US09875137B2

Intelligent application back stack management may include generating a first back stack for activities of an application that have been executed by a device that executes the application. The first back stack may include a back stack size limit. A further back stack may be generated for selected ones of the activities of the application if a total number of the activities of the application and further activities of the application exceeds the back stack size limit. The first back stack may be an in-memory back stack for the device that executes the application, and the further back stack may include an external on-device back stack for the device that executes the application and/or a Cloud storage based back stack. Intelligent application back stack management may further include regenerating an activity of the selected ones of the activities that is pulled from the further back stack.
US09875130B2

Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The methods include, for instance: synchronizing, by one or more processor, first virtual machine(s) with a second virtual machine, the synchronizing comprising mirroring first input events to the first virtual machine(s); and customizing, by the one or more processor, the first virtual machine(s), the customizing comprising suspending the synchronizing and facilitating sending of second input events to the first virtual machine(s). In one embodiment, the synchronizing comprises cloning the second virtual machine to create the first virtual machine(s), the cloning comprising initializing the first virtual machine(s), and copying second virtual machine state information to the first virtual machine(s). In another embodiment, the customizing comprises decrementing an available first virtual machine counter, and the synchronizing comprises cloning the second virtual machine to create another first virtual machine responsive to the available first virtual machine counter having a certain value.
US09875126B2

Systems and methods for hash-based load balancing implemented by bonded network interfaces. An example method may comprise: receiving, by a bonded interface of a computer system, a data link layer frame originated by a virtual machine; identifying a network interface controller (NIC) of the bonded interface by calculating a value of a hash function of an identifier of the virtual machine and at least one of: a destination Media Access Control (MAC) address of the data link layer frame or a destination network layer address of a network layer packet comprised by the data link layer frame; and transmitting the data link layer frame via the identified NIC.
US09875125B2

Techniques are disclosed for performing input/output (I/O) requests to two or more physical adapters in parallel. One method for performing an input/output (I/O) request includes mapping an address for at least a first page associated with a virtual I/O request to an entry in a virtual TCE table and identifying a plurality of physical adapters required to service the virtual I/O request. For each of the identified physical adapters, the entry in the virtual TCE table is mapped to an entry in a physical TCE table corresponding to the physical adapter. This method may also include, in parallel, issuing physical I/O requests to the physical adapters.
US09875118B2

The invention discloses a method and a device for loading a driver, where the method includes: determining a model identifier corresponding to a component included in an embedded device, and searching for a driver associated with the model identifier; loading a found driver into a memory of the embedded device, and controlling the driver to drive the component. In this solution, when a driver is loaded onto a component onto which a driver is to be loaded, an associated driver is searched for according to a model identifier of the component onto which the driver is to be loaded, and then the associated driver may be loaded. A combination of drivers of multiple components does not need to be searched for, or a combination of identifiers corresponding to drivers of multiple components does not need to be generated. Therefore, consumed time is reduced and loading efficiency is improved.
US09875117B2

Methods, systems, and techniques for supporting access to multiple copies of a legacy task are provided. When there are multiple copies of a task present, then instead of showing the output from a single task, the task workspace area displays task representation pictograms that represent the state and inform the user regarding each particular instance of that legacy task running on the host. The user can use the interface to perform various operations, including to start a new copy of the task, to end a copy of the task, and to select one of the copies for viewing. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which uses these enhanced modernization techniques to provide role-based modernization of menu-based legacy applications.
US09875113B2

A BIOS settings configuration may be stored in BIOS of a computer system. A default BIOS status may be set as a locked state. The BIOS status can be changed from the locked state to an unlocked state when an authentication request is received and when the received authentication information matches stored authentication information in BIOS. In some embodiments, a BIOS settings change request can be received. The BIOS settings can be modified based on the BIOS settings change request. The BIOS status can be changed back to the locked state after the BIOS settings modification has been made.
US09875111B2

A performance optimization system includes a plurality of system components. A monitoring plug-in and a configuration plug-in are coupled to each of the plurality of system components. A monitoring engine receives monitoring information for each of the plurality of system components from their respective monitoring plug-in. A configuration engine sends configuration setting information to each of the plurality of system components through their respective configuration plug-ins. A performance optimization engine receives the monitoring information from the monitoring engine, determines a policy associated with the monitoring information and, in response, retrieves configuration setting information that is associated with the policy and sends the configuration setting information to the configuration engine in order to change the configuration of at least one of the plurality of system components.
US09875104B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including an apparatus for processing an instruction for accessing a N-dimensional tensor, the apparatus including multiple tensor index elements and multiple dimension multiplier elements, where each of the dimension multiplier elements has a corresponding tensor index element. The apparatus includes one or more processors configured to obtain an instruction to access a particular element of a N-dimensional tensor, where the N-dimensional tensor has multiple elements arranged across each of the N dimensions, and where N is an integer that is equal to or greater than one; determine, using one or more tensor index elements of the multiple tensor index elements and one or more dimension multiplier elements of the multiple dimension multiplier elements, an address of the particular element; and output data indicating the determined address for accessing the particular element of the N-dimensional tensor.
US09875102B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method of creating, based on an operating-system-scheduled thread running on an operating-system-visible sequencer and using an instruction set extension, a persistent user-level thread to run on an operating-system-sequestered sequencer independently of context switch activities on the operating-system-scheduled thread. The operating-system-scheduled thread and the persistent user-level thread may share a common virtual address space. Embodiments of the invention may also provide a method of causing a service thread running on an additional operating-system-visible sequencer to provide operating system services to the persistent user-level thread. Embodiments of the invention may further provide apparatus, system, and machine-readable medium thereof.
US09875098B2

Disclosed is a method and system for extracting a business rule embedded in an application source code. The method comprises creating a call structure of one or more programs present in the application source code by performing a control flow analysis on the application source code. The method further comprises recognizing one or more parent programs and one or more child programs for a parent program. The method further comprises grouping the parent program and the one or more child programs into a group. Also, the method comprises identifying one or more conditional statements. The one or more conditional statements comprise the business rule. The one or more conditional statements are identified by comparing the plurality of conditional statements with pre-defined patterns identified from the application source code, and determining a conditional statement comparing a variable with a hard-coded value. The method further comprises mapping the one or more conditional statements with the business rule.
US09875080B2

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate user interaction with, such as modification of, respective audio objects. An example method may include causing a multimedia file to be presented that includes at least two images. The images are configured to provide animation associated with respective audio objects and representative of a direction of the respective audio objects. The method may also include receiving user input in relation to an animation associated with an audio object or the direction of the audio object represented by an animation. The method may further include causing replay of the audio object for which the user input was received to be modified.
US09875079B1

An information processing method includes defining a virtual space for immersing a user wearing a head mounted display (HMD). The virtual space includes a viewpoint of the user, a sound collecting object separated from the viewpoint of the user, and a sound source object. The method includes processing sound data based on a relative positional relationship between the sound collecting object and the sound source object. The method includes instructing a sound outputting unit to output a sound based on the processed sound data. The method includes determining whether or not the viewpoint of the user is moved without synchronization with the movement of the HMD. In response to a determination that the viewpoint of the user is moved without synchronization with movement of the HMD, moving the sound collecting object so that the distance between the moved viewpoint of the user and the sound collecting object is decreased.
US09875066B2

A method of creating a print application by a single action comprises appending a print application creation button to a browser instance displayed on a user device, receiving a single action user input on the user device to add content displayed in the browser instance as a print application, and creating the print application based on the content. A system for creating a print application comprises a user device communicatively coupled to a server, the user device comprising a processor, a data storage device, and a native print application to display a print application creation button in association with content displayed in a browser instance and obtain data related to the content displayed in the browser instance.
US09875052B2

Method and system are provided for storage capacity allocation. The method includes: providing a storage pool having multiple storage drive arrays; designating an initial available storage capacity in the storage pool; and allocating the remaining storage capacity in the storage pool to distributed spare space, wherein distributed spare space spreads portions of a spare drive across multiple storage drives in an array. The method also includes: monitoring an amount of available storage capacity as data is stored to the storage pool and determining when a threshold of a minimum available storage capacity is reached; and re-allocating one or more distributed spare drives from an array to available storage capacity when the threshold of the minimum available storage capacity is reached.
US09875051B2

A memory device includes a nonvolatile memory unit, a volatile memory unit including first and second memory modules, and a controller configured to store data from the nonvolatile memory unit in the volatile memory unit before the data are transferred to a host. While the controller stores the data in the first memory module, the first memory module is in a first power state and the second memory module is in a second power state. The first power state corresponds to a high power consumption state and the second power state corresponds to a low power consumption state.
US09875049B2

A memory system and method for reducing peak current consumption. In one embodiment, a method is provided that is performed in a memory system comprising a memory with a plurality of blocks, wherein each block has a peak current consumption. In this method, a plurality of metablocks is created, wherein each metablock is created by grouping together blocks with complementary peak current consumption. Next, the metablocks are programmed. Because each of the metablocks has blocks with complementary peak current consumption, each of the metablocks has similar peak current consumption when programmed. Other embodiments are provided.
US09875045B2

A device for matching, in input data, a regular expression with back-references, represented by a finite-state machine (FSM). The device comprises a plurality of parallel processing elements (PPEs), an interconnection network for interconnecting the PPEs with each other, and a memory for receiving and storing input data. The PPEs process the input data stored in the memory, based on backtracking to process the back-references, and implement FA next state logic to generate new active FA configurations or mark themselves as available to receive active FA configurations. The interconnection network retrieves active FA configurations from the PPEs and allocates the active FA configurations to available PPEs. The PPEs are configured to match a regular expression in the input data.
US09875040B2

Techniques are provided for assigning read requests to storage devices in a manner that reduces the likelihood that any storage device will become overloaded or underutilized. Specifically, a read-request handler assigns read requests that are directed to each particular item among the storage devices that have copies of the item based on how busy each of those storage devices is. Consequently, even though certain storage devices may have copies of the same item, there may be times during which one storage device is assigned a disproportionate number of the reads of the item because the other storage device is busy with read requests for other items, and there may be other times during which other storage device is assigned a disproportionate number of the reads of the item because the one storage device is busy with read request for other items. Various techniques for estimating the busyness of storage devices are provided, including fraction-based estimates, interval-based estimates, and the response-time-based estimates. Techniques for smoothing those estimates, and for handicapping devices, are also provided.
US09875036B2

An endurance parameter value of a non-volatile memory included in a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM) can be monitored and compared against a warning threshold value. In response to the endurance parameter exceeding the warning threshold value, a system alert can be generated, within a host system of the NVDIMM, to inform a system user that the NVDIMM is approaching its end-of-life. If the endurance parameter exceeds a replacement threshold value greater than the warning threshold value, an upgrade process can be initiated. The upgrade process can include copying data from the first non-volatile memory to a volatile memory of the NVDIMM and copying, in response to the first non-volatile memory being replaced with a second non-volatile memory, the data from the volatile memory to the second non-volatile memory.
US09875029B2

A network attached storage management appliance that can be inserted into a pre-existing network. The appliance sits between an end user and the available storage and optimizes performance and storage through acceleration of data, migration of data, compression of data, deduplication of data, and expansion of storage. The device moves data between lower- and higher-performance storage, with frequently accessed data sitting in higher-performance storage and infrequently accessed data sitting in lower-performance storage.
US09875026B2

Techniques to send and receive access commands are provided. The access commands may include an expected media position. The expected media position may be compared to an actual media position.
US09875018B2

The present invention discloses an electronic device including a storage device, an input device, a display device and a processing unit. The storage device stores an input rule table. The input device receives at least one input signal corresponding to text editing. The display device is arranged to display a text input interface, wherein the text input interface comprises a first display region and a second display region provided for users to do the text editing by the input device, wherein the display device has a display region, the display region has a predetermined display area, and the text input interface has an interface area. The processing dynamically adjusts the interface area of the text input interface to change the ratio of the interface area and the predetermined display area of the display region according to the input signal and the input rule table.
US09875017B2

A device, includes: a touch screen display; and a controller configured to, when the touch screen display detects that a physical body has moved in a predetermined direction while contacting with the touch screen display, cause an object on which a text is inputtable to be displayed on a screen displayed on the touch screen display along a trajectory of the moving.
US09875008B2

A display system includes a display and a control circuit operable with the display. The display is configured to provide visual output having a presentation orientation. When user input is received, the control circuit can alter the presentation orientation from an initial orientation in response to user input. When non-user events or device events are detected, the control circuit can revert the presentation orientation to the initial orientation in response to the non-user event or device event. Where the presentation orientation has a user input configuration associated therewith, the user input configuration can either be altered with the presentation orientation or retained in an initial disposition.
US09875007B2

An apparatus includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive user input into the apparatus implicating an output in response, and present the response on a device separate and apart from the apparatus instead of presenting the response on the apparatus.
US09875005B2

A method of unlocking an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display includes at least the following steps: controlling the touch-sensitive display to have unlocking objects displayed at different locations for different time points; and when at least one contact is detected on the touch-sensitive display, determining whether to unlock the electronic device by referring to a contact status on the touch-sensitive display. Besides, a computer readable medium storing a program code is also provided, where the program code causes a processor to perform following steps when executed by the processor: controlling the touch-sensitive display to have unlocking objects displayed at different locations for different time points; and when at least one contact is detected on the touch-sensitive display, determining whether to unlock an electronic device by referring to a contact status on the touch-sensitive display.
US09875004B2

Systems, methods and user interfaces are provided for displaying spread product market data and statistics. Market data may be arranged in a matrix and statistical information is inserted in the matrix in available space. In some cases, a computer system may receive market data for a plurality of spread products, receive and/or compute statistical information for the plurality of spread products, and generate a user interface screen that includes the market data for the plurality of spread products and the statistical information associated with the plurality of spread products, where the market data and the statistical information are arranged in a matrix.
US09874996B2

A navigation system which minimizes vehicle driver distraction through a series of simple, easily identifiable individual large icons separately displayed. The driver taps the screen and sees a first big non-verbal icon for an image related to the driver's query, wherein the driver hears an audio prompt and proceeds to select a desired navigation related to the driver's query.
US09874995B2

A grid-based visualization displays icons representing data entities in grid cells corresponding with the data entities' attribute values. The grid-based visualization enables users to zoom in or maximize the size of a selected grid cell, row of grid cells, column of grid cells, or any other selection of grid cells in a grid-based visualization. When zooming on a single row, the other rows are reduced in height and the selected row is enlarged to occupy the remaining space. When maximizing a single column, the other columns are reduced in width and the selected column is enlarged. When maximizing one or more cells, the unselected cells are minimized in height and/or width, and the selected cells are enlarged. Icons may be dynamically sized to fit within their assigned cells. An overflow indicator, zooming, and scrolling may be used to view sets of icons that cannot fit within their assigned cells.
US09874982B2

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a touch panel, the method including, forming a plurality of sensing cells in a first region of a substrate, forming an insulating interlayer on the plurality of sensing cells, removing at least a portion of the insulating interlayer to form contact holes exposing the plurality of sensing cells, and forming a connection pattern and a transparent conductive pattern on the insulating interlayer simultaneously, wherein the connection pattern is electrically connected to adjacent sensing cells, and the transparent conductive pattern is disposed in a second region of the substrate outside of the first region.
US09874981B2

A detection method and device for a touch screen is provided. When a pen touching or approaching the touch screen is detected, only the location of the pen in a predetermined range is provided, and the locations of all other objects within the predetermined range are not provided, such as the location of a palm. Only when the pen is no longer detected over a predetermined period of time, then the locations of objects other than the pen in the predetermined range are provided again.
US09874965B2

An electronic device includes one or more transparent strain sensors configured to detect strain based on an amount of force applied to the electronic device, a component in the electronic device, and/or an input surface of the electronic device. The one or more transparent strain sensors may be included in or positioned below an input surface that is configured to receive touch inputs from a user. The area below the input surface can be visible to a user when the user is viewing the input surface. The one or more transparent strain sensors are formed with a nanostructure, including a nanomesh or nanowires.
US09874951B2

An apparatus includes a housing, a tip configured to move with respect to the housing based on contact pressure applied the tip, and a circuit. The circuit detects pressure applied on the tip based on movement of the tip. The circuit includes a variable current source configured to drive a sensor, a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) configured to receive current from the sensor and an analog to digital converter configured to sample output from the TIA.
US09874945B2

A low-profile, small-footprint gel-based pointing device is described herein. The gel-based pointing device described herein includes a gel-based body, a tactile surface affixed to a first side of the gel-based body, and a base surface affixed to a second side of the gel-based body that is opposite the first side. The tactile surface is configured to receive an input from a user and the base surface couples the gel-based body to a sensor surface. In at least one embodiment, the gel-based pointing device described herein further includes a sensor for receiving the gel-based pointing device and a detector for detecting changes in at least one of resistance, capacity, pressure, or lateral or vertical position of the gel-based pointing device.
US09874937B2

A device (DISP) for gestural control of a system (SYST) includes a grippable mobile control element (TC), a movement sensor assembly (EC) for measuring movements of the mobile control element (TC), and a processing circuit (DET) for detection the rotation or translation of the mobile control element in relation to an axis that is substantially invariant over a time window. The device (DISP) also includes a circuit (REG) for adjusting the value of at least one parameter of the system, and a circuit (CMD) for controlling activation/deactivation of the adjustment upon a detection by the detection circuit (DET) of a rotation and/or translation of the mobile control element in relation to an axis that is substantially invariant over a time window.
US09874936B2

An electronic device including a frame and a plurality of capsules is provided. The frame is configured to be wearable on a user, and the frame includes a bridge portion having a first mountable section, a first arm portion having a second mountable section, and a second arm portion having a third mountable section. The plurality of capsules is configured to be mounted on the first mountable section, the second mountable section, and the third mountable section of the frame. The bridge portion is configured to be supported by the nose of a user, the first arm portion has a first free end supported by an ear of the user, and the second arm portion has a second free end supported by the other ear of the user.
US09874922B2

In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one core to execute instructions and a power control logic to receive power capability information from a plurality of devices to couple to the processor and allocate a platform power budget to the devices, set a first power level for the devices at which the corresponding device is allocated to be powered, communicate the first power level to the devices, and dynamically reduce a first power to be allocated to a first device and increase a second power to be allocated to a second device responsive to a request from the second device for a higher power level. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09874921B2

The present invention relates to an intelligent switch capacitor, which comprises a shell. The shell is provided with a capacitor core internally. A temperature sensor is arranged on the capacitor core. A top end of the capacitor core is connected to an intelligent switch wiring board. The intelligent switch wiring board is connected to a single chip computer, a capacity-switch, a temperature measurement module, a current measurement module and a current harmonic component measurement module, wherein the capacitor switch is connected to the capacitor core in an inner triangle way. Beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. A switch and a power capacitor are integrated into a whole, which can implement quick capacity-switching and cutting of the switch; 2. The capacitor has an electronic thermal protection function; 3. Possibilities of capacitor damages and power grid accidents caused by resonance of a PFC capacitor in a power grid system are eliminated completely; 4. A power capacitor loss is reduced.
US09874913B2

An apparatus includes voltage summation logic to provide a summed voltage corresponding to a sum of voltage contributions, each contribution associated with a corresponding port controller of a plurality of port controllers. The apparatus also includes a first port controller to determine, based on the summed voltage, whether a second power source is to be coupled to a system power bus of a system via a second port controller of the plurality of port controllers, and if not, the first port controller is to couple a first power source to the system power bus. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09874897B2

An integrated inductor assembly includes a magnetic core including a center leg in parallel with a first outer leg and a second outer leg on either side of the center leg. A first set of windings of a first inductor are wrapped around the center leg, the first outer leg of the magnetic core, and the second outer leg of the magnetic core. A second set of windings of a second inductor are also wrapped around the center leg, the first outer leg, and the second outer leg of the magnetic core. The first set of windings and the second set of windings include center windings wrapped around the center leg of the magnetic core, first outer windings wrapped around the first outer leg of the magnetic core, and second outer windings wrapped around the second outer leg of the magnetic core.
US09874894B2

A circuit for generating a constant current includes a first current generator that conducts a first current based upon a supply voltage and a resistive element and that generates a first mirrored current based on the current, a second current generator that generates a second current based on the first current wherein the second mirrored current decreases as the current increases and decreases as the current increases and a summing circuit for summing currents proportional to said first and second currents to generate an output current.
US09874891B2

An apparatus includes a housing including an LCD screen capable of displaying settings information and an energy savings settings icon, and a processor configured to detect multiple inputs with the housing including settings information provided by a user in response to an interaction with the housing. The processor is further configured to initiate a suggestion of a setting resulting in a display of the energy savings settings icon, and process the multiple inputs and determine a schedule and determine whether to display the energy savings settings icon based on the determined schedule. A wireless communication module is configured to access a hosted web service and a mobile device, each of which receive multiple inputs such that the settings information can be provided remotely. The multiple inputs include detecting a presence in proximity to the housing over a period of time and providing a presence status to determine the settings information.
US09874887B2

A voltage regulator circuit with variable feedback is disclosed. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes an amplifier having a first input configured to receive a reference voltage and a second input configured to receive a feedback signal. The voltage regulator further includes first and second transistors each having respective gate terminals coupled to an output of the amplifier. A resistor network coupled to the second input of the amplifier and further coupled to the first and second transistors. The resistor network is configured to produce the feedback signal based on currents through the first and second transistors, respectively.
US09874885B2

A controller for controlling energy consumption in a home includes a constraints engine to define variables for multiple appliances in the home corresponding to various home modes and persona of an occupant of the home. A modeling engine models multiple paths of energy utilization of the multiple appliances to place the home into a desired state from a current context. An optimal scheduler receives the multiple paths of energy utilization and generates a schedule as a function of the multiple paths and a selected persona to place the home in a desired state.
US09874884B2

A valve block includes a plurality of control valve disks that form a first block part and a second block part. A supply pressure for the control valve disks of the first block part is limited by a common pressure-limiting valve. The common pressure-limiting valve is arranged such that a prevailing load pressure registered by the control valve disks does not exceed a specific value. The supply pressure for the control valve disks of the second block part is not limited.
US09874882B2

The present invention provides a smart water flow apparatus capable of maintaining a desired level of water in a reservoir using sensor technology while having an override or shutoff feature that is programmable to address variations in water pressure or to prevent flooding due to sensor malfunction or power failure.
US09874875B2

The present invention relates to a mobile robot and a method for docking the mobile robot with a charging station.The method for docking a mobile robot with a charging station according to the present invention includes a step of photographing peripheral images when the mobile robot receives a charging command signal from a user terminal; a step of determining whether the charging station is recognized or not based on the peripheral images; a step of generating a robot-driving command signal for determining whether the mobile robot should be moved or not and which direction the mobile robot should be moved depending on a result of the previous determination; a step of determining whether the mobile robot faces the front of the charging station or not when the mobile robot starts to move in accordance with the robot-driving command signal and then approaches the charging station; a step of generating a rotation command signal for rotating the charging station depending on a result of previous determination and transmitting the rotation command signal to the charging station; a step of docking the mobile robot with the charging station by driving the mobile robot when the charging station is rotated in accordance with the rotation command signal.In this way, according to the present invention, a speedy and accurate docking becomes possible by rotating the charging station for the mobile robot to be accurately docked with the charging station.
US09874871B1

