areas alternately disposed, a first optical pattern between the first and second base films at the first area, where the first optical pattern refracts therein the light incident to the first base film, and a second optical pattern between the first and second base films at the second area, where the second optical pattern scatters the light incident to the first base film.
US09817171B2

A light guide plate includes a plate body and a wedge-shaped body extended upward along a terminal of the plate body. A top surface of the plate body is connected smoothly with an inclined surface of the wedge-shaped body. The inclined surface is provided with multiple first inclined V-shaped structures arranged at intervals, and the top surface is provided with multiple first vertical V-shaped structures. The present invention also provides a backlight module having the light guide plate. When a light source is right opposite to a first spaced region (or a second spaced region) corresponding to and located between two first inclined V-shaped structures (or two second inclined V-shaped structures), lights emitted from the light source can be uniformed by the first inclined V-shaped structure and the second inclined V-shape structure in order to eliminate an uneven light and dark phenomenon generated on the inclined surface.
US09817164B2

According to embodiments of the invention, the design and fabrication of a binary superimposed grating (BSG) results in better performing devices that may be fabricated using existing technology. The fabrication process includes forming grating features based upon repeating features of the desired superposition function. The design process also relaxes the processing requirement for equivalently performing devices.
US09817154B2

An objective of the present invention is to provide an acrylic resin film having a violet color. The present invention is an acrylic resin film composed of an acrylic resin composition including an acrylic resin (A) and a coloring agent (B) composed of at least one selected from: a red coloring agent; a blue coloring agent; and a violet coloring agent, in which a chromatic coordinate (x, y) according to the XYZ colorimetric system under predetermined measurement conditions is within a range surrounded by four points (0.145, 0.025), (0.270, 0.240), (0.550, 0.340), and (0.600, 0.202).
US09817152B2

A method of creating three-dimensional borehole data is provided, including illuminating a borehole using collimated beams of electromagnetic radiation; rotating the collimated beams in a sweep of at least 360 degrees; detecting backscattered electromagnetic radiation returned from surfaces of associated illumination planes using electromagnetic radiation sensors; converting detected radiation into a corresponding set of volume image data; analyzing the volume image data using computational visualization processing techniques; and creating a three-dimensional image representative of the volume data. Imaging methodologies include a complete, radial conic-shaped surface while the imaging system remains stationary; a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d through the borehole between image capture operations; and a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d, where d is a distance less than or equal to the collimated beam thickness, so that adjacent scans partially overlap.
US09817151B2

A drive-through scanning system comprises a radiation generating means arranged to generate radiation at two different energy levels and direct it towards a scanning volume, detection means arranged to detect the radiation after it has passed through the scanning volume, and control means arranged to identify a part of a vehicle within the scanning volume, to allocate the part of the vehicle to one of a plurality of categories, and to control the radiation generating means and to select one or more of the energy levels depending on the category to which the part of the vehicle is allocated.
US09817150B2

An active radiation source portal monitoring system includes a particle accelerator to generate accelerated protons as a source of charged particles; a charged particles control unit to control the charged particles to enter into a volume to be scanned in a desired direction to interact with an object; a particle tracking unit to detect the charged particles exiting the volume after interacting with the object and generate signals indicative of information on the charged particles exiting the volume; and a signal processing unit communicatively coupled to the particle tracking unit. The signal processing unit can receive the generated signals and analyze scattering of the charged particles in one or more materials included in the object based on the received signals indicative of the information on the charged particles exiting the volume to obtain a tomographic profile or a spatial distribution of scattering centers within the object.
US09817147B2

The present invention provides an airborne electromagnetic receiver having a large dimension to allow low transmitter base frequency. A modular and configurable suspension assembly is provided for use within a receiver support structure and suspending the support structure. The suspension assembly has a rigid support having a suspension portion, and links connecting the suspension portion and the suspended structure. The links are adjustable in length and tension to radially suspend said equipment support structure. The natural frequency of the suspension assembly and the suspended receiver motion can be optimized by adjusting mass distribution, suspension link length and suspension link tension. The suspension assembly can be used to suspend a receiver having large receiver coils. The suspension assembly converts high frequency vibration forces imparted on the receiver to a low frequency oscillation. The suspension assembly may also be tuned to avoid coincidence with the excitation frequencies.
US09817145B2

The invention relates to a downhole inertial mass seismic-source system, apparatus and method for use within a wellbore environment to provide seismic signal energy at a wellbore location. The system comprises a first inertial mass apparatus with a fluid plunger that is in contact with a first wellbore fluid chamber and a second wellbore fluid chamber, a second inertial mass apparatus with a fluid plunger in contact with the first well bore fluid chamber, a third inertial mass apparatus with a fluid plunger in contact with the second well bore fluid chamber, an Inertial Mass Control System (IMCS) connected to the first inertial mass apparatus, and a power source providing power to the Inertial Mass Control System.
US09817139B2

An underwater observation apparatus includes an observation apparatus body, a weight structure, a coupling device, and a fusion cutting device. The observation apparatus body is configured to house at least a power source, a communication circuit for a communication device, and a signal processing device. The coupling device couples the observation apparatus body with the weight structure via a remote-controlled release structure capable of releasing the observation apparatus body from the weight structure. The underwater observation apparatus also includes a power feeding coil located inside of a glass sphere to generate magnetic flux, and a power receiving coil located outside of the glass sphere. The power receiving coil generates an induced voltage when interlinked by the magnetic flux generated by the power feeding coil. The power receiving coil is configured to supply drive power to the fusion cutting device.
US09817134B1

Embodiments of the invention are utilized to improve the timing performance of SiPM based PET detectors with light-sharing configuration. The universal readout design utilizes adaptive group readout to process noisy and slow signals generated by SiPM devices, and provides enhanced timing capabilities with simplified readout electronics.
US09817132B2

A digital x-ray detector comprises a substrate, gate and data lines on the substrate to have the lines intersect each other to form a pixel domain, a thin film transistor within the pixel domain and adjacent to a portion where the gate and data lines intersect each other, the thin film transistor including gate, source, and drain electrodes and an active layer, a PIN diode within the pixel domain and including a lower electrode connected to the source electrode of the thin film transistor, a PIN layer on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the PIN layer, a bias line connected to the upper electrode of the PIN diode, and a scintillator disposed above the PIN diode. An aperture hole is formed on a plate surface of the upper electrode to transmit a visible ray from the scintillator directly towards the PIN layer.
US09817124B2

A distance measuring apparatus is characterized in that: a detection unit 1 is provided with a light beam generating unit 12 which is provided with a plurality of light beam generation optical units each of which is provided with a laser light source, and a collimator, and a light beam lighting control unit which generates pulse signals for lighting laser beams as pulse lights in time series, a camera unit 11 which generates position detection information of a plurality of the laser beams, and an optical setting unit 13 which sets the light beam generating unit and the camera unit; and projects the plurality of laser beams, and sets distances of cut lines which are respectively locus lines of the laser beams between intersection points of viewing angle end lines of the camera unit and locus lines of the laser beams, in the vertical direction, as the plurality of distance measurement ranges; and a distance calculation unit 2 obtains a distances from a reference surface, from the position detection information, and discrimination signal, with reference to a calibration table corresponding to the distance measurement range; and thereby the distance measurement range can be expanded by measuring a plurality of different distance measurement ranges by one camera.
US09817121B2

A radar apparatus which can simply determine the sign of velocity of an object is provided. Laser light reflected by the object undergoes quadrature optical heterodyne detection performed by mixers, optical detectors, and a π/2 phase shifter, whereby I and Q component signals are output. A frequency analyzer performs FFT on a complex signal composed of the I component signal (real part) and the Q component signal (imaginary part) to thereby obtain its frequency spectrum. Since the frequency spectrum is calculated without being folded back even in a region where the frequency is negative, the sign of the Doppler frequency fd can be determined. When the Doppler frequency fd is positive, the sign of the velocity of the object is a direction toward the radar apparatus. When the Doppler frequency fd is negative, the sign of the velocity of the object is a direction away from the radar apparatus.
US09817117B1

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-component message for ensonifying multiple fans and deconstructs a corresponding message echo for use in analyzing the returns from each fan.
US09817116B1

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a projector array and a hydrophone array in a Mills Cross arrangement uses a multicomponent message to ensonify one or more fans to estimate a Doppler velocity.
US09817115B2

Weather radar system which uses antennas constituted by the elongated aperture of waveguides, and form at least an array (510, 520) mounted on a rotating horizontal (502), and the said apertures are as wide as one wavelength (λ) and length higher than 20λ, wherein the small aperture in azimuth ranges from 0.5° to 2° and is synthesized by high rotational speeds together with signal processing techniques such as ROSAR.
US09817112B2

Approaches for enhancing range-based position determination using pairwise error detection and compensation are provided. One method for enhancing a position estimate of a first node may include performing measurements at the first node using a signal received from a second node, and receiving measurements from the second node. The received measurements may be performed at the second node using a signal provided by the first node. The method may further include determining pairwise comparisons of the performed measurements and the received measurements, and compensating the measurements performed at the first node, based on the pairwise comparisons, for estimating the position of the first node. Systems and apparatuses for performing the various position determination methods are further presented.
US09817111B2

Disclosed here are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments for track association. An embodiment operates by receiving a first set of track identification data from a first tracking system. The first set of track identification data is associated with a global track identifier (GID). The first set of track identification data associated with the GID is broadcasted to the first tracking system and a second tracking system. A second set of track identification data is received from the second tracking system. The second set of track identification data identifies any tracks of the second tracking system that match the first set of track identification data. The GID is associated with the second set of track identification data.
US09817108B2

Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.
US09817104B2

According to one embodiment, a spatial position measurement apparatus, includes: a transmission unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave accompanying with a transmission source identifiable from three or more transmission sensors provided on a first object; a detection unit configured to detect the ultrasonic wave received by two or more reception sensors provided on a second object; a distance calculation unit configured to calculate distances between the transmission sensors and the reception sensors based on propagation time of the ultrasonic wave; and a coordinate calculation unit configured to calculate, in a coordinate system where a position of one group out of a group of the transmission sensors and a group of the reception sensors is fixed, positional coordinates of another group based on the distances.
US09817096B2

A gradient coil system has a cylindrical section in a central region, which contains no conductor elements and has a maximum outer radius that is larger than a minimum inner radius of conductor elements of a main gradient coil. An outer radius of this cylindrical section is only insubstantially smaller or equal in size to a minimum inner radius of a shielding coil in this axial range. The free space in the center of the gradient coil system is used to insert a passive RF shield, whose radius in a central region becomes larger over a certain length than its radius in outer regions. The RF shield is constructed from at least three partial sections, which are electrically interconnected. The actively shielded gradient coil system maximizes the volume of the RF region without loss of gradient coil system performance.
US09817094B2

A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes at least one magnet configured to induce a static magnetic field in a sample of material to be analyzed. At least one radio frequency antenna is configured to induce a radio frequency magnetic field in the sample of material to be analyzed. The sample chamber is disposed in a substantially longitudinally continuous sample holder separated into discrete sample chambers. Each sample chamber has an internal opening dimension such that substantially all of each sample is affected by surface contact phenomena with an internal wall of each sample chamber.
US09817092B2

A magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnet unit that includes at least one superconducting basic magnetic field coil, a magnet housing unit surrounding the at least one superconducting basic magnetic field coil, a cooling system that has at least one cooling loop and a heat absorption unit to cool the at least one superconducting basic magnetic coil, and an additional unit. The cooling system has a switching unit with at least one first cooling mode, and the switching unit couples the at least one cooling loop of the cooling system with the additional unit for a heat exchange in the first cooling mode.
US09817088B2

Magnetic devices and methods for forming a magnetic device are disclosed. The magnetic device includes a MTJ element. The MTJ element has first and second MTJ terminals which include first and second electrodes. The free layer of the MTJ element includes a natural precessional frequency which undergoes Rabi oscillation in the presence of a radio frequency (RF) matching the natural precessional frequency. A strain induced magnetoelectric (SIM) unit contacts one of the electrodes proximate to the free layer of the MTJ element while a digital line is coupled to the SIM unit. A desired voltage is provided on the digital line to cause the SIM unit to produce a desired strain on the electrode proximate to the free layer to tune the precessional frequency of the free layer to a desired precessional frequency for detecting a desired RF by the magnetic device. The desired RF causes a change in current through the MTJ element due to Rabi oscillation.
US09817083B2

Magnetic field sensors and associated techniques use a Hall effect element in a chopping arrangement in combination with a feedback path configured to reduce undesirable spectral components generated by the chopping.
US09817080B2

A magnetic field probe and a probe head thereof are disclosed herein. The probe head includes an inner metal layer, a shielding unit, and a filtering unit. The inner metal layer receives a magnetic field to be measured. The shielding unit, including a first shielding metal layer and a second shielding metal layer, shields the inner metal layer. The first and the second shielding metal layer are respectively stacked above and below the inner metal layer. The filtering unit, including a first filtering metal layer and a second filtering metal layer, filters out an electric field interfering with the inner metal layer. The first filtering metal layer is stacked between the first shielding metal layer and the inner metal layer. The second filtering metal layer is stacked between the second shielding metal layer and the inner metal layer.
US09817075B2

An impedance measuring device outputs an alternating current of a prescribed frequency to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the laminated type battery. The impedance measuring device detects an alternating-current potential difference between the positive electrode terminal and an intermediate-point terminal, and an alternating-current potential difference between the negative electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal. The impedance measuring device adjusts an amplitude of the alternating current such that the alternating-current potential difference between the positive electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal, and the alternating-current potential difference between the negative electrode terminal and the intermediate-point terminal coincide. The impedance measuring device computes an impedance of the laminated type battery on the basis of the alternating current adjusted and the alternating-current potential difference. On the a phase difference between an alternating-current potential generated at the positive electrode terminal and an alternating-current potential generated at the negative electrode terminal, or a parameter related to the phase difference, the impedance measuring device performs any one process of: a diagnosis process for diagnosing whether or not a measurement state is defective; a cancellation process for discarding a measurement result; and a hold process for fixing the measurement result at a prescribed value.
US09817074B1

A method and an apparatus for automatically computing work accuracy of a battery management system (BMS) includes the steps of controlling an automobile component simulation module to work, sending a work command to the BMS at the test moment t, and reading a prediction parameter, stopping working when the work command is completed, reading a work parameter and computing state of power (SOP) test accuracy of the BMS, determining whether a temperature of the battery pack exceeds a temperature threshold, if so, controlling a thermal management module to start working, and returning to the determination step, and otherwise, reading a stabilized parameter and performing computation to obtain state of charge (SOC) test accuracy of the BMS.
US09817063B2

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to interconnect reliability structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a plurality of resistors; and a voltmeter configured to sense a relative difference in resistance of the plurality of resistors indicative of at least one of a via-depletion and line-depletion.
US09817054B2

Methods and apparatus relating to electrical margining of multi-parameter high-speed interconnect links with multi-sample probing are described. In one embodiment, logic is provided to generate one or more parameter values, corresponding to an electrical operating margin of an interconnect. The one or more parameter values are generated based on a plurality of eye observation sets to be detected in response to operation of the interconnect in accordance with a plurality of parameter sets (e.g., by using quantitative optimization techniques). In turn, the interconnect is to be operated at the one or more parameter values if it is determined that the one or more parameter values cause the interconnect to operate at an optimum level relative to an operation of the interconnect in accordance with one or more less optimum parameter levels. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09817046B2

A system includes a test signal generator generating a test signal having a carrier and at least two sidebands, and provides the test signal to a device under test (DUT). A plurality of couplers sense an incident signal, a reflected signal, and a transmitted signal for the DUT at corresponding test ports of the test system when the test signal is supplied to the DUT. A signal processing apparatus: detects S-parameters for the DUT from the carrier present in each of the incident signal, reflected signal, and transmitted signal for the device under test; measures a dispersion for the DUT at each of the test ports from the two sidebands present in the incident signal, reflected signal, and transmitted signal for the device under test using the two frequencies; and combines the detected S-parameters and the measured dispersions to output enhanced measurements of the S-parameters and the dispersions.
US09817045B2

Identification and tracking of major electric appliances by using aggregate power data obtained at the main breaker level of a residence or commercial establishment. Step power changes and power surges characterize appliances. These features are identified and the time of use and duration statistics are considered to match an observed sequence of power changes with the appliances being turned on and off. The time-dependent usage of appliances and their power consumption are then reconstructed.
US09817039B2

In one embodiment, a current sensing circuit includes a differential current sensing amplifier adapted for sensing a voltage drop across a main transistor, the differential current sensing amplifier being adapted for providing a switched current output to a timing circuit which is adapted for providing a timing signal to one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits based on a current waveform of the switched current output, and the one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits, each of which are adapted for producing a substantially continuous output current. In another embodiment, a method for detecting a current includes driving a main transistor with a first current, driving one or more sensing transistors with a second current, measuring a sensing inductor current of the one or more sensing transistors, and determining the first current based on the sensing inductor current, wherein the sensing inductor current is related to the first current.
US09817036B2

A current sensor comprises a current carrying trace located within a substrate; and a sensing trace located within the substrate proximate to the current carrying trace; wherein the sensing trace detects an electromagnetic force (emf) generated by magnetic flux inductively coupled from the current carrying trace for transmitting to a current sensing device.
US09817031B2

A method for measuring current includes passing a DC current through the primary side of a transformer and driving the secondary side of the transformer with an AC voltage, wherein the current in the secondary side of the transformer reaches a plateau. The current in the secondary side of the transformer is measured during the plateau, wherein the measured current is proportional to the DC current.
US09817026B2

A testing device for wafer level testing of IC circuits is disclosed. An upper and lower pin (22, 62) are configured to slide relatively to each other and are held in electrically biased contact by an elastomer (80). The elastomer is precompressed from its natural rest state between a top (22) plate and a bottom (70). Pre compression improves the resilient response of the pins. The pin crowns (40) are maintained relatively coplanar by the engagement of at least one flange (44a-b) against an up-stop surface 90 of plate 20, thereby insuring coplanarity of the crowns. The pin guide (12) is maintained in alignment with the retainer 14 by establishing a registration corner (506) and driving the guide into the corner by elastomers in at least one diagonally opposite corner.
US09817022B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for determining a vehicle acceleration, which are used to eliminate an interference element in data of an accelerometer, and correct accelerometer data that is obtained after interference is eliminated, into acceleration data of a vehicle. The method includes: acquiring original acceleration data measured by the accelerometer in a running process of the vehicle; eliminating, according to the acquired original acceleration data, interference generated by gravity on the original acceleration data, and interference generated, on the original acceleration data, by a change of an angle of the accelerometer caused by moving of the accelerometer relative to the vehicle; and determining acceleration data of the vehicle in the running process according to original acceleration data that is obtained after interference is eliminated.
US09817012B2

In a method and in an apparatus for the controlled delivery of particles, said particles are supplied to a measurement station in which the quantity of particles is detected. The particles are subsequently transferred by the measurement station to a dispensing device and are dispensed.
US09816997B2

The present invention is related to the anti-SOX10 antibodies, kits, cocktails, and use of anti-SOX10 antibodies for detection of cancer.
US09816988B1

The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for analyzing the presence of a target analyte. The apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure can be operated in a multiplexed format to perform various assays of clinical significance.
US09816985B2

A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.
US09816975B2

A fluid state detection apparatus which can detect a short failure in which a constituent Wheatstone bridge circuit is shorted to a power supply. A combustible gas detection apparatus (1) judges that a short failure has occurred in a constant temperature control circuit (231) (S240) when a top potential V21 is equal to or greater than a first judgment value Vth1 and a difference D1 (=V11−V31) is equal to or greater than a second judgment value Vth2. As a result, apparatus (1) can distinguish “a state in which a bridge circuit (210) is shorted to a DC power supply (40) (where the constant temperature control circuit 231 is in a short failure state)” from “a state in which the resistance of the heat generation resistor (15) deceases due to a combustible gas (hydrogen)” based on the top potential V21 and the difference D1.
US09816974B2

The present invention relates to a method for measuring particle contamination of a transport carrier for conveying and storing semiconductor substrates at atmospheric pressure, implemented in a measuring station. The measuring method comprises: a step in which the measuring module (5) couples to the rigid casing (2), thereby defining a first measuring volume (V1) between the casing-measuring interface (16) and the coupled rigid casing (2) in order to measure contamination of the internal walls of the rigid casing (2); and a step in which the door (3) couples to the measuring module (5), thereby defining a second measuring volume (V2) between said measuring face (22) and the opposite door (3) in order to measure contamination of the door (3). The invention also relates to an associated measuring station.
US09816972B2

The present invention includes a method for distinguishing between a natural source of deep gas and gas leaking from a CO2 storage reservoir at a near surface formation comprising: obtaining one or more surface or near surface geological samples; measuring a CO2, an O2, a CH4, and an N2 level from the surface or near surface geological sample; determining the water vapor content at or above the surface or near surface geological samples; normalizing the gas mixture of the CO2, the O2, the CH4, the N2 and the water vapor content to 100% by volume or 1 atmospheric total pressure; determining: a ratio of CO2 versus N2; and a ratio of CO2 to N2, wherein if the ratio is greater than that produced by a natural source of deep gas CO2 or deep gas methane oxidizing to CO2, the ratio is indicative of gas leaking from a CO2 storage reservoir.
US09816970B2

A device for detecting anomalies in an aircraft turbine engine by acoustic analysis, the device not an onboard device and including: a mobile module including a directional system for acquiring acoustic signals from the turbine engine; a processor for processing the signals, which is suitable for generating a damage report; a transmitter for transmitting the damage report; a server capable of exchanging data with the mobile module, the server including a receiver for receiving the damage report; and a storage device suitable for storing the damage report.
US09816969B2

Providing adaptive channel state feedback (CSF) reports in discontinuous reception (DRX) scenarios in a power-efficient manner. The described algorithm may be able to make adaptive decisions to carry over the CSF from previous DRX cycles based on a comparison between an offset at which CSF values are stable and an offset at which a CSF report is to be sent to a base station. If the CSF values are not stable by the time the CSF report is to be sent, a CSF report from a prior DRX cycle may be used. Alternatively, if the CSF value are stable by the time the CSF report is to be sent, a determination may be made to either generate a new CSF report or use a prior CSF report. The latter determination may be made based on various criteria, including channel conditions and DRX cycle length.
US09816968B2

A method and system for checking functionality of an ultrasound therapy head. The waveform profile for typical ultrasound reflections for a functional therapy head are stored, and before use of a therapy head, an ultrasound energy burst (700) is sent, and the actual waveform profile of the returned reflections (702) are compared to the stored waveform profiles (706). If the actual profiles are not sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then a first signal (712) may be generated, which may cause the ultrasound therapy device to shut down or may generate a warning. If the actual profiles are sufficiently close to the stored profiles, then operation may continue (714), or a second signal may be produced, permitting operation of the ultrasound therapy device.
US09816965B2

A method of detecting a vibration node between a non-collocated sensor-actuator pair of a rotatable component includes applying an excitation signal to an actuator of the sensor actuator pair. The method also includes obtaining frequency response data from the sensor-actuator pair. The method further includes analyzing the frequency response data to ascertain a resonant frequency of the rotatable component. The method includes identifying a resonance/anti-resonance peak pair in the frequency response data for the non-collocated sensor-actuator pair. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether the vibration node is located between a sensor and the actuator of the non-collocated sensor-actuator pair based on the resonance/anti-resonance peak pair.
US09816964B1