In one embodiment, a number of steering rate candidates are determined for a steering control command of operating an autonomous vehicle. For each of the steering rate candidates, a number of individual costs are calculated for the steering rate candidate by applying a plurality of cost functions, each cost function corresponding to one of a plurality of cost categories. A total cost for the steering rate candidate is determined based on the individual costs produced by the cost functions. One of the steering rate candidates having a lowest total cost is selected as a target steering rate. A steering control command is generated based on the selected steering rate candidate to control a steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle.
US09874866B2

A control system includes a control apparatus, identification information storage units disposed in a plurality of servo amplifiers and configured to store identification information pieces for identifying each of the plurality of servo amplifiers, communication units configured to perform communication between the control apparatus and the plurality of servo amplifiers, and an automatic setting unit configured to automatically set axis configuration parameters for assigning correspondence relations between a plurality of control axes and axes of the plurality of servo amplifiers based on the identification information and a type of a servo amplifier corresponding to each of the plurality of control axes recognized by software of the control apparatus.
US09874864B2

In a molder, at least one rotatably driven tool (7, 8, 10, 11) is used to produce the structure (27) or contour on the workpiece (1) by workpiece removal. The workpiece positions along the workpiece (1) for producing the structure or contour are set depending on the data of the workpiece (1) and of the tool (7, 8, 10, 11). The data are transmitted to the machine controller which processes the CNC program based on the data during the passage of the workpiece (1) through the molder and moves the tool (7, 8, 10, 11) into the required positions via CNC drives depending on the workpiece position. The workpiece position is sensed during the passage of the workpiece (1) through the molder. In order to sense the workpiece position in the molder, at least one measuring element (18) is provided upstream and downstream of the tool (1), said measuring element (18) being connected to the machine controller and supplying signals that describe the advancing travel of the workpiece (1) to the machine controller. By way of the machine controller, the tool (7, 8, 10, 11) is moved into the respective tool positions in accordance with the signals.
US09874852B2

A fuser assembly, including a heat transfer member; a backup member disposed adjacent the heat transfer member so as to form a fuser nip; a frame in which the heat transfer member and the backup member are at least partly disposed; and a cover member pivotably coupled to the frame so as to pivot between a closed position and an open position, the cover member in the open position providing an opening for accessing and withdrawing a sheet of media disposed in the fuser assembly. A latch mechanism selectively latches the cover member to the frame and including a lever member disposed relative to an outer surface of the cover member such that movement of the lever member by a single hand of a user unlatches the cover member from the frame for moving the cover member to the open position.
US09874851B2

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a fixing device, and a latching member. The fixing device is disposed in the apparatus main body. The latching member is disposed at the apparatus main body. The fixing device includes a fixing device main body and a fixing device cover. The fixing device cover is disposed over the fixing device main body in an openable and closable manner. The fixing device cover includes a fixing device cover main body and a to-be-latched portion. The fixing device cover is disposed over the fixing device main body in an openable and closable manner. The to-be-latched portion is disposed at the fixing device cover main body. In a situation in which the fixing device cover is opened, the to-be-latched portion is latched by the latching member.
US09874850B2

An image forming apparatus includes an exterior cover, a connector, and an upper exterior member disposed above the exterior cover. The upper exterior member includes a groove portion and projections. In the upper exterior member, the groove portion is formed so as to extend from a first end closer to the connector to a second end closer to one of left and right side ends of the exterior cover. The projections are formed so as to project upward from a lower edge portion of an opening of the groove portion. A cable connected to the connector is inserted in the groove portion. The projections prevent the cable from being dropped from the groove portion.
US09874849B2

Provided is an opening/closing device including an opening/closing member that rotates to open and close an opening of a housing, a shaft member that is formed at a portion on one side of the opening/closing member and is formed of a shaft about which the opening/closing member rotates with respect to the housing, a grip portion that is formed at a portion on the other side of the opening/closing member and is gripped by a user, a meshed portion that is formed at a portion on the other side of the opening/closing member and meshes with a meshing portion formed at the housing, and a restraint unit that is formed at a portion on one side of the opening/closing member and restrains the opening/closing member from being deformed due to a release of meshing of the meshing portion with the meshed portion.
US09874848B2

An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge including an image bearing member, and a developer bearing member that bears a developer. A lubricant of a polarity opposite to a polarity of the developer is coated on the developer bearing member, with the lubricant being a resin. If the cartridge is new, a discharging operation of discharging the lubricant from a surface of the developer bearing member onto the image bearing member is performed.
US09874840B2

There is provided a fixing device. An endless belt comes into contact with a developer image on a recording medium. A heat source is provided on an inner side of the belt and emits radiant heat. A heat transmitting member includes a contact portion which contacts with an inner circumferential surface of the belt, absorbs the radiant heat of the heat source, and transmits the heat to the belt. A deforming unit deforms when a temperature of the contact portion exceeds a predetermined setting temperature, and separates the belt and at least a part of the contact portion from each other.
US09874830B2

An image forming apparatus has a control portion configured to control a charging bias to be applied to a charging member and a first exposure amount with respect to humidity inside an image forming apparatus and a thickness of a photosensitive layer of a photoreceptor, and the control portion controls the charging bias and the first exposure amount so that a potential difference between a non-image forming portion and the charging member increases as the humidity decreases, and decreases as the humidity increases.
US09874826B2

A toner, including a binder resin, a release agent, and a colorant, wherein a total amount of hydrocarbon compounds having 33 to 35 carbon atoms in the toner measured by ion attachment mass spectrometry (IAMS) is 40% to 70% in terms of a signal intensity ratio.
US09874823B2

A purge cover is equipped whose upper end is connected to an illumination unit and the lower end has a pair of plate sections facing an upper surface of a reticle stage and a reticle via a predetermined clearance. Therefore, gaseous circulation can be substantially blocked via the clearance between the reticle stage and the plate sections. This allows a space which is almost airtight surrounded by the purge cover, the reticle stage and/or the reticle to be formed on the optical path of the illumination light that reaches the projection optical system from the illumination unit. Further, the space above which is almost airtight serves as a purge space that is purged with clean dry air and the like.
US09874822B2

A controller inclines a movable body with respect to an XY plane at an angle α in a periodic direction of a grating, based on a measurement value of an interferometer which measures an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane, and based on a measurement value of an encoder system and information of angle α before and after inclination, and computes an Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface with respect to a reference surface which serves as a reference for position control of the movable body in the XY plane. The controller drives the movable body, based on positional information of the movable body in the XY plane measured by the encoder system and a measurement error of the encoder system corresponding to an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane due to Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface.
US09874820B2

A method of processing semiconductor chips includes measuring locations of semiconductor dies placed on a carrier with a scanner to generate die location information. The method includes applying a dielectric layer over the semiconductor dies and communicating the die location information to a laser assembly. The method includes aligning the laser assembly with the carrier and laser structuring the dielectric layer with the laser assembly based on the die location information generated by the scanner.
US09874804B2

A projector includes a power source accommodation section and a projection section body. The power source accommodation section is supported by a duct and accommodates a power source circuit that converts electric power supplied from the duct. The projection section body accommodates a projection section that projects an image, and the projection section body is so supported by the power source accommodation section that a direction in which the image is projected is adjustable.
US09874800B2

The present invention includes a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) linear driver configured in a differential form with two waveguides carrying two traveling waves which supports a two-channel spectral combiner integrated with a wavelength locker. By coupling a DC current source supplied with a modulation voltage with each segment thereof for providing electrical modulation signal overlapping with each of the two traveling waves. The modulated traveling waves in the two waveguides then are combined in one output signal by a multimode interference coupler. Two optical signals at ITU grid channels are separately modulated by two MZMs and combined into a silicon waveguide-based delayed-line interferometer built on a SOI substrate to produce an output signal having a free spectral range equal to twice of the spacing of the two ITU grid channels. Two dither signals can be added respectively to the two optical signals for identifying and locking corresponding two channel wavelengths.
US09874795B2

An array substrate includes a substrate (10), a plurality of pixel regions (30) and a black matrix (15) separating the pixel regions (30) formed on the substrate (10); corresponding to a region where the black matrix (15) is located, the substrate (10) is provided with a thin film transistor. The pixel region (30) includes a first electrode (17) and a second electrode (20) configured for generating an electric field therebetween to drive liquid crystals. The second electrode (20) is disposed above the first electrode (17). The pixel region (30) further includes a color resist layer (16) disposed between a gate insulation layer (12) and the second electrode (20) and distributed in the pixel region (30). A method of manufacturing the array substrate and a display device are further disclosed.
US09874788B2

A display panel, a method of manufacturing the display panel and a display device including the display panel are disclosed. The display panel includes a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; a plurality of supporting posts disposed on a side surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate; and a plurality of adhering parts disposed on a side surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, each of the plurality of adhering parts corresponding to the plurality of supporting posts respectively. Two opposite side surfaces of each of the plurality of adhering parts are respectively in contact with the corresponding one of the plurality of supporting posts and the second substrate to adhere the corresponding one of the plurality of supporting posts to the second substrate.
US09874782B2

A curved liquid crystal display device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer, an upper polarizer film, a lower polarizer film and a plurality of patterned optical compensation films. The upper substrate has a first inner surface and a first outer surface. The lower substrate is disposed opposite to the upper substrate. The lower substrate has a second inner surface and a second outer surface. The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The upper polarizer film is disposed on the first outer surface, and the lower polarizer film is disposed on the second outer surface. The patterned optical compensation films are disposed locally between the upper polarizer film and the lower polarizer film. Fast axis directions of at least two of the patterned optical compensation films are different from each other.
US09874776B2

The present disclosure provides a display substrate and a display device. The display substrate includes a subpixel, a black matrix arranged around the subpixel, and a spacer arranged on the black matrix. At least a portion of the black matrix includes a primary region and a secondary region, one of which is arranged between two adjacent subpixels in an alignment rubbing direction. The spacer is arranged on the primary region, and an alignment rubbing shadow is shielded by the primary region.
US09874769B2

A cloth attachment device includes a frame, and further includes: a first roller arranged on the frame and capable of being rotated around its axis relative to the frame; a transmission mechanism arranged on the frame and capable of being moved relative to the frame, a to-be-attached cloth being arranged between the first roller and the transmission mechanism, two opposite surfaces of the to-be-attached cloth being in contact with a first position on the transmission mechanism and a second position on the first roller, respectively; and a driving mechanism configured to drive the first roller to rotate and drive the transmission mechanism to move in such a manner that the first position and the second position are moved in an identical direction, thereby to enable, through the transmission mechanism, the to-be-attached cloth between the first roller and the transmission mechanism to be curled up around the first roller.
US09874768B2

An optical modulation device includes: an optical waveguide formed above a substrate; a phase modulator disposed on part of the optical waveguide; a capacitor connected to the phase modulator and including a lower electrode and an upper electrode; a resistor connected in parallel to the capacitor; and an appended part integrated with the upper electrode and electrically connected to the resistor, wherein the appended part is smaller in area than the capacitor (upper electrode).
US09874766B2

The present disclosure relates to trial scleral lenses, and the resulting scleral lenses, designed for the asymmetric shape of the sclera and/or its chiral properties. In some embodiments, the scleral lenses are also designed for the specific asymmetry associated with different scleral diameters. In addition, as discussed herein, the scleral shape can vary with different conditions of the eye. By designing a set of trial scleral lenses that takes into account these different asymmetric properties of the sclera, a clinician can be more efficient, fitting more eyes with fewer subsequent modifications. The resulting lenses will also achieve a better fit.
US09874762B2

The embodiments of the present invention discloses an electrochromic grating, a display panel and a display device. The electrochromic grating comprises: a cathode, a first electrochromic layer, an ion transport layer, a second electrochromic layer and an anode arranged in a stack: Under an effect of a same electric field, materials of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer have contrary light transmission properties in an oxidation state: and the materials of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer have contrary light transmission properties in a reduction state That is the material of the first electrochromic layer in the oxidation state is a dark state, and the material of the second electrochromic layer in the reduction state is a dark state. Or the material of the first electrochromic layer in the reduction state is a dark state, and the material of the second electrochromic layer in the oxidation state is a dark state. Since the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer can be in dark state simultaneously when the materials of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer are in the oxidation state and the reduction state respectively, the electrochromic grating can achieve a ultra-low transmittance, so as to further realize a higher contrast and improve the display effect.
US09874761B2

An autostereoscopic display uses a light diffusing arrangement which provides a greater degree of light diffusion for ambient light passing into the display than for the light modulated by the display pixels and exiting the display after reflection.
US09874754B2

Provided is a glasses-type terminal including: a frame that is supported on a user's head, having both ends separated from each other as a front part therein is cut-out; a power supply unit that is connected to one end of the frame; a control module that is connected to the other end of the frame, and having therein various electronic components that drive the glasses-type terminal; and a display unit that is provided on one end of the control module and that provides visual information, in which a rail is formed on an upper surface of the control module, and the rail is formed to be connected to a lower surface of the frame in a concavo-convex manner so that the control module slidably moves on the frame.
US09874752B2

The present invention comprises a compact optical see-through head-mounted display capable of combining, a see-through image path with a virtual image path such that the opaqueness of the see-through image path can be modulated and the virtual image occludes parts of the see-through image and vice versa.
US09874747B2

A module including two transparent panes; a sealing and spacing arrangement sealingly fixing the panes to each other along their periphery at spaced apart relationship, thereby forming between the inner surfaces of the panes a transparent sealed cavity with a sealing frame surrounding it; and an image producing device fixedly mounted within the cavity so as to allow viewing images produced thereby. The module for mounting in the structure so as to fulfill the function of a transparent member such as a window, a door or a wall, separating between the space in said interior of the structure accommodating said person and a region behind the member, and to allow viewing at least through a portion of the cavity. The module can include optional features, and methods are provided for producing a structure therewith and for upgrading existing structures by using the module instead of an original transparent component.
US09874745B2

A collimation assembly includes a body, at least four light sources, and at least four collimation lenses. The body has inner surfaces that define at least four hollow portions extending through the body between opposed first and second sides thereof, each hollow portion having opposed first and second openings at the first and second sides of the body, respectively. Each light source is disposed at the first opening of one of the at least four hollow portions and controllable to emit a light beam therethrough. Each collimation lens is disposed at the second opening of one of the at least four hollow portions to receive the light beam emitted by the light source disposed at the first opening and diverge the light beam as the light beam passes through the collimation lens. The at least four light sources and the at least four collimation lenses are supported by the body.
US09874737B2

A fluorescence microscope for obtaining super-resolution images of a sample labeled with at least one fluorescent label by combining localization microscopy and structured illumination microscopy is provided. The fluorescence microscope includes one or more light sources, an illumination system having a structured illumination path for illuminating the sample with structured illumination light and a localization illumination path for illuminating the sample with localization illumination light.
US09874735B2

An optical system and method to overcome luminescent solar concentrator inefficiencies by resonance-shifting, in which sharply directed emission from a bi-layer cavity into a glass substrate returns to interact with the cavity off-resonance at each subsequent reflection, significantly reducing reabsorption loss en route to the edges. In one embodiment, the system comprises a luminescent solar concentrator comprising a transparent substrate, a luminescent film having a variable thickness; and a low refractive index layer disposed between the transparent substrate and the luminescent film.
US09874724B2

The present invention discloses a photographic optical system which includes a first lens (focal length f1), a second lens (focal length f2), a third lens (focal length f3), a fourth lens (focal length f4), a fifth lens (focal length f5), a sixth lens (focal length f6) and a seventh lens (focal length f7). The photographic optical system disclosed in the present invention by optimizing rationally face shape, distributing refractive power, selecting optical material, is designed as a big relative stop photographic optical system, and can provide the imaging performance in low illumination environment.
US09874720B2

An imaging system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof.
US09874718B2

Provided is a wide angle lens system including: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group and the second lens group are provided in that order from an object to an image, and the lens system satisfies a first conditional expression: 16<|L/f|<17.5 where L denotes a distance from a lens surface of the first lens group provided closest to the object to a lens surface of the second lens group provided closest to the image, and f denotes a focal length of the wide angle lens system.
US09874713B2

Aspects of the present disclosure relates to an indexing terminal including a multi-fiber ruggedized de-mateable connection location, a first single-fiber ruggedized de-mateable connection location and a second single-fiber ruggedized de-mateable connection location. The multi-fiber ruggedized de-mateable connection location includes a plurality of fiber positions with one of the fiber positions optically coupled to the first single fiber ruggedized de-mateable connection location.
US09874711B2

A fiber optic cassette includes a body defining a front and an opposite rear. A cable entry location, such as a multi-fiber connector, is defined on the body for a cable to enter the cassette, wherein a plurality of optical fibers from the cable extend into the cassette and form terminations at one or more single or multi-fiber connectors adjacent the front of the body. A flexible substrate is positioned between the cable entry location and the connectors adjacent the front of the body, the flexible substrate rigidly supporting the plurality of optical fibers. Each of the connectors adjacent the front of the body includes a ferrule. Dark fibers can be provided if not all fiber locations are used in the multi-fiber connectors. Multiple flexible substrates can be used with one or more multi-fiber connectors.
US09874709B2

An optical functional device includes: a photodetector; a first optical waveguide which is connected to one end face of the photodetector; and a second optical waveguide which is connected to the other end face of the photodetector. The photodetector is formed in a multi-mode interferometer and has electrodes. Light input from the first optical waveguide to the photodetector focuses image at a position physically away from the second optical waveguide, and light input from the second optical waveguide to the photodetector focuses image at a position physically away from the first optical waveguide.
US09874700B2

The invention relates to a grating coupler and an optical waveguide device having a stripe width that can be easily realized where light is transferred by means of a beam of which the form is close to that of a Gaussian beam. A striped member that becomes a grating and that is formed of a material of which the refractive index is different from that of the core layer is divided into a plurality of sections, and at the same time, the distance between the core layer and the surface of the striped member on the side opposite the surface that faces the core layer is different for each section.
US09874699B2

An apparatus comprises a transistor outline (TO) package comprising a TO can holder; and a TO can at least partially embedded within the TO can holder; and a mode converter coupled to the TO package. A system comprises a mode converter comprising a lens configured to convert a mode of a light from a first mode size to a second mode size, wherein the first mode size is smaller than the second mode size; a silicon photonic chip comprising a waveguide configured to communicate the light; a fiber configured to couple to the lens and the waveguide; and a substrate configured to provide a support for the silicon photonic chip.
US09874691B2

In an example, a coupled system includes a first waveguide, at least one second waveguide, and an interposer. The first waveguide has a silicon (Si) core having first refractive index n1 and a tapered end. The at least one second waveguide each has a silicon nitride (SiN) core having a second refractive index n2. The interposer includes a third waveguide having a third refractive index n3 and a coupler portion, where n1>n2>n3. The tapered end of the first waveguide is adiabatically coupled to a coupler portion of one of the at least one second waveguide. A tapered end of one of the at least one second waveguide is adiabatically coupled to the coupler portion of the third waveguide of the interposer. The third waveguide of the interposer has an optical mode size that is similar to the mode size of a standard single mode optical fiber.
US09874689B2

A method (100) of forming an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method comprises: (i) forming at least a pair of optoelectronic devices from at least a first wafer material arranged on a semiconductor substrate, the first wafer material different to silicon; (ii) etching the first wafer material to form a first recess to be filled with a second material; (iii) processing (104) the second material to form a waveguide for coupling the pair of optoelectronic devices to define an optical interconnect; and (iv) bonding (106) at least one partially processed CMOS device layer having at least one transistor to the second semiconductor substrate to form the integrated circuit, the partially processed CMOS device layer arranged adjacent to the optical interconnect. An integrated circuit is also disclosed.
US09874683B2

The present disclosure discloses a backlight, which includes a rubber frame, a light guide plate and a membrane disposed on the light guide plate. The membrane has at least one positioning hole defined therein; the rubber frame includes an elastic connecting part disposed thereon, and the elastic connecting part engages with the positioning hole to fix the membrane. The present disclosure also discloses a display device.
US09874671B2

A lighting device is provided that includes a light source package including a diode disposed in a housing and emitting light at an emission point within the housing. The lighting device also has an optical fiber extending through an opening in the housing and having a terminal end optically aligned on an optical axis with the diode to within a distance of less than 1.0 millimeter from the emission point, wherein the fiber emits light via a light diffusing fiber.
US09874663B2

An optical element has a first surface and a second surface, wherein a tooth structure having a multiplicity of teeth oriented in a second direction is arranged on the first surface, a stepped lens having a multiplicity of steps oriented in a first direction is arranged on the second surface, and the tooth structure forms a total internal reflection lens.
US09874650B2

Method, source array and seismic vibro-acoustic source element for seismic data acquisition. The number of beams of acoustic energy to be generated for the seismic data acquisition are determined or selected. A different pilot signal is generated for each of the number of beams of acoustic energy. A plurality of drive signals are generated using the different pilot signals. An array of source elements are driven using the plurality of drive signals to generate the two or more beams of acoustic energy.
US09874629B2

A receiver unit includes at least one single photon avalanche detector element of a Geiger mode and a time-to-digital converter circuit. Each single photon avalanche detector element is enabled to detect a photon in at least one time-gated window, and each single photon avalanche detector element is configured to output an electric pulse in response to detection of a photon of optical radiation within the at least one time-gated window. The time-to-digital converter circuit provides timing data associated with said electric pulse for determination of a distance of a target on the basis of the timing data provided by the time-to-digital converter circuit.
US09874626B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves splitting a signal into low power portions. The method further involves coding the low power portions to produce coded low power portions, where the coding comprises convolving each low power portion with a respective different code. Also, the method involves summing the coded low power portions to produce a resultant coded signal. In addition, the method involves transmitting the resultant coded signal towards a target object. Additionally, the method involves receiving a reflected resultant coded signal, where the resultant coded signal reflects off the target object to produce the reflected resultant coded signal. Also, the method involves decoding the reflected resultant coded signal to produce a decoded signal. Further, the method involves correlating the decoded signal to produce a complete received signal.
US09874621B2

A method of generating a susceptibility weighted image of an object in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes: acquiring at least one first complex data piece corresponding to a radio frequency (RF) signal received from the object by using the RF signal; applying a predetermined filter to the at least one first complex data piece to acquire at least one second complex data piece; generating a susceptibility weighted mask by using the at least one second complex data piece; and applying the susceptibility weighted mask to an MRI image of the object to generate the susceptibility weighted image.
US09874609B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for self-diagnostics and/or error detection using multiple signal paths in sensor and other systems. In an embodiment, a sensor system comprises at least two sensors, such as magnetic field sensors, and separate signal paths associated with each of the sensors. A first signal path can be coupled to a first sensor and a first digital signal processor (DSP), and a second signal path can be coupled to a second sensor and a second DSP. A signal from the first DSP can be compared with a signal from the second DSP, either on-chip or off, to detect faults, errors, or other information related to the operation of the sensor system. Embodiments of these systems and/or methods can be configured to meet or exceed relevant safety or other industry standards, such as safety integrity level (SIL) standards.
US09874592B2

An abnormality detection circuit detects an abnormality in a power storage device. A positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal respectively receive a positive electrical potential and a negative electrical potential from a converter. A power storage module includes plural cells connected in series between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal. The abnormality detection circuit includes a voltage detection circuit and a control circuit. The voltage detection circuit detects an electrical potential of an intermediate node located at an intermediate position between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal on a basis of a ground potential. The control circuit determines an abnormality of the power storage module based on a change in an intermediate ground potential from voltage detection circuit from the ground potential.
US09874586B2

A probe card includes a number probes. Each probe is adapted to contact a corresponding terminal of a circuit integrated in at least one die of a semiconductor material wafer during a test phase of the wafer. The probes include at least one probe adapted to provide and/or receive a radio frequency test signal to/from the corresponding terminal during the test phase. The probe card further includes at least one electromagnetic shield structure corresponding to the at least one probe adapted to provide and/or receive the radio frequency test signal for the at least partial shielding of an electromagnetic field irradiated by such at least one probe adapted to provide and/or receive the radio frequency test signal.
US09874583B2

A tester is described having output circuits that are operable in either power mode or driver mode. A switching circuit connects force and sense lines to one of the output circuits when in power mode, or connects the same lines separately to the output circuits when in driver mode. A further configuration allows for power to be provided through the lines separately while detecting a measure of power through each line and correcting for unknown resistances of leads connected to the lines.
US09874577B2

A specimen transportation system is configured from linear modules, turn modules, and connection modules. The modules can freely combine with one another. Moreover, the modules form multiple paths through which specimen racks outputted from one specimen output device are transported to multiple analysis devices. When transporting a specimen rack from an upstream side to a downstream side, each module attaches a destination signal associated with the specimen rack to the specimen rack and transfers the destination signal to the downstream side. As a consequence of each module transporting the specimen rack from the upstream side to the downstream side that corresponds to the destination signal, the specimen rack becomes transported along a path that corresponds to the destination signal.
US09874566B2

To address the need for scaffold-based oxygen concentration monitoring, a single-component, self-referenced oxygen sensor was made into nanofibers. Electrospinning process parameters were tuned to produce a biomaterial scaffold with specific morphological features. The ratio of an oxygen sensitive phosphorescence signal to an oxygen insensitive fluorescence signal was calculated at each image pixel to determine an oxygenation value. A single component boron dye-polymer conjugate was chosen for additional investigation due to improved resistance to degradation in aqueous media compared to a dye polymer blend. Standardization curves show that in fully supplemented media, the fibers are responsive to dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 15 parts per million. Spatial and temporal ratiometric gradients were observed in vitro radiating outward from the center of a dense adherent cell grouping. Sensor activation in ischemia and cell transplant models in vivo show oxygenation decreases on the scale of minutes.
US09874552B2

Provided are multi-phase systems that may be used to prepare a three-dimension aggregate of cells referred to as a cellular spheroid. The multi-phase system includes a droplet of an aqueous polymer phase within an immersion aqueous polymer phase. The droplet of the droplet aqueous polymer phase contains a three-dimensional aggregate of cells (cellular spheroid). Types of cells that may be used in the multi-phases system include stem cells and cancer cells. The cellular spheroids with the multi-phase system may be used to monitor cell growth in three-dimensional systems, or screen drugs in a three-dimension aggregate of cells.
US09874546B2

A device for a gas chromatograph system includes an injector, a conduit assembly, a flow restrictor, and a pressure controller. The injector is connected to a carrier gas source and an auxiliary gas source. The conduit assembly surrounds the input end of an analytical column. A carrier gas is supplied at a constant pressure through a flow restrictor to the injector. A pressure controller is configured to control the pressure of an auxiliary gas supplied to the injector from the auxiliary source. The pressure controller is configured to operate in a first mode to provide a first auxiliary gas pressure sufficient to force a flow of the auxiliary gas and a sample onto the analytical column during an inject phase and to operate in a second mode to provide a second auxiliary gas pressure below a threshold necessary to flow auxiliary gas into the analytical column during a resolving phase.
US09874539B2

The present description discloses solid-contact (SC) electrodes that use mesoporous carbon such as colloid-imprinted mesoporous (CIM) carbon as the interlayer. The electrodes can be ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) or reference electrodes. The CIM carbon with the interconnected mesopores is used as the intermediate layer between the solid electron conductor, such as gold, and a membrane such as an ionophore-doped ion-selective membrane or a reference membrane. The disclosure includes methods of constructing solid contact electrodes such as SC-ISE or reference electrodes with a CIM carbon interlayer, and methods of using the electrodes to determine the quantity of an analyte in a sample. The description also includes disposable paper-based devices for measuring analytes in a sample.
US09874535B2

A moisture meter for determining the moisture content of particulate material is provided. The moisture meter comprises a frame part, a space, a measuring cup disposed within said space for receiving a sample of the particulate material which moisture is to be measured, and moisture measuring means. The moisture meter comprises a swiping means for removing at least partly a part of a sample of particulate material which moisture is to be measured, which part of the sample of particulate material extends out of the inner space of the measuring cup through the open end of the measuring cup. The swiping means are movably attached to the frame part for movement in a swiping path where a swiping member of the swiping means is configured to move essentially along the open end of the measuring cup.
US09874529B2

An apparatus (110) (and associated method) for inspecting a steering column assembly (10) including a motor (114a) driven drive sleeve (128) supported in a headstock (114) and having a longitudinal axis, and being adapted for receiving and engaging a portion of the steering column assembly, and at least one optical scanning device (160a, 160b, 160c) adapted to optically scan a feature of interest of the steering column assembly (10) while the shaft of the steering column assembly (10) is rotated for gathering data for identifying one or more deviations from one or more predetermined values for the feature of interest.
US09874528B2

In some embodiments, a system and/or method may include assessing surface cleanliness. In some embodiments, the system may include a dispensing device. The dispensing device may dispense, during use, a measured amount of liquid on a surface forming a drop. In some embodiments, the system may include a stage. The stage may support, during use, a digital imaging device. In some embodiments, the system may include a calibration feature. The calibration feature may be of known dimension. The calibration feature may be coupled to the stage. The calibration feature may facilitate assessment, during use, of a dimension of the drop. The dimension may include a diameter of the drop. In some embodiments, the system is configured to assess a contact angle of the drop with the surface.
US09874521B2

A detection plate includes a track region having a bottom surface having a groove provided therein, and a well apart from the track region. The well has a bottom surface. The bottom surfaces of the track region and the well are disposed substantially on a plane. This detection plate detects a specimen rapidly and highly accurately with a simple structure.
US09874518B2

An optical sensor system is provided which can be used not only as an ordinary light source, but also to calculate an environmental parameter. Rear surface outgoing light (31) output from a rear surface (21) of a semiconductor laser (10) is used in a process of calculating an environmental parameter by control and arithmetic device (60) to, while front surface outgoing light (30) output from a front surface (20) is used in an application other than the calculation of the environmental parameter.
US09874516B2

Wide-angled incoherent millimeter or sub-millimeter electromagnetic waves from an extended active source are used to probe substrates and their protective coatings or outer layers, such as paint or thermal insulation. The incoherent waves provide dispersion and angular variation with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity, emissivity and/or transmissivity from the substrate or protective coating various according to its homogeneousness. A detector/camera is arranged to identify and resolve differences in detected power within an observed frequency range of the area under test, with this contrast in power being relative to either adjacent areas or anticipated reference levels. The power differences therefore signify the presence or lack of corrosion or, indeed, the presence of anomalies within or on the substrate or in or under the protective coating or layer applied to the substrate.
US09874511B2

An analyzer including a housing with a mutually adjacent first side and a second side, and an annular reagent holding part disposed within the housing is disclosed. An immunoassay method for measuring antigen or antibody of a measurement object contained in a sample and performed by the analyzer is also disclosed.
US09874498B2

An in-vitro diagnostic apparatus includes a loading unit which receives a test medium including a test object; a first clock including first time information that is set as a standard clock time and used to determine whether an expiration date of the test medium has passed; a second clock including second time information that can be set as an arbitrary time; a sensor which acquires the expiration date of the test medium; a controller which determines whether the expiration date of the test medium has passed, based on the first time information; and an analyzer which analyzes the test object based on the second time information when it is determined that the expiration date of the test medium has not yet passed.
US09874492B2

A marking system for knowing precisely at which location on an electrical device a used brush and associated brush holder assembly were positioned to evaluate whether abnormal brush wear, abnormal operation or other anomaly is occurring and performing maintenance and/or replacement of components as needed.
US09874482B2

FCIS based-LEMCS designed in this invention accomplishes both of the above proficiencies of measuring the averaged pulse energy of the Pulsed Type Laser Source and calibrating the Commercial Laser Energy Meters, which are traceably to primary level standards, FCIS based-LEMCS contains an integrating sphere having a novel port and an interior design and a series of mechanical choppers having separate Duty Cycles, each of which is rotated by an electrical motor in FCIS based-LEMCS, used for generating a chopped type laser, called as Chopped Type Laser Source, in order to provide the reference and averaged pulse energy for traceable calibration of Commercial Laser Energy Meters.
US09874477B2

A method for determining color properties of a target, comprising: providing an enclosure (10) having first and second opposing end walls (10a, 10b) each having an aperture therein, the first end wall (10a) having, on its surface within said enclosure, a pattern (20) of colored sections arranged around the respective aperture (16), no light source being provided within said enclosure; placing said first screen (12) over said target; substantially simultaneously illuminating, through the aperture in the second end wall, said screen overlayed on said target and using said lens module to obtain sensor data representative of at least a portion of light reflected from said screen overlayed on said target and received by said sensor; and transmitting said sensor data to a remote processing module configured to adjust a color property of said target obtained from respective target parameters derived therefor.
US09874472B2

Vibration amplitudes are recorded as a function of rotation speed and of frequency and the data is analyzed to estimate a noise floor amplitude threshold for each of a plurality of different speed and frequency sub-ranges. On the basis of training data known to be normal speed-frequency areas which contain significant spectral content in normal operation are deemed “known significant spectral content”, so that during monitoring of new data points which correspond to significant vibration energy at speeds and frequencies different from the known significant spectral content can be deemed “novel significant spectral content” and form the basis for an alert. The estimation of the noise floor is based on a probabilistic analysis of the data in each speed-frequency area and from this analysis an extreme value distribution expressing the probability that any given sample is noise is obtained.
US09874462B2

An encoding sequence is configured to detect the position and direction of motion of an actuator. The actuator includes at least two members where one of the members moves with respect to the other. Two sets of binary indicators are either affixed to or integrally assembled along one of the members. Each pair of indicators defines a position of the actuator and each binary indicator is configured to identify one of two states, such as a magnetic pole or a graphical mark where each state corresponds to a logical zero or a logical one. The indicators are arranged on the actuator such that at least one of the indicators transitions between one of the two states at each position along the actuator. At least one sensor is provided to detect the state of the binary indicators as the two members of the actuator move with respect to each other.
US09874459B2

A micro-system with integrated multi-axis actuation and sensing capabilities for in-situ calibration of long-term scale-factor drifts in the output signal of attached or monolithically integrated inertial sensors. The micro-system comprises a piezoelectric actuator, integrated position sensors, and a controller. The controller provides the electrical excitation signals to the actuator and receives and processes signals from the inertial sensors and the position sensors. The electrical excitation signals are adjusted to reduce undesired off-axis motion resulting from environmental vibration during operation or from misalignment and digressions from the process tolerance during fabrication. Capacitive position sensors allow for determination of the trajectory of the piezoelectric actuator and for electrostatic pull-down and lock-down of an actuation plate. Piezoelectric signals and piezoresistive signals are used to improve position sensing precision. The actuator trajectory and the corresponding output of the inertial sensors are used by the controller to determine the device parameters of the inertial sensors.
US09874458B2

The present invention provides a method for calibrating a geodetic instrument, an instrument and a computer program product thereof. In the method and geodetic instrument of the present invention, a value of at least one parameter affecting the measurements made by the instrument is detected and compared with a predetermined threshold. On the basis of the comparison between the detected value and the predetermined threshold, the instrument aims at a reference target and a calibration is performed using the reference target. The present invention is advantageous in that the accuracy and reliability of the measurements performed by the instrument are increased. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that the requirements on mechanical stability are reduced.
US09874452B2

A system includes a processor configured to receive vehicle coordinates. The processor is also configured to compare the vehicle coordinates to geo-fence coordinate sets of a plurality of geo-fences surrounding point of interest (POI), wherein at least a portion of each geo-fence is within some predetermined distance from the vehicle coordinates. The processor is further configured to receive information relating to the POI if the vehicle coordinates fall within the geo-fence coordinates and instruct presentation of the received information to vehicle occupants.
US09874432B2

Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of measuring pressure within pipes implemented in a well drilling operation. Methods and apparatus may include a single path optical interferometer having a sensing portion attachable to a location on a conduit and a dual path optical interferometer having a sensing portion attachable to the conduit, where the sensing portions are effectively collocated. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09874431B2

Disclosed is an apparatus including a compliant capacitor and an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end. The elongated structure is compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions and is an elastomer based material. The compliant capacitor includes a first conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor also includes a second conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor further includes an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive filler and the second conductive filler.
US09874426B2

Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.
US09874424B1

A glass block panel assembled, framed and attached to a substrate such that it resists threats from forced entry, prisoner escape, bullets from guns, bomb blasts, and tornados.
US09874420B2

Apparatus and methods relating to a missile canister that utilizes a variable obturator assembly. The variable obturator assembly can include a plurality of gates that adjust based upon canister pressure at a base plate. In a maximum pressure situation experienced during successful missile egress from the canister, one or more of the gates can open in response to canister flyout pressure so as to increase flow area through the base plate, thereby reducing canister pressure. In a restrained firing scenario, the plurality of gates remain closed thereby preventing missile exhaust gases from flow up past the base plate which could lead to heating of a rocket motor and warhead. The variable obturator assembly can have multiple individual gates that are mounted to the base plate with a hinge assembly, with the gates held in a closed position against the base plate with a spring assembly.
US09874406B2

A passive two-phase cooling circuit includes a vaporizer and a condenser for a coolant conducted in the cooling circuit. A vaporizer supply line and a vaporizer discharge line are connected to the vaporizer, and a condenser supply line and a condenser discharge line are connected to the condenser. The cooling circuit has a simple and cost-effective structure which reduces or even completely prevents pressure shocks during operation by connecting the vaporizer supply line, the vaporizer discharge line, the condenser supply line and the condenser discharge line to a common damping container. A liquid column forms in the condenser discharge line during the operation of the cooling circuit and the column assumes the function of a liquid-tight seal and of a fluid-dynamic vibration damper.
US09874401B2

The subject of the disclosure is a vertical shell and tube straight tube countercurrent condenser, wherein the condensing steam flows on the shell side of the condenser, and the cooling water on the tube side. The disclosure is characterized in that the countercurrent condenser is two pass on both the shell side and the tube side, whereby the heat surface of the first pass on the shell side is formed from heat surface tubes in the steam space of this pass attached at their upper end to an upper tube sheet and at their lower end to a lower tube sheet through which tubes cooling water of second pass on tube-side flows; and the heat surface of the second pass on the shell side is formed from heat surface tubes in steam space of this pass and attached at their upper end to the upper tube sheet and at their lower end to another lower tube sheet, through which tubes cooling water of first pass on tube-side flows, whereby said steam spaces are interconnected through an opening between the upper end of a separating wall, dividing the shell space, and an upper tube sheet; whereby the flow direction of the steam in the steam space of the shell side first pass is upwards; and in the other steam space downwards, and the flow direction of the cooling water in the heat surface tubes of both passes is countercurrent to the steam flow flowing outside said tubes.
US09874399B2

A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.
US09874395B2

The present disclosure provides a method for preventing accumulation of solids in a distillation tower. The method includes introducing a feed stream into a controlled freeze zone section of a distillation tower; forming solids in the controlled freeze zone section from the feed stream; discontinuously injecting a first freeze-inhibitor solution into the controlled freeze zone section toward a location in the controlled freeze zone section that accumulates the solids; and destabilizing accumulation of the solids from the location with the first freeze-inhibitor solution.
US09874394B2

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.
US09874393B2

A storage system for storing food items in a temperature-controlled environment includes a rail attached to a liner panel. The rail includes at least one mounting structure that passes through an aperture in the liner panel. A bin has an arm extending from a rear surface of the bin. The bin is placed in a storage position. The arm is placed between the rail and the liner panel when the bin is placed in the storage position. Another example of the storage system and refrigeration appliance includes a foot extending from a rear surface of the bin. Yet another example includes interaction between a bin tab and a plurality of bumps on the rail to prevent side to side motion.
US09874391B2

Disclosed is a refrigerator including a cabinet having a storage compartment, an inner case defining an external appearance of the storage compartment, a first door rotatably installed to the cabinet for opening or closing one side of the storage compartment, a second door rotatably installed to the cabinet for opening or closing a remaining side of the storage compartment, a pillar provided on the first door, the pillar being rotated so as to come into contact with the second door and having a pillar protrusion protruding from an upper side thereof, and a pillar rotation unit provided on a ceiling of the inner case for rotating the pillar.
US09874386B2

A refrigerator appliance has a dispenser conduit that defines an inner volume. An inlet of the inner volume is positioned adjacent a nugget style ice maker, and an outlet of the inner volume is positioned adjacent a dispenser recess. The dispenser conduit has a projection that extends from an inner surface of the dispenser conduit into the inner volume of the dispenser conduit at the outlet of the inner volume.
US09874382B2

The present application provides a refrigeration system with full oil recovery for removing oil from a flow of a refrigerant. The refrigeration system may include a compressor, an oil separator positioned downstream of the compressor to remove most of the oil from the flow of the refrigerant, a condenser positioned downstream of the oil separator, and a receiver positioned downstream of the condenser. The receiver may include a barrier to separate the oil on a first side from the refrigerant on a second side.
US09874376B2

Disclosed is a solar water-heating-and-cooling system (20) that included a collector array panel (32, 36) having thermosyphon coaxial heating/cooling tubes (52). The disclosed system (20) avoids damaging the collector array panel (32, 36) by filling the tubes (52): 1. only when environmental conditions ensure that damage won't occur,—and/or 2. using a filling method that ensures that damage won't occur. Thermosyphon coaxial heating/cooling tubes (52) disclosed herein may be open both at their upper and lower ends. Tubes (52) that are open at their, lower end enables capturing radiative cooling of liquid present within the tubes (52). A cold water storage tank (46) and cold radiator array (48) included in the water-heating-and-cooling system (20) permits preserving and using the radiative 'cooling. Also disclosed are coaxial tubes (104, 106) that enable simpler and easier installation of the system (20), and also provide a less architecturally intrusive system (20).
US09874370B2

Systems and methods are disclosed that involve balancing conditioned air delivered to a plurality of zones based on temperature-time profiles for each of the plurality of zones. Wireless temperature sensors may be used to send temperature data to a processing unit to develop the plurality of temperature-time profiles. The temperature-time profiles are analyzed to identify any outliers requiring adjustment of conditioned air to a zone. Adjustments to balance the conditioned air may be made manually or automatically. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
US09874364B2

A method of evaluating damper operation for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes moving a plurality of dampers of the HVAC system collectively to a baseline damper position. The plurality of dampers is positioned at a flowpath including a fan driven by a motor. The fan is operating by switching the motor on and a baseline output level at the motor is measured. A first damper of the plurality of dampers is commanded to move from the baseline damper position to a first damper position and a first output level at the motor is measured. The first output level is compared to the baseline output level. A difference is indicative of successful movement of the first damper from the baseline damper position to the first damper position.
US09874355B2

A cooking appliance includes a cooktop and a grate. The cooktop includes a bottom surface on which at least one gas burner is mounted. The cooktop further includes a periphery and an inner recessed area. The inner recessed area is recessed relative to the periphery. The inner recessed area is substantially defined by the bottom surface. The cooktop further includes a transition extending between the periphery and the inner recessed area and a sweep section extending between the periphery and the inner recessed area. The inner recessed area is surrounded substantially by the transition except at the sweep section. The grate is configured to be placed on the cooktop. Each of the sweep section and the transition extends between the bottom surface and a predetermined elevation above the bottom surface. The sweep section reaches the predetermined elevation in a more gradual manner than the transition reaches the predetermined elevation.
US09874354B2

A domestic appliance, such as a double oven range, incorporates a door having a bottom end portion which, when shifted between closed and opened positions, both pivots and vertically shifts relative to a frame body of the appliance through at least a connecting rod, push rod and pivot arm of a hinge mechanism. Due to a combined pivoting and lifting action of the door, minimal to no clearance is required between the bottom end portion and adjacent structure.
US09874347B1

A reactor system includes plural batch-cyclic reduction/oxidation (redox) reactors. One reactor is operated in fuel mode while another is operated in air mode, and vice-versa. For each reactor in air mode, air is introduced via air-only tuyeres and via fuel-air tuyeres to oxidize oxidation particles. For each reactor in fuel mode, fuel is introduced via the reactor's fuel-air tuyeres and not via its air-only tuyeres. As a result, air is introduced at a higher rate than fuel is introduced so that the oxidation rate can match the reduction rate. Thus, for example, as few as two reactors can be used for continuous power generation without having to shuttle oxidation particles between reactors.
US09874336B2

The light emitting module includes a light source unit and a base plate where the light source unit is detachably mounted. The light source unit has an installation mechanism for installation to the base plate, and the base plate has an installation mechanism counterpart engaged with the installation mechanism. In addition, the light emitting module has a hook mechanism that catches the light source unit and the base plate when the installation mechanism and the installation mechanism counterpart are not engaged with each other. The hook mechanism is contained within a thickness of the light source unit when the light source unit is mounted to the base plate. In this configuration, it is possible to prevent the light source unit from dropping from the base plate using the hook mechanism even when engagement between the installation mechanism and the installation mechanism counterpart is released.
US09874327B2

A landscape light including a laser light source producing a laser light and including a lens configured to disperse the laser light, a background light assembly which includes a second light source producing a background light and a background light movement assembly configured to produce a movement of the background light generated by the second light source such that the background light moves across a surface onto which the background light is projected, and the at least one laser light source and the background light assembly being configured such that the dispersed laser light is projected substantially within the moving background light produced by the background light assembly.
US09874323B1

A lighting system 1 for screened enclosures (2) wherein side edges (8) of an elongated housing strip (4) mount to a framework (3) of the screened enclosure using screen cable channels (21) located on a frame rail (5) of the framework.
US09874321B2