An ultrasonic non-destructive testing method and device for rail applications uses a plurality of phased array transducers to inspect aluminothermit weld defects located in a head portion, a web portion, an ankle portion, and a toe portion of a weld of a rail section. The method includes: scanning the head portion of the weld including: a first phased array transducer positioned above the weld and a second phased array transducer positioned a distance from the first phased array transducer to provide inclined access to the weld; and scanning the toe portion of the weld including: positioning pairs of third, fourth, and fifth phased array transducers on a surface of the toe portion, such that the pairs of third, fourth and fifth phased array transducers are disposed symmetrically with one of the pair on each side of the toe portion.
US09816962B2

Apparatus (2) for sensing at least one parameter in water, which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) at least one electrode based sensor (4, 6) for sensing at least one parameter in water; and which apparatus (2) is such that: (ii) the electrode based sensor (4, 6) has a self-cleaning electrode; (iii) the electrode based sensor (4, 6) has a reference electrode; (iv) the self-cleaning electrode is stable in water; (v) the apparatus (2) is configured to operate by liberating chlorine from the water using a first waveform applied to the self-cleaning electrode; (VI) the apparatus (2) is configured to operate by liberating chlorine and oxygen from the water using a second waveform applied to the self-cleaning electrode; and (VII) the apparatus (2) is configured to preserve the condition of the reference electrode by periodically regenerating the reference electrode.
US09816954B2

A sensor of volatile substances includes: a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure capacitively coupled, comb-fingered, and arranged coplanar in a plane; and a sensitive layer, of a sensitive material that is permeable to a volatile substance and has electrical permittivity depending upon a concentration of the volatile substance absorbed by the sensitive material. The sensitive layer extends from opposite sides of the plane.
US09816952B2

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing measurement of material thermal properties including measurement of thermal effusivity of a coating and/or film or a bulk material of uniform property. The test apparatus includes an infrared camera, a data acquisition and processing computer coupled to the infrared camera for acquiring and processing thermal image data, a flash lamp providing an input of heat onto the surface of a two-layer sample with an enhanced optical filter covering the flash lamp attenuating an entire infrared wavelength range with a series of thermal images is taken of the surface of the two-layer sample.
US09816943B2

A device for the contactless examination of a butt weld of plastic pipes and fittings is provided. The device includes a carrier device, an illumination unit, and at least one sensor for monitoring the pipe ends or fitting ends to be welded and the weld seam, wherein the sensor is an electronic light-sensitive sensor.
US09816942B2

A nanotopographic measuring device comprises an input arranged to receive sets of measurement data relating to a semiconductor wafer and memory organized into first and second working tables and a results table. A calculation function is capable of establishing a current surface equation from localized gradient values. The equation is established in such a way as to generally minimize a deviation amount between the gradient values calculated from the current surface equation and the localized gradient values. A reconstruction function calculates localized gradient values from a set of measurement data corresponding to an area of the wafer and completes the working tables with these values. It repeatedly calls the calculation function, each time with a part of the values of the first working table and the second working table corresponding to a portion of the area of the wafer to determine, each time, a current surface equation. It completes the results table with the localized height data corresponding to this area, in relation to the reference plane of the wafer, the localized height data being calculated from at least certain of the current surface equations.
US09816937B2

A system for detecting the presence of water in oil, provides a detection head including a gap in which oil to be monitored may be received; at least a first optical fiber having a first end, optically coupled to transmit light across the gap; a micro electro-opto-mechanical (MEOM) device, the MEOM device comprising a photo-emitter and a photo-detector integrated onto a silicon based substrate, the photo-emitter being optically coupled to transmit light into a second end of the first optical fiber and the photo-detector being arranged to receive transmitted light that has been transmitted across the gap; and an electronic interface to the MEOM device for communicating therewith. A processor may be provided to analyze and compare the respective light signals to determine an amount of water present in the oil. By observing variations in absorption, the presence of water can be identified.
US09816935B2

The present disclosure relates to structures, systems, and methods for characterizing one or more fluorescent particles. At least one embodiment relates to an integrated waveguide structure. The integrated waveguide structure includes a substrate. The integrated waveguide structure also includes a waveguide layer arranged on top of the substrate. The waveguide layer includes one or more excitation waveguides, one or more emission waveguides, and a particle radiation coupler, which includes a resonator element. In addition, the integrated waveguide structure includes one or more sensing sites configured with respect to the one or more excitation waveguides and the one or more emission waveguides such that a fluorescent particle at one of the sensing sites is activated by an excitation radiation transmitted via the one or more excitation waveguides and radiation emitted by the fluorescent particle is coupled into at least one of the emission waveguides by the particle radiation coupler.
US09816934B2

This invention discloses a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus with automatic wavelength calibration. The LIBS apparatus comprises a database of pre-obtained LIBS spectra of standard calibration samples. When the LIBS spectrum of a target sample is acquired, a processor unit calculates a cross correlation between the LIBS spectrum of the calibration sample and the spectrum of the target sample in reference to a possible wavelength shift between the two spectra. The exact wavelength shift between the two spectra is found where the cross correlation reaches a maximum value. The wavelength shift of the target spectrum is then corrected through an interpolation procedure and the wavelength shift corrected spectrum is analyzed to obtain the composition information of the target sample.
US09816929B2

The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.
US09816927B2

The invention relates to a method for analysing a sample comprising at least a first and a second scale inhibitor, which scale inhibitors are synthetic organic compounds comprising at least one ionised group. The method comprises optionally diluting and/or purifying the sample, and allowing the sample interact with a reagent comprising lanthanide(III) ion. The sample is excited at a first excitation wavelength and a sample signal deriving from the lanthanide(III) ion is detected at a signal wavelength by using time-resolved luminescence measurement. The total concentration of the first and the second scale inhibitor is determined by using the detected sample signal, and the concentration of the first scale inhibitor in the sample is determined. The concentration of the second scale inhibitor is determined mathematically by using the obtained results for the total concentration and for the first scale inhibitor concentration.
US09816911B2

High numerical aperture collection optics for particle analyzers may include an ellipsoidal reflector or an ellipsoidal reflector in combination with a spherical reflector, and may efficiently collect light scattered or emitted by particles in a sample stream and then couple that collected light into a lower numerical aperture portion of the instrument's optical detection system, such as into an optical fiber for example. The reflectors may be integrated with a flow cell through which the sample stream passes, or may be separate components arranged around a flow cell or, in instruments not employing a flow cell, arranged around a sample stream in air. Refractive beam steering optics may allow multiple closely spaced excitation beams to be directed into the sample stream at low angles of incidence. The collection optics and refractive beam steering optics may be employed separately or in combination with each other.
US09816905B2

Process for analyzing a fracture or crack surface of a TiAl turbomachine part, comprising at least one of the steps consisting in: a) marking on the surface the position and the orientation of cleavage facets, so as to identify a region of fracture or crack initiation and to determine the direction of propagation of this fracture or crack, b) examining the surface and detecting the regions with the presence of equiaxed grains and/or lamellar grains, so as to evaluate the temperature at which the fracture or crack has taken place, and c) comparing the heat tintings of the surface with those of samples from a heat tinting color chart so as to evaluate the speed of propagation of the fracture or crack.
US09816890B2

A pressure sensor includes: a pressure sensor element; a metal adapter integrally attached to the pressure sensor element and defining therein a hole through which a pressure of a fluid to be measured is introduced to the pressure sensor element; a metal fitting member provided with a housing recess receiving the adapter and connectable to a connected member; and an operation member pressing a valve provided to the connected member and defining a communicating path through which a flow path, in which the pressure of the fluid to be measured is introduced, is in communication with the hole of the adapter. The adapter and the fitting member are connected to each other by plastic deformation. The operation member is a synthetic resin member including: a contact portion brought into contact with the adapter; and a pressing portion provided on a side opposite to the contact portion to press the valve.
US09816889B2

A sensing system that provides an isolation diaphragm through which pressure is transmitted from a process fluid to a fill fluid contained within the sensing system's body is provided. In the system, fill fluid transfers pressure to semiconductor sensors that provide signals for both the differential pressure and the static pressure, thereby allowing for signal conditioning of the differential output to compensate for the effects of static pressure. The system's body provides a cavity for fill fluid behind each of the isolation diaphragms. At least one flat plate actuation diaphragm allows controlled movement of oil as the differential pressure of the isolation diaphragm increases. Fluid volumes are managed for thermal effects, passive thermal volume change; compensation is accomplish by offsetting the large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of fill fluid by providing at least one insert whose coefficient of thermal expansion is smaller than the CTE of the system body.
US09816888B2

A sensor for detecting a position of an effective surface of the sensor includes a first magnetic field generator, a magnetic tunnel resistor, and a second magnetic field generator. The first magnetic field generator generates a first magnetic field that is oriented in an axis of a movement direction of the effective surface. The magnetic tunnel resistor is spaced from the first magnetic field generator in the extension of the axis. The magnetic tunnel resistor has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier. The tunnel barrier is arranged between the first layer and the second layer, and the first layer is electrically insulated from the second layer. The second magnetic field generator is configured to generate a second magnetic field that is oriented transversally to the axis. The second magnetic field generator is oriented in a fixed manner relative to the tunnel resistor.
US09816887B2

A method for manufacturing a pressure measuring cell, which has a ceramic platform and a ceramic measuring membrane, wherein the measuring membrane is joined with the platform pressure tightly by an active hard solder, or braze, wherein the method includes: providing the platform, the measuring membrane and the active hard solder, or braze, positioning the active hard solder, or braze, between the platform and the measuring membrane; melting the active hard solder, or braze, by irradiating the active hard solder, or braze, by a laser, wherein the irradiating of the active hard solder, or braze, occurs through the measuring membrane; and letting the active hard solder, or braze, solidify by cooling.
US09816883B2

A current source circuit flowing an output current to at least one detection element including a first terminal to which a first voltage is supplied and a second terminal being connected to the current source circuit includes a reference resistance, a current mirror circuit including at least one first transistor and at least one second transistor, and a control circuit controlling a voltage of a common wire that is connected to a terminal provided at the first transistor and a terminal provided at the second transistor such that a voltage of a terminal provided at the reference resistance comes to be equal to a reference voltage.
US09816881B2

A transducer structure including a carrier with an opening and a suspended structure mounted on the carrier which extends at least partially over the opening in the carrier is disclosed. The transducer structure may further include configuring the suspended structure to provide an electrostatic field between the suspended structure and the carrier by changing a distance between the suspended structure and the carrier. Alternatively, the suspended structure may be configured to change the distance between the suspended structure and the carrier in response to an electrostatic force provided between the suspended structure and the carrier.
US09816876B2

The invention relates to a method of measuring the temperature of a coiled component comprising the injection of a known DC current into a gauge wire (1) made of resistive material, the resistance of the gauge wire varying with temperature according to a known law, the measurement of potential difference between the terminals (7a, 7b) of said gauge wire, and a step of calculation transforming the potential difference into a mean temperature of the gauge wire, said gauge wire (1) being wound inside the coil, and arranged as a series of “outbound” turns (5) and a series of “inbound” turns (6) associated pairwise with a geometry and a position that are substantially equal. It also relates to a component made in order to be able to implement this method and the measurement device as a whole.
US09816870B2

A temperature indicating method, a temperature indicating label used by this method, and a method for manufacturing the temperature indicating label, includes: a, determining the target temperature, adopting the thermal induced shape memory polymer material to manufacture the temperature indicating label; b, heating the temperature indicating label to make it achieve or exceed the initial temperature of glass transition or melting transition but be lower than the terminal temperature of glass transition or melting transition, then finishing the predeformation treatment; and c, placing the predeformed temperature indicating label into the environment which needs temperature indication for a while, observing whether spontaneous shape recovery happens to the label and judging whether the environment temperature has once reached or exceeded the target temperature.
US09816868B2

The present invention pertains to a device for measuring a temperature distribution, which can measure a temperature distribution without contacting a minor sample having a three-dimensional structure. More particularly, the device for measuring the temperature distribution can measure a three-dimensional temperature distribution for a sample, wherein the temperature distribution in a depth direction (direction z) of the sample is measured by a thermo-reflectance technique using a chromatic dispersion lens, a diffraction spectrometer and an optical detection array; and the temperature distribution in parallel directions (direction x-y axes) of the sample is measured by the thermo-reflectance technique using a biaxial scanning mirror.
US09816859B1

The present invention provides a meter and method of use for measuring an optical attenuation coefficient in a liquid medium. In operation, a collimated beam, produced by a laser of the attenuation meter apparatus, propagates thru the liquid medium with filtered back-scattered light arriving at a camera of the meter. A light image is formed at a focal plane of the camera. The light image is recorded and analyzed by a microcomputer to provide optical beam attenuations coefficients.
US09816854B2

A capacitive ultrasonic transducer includes a sensor head having a back plate, the structured front side of which is provided with an insulation layer, and the back side of which is provided with an electrode. In order to achieve an improved construction by means of which increased temperature resistance up to several hundred degrees Celsius can be achieved even in strongly oxidizing and reducing media, the membrane provided as a sound generator is subjected to tensile stress in a planar direction.
US09816849B2

A fluid dispensing apparatus includes an actuator body with an actuator and a valve stem coupled for movement with the actuator, and a fluid body having a fluid chamber capable of fluid communication with an outlet. The valve stem is adapted to extend from the actuator body into the fluid chamber for dispensing fluid from the fluid chamber through the outlet. A quick connect member is provided to selectively fully engage and disengage a first coupling element on the actuator body with a second coupling element on the fluid body, to connect and disconnect the actuator body and the fluid body with respect to each other. The quick connect member advantageously connects or disconnects these bodies without requiring disassembly or dismounting of the bodies from other elements associated with the fluid dispensing apparatus, with a simple manual movement such as a sliding linear continuous movement.
US09816838B2

A magnetic sensor may comprise a first linear output sensing element configured to sense a first component of an external magnetic field associated with a first axis. The first linear output sensing element may provide a first output voltage corresponding to the first component of the external magnetic field. The magnetic sensor may also comprise a second linear output sending component configured to sense a second component of the external magnetic field associated with a second axis. The second axis may be substantially orthogonal to the first axis. The second linear output sensing element may provide a second output voltage corresponding to the second component of the external magnetic field. The first output voltage and the second output voltage may be provided to determine an angle, associated with the external magnetic field, corresponding to a plane including the first axis and the second axis.
US09816833B2

An electronic device offers acquired location information to a point-of-interest (POI) management server when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The POI management server offers POI identification information to the electronic device when the location information is matched to one of registered POIs. When the POI identification information is received from the POI management server, the electronic device performs a certain action.
US09816830B2

A navigation system provides lane guidance for a navigation route. The navigation route specifies actions for a user to navigate a route from an originating point to a destination along a set of road segments. The lane guidance at a position along the navigation route scores the lanes and provides the lane scoring for the user. To score the lanes, the navigation system determines a lane distance for each lane indicating how far along the navigation route a user may continue to use this lane, without shifting to another lane. The lane distance may be measured up to a look-ahead distance. The lane distance includes distance along subsequent road segments of the route, such that when a lane turns onto a lane on another road segment according to the navigation route, the distance along the other road may be included in the lane distance.
US09816828B2

A set of images that each include a comparable date, time, and location of image capture, and a directional bearing of image capture are correlated. The directional bearing of image capture specifies a direction of image capture relative to the respective location of image capture of each image. By analysis of image content within the correlated images, a determination is made that the correlated images include different directional representations of a single event, and that the single event is distinct from static fixed-location points of interest. Using the directional bearing of image capture of each correlated image, a location of an intersection region that results from intersecting directional bearings of image capture of the correlated images is identified as a dynamic attraction.
US09816824B1

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a computer-implemented transportation system which can include at least the following components: a specialized computer machine, including: a non-transient memory, electronically storing particular computer executable program code; a specifically programmed computer processor of the specialized computer machine of the computer-implemented transportation system that is configured to perform at least the following operations: electronically receiving, in real-time, via a computer network, a plurality of electronic riding requests from a plurality of electronic computing devices operated by a plurality of ride-sharing requesting passengers; where each electronic riding request from each ride-sharing requesting passenger includes: a passenger-requested origin point, and a passenger-requested destination point; for a particular electronic riding request, dynamically determining, in real-time, from a plurality of candidate vehicles an assigned vehicle for picking up the particular ride-sharing requesting passenger and a pair of assigned virtual pickup and dropoff bus stop tasks.
US09816821B2

An electronic device such as a portable electronic device is provided. The device may have wireless circuitry such as a global satellite navigation system receiver for receiving global satellite navigation system signals and for producing corresponding global satellite navigation system data. The global satellite navigation system data may include information on the current position of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may also have one or more sensors that are used to gather data in addition to the global satellite navigation system data. The sensors may include accelerometers and other devices capable of determining how the portable electronic device is oriented with respect to the Earth's magnetic field and how the device is being moved. When the device is moved, the movement and resulting change in orientation may be used in conjunction with the global satellite navigation system data to compute a current geographic location.
US09816815B1

A dual gyroscope stabilization system preferably includes a first rotor, a second rotor, a first motor, a second motor and a frame. The first rotor includes a rotor bore formed in one end and a first outer bearing pressed on to an opposing end. At least one bore bearing is pressed into the rotor bore. The second rotor includes a first outer diameter and a second outer diameter. The second diameter is rotatably retained by the at least one bore bearing. A second outer bearing is pressed on to an end of the first outer diameter. The frame preferably includes a first end plate, a second end plate and at least one lengthwise member. The first end plate retains the first motor and the second end plate retains the second motor. A second embodiment is submersible. Stopping a gyroscopic effect by reversing rotation of the second rotor.
US09816808B2

The invention relates to a measuring device for acquiring surface data and/or interfaces of a workpiece to be processed by a laser processing device. The laser processing device comprises a laser source and a processing head which is configured to provide at least one high-energy processing beam, in particular a laser beam. The laser source and the processing head are interconnected by an optical fiber and the measuring device comprises a scanning device configured as an optical coherence tomograph for surface scanning and/or interface scanning of the workpiece. The optical fiber which interconnects the laser source and the processing head forms a component of the scanning device.
US09816807B2

The present invention relates to a method of analyzing a laminated object and to a system for analyzing a laminated object. Illustrative embodiments herein relate to optical interferometry techniques for non-destructively analyzing laminated objects with large surface utilized to obtain data relating to the topography of an object under examination and to further process the obtained topographical data so as to identify type and/or severity and/or position of surface defects.
US09816800B2

In one aspect the invention provides a method of fabricating a laminate of flexible and compliant layers of material, such as used to provide a dielectric elastomer sensor. According to the method a flexible and compliant layer of material which is affixed to a substrate to avoid strain during processing is bonded to another layer of flexible and compliant material and released from the substrate to form a laminate. The layer of flexible and compliant material affixed to the substrate may be inspected prior to bonding.
US09816793B2

A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or inforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The munition also includes a shock-resistant fuzewell for absorbing shocks during the penetration, to allow a fuze within the fuzewell to survive hard target penetration. The fuzewell may have one or more shock-absorbing features, such as having a ring surrounding a central housing, with flexible spokes connecting the ring to the central housing. The shock-absorbing features may allow the fuze to withstand the penetration into a hard target, with the fuze subsequently being used to detonate an explosive of the munition.
US09816791B2

An artillery shell is fired out of a gun towards a fire. A trigger releases a fire-retarding material from the artillery shell to retard the fire.
US09816779B2

A smart holster system includes a holster and an electronic data storage device (EDSD) having authorized user identification information stored therein. The holster includes a holster body, a latch and a control system. The holster body forms a compartment having a latch receptacle, where the trigger area of a handgun stored in the compartment is disposed within the latch receptacle. A first portion of the latch is moveable between extended withdrawn positions with the latch first portion being disposed within the latch receptacle when it is in the extended position. The control system unlocks the holster when a control system EDSD reader detects the authorized user identification information stored in the EDSD, permitting movement of the latch first portion from the extended position to the withdrawn position.
US09816772B2

A handheld finger activated semi-automatic arm may include a barrel, a trigger, a moveable gun bolt and a trigger reset mechanism. The trigger reset mechanism may use rigid mechanical contact between the trigger and the gun bolt during an earliest portion of the operating cycle. The trigger may be blocked from depression by the gun bolt up to 99% of the operating cycle.
US09816771B2

A firearm (1), for example a pistol or a rifle, is described, wherein the drive mechanism (5) of the firing pin (6) is controlled by a trigger (T), a key or a button, laterally positioned on the firearm (1) and operable by the hand thumb. The firearm, with respect to the known art, is characterized by a reduced aiming distance (d1), which is the distance between the index finger (f1) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the barrel (2). This leads to a reduced recoil.
US09816769B1

Provided is a firearm gas operating system. A gas block includes a cylinder housing. A gas actuation piston in the cylinder housing reciprocates between forward and rearward positions and has a head portion with a recess. A switchable gas control valve is insertable into the forward end of the cylinder housing and includes a central passageway open at forward and rear ends. A tubular extension open at opposite ends extends axially rearward from the gas control valve and is configured to be received by the piston head portion recess. Gas pressure diverted from the barrel causes the piston to reciprocate from its forward position, where the head portion recess extends over the tubular extension, to its rearward position, where the head portion recess disengages from the tubular extension, allowing gas to exhaust through the tubular extension and forward end of the control valve to atmosphere.
US09816768B2

A firearm may have gas operating system that renders the firearm capable of firing a wide range of shot loads by passively or automatically compensating for different shot loads. The firearm may include a plurality of ports formed in the firearm barrel, and corresponding ports formed in a gas block of the gas operating system. The ports tap gases generated during firing which are used to cycle the firearm. When firing different cartridge loads, differing combinations of the ports are selectively at least partially blocked or otherwise obstructed by the cartridge casing according to the size of the cartridge. Additionally, the gas operating system includes compensating gas pistons with internal relief valves that can bleed off excess gas to compensate for larger shot loads regardless of the size of the cartridge.
US09816762B2

An inner fin is a wave fin having board portions extending in a pipe longitudinal direction and a top portion connecting the board portions located adjacent with each other. The wave fin has a wave-shaped cross-section perpendicularly intersecting a pipe longitudinal direction, and the board portion is bent into a waveform extending in the pipe longitudinal direction when seen from a pipe layering direction. A wave pitch WP [mm], a wave depth WD [mm], and a passage width H [mm] are set to satisfy relationships of 2.2≦WP/WD≦4.28 and 0.5≦WD/H≦1.8.
US09816756B2

Example dryers and washer-dryers having a closed process air circuit having a drum, a condenser downstream from the drum for dehumidifying warm moist air, and a thermoelectric device having a cold side arranged in the process air circuit downstream from the drum are disclosed. Example thermoelectric devices have a warm side cooled by a fluid which is circulated in a liquid/air heat exchanger arranged in the process air circuit downstream from the condenser. Using the disclosed architectures, appliance design can be simplified without decreasing overall system performance.
US09816749B2