A flashlight includes a body sized to be held in the hand of a user. The flashlight includes a light source coupled to the body for emitting light when the light source is activated by a user. The light source is movable to emit light as directed by the user.
US09874312B2

The invention relates to a gas distribution assembly comprising a gas container (20), such as a gas cylinder, a valve unit fixed to the gas container (20) and a protective cap (1, 2, 3, 4) arranged around the said valve unit, the protective cap (1, 2, 3, 4) comprising an opening (9) in which a rotary control member (5) is housed. The opening (9) is bordered by a protruding brim (7) jutting out from the external surface of the body (2) of the protective cap (1, 2, 3, 4). The protruding brim (7) comprises a cutout (8) forming a reading window so that marks or markings (11) corresponding to gas flow-rate values can be read.
US09874304B1

A travel media stand including a base with a first end and a second end, a mount coupled to the first end of the base, and a holder coupled to the second end of the base. A longitudinal axis of the base extends from the first end to the second end. The base is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The mount is rotatable with respect to the base around a mount axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the holder is also rotatable with respect to the base around a holder axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The mount may mount to or hang from an item, and the holder may hold or retain an item.
US09874302B2

A cured in place liner system and associated connections and methods are disclosed. The cured in place pipe system forms a completely rehabilitated, stand-alone, fluid-tight flow path between upstream and downstream portions of an existing pipe system. The rehabilitated flow path is stand-alone in that the liner system does not rely on structure of the portion of the pipe system through which the liner system is installed to define the fluid-tight flow path. The flow path between upstream and downstream portions of the liner system is defined by and made fluid-tight solely by components of the rehabilitation system such as cured in place liners and couplers. The portion of the pipe system through which the rehabilitation system is installed merely provides a path (e.g., through the ground) through which the cured in place liner system can be inserted. After the cured in place liner system is installed, the liner system forms a fluid-tight flow path between an upstream portion of the pipe system and a downstream portion of the pipe system. Various types of connections may be used. In addition, various types of methods may be used in forming the connections, such as using a mold to cure connecting sections of the cured in place liners in desired configurations (e.g., having a generally circular outer profile) for forming connections with the liners.
US09874299B2

In an embodiment, a hose coupling assembly includes a collet including a head and an axial protrusion extending from the head in a first axial direction. The axial protrusion is configured to engage a hose while the axial protrusion is in a locked position, and to disengage the hose while the axial protrusion is in an unlocked position. The hose coupling assembly also includes a housing disposed about the axial protrusion and configured to receive the hose. An inner surface of the housing is shaped to enable movement of the axial protrusion toward the unlocked position in response to movement of the axial protrusion in the first axial direction, and to drive the axial protrusion toward the locked position in response to movement of the axial protrusion in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction.
US09874295B2

A pipe-laying vessel including a pipe-laying tower extending upwardly from the vessel, the vessel including a welding station for joining a new pipestring to an end of the pipeline held by the tower, a clamp assembly on the tower for engaging a pipestring with a lower end adjacent to the end of the pipeline held by the tower and with the pipestring extending upwardly from its lower end alongside the tower, wherein the clamp assembly includes a pipestring clamp that serves both the function of a transfer clamp for transferring the pipestring from a position alongside the tower but displaced from the pipe-laying path to a position approximately aligned with the pipe-laying path, and the function of a line-up clamp for lining up the pipestring with the end of the pipeline.
US09874288B2

An apparatus for allowing the repetitive oscillation of pressure in a container or vessel having a finite volume. The apparatus comprises a valve having first opening, a valve enclosure having a second opening, and a first tension device. In some embodiments the apparatus can have a chamber capable of oscillating in volume. The oscillation of the chamber volume causes a decrease in the pressure of the container. As the pressure of the space or container decreases, two openings of the apparatus become more proximate. Eventually the openings partially overlap, allowing a gas, or fluid, to enter the container, increasing pressure of the space or container. As a result of the pressure increase, the first opening and second opening become less proximate by a force of the first tension device. The apparatus can allow the container to approach substantially perfect vacuum and rise toward atmospheric pressure.
US09874285B2

A platform for cultivation, maintenance, and/or analysis of one or more bio-objects includes one or more integrated bio-object microfluidics modules. Each integrated bio-object microfluidics module is configured to cultivate, maintain, analyze and/or mimic functionalities of a respective bio-object, and includes one or more on-chip pumps; a plurality of fluidic switches; and a microfluidic chip in fluid communication with the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches, having at least one chamber for accommodating the bio-object and a plurality of fluidic paths connecting the at least one chamber, the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches, and a power and control unit adapted for selectively and individually controlling the one or more on-chip pumps and the plurality of fluidic switches for performing bio-object microfluidics functions.
US09874280B2

A manual transmission includes: a shift selection shaft (20); a shift inner lever (32) including an arm portion (32b) provided on an outer side of a tubular portion (32a) so as to project outwardly in a radial direction; an interlock plate (34) including a projection (34b) provided on an outer side of a boss portion (34a) so as to project outwardly in the radial direction; and a reverse shift arm (41) supported by a transmission case (C) via a bracket (42) in a pivoting manner. The bracket is provided with a regulation portion (46) for regulating inclination of the interlock plate at the time of a shift operation.
US09874276B2

An automatic transmission having an operator control which has at least one manually actuable switching rocker which is arranged on a steering wheel. A sensor senses the actuation of the switching rocker and is connected via a signal path to a transmission control device of the automatic transmission. The switching rocker and the transmission control device are additionally connected to one another via a second signal path which is independent of the signal path.
US09874273B2

A method for manufacturing a flexible externally toothed gear includes: a first step (ST1) for producing a primary molded article by performing near-net-shape plastic working on a material comprising a nickel-free low-alloy steel having a silicon content of 1.45-1.5 wt %; a second step (ST2) for martempering the primary molded article; a third step (ST3) for producing a secondary molded article from the primary molded article; and a fourth step (ST4) for shot-peening the secondary molded article to change the surface portions of the tooth part and other parts to martensite. A flexible externally toothed gear can be obtained in which the surface hardness is kept within a prescribed range and the fatigue strength and abrasion resistance are high.
US09874266B2

A power transmission system for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises an engine, a plurality of input shafts, at least one of the input shafts being configured to selectively engage with the engine, each of the input shafts being provided with a shift driving gear thereon, a plurality of output shafts, each of the output shafts being provided with a shift driven gear configured to mesh with a corresponding shift driving gear, a motor power shaft configured to rotate together with one of the input shafts, and a first motor generator configured to rotate together with the motor power shaft. When the motor power shaft rotates together with the one of the input shafts, the first motor generator uses at least a part of power output by the engine to generate electric power when the vehicle is parking or running. A vehicle including the power transmission system is also provided.
US09874262B2

The invention relates to a protective device for a shock absorber, in particular a commercial vehicle shock absorber, comprising a first base area and a second base area, wherein the first base area and the second base area are connected to one another in such a way that via a swivel axis they can be swiveled in relation to one another between an assembly state and an operating state, and wherein the first base area and the second base area in the operating state substantially form a hollow cylindrical shape.
US09874257B2

Disclosed is an electric caliper brake. The electric caliper brake includes a carrier including a pair of pad plates installed to be moveable forward and backward, a caliper housing configured to be installed to be slidable on the carrier and to have a cylinder in which a piston of which an inside is dug in a form of a cup is moveable forward and backward due to a brake hydraulic pressure, a power conversion unit including a spindle member installed to pass through a rear of the cylinder and rotating due to a rotational force delivered from an actuator and a nut member screw-coupled to the spindle member, disposed in the piston, moving forward and backward according to rotation of the spindle member, pressurizing the piston, and releasing the pressurizing, and a filling member configured to be disposed in the piston in such a way that rotation of the filling member is limited, the filling member being coupled to the nut member.
US09874256B2

The present invention provides a disk brake system comprising a wheel defining a rotational axis, a caliper mounted adjacent the wheel, and a rotor mounted for rotation with the wheel and engageable by the caliper. The rotor includes a mounting slot defined by first and second sidewalls, the first sidewall defining a first axis that substantially intersects the rotational axis, and the second sidewall defining a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis. Preferably, the mounting slot defines a center axis that intersects a radial axis of the wheel at an angle of at least 1.5 degrees, preferably at least 2.0 degrees and more preferably about 2.5 to 3.9 degrees. Preferably, the mounting slot has a width and a length that is at least 10% larger, preferably at least 15% larger, and more preferably about 20% larger than the width.
US09874255B2

A brake component comprising: (a) one or more tie bars, and (b) one or more open spaces on each side of the tie bar, wherein during a brake apply the one or more tie bars each allow a brake pad to rotate into the open spaces of the brake component while the tie bar remains an only point of contact of the brake component.
US09874250B2

A rotation transmission device includes an electromagnetic clutch which selectively engages and disengages a two-way clutch configured to selectively perform and stop transmission of torque between an input shaft and an output shaft. A spring holder fitted on the input shaft prevents rollers from axially moving. Spring holding pieces mounted to the spring holder are formed with respective engagement surfaces engaging with cam surfaces of an outer periphery of an inner ring such that the spring holder is rotationally fixed.
US09874245B2

A device with a rotating element includes a housing body formed from a light alloy, wherein the housing body has a housing body thermal expansion coefficient, a bearing liner formed from a liner material disposed within the housing body, wherein the bearing liner has a bearing liner thermal expansion coefficient, and a bearing to support the rotating element with an outer race, wherein the bearing has a bearing thermal expansion coefficient, the outer race is press fit within the bearing liner, and the bearing liner thermal expansion coefficient is lower than the bearing thermal expansion coefficient.
US09874237B1

A support assembly for easy assembly and reliable operation is disclosed. Support assembly includes a plurality of support members, with at least one support member including connecting slot and at least one other support member having a complementary slot. Each slot features at least two tapered faces or walls to provide a wedge effect that ensures a tight reliable fit when the two members are fitted together.
US09874233B2

A hydraulic drive system for driving a load includes a drive shaft; first and second hydraulic pumps driven by the drive shaft, and a control system that operates the hydraulic drive system in a plurality of modes including: a) a first mode where the second hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid from a supply line to an accumulator; b) a second mode where the second hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to the supply line; c) a third mode where the second hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid from the supply line to a reservoir; and d) a fourth mode where the second hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the supply line. At least the second hydraulic pump is a variable displacement bidirectional pump.
US09874230B2

A fluid takeoff assembly for a motor-compressor is provided and includes an outer pipe having an inlet and an outlet, and an inner pipe defining a fluid passage extending from an open axial end toward a closed axial end thereof and a radial opening fluidly coupled with the fluid passage. The inner pipe may be disposed in the outer pipe such that the open axial end and the closed axial end are oriented toward the outlet and the inlet, respectively, and the inner and outer pipes define an annular space therebetween. A cross-flow member may be coupled with the inner pipe and may define a flowpath fluidly coupled with the fluid passage via the radial opening. A vane and the cross-flow member may be disposed in the annular space and configured to at least partially induce a swirling flow in a process fluid flowing through the annular space.
US09874228B2

A nacelle inlet is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This nacelle inlet includes an outer barrel, a bulkhead and a plurality of supports. The outer barrel extends around an axis and along the axis to an aft end. The bulkhead is within and connected to the outer barrel. An aft portion of the outer barrel projects axially aftward from the bulkhead to the aft end. The supports are disposed around the axis and next to the bulkhead. The supports are configured to support the aft portion of the outer barrel.
US09874221B2

A compressor apparatus includes: a rotor having: a disk mounted for rotation about a centerline axis, an outer periphery of the disk defining a flowpath surface; an array of airfoil-shaped axial-flow compressor blades extending radially outward from the flowpath surface, wherein the compressor blades each have a root, a tip, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein the compressor blades have a chord dimension and are spaced apart by a circumferential spacing, the ratio of the chord to the circumferential spacing defining a blade solidity parameter; and an array of airfoil-shaped splitter blades alternating with the compressor blades, wherein the splitter blades each have a root, a tip, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; wherein at least one of a chord dimension of the splitter blades at the roots thereof and a span dimension of the splitter blades is less than the corresponding dimension of the compressor blades.
US09874219B2

Provided is an impeller and a fluid machine which have an annular hub (21) and a plurality of blades (22) radially arranged along an outer peripheral surface of the hub (21). On a pressure surface (P1) of the blade (22), there are provided a first pressure surface (31) extending from the hub (21) side at an angle of 90 degrees or less with respect to the forward direction of the rotation direction (A), and a second pressure surface (32) extending from the first pressure surface (31) at an angle of more than 90 degrees with respect to the forward direction of the rotation direction (A). This configuration reduces a low-energy fluid stagnating on a suction surface side of the blade, achieving higher impeller efficiency.
US09874217B2

A turbomachine with a rotary shaft supporting a turbine wheel is supported for rotation in a housing. The shaft extends through a bore in the housing and a bearing assembly being disposed in the bore. At least one end of the shaft has a primary seal and a secondary seal. The primary seal comprises a non-contact seal defined by an annular clearance between a first non-rotating seal element and a second seal element that rotates with the shaft. The primary seal is arranged to receive lubricating oil from the bearing assembly. An oil slinging feature is provided between the primary and secondary seals.
US09874215B2

A fan motor control unit includes sensor units that each detect a rotational position of the fan motor, a switching unit that selectively connects each of stator coils of the fan motor to a rectifier circuit, a current sensor that detects a current flowing in the fan motor, and a switching control unit that advances, in the case where the current detected by the current sensor exceeds a threshold, a energization timing from the rectifier circuit to the stator coils with respect to the energization timing applied while the current detected by the current sensor is lower than the threshold, on the basis of the rotational position detected by the sensor units.
US09874213B2

A centrifugal multistage pump “VODOMET-WATER CANNON” contains electric motor, condensing case and pump stages, installed on the pump cases. The pump stages are located inside the case and are centered by the covers and, and also by the support. The bearing end shield of the electric motor is sealed with the elastic diaphragm. The condensing case is a leakproof cavity where the condenser and the cable connectors, of the electric motor are placed. The thermoswitch is located in the condensing box on the heat contactor. The pump stages include guide wheels and antifrictional washers. The washers interact with the axial supports—ceramic inlays that are inserted into the guide wheels. The inlays rest on the end clamps on the butt ends of the guide wheels. The guide wheels are sealed with radial inlays and together with pump stages create a hermetic tank.
US09874202B2

A Hall thruster apparatus having walls constructed from a conductive material, such as graphite, and having magnetic shielding of the walls from the ionized plasma has been demonstrated to operate with nearly the same efficiency as a conventional nonmagnetically shielded design using insulators as wall components. The new design is believed to provide the potential of higher power and uniform operation over the operating life of a thruster device.
US09874196B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a paddle wheel mechanism for a pool cleaner. The paddle wheel mechanism includes a housing, a paddle wheel shaft supported by the housing, a first paddle wheel, and a second paddle wheel. The housing directs fluid from a fluid path of the pool cleaner into a first flow path and a second flow path. The first paddle wheel is supported by the paddle wheel shaft and is positioned within the housing along the first flow path. The second paddle wheel is supported by the paddle wheel shaft and is positioned within the housing along the second flow path. The first paddle wheel rotates responsive to fluid directed along the first flow path, and the second paddle wheel rotates responsive to fluid directed along the second flow path.
US09874195B2

A pressure-measuring glow plug device includes a module housing, a glow plug configured to ignite a combustion mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and a pressure-measuring device. The pressure-measuring device has a pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure in the combustion chamber. The glow plug is connected to the module housing by a flexurally elastic membrane. The force acting on the glow plug in the combustion chamber is transferred to the pressure sensor, which is supported on a supporting element by a preloading force. The supporting element is fastened rigidly to the module housing by a sensor housing. The glow plug device further includes a separate loading sleeve that is connected at one end to the pressure-transferring piece and at the other end to the supporting element. The loading sleeve is configured to apply the preloading force for the pressure sensor.
US09874193B2

A method of operating an dedicated exhaust gas recirculation engine including a water gas shift catalyst by supplying ambient air and fuel to a dedicated cylinder at a first fuel to air equivalence ratio in the range of greater than 1.0 to 1.6 for a first number of engine cycles and, for a second number of engine cycles, supplying ambient air and fuel to the dedicated cylinder at a second fuel to air equivalence ratio in the range of 0.7 to less than 1.0. During the second number of cycles, spark timing of the dedicated cylinder is adjusted and a time delay when exhaust recirculated from the dedicated cylinder will be inducted into the cylinders is determined. At the end of the time delay, a second spark timing of the main cylinder is adjusted and the amount of fuel supplied to the main cylinders is increased.
US09874189B2

A method is disclosed to determine the opening degree of injectors in cylinders of a combustion engine, where the combustion engine has at least three cylinders. The injectors are connected to a fuel accumulator in a common rail fuel injection system; the fuel supply to the fuel accumulator is interrupted; and subsequently a test injection of fuel is carried out into at least two and, at most, all but for one cylinder at a time, in different combinations, at such a time that the injection does not cause any combustion in the cylinders. The pressure decreases caused in connection with the different test injections are measured, and the pressure decrease that is attributable to at least one specific injector is calculated based thereupon, which is, in turn, used in the determination of the injector's opening degree.
US09874188B2

An object of the present invention is to further improve the characteristic of the fuel spray of a fuel injection valve which has a plurality of stepped injection holes having a hole diameter of an outlet side injection hole larger than a hole diameter of an inlet side injection hole and which injects fuel from the stepped injection holes into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A cutout portion, which guides a flow of gas flowing into an outlet side injection hole from a lateral position of a fuel outlet of the outlet side injection hole during fuel injection, in a circumferential direction of the outlet side injection hole, is provided for at least one of both lateral portions between which the fuel outlet is interposed along with an arrangement direction of a plurality of injection holes, on a circumferential edge of the fuel outlet of the outlet side injection hole, in relation to at lease some of the injection holes of a fuel injection valve having the plurality of stepped injection holes.
US09874182B2

A partial forced induction system is provided that has one or more combustion engine cylinders with each engine cylinder having a first and a second intake valve with individual ports. A source of forced induction in fluid communication with the one or more combustion engine cylinders and urging air into the one or more combustion engine cylinders. A naturally aspirated intake manifold path connecting to each of the first intake valves at each of said one or more engine cylinders. A forced induction intake manifold path connects the source of forced induction to each of said second intake valves at each of the one or more engine cylinders.
US09874181B2

The invention relates to a device for admitting inlet gases and/or recirculated exhaust gases into an internal combustion engine cylinder, the device comprising a duct designed to supply said cylinder with inlet gases and/or with recirculated exhaust gases, characterized in that said device further comprises, in the duct, a flow control means that can be operated between a first position in which said duct supplies the cylinder with the inlet gases and a second position in which said duct supplies the cylinder with the recirculated exhaust gases. It also relates to the intake module and to the engine equipped therewith.
US09874178B2

An internal combustion engine may include at least one camshaft that may have an outer shaft and an inner shaft that is adjustable relative to the outer shaft. At least one first cam may be fixedly connected to the outer shaft for actuating an outlet valve. At least one second cam may be fixedly connected to the inner shaft. The at least one second cam, in an activated angular position, may enable an internal exhaust gas recirculation via actuating the outlet valve.
US09874173B2

An engine has an engine body, an injector, and a control section which controls a fuel injection amount and an injection state of the injector. The control section predicts a state of temperature in the combustion chamber, and controls the injector such that a volume of an air-fuel mixture layer formed in the combustion chamber is larger when the predicted temperature is high, than when the predicted temperature is low, even when same fuel amounts are injected.
US09874171B2

A method for diagnosing a malfunction of a sensor system in an air system of an internal combustion engine, said sensor system comprising a first air state sensor, a second air state sensor and a third air state sensor, wherein a first value and a second value of a first comparison variable are ascertained in two different ways in an overall calculation step such that the result of a comparison between the first value and the second value is a function of each of the output variables of the first, second and third air state sensors and wherein in a fault detection step, said method recognizes as a function of the comparison between said first value and said second value of the comparison variable that a fault exists in the sensor system.
US09874160B2

Systems and methods are described for powertrain controls optimization. One method comprises adaptively learning engine settings for a sparse sample of a speed-load map, which includes engine operation at boundary conditions of a speed-load map, and generating a dynamic node look-up table based on the learned engine settings for the sparse sample. The dynamic node look-up table may provide engine settings for engine operation at speed-load points not explicitly learned during the adaptive learning.
US09874158B2

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating an engine. Another embodiment is a unique engine system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for engines and engine systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US09874157B2

A purge gas injection system for internal combustion engines is disclosed. The system comprises a purge gas container filled with a sufficient purge gas to interrupt the combustion cycle of the engine, equipped with a controllable flow device capable of initiating and terminating flow from the container upon demand, with tubing connected to the purge gas container to direct the purge gas to a nozzle mounted on the combustion air intake of the engine. The system can be operated whenever the undesired conditions of dieseling or engine run-on are experienced and the operator of the engine may cause the purge gas to flow into the combustion air intake to defeat the undesirable run-on conditions.
US09874154B2

A method for controlling valve timing of an engine includes: classifying control regions depending on an engine speed and an engine load, and applying a maximum duration to an intake valve and controlling a valve overlap in the first control region; advancing an intake valve closing (IVC) timing and applying the maximum duration to the exhaust valve in the second control region; advancing both the IVC timing and an exhaust valve closing (EVC) timing in the third control region; fixing an exhaust valve opening (EVO) timing and approaching the EVC timing to a top dead center (TDC) in the fourth control region; controlling a wide open throttle valve (WOT) and retarding the EVO timing in the fifth control region; and controlling the WOT, advancing the EVO timing, and approaching the EVC timing to the TDC in the sixth control region.
US09874143B2

A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler is also in fluid communication with a combustor of the second gas turbine.
US09874127B2

Disclosed is a urea injection device for a selective catalyst reduction device. The urea injection device for a selective catalyst reduction device serves to inject urea into a urea tank through a urea injection port and a urea injection line that connects the urea injection port and the urea tank. The urea injection device may include: i) a leveling pipe which is connected with the urea tank, ii) a separator which is installed to be connected with the leveling pipe, and connected to the urea injection port through a gas recirculation line, iii) a gas vent line which is connected with the separator, and iv) a check valve which is installed in the gas vent line.
US09874119B2

A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include a camshaft mounted to a cylinder head, a plurality of wheels mounted to the camshaft, of which a wheel key is formed respectively, and disposed on each cylinder, a plurality of cam portions of which a cam and a cam key are formed respectively, of which the camshaft is inserted thereto, of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable, and disposed on the each cylinder, a plurality of inner brackets connected with the each wheel key and the each cam key, a plurality of slider housings of which the each inner bracket is rotatably inserted thereto, and disposed movable up and down direction of an engine, a guide shaft connecting the plurality of slider housings and a control portion moving a position of the guide shaft for changing rotation centers of the inner brackets.
US09874114B2