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator in which unnecessary operation of a compressor is prevented for saving power consumption of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator connected to the compressor, a refrigerant valve for guiding refrigerant to the refrigerating chamber evaporator or the freezing chamber evaporator, and a control unit for controlling the refrigerant valve such that the refrigerant valve blocks or introduces the refrigerant to cause an inside pressure of the freezing chamber evaporator to be elevated higher than an inside pressure of the refrigerating chamber evaporator during evaporation at the refrigerating chamber evaporator for the compressor to draw in the refrigerant remained in the freezing chamber evaporator which did not evaporate.
US09816747B2

A refrigerator in which an ice making chamber case including a horizontal wall, a vertical wall, a front opening and a front edge is coupled to an inside of an inner case, to form an ice making chamber. A case insulator is disposed in a wall space of the ice making chamber case. The case insulator is foamed separately from a body insulator which is foamed between inner and outer cases of a refrigerator body. Since the case insulator is foamed separately from the body insulator, it is possible to easily achieve foaming of the case insulator. It is also possible to prepare the ice making chamber case separately from molding of the inner case.
US09816746B1

A refrigeration appliance door bin assembly that includes: a refrigeration appliance door bin having a substantially planar main base portion, at least one upwardly extending wall that is free of an indentation, apertures or recesses extending upward from the main base portion and a downwardly extending perimeter lip portion where the main base portion and the downwardly extending lip portion define a downwardly facing door bin frame engagement space, the door bin engagement space engages a door bin frame of a refrigerator spaced within the door of a refrigerator such that the downwardly extending lip portion surrounds an exterior portion of the door bin frame and prevents substantial movement of the door bin when the door bin is engaged with the door bin frame caused by a refrigeration appliance door opening force or a refrigeration appliance door closing force; and a refrigeration appliance door bin bottom surface cover.
US09816742B2

Detection of reverse rotation or operation of a refrigerant compressor is provided. In one aspect, a detection technique includes starting the compressor and determining the compressor is rotating in a reverse direction if a dome temperature of the compressor fails to exceed a first predetermined threshold at or before expiration of a first predetermined period of time following starting, the refrigerant pressure at a refrigerant inlet of the compressor remains constant for a second predetermined period of time following starting, and/or the frequency of pressure oscillations of the refrigerant at the refrigerant inlet exceeds a second predetermined threshold. Another technique for determining the compressor is rotating in the reverse direction involves analyzing a waveform associated with motor current, motor torque, or refrigerant pressure. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects shall become apparent from the description and drawings.
US09816741B2

A refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator are provided. The method may include driving a refrigerating cycle including a first evaporator and a second evaporator by activating at least one compressor, supplying refrigerant to the first and second evaporators by controlling a flow adjuster, recognizing whether the refrigerant is unequally introduced into the first or second evaporator, by sensing a temperature of the first or second evaporator through at least one temperature sensor, reducing supply of the refrigerant to the first or second evaporator into which the refrigerant is unequally introduced, by adjusting the flow adjuster, storing information about an operation time of the flow adjuster, recognizing whether the at least one temperature sensor has malfunctioned, and determining an operation time of the flow adjuster according to whether the at least one temperature sensor has malfunctioned.
US09816739B2

A refrigeration circuit comprises in the direction of flow of a refrigerant at least one compressor; at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger; at least one expansion device; and at least one evaporator. The refrigeration circuit further comprises at least one heat recovery heat exchanger having a refrigeration circuit side and heat recovery system side and being configured for transferring heat between the refrigeration circuit side and the heat recovery system side, wherein the refrigeration circuit side is fluidly connected in parallel to the at least one heat rejecting heat exchanger; and at least one regulation valve, configured for regulating the flow of refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration circuit side of the at least one heat recovery heat exchanger. The at least one regulation valve is switchable between an open position, a closed position, and at least one intermediate position.
US09816732B2

An energy transfer unit for a geothermal system includes an outer housing. A heat exchanger is located within the housing. An inlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger and an outlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger.
US09816719B2

An HVAC system includes an HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning the air in an inside space, and a programmable thermostat located remotely from the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit may have an onboard controller configured to control when the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not. In some cases, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit may use a common temperature setpoint when controlling in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The programmable thermostat may have a programmable schedule with a plurality of time periods, where each time period has a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint separated by a dead band. The onboard controller of the HVAC unit may be configured to accept input signals from the remotely located thermostat. The remotely located thermostat may send one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit in accordance with the programmable schedule, where the one or more input signals cause the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode.
US09816717B1

Apparatus, systems and methods of 80/90 CFM ventilation exhaust fans for bathrooms with telescoping side extension brackets and side by side electric driven motor and blower wheel, and being used with or without lights. The exhaust fans can include a single main housing, that allows for a blower housing to support the motor and a blower wheel in a side by side arrangement. The exhaust fans can further include an outside wiring box that is externally located to the main housing. The wiring box can have support male plugs and female receptacles for supplying an electrical power supply to the electric motor and light. The side extension brackets can include telescoping members that allow the exhaust fans to be easily attached to structural members inside of a ceiling so that the exhaust fan has a vent cover attached to the ceiling. Inside of the exhaust fans can be light box with closed sides and bottom which prevents incoming air from passing directly onto the lights. Instead incoming air is drawn to pass around the outside of the light box so that the light box functions as a heat sink reducing the heat generated from the light.
US09816702B2

The present invention relates to a waste feed device for feeding waste into a combustion space of a waste incineration plant, including a waste feed shaft wall surrounding a waste feed shaft. In this case, at least part of the waste feed shaft wall is formed from a multiplicity of separate panels which are connected releasably to one another and which comprise, on their side facing the waste feed shaft, a panel inner wall and, on their side facing away from the waste feed shaft, a panel outer wall which is spaced apart from the panel inner wall and which with the panel inner wall surrounds a panel cavity.
US09816691B2

A flexible sheet of light-emitting diode (LED) light emitters includes a support substrate having a thermally conductive material. The flexible sheet of LED light emitters also has an LED emitter sheet overlying the support substrate, and the LED emitter sheet including a plurality of LED light emitters. The flexible sheet of LED light emitters also has a flexible circuit sheet overlying the LED emitter sheet, and a phosphor sheet overlying the flexible circuit sheet. The phosphor sheet includes a wave-length converting material. The flexible sheet of LED light emitters also has a lens sheet overlying the phosphor sheet. The lens sheet includes a plurality of lenses.
US09816685B2

Provided is a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition may be applied as a light diffusing or scattering material to various display devices or lighting apparatuses.
US09816683B2

A projection device including a light source system having an excitation light source for generating a excitation light, a wavelength conversion device, a supplemental light source for generating a supplemental light, a light introducing device for directing the supplemental light to the wavelength conversion device, a light collection device for collecting the supplemental light that scattered and reflected by the wavelength conversion device. By setting the relative sizes of the light introducing device and the light collection device, the luminous flux of the supplemental light that is lost due to the light introducing device is less than or equal to a quarter of that the luminous flux of the supplemental light collected by the light collection device. The converted light is supplemented by the supplemental light.
US09816681B1

A portable indirect lighting apparatus includes first and second support structures. Each support structure includes a respective longitudinal light source having a linear array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A respective longitudinal lens is positioned proximate to each linear array of LEDs to receive and redirect the light emitted by the LEDs. A flexible reflector extends between the first and second support structure. The reflector has at least one diffusedly reflective surface. The reflector is configurable to an operational configuration with the diffusedly reflective surface positioned to receive the light redirected by the first and second longitudinal lenses. The reflector is configurable to a transportable configuration with at least a portion of the reflector wrapped around at least one of the first and second support structures.
US09816678B2

The invention relates to a light guide unit (3) for a light-emitting unit (1) for a projector lamp, in particular a motor vehicle headlamp, wherein the light-emitting unit (1) comprises a plurality of light sources (2), the light guide unit (3), and a downstream projection lens (4), wherein the light guide unit (3) has a plurality of light guides (30), wherein each light guide (30) has a light exit surface (30a), and wherein each light source (2) couples light precisely into a light guide (30) assigned thereto, and wherein adjacent light guides (30) are separated from one another by separating walls (31, 32). In accordance with the invention the light guide unit (3) comprises an accommodating element (5), which accommodating element (5) has an accommodating opening (5a) which passes completely through the accommodating element (5) in the light exit direction, and furthermore comprises at least one light guide body (6), which at least one light guide body (6) is in the form of a component formed separately from the accommodating element (5), in which at least one light guide body (6) at least some of the light guides (30) of the light guide unit (3) are formed, and wherein the at least one light guide body (6) is inserted into the accommodating opening (5a) of the accommodating element (5).
US09816674B2

The present application relates to a lighting device (1) comprising a main body (2) having an inner surface (3) and an outer surface (4). The inner surface (3) at least in part forming a section (12) for receiving a light source. The outer surface (4) having a first thread (8) along at least part of said outer surface (4), wherein said first thread (8) is for directly or indirectly securing the lighting device (1) in a building part. The invention further relates to a receiving element (17) and an insertion (29) for use with the lighting device (1).
US09816650B2

A pipe joint with which loss of rotational force added by electric tools or man power is made remarkably small, and a fastening ring can be diminished with small torque, plural fastening rings 6 vertically wound for a predetermined center angle of 360° to 480°, a guiding member 8 holding the fastening rings 6 as to restrict falling of the fastening rings 6 and allow diminishing deformation, an approximately triangular toggle member 11 disposed to protrude in a radial outer direction from the fastening rings 6 in a pipe unconnected state, and a bolt-nut connection X for moving a central peak portion of a toggle member 11 in a radial inner direction as to reduce a height dimension of the toggle member 11, are provided.
US09816649B2

A pipe coupling includes a clamp housing including at least one end having two opposing clamp members and one or more tightening elements for tightening the clamp members towards each other in a direction transverse to an axial length of the clamp housing so as to apply a radially-inward clamping force on a pipe being clamped in the clamp housing. An at least partially annular seal is mounted in the at least one end of the clamp housing. The seal has a folded-inwards configuration in which a foldable portion of the seal is folded inwards to create a first inner diameter, and a folded-outwards configuration in which the foldable portion of the seal is unfolded outwards to create a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter.
US09816646B2

A threaded connection including first and second tubular components, each including a respective male and female end, the male end includes at least one threaded zone on its external peripheral surface and ending in a terminal surface, the female end includes at least one threaded zone on its internal peripheral surface and ending in a terminal surface, the threaded zones including, over at least a portion of their length, threads each including, viewed in longitudinal section passing through the axis of the tubular component, a thread crest, a thread root, a load flank, and a stabbing flank. Profiles of the male and female load flanks, viewed in longitudinal section passing through the axis of revolution of the connection, are a continuous curve with a convex or concave form, the profile of the male flanks being complementary to that of the female flanks over at least 70% of the continuous curve.
US09816638B2

A protruding section formed at the one side end of a connector section provided in a valve is inserted into a recessed section formed as part of a valve placement section of a fluid apparatus. The valve is caused to pivot with the inserted portion that serves as a supporting point, and an engaging section formed at the front end of a lever of a hook section formed at the other side end of the connector section is allowed to engage with an engaging protruding section formed as part of the valve placement section of the fluid apparatus. The valve is thus attached to the fluid apparatus.
US09816631B1

A valve assembly configured for use with an inflatable product, such as a mattress, chair, pool, spa, float, or another suitable inflatable product. The valve assembly includes a first valve component that serves as an opening for inflation and/or deflation of the inflatable product, and a second valve component that serves as an opening for deflation or decompression of the inflatable product.
US09816627B2

Gas flow control valves comprising a valve housing including a cylindrical interior passage, and a housing opening extending from the interior passage through the housing. The gas flow control valve further comprises a cylindrical rotary valve element including a sidewall, and a rotary valve element opening extending through the sidewall. The valve element is rotatably received within the interior passage of the valve housing, such that the housing opening may be selectively aligned with the rotary valve element opening, and an area of overlap of the housing opening and the valve element opening may be varied by rotating the valve element within the interior passage of the valve housing.
US09816625B2

A seal carrier for a ball valve includes a carrier body to be located between a ball and a portion of a valve body. The carrier body may have an annular channel for carrying a ring seal in a side to be located proximate the ball. A spring is located at a peripheral portion of the carrier body. An end portion of the spring is configured to abut against the portion of the valve body, and the spring is configured to provide a compressive force between the portion of the valve body and the ball in a direction parallel with the direction of fluid flow through the ball valve assembly. A ball valve assembly may include such seal carriers. Methods of forming such seal carriers are also included.
US09816621B2

There is provided a shut-off valve including: a valve body part having a valve body surface; a valve seat part provided around an inlet, and having a valve seat surface disposed at a position opposite to the valve body surface; and a moving mechanism that is connected to the valve body part, and moves the valve body part in a direction of an axis to switch to either a shut-off state or a circulation state, wherein the valve seat part has an endless inner peripheral side projection and an endless outer peripheral side projection that project from the valve seat surface toward the valve body surface along the axis, and the valve body part has a diaphragm forming the valve body surface, and an elastic member disposed on a back surface of the diaphragm.
US09816620B2

A butterfly valve seal arrangement in a butterfly valve having a cylindrical flow channel with a wall includes a seal flange, an elastomeric seal, a seal channel, and an annular seal retaining ring. The seal flange extends into the cylindrical flow channel from the wall of the cylindrical flow channel. The seal channel is recessed into the wall of the cylindrical flow channel adjacent to the seal flange. And the annular seal retaining ring includes tabs extending into the seal channel which hold the annular seal retaining ring in the cylindrical flow channel. An elastomeric seal is held in compression in the seal channel and against the seal flange by the annular seal retaining ring, and extends into the cylindrical flow channel forming a seal surface held in compression against a vane seat of a vane in a position perpendicular to a direction of flow.
US09816609B2

A vehicle controller includes a lock-up clutch disposed to a power transmission path between an engine and a driving wheel, and a clutch configured to connect and disconnect the power transmission path, wherein at the time of switching driven traveling for causing a vehicle to travel by connecting the power transmission path and inertia traveling for causing the vehicle to travel by disconnecting the power transmission path, the lock-up clutch and the clutch are switched at switching start timings different from each other.
US09816605B2

The present disclosure relates to various shift selector assemblies having a shift gate with a plurality of indentations corresponding to transmission shift selections. At least one of the indentations is configured to have a flexible depth so as to selectively restrict and accept a pawl pin, thereby mitigating shift position overshoot.
US09816603B2

An axle assembly having a housing assembly that may have at least one lubricant passage. The lubricant passage may provide lubricant to an interaxle differential unit via a roller bearing assembly and at least one flange lubricant hole that may be provided in a flange portion of an input shaft.
US09816600B2

A slew drive includes a housing, a worm shaft having a worm thread carried within the housing for rotational movement and a torque tube having an outer surface. The torque tube is carried by the housing for rotational movement perpendicularly to the worm shaft and worm thread. A ring gear section having teeth is carried by the torque tube with the teeth engaging the worm threads. An inner raceway is fabricated as an integral part of the torque tube. An outer raceway is fabricated as an integral part of the housing, the outer raceway radially overlying the inner raceway, and bearing elements captured between the inner raceway and the outer raceway.
US09816597B2

A sintered pulley may include a body of a metal alloy and configured with a substantially annular shape. The body may include a first face of contact with a crankshaft, a second face of contact with a securing element, and a concentric hole for associating the pulley with the crankshaft. The second face of contact may have a region of a point of contact with the securing element disposed proximate to the hole. The region of the point of contact may have a density of between 7.3 and 7.5 g/cm3.
US09816593B2

In a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, an input shaft receives power from an external source and rotates an intermediate mechanism that converts the rotation to an oscillatory movement and converts the oscillatory movement to a one-way rotation that drives an output shaft, with transmission ratio according to load on the output shaft.
US09816581B2

A partition member (16) is provided with a whirl chamber unit (31a, 31b) that causes two liquid chambers to communicate with each other, the whirl chamber unit (31a, 31b) includes a whirl chamber (33a, 33b) that whirls a liquid flowing therein, a rectification passage (34a, 34b) that causes one liquid chamber to communicate with the whirl chamber (33a, 33b) and that is opened in the whirl chamber (33a, 33b) in a circumferential direction of the whirl chamber (33a, 33b), and a communication hole (32a, 32b) that causes the other liquid chamber to communicate with the whirl chamber (33a, 33b). The whirl chamber (33a, 33b) forms a whirl flow of a liquid depending on a flow rate of the liquid flowing from the rectification passage (34a, 34b) and causes the liquid to flow from the communication hole (32a, 32b). The whirl chamber unit (31a, 31b) includes a plurality of first whirl chamber units (31a) in which a first whirl chamber (33a) as the whirl chamber communicates with the first liquid chamber (14) via a first rectification passage (34a) as the rectification passage and communicates with the second liquid chamber (15) via a first communication hole (32a) as the communication hole. The vibration prevention device (10) can exhibit damping characteristics with high accuracy.
US09816573B2

The brake pad 10 includes a friction material 12 provided on the side of the disc 200 and a back plate 11 bonded to the friction material on the opposite side of the disc 200. A thickness of a peripheral region of the back plate on the side of a center of the disc is larger than a thickness of a peripheral region of the back plate on the side of an outer circumference of the disc. In the case where a minimum value of the thickness of the peripheral region of the back plate on the side of the center of the disc is defined as “h2 [mm]” and a maximum value of the thickness of the peripheral region of the back plate 11 on the side of the outer circumference of the disc is defined as “h1 [mm]”, h1 and h2 satisfy a relationship of “h2−h1<3”.
US09816568B2

A disconnect clutch includes a wedge carrier, a wedge plate, an inner hub and a latching diaphragm spring. The wedge carrier has a pair of inwardly facing tapered rings. The wedge plate has a pair of outwardly facing tapered ring portions for mating engagement with the wedge carrier inwardly facing tapered rings, a plurality of inner ramp portions with respective tapered inner surfaces, and a radially flexible middle portion connecting the outwardly tapered ring portions and plurality of inner ramp portions. The inner hub has a plurality of outer ramp portions with tapered outer surfaces for engagement with the plurality of wedge plate ramp portion tapered inner surfaces. The latching diaphragm spring is for displacing the inner hub relative to the wedge carrier to radially expand the wedge plate.
US09816565B2

Provided is a cage (5, 65, 95) for a constant velocity universal joint, which is formed into a ring shape with a substantially uniform thickness, including a plurality of pockets (20, 80, 110) formed in a circumferential direction of the cage (5, 65, 95), for receiving torque transmitting balls, respectively, the cage (5, 65, 95) being formed of carbon steel including 0.41 to 0.51 mass % of C, 0.10 to 0.35 mass % of Si, 0.60 to 0.90 mass % of Mn, 0.005 to 0.030 mass % of P, and 0.002 to 0.035 mass % of S, with the balance being Fe and an element inevitably remaining at the time of steelmaking and refining, the cage (5, 65, 95) being subjected to carburizing, quenching, and tempering as heat treatment, each of the plurality of pockets (20, 80, 110) having a side surface (23, 83, 113) finished after the heat treatment.
US09816545B2

The present invention relates to headed push-in fasteners of the type produced by Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. known as TackPins and TackScrews. More specifically it relates to a Tack Pin or a Tack Screw with a Belleville head that provides the functionality of a Bellville washer without needing a separate part. When installed, the compression of the Bellville shaped head will cause a permanent loading to be applied under the head of the fastener, essentially creating a clamping force to the members being attached.
US09816540B2

A clip for removably and releasably securing an item onto a structure may include a singular, elongated body with an interior portion forming a cavity on the bottom end of the elongated body. The cavity may be sized and shaped to receive an edge of the structure for removably securing the clip to the structure. The clip may include a pushing surface sized and shaped for a user to removably secure the clip on the edge of the structure. The clip may also include a first set of two or more tabs disposed along the side portions of the elongated body and projected out at an acute angle, the first set of two or more tabs sized and shaped to provide a gripping surface on the side portions of the elongated body for the user to pull the clip off of the edge of the structure.
US09816538B1

A hydraulic cylinder enclosing a cavity, the cylinder containing a thru hole, an inner cylinder surface, and a longitudinal axis, and a piston within the cavity and movable relative to the cylinder in parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first and second positions. The piston includes a rod extending through the thru hole, the piston attached to the rod and in sealed engagement with the inner cylinder surface, and dividing the cavity into low and high pressure cavities, and each of the low and high pressure cavities containing a hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic cylinder further including a flexible bladder within the high pressure cavity containing a gas and preventing the gas from mixing with hydraulic fluid in the high pressure cavity. The flexible bladder is attached to an end of the cylinder, and is expandable within the high pressure cavity so that when the piston is in the first position, the flexible bladder and the gas are compressed, and as the piston moves toward the second position, the flexible bladder and the gas fill at least a portion of the high pressure cavity.
US09816537B2

A rotary actuator includes a housing, a rotor assembly rotatably journaled in said housing and including a rotary output shaft, a central actuation assembly including a central mounting point formed in an external surface of the rotary output shaft, said central mounting point proximal to the longitudinal midpoint of the rotary output shaft, a mounting assembly adapted for attachment to an external mounting connector of a mounting surface of an aircraft structural member, and an actuation arm removably attached at a proximal end to the central mounting point, said actuation arm adapted at a distal end for attachment to an external mounting feature of an aircraft assembly to be actuated.
US09816526B2

A wall ring for a fan, with a fan wheel, includes at least one heating element for heating the wall ring. The heating element includes an electrically conductive heating layer which is disposed on the inner side of the wall ring facing the fan wheel. The electrically conductive heating layer of the heating element may be configured as an electrically conductive CNT coating having carbon nano-materials.
US09816524B2

The centrifugal compressor (1) includes: an impeller (3); and a casing (2) accommodating the impeller (3). The casing (2) includes: an inlet (6); an impeller-accommodating portion (14) in which the impeller (3) is disposed; an annular chamber (11) formed around the inlet (6); a downstream groove (13) communicating a downstream end portion of the annular chamber (11) with the impeller-accommodating portion (14); and an upstream groove (12) communicating an upstream end portion of the annular chamber (11) with the inlet (6). In addition, the downstream groove (13) is provided in a predetermined range in a circumferential direction of the impeller (3) so as to communicate with a high-pressure part to occur in part of the impeller-accommodating portion (14), and the upstream groove (12) is provided over the entire circumference of the inlet (6).
US09816518B2

A centrifugal impeller for a turbomachine is provided. The centrifugal impeller comprises a plurality of aerodynamic vanes, each of the aerodynamic vanes having internal walls on which is associated a fabric element.
US09816514B2

A magnetic bearing device includes first and second radial electromagnets supporting a rotor shaft in a contactless manner in first and second radial directions. A controller controls each of a first excitation amplifier and a second excitation amplifier based on a result of demodulation by each of a first demodulation section and a second demodulation section. The phase of a second carrier signal differs by (π/2+θ) radian from the phase of a first carrier signal. A first demodulation section samples a detection signal of a first current sensor at sampling timing shifted by a phase θ from timing at which a first carrier signal becomes a peak, and a second demodulation section samples the detection signal of a second current sensor at sampling timing shifted by a phase (−θ) from timing at which the second carrier signal becomes a peak.
US09816508B2

A dry-type cable wire outlet device for a submersible electrical pump includes a wire outlet box positioned in a wellbore, a cable protection pipe, a wire outlet sealing device and a cable. The wire outlet box is connected to the top of a submersible electrical pump. One end of the cable protection pipe is connected to the top of the wire outlet box, and the other end extends out of the well cover of the wellbore. The cable is positioned in the cable protect pipe and connected with the submersible electrical pump through the wire outlet box. The wire outlet sealing device is connected to the well cover, and an end of the cable protection pipe extending outside the well cover is positioned in the wire outlet sealing device. When the device is in use, the opening at the top end of the cable protection pipe is no longer exposed.
US09816504B2

Provided is a scroll compressor having an improved structure in which reliability of a compression portion can be enhanced. The scroll compressor includes a compression unit that compresses a refrigerant introduced into a body, wherein the compression unit may include: a fixed scroll fixed into the body and having an ejection hole and a fixed wrap placed at an outside of the ejection hole; and an orbiting scroll orbiting with respect to the fixed scroll and having an orbiting wrap that constitutes a compression chamber together with the fixed wrap, and wherein the orbiting wrap may include: an outer contact portion formed at an outside surface of the orbiting wrap and being adjacent to the ejection hole; and an inner contact portion formed at an inside surface of the orbiting wrap, being adjacent to the ejection hole and connected to the outer contact portion, and the compression chamber includes a first compression chamber formed when the outer contact portion contacts a first position of an inside surface of the fixed wrap at an ejection starting time of the refrigerant, and the outer contact portion is connected to the inner contact portion along a circumference of a first center circle formed to contact the first position at the ejection starting time of the refrigerant, and a center of the first center circle is placed on a normal line of the first position.
US09816502B2

Systems and methods for maintaining substantially a baseline pressure in a chamber of a pumping apparatus are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention may serve to control a motor to compensate or account for a pressure drift which may occur in a chamber of the pumping apparatus. More specifically, a dispense motor may be controlled to substantially maintain a baseline pressure in the dispense chamber before a dispense based on a pressure sensed in the dispense chamber. In one embodiment, before a dispense is initiated a control loop may be utilized such that it is repeatedly determined if the pressure in the dispense chamber is above a desired pressure and, if so, the movement of the pumping means regulated to maintain substantially the desired pressure in the dispense chamber until a dispense of fluid is initiated.
US09816501B2

A window has a pane of transparent material. A first set of microfluidic channels pass through a first area of the pane, and a second set of microfluidic channels pass through a second area of the pane. Microfluidic planes are in fluid communication with the first and second sets of microfluidic channels. A first pump is in fluid communication with the first set of microfluidic channels, and selectively moves a first fluid having a first level of opacity through the microfluidic planes via the first set of microfluidic channels. A second pump is in fluid communication with the second set of microfluidic channels, and selectively moves a second fluid having a second level of opacity through the microfluidic planes via the second set of microfluidic channels. Moving the second fluid into the microfluidic planes pushes the first fluid out of the microfluidic planes, thereby adjusting an opacity of the window.
US09816500B2

Disclosed is an embodiment that introduces a novel system to pump fluids, or, gases or, semi-solids, or, solids, from one place to another. Conventionally, a motorized pump systems are used to pump any given fluid from one position to another, nonetheless, in this invention not only a new system of pumping fluids is so introduced, but, existing functions of a conventional motorized pumping systems are saliently augmented by the pipe pump system. The pipe pump functions basically, by a series of electromagnets, that are placed around a flexible and resilient tube, (a rubber tube, for instance), and when these said electromagnet arrangements are actuated, then, that causes the pipe pump to pump out fluids, by squeezing on the fluids, or gases, contained within.
US09816497B2

A natural gas compressor can include a pre-staging chamber that couples with a supply line to receive natural gas from the supply line. The compressor can additionally include a first-stage chamber that couples with the supply line to receive natural gas from the supply line. The first-stage chamber can additionally be coupled with the pre-staging chamber to receive from the pre-staging chamber natural gas that has been compressed by the pre-staging chamber. The compressor can also include a second-stage chamber configured to receive natural gas that has been compressed by the first-stage chamber.
US09816491B2

A solar power system includes a solar energy collector that has at least one solar receiver that is operable to carry a working fluid and at least one solar reflector that is operable to direct solar energy towards the at least one solar receiver to heat the working fluid. The working fluid has a maximum predefined operational temperature up to which it can be heated. A first storage unit is connected to receive the working fluid from the at least one solar receiver, and a second storage unit is connected to provide the working fluid to the at least one solar receiver. A power block generates electricity using heat from the heated working fluid. A heater is operable to heat the working fluid to approximately the maximum predefined operational temperature.
US09816475B1

A system for starting an internal combustion engine includes a battery system, a charger to receive DC battery power from the battery system and convert the power to a DC charging current, a supercapacitor array having a plurality of supercapacitor cells connected to the charger to receive the DC charging current therefrom, and a motor starter to start the internal combustion engine responsive to a DC input from the supercapacitor array. The charger modifies a voltage of the supercapacitor cells in an on-demand fashion, with the charger programmed to provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to hold the supercapacitor cells at a first voltage, receive a bump-up command indicative of an upcoming engine start and, responsive to receiving the bump-up command, provide DC charging current to the supercapacitor array to increase a voltage of the supercapacitor cells temporarily to a second voltage higher than the first voltage.
US09816468B2

An air filter retention interface for use with an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The interface is substantially secured in an opening of a wall and the interface attaches to an air filter at the front end of the interface and an air intake tube on the back end of the interface. The interface has a filter sleeve and a filter base. During operation of the engine the filter sleeve is disposed through the opening in the wall such that the wall is between beads disposed on the external surface of the filter sleeve and the filter base thereby substantially securing the interface in place and the front end of the filter base is attached to the filter and the back end of the filter base is attached to the air intake tube and air passes through the filter then through the filter base and filter sleeve and then into the air intake tube and toward the engine.
US09816463B2

The invention relates to a ramjet including a detonation chamber and an aircraft comprising such a ramjet. According to the invention, the ramjet (S1) comprises an annular detonation chamber (2) having a continuous detonation wave and fuel injection means (6) for continuously injecting fuel (F2) directly into the chamber (2) just downstream of an air injection base (3). The fuel (F2) and the air (F1) are injected separately into the detonation chamber (2) in a permanent manner throughout the operation of the ramjet (S1).
US09816452B2

A control device for an internal combustion engine controls a control object device based on an output value of a relative angle sensor that detects a relative angle of an output shaft of an actuator, and an output value of an absolute angle sensor that detects an absolute angle of a drive shaft coupled to the output shaft of the actuator via a speed reducer. In this event, the control device for the internal combustion engine corrects an output value of the absolute angle sensor based on an absolute angle of the drive shaft that is obtained from an output value of the relative angle sensor using, as a reference point, an output value of the absolute angle sensor at the start-up of the internal combustion engine, and an output value of the absolute angle sensor.
US09816445B2

An engine (1) includes an engine body, an injector (33), and an engine controller (100). The engine body includes a piston (15) inside a cylinder (11), and a combustion chamber (17) defined by the cylinder (11) and the piston (15). The injector (33) injects fuel containing at least gasoline into the combustion chamber (17) via a nozzle port (41). The engine controller (100) allows the injector (33) to inject the fuel in at least a second half of a compression stroke, and controls an injection condition of the injector (33). The injector (33) has a parameter for adjusting spread of fuel spray. The engine controller (100) adjusts the parameter to increase the spread of fuel spray with an increase in pressure in the combustion chamber (17).
US09816439B2

A gas turbine structure includes a first housing and a second housing, one of the first and second housings being located around the other of the first and second housings such that a core flow passage is obtained between the first and second housings. The gas turbine structure further includes an elongate structural member extending in a structural member direction from the first housing to the second housing and the gas turbine structure further includes a fairing circumferentially enclosing at least a portion of the structural member.
US09816430B2

An object is to improve a trap effect to trap ignition fuel gas supplied to a pre-combustion chamber and reduce an amount of non-combusted ignition fuel gas flowing out of the pre-combustion chamber to suppress a decrease in combustion efficiency. A pre-combustion-chamber type gas engine includes: a pre-combustion chamber Sr disposed on a cylinder head portion 10; a spark plug 20 disposed on an upper part of the pre-combustion chamber Sr; a pre-combustion-chamber gas supply mechanism configured to supply ignition fuel gas “g” to the pre-combustion chamber Sr via gas supply channels for the pre-combustion chamber 22a and 22b with an opening on an upper part of the pre-combustion chamber Sr; and a check valve 24 disposed in the gas supply channel 22b for the pre-combustion chamber. The opening of the gas supply channel 22a for the pre-combustion chamber is disposed on a lower surface of a cover member 16 forming the pre-combustion chamber Sr or on an upper section of a side wall of a pre-combustion-chamber member 14, the opening facing in a tangent direction of a side-wall inner peripheral surface 14a of the pre-combustion-chamber member 14. The ignition fuel gas “g” supplied to the pre-combustion chamber Sr forms a swirl flow s1 which swirls about a longitudinal axis x of the pre-combustion chamber Sr inside the pre-combustion chamber Sr.
US09816428B2

An exhaust manifold includes an inner assembly that defines an exhaust gas passage and an outer housing assembly that surrounds the inner assembly. The outer housing assembly includes a first housing component configured for attachment to an engine and a second housing component configured for attachment to a turbocharger. The first and second housing components cooperate to surround the inner assembly. At least one fastener secures the first and second housing components together to generate a compressive force that seals and holds the inner assembly in a gas tight manner.
US09816424B2

A system for controlling exhaust heat recovery and an exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR), the system includes an exhaust gas post processing device mounted on an outlet of an engine exhaust manifold, an exhaust gas purifying device, an exhaust heat recovery chamber having an exhaust gas pick-up space and further having a structure in which a cooling water flow passage is formed on the outside, and further being mounted on the outlet of the exhaust gas post processing device, a bypass valve mounted on an outlet of the exhaust heat recovery, and an EGR valve mounted on the exhaust heat recovery chamber to be opened and closed to circulate the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas pick-up space to an EGR cooler and an engine intake manifold.
US09816419B2

A honeycomb body includes wound and/or stacked layers having a geometric center axis, a cavity rotationally symmetrically around the center axis and an outer lateral surface. Each layer extends approximately concentrically around the axis. At least one of the layers is at least partially structured forming channels through which a fluid can flow. The channels extend from the cavity outward to the outer lateral surface at a non-right cone angle to the axis. The channels have a cross-section changing along the channels from inside to outside. At least one structured layer and at least one intermediate layer are alternatingly disposed and helically layered. The structure height of the structured sheet-metal layer forming the channels is substantially constant and channel cross-sectional areas increase from inside to outside. The intermediate layer can be made of simple wires or of specially cut or folded smooth sheet-metal layers.
US09816411B2

There is provided a breather device for an engine and capable of suppressing forming of separated oil into mist again. The breather device for the engine includes an oil filter chamber at a midpoint of a blow-by gas passing route and an oil filter housed in the oil filter chamber. The oil filter chamber is partitioned with a partition wall into an upstream filter chamber and a downstream filter chamber arranged in a front-back direction, the filter is formed by an upstream filter and a downstream filter, the upstream filter is housed in the upstream filter chamber and the downstream filter is housed in the downstream filter chamber, respectively, and a side gas expansion chamber is provided beside the oil filter chamber so that blow-by gas flows from the upstream filter into the downstream filter through the side gas expansion chamber.
US09816408B2

A camshaft phaser includes an input member an output member defining an advance chamber and a retard chamber; a valve spool having a valve spool bore; a first recirculation check valve and a second recirculation check valve disposed within the valve spool bore; and a biasing member which biases the first recirculation check valve and the second recirculation check valve away from each other. The first recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the advance chamber to the retard chamber and prevents oil from passing from the retard chamber to the advance chamber when the valve spool is in a retard position. The second recirculation check valve allows oil to pass from the retard chamber to the advance chamber and prevents oil from passing from the advance chamber to the retard chamber when the valve spool is in an advance position.
US09816405B2

A rocker base is disclosed for use with a valve actuation system. The rocker base may have a housing with a top, a bottom, side walls connecting the top to the bottom, and end walls disposed between the side walls. The rocker base may also have rocker arm supports located inside the housing and integrally formed with the side walls, and an injector spring pad extending from one of the end walls toward a center of the housing. The rocker base may further have a rib connecting the injector spring pad to one of the rocker arm supports.
US09816404B2

In a hydraulic compensation element for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, with a circular cylindrical housing (32) that has, in its bore (35), an axially movable pressure piston (36) with a reservoir (37) for oil as a hydraulic medium, a sleeve-like deflection element for oil is arranged in the interior of the pressure piston (36). The oil can be introduced through a radial feed hole of the housing (32), a rising channel (42), and an end-side opening (46) of the deflection element into the reservoir (37) of the pressure piston (36). The deflection element is constructed as a circular cylindrical inner sleeve (40) that has, on one axial end, an oversize dimension relative to the inner diameter of the pressure piston (36), and the inner sleeve (40) is fixed in the pressure piston (36) with a positive and non-positive fit connection.
US09816400B1

A unique method and ternary cycle process that captures heat from low temperature sources currently considered not commercially usable to produce electricity and desalinate water. In one cycle a novel flash tower operating at vacuum pressure causes a fraction of low temperature water to flash into steam. The steam passes to an indirect heat exchanger with a circulating refrigerating agent such as CO2, which condenses the steam on its outside surfaces to produce desalinated water product. The steam heat of condensation vaporizes the refrigerating agent, which is part of a binary refrigerate cycle that uniquely conditions it for turbine expansion to produce electricity in a connected electric generator.
US09816396B2

A system and method is provided for an integrated aircraft turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame that minimizes assembly interfaces and reduces overall aircraft engine weight. The system and method provide an integrated turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame system that decouples the fairing/aerodynamic duties from the struts/weight bearing duties thereby enabling efficient distribution of mechanical load.
US09816393B2

The disclosure pertains to a turbine with a gas turbine blade and a rotor heat shield for separating a space region through which hot working medium flows from a space region inside a rotor arrangement of the turbine. The rotor heat shield includes a platform which forms an axial heat shield section and which is arranged substantially parallel to the surface of a rotor and a radial heat shield section at the upstream end of the axial heat shield section, which is extending in a direction away from the surface of the axial heat shield section towards the hot gas. Further the turbine comprises a blade rear cavity which is delimited by the downstream end of the platform and/or the downstream end of the blade foot, the radial heat shield section. The disclosure further refers to a gas turbine blade and a rotor heat shield designed for such a turbine.
US09816384B2

A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.
US09816375B2

Circuits including a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) that include an input transistor to receive a waveform control signal at a gate terminal are provided. The circuits include a control transistor configured to receive a gate signal from a source terminal in the input transistor when the waveform control signal is high and to discharge the gate signal into a current sink coupled to ground when the waveform control signal is low at a controlled rate based on a resistor-capacitor (RC) network and a changing gain of the control transistor. The circuits include a buffer and a dump transistor to connect the critical resistor for optimal damping to the input of LNA when the dump transistor is ‘on’ and disconnect when the dump transistor if off. Systems and methods for use in an NMR sensor including a circuit as above are also provided.
US09816372B2

The disclosure discloses an oil well logging surface system, which consists of a depth system, downhole power supplies, a front-end computer assembly, a control panel assembly, an expansion card module, a system power supply, a cooling system and an Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) system. The well logging surface system is connected with downhole instruments through a well logging cable, has functions of depth data acquisition, downhole instrument power supply, cable mode control, signal processing, downhole instrument data acquisition, data transmission and the like, may display data acquired by an internal bus on own dedicated display, and may further upload the data to upper computer software for an upper computer to process through a communication line. Different configurations of a switch on the control panel assembly are changed to select a required cable core distribution mode, power supply voltage/frequency and the like to finish various kinds of operation such as well logging, perforation and coring.
US09816366B2

Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for optimizing the placement of wells in a reservoir. Embodiments include, for example, determining for a reservoir a productivity index for each coordinate of a reservoir using reservoir metrics associated with the reservoir, generating a grid pattern of the reservoir using the productivity index with time values extracted for each coordinate, determining a total dynamic productivity index for each coordinate, and determining placement of one or more wells responsive to the total dynamic productivity index and minimum spacing between the one or more wells. Embodiments further include, for example, generating a production analysis report for the reservoir that includes an assessment of well placement and generating a wells placement map using one or more total dynamic productivity index indicators.
US09816363B2

A method of treating a subterranean formation. The method may include providing a well treatment including a treatment complex formed of a treatment agent encapsulated, entrapped, or embedded in a polysaccharide, introducing the treatment complex into a wellbore through a subterranean formation, and allowing the treatment complex to release the treatment agent over a release time period. The method may include allowing the treatment complex to release the treatment agent after a delay time period from the introduction of the treatment complex into the wellbore.
US09816357B2

A technique facilitates avoidance of premature actuation of a liner hanger in a wellbore. The technique utilizes a running string which may be coupled to a liner having a liner hanger. The running string extends into the liner in a manner which creates an inner pressure region within the running string, an intermediate pressure region between the running string and the liner, and an outer or annulus pressure region surrounding the liner. The inner pressure region is initially isolated from the intermediate pressure region by a closure mechanism during, for example, movement downhole. The closure mechanism selectively closes off a port used to actuate the liner hanger.
US09816354B2

A method is provided for improved degradation of metal-crosslinked polymer gels, which are useful in oil and gas treating operations. In this method a polysaccharide having a higher degree of substitution than the polymer in the polymer gel is added to the gel. The polysaccharide removes the crosslinking metal ion from the gel to thus break down the gel and reduce its viscosity.
US09816349B2

A casing valve is described herein. The casing valve can include at least one wall forming a cavity and at least one flexible sleeve disposed proximate to an inner surface of the at least one wall. The casing valve can also include at least one chamber recessed relative to the inner surface of a top end of the at least one wall, where the at least one chamber is disposed between the at least one flexible sleeve and the at least one wall. The casing valve can further include at least one hydraulic channel disposed within the at least one wall and terminating in the at least one hydraulic chamber. The casing valve can also include a first coupling feature disposed at a top end of the at least one wall, wherein the first coupling feature is configured to couple to a first casing pipe.
US09816342B2

This invention relates to a junk catcher (2, 2′) releasably connected to a retrievable bridge plug (4, 4′) connectable to a setting tool (6) for joint deployment of bridge plug (4, 4′) and junk catcher (2, 2′) in a borehole (9) or a tubular in the borehole (9). Setting tool (6) extends through a fishing neck (12), a catcher tube (14), a flanged section (16), a valve chamber (18), a closable opening (20) and a portion of a setting sleeve (22, 22′) of junk catcher (2, 2′). Valve chamber (18) comprises a valve (50) arranged to close closable opening (20) after retrieval of setting tool (6) from junk catcher (2, 2′). The junk catcher (2, 2′) is connected to bridge plug (4, 4′) by at least one shear bolt (27, 38). Bridge plug (4, 4′) comprises a plug fishing neck (32, 32′) facing junk catcher (2, 2′), and bridge plug (4, 4′) comprises an equalizing channel (71) in a mandrel (7). The equalizing channel (71) extends from a bull nose (41) of bridge plug (4, 4′), and where junk catcher (2, 2′) is provided with a closing sleeve (26, 26′), closing sleeve (26, 26′) is connected to bridge plug (4, 4′) by at least one shear bolt (38, 38′), and closing sleeve (26, 26′) seals at least one equalizing port (73) in mandrel (7) when bridge plug (4, 4′) is set. A method for operating bridge plug (4, 4′) and junk catcher (2, 2′) assembly is also described.
US09816333B2

A weight compensating pipe stabbing assembly utilizes bail mounting members operationally attached to bail members of a drilling rig. At least one compensation cylinder is mounted to each bail mounting member, while a cable or other linkage member extends from each cylinder assembly to a set of single joint elevators.
US09816329B2

Quick connect arrangements for securing together first and second tubular members. A securing sleeve helps secure the connection together and include locking arrangements which ensure that the securing sleeve cannot be inadvertently unthreaded.
US09816318B2

A ladder assembly for a work vehicle comprises a deck affixed horizontally just below an entry door of the cab. A yoke is pivotally joined to a support member of the deck for rotation about a vertical axis below the deck surface. The yoke has a pair of arms pivotally joined to an upper end of a ladder structure for allowing rotation of the ladder about a horizontal axis. A turnbuckle is coupled between the support structure of the deck and one stringer of the ladder while a mechanical actuator is operatively coupled to the ladder's other stringer and to an arm of the yoke to which the other stringer is attached. Operation of the mechanical actuator moves the ladder reciprocally between a use position and stowed position where the stowed position is parallel to and immediately below the deck.
US09816317B2

A spring-assisted cordless roller shade without clutch system includes a tubular body defining an internal space. A shade is wound on the tubular body. The internal space has a first section and a second section. In each of the first and second sections are mounted a connector, a central shaft assembled with the connector, a fixing member connected with the central shaft and a subsidiary shaft disposed on the fixing member. An elastic member is disposed between the connector and the central shaft to provide a frictional force. A rotational member and a torsion spring are mounted on the subsidiary shaft of the first section and rotatable along with the tubular body. A constant force belt spring module is assembled with the subsidiary shaft of the second section. When the operational force applied to the shade disappears, the shade is immediately located.
US09816316B2

A low-E coating supported by a glass substrate, the coating from the glass substrate outwardly including at least the following layers: a dielectric layer of or including silicon nitride; a high index layer having a refractive index of at least 2.1; another dielectric layer of or including silicon nitride; a layer comprising zinc oxide; an infrared (IR) reflecting layer, wherein the coating includes only one IR reflecting layer; and an overcoat including (i) a layer comprising tin oxide and (ii) a layer comprising silicon nitride located over and contacting the layer comprising tin oxide. An IG unit including the coating may have a visible transmission of at least 70%.
US09816298B2

The present anchor device provides a support for holding a security anchor within a hole, such as a grommet hole, formed through a work surface, such as a table top, a shelf, or other board or sheet. The security anchor has a loop for attaching a lock or receiving a cable lock wrapped about the loop and a cross member to prevent the withdrawal of the security anchor from the grommet hole. The anchor device has a cross member with a dipped portion that supports the loop of the security anchor. The present support device prevents the security anchor from falling down through the hole, while holding the loop of the security anchor just within the hole and within easy grasp of the user.
US09816296B2

A cable lock assembly for securing an object to a securing structure. The cable lock assembly includes a flexible cable extending from a first end segment to a second end segment. A connecting portion of a collar is connected to the first end segment of the cable, and a flexible portion of the collar extends away from the connecting segment to a distal end. A lock is fixed to the collar. The flexible portion of the collar is movable relative to the flexible cable from an open position to a closed position to open and close the collar. The lock can lock the collar in the closed position around an object.
US09816292B2

Lock devices, systems, and methods that can include an internal mechanism to permit backdriven operation and lost motion operation. In one form the lock includes an assembly of parts that includes parts having locating features that can assist in those parts being assembled with other parts of the assembly in a single, relative orientation. Further, lost motion may be utilized to accommodate manual displacement of one or more components that can also be displaceable, in at least certain situations, via operation of a motor. The lock can also include an internal power source capable of driving electronics used to determine handedness of a door.
US09816289B2

Lock assemblies having cylinders with interchangeable cores are provided. In one embodiment a lock assembly comprises a cylinder including a keyway and a core. Also, the lock assembly includes a first driver operatively connected to the cylinder. In particular, key cuts of the core are changeable without removing the cylinder from the driver.
US09816288B2