A cogenerating system includes a Rankine cycle, a high-temperature heat transfer medium circuit, a low-temperature heat transfer medium circuit, a bypass channel, a heat exchanger, and a flow rate adjustment mechanism. The high-temperature heat transfer medium circuit is configured such that an evaporator is supplied with a high-temperature heat transfer medium by a high-temperature heat transfer medium heat exchanger. The low-temperature heat transfer medium circuit is configured such that a condenser is supplied with a low-temperature heat transfer medium by a low-temperature heat transfer medium heat exchanger. The flow rate adjustment mechanism includes at least a flow rate limiter that limits the flow rate of the high-temperature heat transfer medium to be supplied to the evaporator, and adjusts a ratio of the flow rate of the high-temperature heat transfer medium flowing through the bypass channel to the flow rate of the high-temperature heat transfer medium flowing through the evaporator.
US09874113B2

A system for generating steam supplies of coal another material to one or more processing chambers. Each processing chamber includes a plasma arc torch that heats the material in the presence of water and a treatment gas at an extremely high temperature. A product gas stream is delivered from each processing chamber to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). Each HRSG generates steam that is used to drive a steam turbine. The processing chambers and HRSGs are fluidly connected so that the product gas streams moves from a processing chamber, to a HRSG, to another processing chamber, and then to another HRSG, etc. Within any of the HRSGs, or after the final HRSG, water in the product gas may condense to liquid water that may be redirected to any of the processing chambers. In addition, CO2 from the final HRSG may be redirected into any of the processing chambers to facilitate further reactions in the chambers.
US09874109B2

Gas turbine inlet guide vane ice detection and control systems and methods that utilize active infra-red monitoring of inlet guide vanes, detection of ice formation on the guide vanes and elimination of the ice by altering properties of the gas turbine inlet intake airflow, such as by introducing compressed and/or heated air bled from the turbine. Ice has lower detectable emissivity intensity in the infra-red spectrum than ice-free inlet guide vane surfaces. Ice formation is inhibited by direct monitoring of inlet guide vane icing conditions, rather than by indirect empirical assumptions of ice formation based on atmospheric condition monitoring. Direct monitoring mitigates ice formation in real time without reliance on excessive use of gas turbine compressed or heated air bleed, which enhances turbine operational efficiency.
US09874098B2

The present invention refers to a spark ignition engine of the rotary type with a double rotation center, comprising a stator (A) with a stator central body (A1) having a compartment (1, 2), a first side cover (A2) and a second side cover (A3), wherein the compartment includes an expansion compartment (1) and a compression compartment (2) and a combustion chamber at an upper portion of the compartment (1, 2), a rotor (B) with an expansion rotating element (B1), a compressing rotating element (B2) and a hinging linear element (B3) interposed between said expansion rotating element (B1) and the compression rotating element (B2), the rotor is arranged in the compartment (1, 2) of the stator central body, wherein the expansion compartment (1) comprises a concave inner surface (1a) and the compression compartment (2) comprises a convex inner surface (2a).
US09874097B2

Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.
US09874096B2

A mining system includes: a vessel for processing mined ore, an upper platform coupled with the vessel, a lower platform supported by the ocean floor, a number of transport cables which extend between the upper and lower platform, and a container for containing ore which container is fixedly coupled to a container transporting cable such that the container moves vertically with the container transporting cable to transport the container in a container trajectory extending between the upper and lower platform.
US09874086B2

A system for building a geological model of oil or other mineral deposit. In particular, the system allows the coefficients of correlation to be determined for a set of well-logging curves and marker depth positions to be established for which the values of correlation coefficient are maximal. A technical result is the improvement of the accuracy of evaluating the parameters that are used to construct a geological model of location of oil or other deposits. The system makes it possible, given a marker, which already has its marks in a group of wells, which is referred to as reference group, to calculate such marks for wells from another group. For any well W where the marker depth is to be determined, wells from the reference group are chosen lying within the specified distance from the well W, and a well with the maximal coefficient of correlation is chosen among them.
US09874081B2

A system for detecting fluid influxes and losses can include a sensor which detects floating vessel movement, and a neural network which receives a sensor output, and which outputs a predicted flow rate from a wellbore. A method can include isolating the wellbore from atmosphere with an annular sealing device which seals against a drill string, inputting to a neural network an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, the neural network outputting a predicted flow rate from the wellbore, and determining whether the fluid influx or loss has occurred by comparing the predicted flow rate to an actual flow rate from the wellbore. Another method can include inputting to a neural network actual flow rates into and out of the wellbore, and an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, and training the neural network to output a predicted flow rate from the wellbore.
US09874075B2

An electromagnetic induction generator for use in a tubular, such as a tubular deployed in a subterranean well during wellbore construction operations, for generating electric current through electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic induction generator has at least one conductive coil and at least one Halbach array of magnets. One or both of the at least one conductive coil and the at least one Halbach array of magnets is rotated relative to the other to increase the electric current generated. One or more gears may be provided to multiply the generated electric current.
US09874074B2

An apparatus for protecting a functional fluid includes an inner pliant shell disposed inside an outer pliant shell. A sealed space separates the inner and outer pliant shells and the inner pliant shell defines a variable volume for receiving the functional fluid. A filler fills the sealed space.
US09874063B2

A sampling tool to sample core samples from a wellbore is disclosed. A core sampling storage module includes a pressure housing to store a plurality of core samples, a core tube within the pressure housing, the core tube to store a plurality of core samples drilled from a downhole formation, a pressure housing cover that is configured to be selectively rotated to an open position or a closed position, an activation mechanism to receive a command, and based on the command, open or close the pressure housing cover, a push rod to selectively install a plug to cover the core tube, wherein when the plug is installed the pressure housing maintains a pressure.
US09874062B2

An example latch coupling assembly includes a latch coupling defining an inner latch profile and an expandable sleeve coupled to the latch coupling. A latch defining an outer latch profile is mateable with the inner latch profile, and a mandrel is at least partially extendable within the expandable sleeve. An expansion cone is moveable along the mandrel between a first position, where the expansion cone is positioned within the expandable sleeve, and a second position, where the expansion cone is moved into engagement with an inner radial surface of the expandable sleeve to radially expand the expandable sleeve into engagement with a casing string and thereby secure the latch coupling within the casing string.
US09874052B2

Embodiments of windows mainframe components, for example, head/jamb window mainframe components which meet the egress requirements for egress windows are provided herein.
US09874050B2

A sliding door module or pivoting sliding door module for a rail vehicle includes a door leaf and a support, which is aligned longitudinally in the sliding direction of the door leaf and is mounted such that the support can be displaced in the horizontal direction in particular transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof. The sliding door module or pivoting sliding door module also has a linear guide for mounting the door leaf, which is fastened to or integrated in the support. The door leaves are moved with the aid of a rack-and-pinion drive. The rack-and-pinion drive has a rack which is coupled only in the first end region thereof to the door leaf, and the floating end of which is engaged with a gearwheel that is mounted rotatably in the support.
US09874029B2

An elevated flooring surface assembly including surface tiles disposed on respective support plates, the corners of which in turn rest on support pedestals disposed upon a fixed surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween to provide for increased degrees of support of the surface tiles above the fixed surface.
US09874023B1

A fascia mounting bracket preferably includes a base member and a vertical attachment flange. The base member extends outward in a horizontal orientation from the vertical attachment flange. A lower portion of the vertical attachment flange extends below the base member and an upper portion of the vertical attachment flange extends above the base member. A plurality of staggered fastener openings are preferably formed through the base member. The fascia mounting bracket is preferably fabricated from an aluminum extrusion. The base member is inserted between a top of a nailer and a bottom of an insulation board. The fascia mounting bracket is secured to a building with a plurality of fasteners inserted through the plurality of fastener openings and screwed into the nailer. Fascia trim is attached to the top portion of the vertical attachment flange with a plurality of self-tapping fasteners.
US09874016B2

A wedge assembly for post tensioning concrete includes one or more wedges and a wedge ring. Each wedge includes an outer surface having a circumferential groove formed thereon. The wedge ring is adapted to fit into the groove of the wedges and retain the wedges to a strand. The wedge ring including a gap adapted to allow the wedge ring to be installed from the side of the wedges. When installed to the strand, the wedges may form a clearance fit maintained by the wedge ring. At least one wedge may include a guide adapted to assist with the separation of the wedges when installed to the strand.
US09874013B2

A ceiling system in one embodiment includes an overhead support grid comprised of a plurality of intersecting grid support members and a ceiling tile mountable to the grid. Retaining clips support the ceiling tile from the grid which may be concealed from view. The retaining clips each include a cavity that receives a grid support member and a pair of resilient mounting elements configured to lockingly engage a support member. The mounting elements are laterally movable in response to inserting the support member into the cavity of the retaining clip. In one embodiment, the movable elements include locking tabs which create a snap-fit interlock with the grid support member for securing the ceiling tile to the grid.
US09874009B2

Reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; first stud wall disposed on the foundation and second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall; first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first threaded end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third threaded end portion is operably connected to the second threaded end portion of the first tie rod; the fourth threaded end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded, the intermediate portion extending through a first top plate of the first stud wall and a second bottom plate of the second stud wall and the second threaded end portion is not disposed within the first top plate and the second bottom plate.
US09874004B2

A device for changing the jet shape of free-flowing products, in particular of foodstuffs, including: an inflow area for the free-flowing products to enter, an outflow area for the free-flowing products to exit, and several channels through which to pass the free-flowing products. Each channel includes an inlet allocated to the inflow area and an outlet allocated to the outflow area. The inlets together form an inflow surface with a width and height lying in the inflow area. The outlets together form an outflow surface with a width and height lying in the outflow area. In order to reduce splashing when filling packagings with a non-rotationally symmetrical cross section, the outflow surface is non-rotationally symmetrical.
US09874001B2

A retention assembly for connecting two pieces of heavy equipment, such as a shovel and a tooth adapter, is described. A slot is formed when the tooth adapter is fit over the end of the shovel. The retention assembly includes an adapter configured to fit into the slot and against the shovel or the tooth adapter. A shim is also in the slot, separated from the adapter by a gap. A wedge nut is also applied to the slot, between the adapter and the shim. The wedge nut is applied to a rod. Movement of the wedge nut along the rod imparts a change in dimension of the gap to bind the retention assembly within the slot and thus secure the tooth adapter on the shovel.
US09873998B2

The invention relates to a mast arrangement for a construction machine with a mast having a mast guide, along which a mast carriage is supported in a movable manner which is connected to a hydraulic source and has a first hydraulic coupling part for hydraulically connecting a tool unit to a hydraulic source on the mast carriage. According to the invention provision is made for the tool unit to have a tool guiding device. On a frame of the tool unit a second hydraulic coupling part is arranged. Upon movement of mast carriage and tool unit towards each other along the mast guide the first hydraulic coupling part of the mast carriage can be linked up hydraulically to the second hydraulic coupling part on the tool unit. A locking device is provided which is spaced from the hydraulic coupling parts and has at least one hydraulically operable latch bolt.
US09873997B2

A vibrator-system for sinking an object into the ground by means of vibration, comprises a suspension yoke, a carter or carters mounted to the suspension yoke and equipped with a rotatable eccentric weight or weights for the generation of the vibration, and clamping means connected at a side of the carter or carters that is opposite to the suspension yoke for clamping the object, wherein the vibrator system is convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration a single carter is mounted to the suspension yoke and the clamping means are mounted to the single carter, and that in the second configuration two carters, each equipped with a rotatable eccentric weight or weights, are mounted between the suspension yoke and the clamping means.
US09873996B2

A roadway marker moving device is provided for mounting to a vehicle and includes a support structure for mounting the device to a vehicle. The support structure is capable of being pivoted angularly relative to a longitudinal direction of travel of the vehicle. An elongated beam structure is mounted to the support structure and an elastomeric strip is mounted to a front face of the elongated beam structure for engaging the roadway marker. The angular orientation of the elongated beam can be adjusted while the vehicle is being driven with the elongated beam engaged with a roadway marker so that the positioning of the roadway marker can be controlled.
US09873995B1

A flexible pier comprising a pier body, wherein the pier body comprises a waveform steel tube and concrete filled in the waveform steel tube. The waveform steel tube includes a wave segment. The wave direction of the wave segment is in along the axial direction of the pier body. The waveform steel tube and the concrete support each other. The waveform steel tube may improve the compressive strength of the concrete. Therefore, the section of the pier can become smaller while keeping the same compression bearing capacity, which not only increases the flexibility of the pier, but also reduces the amount of the consumed materials.
US09873993B2

In an automotive milling machine, with a machine frame with longitudinal axis, with a chassis with wheels or tracked travelling drive units which support the machine frame, with a controller for the travelling, steering and milling operation, with a height-adjustable working drum, with a slewable last or single transport conveyor of specified length arranged in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the direction of travel of the milling machine, where the transport conveyor is, as a minimum, slewable sideways about an essentially vertical first axis under a slewing angle, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller comprises a detection and control system which, as a minimum, detects the steering angle of the steering controller for the chassis or, as a minimum, the steering angle of the steering controller and the distance travelled or the travel speed, and controls the slewing angle of the transport conveyor in accordance with this no less than one parameter.
US09873990B2

A monitoring system for a paving machine having a screed may include an input device configured to receive a first input from an operator of the paving machine, the first input being indicative of a height of the screed above a work surface, and a controller electronically connected to the input device. The controller may be configured to determine an amount of a material deposited by the paving machine based on the first input, receive a signal indicative of an amount of a material delivered to the paving machine, and determine a correction factor based on the amount of the material deposited by the paving machine and the amount of the material delivered to the paving machine.
US09873985B2

The present invention relates to a coated printing paper for an industrial inkjet printing press having a base paper, and at least two layers of coating layers arranged on at least one surface of the base paper; a first coating layer that is located at a farthest position from the base paper among the at least two layers of coating layers containing a pigment and a binder as main components, a peak existing in the range of 0.010 μm to 0.030 μm in a pore size distribution curve thereof, at least one type of the pigment thereof being ground calcium carbonate, and the content thereof being 60 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass total of all pigment(s) contained in the first coating layer; and a second coating layer that is in contact with the first coating layer among the at least two layers of coating layers containing a pigment and a binder as main components, and a peak existing in the range of 0.080 μm to 0.300 μm in a pore size distribution curve thereof.
US09873984B2

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a composite paper which exhibits excellent oil resistance, water vapor permeability, and water resistance even when hot and oily food is wrapped therein. The above problem can be solved by using a composite paper comprising an oil-resistant layer formed on at least one surface of a base paper, wherein the oil-resistant layer comprises a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) having a content of ethylene units of 2 to 10 mol %, a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 300 to 2000, a saponification degree of 95 to 99.5 mol %, a total content of carboxyl groups and lactone rings of 0.02 to 3 mol %, a melting point of 180 to 230° C., a content of 1,2-glycol bonds of 1.2 to 2 mol %, and a molar fraction of central hydroxyl groups in chains of three consecutive hydroxyls by a triad expression relative to vinyl alcohol units of 65 to 98 mol %, the base paper has an air permeability resistance of 1000 seconds or less and a bulk density of 0.5 to 1.0 g/cm3, and the oil-resistant layer is formed in an amount of 0.1 to 10.0 g/m2 in terms of dry mass. The oil-resistant layer may also contain a fluorine compound (B), a layered inorganic compound (C) having an average aspect ratio of 20 to 1000, a fatty acid sizing agent (D), or a cross-linking agent (E).
US09873972B2

A laundry system may include a washing machine that receives a wash mixture and at least one laundry item to be laundered during a washing operation. The washing machine may wash the at least one laundry item to remove at least one contaminant from the at least one laundry item, with the at least one contaminant being received in the wash mixture. The laundry system also can include an extraction system in communication with the washing machine. The extraction system can have at least one magnet that attracts magnetic or metallic particles from at least part of the wash mixture. The extraction system additionally can include at least one filtration system that filters at least part of the wash mixture during the washing operation.
US09873970B2

A method is provided for controlling a washing machine including a control panel, a wireless communication module transmitting and receiving a signal through the internet, a driving unit including a driving motor, and a controller controlling an operation of the driving unit. The method includes, storing in the controller washing condition information including laundry weight information for washing, a laundry weight detection period or time, and active washing or not, counting a period or time for detecting the laundry weight, detecting a current laundry weight when the laundry detection period or time arrives, and transmitting a message notifying that the current laundry weight reaches a preset laundry weight to a server for washing control application through the internet, when the current laundry weight reaches the preset laundry weight.
US09873969B2

A laundry treating appliance configured to treat laundry according to a treating cycle of operation includes a chassis that defines an interior and a tub statically mounted to the chassis, and at least one suspension opening in a side of the tub. An exoskeleton is located within the liquid chamber and has a front support, a rear support, and stringers extending between and connecting the front and rear supports. An electric motor is mounted to the rear support and has a rotating output shaft. A drum is connected to the output shaft and is rotatbly mounted to the exoskeleton. A suspension system is located within the interior and has at least one suspension component extending from the interior and into the liquid chamber through the suspension opening and is operably coupled to the exoskeleton. The suspension system provides suspension directly to the exoskeleton to indirectly provide suspension for the drum and electric motor.
US09873961B2

A weaving machine (1) equipped with a level adjustment device (8) for a plurality of oscillating levers (26), the oscillating levers being provided with cam followers (42) and mounted on a shaft (28) of the levers, the shaft of the levers being movable between a weaving configuration, where the cam followers of the oscillating levers bear against cams (18) of the shedding mechanism, and a level adjustment configuration, where the cam followers of the oscillating levers are separated from the cams of the shedding mechanism. The level adjustment device comprises a level adjustment picking cam member secured to the shaft of the levers. The shedding mechanism further comprises a pad translatable along a fixed axis (X66) between a first position corresponding to the weaving configuration of the shaft (28) of the levers (26) and a second position corresponding to the level adjustment configuration of the shaft of the levers, and at least one level adjustment connecting rod (60) including a first end (84) mounted pivoting on the level adjustment picking cam member around an axis (X84) of the connecting rod parallel to the central axis (X28) of the shaft of the levers and a second end (86) mounted pivoting on the pad around an articulation axis (X86) of the pad parallel to the axis of the shaft of the levers.
US09873952B2

A method of producing a ceramic component includes a) providing a main body having internal electrodes, outer edges of which are located on at least one first outer surface of the main body, b) contacting the first outer surface of the main body with a composition including an electrophoretically mobile insulating material and electrophoretically depositing the insulating material on outer edges of the internal electrodes on the first outer surface of the main body, and c) producing an insulating layer from the insulating material on the outer edges of the internal electrodes.
US09873946B2

The present invention provides improved methods of preparing a low-k dielectric material on a substrate. The methods involve multiple operation ultraviolet curing processes in which UV intensity, wafer substrate temperature, UV spectral distribution, and other conditions may be independently modulated in each operation. Operations may be pulsed or even be concurrently applied to the same wafer. In certain embodiments, a film containing a structure former and a porogen is exposed to UV radiation in a first operation to facilitate removal of the porogen and create a porous dielectric film. In a second operation, the film is exposed to UV radiation to increase cross-linking within the porous film.
US09873944B2

Before depositing a metal capping layer on a metal interconnect in a damascene structure, a remote plasma is used to reduce native oxide formed on the metal interconnect. Accordingly, a remote plasma reducing chamber is integrated in a processing platform for depositing a metal capping layer.
US09873941B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a film-forming apparatus and a film-forming method that can prolong the lifetime of heaters used under high temperature conditions in an epitaxial growth technique. An inert gas discharge portion supplies an inert gas into the space containing the heater, gas is then discharged through the gas discharge portion without influence on the semiconductor substrate during film formation. It is therefore possible to prevent the reaction gas entering into the space containing the high-temperature heaters. This makes it possible to prevent a reaction between hydrogen gas contained in the reaction gas and SiC constituting the heaters. Therefore, it is possible to prevent carbon used as a base material of the heaters from being exposed due to the decomposition of SiC and then reacting with hydrogen gas. This makes it possible to prolong the lifetime of the heaters.
US09873933B2

Disclosed herein is a nickel-titanium alloy comprising nickel, titanium, and at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy comprises from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % nickel, from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % titanium, and from about 0.1 at. % to about 15 at. % at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy may further include one or more additional alloying elements. In addition to radiopacity, the nickel-titanium alloy preferably exhibits superelastic or shape memory behavior. Medical devices comprising the nickel-titanium alloy and a method of making them are also disclosed.
US09873931B2

A hot-rolled austenitic iron/carbon/manganese steel sheet is provided. The strength of which is greater than 900 MPa, the product (strength (in MPa)×elongation at fracture (in %)) of which is greater than 45000 and the chemical composition of which includes, the contents being expressed by weight 0.5%≦C≦0.7%, 17%≦Mn≦24%, Si≦3%, Al≦0.050%, S≦0.030%, P≦0.080% and N≦0.1%. A remainder of the composition includes iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting. A recrystallized fraction of the structure of the steel is greater than 75%, a surface fraction of precipitated carbides of the steel is less than 1.5% and a mean grain size of the steel is less than 18 microns. A reinforcing element is also provided.
US09873924B2

A ferritic stainless steel sheet of a composition, expressed in weight percentages: trace amounts≦C≦0.03%; 0.2%≦Mn≦1%; 0.2%≦Si≦1%; trace amounts≦S≦0.01%; trace amounts≦P≦0.04%; 15%≦Cr≦22%; trace amounts≦Ni≦0.5%; trace amounts≦Mo≦2%; trace amounts≦Cu≦0.5%; 0.160%≦Ti≦1%; 0.02%≦Al≦1%; 0.2%≦Nb≦1%; trace amounts≦V≦0.2%; 0.009%≦N≦0.03%; trace amounts≦Co≦0.2%; trace amounts≦Sn≦0.05%; rare earths (REE)≦0.1%; trace amounts≦Zr≦0.01%; the remainder of the composition consisting of iron and of inevitable impurities resulting from the elaboration; the Al and rare earth (REE) contents satisfying the relationship: Al+30×REE≧0.15%; the Nb, C, N and Ti contents in % satisfy the relationship: 1/[Nb+(7/4)×Ti−7×(C+N)]≦3; said metal sheet having an entirely recrystallized structure and an average ferritic grain size comprised between 25 and 65 μm.A method for manufacturing such a ferritic stainless steel sheet, and its use for manufacturing parts involving shaping and welding and intended to be subject to a periodic temperature of use comprised between 150° C. and 700° C. and to a projection of a mixture of water, urea and ammonia.
US09873920B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an evaluation method kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage due to such factors as anticancer drug administration. The purpose of the present invention is also to provide a method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effects in anticancer drug treatment. An evaluation method and evaluation kit for evaluating the risk of onset of diffuse alveolar damage, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene. A method for evaluating the risk of onset of side effect in anticancer drug treatment, including detecting gene polymorphism present in the MUC4 gene of a patient scheduled for anticancer drug administration.
US09873915B2