This invention relates to a mounting bracket including a body configured to engage with at least a part of a structure, the body includes an aperture for a fastener; a securing mechanism to secure the bracket to the structure; the securing mechanism includes a first and second fastener, the fasteners configured to engage with each other, the second fastener also engages with a second aperture of the body, the second fastener and second aperture includes a complementary guide and track in the form of a co-operating helical screw thread.
US09816287B2

A method of calibrating a three-dimensional measurement system having a plurality of cameras and at least one projector is provided. The method includes performing a full calibration for each camera/projector pair where the full calibration generates at least two sets of correction matrices. Subsequently, an updated calibration is performed for each camera/projector pair. The updated calibration changes less than all of the sets of correction matrices.
US09816286B2

A fencing system having a plurality of molded plastic members which function to provide the posts and nails of a fence and are configured to be assembled with connectors formed of molded plastic to attach the nails to the posts by snapping them together.
US09816280B1

A portable floor composed of a plurality of rectangular sections attached by hinges so that adjacent sections pivot between a rolled configuration for transportation and storage and a flat configuration to bear weight. A finger edge of the section has a plurality of spaced fingers with a beveled surface that extends from the bottom of the finger upwardly to the tip of the finger. The opposed notch edge of the section has a plurality of spaced notches with a beveled surface from the top of the section downwardly into the notch. The beveled surfaces are at an angle of 15° to 75°. The finger edge meshes with the notch edge of the adjacent section. Adjacent top surfaces are planar when the notch and finger beveled surfaces abut each other. The hinge is a pin extending through aligned holes in the fingers and cogs between the notches.
US09816277B2

A backed panel comprising a facing panel and a backing panel. The backing panel has a groove, recessed portion, or any other suitable type of relief channel adapted to receive a side edge portion of a facing panel of an adjacent backed panel. By providing a space to receive a side edge portion of an adjacent facing panel, the relief channel may enable an improved lap joint to be established between adjacent backed panels.
US09816269B2

A connector arrangement for a wall panel system is provided which includes connector blocks that join serially-adjacent wall panel frames together in proper alignment with each other. These corner blocks also are matable with a system of spacer strips, light block strips, single-side trim covers and multi-side trim covers which enclose the connector blocks and connector structure. A corner spline arrangement is also provided between adjacent trim covers which spline extends vertically and defines a closed corner, right-angled corner between the interconnected trim covers.
US09816267B2

A radiation shielding block for constructing structural walls having flat opposed front and rear surfaces defining a thickness of the block, continuously curved, sinusoidal opposed left and right surfaces and top and bottom surfaces. The continuously curved, sinusoidal surfaces have a regular repeating wavelength pattern having a wave direction that is perpendicular to the flat front and rear surfaces, and a length that is two complete wavelengths of a sinusoidal wave. A plurality of the radiation shielding blocks are stackable in a staggered wythe construction having a plurality of wythes and at least one successive course of blocks set atop a previous course of blocks such that the continuously curved, sinusoidal surfaces of the successive course of blocks engage complementary continuously curved, sinusoidal surfaces of the previous course of blocks, and the successive course of blocks is offset by one wavelength from the previous course in a front-rear direction.
US09816263B2

A pre-fabricated dome and a spherical structure include strut assembly sets, into which glass panels or synthetic resin transparent plates are to be inserted, are assembled into 5 sets of hexagonal modular assemblies around a pentagonal assembly to build a primary pentagonal modular assembly, and further 5 sets of primary pentagonal modular assemblies, into which upper and lower, (outer and inner) struts are assembled in 2 layers (of outer and inner walls), are interconnected to build a semi-spherical dome, and if 12 sets of primary pentagonal modular assemblies are assembled, a solid cylindrical structure can be built to provide a perfect block between the outdoor and the indoor so that the room temperature will not be affected at all by the outdoor temperature.
US09816259B2

One embodiment of the present application relates to a water tank for a toilet. The water tank includes a first chamber comprising an orifice for connecting to a toilet bowl. The water tank further includes a free-floating member within the first chamber that is not coupled to any other component and that is configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the orifice to selectively block or allow a flow of water through the orifice. The free-floating member can be selectively disengaged from the orifice via an actuator or a differential pressure within the water tank.
US09816258B2

A drain control assembly for moving a drain valve assembly between an open position and a closed position through movement of a cable. The drain control assembly includes a driven member having a pivot end and a distal end that is configured to receive an end of the cable; a driving member defining a longitudinal axis; and a housing having a first cavity for receiving the driving member and a second cavity for receiving the driven member; wherein the driving member is configured to move in one of a linear manner or a rotational manner; and wherein the driven member is configured to rotate about the pivot end if the driving member moves in a linear manner and the driven member is configured to rotate about the pivot end if the driving member moves in a rotational manner.
US09816257B2

A sensor assembly for controlling a solenoid valve, the solenoid valve controlling the flow of water through a faucet, is described. The sensor assembly includes a head including a bottom portion configured to be supported by a wall and a top portion. The sensor assembly also includes a proximity sensor including a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter projects a beam into a detection zone. The sensor assembly also includes processing electronics configured to cause the solenoid valve to open in response to a receiver detecting a reflection from an object in the detection zone.
US09816249B2

An excavator comprises a chassis, an implement, and an assembly comprising a boom, a stick, and a coupling. The assembly is configured to define a heading {circumflex over (N)} and to swing with, or relative to, the chassis about a swing axis S. The stick is configured to curl relative to the boom about a curl axis C. The implement is coupled to a stick terminal point G via the coupling and is configured to rotate about a rotary axis R such that a leading edge of the implement defines a heading Î. An excavator control architecture comprises sensors and machine readable instructions to generate signals representative of {circumflex over (N)}, an assembly swing rate ωS about S, and a stick curl rate ωC about C, generate a signal representing a terminal point heading Ĝ based on {circumflex over (N)}, ωS, and ωC, and rotate the implement about R such that Î approximates Ĝ.
US09816241B2

A pneumatic fender and a mouth piece metal for a pneumatic fender with an open/close valve fixed at a position in which a through hole formed in a dividing wall constituting a receiving chamber, where the valve is closed by closed position fixing members. A safety valve is isolated from a cavity of a fender bladder by a receiving chamber, the safety valve being able to be detached and attached while the pneumatic fender is in use. A confirmation test of a valve opening pressure of the safety valve is performed by opening a receiving chamber open/close valve and raising an internal pressure of a cavity of the receiving chamber to a pressure threshold via a receiving chamber communication passage. The open/close valve is fixed at a position in which the through hole is open by open position fixing member.
US09816238B2

A roadside barrier which has underlying concrete support blocks, a mesh fence, optionally including overlying transparent sheet material, which is erected on the blocks, and a deterrent, sloping mesh-material, surface, which hinders human access, at a base of the fence on the support blocks.
US09816237B2

A device for reinstatement of a micro-trench that includes a hopper. The hopper includes a top opening and a bottom opening, the top opening being larger than the bottom opening. The device also includes a valve portion connected to the bottom opening of the hopper and a tube connected to the valve portion. The device also includes a dynamic plate portion including a top opening, a bottom opening, and a conduit between the top and bottom openings. The top opening of the plate portion is connected to the tube, and the bottom opening includes a length and a width. The dynamic plate portion allows the device to maintain positive contact with the pavement even when the surface of the pavement is angled or uneven.
US09816232B2

Collecting data includes generating a sensor signal from each of a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a region of a nip between the sensing roll and mating roll during each rotation of the sensing roll; wherein a web of material travels through the nip and a continuous band contacts a region of the web of material upstream from or at the nip. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the continuous band and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that the one of the plurality of sensors which generated this signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments associated with the continuous band is identified. The signal is stored to associate the respective sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
US09816229B2

The bin arrangement is for collecting and discharging smaller ligno-cellulosic material. The bin has a transition part from a circular section of the bin and downwardly to a rectangular section with a long and short side of the rectangular section. The transition part could be built with few wall segments, thus needing less welding. Two rotary pocket feeders, each with at least one shaft extending parallel to the long side, are arranged directly under the rectangular section, enabling a uniform feed from the bin. The use of two rotary pocket feeders with this design directly under the bin does not destroy the even feed of material through the bin part, which otherwise is experienced from using conventional feed screws that feed material in a transverse direction from the bin outlet. The bin does not need to have a complex bin design which converges to a small circular inlet to a conventional rotary pocket feeder.
US09816224B2

A garment steamer with an inclinable ironing board (100) comprises a base (10) and a support structure (50) that includes an upper part (51), a lower part (52) and an ironing board (60) attached to the upper part. The garment steamer further comprises an inclining structure (70) including an inclining linkage (80) that connects the upper and lower parts, wherein the upper part (51) is inclinable relative to the lower part (52) at an angle between horizontal and vertical. The inclining linkage (80) comprises first and second link arms (83,84) extending between and pivotably connecting with the upper and lower parts. The first link arm (83) is longer than the second link arm (84) such that upper part (51) assumes an inclined position relative to the lower part (52) when the upper and lower ends of the link arms (83,84) are pivoted about the upper and lower parts (51,52), respectively.
US09816221B2

The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.
US09816220B2

A fabric treatment apparatus including a fabric receiving unit having a fabric receiving space formed therein, a steam spray device for supplying evaporation heat to water introduced thereinto to generate steam to be sprayed to the fabric receiving unit, and an additive supply device for receiving an additive to be dissolved in water flowing to the steam spray device, the additive supply device having a hole, through which water to be mixed with the additive is introduced, the hole being opened by fluid pressure of water flowing to the steam spray device.
US09816205B2

A method to manufacture composite fibers of rice husk and charcoal includes the following steps. Heat and grind the rice husk and the charcoal and blend with PET to form first granules and second granules respectively wherein mass fractions of rice husk and charcoal are 15-20 wt %. The mass fraction of rice husk in the first granules and that of the charcoal in the second granules are equal. Blend the first granules and the second granules to form mixed granules. Blend and melt the mixed granules and PET to form a mixture wherein the summation of the mass fractions of rice husk and charcoal in the mixture is 0.2-2 wt %. Form composite fibers from the melted mixture by a procedure of filament making.
US09816197B2

An Sn alloy plating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plating bath configured to store an Sn alloy plating solution therein with an insoluble anode and a substrate immersed in the Sn alloy plating solution, an Sn dissolving having an anion exchange membrane therein which isolates an anode chamber, in which an Sn anode is disposed, and a cathode chamber, in which a cathode is disposed, from each other, a pure water supply structure configured to supply pure water to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, a methanesulfonic acid solution supply structure configured to supply a methanesulfonic acid solution, containing a methanesulfonic acid, to the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and an Sn replenisher supply structure configured to supply an Sn replenisher, produced in the anode chamber and containing Sn ions and a methanesulfonic acid, to the plating bath.
US09816196B2

Apparatus and methods for electroplating metal onto substrates are disclosed. The electroplating apparatus comprise an electroplating cell and at least one oxidization device. The electroplating cell comprises a cathode chamber and an anode chamber separated by a porous barrier that allows metal cations to pass through but prevents organic particles from crossing. The oxidation device (ODD) is configured to oxidize cations of the metal to be electroplated onto the substrate, which cations are present in the anolyte during electroplating. In some embodiments, the ODD is implemented as a carbon anode that removes Cu(I) from the anolyte electrochemically. In other embodiments, the ODD is implemented as an oxygenation device (OGD) or an impressed current cathodic protection anode (ICCP anode), both of which increase oxygen concentration in anolyte solutions. Methods for efficient electroplating are also disclosed.
US09816186B2

Methods and systems are provided for fabricating polymer-based imprint lithography templates having thin metallic or oxide coated patterning surfaces. Such templates show enhanced fluid spreading and filling (even in absence of purging gases), good release properties, and longevity of use. Methods and systems for fabricating oxide coated versions, in particular, can be performed under atmospheric pressure conditions, allowing for lower cost processing and enhanced throughput.
US09816183B2

A substrate processing apparatus includes: a process container where a substrate is processed; a process gas supply unit configured to supply a process gas into the process container; a substrate placing table installed in the process container; a shaft penetrating a hole at a bottom portion of the process container and coupled to the substrate placing table; a bellows surrounding the shaft and disposed outside of the process container wherein an inner space thereof is in communication with a space of the process container; an inert gas supply system configured to supply an inert gas into the inner space of the bellows disposed outside of the process container; and a component falling prevention unit including at least a first structure disposed along a first portion of the hole at the bottom of the process container and a second structure disposed along a second portion of the hole adjacent to the first structure.
US09816174B2

The present invention is a vacuum evaporation heating assembly for heating a carrier, in which an evaporation material is filled, in a vacuum evaporation process, the vacuum evaporation heating assembly comprising: a carrier container in which the carrier is installed; and an electrode connector which extends in both directions of the carrier container to be connected to an electrode. At least one of the carrier container and the electrode connector is a plate-shaped member. The vacuum evaporation heating assembly can securely hold the carrier, in which the evaporation material is filled, and can vaporize the evaporation material in a specialized direction, thereby uniformly and efficiently evaporating the evaporation material with a small number of carriers.
US09816173B2

A material suitable for a semiconductor included in a transistor, a diode, or the like is provided. The material is an oxide material including In, M1, M2 and Zn, in which M1 is an element in the group 13 of the periodic table, a typical example thereof is Ga, and M2 is an element whose content is less than the content of M1. Examples of M2 are Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, Sn, and the like. To contain M2 leads to suppression of generation of oxygen vacancies in the oxide material. A transistor which includes as few oxygen vacancies as possible can be achieved, whereby reliability of a semiconductor device can be increased.
US09816171B2

Disclosed are new boronizing compositions consisting of boron fluoride and boron oxide, borax, or an iron boride. The compositions reduce the heating temperature and time. Further disclosed are methods of boronizing a metal substrate including these compositions, or any combination thereof.
US09816160B2

To provide a Ni ball having a low α dose and high sphericity even when it contains impurity elements other than Ni in certain amounts. The Ni ball contains an element U, a content thereof being 5 ppb or less, and an element Th, a content thereof being 5 ppb or less, wherein a purity of the Ni ball is 99.9% or more but 99.995% or less, an α dose thereof is 0.0200 cph/cm2 or less, a content of either Pb or Bi, or a total content of both Pb and Bi is 1 ppm or more, and a sphericity thereof is 0.90 or more, in order to prevent any software errors and reduce connection failure.
US09816148B2

The present invention provides highly sensitive methods used for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases and disorders by detecting and analyzing “ultra short” (20-50 base pair) nucleic acids obtained from bodily fluids.
US09816134B2

Compositions and methods for amplifying selected polynucleotides, including DNA and RNA, particularly in multiplex amplification reactions using common primers amplification. Generally, methods of the invention employ multiple steps such as template-specific hybridization, a linear amplification, partial degradation of nucleic acid, and ligation. At the end of the process the sequences of selected polynucleotides are flanked by the common sequences which can be used for exponential amplification using common primers. In some aspects the polynucleotides are associated with a barcode and the presence of the barcode is detected to measure the amount of the polynucleotide.
US09816131B2

Methods and apparatus for use in connection with the performance of the polymerase chain reaction are provided. An exemplary sample processing module is described that includes a sample assembly and a PCR assembly, the sample processing module being configured to hold the sample therein at a pressure higher than ambient pressure. A sample is added to the sample assembly at the time of use, which is then connected to the PCR assembly. Embodiments of the cartridge include a flow restriction device that enables or aids in creating a higher pressure within the reaction vial. The sample is introduced into a PCR reaction vial, which contains all of the constituents of a PCR reaction mixture that are necessary to process the sample and provide amplified DNA of interest, if that DNA was present in the sample.
US09816125B2

A test strip, a detecting device, and a detecting method are disclosed. The test strip includes a first specimen path, a first electrode set, a second specimen path, a second electrode set, and a reaction reagent. When the specimen contacts the first electrode set and the second electrode set, a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal are generated for obtaining a flow time of the specimen. When the specimen contacts the reaction reagent, the analyte concentration of the specimen can be obtained, and the concentration of the analyte can be corrected by the flow time.
US09816124B2

Provided are a recombinant strain for preparing a terpenoid, and method for constructing the recombinant strain. Also provided is a recombinant bacterium 1, the recombinant bacterium 1 being a recombinant bacterium obtained in order to improve the enzymatic activity of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in escherichia coli or the mutant thereof. The method for improving the enzymatic activity of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in escherichia coli or the mutant thereof is replacing the original regulating element of the ketoglutarate dehydrogenase gene (sucAB) in escherichia coli or the mutant thereof with any of the following regulating elements: artificial regulating element M 1-46, M1-37, and M1-93. Also provided are a plurality of recombinant bacteria. By improving the enzymatic activity of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinic acid dehydrogenase and transaldolase therein and improving the ability of a cell to synthesize NADPH and ATP, the efficiency of the MEP pathway and the production capacity of terpenoid are improved.
US09816114B2

Systems and methods for the production of malonate in recombinant host cells.
US09816103B2

Methods are provided for enhancing the resistance of plants to bacterial pathogens. The methods involve transforming a plant with a polynucleotide molecule comprising a plant promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a plant receptor that binds specifically with bacterial elongation factor-Tu. Further provided are expression cassettes, transformed plants, seeds, and plant cells that are produced by such methods.
US09816102B2

Compositions, systems and methods are provided for conferring disease resistance to plant pathogens that use proteases to target plant substrate proteins inside plant cells. Briefly, the compositions, systems and methods are based upon plant substrate proteins that are targeted by pathogen-specific proteases and that activate nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NB-LRR) disease resistance proteins when cleaved by the protease. These substrate proteins are modified such that the endogenous protease recognition sequence is replaced by a protease recognition sequence specific to a different pathogen protease (i.e., a heterologous protease recognition sequence). The modified plant substrate protein therefore can be used in connection with its corresponding NB-LRR protein to activate resistance in response to cleavage by the heterologous pathogen-specific protease. When activated by the plant pathogen-specific protease, the pair initiates host defense responses thereto, including programmed cell death.
US09816097B2

Nucleic acid promoters isolated from Panicum virgatum capable of transcriptional activation of heterologous nucleic acids are provided. Constructs, vectors and transgenic plants that include nucleic acid promoters are described. Methods for producing heterologous proteins in transgenic plants by transforming the plants with vectors and constructs are also provided.
US09816093B1

The present disclosure provides engineered Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, nucleoprotein complexes comprising these nucleic acids, and compositions thereof. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, as well as expression cassettes, vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acid sequences, are described. Also, methods are disclosed for making and using the Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, nucleoprotein complexes comprising such nucleic acids, and compositions thereof.
US09816089B2

A method of reducing the level of a transcription product in a cell comprising contacting with the cell a composition comprising a double-stranded nucleic acid complex comprising a first nucleic acid strand annealed to a second nucleic acid strand, wherein: (i) the first nucleic acid strand hybridizes to the transcription product and comprises (a) a region consisting of at least 4 consecutive nucleotides that are recognized by RNase H when the strand is hybridized to the transcription product, (b) one or more nucleotide analogs located on 5′ terminal side of the region, (c) one or more nucleotide analogs located on 3′ terminal side of the region and (d) a total number of nucleotides and nucleotide analogs ranging from 8 to 35 nucleotides and (ii) the second nucleic acid strand comprises (a) nucleotides and optionally nucleotide analogs and (b) at least 4 consecutive RNA nucleotides.
US09816088B2

Provided herein are methods and composition for immune repertoire sequencing and single cell barcoding. In some aspects, such methods may comprise steps of: (a) forming a plurality of first vessels each comprising: (i) a single cell, and (ii) a single solid support; (b) copying onto the single solid support: (i) a first copy of a first cell polynucleotide from the single cell, and (ii) a second copy of a second cell polynucleotide from the single cell; (c) forming a plurality of second vessels each comprising (i) a single solid support from the plurality of first vessels, and (ii) a barcoded polynucleotide; and (d) amplifying (i) the first copy and the second copy with a first primer set, and (ii) the barcode with a second primer set, wherein a primer of the first primer set is complementary to a primer of the second set; and (e) forming first and second single cell barcoded sequences.
US09816087B2

The present specification discloses filtration devices for processing a biofluid sample, methods of purifying a biofluid sample using the disclosed filtration devices, and systems comprising components of the filtration devices. The filtration device generally includes a collection container, a quantitative container, a filter, and a plunger slidably inserted through a plunger attachment. In a first configuration, the quantitative container is axially slidably inserted within the collection chamber, with fluid communication between the quantitative chamber and the collection chamber provided through the filter. In a second configuration, the filter and the collection container are separated from the quantitative container, the plunger attachment is fitted to the quantitative chamber open end with at least a portion of the plunger positioned within the quantitative chamber.
US09816081B1

The present disclosure provides engineered cross-type-nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids and compositions thereof. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the engineered cross-type-nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, as well as expression cassettes, vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acid sequences, are described. Also, methods are disclosed for making and using the engineered cross-type-nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids and compositions thereof.
US09816080B2

Methods, systems, compositions and strategies for the delivery of WW domain-containing fusion proteins into cells in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro via ARMMs are provided. Methods, systems, compositions and strategies for the delivery of Cas9 proteins and/or Cas9 variants into cells in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro via fusion to ARMM associated proteins (e.g., ARRDC1 or TSG101) are also provided.
US09816064B2

The present invention relates to photobioreactors and more particularly to the use of a transparent composition based on at least one methacrylic polymer for constructing installations for the culture of photosensitive organisms. This composition can be in the form of films, plates, profiled elements or cylinders such as tubes.The invention also relates to a transparent multilayer structure comprising at least one layer of a methacrylic polymer and one layer comprising at least one antifouling additive, and to the use thereof for constructing installations for the culture of photosensitive organisms.
US09816062B2

A method and lauter tun for lautering wort includes a fluid gaseous medium introduced as a false bottom seal below a false bottom-of the lauter tun prior to lautering of the wort through the false bottom. The mash is transferred into the lauter tun above the false bottom after introduction of the false bottom seal. Wort running off in the lauter tun through the false bottom displaces the false bottom seal.
US09816048B2

The present invention relates to a novel compound and its use as a fragrance material.
US09816046B2

This invention discloses new krill oil compositions characterized by having high amounts of phospholipids, astaxanthin esters and/or omega-3 contents. The krill oils are obtained from krill meal using supercritical fluid extraction in a two stage process. Stage 1 removes the neutral lipid by extracting with neat supercritical CO2 or CO2 plus approximately 5% of a co-solvent. Stage 2 extracts the actual krill oils by using supercritical CO2 in combination with approximately 20% ethanol. The krill oil materials obtained are compared with commercially available krill oil and found to be more bioeffective in a number of areas such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant effects, improving insulin resistances and improving blood lipid profile.
US09816045B2

An automotive engine oil and/or fuel comprising a base stock and an organic polymeric friction reducing additive is claimed. A method of reducing friction in an automotive engine oil and/or fuel by the addition of the organic polymeric friction reducing additive to the base stock is also claimed.
US09816044B2

The present disclosure describes transmission fluid compositions, additive packages, and methods for lubricating a transmission, particularly transmission fluid compositions having color stability that are able to meet or exceed vehicle transmission fluid specifications for different makes of vehicles. The transmission fluid composition contains a base oil and an additive composition having at least one thiadiazole compound the selected from compounds of the Formulas (I)-(II): wherein n is 1-5; R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having 1-100 carbon atoms; and R2 is a hydrogen or is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having 1-100 carbon atoms, wherein the transmission fluid composition is adapted for use in a transmission.
US09816037B2

A method is provided for increasing production of middle distillate hydrocarbons from conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feed in a fluid catalytic cracking system having a primary riser and a secondary riser, wherein the method comprises providing regenerated catalyst to the primary riser and operating the primary riser under severe conditions and providing spent catalyst to the secondary riser and operating the secondary riser under moderate conditions.
US09816028B2

The present disclosure is directed to a rapid process for the preparation of gadolinium oxysulfide having a general formula of Gd2O2S, referred to as GOS, scintillation ceramics by using the combination of spark plasma primary sintering (SPS) and hot isostatic pressing secondary sintering.
US09816027B2

A method for producing a film having luminescent particles is described. The method has steps a) mixing a thermoplastic and a luminescent pigment containing a hydroxyalkyl terephthalate of the formulate: R1—COO—P(OH)x-COO—R2 and obtaining a thermoplastic mixture; and b) homogenizing the thermoplastic mixture to 150° C. to 200° C. in an extruder, by way of an extrusion nozzle, and obtaining a thermoplastic film.
US09816014B2

The present invention provides a hot melt adhesive suitable for use in disposable products, which can be applied at a high speed and provides excellent in adhesion in a wet state and low-temperature coating, with little odor. The hot melt adhesive for disposable products comprises: (A) a propylene homopolymer having a melting point of 100° C. or lower obtained by polymerizing propylene using a metallocene catalyst; and (B) a wax modified with carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride. The wet adhesion of the hot melt adhesive is improved when the wax is modified with maleic acid and/or maleic anhydride.
US09816012B2

A step of scattering electrically conductive particles on a wiring board having wiring that is formed in accordance with an array pattern of the electrically conductive particles and prevented from being charged, and charging the electrically conductive particles; a step of aligning the charged electrically conductive particles in a predetermined array pattern corresponding to the wiring pattern by moving a squeegee on the wiring board; and a step of bonding a transfer film having an adhesive material layer formed thereon to the wiring board and transferring the electrically conductive particles aligned in a predetermined array pattern to the adhesive layer.
US09816010B2

A polishing composition of the present invention is to be used for polishing an object including a portion containing a high-mobility material and a portion containing a silicon material. The polishing composition comprises an oxidizing agent and abrasive grains having an average primary particle diameter of 40 nm or less. The polishing composition preferably further contains a hydrolysis-suppressing compound that bonds to a surface OH group of the portion containing a silicon material of the object to function to suppress hydrolysis of the portion containing a silicon material. Alternatively, a polishing composition of the present invention contains abrasive grains, an oxidizing agent, and a hydrolysis-suppressing compound. The polishing composition preferably has a neutral pH.
US09816009B2

The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
US09816008B2

Polyisocyanurate or polyurethane-isocyanurate polymers are made by curing an aromatic polyisocyanate or a mixture of at least one aromatic polyisocyanate and at least one polyol having a hydroxyl equivalent weight of up to 200 in which the isocyanate index is at least 2.00, in the presence of at least one isocyanate trimerization catalyst, to form a polyisocyanurate or polyurethane-isocyanurate polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 100° C., and then exposing the polyisocyanurate or polyurethane-isocyanurate polymer formed step a) to water under superatmospheric pressure at a temperature of at least 70° C.
US09816003B2

A method of forming a structure containing a phase-separated structure, the method including applying a block copolymer solution to a substrate to form a layer containing a block copolymer and having a film thickness of less than 100 nm; and phase-separating the layer containing the block copolymer, a solvent of the block copolymer solution comprising a poor solvent exhibiting a poor solubility for a homopolymer A of one of the blocks of the block copolymer.
US09815999B2

The ink jet recording method according to the present invention includes attaching a resin liquid including a resin to a recording medium; attaching a reaction liquid including a reactant for aggregating or thickening a coloring ink component having a coloring material to an area where the resin liquid is attached; attaching the coloring ink to an area where the reaction liquid is attached by an ink jet method; and attaching a clear ink including a resin.
US09815992B2

An ink composition, including 30% or less pigment, 10% or less dispersant, between 40% and 80% acrylate, 12% or less photoinitiator, and having a viscosity between 2×106 cP and 5×107 cP at 25° C., and between 2.×105 cP and 4.×106 cP at 60° C., and a 60 second tack between 40 and 65 g-m at 25° C., and between 10 and 20 g-m at 60° C.
US09815983B2

Disclosed is a bituminous composition in the form of granules, each granule including a core and a coating and having a mass for approximately one hundred particles of from 0.5 g to 2 g, the core including from 40 wt. % to 60 wt. % of a binder matrix; from 30 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a polymer; from 4 wt. % to 6 wt. % of a compatibilizing agent; and from 2 wt. % to 15 wt. % of an anti-adhesive filler; and the coating including an anti-sticking agent. The invention relates also to a method for preparing the composition, and to the use thereof in bitumen plants.
US09815979B2

The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one stable, near-monodisperse, non-reactive hydrophilic polymer comprising in said polymer's backbone, a hydrophilic segment having a degree of polymerization of about 10 to about 1000, and a linear silicone segment at at least one terminal end of said non-reactive hydrophilic polymer, wherein said silicone segment comprises between about 6 and about 200 siloxy units, and said non-reactive hydrophilic polymer is associated, via the linear silicone block with a silicone hydrogel. The non-reactive hydrophilic polymers may be incorporated into the formulation from which the silicone hydrogel is made or may be contacted with the silicone hydrogel post formation.
US09815961B2

The invention relates to colorant compositions, and aqueous latex paints or other water-borne coatings made from them, which have a mitigated environmental impact. Levels of solvents, additives and impurities comprising volatile non-aqueous constituents, alkylphenol ethoxylates (and derivatives thereof), crystalline silica, and/or formaldehyde are decreased relative to those typical of preceding generations of colorants and tinted aqueous latex paints and other water-borne coatings. On the other hand, paint-performance as indicated by any of Stormer viscosity stabilization, rheological profile flow/leveling and sag resistance, water sensitivity and color transfer resistance is comparable to a paint in which the aforementioned solvents, additives and impurities are still present.
US09815958B2

Polymeric porous particles have a continuous organic solid phase and at least two sets of discrete pores that are isolated from each other within the continuous phase and that have different average sizes. One set of discrete pores has a larger average size than another set of discrete pores by at least 50%. At least one set of discrete pores is free of detectably different marker materials. There porous particles can be prepared using evaporative limited coalescence techniques with especially chosen discrete pore stabilizing hydrocolloids to protect the pores during formation and to provide the different average sizes. The resulting porous particles can be incorporated into articles of various types and having various shapes.
US09815957B2

Cellular and multi-cellular polystyrene and polystyrenic foams and methods of forming such foams are disclosed. The foams include an expanded polystyrene formed from expansion of an expandable polystyrene including an adsorbent comprising alumina, wherein the multi-cellular polystyrene exhibits a multi-cellular size distribution. The process for forming a foamed article includes providing a formed styrenic polymer and contacting the formed styrenic polymer with a first blowing agent and an adsorbent comprising alumina to form extrusion polystyrene. The process further includes forming the extrusion styrenic polymer into an expanded styrenic polymer and forming the expanded styrenic polymer into a foamed article.
US09815955B2

The present invention relates to blowing agent compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene (HFO) and at least one co-blowing agent selected from carbon dioxide, water, alkanes and an alcohol used in the preparation of foamable thermoplastic compositions having low density. The HFOs include, but are not limited too, cis- and/or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO 1234yf), or mixtures thereof. The blowing agent compositions are useful in the production of low density insulating foams with improved R value.
US09815947B2

In a first aspect, a composition of matter includes a substantially symmetrical 3-arm star block copolymer having a central core and diblock copolymer arms having inner blocks and outer blocks. In a second aspect, an article includes a substrate, a block copolymer composition on the substrate, and a neutral layer between the substrate and the block copolymer composition.
US09815946B2

Disclosed herein is a method to stabilize a poly(arylene ether) comprising combining a neat or diluted poly(arylene ether) with a vinyl or vinylidene-terminated polyolefin at a temperature of at least 80° C. to form heated reaction components; combining a Brφnsted acid or Lewis acid with the heated reaction components; and isolating a polyolefin-poly(arylene ether) copolymer composition.
US09815945B2

The present invention relates to an amphiphilic nanoparticle specific to a biomarker, and more particularly, provides an amphiphilic nanoparticle which may be used as a diagnosis or treatment-type drug or gene carrier by selectively recognizing a proteolytic enzyme specifically expressed in a cellular membrane of a specific cell, and then being bound to the proteolytic enzyme to efficiently achieve the intracellular uptake and selective cleavage. The amphiphilic nanoparticle of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis or therapy of a disease.
US09815939B2

The present invention relates to a polyurethane which is the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and polyester, wherein said polyester is formed from a dimer fatty acid, a C2 to C4 diol, and a C8 to C16 dicarboxylic acid or C6 to C12 lactide. The inventions also relates to a polyester for use in forming the polyurethane of the first aspect, said polyester formed from a dimer fatty acid, a C2 to C4 diol, and a C8 to C16 dicarboxylic acid or C6 to C12 lactide.
US09815938B2

The present invention relates to a graft copolymer of a poly(amino acid) or a salt thereof and a hydrophobic primary amine compound or a salt thereof (e.g., a graft copolymer (γ-PGA-PAE) of poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) and phenylalanine ethyl ester (PAE)), an ionized graft copolymer of a poly(amino acid) or a salt thereof and a hydrophobic primary amine compound or a salt thereof, nanoparticles containing the ionized graft copolymer, and a production method thereof. The nanoparticles acquired in this way are useful as an adjuvant for producing a vaccine.
US09815935B2

Controlled biodegradable smart responsive scaffold (SRS) materials enhance attachment and viability of cells, i.e. actively guiding their expansion, proliferation and in some cases differentiation, while increasing their biomechanical functionality is an important key issue for tissue regeneration. Chemically build-in functionality in these biodegradable SRS materials is achieved by varying structural functionalization with biocompatible liquid crystal motifs and general polymer composition allowing for regulation and alteration of tensile strength, surface ordering, bioadhesion and biodegradability, bulk liquid crystal phase behavior, porosity, and cell response to external stimuli. Liquid crystal modification of such polymeric scaffolds is an ideal tool to induce macroscopic ordering events through external stimuli. None of these approaches have been demonstrated in prior art, and the use of biocompatible scaffolds that respond to a variety of external stimuli resulting in a macroscopic ordering event is a novel aspect of the present invention.
US09815931B2

A process for producing a rigid polymer foam comprises reacting components A to C in the presence of component D or an isocyanate-functional prepolymer of components A and B with component C in the presence of component D, the total amount of which is 100 wt %, (A) 35 to 65 wt % of at least one polyisocyanate component A, (B) 5 to 50 wt % of at least one polyol component B, (C) 1 to 59 wt % of at least one polycarboxylic acid component C, and (D) 0.01 to 3 wt % of at least one Lewis base component D, wherein the reaction takes place with release of carbon dioxide.
US09815928B2

Binder compositions and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the binder composition can include at least one unsaturated compound having two or more unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds and at least one free radical precursor. At least one of the unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds can be a pi-bond that is not conjugated with an aromatic moiety and can be capable of free radical addition. The free radical precursor can be present in an amount of about 7 wt % to about 99 wt %, based on the weight of the one or more unsaturated compounds.
US09815926B2

Provided herein are ethylene copolymers, methods for making such copolymers, and compositions made from such copolymers. The ethylene copolymers have 70 wt. % to 85 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 12 wt. % of units derived from at least one α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The copolymers preferably further have a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from about 50,000 to about 200,000 g/mol, melting point of at least 100° C., ratio of Mw/Mn of about 1.5 to about 3.5, a content of group 4 metals of no more than 25 ppm, and a ratio of wt ppm Group 4 metals/wt ppm Group 5 metals of at least 3. Such copolymers may be particularly useful as viscosity modifiers for lubricating oil compositions.
US09815920B1

The present invention relates to a Ziegler-Natta catalyst component for olefin polymerization containing a urea element in combination with one or more internal electron donors. The catalyst components are able to produce polypropylene polymers with higher stereo-regularity. The present invention also provides phthalate-free catalyst system capable of producing polypropylene with an isotacticity that is equal to or higher than catalyst systems containing phthalate derivatives.
US09815917B2

The invention relates to a metallocene complex according to formula (1) wherein M is a metal selected from lanthanides or transition metals from group 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the Periodic System of the Elements, Q is an anionic ligand to M, k is the number of Q groups and equals the valence of M minus 2, Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are identical or different and can be chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon radical with 1-20 carbon atoms, and adjacent substituents Z can form a ring system together with the carbon atoms of the Cp ring to which they are bound.
US09815910B2

Hydrophobic CNCs were successfully prepared by grafting amine- and thiol terminated hydrocarbons to CNCs that have been previously coated with plant polyphenols. Hydrocarbons of various chain lengths can be used to tune the hydrophobicity of the modified CNCs. After the surface modification process, CNCs can be easily redispersed in nonpolar solvents highlighting the potential of the hydrophobic CNCs in, for example, CNC reinforced nanocomposites and non-aqueous formulations.
US09815905B2

The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.
US09815902B2

The present invention relates to humanized antibodies that specifically bind to CXCR5 and can, for example, inhibit CXCR5 function. The invention also includes uses of the antibodies to treat or prevent CXCR5 related diseases or disorders.
US09815896B2

The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody designated STRO-4 which specifically binds human and ovine HSP-90beta and its use for enriching multipotential cells such as mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs).
US09815892B2

Multimeric fusion proteins of an Ig-like domain of Flt-1 are rendered functional by inclusion of a linker moiety. Vectors encoding the fusion proteins and host cells expressing the fusion proteins can be used therapeutically to block neovascularization in individuals with pathological conditions related to neovascularization. Such conditions include age-related macular degeneration, cancer, psoriasis, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, asthma, uveitis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The same means of multimerization used for an Iglike domain of Flt-1, i.e., a linker and a multimerization domain, can be used for other polypeptides, including extracellular receptors, antibody variable regions, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.
US09815891B2

The present invention relates to a novel antigen-binding protein construct or “modubody”, which contains at least three functional single domain modules of an antibody. The modubodies contain a domain from the heavy chain variable region of an antibody (VH), a domain from the light chain variable region of an antibody (VL) and bind monospecifically to an antigen. The modubodies further contain a domain from the constant region of antibodies. The modubodies can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
US09815886B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of immunodeficiency (e.g., primary immunodeficiency disease). In particular, the invention provides human plasma immunoglobulin compositions containing select antibody titers specific for a plurality of respiratory pathogens, methods of identifying human donors and donor samples for use in the compositions, methods of manufacturing the compositions, and methods of utilizing the compositions (e.g., for prophylactic administration and/or therapeutic treatment (e.g., passive immunization (e.g., immune-prophylaxis))).
US09815883B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides fragments derived from the protein TLT-1 and their uses for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and more particularly for the treatment of sepsis.
US09815880B2

The invention relates to IL-22 polypeptides, IL-22 Fc fusion proteins and IL-22 agonists, composition comprising the same, methods of making and methods of using the composition for the treatment of diseases. The invention also relates to IL-22 receptor associated reagents and methods of use thereof.
US09815878B2

A method for preventing and/or ameliorating skin aging in a subject includes administering to the subject in need of such treatments a synthetic peptide, which has an amino acid sequence that has 20-39 amino acid residues. The synthetic peptide has at least 20 consecutive residues that has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to residues 11-30 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
US09815872B2

The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions useful in prevention and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. In particular, the disclosure provides delta toxin and phenol-soluble modulin peptides as well as mutants, fragments, variants or derivatives thereof. The disclosure further provides multivalent oligopeptides, fusion proteins comprising two or more staphylococcal proteins, e.g., DT, PSM, alpha hemolysin, leukocidin, superantigen, or any fragments, variants, derivatives, or mutants thereof fused together as a single polypeptide in any order.
US09815867B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a VEGFR2 inhibitor peptide having high specificity and available at a low cost. The present invention provides a peptide having the following amino acid sequence: Xaa1-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5-Xaa6-Xaa7-Xaa8-Xaa9- Xaa10-Xaa11-Xaa12-Xaa13-Xaa14-Xaa15 [wherein, Xaa2 represents Val or derivative thereof, Xaa6 represents Asp or derivative thereof, Xaa7 represents Pro or derivative thereof, Xaa8 represents Trp or derivative thereof, Xaa10 represents Asn or derivative thereof, Xaa11 represents Gly or derivative thereof, Xaa12 represents Leu or derivative thereof, Xaa1, Xaa3 to Xaa5, Xaa9, and Xaa13 to Xaa15 each independently represent an arbitrary amino acid or derivative thereof]; or Xaa16-Xaa17-Xaa18-Xaa19-Xaa20-Xaa21-Xaa22-Xaa23- Xaa24-Xaa25-Xaa26-Xaa27-Xaa28-Xaa29-Xaa30 [wherein, Xaa24 represents His or derivative thereof, Xaa25 represents Pro or derivative thereof, and Xaa16 to Xaa23 and Xaa26 to Xaa30 each represent an arbitrary amino acid].
US09815860B2

A process for the synthesis of a cationic rhodium complex comprises the steps of: (a) forming a mixture of a rhodium-diolefin-1,3-diketonate compound and a phosphorus ligand in a ketone solvent, (b) mixing an acid with the mixture to form a solution of the cationic rhodium complex, (c) evaporating at least a portion of the solvent from the solution, (d) optionally, treating the resulting complex with an ether, and (e) treating the resulting complex with an alcohol. The complex may be recovered and used as a catalyst, for example in hydrogenation reactions.
US09815859B2

There are described RORγ modulators of the formula (I), and formula (II) or stereoisomers, tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or prodrugs thereof, wherein all substituents are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. Such compounds and compositions are useful in methods for modulating RORγ activity in a cell and methods for treating a subject suffering from a disease or disorder in which the subject would therapeutically benefit from modulation of RORγ activity, for example, autoimmune and/or inflammatory disorders.
US09815851B2

The invention provides modulators for the orphan nuclear receptor RORγ and methods for treating RORγ mediated diseases by administrating these novel RORγ modulators to a human or a mammal in need thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides pyrrolo carboxamide compounds of Formula (1) and the enantiomers, diastereomers, N-oxides, tautomers, solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09815842B2

The present invention describes new pyrazolo-pyrimidine derivatives which are generally interacting with MALT1 proteolytic and/or autoproteolytic activity, and in particular which may inhibit said activity. The present invention further describes the synthesis of said new pyrazolo-pyrimidine derivatives, their use as a medicament, especially by interacting with MALT1 proteolytic and/or autoproteolytic activity.
US09815835B2

This invention provides compounds having antiviral activities especially inhibiting activity for influenza virus, more preferably provides substituted 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone derivatives having cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitory activity.
US09815831B2

The present invention provides compounds useful as c-Met protein kinase modulators, methods of preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of c-Met kinase mediated disease or disorders with them.
US09815828B2

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods for treating cancer and neoplastic disease. Provided herein are substituted pyridine derivative compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds. The subject compounds and compositions are useful for inhibition histone demethylase. Furthermore, the subject compounds and compositions are useful for the treatment of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer and/or melanoma and the like.
US09815821B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a condensed-cyclic compound and an OLED including the same.
US09815812B2

There is provided a production method of a thiopyranose compound represented by the following Formula (2) by reacting a compound represented by the following Formula (1) with a sulfur compound. X represents a leaving group. A represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. Further, each of R1A to R4B, R1B to R4B, and R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a specific substituent.
US09815808B2

Methods for recovering monomers from polymers, such as polyurethanes (including thermoset polyurethanes) include heating the polymer to depolymerize the polymer and release the monomer. The monomer may be directly recovered. The polymer may include a poly(β-methyl-δ-valerolactone) (PMVL) block and the monomer recovered may be β-methyl-δ-valerolactone (MVL).
US09815804B2

This invention pertains generally to compounds of Formula I as described herein and compositions containing such compounds, as well as methods of using such compounds to treat bacterial infections. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and compositions comprising these compounds for treating infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria.
US09815803B2

The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of substituted cycloserine compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C8alkyl, C1-C8haloalkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, aryl or aryl substituted by one to five R11, or aryl-C1-C4alkylene or aryl-C1-C4alkylene substituted by one to five R11; and each R11 is independently C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, C1-C4haloalkoxy, cyano or halogen; The invention also relates to intermediates produced by the processes.Compounds of formula (I) are useful intermediates for the production of compounds in the agricultural and pharmaceutical fields.
US09815797B2

A series of substituted heteroaromatic compounds containing two fused six-membered rings, tivity, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders; neurological and neurodegenerative disorders; pain and nociceptive disorders; cardiovascular disorders; metabolic disorders; ocular disorders; and oncological disorders.
US09815794B2

Disclosure is provided for imidazole derivative compounds useful to inhibit the formation of biofilms and/or inhibit microbial growth, compositions including these compounds, devices including these compounds, and methods of using the same.
US09815791B2

The invention provides pyrazolyl guanidine compounds that inhibit F1Fo-ATPase, and methods of using pyrazolyl guanidine compounds as therapeutic agents to treat medical disorders, such as an immune disorder, inflammatory condition, or cancer.
US09815788B2

(E)-2-(2-Quinolin-2-yl-propenyl)-phenol, 2-Quinolin-2-yl-ylethynyl-phenol and salts thereof are useful as medicaments, especially for treatment of an angiogenesis-related disease or disorder.
US09815784B2

This invention relates to novel analogs of the DNA-alkylating agent CC-1065 and to their conjugates. Furthermore this invention concerns intermediates for the preparation of said agents and conjugates. The conjugates are designed to release their (multiple) payload after one or more activation steps and/or at a rate and time span controlled by the conjugate in order to selectively deliver and/or controllably release one or more of said DNA alkylating agents. The agents, conjugates, and intermediates can be used to treat an illness that is characterized by undesired (cell) proliferation. As an example, the agents and the conjugates of this invention may be used to treat a tumor.
US09815764B2

Homochiral metal organic framework (MOF) selected from a group consisting of (Sp)-P5A-MOF-1 and (Rp)-P5A-MOF-1 is provided. The homochiral MOFs are prepared from pure enantiomer struts of formula (I): The homochiral MOFs are suitable for separation of enantiomers from racemic mixtures.
US09815749B2

The invention relates to the production of aromatic hydrocarbon by the conversion of a feed comprising saturated hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the saturated hydrocarbon is converted to olefinic hydrocarbon. Aromatic hydrocarbon is produced from at least a portion of the olefinic hydrocarbon using at least one dehydrocyclization catalyst comprising dehydrogenation and molecular sieve components.
US09815748B2

Provided are a catalyst whereby isobutylene can be produced at high yield in a lower-temperature environment, and a method for producing isobutylene using the catalyst. The catalyst for producing isobutylene is an oxide including at least one element selected from molybdenum and tungsten, and at least one element selected from tantalum, niobium, and titanium.
US09815747B2

Methods of producing a light alkene. The method comprises contacting syngas and tungstated zirconia to produce a product stream comprising at least one light alkene. The product stream is recovered. Methods of converting syngas to a light alkene are also disclosed. The method comprises heating a precursor of tungstated zirconia to a temperature of between about 350° C. and about 550° C. to form tungstated zirconia. Syngas is flowed over the tungstated zirconia to produce a product stream comprising at least one light alkene and the product stream comprising the at least one light alkene is recovered.
US09815731B1