The present disclosure provides methods and kits that can be used to determine the grade or stage of a breast or other cancer, such as a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). By determining the grade, stage, or aggressiveness of a cancer, appropriate therapeutic regiments can be selected and administered to the patient with the cancer. The method includes detecting osteopontin-c (OPN-c), wherein the presence of high amounts of OPN-c in the cancer sample indicates that the subject has a more aggressive form of cancer (e.g., grade 3).
US09873911B2

Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing or nucleic acid amplification. Such properties include enhanced performance with large nucleotide analogs, increased stability, increased readlength, and improved detection of modified bases, and can also include resistance to photodamage, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased accuracy, altered speed, increased cosolvent resistance, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
US09873900B2

The present invention is directed to methods and materials for RNA-mediated gene assembly from oligonucleotide sequences. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotides used for gene assembly are provided in an array format. An RNA polymerase promoter is appended to surface-bound oligonucleotides and a plurality of RNA copies of each oligonucleotide are then produced with an RNA polymerase. These RNA molecules self-assemble into a desired full-length RNA transcript by hybridization and ligation. The resulting RNA transcript may then be converted into double strand DNA useful in a variety of applications including protein expression.
US09873898B2

The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid by fermentation using a bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The bacterium can belong to the genus Escherichia, which has been modified to attenuate expression of a phosphate transporter-encoding gene, such as the pitA gene or pitB gene.
US09873894B2

Methods and compositions comprising single guide RNAs targeted to an endogenous mammalian β globin gene (HBB), gamma globin gene (HBG1), B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene, Kruppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) gene, CCR5 gene, CXCR4 gene, PPP1R12C (AAVS1) gene, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene, albumin gene, Factor VIII gene, Factor IX gene, Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene, Hungtingin (Htt) gene, rhodopsin (RHO) gene, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene, surfactant protein B gene (SFTPB), T-cell receptor alpha (TRAC) gene, T-cell receptor beta (TRBC) gene, programmed cell death 1 (PD1) gene, Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A gene, a LMP7 gene, a Transporter associated with Antigen Processing (TAP) gene, tapasin gene (TAPBP), a class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) gene, a dystrophin gene (DMD), a glucocorticoid receptor gene (GR), IL2RG gene or RFX5 for genetic alteration of cells are provided.
US09873871B2

The invention is a methodology which makes it possible to select from a very large number of cells, a single cell or cells of interest and obtain specific information from those cells in a rapid and efficient manner. As an example of the methodology, a large number of antibody producing cells such as plasma cells are separated so that these individual antibody producing plasma cells are placed in individual wells. The cells are allowed to produce antibodies and the antibodies in the wells are then contacted with a protein bound to a solid surface such as a well top. The protein universally and specifically binds antibodies in the wells. The surface or well tray top includes addresses configured such that each address is specifically related to one of the individual wells containing a cell producing antibodies.
US09873869B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides having glucoamylase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US09873864B2

The present invention relates to cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDH) having glucose oxidation activity at a pH of 7.4 or above, modifications to modify the pH dependency of the enzymes activity, uses for these CDHs, in particular electrode sensors and electrochemical cells.
US09873861B2

The invention relates to implantable collagen devices made by seeding at least one elongate collagen construct, e.g., comprising at least one elongate synthetic collagen fiber with a plurality of cells and applying a strain and/or stress to the at least one elongate collagen fiber to induce the cells to differentiate into target phenotypes, e.g., tendon or ligament phenotype cells (and/or fibroblasts), typically with an extracellular matrix of collagen to organize into a tissue on the at least one collagen fiber.
US09873854B2

A solution having improved stain removing properties on hard surfaces, carpets and fabrics, that is easier to handle (stored or transported at lower temperatures and less corrosive) and that is environmentally friendly. The stain removing solution includes the following components: a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alpha olefin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkyl betaines, amphoacetates, amphoproprionates, amphosulfonates, amine oxides, alkanolamides, sulfosuccinates, and sultaines, a hydrotrope, and a solvent. The surfactant is preferably an alcohol ethoxylate. The hydrotrope is preferably lauramine oxide. The solvent is preferably a dibasic ester or a glycol ether. The solution may further comprise a diluent, a mild acid, and/or a preservative. A mild acid can be added to lower the pH of the solution.
US09873845B2

A gasoline blend and a method for producing a gasoline blend containing low concentrations of a butanol isomer and having good cold start and warm-up driveability characteristics are disclosed.
US09873843B2

A process for the conversion of a feedstock containing one or more fatty acid triglycerides to a mixture containing one or more fatty acid alkyl esters and t-alkyl glycerols, including reacting the feedstock with a compound of formula (I): R—O—RI  (I) wherein: RI is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl having 1-18 carbon atoms; R is H or a tertiary alkyl group, wherein the reaction takes place in the presence of an acid transesterification catalyst by irradiation with microwaves and/or ultrasound and/or radio waves.
US09873842B2

This invention relates generally to a method and system for improving the conversion of carbon-containing feed stocks to renewable fuels, and more particularly to a thermal chemical conversion of biomass to renewable fuels and other useful chemical compounds, including gasoline and diesel, via a unique combination of unique processes. More particularly, this combination of processes includes (a) a selective pyrolysis of biomass, which produces volatile hydrocarbons and a biochar; (b) the volatile hydrocarbons are upgraded in a novel catalytic process to renewable fuels, (c) the biochar is gasified at low pressure with recycled residual gases from the catalytic process to produce synthesis gas, (d) the synthesis gas is converted to dimethyl ether in a novel catalytic process, and (e) the dimethyl ether is recycled to the selective pyrolysis process.
US09873837B2

Methods, reactor systems, and catalysts are provided for converting in a continuous process biomass to fuels and chemicals, including methods of converting the water insoluble components of biomass, such as hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, to volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates, such as alcohols, ketones, cyclic ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and mixtures thereof. In certain applications, the volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates can be collected and used as a final chemical product, or used in downstream processes to produce liquid fuels, chemicals and other products.
US09873831B2

A co-polymer comprising a repeat unit of formula (I): wherein Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 each independently represent an aryl or heteroaryl group that may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents, the copolymer further comprising a conjugation-breaking repeat unit that does not provide any conjugation path between repeat units adjacent to the conjugation-breaking repeat unit. The copolymer may be used as a host material of a phosphorescent material in a light-emitting layer of an organic light-emitting device.
US09873827B2

Suspensions comprising polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles and at least one carrier fluid. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane may include functional groups and the suspension may further comprise carbon-based nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles. Related methods of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation using the suspension. The method comprises contacting hydrocarbons with the suspension to form an emulsion stabilized by the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles.
US09873802B2

The disclosure provides paint compositions that comprise isoxazolidine derivatives that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compositions have extended open time, and are suitable for both water-based and organic solvent-based formulations.
US09873801B2

Provided is an antifouling sheet having an antifouling layer formed of an antifouling layer-forming composition containing a specific tetrafunctional silane compound (A) and a specific trifunctional silane compound (B) wherein the content of the component (B) is 8 to 90 mol % relative to 100 mol % of the component (A), and the antifouling layer is a layer formed by drying and curing a coating film formed of the antifouling layer-forming composition, in an ammonia atmosphere. Also provided is a method for producing the antifouling sheet. The antifouling sheet is provided with an antifouling layer having good surface state and curability, has a large slip acceleration for water droppings, thereby having excellent water repellency that makes water droplets slip off instantly, and has excellent interlayer adhesiveness.
US09873792B2

The invention pertains to filled polyamide compositions [composition (C)] comprising: —at least one polyhydric alcohol-modified polyamide, comprising an amount of polyhydric alcohol (PHA, herein after) residues chemically bonded at least to a part of the polyamide [polyamide (A)] of at least 0.1% wt (based on the total weight of polyamide (A)); —at least one filler [filler (F)]; and—at least one polyamide, different from polyamide (A), more than 50% moles of recurring units thereof being of formula —HN—(CH2)5—CO— [polyamide (PA6)], in an amount of 5 to 50% wt, based on the combined weight of polyamide (A) and polyamide (PA6).
US09873784B2

The invention is directed to polymer compositions comprising components (a), (b), (c) and (d): (a) 80 to 97% by weight of component (a) comprising a copolymer (a1) of styrene (a11) and methyl methacrylate (a12), wherein the amount present of (a11) is from 70 to 90% by weight and the amount present of (a12) is from 10 to 30% by weight, based in each case on (a1), (b) 3 to 20% by weight of polyphenylene ether as component (b); (c) 0 to 2% by weight of polystyrene as component (c); (d) 0 to 17%, in particular 0 to 15% by weight of conventional additives as component (d), having improved heat resistance, surface hardness, depth of color and gloss.
US09873783B2

The present disclosure relates to an ethylene polymer composition having an eta (0.01) equal to or higher than 35,000 Pa·s, comprising: A) 25-75% by weight of an ethylene polymer selected from ethylene homopolymers, copolymers of ethylene with 10% or less of one or more olefin comonomers, and mixtures of the homopolymers and copolymers; B) 25-75% by weight of a copolymer of ethylene and propylene comprising 45-70% by weight of ethylene; wherein eta (0.01) is the complex shear viscosity at an angular frequency of 0.01 rad/s, measured with dynamic oscillatory shear in a plate-plate rotational rheometer at a temperature of 200° C., and the amounts of A) and B) refer to the total weight of A)+B).
US09873781B2

The present invention aims to provide an acrylic rubber composition capable of giving an acrylic rubber molded product good in low-friction properties and non-sticking properties. The present invention relates to an acrylic rubber composition containing an acrylic rubber (A) and a fluororesin (B), the fluororesin (B) being a perfluororesin.
US09873777B2

Provided are carbon fibers which have a thicker single fiber fineness of the polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fiber bundles and lower production costs, and which have excellent mechanical properties. Also provided are: carbon fiber bundles having a single fiber fineness of 0.8-2.1 dtex, a strand strength of 4.9 GPa or greater, and a strand elastic modulus of 200 GPa or greater; carbon fiber bundles having a single fiber fineness of 0.8-2.5 dtex, a strand strength of 3.0 GPa or greater, and a strand elastic modulus of 240 GPa or greater; and an optimal method for producing said carbon fiber bundles. carbon fiber bundles having a single fiber fineness of 0.8-2.5 dtex, a strand strength of 3.0 GPa or greater, and a strand elastic modulus of 240 GPa or greater; and an optimal method for producing said carbon fiber bundles.
US09873773B2

Disclosed are a composite material and a method for preparing the same. The composite material is consisted of TiO2 and BaZn1.2Co0.8Fe16O27. The composite material of the invention has the advantages of high absorption frequency band, good compatibility and wide frequency band, and it is applicable for the shell protection material of a mobile phone or a TV set, thereby absorbing the electromagnetic wave band that is the most harmful to human bodies, without influencing the normal communication function of an electronic device, for example, a mobile phone.
US09873766B2

In some embodiments, a product, such as a thermoset, has a polyhexahydrotriazine and a self-polymerized cross-linkable polymer. In some embodiments, a product is the reaction product of a diamine, an aldehyde, and a compound having an α,β-unsaturated electron withdrawing moiety.
US09873757B2

The present invention provides a polyester polyol, preferably a plant-derived polyester polyol, suitable for a composition for polyurethane foam that contributes to the reduction of load on the environment and has a good balance of high resilience, moderate hardness, and high durability as a cushioning material for vehicle seat cushions. A polyester polyol having a hydroxyl value in the range of 15 to 100 mgKOH/g according to the present invention is produced by a condensation of raw materials comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of fatty acids having a hydroxy group and fatty acid esters having a hydroxy group with a polyhydric alcohol having an average number of functional groups of more than three but not more than eight. The raw materials contain 90% to 100% by mass of a fatty acid having a hydroxy group and a fatty acid ester having a hydroxy group in total.
US09873751B2

This invention pertains to a polymeric composition and an antimicrobial composition, each comprising a superabsorbent polymer (SAP), such as used in diapers and sanitary napkins, and peroxide. The superabsorbent material can be made by the process of treating a preformed SAP, such as a crosslinked polyacrylate salt, with a treatment solution comprising hydrogen peroxide dissolved in water, followed by drying. The resulting superabsorbent material has strong antimicrobial activity. Optionally, the treatment solution may also contain a metal salt, including those of zinc, zirconium, and magnesium.
US09873749B2

The present invention provides a rubber composition for an undertread, the rubber composition achieving excellent low heat build-up and high elastic modulus when formed into a tire; and a pneumatic tire that includes the rubber composition. The rubber composition for an undertread contains a diene rubber and a carbon black. The diene rubber contains a natural rubber and a modified polymer that is obtained by reacting a nitrone compound with a double bond of a conjugated diene polymer. The content of the natural rubber in the diene rubber is 60 mass % or greater, the content of the modified polymer in the diene rubber is from 8 to 40 mass %, the content of the carbon black is from 30 to 67 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber, and the nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of the carbon black is from 20 to 60 m2/g.
US09873744B1

T cell memory can persist in the absence of antigen. However, some memory cells by default are subject to signals accompanying periodic antigen exposure. OX40 is essential to the extent and persistence of Th2 memory when antigen is re-encountered. In an animal model of allergic asthma, inhibiting OX40/OX40L signaling during the secondary response to inhaled antigen suppressed lung inflammation. Inhibiting OX40 at the time of memory cell reactivation reduced the longevity of memory with further inflammation prevented upon tertiary encounter with antigen.
US09873732B2

A polyclonal antibody composition prepared from eggs of immunized hens is used to treat C. difficile infections. Respective groups of hens are immunized with Toxin A or Toxin B of Clostridium difficile or a Clostridium difficile spore preparation. The polyclonal antibodies are recovered from eggs pooled from the immunized hens and the resulting powder is administered in a therapeutically effective amount to individuals infected with or suspected of being infected with C. difficile.
US09873728B2

The present invention relates to a p75NTR neurotrophin binding protein(NBP)-Fc fusion protein comprising a p75NTR(NBP) portion and an immunoglobulin portion. In certain embodiments, the p75NTR(NBP)-Fc fusion protein is for use in the treatment of pain and/or a symptom of pain.
US09873725B2

The present invention concerns the field of ion channels, and in particular relates to peptides which are suitable for use in the treatment of conditions where the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) density and function is altered. LTCCs are located on the membrane of all excitable cells and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane by allowing the flow of Ca2+ ions down their electrochemical gradient. This Ca2+ flux is critical for numerous processes including cardiac action potential propagation, muscle contraction, Ca2+-dependent gene expression, synaptic efficacy, and cell survival by contributing to various signaling cascades. Reduction of the inward calcium current (ICa) conducted through the LTCCs is seen in several diseases and medications to improve or restores impaired intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis are limited. The present invention reports mimetic peptides (MPs) that through a novel mechanism directly targets LTCCs and, by modulation of LTCC density and function, increases ICa. This invention supports a therapeutic role for MP to treat human diseases associated with altered cellular Ca2+ homeostasis.
US09873715B2

The present invention relates to a compound of the following formula (I) or to a salt, hydrate, or pharmaceutically acceptable solvate thereof, in which R is a monosaccharide or disaccharide residue. The hydroxyl functions of the monosaccharide or disaccharide residue are, independently, optionally substituted for a (C1-C6) alkyl or —C(O)NH—(C1-C6) alkyl group. The invention also relates to the method for preparing said compound, to a pharmaceutical composition containing same, and to the use thereof as a drug, particularly for cancer treatment.
US09873713B2

The present invention relates to a process for efficiently synthesizing highly optically active 1,3-disubstituted allenes, i.e., a one-step process for preparing highly optically active 1,3-disubstituted allenes by using a functionalized terminal alkyne, an aldehyde and a chiral α,α-diphenyl prolinol as reactants under the catalysis of a divalent copper salt. The operation of the process is simple, and the raw materials and reagents are readily available. The process has a broad-spectrum of substrates and a good compatibility for a wide variety of functional groups such as glycosidic units, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, amides, malonates, etc., and does not require the protection for the functional groups. The obtained axially chiral allene has a moderate to high yield and a good diastereoselectivity or enantioselectivity.
US09873701B2

Substituted bicyclic heteroaryls and compositions containing them, for the treatment of general inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, inflammatory eye disorders, inflammatory or unstable bladder disorders, psoriasis, skin complaints with inflammatory components, chronic inflammatory conditions, including but not restricted to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), myestenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, multiples sclerosis, Sjoegren's syndrome and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, allergic conditions including all forms of hypersensitivity, The present invention also enables methods for treating cancers that are mediated, dependent on or associated with p110δ activity, including but not restricted to leukemias, such as Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML) Myelo-dysplastic syndrome (MDS) myelo-proliferative diseases (MPD) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) Non Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) B-cell lymphoma and solid tumors, such as breast cancer.
US09873696B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: where R1-R6, a, b, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US09873694B2

The present invention relates to a compound of Formula I: or an enantiomer, diastereomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same; and a method for treating or preventing autoimmunity disease using the same.
US09873691B2

The disclosure relates to Compounds of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof wherein Ar1, Ar2, L1, L2, X, R3, R22, and m are as defined herein, compositions comprising an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (I), and methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD and IBS, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (I).
US09873690B2

A compound of Formula I is provided: or pharmaceutically acceptable enantiomers, salts or solvates thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the compounds of Formula I as TDO2 inhibitors. The invention also relates to the use of the compounds of Formula I for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, chronic viral infections such as HCV and HIV, depression, and obesity. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing compounds of Formula I.
US09873689B2

The present invention relates to methods and strategies for large-scale synthesis of compounds having the chemical structure: The R substituents are H, methyl, isopropyl, benzyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, methoxy, tert-butyloxycarbonyl, methanesulfonyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, quinolinesulfonyl, or thiophenesulfonyl groups. The method comprises condensing prothionamide with a halo nitroacetophenone to form a nitrophenyl substituted thiazole, reducing the nitro group to form an amine and derivatizing the amine to produce the compound.
US09873676B2

The isocyanate composition consists essentially of an isocyanurate derivative of 1,3-xylylenediisocyanate, the isocyanurate derivative is modified with aliphatic alcohol, and the modification amount of the aliphatic alcohol is 0.5 mass % or more and 15 mass % or less.
US09873669B2

The present invention provides a cationic lipid which can be used for nucleic acid delivery to a cytoplasm and which is possible to solve the problem of physical stability of a lipid complex. This cationic lipid is a compound represented by the general formula (3) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, L is an alkyl having 7-12 carbon atoms or an alkenyl having 7-12 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl having 1-2 carbon atoms, and n1 and n2 are independently an integer of 1-3.
US09873668B2

This invention is directed to compound of Formula I and methods of using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of a cathepsin, particularly cathepsin K or cathepsin L, will be therapeutically useful.
US09873667B2

Compounds and compositions for the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are also provided.
US09873666B2

The invention concerns a method for preparing an oxysulphide and fluorinated derivative, said method comprising the reacting, in the presence of an organic solvent, of: i) at least one compound of formula Ea-COOR (I), in which Ea represents the fluorine atom or a group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms chosen from fluoroalkyls, perfluoroalkyls and fluoroalkenyls and R represents hydrogen, a monovalent cation or an alkyl group, and ii) a sulphur oxide, said method being such that the initial molar ratio (sulphur oxide/compound of formula (I)) is less than 0.4 and the concentration of sulphur oxide dissolved in the reaction medium is kept constant for the entire duration of the reaction to a value of between 0.2% and 3% by weight by means of continually adding said sulphur oxide to the reaction medium.
US09873664B2

A surface active agent comprising an arylated methyl ester of a fatty acid, or mixture of fatty acids, derived from biodiesel or a triglyceride source is disclosed. The fatty acid mixture is condensed to methyl esters and alkylated with aromatic substituents under Friedel-Crafts conditions. The alkylated methyl esters may be alkoxylated using a catalyst derived from fatty acids, alkaline earth salts, and strong acids. The resulting nonionic surfactant may also be sulfonated to produce one class of anionic surfactants. The alkylated methyl esters may also be directly sulfonated to produce another class of anionic surfactants.
US09873661B2

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of identifying compounds useful in modifying the activity of Aldolase. The method includes providing a first model comprising Aldolase or residues of the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1 said residues being at amino acid positions selected from the group consisting of 10-13, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48, 51, 52, 60, 63, 66, 79, 84, 85, 92, 93, 103, 106-109, 112-117, 138, 142, 146, 148, 151, 153, 179, 182, 183, 185, 186, 194, 196, 197, 198, 199, 208, 226-228, 231-269, 270, 272, 277-283, 285-289, 294, 295, 297-299, 301-304, 306-310, 312, 313, 316, 317, 319, 321, 323, 326, 330, 344, 345, and 347, providing one or more candidate compounds, evaluating contact between the candidate compounds and the first model to determine which of the one or more candidate compounds have an ability to bind to and/or fit in the first model, and identifying compounds which, based on said evaluating, have the ability to bind to and/or fit in the first model as compounds potentially useful for modifying the activity of Aldolase. The present invention also discloses compounds and compositions which modify the activity of Aldolase, or a complex between Aldolase and TRAP. Methods of treating or preventing malaria, or an infection by apicomplexan organisms are also disclosed.
US09873655B2

Processes for producing carboxylic acid are included herein. The processes include contacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions sufficient to form a carbonylation product including acetic acid and one or more components selected from acetaldehyde, formic acid and combinations thereof, wherein the liquid reaction medium includes: a carbonylation catalyst selected from rhodium catalysts, iridium catalysts and palladium catalysts; and water in a water concentration in a range of 1 wt. % to 14 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid reaction medium; and contacting at least a portion of the carbonylation product or a derivative thereof with an adsorbent at adsorption conditions sufficient to selectively reduce a concentration of one or more components present in the carbonylation product, wherein the adsorbent includes a silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO).
US09873653B2

Disclosed herein are a heterogeneous catalyst for the preparation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA) from allyl alcohol, and a method for the preparation of 3-HPA from allyl alcohol using the catalyst. In the presence of the heterogeneous catalyst containing gold on a carrier, a liquid-phase reaction is conducted to produce 3-HPA from allyl alcohol at high yield.
US09873650B2

A method including acidifying a solution including dissolved inorganic carbon; vacuum stripping a first amount of a carbon dioxide gas from the acidified solution; stripping a second amount of the carbon dioxide gas from the acidified solution; and collecting the first amount and the second amount of the carbon dioxide gas. A system including; a first desorption unit including a first input connected to a dissolved inorganic carbon solution source to and a second input coupled to a vacuum source; and a second desorption unit including a first input coupled to the solution output from the first desorption unit and a second input coupled to a sweep gas source.
US09873643B2

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
US09873632B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to articles including anticondensation coatings that are exposed to an external environment, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the anticondensation coatings may be survivable in an outside environment. The coatings also may have a sufficiently low sheet resistance and hemispherical emissivity such that the glass surface is more likely to retain heat from the interior area, thereby reducing (and sometimes completely eliminating) the presence condensation thereon. The articles of certain example embodiments may be, for example, skylights, vehicle windows or windshields, IG units, VIG units, refrigerator/freezer doors, and/or the like.
US09873626B2