Tapered core fibers are produced using tapered core rods that can be etched or ground so that a fiber cladding has a constant diameter. The tapered core can be an actively doped core, or a passive core. One or more sleeving tubes can be collapsed onto a tapered core rod and exterior portions of the collapsed sleeving tubes can be ground to provide a constant cladding diameter in a fiber drawn from the preform.
US09815726B2

Feedstock supply structure apparatus, including an exhaust conduit fluidly and mechanically connectable to a structure defining a melting chamber, the exhaust conduit positioned at an angle to vertical ranging from 0 to about 90 degrees. The exhaust conduit may include a heat exchange substructure, or the conduit itself may serve as a heat exchanger. A feedstock supply structure fluidly connected to the exhaust conduit. Systems include a structure defining a melting chamber and an exhaust conduit fluidly connected to the structure. The exhaust conduit includes a heat exchange substructure for preheating the feedstock. Methods include supplying a granular or pellet-sized feedstock to the melter exhaust conduit, the exhaust conduit including the heat exchange substructure, and preheating the feedstock by indirect or direct contact with melter exhaust in the heat exchange substructure.
US09815725B2

A water filtration housing containing a pressure vessel configured to receive a water filter cartridge; a ring enclosure attachable to an open, top end of the housing enclosure; an interface tower including a user interface; a lid assembly removably attachable to the ring enclosure, the lid assembly including (i) a pressure cap and gasket for maintaining a given pressure in said pressure vessel and (ii) a rotatable lever for disengaging the pressure cap from the pressure vessel thereby releasing pressure therein. A mating system between the lid assembly and ring enclosure prevents the lid assembly from being attached to the ring enclosure in a misaligned fashion. RFID technology may be used for identifying the water filter cartridge installed therein and wireless communication technology (e.g., Wi-Fi) to transmit collected system data (e.g., water usage) to a central location for analysis such that the customer is provided with, for example, operational suggestions.
US09815724B2

A scale suppression apparatus capable of suppressing in a low-priced manner the generation of silica-based scale and calcium-based scale in the influent water containing at least a silica component and a calcium component, a geothermal power generation system using the same, and a scale suppression method are provided. The scale suppression apparatus includes a chelating agent and alkaline agent addition unit injecting liquid containing a chelating agent and an alkaline agent into a pipe arrangement through which influent water such as geothermal water or the like flows, and a controller controlling a pump and a valve of the chelating agent and alkaline agent addition unit. The controller controls the injection of the chelating agent and the alkaline agent and stops of the injection based on the signal output from a scale detection unit for detecting a precipitation state of the scale.
US09815720B2

A method and system treat contaminated water. In one embodiment, the method comprises treating contaminated water by introducing a methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution to a vessel. The vessel contains the contaminated water and iron oxide. The contaminated water comprises contaminants. In addition, the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution comprises methylmorpholine-N-oxide and water. The method further comprises contacting the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution with the contaminated water. In addition, the method comprises treating the contaminated water by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the contaminants in the presence of the iron oxide.
US09815718B2

A method of controlling addition rate of an odor control chemical to a wastewater line by adding odor control chemical to the wastewater. The method includes measuring a level of dissolved sulfides in the wastewater line using a sulfide probe placed in said wastewater line, transferring data on the level of dissolved sulfides to a computing unit, determining a required odor control chemical addition rate in said computing unit based on said level of dissolved sulfides, and adding the odor control chemical at said required addition rate. The method allows for accurate on-line control of the level of H2S in the wastewater line.
US09815712B2

A resin is provided for selectively binding to perchloride and related anions (e.g., TcO4−, ReO4− and I−) in aqueous solution. The resin may take the form of microparticles or beads. The beads are prepared by cross-linking macromolecules such as hyperbranched PEI, and quaternizing the amines with hydrocarbon substituents.
US09815711B2

Systems and methods to improve the removal and capture of oil from wastewater streams. The water and oil mixture (wastewater) is diluted and treated to provide better solubilization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions using captive water and a diluent. Two additives are added to demulsify and disperse polymeric and non-hydrocarbon insolubles and layer separation is performed on the treated wastewater to segregate oil and water.
US09815710B2

A biodegradable iron-crosslinked alginate is useful as a remediation agent for environmental contaminants such as phosphate. When charged with phosphate, or other nutrients, the iron-functionalized alginate can be used as an agricultural fertilizer.
US09815709B2

A method for preparing nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide. The method comprises the following steps: (1) dissolving microcrystalline cellulose into water to obtain a suspension; and adding a nickel source, a cobalt source, and a manganese source into the suspension to obtain a solution containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese; (2) adding hexamethylenetetramine into the solution containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese, heating the reaction solution to 80-90° C., and reacting for 5-10 min, then heating with a microwave hydrothermal synthesis instrument at a frequency of 2450 MHz for 10-60 min; and (3) filtering the reaction solution obtained in step (2), and taking the filter residue, washing the filter residue with pure water and ethanol respectively, then drying, crushing, and screening the filter residue to obtain nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide. Nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide prepared from the abovementioned method has a uniform particle size and consistent morphology and structure; thus solving the problems of the uncontrollable appearance and structure and the inconsistent performances of the product caused by the vigorous reaction in the existing method for preparing nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide.
US09815704B2

A method is disclosed for preparing zeolite SSZ-98 using 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazolium cations as a structure directing agent.
US09815702B1

Provided herein are systems containing a solar reactor having a mixture of plasmonic material and oxygen-conducting material that can convert carbon dioxide into a chemical feedstock.
US09815698B2

This method improves a carbon nanotube growth environment. In this method of manufacturing carbon nanotubes, the supply amount of catalyst activating material supplied in a carbon nanotube growing step is adjusted to the supply amount of catalyst activating material supplied at the time of maximum concentration of a gas component among multiple measurements made in the growing step, the gas component being at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methane, and ethane.
US09815696B2

The method of the present disclosure is directed towards the formation of a three-dimensional carbon structure and includes the steps of adding a radical initiator to an amount of carbon starting material, forming a mixture, placing the mixture in a mold, maintaining the mixture and the mold at an elevated temperature for a period of time to form a thermally cross-linked molded mixture and removing the thermally cross-linked molded mixture from the mold. The disclosure also includes a three-dimensional carbon structure, with that structure including a thermally cross-linked carbon base material in a predetermined formation.
US09815694B2

This invention relates to molecular catalysts and chemical reactions utilizing the same, and particularly to catalysts and catalytic methods for reduction of molecular nitrogen. The molecular catalytic platform provided herein is capable of the facile reduction of molecular nitrogen under useful conditions such as room temperature or less and atmospheric pressure or less.
US09815689B2

A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) carrier formed by a typical surface micro-machining and bulk micro-machining process on a silicon substrate, having a frame, a movable carrier element, a conductive coil, two return springs and a pair of permanent magnets. The movable carrier element is formed within the frame and movable along a path, the conductive coil is formed on or embedded in the movable carrier element. The two return springs are formed between the movable carrier element and the frame thereby connecting the movable carrier element to the frame and providing a return force to the carrier element, and the pair of permanent magnets are formed a magnetic field for co-acting with the conductive coil for generating an electromagnetic Lorentz force to drive the movable carrier element to move against the return force of the two return springs.
US09815688B2

In one embodiment, a method of aligning mirrors of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) photonic switch includes illuminating a first group of photodiodes associated with a first mirror of a first mirror array of the MEMS photonic switch by a first control beam during a first period of time and illuminating a second group of photodiodes associated with a second mirror of the first mirror array by a second control beam during a second period of time, where the second control beam is off during the first period of time, where the first control beam is off during the second period of time, and where the second period of time is after the first period of time. The method also includes illuminating the first group of photodiodes by the first control beam during a third period of time, where the second control beam is off during the third period of time, and where the third period of time is after the second period of time.
US09815679B2

A liquid dispensing system.
US09815674B2

A pin puller is mounted between first and second connectors, preferably connectors on a lift crane, each of the connectors having a hole there though. The pin puller includes: a) first and second support frame members; b) a first pin with a first end located in the hole of the first connector and a second end inside the first support frame member; c) a second pin with a first end located in the hole of the second connector and a second end inside the second support frame member; d) at least one linear actuator connected to the first and second pins; and e) a length adjustment device between the first and second support frame members, with its length adjusted so as to force the first support frame member into contact with the first connector and the second support frame member into contact with the second connector.
US09815666B2

An emergency movement device for a lift has a mounting body attached to the lift and a pivoting body pivotally attached to the mounting body. A gear box with an output drive shaft for engaging a main drive of the lift is provided. The output drive shaft is movable in conjunction with the pivoting body. The pivoting body is movable between an engaging position in which the output drive shaft engages the main drive to allow for rotation of the main drive of the lift and a non-engaging position in which the output drive shaft is disconnected from the main drive. An input shaft is provided and has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the gear box to allow rotation of the input shaft which causes rotation of the output drive shaft. An input shaft support is positioned on the lift for providing support to the input shaft so that the input shaft is supported in a substantially horizontal orientation. A biasing spring is provided in communication with the pivoting body for biasing the pivoting body and the output drive shaft in the non-engaging position.
US09815662B1

A paper bobbin for winding yarn has an outer periphery provided with two annular protruding portions each adjacent to one of two ends of the paper bobbin respectively; since each protruding portion is protruded a height from the outer periphery of the paper bobbin, the two annular protruding portions may help the paper bobbin not only to lower the frequency of fiber breakage at initial stage of a yarn winding operation, but also to contribute to get a high quality of yarn and an increase in yield.
US09815654B2

A sheet processing system comprising: a sheet processing apparatus; and a sheet counting apparatus, wherein the sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying unit for conveying a sheet to be processed; a determination device for determining the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; and an accumulation unit for accumulating a rejected sheet on the basis of a determination result given by the determination unit, wherein the sheet counting apparatus includes a counting device for counting the paper sheet, and the paper sheet counting apparatus counts the rejected sheet accumulated on the accumulation unit of the sheet processing apparatus, and having a transmitting unit that transmits an information about the counting result to a receiving unit of the paper sheet processing apparatus.
US09815641B2

A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor, a first cover, a second cover movable in conjunction with the first cover, and a restricting portion movable between a restricting position at which the second cover is restricted from being moved from a first position toward a second position and an allowable position at which the second cover is allowed to be moved from the first position toward the second position. The restricting portion is located at the restricting position when the first cover is located at the closed position, and the restricting portion is moved from the restricting position to the allowable position in conjunction with the first cover when the first cover is moved from the closed position toward the opened position.
US09815634B1

A method for monitoring the condition of a rip detection insert embedded in a conveyor belt, the rip detection insert having a plurality of rip detection wires comprised of a magnetically permeable material; the method including the steps of: inducing a magnetic field within the rip detection wires of the rip detection insert; measuring at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert; monitoring the at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert for changes in the magnetic characteristic; determining the rip detection insert has been damaged when a change in at least one magnetic characteristic of the rip detection insert deviates beyond a predetermined threshold for the rip detection insert; and, filtering out a region of the rip detection insert containing the damage to the rip detection insert.
US09815626B2

The present invention relates to a method of storing CO2 in a geological formation, said method comprising (i) injecting a first composition comprising CO2 into said formation; and (ii) injecting a second composition comprising CO2 and at least one CO2 soluble polymer into said formation, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are performed separately and in any order and wherein said first and second compositions are different.
US09815617B2

A beverage cartridge system is adapted to brew a beverage through a brewer having a holder adapted to receive the cartridge system. The holder may have a deep well with one or more needles therewithin to pierce through the bottom of the cartridge system when inserted into the well. The cartridge system may include a short cup and a tall cup, where the tall cup is taller than the short cup to pack more beverage grind. The cartridge system may include a filter within an outer cup. The bottom of the filter may be deep enough to be juxtaposed to the bottom of the cup. The filter may be formed from a material that is substantially resistant to piercing by the needle within the holder such that when the outlet needle pierces through the bottom of the cup, the outlet needle raises the filter at a point of contact, and the filter substantially resists the outlet needle from piercing through the filter during a brewing process.
US09815613B2

The present invention relates to a container of consumer goods comprising an outer housing having a box and a lid hinged to the box. An inner package of consumer goods is disposed within the outer housing and has an access opening through which consumer goods can be removed. An adhesive label is provided with a resealable adhesive on a first portion of an inner surface of the adhesive label and an opposed outer surface of the adhesive label is permanently attached to an inner surface of a front wall of the lid of the outer housing. The outer surface of the adhesive label is permanently attached to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid of the outer housing such that the adhesive label is inwardly concave throughout movement of the lid between a closed position and the open position.
US09815610B2

A squeeze container (10) that includes a container body (13) including squeezable/deformable press-deforming portions (27), and that discharges a content contained in an inner bag (11) inside the outer container (13) by squeezing (pressing) the press-deforming portions (27). The outer container (13) has a tubular body portion (12) including: the press-deforming portions (27); and longitudinal-direction reinforcing portions (13e) molded integrally with the press-deforming portions (27). A pair of longitudinal-direction reinforcing portions (13e) is provided, the longitudinal-direction reinforcing portions extending in a longitudinal direction at respective two locations opposing one another in a radial direction of the tubular body portion (12). A pair of press-deforming portions (27) is provided, the press-deforming portions being arranged in respective sections between the pair of longitudinal-direction reinforcing portions (13e) so as to oppose one another, and each preferably having an arcuate cross-sectional shape so as to form the overall circular hollow cross-sectional shape of the outer container (13).
US09815606B2

A flexible thermoformed stand-up dispensing package for a flowable material is mass produced using dies that provide a container portion, optionally with a dispensing tube, the package having in use a base wall of relatively large area for stably supporting the opened package on a horizontal surface without loss of the flowable contents in either an up-right configuration with a relatively narrower upper region or a low profile package, which optionally includes a dispensing tube.
US09815590B2

A beverage can end for seaming onto a can body may include a peripheral wall, a center panel (26), a tab (attached to the center panel by a rivet (28), a tear panel (60), a main reference line (Rm), a transverse reference line (R1), and a score (30). The end includes an anti-fracture score (40) proximate a vent score (70). The center panel includes a recess (27), in which the main score, an antifracture score, and (optionally) the anti-tension score (50) are located. The score is configured such that lifting the tab from its horizontal rest position to an intermediate position ruptures the main score portion to pivot the tear panel main portion about the hinge (70) and a second lifting operation or twisting operation of the tab ruptures the main score extension (34).
US09815588B2

A stackable storage tray that can be combined with an identical stackable storage tray to form an enclosed box. The stackable storage tray comprises a flat base, a rear wall, two side walls, and an open front. Each of the two side walls are complementary with the respective side walls of a second identical stackable storage tray, so that when one storage tray is flipped upside down the two trays form an enclosed box—the open front of the stationary tray receives the complementary rear wall of the flipped tray, the rear wall of the stationary tray fits in the complementary open front of the flipped tray, and the sides have side walls and open spaces that are complementary reverse mirror images of each other and fit together to form an enclosed box.
US09815587B2

A long corrugated plastic folding container, having a folding structure in which a first side panel and latch side panel that oppose each other are provided from a floor panel, a first incision having the same height is provided in the first side panels, third incisions are provided thereabove, second incisions are provided therebelow, a second side panel is provided towards the front and rear edges of the floor panel, frames are attached to the upper end parts of the first side panels and second side panels, the first incisions of the first side panels fold inwards, and the second incisions and third incisions fold outwards, where the height dimension of the first side panel is greater than the short edge dimension, and, above the third incision serves as an upper short side panel, below the third incision and above the second incision.
US09815585B2

A plurality of integrally arranged panels include a first panel and a second panel with a fold line therebetween. A compression reinforcement feature has a planar edge oriented orthogonal to a first planar surface of the first panel and perpendicular to a z-axis that defines a stacking load direction, the planar edge being disposed at a distance away from the fold line of half a thickness of the first panel, the first panel having a void between the fold line and the planar edge. The compression reinforcement feature is formed by at least four cut lines that define at least a portion of a closed perimeter of a cutout. One of the cut lines defines a location of the planar edge of the compression reinforcement feature.
US09815584B2

A package has a tray slidably mounted in a carton. The carton has a front access port and at least one catch. The tray has a pair of stops positioned to successively engage at least one catch in order to restrict outward movement of the tray. The tray can be positioned with the pair of stops located inwardly of, and locked in place by, at least one catch. The catch on the carton can be manipulated to clear one of the pair of stops and allow it to move outwardly past the catch.
US09815579B2

The invention concerns an apparatus for automatic application of lids to containers, said apparatus comprising a rotatable device unit comprising a plurality of circumferentially distributed lid holding members, a lid feeding unit, a glue application unit and a lid application unit. The lid holding members can be directed to each of the units simultaneously by rotating the rotatable device unit. The rotatable device unit further comprises an item application unit configured to fit an individual additional item onto the lid before the lid is attached to the container. The item application unit comprises an item supply unit and at least one movable gripping device configured to grip an individual additional item from the item supply unit and fit the individual additional item onto the lid. The invention also concerns a method for automatic application of lids to containers.
US09815570B2

An apparatus for detecting skew in a slat of an aircraft wing includes an elongated track moveably supported in the wing for longitudinal movement toward and away from a leading edge of the wing. The slat is coupled to a forward end of the track for conjoint movement therewith. An actuator is configured to selectably drive the track and slat between retracted and extended positions relative to the leading edge of the wing. A pinion gear is rotatably mounted in the wing and disposed in rolling engagement with a rack gear disposed on the track, and a sensor is coupled to the pinion gear and configured to sense the longitudinal position of the slat as a function of a rotational position of the pinion gear.
US09815568B2

A method of monitoring a power transmission system of an aircraft, the aircraft including at least one main rotor driven in rotation by a rotor mast and an auxiliary unit having an auxiliary rotor. Control means control the auxiliary rotor. A power relationship is determined providing a first reduced power parameter of the auxiliary unit as a function of a position (POS) of the control means. A setpoint limit is set for a second power parameter for the rotor mast. A current position (POSACTU) of the control means is determined and a calculated value (Vcal) is also determined at least by applying the current position (POSACTU) to the power relationship. A limit value that is not to be exceeded by a power plant is determined, with the limit value being equal to the sum at least of the setpoint limit plus the calculated value.
US09815566B1

A system, device, and method for generating a vertical speed indicator (VSI) are disclosed. The VSI generating system may include a source of first vertical speed (V/S) data, a source of second V/S, an image generator (IG), and a display system. The IG may be configured to acquire first V/S data; acquire second V/S data; and generate image data as a function of the first V/S data and the second V/S data. The first V/S data could include actual V/S, and the second V/S data could include a target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S. The image data could be representative of an image of an aircraft VSI comprised of at least one indication of the actual V/S, and at least one indication of the target V/S other than a manually-selected V/S.
US09815565B1

Tracker systems are disclosed, the system mountable on a device having one or more rotary component, comprising: an optical tracker having circuitry that causes the optical tracker to transmit one or more optical signal to be deflected by, and received back from, the one or more rotary component of the device, the optical tracker having circuitry transmitting data indicative of a distance; an orientation/motion sensor having circuitry that automatically determines data indicative of the orientation and motion of the optical tracker; and one or more computer processor that utilizes the optical tracker determined distance and the orientation/motion sensor data to determine track error of the one or more rotary component of the device, and transmits data indicative of the track error.
US09815560B2

An aircraft including a fuselage and an aft engine is provided. The fuselage extends from a forward end of the aircraft towards an aft end of the aircraft. The aft engine is mounted to the fuselage proximate the aft end of the aircraft and includes a fan and a nacelle. The fan is rotatable about a central axis of the aft engine and includes a plurality of fan blades. The nacelle of the aft engine surrounds the plurality of fan blades and defines a bottom portion having a forward end. Additionally, the nacelle defines a curved surface at the forward end of the bottom portion, the curved surface including a reference point where the curved surface defines the smallest radius of curvature. The nacelle further defines a normal reference line extending normal from the reference point. The normal reference line defines an angle with the central axis of the aft engine greater than zero to, e.g., allow for a maximum amount of airflow into the aft engine.
US09815554B2

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which in some embodiments may comprise a fuselage which includes a cavity formed by an interior cavity wall and a fuselage exterior wall, with the cavity disposed within the fuselage. A first electronic module may be electrically coupled to a first magnetic connector and a second electronic module may be electrically coupled to a second magnetic connector. Electronic communication between the first and second modules may be provided by contact between the first magnetic connector and the second magnetic connector. In further embodiments, when removably positioned adjacent to each other in the cavity, the first magnetic connector may contact the second magnetic connector to establish electronic communication between the first and second modules.
US09815549B1

The emergency landing gear actuator for aircraft utilizes a pair of airbags for rapid emergency deployment of landing gear when the conventional hydraulic actuator fails. In the retracted position, the at least one wheel of the landing gear is stored in a first cavity formed in the lower portion of the wing. The shock strut and the side strut are stored in an adjacent second cavity formed in the lower portion of the wing. First and second airbags are respectively mounted in the first and second cavities. The first airbag and the second airbag are each selectively inflatable for emergency deployment of the at least one wheel, the shock strut and the side strut. When the hydraulic actuator fails to deploy the landing gear, the first and second airbags are inflated, forcing the shock strut to rotate and position the at least one wheel in its deployed position.
US09815548B2

The various embodiments herein provide a coaxial hydraulic actuator assembly for an aircraft hydraulic system for providing the dual redundancy operations in normal and emergency operations. The embodiments herein adopt a coaxial hydraulic cylinder based actuator system comprising a conventional fixed cylinder with a moving piston actuator. The fixed cylinder with a moving piston actuator is located in a first region. The fixed cylinder with the moving piston actuator is manufactured in tandem with a moving cylinder with fixed piston actuator. The moving cylinder with a fixed piston actuator is located in a second region. The fixed piston actuator in the second region is also referred to as actuation rod. Further, the coaxial hydraulic cylinder based actuator system comprises a first adapter and a first cap for the first region. Similarly, a second adapter and a second cap are provided for the second region.
US09815545B1

An aerodynamic lifting system for a VTOL aircraft is provided that includes a lifting structure defining a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, an upper surface extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion, and a lower surface extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. A plurality of leading edge and trailing edge movable flaps, along with leading edge openings and trailing edge openings are employed to direct a flow of air, including along an upper surface of the lifting structure. During transition from a VTOL stage to forward flight, when a first leading edge movable flap is in a closed position, a net forward thrust is provided by the flow of air at the leading edge portion.
US09815541B2

A method for charging an auxiliary voltage source of a boat having an electric drive that is powered by a main voltage source of the boat, the auxiliary voltage source providing power for at least one additional component, is described. A protection and/or control circuit is electrically connected to the main voltage source via a DC-to-DC converter configured for power supply, and to the auxiliary voltage source via a switch or a reverse blocking valve. The auxiliary voltage source is charged via the main voltage source.
US09815540B2

A storage system for a boat includes one or more storage compartments situated in a bow of a boat. An air flow path includes an air inlet opening, the storage compartment, and an air outlet opening. A fan is situated to move air along the air flow path. The fan may be positioned proximate one of the air inlet and the air outlet, for example.
US09815528B2

The method of supporting and lowering a subsea package load on an umbilical from the deck of an offshore service vessel to a subsea work location including providing a reel to store the umbilical on the deck which is not capable of sustaining the maximum load, providing a supporting tractor with dual chains which have multiple dogs mounted on skewed surfaces which amplify a spring load support against the umbilical for frictional support of the umbilical and therefore the subsea package.
US09815527B2

Marine lift apparatus for raising and lowering vessels, platforms, and cargo are disclosed. A lift apparatus comprises a multi-component structure capable of movement, at least one flexible member, and at least one piston device. In some aspects, marine lift apparatus facilitates the level raising, lowering, and storing of vessels, platforms, and cargo. Lift apparatus mountable onto multi-hull vessels, such as catamarans, configured for lifting a combination swim and dinghy platform are also disclosed.
US09815519B2

A prone bicycle comprising a frame (1), a front wheel (2), a rear wheel (3), a drive mechanism (4) for driving the rear wheel (3), and a pedal mechanism (5) for driving the drive mechanism (4), in which, the front wheel (2) and rear wheel (3) are mounted on the front portion and rear portion of the frame (1), wherein: a forearm support member (6) is mounted at the frame (1) front portion, and a dynamic knee support member (7) having synchronous movement with the pedal mechanism (5) is mounted between the pedal mechanism (5) and the frame (1). Designed with multi-point dynamic and static supports, this prone bicycle improves riding comfort and efficiency and is combined with crawling fitness function.
US09815511B2

A method for positioning a vehicle assembly support device in a vehicle assembly station positioned along an assembly line. The method includes use of a plurality of locator pads selectively engaged with respective receiver sockets to position a vehicle support pallet in the X and Y coordinate directions. Vertical supports are used to position the vehicle support pallet in the Z coordinate direction. In one example, at least one receiver is a four-way positional receiver and at least one receiver is a two-way positional receiver. In another example, each receiver socket includes rollers which engage the respective locator pad to bias the vehicle support pallet towards the desired X and Y coordinate position.
US09815508B1

The dumpster moving apparatus is a device capable of providing motorized assistance for moving large containers such as refuse dumpsters. The apparatus includes an enclosure containing a motor and having a pair of wheel assemblies. The electric motor is operatively coupled to the wheel assemblies to provide the motorized assistance for moving the container. The motor includes a transmission to provide for both forward and rearward variable-speed motion. A rechargeable battery pack and a control module supply electrical power and a control means to the motor. A tongue and hitch ball extend from a front portion of the enclosure to engage the container during a moving operation. In one (1) embodiment, the apparatus can include associated bracketry for removable connection of the device to a trash collection vehicle when not in use.
US09815498B2

A vehicle body structure includes a roof side rail, resin first and second reinforcement members, and a front pillar. The roof side rail is disposed along a vehicle front-rear direction at both vehicle width direction sides of a roof, and is configured, by roof side rail inner and outer panels and a side outer panel, as a beam-shaped vehicle body framework member with a closed hollow cross-section structure including third and fourth closed cross-section portions. The first reinforcement member, as viewed from the side of the vehicle, is disposed to contain a connection position, at a front portion of the roof side rail, to a front roof header disposed along an upper end portion of a windshield glass, and is provided along a length direction of the front portion to fill at least a portion of a space inside a closed hollow cross-section portion at the front portion.
US09815493B2

A vehicle comprising an electric power assist steering (EPAS) system, wherein the EPAS system is configured to receive a detected value of steering wheel angle and/or steering wheel angular velocity and wherein the EPAS system is configured to improve the accuracy of the detected value of steering wheel angle and/or steering wheel angular velocity by compensating for any one or more of an angular phasing of the joint between any two linked components of the steering mechanism and the effect on steering wheel angle of the deflection across a torque sensor at least substantially due to the stiffness of that torque sensor.
US09815492B2

A method for controlling the articulation angle of a big rig, in which a first articulation angle control unit, which determines and controls a target wheel angle of at least one steerable wheel of the tractor unit so as to achieve a predefined target articulation angle of the big rig, is combined with a further articulation angle control unit for controlling the articulation angle with the first articulation angle control unit.
US09815486B2

A shopping cart bumper in one embodiment comprises a U-shaped bumper having a plurality of slots on an inner leg of the bumper for engaging wires of a shopping cart.
US09815478B2

A driving assistance system includes a history storage unit, a behavior detecting unit, a state determining unit, and a notifying unit. The history storage unit stores a behavior history which is a past behavior history of a driver. The behavior detecting unit detects a current behavior of the driver. The state determining unit determines an unsafe state by comparing the transition of the behavior detected by the behavior detecting unit with the behavior history of the driver corresponding to a current driving path. If the state determining unit determines the unsafe state, the notifying unit gives notification to the driver.
US09815476B2

An approach is provided for determining road surface friction data for at least one travel segment via sensor data and/or guideline friction map to cause at least one response action. The approach involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of sensor data to determine at least one road-vehicle friction change associated with at least one travel segment. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a comparison of the at least one road-vehicle friction change to at least one guideline friction map. The approach further involves determining at least one response action to the at least one road-vehicle friction change based, at least in part, on the comparison.
US09815470B2

An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.
US09815466B2

A lock-up clutch control device is provided for a vehicle, in which, when the accelerator pedal is released in a slip engagement mode, lock-up re-engagement with reduced engagement shock is performed, thereby improving fuel economy. A torque converter having a lock-up clutch is disposed between an engine and a continuously variable transmission. The vehicle is provided with a coast lock-up control unit configured to bring the engine in a fuel cut-off state when the accelerator pedal is released in a slip engagement mode in which a differential rotation is present in the lock-up clutch with the accelerator pedal being depressed. Upon accelerator fool release operation, the coast lock-up control unit performs an engine torque control to synchronize engine rotation speed and turbine rotational speed, re-engages the lock-up clutch in a rotation synchronization state, and, after the re-engagement, and performs fuel cut-off.
US09815464B2

A controller of a vehicle that includes a return control unit configured to carry out a complete engagement control of a power connecting/disconnecting device. At the time a return condition from inertia traveling to normal traveling is established and a down shift of an automatic transmission is requested, the return control unit carries out a down shift control of the automatic transmission so that a difference between an increasing gradient of a rotating speed of a first engaging portion and an increasing gradient of a rotating speed of a second engaging portion is within a predetermined range. At the time it can be regarded that the rotating speed of the first engaging portion and the rotating speed of the second engaging portion are synchronized, the return control unit completely engages the power connecting/disconnecting device.
US09815462B2

An automated vehicle can generate a path. Sensor data of at least a forward portion of an external environment of the vehicle can be acquired. One or more travel lane markers of a current travel path of the automated vehicle can be identified from the acquired sensor data. A detection range of the acquired sensor data can be determined. A set of travel lane parameters based on the identified one or more travel lane markers can be determined. In at least some instances, the set of travel lane parameters can include at least: offset, curvature, curvature derivative, and yaw. It can be determined whether any of the determined travel lane parameters are reliable based on the determined detection range. In one or more arrangements, a vehicle path can be determined based at least partially on the travel lane parameters that are determined as being reliable.
US09815454B2

A control system for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a plurality of motors is provided. An operating mode of the hybrid vehicle is selected depending on a required driving force from a first mode where the vehicle is powered by the engine, a second mode where the vehicle is powered by the plurality of motors, and a third mode where the vehicle is powered by any one of the motors. The control system is characterized by a detection means that detects an output power of the prime mover, and a setting means that alters a selectability of the second mode in accordance with the output power of the prime mover.
US09815445B2

A brake booster assembly and method of operation thereof are provided. The assembly includes a rack moveable along a first axis. A sensor is coupled with the rack for sensing force and displacement of the rack and outputting a proportional signal. A clutch subassembly is disposed adjacent and coupled to the rack and includes a drum and a hub in a spaced relationship with the drum. A motor is disposed adjacent the rack and coupled to the clutch subassembly for rotating the drum. A magnetorheological fluid is disposed between the drum and the hub. An electromagnet is disposed about the clutch subassembly for generating an electromagnetic field to affect the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. A controller is electrically connected to the electromagnet and to the sensor and to the motor for controlling the motor and the electromagnetic field of the electromagnet in response to the signal from the sensor.
US09815441B2

A brake measuring gauge and method are disclosed. The measuring gauge comprises two measuring rods and a horizontal rule. Each of the two measuring rod has at least a connecting rod formed at an end of the measuring rod to engage with a nut. The horizontal ruler has a central hole formed at a central portion of a surface thereof, and two through holes are formed at relative positions on two ends of the horizontal ruler, and two scales are separately formed at a lateral side of the horizontal ruler. By using the measuring gauge to measure and calculate the dimensions of components of the brake rotor, the user can obtain precise sizes of the adapter bases for different types of the calipers or the brake discs.
US09815434B2

A wheeled vehicle includes a rear opening that is formed in a rear surface of a vehicle body, a tailgate that is provided to open and close the rear opening, a sub door opening that is formed in a transverse portion of the tailgate, and a sub door that is provided to open and close the sub door opening. In the tailgate, a tailgate side window panel is provided on the tailgate, and a sub door side window panel is provided on the sub door. These tailgate side window panel and the sub door side window panel are made substantially level with each other while being disposed continuously in a transverse direction. The control unit prohibits the operation of a wiper device that moves over the individual window panels so as to clean and remove water therefrom, with the sub door left open.
US09815431B2

An inflator for a protective device in a vehicle includes a diffuser (10) forming a substantially rotation-symmetric external housing of the inflator with a closing member (12), wherein the diffuser (10) includes a plurality of discharge orifices (78) arranged in a row, and which are of circular shape. The inflator also includes an igniter sleeve (38) which at least partially encloses an igniter (34) and an igniter chamber (42) filled with a booster charge and is adjacent to a first combustion chamber (44) filled with fuel, wherein the igniter sleeve (38), related to a central axis B of the igniter sleeve (38), has overflow orifices (98) unevenly distributed in circumferential direction.
US09815428B2

An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag, a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and at least one tethering mechanism positioned within the lower chamber. The at least one tether mechanism is structured and attached to the at least one panel so as to restrict movement of a portion of the at least one panel during airbag inflation such that a first recess is formed along an exterior surface of the airbag when the airbag is inflated.
US09815422B2

A power connection box is disclosed for a hybrid vehicle and includes a current supply member and a lead line installation member. The current supply member has a first main relay, a second main relay, a bus bar, and a preliminary relay. The bus bar is connected to the first main relay and has a side connected to a battery and an opposite side connected to an inverter. The preliminary relay is positioned between the first main relay and the bus bar connected to the first main relay. The lead line installation member has a plurality of lead lines connected to the first main relay, the second main relay, and the preliminary relay.
US09815418B2

Numerous fine projections (20) are formed interspersed on a plate-shape member (18), and the neutral plane (S) of each fine projection (20) is inclined at an inclination angle α to the normal line (O) such that the contact center (Q) does not overlap with the base part in the plane direction of the surface (22), so when a pressing load (F) is applied, the moment acting on the fine projections (20) is large, and the fine projections (20) easily deform to bend in the respective inclination direction. By this means, the tactile softness (cushion properties) are improved by preventing the fine projections (20) from undergoing simple compression deformation in the axial direction, and stick-slip due to friction between the fine projections (20) and the surface (22) is avoided, making it possible to obtain a smooth and stable tactile softness.
US09815414B1

An attachment for mounting onto a hitch receiver on a vehicle. The attachment is used for transporting a snow blower. The snow blower has wheels, an engine, a front housing and a pair of arms. The attachment comprises a drawbar. A base is supported by the drawbar. An elongate member is supported by the drawbar and has a support surface disposed above and in spaced apart relation to the base. The base is configured and arranged to support the front housing of the snow blower. The base also is configured and arranged to establish a fulcrum as the arms of the snow blower are rotated forward until the snow blower makes contact with the support surface.
US09815407B1

The unattended child safety seat alert system is a safety system that is designed to alert travelers when a passenger is left unattended in a safety seat that is adapted for use with an automobile. The unattended child safety seat alert system is a safety system that incorporates a passenger sensor into the safety seat such that the passenger sensor indicates when a passenger is in the safety seat. A control system monitors the passenger sensor and further monitors whether the automobile is in operation. Should the automobile not be operating while a passenger is in safety seat, the unattended child safety seat alert system further monitors the situation and should subsequent conditions be met the unattended child safety seat alert system will issue a plurality of alarms. The unattended child safety seat alert system comprises a passenger sensor, a controller, and a key fob.
US09815397B2

A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.
US09815396B2

An actuator arrangement for a seat includes a plurality of traction members and an actuator coupled to the plurality of traction members. The actuator has at least one first drive member which is rotatably supported. The actuator may include a second drive member which is supported moveably relative to the at least one first drive member. The traction members are coupled to the at least one first drive member so that rotation of the at least one first drive member gives rise to a cyclical change in the traction applied by the traction members.
US09815395B2

A cover for a vehicle may include a lower portion sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat. The cover may also include an upper portion coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may be sized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicle seat. The upper portion may include a first section, a second section, and a third section. Each of the first section, the second section, and the third section may extend from an upper edge of the upper portion to the lower portion. The cover may include a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism may be configured to couple the first section to the second section. The second coupling mechanism may be configured to couple the second section and the third section.
US09815394B2

A seat heater (10) with a heating element (12) connected between a first (14) and a second (16) nodes comprises a third (18) and a fourth (20) node operatively connectable to a first and a second terminal, respectively, of a power supply. A first electric component (22) providing a controllable first conductance is connected between the first and the third nodes. A second electric component (24) providing a controllable second conductance is connected between the second and the fourth nodes. A control network (26) is connected to the electric components to control the respective conductances and has a mode of operation in which it applies an oscillating signal to the heating element by modulating the first and second conductances in such a way that a voltage drop variation between the third and first nodes is opposite to a voltage drop variation between the second and fourth nodes.
US09815389B2

An adjustment device for adjusting a longitudinal position of a vehicle seat, comprises: a first guide rail; a spindle fixed to the first guide rail and extending along a longitudinal axis; a second guide rail being linearly movable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first guide rail, the second guide rail having a base and a first leg extending from the base; and a gearing fixed to the second guide rail and having a housing, the gearing being in operative connection with the spindle to move the second guide rail relative to the first guide rail. At least one support member is arranged on the second guide rail, the at least one support member having a support face extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and facing the housing of the gearing for supporting the gearing with respect to the second guide rail. The support face comprises a first edge facing the base or the first leg and having a welding section via which the first edge is fixed to the base or the first leg by welding, a tab protruding from said first edge and engaging with an opening of said base or said first leg.
US09815386B2

A vehicle seat is capable of being shifted to a walk-in state without side support parts or a tilt part hindering the seat back from folding forward. A seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a leg rest part. The seat is provided with side support parts at left and right sides of an occupant, and a tilt part that moves a front portion of the seat cushion upward and downward. The seat is further provided with a detecting part that detects a state of the seat back, and a control unit that causes at least one of the side support parts and the tilt part to transit from a deployed state to a housed state when the detecting part detects that a forward turn of the seat back is started.
US09815356B2

A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof. The soft panel top assembly has a fixed portion attached to the vehicle and a lightweight pivotal portion that folds back to provide the occupant a quick and easy open air effect. Two door rails of the soft panel top assembly are connected to the vehicle. Two side rail linkage assemblies are attached to header, which is secured to a windshield frame when in a closed position, and are connected at pivot points created with a bracket attached to the door rails to allow the pivotal portion to pivot to an open position. The soft panel top assembly includes a rear header that is lightweight and engages with the existing seal of the hard top roof portion to provide a weatherproof seal.
US09815354B2

A rollo assembly for use in a vehicle comprises a rollo screen having opposite forward and rearward sides and two opposite lateral sides, a winding tube for the rollo screen at the rearward side, an operating beam connected to the forward side and having two outer ends, and two longitudinally extending guides for guiding respective ones of the outer ends of the operating beam and respective ones of the lateral sides of the rollo screen. Said lateral sides are provided with retention members cooperating with corresponding parts of the guides for retaining said lateral sides in said guides. The rollo screen is provided with light transmitting and emitting members which have an end portion extending at least up to a first one of the lateral sides of the rollo screen. At least one elongate light bar extends longitudinally along said guide to transmit light into said end portion.
US09815329B2

A hub assembly, including: an axle with an axial opening; a hub shell; a frame, including first and second frame members with respective first and second retaining surfaces; and a control shaft within the axial opening. The control shaft includes: an engagement end; a clamping end with an enlarged head portion with an inwardly facing grip face; a shank extending between the engagement and clamping ends; first and second engagement surfaces proximal the engagement and clamping ends respectively. The second frame member includes an open slot to receive the control shaft. The control shaft is axially displaceable between: a retracted position radially disengaged from both first and second frame members; and a pre-engaged position, where the first and second engagement surfaces are overlapping the first and second retaining surfaces in respective first and second radial engagements to radially retain the hub assembly with the first and second frame members.
US09815327B2

A quick release apparatus for a bicycle tire or tube is provided, which reduces time and effort spent in changing the tire or tube. A main wheel frame and a sub wheel frame are provided. These two frames with rim respectively can be assembled to construct a complete wheel frame set. When said main wheel frame connects with the sub wheel frame, it provides a complete rim with two walls for containing the tube. When said main wheel frame leaves said sub wheel frame, it generates a gap between these two frames for removing the tube easily.
US09815323B2

A cast aluminum wheel includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis and a central element extending radially outwardly between the axis and the rim element. The rim element includes a wall extending circumferentially around the axis between a proximal bead and a distal bead. The central element includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly toward the proximal bead and meets proximate the axis with adjacent of the plurality of spokes defining a cooperative feature therebetween for providing stiffness to the wheel. The spokes progressively increase in volume in a direction toward the axis from the rim element thereby providing increased mass of the spokes proximate the axis relative to the rim element.
US09815321B2

A vehicle wheel including a rim, a hub, and a plurality of spokes extending with a span portion between the rim hub. The rim and/or hub constitutes a bracing element. A connecting element is connected to the bracing element and includes an external surface, an internal cavity. A spoke has a longitudinal axis and an external spoke surface that that overlaps the internal cavity in an overlap region, and a pre-formed lateral spoke surface. The connecting element is crimped to create a crimped joinder with the spoke such that the connector surface is pressed and plastically deformed to displace the internal cavity toward the spoke surface in the overlap region to cause a lateral connector surface to laterally overlap the lateral spoke surface to create an overlie engagement and/or to increase a lateral overlap between a lateral connector surface and the lateral spoke surface in an overlie engagement. The overlie engagement supports spoke tensile load.
US09815315B2

A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.
US09815308B2

A printer is disclosed. The printer is calibrated for use with colored media. The printer is calibrated by converting an original color look up table (CLUT) for use on any colored media to a modified CLUT for use on colored media with a measured color. Each of a plurality of output colors in the original CLUT are modified using the measured color of the media.
US09815300B2

A printing device (1) is provided with: a can body conveying mechanism (100) for sequentially conveying can bodies (10); and a can body moving mechanism (200) for moving the can body (10) while forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) conveyed by the can body conveying mechanism (100). The can body moving mechanism (200) is provided with a rotating member (210) formed in a disc shape and rotating in a clockwise direction in the drawing. The can body moving mechanism (200) is also provided with plural image forming units (220) provided on the rotating member (210) and forming an image onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10) while moving the can body (10). The image forming units (220) are each provided with plural ink ejection devices for ejecting ink onto the outer circumferential surface of the can body (10). This provides an image forming device capable of increasing the number of can bodies on each of which an image can be formed per unit time.
US09815294B2

A method for controlling an inkjet printing system including calculating a pigment concentration of ink ejected by the inkjet printhead relative to an initial pigment concentration of the ink based on a determined height of ink in an ink reservoir and a determined period of time since a last printhead activation. A firing pattern for the inkjet printhead is determined based on the determined height, the determined period of time and the calculated relative pigment concentration to account for settling of ink stored in the ink reservoir.
US09815278B2

A fluid printhead including a plurality of heater elements that are driven to nucleate bubbles in fluid so that the fluid is ejected from the printhead in the form of drops, a plurality of drive elements, each drive element selectively driving a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements in accordance with a printer controller, and a drop detection system that includes a plurality of drop detection cells, each drop detection cell detecting a change in electrical resistance of a corresponding one of the plurality of heater elements that occurs upon drop formation.
US09815262B2

The invention relates to a method of joining substrates. It is the object of the invention in this respect to join substrates of substrate materials together without having to exert an increased effort for a coating with additional coating processes to be carried out and to be able to achieve a good quality of the join connection in so doing. In the method in accordance with the invention a pretreatment of at least one join surface of a substrate to be joined is carried out in low pressure oxygen plasma prior to the actual joining. On the joining, a contact force acts on the substrates to be joined in the range 2 kPa to 5 MPa and in this process a heat treatment is carried out at an elevated temperature of at least 100° C. and at under pressure conditions of a maximum of 10 mbar, preferably <10−3 mbar.
US09815256B2

According to one embodiment, a polyisocyanurate foam board is described. The foam board includes a polyisocyanurate core that is produced from: an isocyanate, a polyol, and a phosphorous containing non-halogenated fire retardant. The foam board also includes a facer material that is applied to at least one surface of the polyisocyanurate core. The polyisocyanurate core has an isocyanate index greater than about 200 and is able to forms a sufficiently stable char when exposed to flame conditions to enable the polyisocyanurate core to pass the ASTM E-84 test. The foam board has an initial R-value of at least 6.40 and exhibits an ASTM E1354-11b test performance that is equivalent with or better than a similar foam board having a halogenated fire retardant, such as tris(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCPP).
US09815254B2

A hose assembly, preferably a garden hose assembly, including a fabric jacketed tube that is lightweight, durable and versatile. The tube is radially expandable when pressurized by a fluid, such as water, but does not increase in length. The two layer construction of the hose assembly allows for storage in relatively compact spaces, similar flow rates, approximately one-half the weight, and improved maneuverability when compared to conventional hose constructions. In one embodiment the jacket is formed around the tube in a continuous process that welds a fabric, preferably using hot air, into the jacket. The welded joint forms a region of jacket that is preferably about twice the thickness of the rest of the jacket. This thicker region results in a stiffer section of jacket that makes the hose more controllable and consistent in use.
US09815246B2

A supporting profiled demerit is configured to support a reinforcing profiled element that is formed from a fiber composite semi-finished product during a curing process of a method for producing a vehicle fuselage component, during which the reinforcing profiled element is bonded to a surface of a fuselage shell that is also formed from a fiber composite semi-finished product. The supporting profiled element includes an air-impermeable profiled hose having two ends and a first end piece that is detachably inserted at a first of the two ends of the profiled hose so as to form an insertion connection. The first end piece is sealed against the profiled hose by the insertion connection.
US09815242B2

An apparatus and a method are provided for manufacturing three-dimensional objects by selective solidification of a build material applied in layers. A heating element having at least two functional openings is used to improve the manufacturing process and in particular to optimize heat input. One of the at least two functional openings serves as a material passthrough and another of the at least two functional openings simultaneously serves as a radiation passthrough. An additional heating and/or cooling device serves to control the temperature of build material applied through the material passthrough.
US09815240B2

The present invention relates to shape memory materials and to a method for controlling shape change in shape memory materials. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a system for forming complex shapes from shape memory materials and to shape memory materials having complex shapes.