An aim of the invention is to provide a bioreactor and a waste water treatment method that employs this tank, whereby anaerobic and aerobic microorganism treatment can be continuously carried out, even when the volume of the bioreactor is large, and whereby installation costs can be minimized. The invention comprises an outer tank (2), a cylindrical inner tank (3) disposed inside this outer tank and having openings above and below, a circulation rate control device (4) for controlling the circulation rate of water to be treated in the bioreactor, the circulation rate control device (4) being provided at an upper part of this cylindrical inner tank, a cylindrical control plate (5) for bringing about sedimentation of sludge, the cylindrical control plate (5) being provided at the outer circumference of an upper part of the cylindrical inner tank, a treated-water quality measurement device (6) that is provided outside and inside of the cylindrical inner tank, a waste water supply opening (10) that is provided in the circulation pathway of the water to be treated circulating through the outer tank and inner tank, a treated water discharge opening (11) that is provided in an upper part of the outer tank, and a sedimentation-solidification prevention device (12) for preventing sedimentation-solidification of sludge that has sedimented.
US09873622B2

A hybrid porous structured material may include a matrix including a plurality of first pores interconnected in three dimensions, and a porous material including second pores and filling wholly or partially each of the plurality of the first pores.
US09873615B2

A method for preparing particles of alkali metal bicarbonate by crystallization from a solution of alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate in the presence of an additive in the solution, selected from the sulfates, sulfonates, the polysulfonates, the amines, the hydroxysultaines, the polycarboxylates, the polysaccharides, the polyethers and the ether-phenols, alkali metal hexametaphosphate, the phosphates, the sulfosuccinates, the amidosulfonates, the aminosulfonates, preferably selected from the polycarboxylates having a mean molecular weight lower than 8000 g/mol, and such that the additive is present in the solution at a concentration of at least 1 ppm and preferably of at most 200 ppm.
US09873611B2

Provided is a process for producing hydrogen gas in a separate stream from syngas. An assembly for producing hydrogen gas in a separate stream from syngas and a method of producing hydrogen are also provided.
US09873604B2

Apparatuses and methods are described herein that allow a tap handle to be quickly and easily reoriented or replaced after being attached to a spigot. In an embodiment, an adjustment mechanism for a beverage tap handle includes a connecting element and a housing. The connecting element includes a stem and a first mating feature, and the housing includes an aperture to receive the stem and a second mating feature configured to mate with the first mating feature. The housing and the connecting element are (i) rotatable with respect to each other about a central axis of the stem when the first mating feature and second mating feature are not mated, and (ii) prevented from rotating with respect to each other about the central axis of the stem when the first mating feature and the second mating feature are mated.
US09873602B2

A boom protection system prevents damage to an insulated boom section. The boom protection system has a static strain-detection assembly, a pressure-detection assembly, and an alarm. The static strain-detection assembly is configured to determine a load disposed from an implement at a distal end of said insulated boom section. The static strain-detection assembly includes a subject plate presenting a void therein, a traversing member spanning the void, and a strain gauge disposed adjacent to the traversing member. The pressure-detection assembly is configured to detect pressure within a hydraulic cylinder that is associated with the insulated boom section. The pressure detection assembly comprises a first pressure gauge at a distal end of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second pressure gauge at a proximal end of the hydraulic cylinder. The alarm is configured to alert a user of potential structural damage to the insulated boom section.
US09873596B2

The invention relates to an electro-hydraulic device for moving a jib for a tower crane, in which device the motor of the hydraulic unit is switched off when the position of the jib is not altered for a predetermined time period.
US09873595B2

The present invention provides for an elevator sill system, consisting of both a cab sill and a hoistway sill that are comprised of a novel sill foundation and a corresponding and novel sill foundation covering, that when implemented together, provides for an elevator sill system of superior application, performance, durability and appearance at a comparatively low cost to standard and customized elevator sills.
US09873577B2

In an image reading apparatus, in a first process, first and second motor rotate feed and conveyance rollers with circumferential speeds of first and second speeds, respectively. In the first process, the reverse roller has a first separation performance for separating a sheet from another sheet. In a second process, after a detector detects a leading edge of the sheet, the controller stops the first motor, and decelerates the second motor, and the reverse roller has a second separation performance lower than the first separation performance. In a third process, after a trailing edge of the sheet reaches a specific position, the first motor starts rotating the feed roller with the circumferential speed of the first speed. In a fourth process, after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through a reading end position, the controller accelerates the second motor.
US09873576B2

A sheet feeding apparatus capable of lifting a feed roller at low cost without increasing size thereof and an image forming apparatus including the same are proposed. A sheet fed from a rotary feed member is conveyed by a rotary conveyance member while being separated one by one by a rotary separation member being in contact with the rotary conveyance member. The rotary feed member is moved between a standby position above the sheet and an abutment position where the rotary feed member abuts with the sheet by a lifting portion. The lifting portion includes an actuation member moving a holding portion up and down and a drive member driving the actuation member. The actuation member is disposed on a second shaft, which is configured to rotate the rotary separation member.
US09873570B2

A system and method for discharging material from a chute on a farm implement into a container or bin such that the discharged material is evenly distributed in the container or bin. The system and method includes a farm implement with a bin for holding material, a conveyor for discharging material from the bin and a chute at the end of the conveyor for directing the material discharged from the conveyor. The chute may be moved into a plurality of positions based on sensor outputs to facilitate the even distribution of material in the container or bin receiving the discharged material.
US09873569B1

A container-treatment machine includes a frame, transport devices for conveying containers, and intermediate conveyors. Treatment stations, some of which are treatment modules, are arranged between the first and second transport-devices. The intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of the treatment stations. The intermediate conveyors extend transversely between the transport devices. Some of the treatment modules are held on the frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof.
US09873568B2

Apparatus and method for detecting seal failure of a sealed region within a conveyor component. A fluid line extends out of the sealed region and a sensor is connected to the fluid line. A valve is connected subsequent to the sensor, and a fluid pump that is connected subsequent to the valve. A controller is connected to the sensor, the valve, and the fluid pump. The sensor is external to the sealed region and the valve is a solenoid valve. The sealed region is within an idler pulley that has a drum shell with an end lid affixed at an axial end thereof, and a shaft. The sealed region can be contained within a motorized drum or a hollow conveyor frame structure. A method detects seal failure by forming a sealed region bounded by a surface and a seal, and altering a fluid pressure, th time rate of change of which is monitored.
US09873567B2

A method for transporting harvested crops from a field includes the step of providing a conveyor belt disposed adjacent a plurality of crops (such as alongside a row of crops or in-between rows). The conveyor belt has a spool attached thereto about which the conveyor belt can be wound. A winder is provided and has an attachment for receiving the spool. The spool is attached to the winder and, when crops being harvested are disposed on the conveyor belt, the winder is used to wind the conveyor belt around the spool, thereby transporting crops to the winder.
US09873566B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium containing instructions for operating a conveyor. One method includes receiving, by a controller, a signal from each of a plurality of substations. Each of the plurality of substations provides power to a motor drive unit driving a conveyor belt of the conveyor. The signal received by the controller indicates whether an isolation switch associated with each substation has been manually operated. The method also includes, when the signal received from one of the plurality of substations indicates that the isolation switch associated with the one of the plurality of substations has been manually operated, transmitting, by the controller, a signal to each of the plurality of substations, the signal instructing each of the plurality of substations to isolate the motor drive unit from a power source.
US09873565B2

Provided is a motor-incorporating roller capable of preventing a grease supply portion from separating. The motor-incorporating roller has a motor and a reducer in a cylindrical roller body and the reducer is provided with a gear train including a plurality of gears. The motor-incorporating roller has a grease supply portion that supplies grease to the plurality of gears in the reducer and is capable of containing grease therein. Furthermore, the motor-incorporating roller has a power output member that outputs power and a shaft portion that pivotally supports the gears. The grease supply portion is integrated with the power output member through the shaft portion to restrict movement of the shaft portion in an axial direction.
US09873555B2

A carrier tape comprises a flexible body portion having a top surface. The flexible body portion comprises a plurality of pockets. Each of the plurality of pockets comprises pocket side walls, a base bottom portion fully circulating a raised bottom portion of a pedestal. The pedestal is made up of the raised bottom portion and pedestal side walls. The pedestal sidewalls, the base bottom portion and a lower part of the pocket side walls constitute a trench fully circulating the pedestal.
US09873554B2

A lid and a removable sealing assembly are provided for use in an integrated configuration where the sealing assembly is secured to the lid. The sealing assembly may be separated from the lid in a cleaning configuration that facilitates thorough cleaning of the lid and the sealing assembly. The lid includes a trigger assembly selectively operable to engage with the sealing assembly to unseal a drinking aperture on the lid when the lid and sealing assembly are in the integrated configuration. The sealing assembly includes guide members that are configured to engage with respective guide tracks on the lid in the integrated configuration. A latching portion of the sealing assembly secures the sealing assembly to a support lip of the lid in the integrated configuration.
US09873549B2

A container for mailing a package or a small parcel to be sent or to be received, which container can be fastened to a door of a property, in particular without structural intervention, includes a base element, a lid element by which a mailing can be placed into the container or be removed from the container, and foldable side walls, by which the base element and the lid element are connected to each other. The lid element and the base element are movable against one another, at least in a vertical direction, by folding or at least partially unfolding the foldable side walls. The foldable side walls form a textile tube vertically extending between the base element and the lid element in the unfolded state, the textile tube defining an interior space with an at least substantially horizontal rectangular cross section.
US09873547B2

Systems and methods for airflow management around palletized cases of goods in a warehouse storage facility are provided, in which airflow around each individual layer of cases is facilitated while airflow “spillage” around the sides, top or bottom of pallet assemblies is minimized or eliminated. One exemplary device for such airflow management includes palletized product spacers disposed between respective layers of vertically stacked cases, in which the product spacers facilitate a substantially unidirectional longitudinal airflow. Another exemplary airflow management device is a series of automatically adjustable air dams disposed at the tops of respective pallet assemblies which prevent air spillage and establish intermediate air manifold spaces. Yet another device is a lateral pallet spacer prevents direct abutment of the side surfaces of neighboring pallet assemblies and thereby ensures that the air manifold spaces are in fluid communication with the spacers of multiple pallet assemblies.
US09873529B2

There is provided an apparatus for capturing a space object, the apparatus comprising a harpoon element for penetrating the object, the harpoon element being configured to form part of a harpoon for launching towards the object; and penetration control means for controlling the penetration of the harpoon element into the object. The penetration control means can comprise a compressible component, forming part of the harpoon, for absorbing some of the kinetic energy of the harpoon. Alternatively or additionally, it may comprise means for varying the launch speed of the harpoon.
US09873524B2

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system including: a rearward facing tang extending from a rear fuselage portion of a VTOL UAV; one or more metallic contacts disposed on an exterior surface of the tang; a UAV pod including a landing surface; and an opening disposed in the landing surface to receive the tang.
US09873518B2

An electrical architecture for an aircraft having a main electrical machine connected to a fuel burning engine and a secondary electrical machine connected to a power transmission assembly. A high-voltage electrical master box is connected by a first line and by a second line to a multifunction converter, the high-voltage electrical master box connecting the first line to the secondary electrical machine, and the second line to at least the main electrical machine and the secondary electrical machine. The multifunction converter includes a supervisor connected to an avionics system and to a control system controlling the engine, and to a controller of the high-voltage electrical master box.
US09873508B2

An aerial vehicle is includes a wing, first and second rotors, and a movement sensor. The first and second multicopter rotors are rotatably coupled to the wing, the first multicopter rotor is rotatable relative to the wing about a first lateral axis, and the second multicopter rotor is rotatable relative to the wing about a second lateral axis. Each multicopter rotor is coupled to each other multicopter rotor, wherein the multicopter rotors are restricted to collective synchronous rotation relative to the wing between a multicopter configuration and a fixed-wing configuration. The movement sensor is coupled to the multicopter rotors, wherein the movement sensor is positioned to rotate relative to the wing when the multicopter rotors rotate relative to the wing between the multicopter and fixed-wing configurations.
US09873504B2

A cowl for use in a nacelle is provided. The nacelle at least partially surrounds an engine that extends circumferentially about an axially-extending engine centerline. The cowl includes a first side portion and a second side portion. The first and second side portions each are pivotably connected to the nacelle proximate a top of the nacelle. The first and second side portions are configured so that they abut one another to form an external split line proximate the top of the nacelle.
US09873496B2

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the deployment of a plurality of autonomous underwater seismic vehicles (AUVs) on or near the seabed based on acoustic communications with an underwater vehicle, such as a remotely operated vehicle. In an embodiment, the underwater vehicle is lowered from a surface vessel along with a subsea station with a plurality of AUVs. The AUVs are configured to acoustically communicate with the underwater vehicle or a second surface vessel for deployment and retrieval operations. The underwater vehicle and/or second surface vessel is configured to instruct the AUVs to leave the subsea station or underwater vehicle and to travel to their intended seabed destination. The underwater vehicle and/or second surface vessel is also configured to selectively instruct the AUVs to leave the seabed and return to a seabed location and/or a subsea station for retrieval.
US09873493B2

An arrangement of fenders nested together for compact storage, the fenders including two or more cylindrical bodies having a cavity accessed through the fender top, the fenders being similar shape but graduated in size such that the cavity of a larger fender tensionally receives the next smaller sized fender, the outer diameter of the smaller fender equal to the inner diameter of the larger fender cavity. A fender has a rigid inner core surrounded by a compressible shell made of foam or similar material. The inner core has attachment points for a rope or line. The smallest nesting fender in the set has a cavity diameter sized to fit a commercially-available, off-the-shelf fender. The fenders may be separated and deployed at individual locations on a vessel, or kept together and deployed as a single fender capable of absorbing a greater impact than any of the fenders individually would absorb.
US09873488B2

A deep-drawn, marine hull having a sandwich structure and watercraft utilizing same are provided. The hull includes an outer skin having a waterproof outer surface, an inner skin having a compartment-defining outer surface and a shock absorbing, cellular core positioned between the skins. The skins are bonded to the core by press molding. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces. Thickness of side walls of the hull is substantially uniform to maximize stiffness of the hull. The cells absorb energy of an impact at the outer surface of the outer skin by deformably crushing. Air trapped within cells which are not completely crushed or punctured by the impact provide the hull with buoyancy to allow the hull to float at the surface of a body of water.
US09873487B1

In one embodiment of the invention, a boat is provided which includes a deck; a plurality of pontoons extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the deck, the deck being attached to the pontoons; and a hull portion attached to and extending from one of the pontoons. The hull portion extends outwardly to a distance wider than the pontoon to which it is attached, and the hull portion extends farther rearwardly than any of the pontoons.
US09873485B2

A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a vehicle frame, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The front of the vehicle includes a first front suspension and a second front suspension coupled to the ski. The rear suspension includes a bumper assembly preventing bottoming out of the rear suspension. The rear suspension is coupled to the vehicle frame such that the longitudinal spacing between the vehicle frame and rear suspension is adjustably controllable.
US09873483B2

A bicycle control device includes a housing member, a control lever member, a shift-operating mechanism and a hydraulic fluid pressure generator. The housing member has an attachment part for attachment to a handlebar, and a grip part extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the grip part. The control lever member pivots respect to the housing member. The shift-operating mechanism is coupled to a shifting device by a control cable. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has an output port that transmits hydraulic pressure generated in the cylinder to outside of the cylinder, and a hydraulic fluid channel coupled to the output port. A connecting part fluidly communicates with the output port through the hydraulic fluid channel, and is connected an external hydraulic hose.
US09873475B2

The present invention relates to a scooter having revolving footboards comprising: a head tube; a stem rotatbly held in said head tube; a fork connected to the lower end of said stem; at least one front wheel rotatably connected to said fork of said stem; a handle connected to the upper end of said stem; two rear tubes connected to said head tube; two swivel rear wheels, where each of said swivel wheels is pivotally connected to the rear of one of said rear tubes; and at least two revolving footboards which are rotatably connected on said rear tubes.
US09873474B2

In a vehicle, a first left cover at least partially covers a lower edge of a left lower projection from the left in a left-right direction of a body frame at least temporarily when the body frame is caused to lean from an upright state to the right at a maximum angle, as viewed from the left in the left-right direction of the body frame. A first right cover at least partially covers a lower edge of a right lower projection from the right in the left-right direction of the body frame at least temporarily when the body frame is caused to lean from the upright state to the left at a maximum angle, as viewed from the right in the left-right direction of the body frame.
US09873466B2

A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. Vortex generators are provided on one or more surfaces of the drag reducing device to improve the drag reduction characteristics of the device.
US09873458B2

A vehicle rear structure includes rear wheel houses that are provided on right and left sides of a vehicle and have shook absorber housings for housing shook absorbers and a rear bulkhead. The shock absorber housings have bag structures having closed spaces therein formed in upper portions thereof. The bag structures have the shock absorbers secured thereto and secured to the bulkhead.
US09873453B2

A system for detecting handwheel control comprises a driver torque estimation module that estimates a driver torque state based on a plurality of electric power steering signals; and a grip detection module that determines one of a grip level, a hands-on wheel flag, and a transition blending factor from the driver torque state, the grip level is used to control a driver assist power steering system.
US09873437B2

Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a slow reaction time, attention lapse and/or alertness of a driver. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The response system can modify the control of two or more systems simultaneously in response to driver behavior.
US09873430B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle speed control system operable to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being further operable automatically to control cross-axle locking means of an axle of the vehicle to cause an increase in resistance to relative rotation of wheels of the axle. Thus, the speed control system may be operable automatically to command the cross-axle locking means to increase the resistance to relative rotation of wheels of the axle without a driver being required to intervene to command assumption of this condition.
US09873420B2

A method of controlling a vehicle includes calculating a desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request based on a requested deceleration input from a driver. If current dynamic operating conditions of the vehicle are in a performance region that permits an increase to the regeneration torque request, the desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request is increased based on a regeneration torque overhead, to define a modified axle regeneration torque request. Modified torque values are output based on the modified axle regeneration torque request. If the torque control values will cause an estimated yaw rate that is less than a target yaw rate, then the modified torque values are applied. Otherwise, the modified torque values are re-defined until the estimated yaw rate is not greater than the target yaw rate, and the re-defined values of the modified torque values are applied.
US09873407B2

Water is removed from the windshield of a ground vehicle via a wiper sweeping across the windshield, thus transporting the water thereon to a particular side. At least one remote sensor registers set of parameters in respect of other ground vehicles. A controller unit determines a point in time when a substantial amount of water is expected to hit the windshield of the own vehicle as the result of another vehicle moving proximate thereto and controls the operation of the wiper such that, before said point in time, the wiper is placed at a predetermined position. At said point in time, a stroke of the at least one wiper is initiated from the predetermined position over said surface. In one embodiment, this means moving the at least one wiper in a continuous sweep such that it passes the predetermined position at said point in time.
US09873406B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper apparatus reduced in the number of parts. A wiper apparatus 40A has: a drive mechanism 13 for driving a wiper 12 for wiping a front windshield of a vehicle; a gear case 17 in which the drive mechanism 13 is housed, and which is fixed to a vehicle body, wherein the wiper apparatus 40A has: a fixing part 35 provided in the gear case 17 and fixed to the vehicle body; and a fixing part 36 provided in the gear case 17 and fixed to the vehicle body at a position different from a fixed position of the fixing part 35 in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
US09873405B2

Described are seat belt connection assemblies having a seat belt twist link integrally formed as a single piece construction having a mounting portion and a linking portion connected by a twist portion. A plane of the mounting portion is positioned at approximately a right angle to a plane of the linking portion. The linking portion has a planar section and a curled section, and a slot that extends through at least some of the planar section and the curled section. The curled section of the linking portion has a pronged end that extends along sides of the slot.
US09873403B2

An airbag inflator (10) has an inflator housing (20) with an internal chamber (11); a pyrotechnic gas generant (8) stored in the internal chamber inside the housing (20) for generating inflation gases upon ignition; a strainer (50) with openings through which the inflation gases pass prior to inflating the airbag; a primary nozzle wall (40) positioned between the strainer and the gas generator; a plenum chamber (12) between the primary nozzle wall (40) and the strainer (50). The primary nozzle wall (40) has a plurality of nozzles (40a, 40b) with nozzle openings (42, 44) oriented radially about the wall which directs gas flow tangentially spiraling laterally onto the strainer while preventing the inflation gas from flowing radially. The tangentially flowing gases impinge an internal face of the strainer laterally causing gas generant particles to recirculate and burn internally and residual debris of a size greater than the openings of the strainer (50) to be swept and settle in the plenum chamber (12) of the housing.
US09873401B2

Fabrics for inflatable airbags including one or more aperture sections are disclosed. The aperture sections can be formed in woven fabric panels of the inflatable airbags. Methods of weaving fabric panels including aperture sections for inflatable airbags are also disclosed. The aperture sections may define vents, or the aperture sections may receive a portion of an inflator, a lead wire, and/or a mounting hardware component.
US09873399B2

An airbag in an uninflated-and-spread form includes a rear-lower inflation portion and a front-upper inflation portion. The airbag is stored in a first vehicle seat. The vehicle seat adjacent to the first vehicle seat is a second vehicle seat. The front-upper inflation portion includes at least three bend portions, which are arranged in a flowing direction of inflation gas. A form between the uninflated-and-spread form and the storage form is a transitional form. In the transitional form, the bend portions are each bent relative to the adjacent bend portion and rolled toward the second vehicle seat relative to the rear-lower inflation portion such that the closer a bend portion is to the downstream end, the more inward the bend portion is located. In the transitional form, the upper end of the most upstream bend portion is connected to the upper end of the rear-lower inflation portion.
US09873395B2

A vehicle includes a smart key which periodically transmits identification information to an external device, a communication unit which receives information on a driver corresponding to the identification information generated by the smart key from the external device, and a control unit which displays information preset by the driver based on the information on the driver received from the communication unit or automatically controls devices in the vehicle pre-stored by the driver.
US09873387B2

A closure release for a closure of a vehicle has a camera attached thereto. The closure release is moveable between a primary position and a secondary position. In the primary position, the camera is in a stowed position within the closure and the closure release is in accessible for user operation. In the secondary position, the closure release is moved relative to the closure such that the camera is moved into a deployed position to provide a desired field of view.
US09873385B2

A bicycle mounting adapter for installing a bicycle to a mounting includes a frame and two holding tubes. The frame has a transverse member and two lateral members. The two second segments are separated by a distance greater than a distance between the two first segments. The first segment has a fixing hole. The second segment has a notch. The holding tube has an embedded segment, a propping segment, and a shoulder located between the embedded segment and the propping segment. The embedded segments are inserted into the respective fixing holes and thus fix the holding tubes to the lateral members. The two holding tubes have major axes thereof aligned with each other. The propping segments each have a terminal surface defined as a pressing surface. The pressing surfaces of the holding tubes work with a quick-release assembly to hold a fork of the bicycle.
US09873384B2

A bicycle carrier apparatus for a vehicle may include a slide carrier configured to slide in a front-rear direction of a rear bumper beam to be drawn in and out of the rear bumper beam, extension supports laterally extended on the slide carrier to load a bicycle, a retainer rotatably provided on the slide carrier, with a stop block having a plurality of angled surfaces and provided on an end of the retainer, and a locking device fixed to the slide carrier and to which the end of the retainer is rotatably coupled, the locking device configured to be selectively stopped by the stop block so that the locking device restricts a rotation of the retainer.
US09873368B2

Two or three parallel Fullerene Tube lattice structures, each similar to the carbon nanotube are connected by sharing parallel nodes along the length of the tubes, interlocking the tubes in such a way that bending or displacing one tube perpendicular to its axis induces a torsion in that tube and the adjacent one or two tubes. This arrangement provides a three dimensional Fullerene truss with a maximum cross-sectional area available for enclosed transport tubes relative to the total cross-sectional area with a minimal profile while maximizing the strength, stiffness, load bearing and ability to withstand multidirectional and dynamic stresses within this profile. The two or three Fullerene tubes may be further enclosed and interlinked within a single similar tube composed of a similar lattice where each cell may be one, two or more times the size of the primary tube lattice cells supporting thermal management of the inter-tube environment.
US09873349B2

A first warming-up control unit calculates warming-up time charging power from a power storage SOC and power storage temperature and causes a generator motor to perform power generation operation thereby charging a power storage unit on the basis of the calculated warming-up time charging power. A second warming-up control unit applies, during the power generation operation, a hydraulic load to a hydraulic pump by a hydraulic load unit and performs horsepower control of the hydraulic pump using a value obtained by subtracting the warming-up time charging power from preset warming-up time pump horsepower.
US09873346B2

A power-supplying coil and a wheel stopper are installed in a stop area, and distance data showing a distance in front-back direction between a power-receiving coil and a wheel of an electric vehicle is received by a receiver. Based on the distance data, as a controller controls a drive device, the wheel stopper or the power-supplying coil is moved and a distance in an approach direction between the power-supplying coil and the wheel stopper shown by distance data is made equal to the distance in the front-back direction. Accordingly, in a state in which the wheel of the electric vehicle which has entered the stop area touches the wheel stopper and stops, a position of the power-receiving coil coincides with a position of the power-supplying coil in the approach direction.
US09873343B2

A power storage system having a power storage device configured to be charged and discharged, a boost circuit and a controller, and a method of controlling the temperature of the power storage device are provided. The boost circuit includes a reactor and switching devices, and boosts the output voltage of the power storage device when the switching devices are driven. The controller alternately performs a charging operation to supply electric power from an external power supply to the power storage device, and a temperature elevating operation to warm up the power storage device, using ripple current generated when the switching devices are driven.
US09873342B2

A combined power supply and charging method includes controlling switching from a motor power supply mode to an energy storage charging mode on an electrical network and vice versa, and compensating for magnetic fields during the energy storage charging mode in order to limit or eliminate movements of a rotor of the motor.
US09873332B2

A method for controlling a high-voltage system circuit of an electric vehicle comprises: judging whether the circuit is in a closed-circuit state after receiving an instruction of opening the circuit; judging whether the positive contactor is in an on-state and whether an instruction of turning on the positive contactor is valid if the circuit is in a closed-circuit state; sending an instruction of turning off the positive contactor if the positive contactor is in an on-state and the instruction of turning on the positive contactor is valid; sending an instruction of turning off the negative contactor; judging whether the pre-charging contactor is in an on-state and whether an instruction of turning on the pre-charging contactor is valid; sending an instruction of turning off the pre-charging contactor if the pre-charging contactor is in an on-state and the instruction of turning on the pre-charging contactor is valid.
US09873330B2

A power feeding structure includes a resin plate body for window configured by stacking a resin panel and a resin film including an object to have power fed such that the object to have power fed is interposed between the resin panel and the resin film, and an electrical conductive portion that contacts the object to have power fed and is provided inside the resin plate body for window, the power feeding structure feeding power to the object to have power fed via the electrical conductive portion that is provided at a resin sheet that is provided inside the plate body such that the electrical conductive portion is interposed between the resin sheet and the object to have power fed, the resin panel and the resin sheet being adhered, and resin components contained in the object to have power fed and the electrical conductive portion, respectively, being adhered.
US09873328B2

A system for displaying a dashboard display in a vehicle includes a vehicle data bus interface for communicating with vehicle subsystems of a vehicle management system, a dashboard display module, and a dashboard store for storing a dashboard display definition. In one example, the dashboard display module obtains from the vehicle bus information regarding which of the plurality of vehicle subsystems are enabled, and transmits the information regarding which of the plurality of vehicle subsystems are enabled to a device external to the vehicle management system.
US09873325B1

A hydrostatic transaxle with a bypass mechanism is disclosed, the transaxle having a center section attached to a housing, an axial piston pump disposed on the center section and driven by an input shaft, and an axial piston motor disposed on the center section having a cylinder block engaged to a motor output shaft. The bypass actuation rod has a cam formed on a first end that engages a block lift member. When the bypass actuation rod is rotated, the cam causes two legs of the block lift member to engage the cylinder block on either side of the motor output shaft and cooperatively lift the cylinder block of the axial piston motor off of center section.
US09873319B2

A covering for a truck covers a bottom of the engine compartment, and includes a covering element displaceable from a covering position into at least one further position. A clear opening in relation to a vertical direction of the vehicle is exposed in the at least one further position of the covering element. An additional covering for a driver's cab of the truck can cover the rear of the engine compartment. The additional covering has at least one covering element that is displaceable from a covering position into at least one further position.
US09873317B2

A method for mounting the drive train components of a hybrid drive including providing an automatic transmission, which comprises a transmission casing and a transmission input shaft; a hybrid head, which is premounted as a separate assembly and which has a hybrid head casing, a rotor drive element and an output element; and an electric machine, which has a stator and a rotor, wherein the hybrid head casing is connected by flanges to the transmission casing and the output element is coupled in rotation to the transmission input shaft by means of a shaft-hub connection, and wherein the electric machine is subsequently installed in the hybrid head casing, wherein the stator is connected to the hybrid head casing and the rotor is connected to the rotor drive element.
US09873310B2

Air filtration systems and methods for HVAC units in transport compartments are provided. The air filtration systems and methods described herein use electrostatic forces to capture airborne particles and include a modular design so as to be configured to the space requirements of the transport compartment and reduce air flow resistance. The air filtration system includes one or more modular filtration units. Each of the modular filtration units includes a pre-filter section, an ionizing section and a collecting section.
US09873305B2

Improved thermal energy storage materials, devices and systems employing the same and related methods. The thermal energy storage material may be employed in a heater module capable of generating and storing heat. The thermal energy storage materials may include a phase change material that includes a metal-containing compound. The thermal energy storage materials may be encapsulated. Preferably the heater module includes an electric heater and/or a fan.
US09873300B1

A hitch apparatus for laterally shifting a hitch point of a trailer when towed behind a towing vehicle to effectively adjust an alignment of a longitudinal axis of the trailer with respect to a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle. The hitch apparatus may comprise a pivot frame including a forward portion configured for attachment to a towing vehicle, a rearward portion configured for attachment to the trailer, and a central portion pivotally connecting the forward and rearward portions together. At least one actuator may be connected to at least two portions of the pivot frame to pivot the portions with respect to each other. Actuation of the actuator may move the forward portion of the pivot frame between shifted left condition and a shifted right condition with respect to the rearward portion and a trailer when the rearward portion is mounted on a trailer.
US09873297B2

Described herein is a wheel rim clip or clamp that is used to assist the user in mounting or remounting a bicycle tire on a wheel, thereby allowing the user to use both hands in mounting the tire around the wheel (tubeless or a tube/inner tube assembly). Furthermore, the rim clip allows a user to mount or remove a tire from a wheel rim with or without a work stand.
US09873295B2

A vehicle axle assembly is provided having a hub which is mounted on a cylindrical axle body by way of a ball bearing so as to be rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, wherein the ball bearing has an inner race connected to the axle body and has an outer race connected to the hub. The vehicle axle assembly includes an axially inner shaft sealing ring and an axially outer shaft sealing ring which are sealingly arranged between the two races and which delimit a ring-shaped chamber between the two races a first pressure medium line which extends through the inner race or one of the two shaft sealing rings and which opens into the ring-shaped chamber; and a second pressure medium line which extends from the ring-shaped chamber through the outer race and which is configured to be connected to a wheel fastened on the hub.
US09873294B2

A runflat device can include a double sided beadlock. The runflat device can be fitted to any size and type of wheel, regardless of a shape and depth of a wheel well. The runflat device can be fitted using standard tools, and may be tightened by manipulation of a valve assembly.
US09873281B2

A single layer image projection system that is made up of an arrangement of optionally reflective arcuate elements having an upper arcuate surface, a lower surface, and an arcuate area bounded by the upper arcuate and lower surfaces, and an optionally reflective pattern of image relief microstructures disposed on or within at least some of the upper arcuate surfaces of the arcuate elements, is provided. The arrangement of optionally reflective arcuate elements and the optionally reflective pattern of image relief microstructures are in a single layer and interact to project one or more images. For an upper arcuate surface with convex surface curvature, the image relief microstructures extend downwardly from this surface terminating within the arcuate area, and for an upper arcuate surface with concave surface curvature, the image relief microstructures extend upwardly from this surface terminating within an area defined by the curvature of the upper arcuate surface. Transmission of light through the system, reflection of light from the system or a combination thereof forms one or more images.
US09873279B2

A printable recording media containing a substrate and an ink receiving layer including an aqueous mixture of about 50 to about 99 wt % of an UV curable polyurethane dispersion and about 1 to about 50 wt % of a photo-initiator by total dry weight of said ink receiving layer. Also disclosed herein a method for making the printable recording media.
US09873278B2

A receiver layer for use in dye diffusion thermal transfer printing includes a release agent and a swellable inorganic lamellar material that is at least partially in an exfoliated or intercalated state. The receiver layer may be thermally transferable. The swellable inorganic lamellar material may be a clay, which may be at least partially in the exfoliated state.
US09873274B2

The present disclosure is drawn to electrocaloric heating and cooling devices and related methods. The electrocaloric heating and cooling devices can comprise an electronic feature of an integrated circuit, wherein the electronic feature is for heating and cooling cycles. The device can also include an electrocaloric film in thermal communication with the electronic feature which includes a blend or solid solution of two or more components selected from the group consisting of BNT, BKT, BZT, BMgT, and BNiT. Electrodes can be associated with the electrocaloric film, and an electrical source can be to add or reduce electrical field between the electrodes across the electrocaloric film to influence both heating and cooling of the electronic feature.
US09873270B2

There is provided a printer including: a conveyance unit; a liquid jetting head including at least one nozzle array in which nozzles are arrayed; a carriage; a guide; a carriage moving unit; a memory; and a controller. The controller performs printing by performing scan printing operation and a conveyance operation multiple times repeatedly and adjusts jetting timings of the liquid jetted from the nozzles at positions in a scanning direction based on pieces of inclination information corresponding to the respective positions. In second or subsequent scan printing operation of the multiple times of scan printing operation, the controller delays or advances, based on the inclination information, the jetting timing in the second or subsequent scan printing operation relative to the jetting timing in scan printing operation immediately before the second or subsequent scan printing operation more greatly, as inclination of the at least one nozzle array increases.
US09873264B2

According to the invention, there is provided a recording method which includes discharging and adhering a reaction liquid to an ink non-absorbable or ink low-absorbable recording medium in a form of a droplet, by using an ink jet method, the reaction liquid containing a reagent for aggregating or thickening of a colored ink composition, so as to have a content of 0.1 mol/kg to 0.9 mol/kg, and the reaction liquid having an adhering amount which is set to be equal to or smaller than 1.9 mg/inch2, and adhering a colored ink composition to the recording medium to which the reaction liquid has adhered. A period from when adhering of the reaction liquid is ended until adhering of the colored ink composition is started is within 30 seconds. A surface temperature of the recording medium from the adhering of the reaction liquid to the adhering of the colored ink composition is equal to or lower than 38° C.
US09873261B2

An apparatus to calibrate a printer. The apparatus comprises a controller to: control deposition of white printing material on media, the white printing material having an opacity of at least 55%; control deposition of non-white printing material on the white printing material; receive data for at least one sensed characteristic of the non-white printing material; and calibrate the printer using the received data for the at least one sensed characteristic of the non-white printing material.
US09873259B2

A liquid consumption apparatus that detects a liquid surface level of a liquid inside a liquid container (ink tank), including: a circuit substrate; a substrate holder that holds the circuit substrate; and a control unit that detects the liquid surface level. A pair of electrically-conductive members consisting of a first electrically-conductive member and a second electrically-conductive member are provided for the liquid container. The circuit substrate is provided with a pair of terminals corresponding to the pair of electrically-conductive members. The substrate holder is provided with an elastic contact for connecting the pair of electrically-conductive members and the pair of terminals with each other. The elastic contact is a contact that is elastic in a first direction, where the first direction is a longitudinal direction of the pair of electrically-conductive members.
US09873254B2

An inkjet printing device and method are provided. The inkjet printing device includes a nozzle head; and the nozzle head is provided with a main printing unit and an auxiliary printing unit which share a common liquid supplying pipeline. The main printing unit is located at a middle of the nozzle head and is configured to perform inkjet printing of pixel patterns. The auxiliary printing unit is located at an edge of the nozzle head and is configured to perform inkjet printing of protective patterns. The protective patterns are configured to produce a solvent-protective atmosphere for the pixel patterns at an edge of every printing process.
US09873247B2

A driving pulse to be applied is changed when an overlapped level of invert timing of driving pulse is large.
US09873240B2

A continuous rotary heat-sealing machine, particularly for joining heat-sealable films, papers or ribbons, which comprises a frame provided with at least one first pair of rotating shafts and at least one second pair of rotating shafts, the machine comprising at least one pair of tracks, each one mounted on a shaft of the first pair of rotating shafts and on a shaft of the second pair of rotating shafts, the tracks being arranged substantially in contact with each other, rotating in opposite directions, and being adapted to create a pressure plane.
US09873228B2

A powder material for three-dimensional modeling includes a base particle and a resin covering the base particle, wherein the resin has a first absorption peak in the range of from 1,141 cm−1 to 1,145 cm−1 and a second absorption peak in the range of from 1,089 cm−1 to 1,093 cm−1 in an infrared absorption spectrum and the intensity ratio of the first absorption peak to the second absorption peak is from 0.40 to 0.70.
US09873220B2

A melt processing plant including a melt charger for charging a processing head, in particular a pelletizing head, with melt, is provided. Upstream of the processing head a diverter valve for discharging the melt during a starting and/or retooling phase is associated with the melt charger, and a portioning device for portioning the discharged melt into melt portions is associated to the diverter valve. A cooling device for cooling the melt portions to at least partly solidified chunks of material is also provided, the cooling device including a cooling bath having an associated belt conveyor with a first collecting belt portion inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and extending through the level of the cooling bath for collecting chunks of solidified material.
US09873215B2

An apparatus includes a first mold having an injection cavity at a side thereof, for molding of a substrate, a second mold having two injection cores and two skin shaping plugs, and a third mold having a foaming section where a foaming material is injected between a substrate and a skin, and a skin shaping section where embossing is carried out on a skin, wherein, under the condition that the first mold, second mold and third mold are simultaneously closed to one another, a substrate is molded by the injection cavity and a first injection core, embossing is carried out on a skin by one skin shaping plug and the skin shaping section, and, at a same time, the foaming material is injected between a previously molded substrate and a previously embossed skin by a second injection core and foaming section.
US09873210B2

A self-propelled electric concrete saw having at least two electric motors. A first electric motor of the concrete saw is powered by an external power supply and can power both a saw blade and a drive system. A second electric motor of the concrete saw is powered by a rechargeable battery and can power the drive system. The concrete saw can be maneuvered by using the second electric motor with or without the concrete saw being connected to the external power supply.
US09873207B2

A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring.
US09873195B1

The socket organizer is a storage apparatus for a socket set. The socket organizer allows for the direct attachment of a socket to the socket organizer directly from a ratchet to which the socket may be attached. The socket is removably attached to the socket organizer such that a ratchet may be directly attached to the socket while the socket is stored on the socket organizer. The socket organizer comprises a base and a socket stand. The socket stand is removably attached to the base. The socket stand further comprises a plurality of socket pedestals. Each of the plurality of pedestals is a pedestal upon which a socket selected from a socket set is stored.
US09873185B2

A system and process for rapid and uniform curing of grinding wheels (2) to obtain grinding wheels (2) with better durability, at 180-220° C. deploying microwave energy at 800-5000 MHz in which closely fitting green wheel sample holders (1) are made of carbon bearing microwave susceptor materials such as graphite, silicon carbide with tiny holes on the surface. These sample holders (1) help in maintaining the shape and geometry of the final wheels (2) after curing and reduce energy consumption. The performance of the grinding wheels (2) cured by this process is better than those cured by presently used process employing steel plate sample holders of the present state-of-art.
US09873183B2

A problem solved is realizing a self-sharpening of a rotary grindstone in the most efficient manner and allowing sequential appearances of sharp cutting faces. To solve the problem, the invention provides a manufacturing method of a rotary grindstone 1 with one or more sheets of glass cloth 4 as a reinforcing material, wherein the glass cloth 4 is weaved by thirl plain weave/twill weave or leno weave composed of twist yarns having a diameter of 0.1 mm or less and formed in meshes with lengthwise and crosswise lengths of 2.0 mm or less, and attaching liquid resin to the glass cloth 4 to produce a prepreg 6, attaching resin-coat abrasive grains to both faces of the prepreg 6, and pressing the prepreg 6 in a press machine and further performing predetermined press working in a metal mold, performing baking.
US09873178B2

A cutting tool mechanism 11 for providing a cutting, abrading or grinding action is disclosed. The mechanism 11 has an inner circular part 17 having teeth 19 extending radially outwardly, a surrounding circular part 25 having inner teeth 27 extending radially inwardly. The circular parts 17 and 25 co-operate by engagement their teeth 19 and 27. Rotation of one circular part causes the other to move constrained by the engagement of the teeth in an orbital, oscillatory or impact motion. An input coupling 81 is provided for transmission of rotary motion, and an output coupling 37 is provided to transmit said orbital, oscillatory or impact motion to a blade 13. In further embodiments, the surrounding circular part 25 can be provided with outwardly extending teeth and surrounded by a further outer circular part with inwardly extending teeth, to cooperate with the outwardly extending teeth, to provide more complex orbital, oscillatory or impact motion.
US09873171B2

A method for holding a sintering filler material during a brazing/sintering operation for repairing a damaged area of a component wherein the component is in either a bonding face down position, bonding face vertical position or bonding face up position. The method includes providing a wire mesh and attaching the wire mesh to the component in a location corresponding to the damaged area. Further, the method includes forming a gap between the wire mesh and the component. Moreover, the sintering filler material may be inside the wire mesh or both inside and outside the wire mesh in order to secure the sintering filler material to the damaged area.
US09873169B2

A coated pane with a communication window includes a base pane, a metal-containing coating on the base pane, a grid area made of intersecting, de-coated inner gridlines in the metal-containing coating, wherein the grid area has a grid area edge, and the grid area edge has intersecting outer gridlines, wherein the outer gridlines have interruptions increasing in size from the outer edge of the grid area all the way to the end of the grid surface edge.
US09873158B2

Improvements to a table saw include a system for automatically adjusting the height of the cutting blade in relation to the height of the workpiece, a system for providing fine adjustment of the height or bevel angle of the saw blade or work surface, and a system for automatic speed control and shut-off for the saw blade.
US09873155B1

An apparatus is disclosed for holding the shaft of an object, wherein the shaft rotates in a first working direction. The apparatus includes a bore, a first ball slot in communication with the bore, a first ball disposed within the first ball slot, and a spring. The bore has a longitudinal axis, and the shaft is inserted into the bore in an insertion direction. The first ball slot is in communication with the bore and includes a ramp. The first ball slot has a first axis that is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis at an acute angle between the insertion direction and the first working direction. Upon insertion of the shaft into the bore, the shaft contacts the ball and causes it to move along the ramp within the ball slot, thereby compressing the spring by a first amount.
US09873154B2

A cutting tool (10) comprises a shank (12) for receiving a cutting insert (14) and a block (16) for delivering a flow of fluid to the cutting insert (14). Fluid is delivered to the cutting insert (14) through a fluid passageway (18) that extends through the shank (12) and the block (16). The block (16) is pivotable mounted on the shank (12). The block (16) pivots about screw (22) between a first and a second position. In the first position the block (16) is held in sealing arrangement with the shank (12) to allow the passage of a coolant through the fluid passage (18) to the cutting insert (14). In the second position the block (16) has moved to allow removal of the cutting insert (14) from the shank (12).
US09873152B2

A nanoporous gold disk (NPGD) as a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. NPGD has SERS enhancement factor similar to that of gold nanoshells, but allows, for example, at least three times more benzenethiol molecules to be attached to its surface due to large surface-to-volume ratio. The high capacity enables the rapid detection of attomole-level benzenethiol molecules with relatively high detector temperatures. Additionally, a fabrication process to make NPGD with controlled size and highly reproducible SERS activities.
US09873142B2

Cold planer exhaust systems and methods of clearing the same are disclosed. The exhaust systems and methods may include an inlet manifold located proximate a milling drum housing and above a material conveyor. The inlet manifold may further include at least one inlet passage and at least one access door configured to open and allow access to an interior of the exhaust system. The systems and methods may further include a ventilator configured to draw dust and fumes into and through the exhaust system.
US09873140B2

There is provided a foreign material removing device of a track turnout portion which can tightly attach and fix nozzles to a rail belly portion stably without machining a rail itself. A foreign material removing device of a track turnout portion which has point rails which can move to contact and move away from stock rails of the track turnout portion, and which removes a foreign material dropped between the stock rail and the point rail, includes a piping unit which includes a plurality of nozzle portions which spray compressed air to remove the foreign material, and the piping unit includes a close-contact arrangement structure in which the piping unit is arranged in close contact with a lateral surface of the stock rail opposed to the point rail.
US09873139B2

A system and method is disclosed for cleaning an anilox roll and/or ink chamber of a converter. The system includes: a water supply (10a) adapted to supply water through an automatically controllable water supply valve (11a) to wash anilox roll and/or ink chamber; a cleaning solution supply (20a) adapted to supply a cleaning solution through an automatically controllable cleaning solution supply valve (21a) to clean the anilox roll and/or ink chamber; and a programmable controller (70) programmed to operate the automatically controllable valves (11a,21a) so as to deliver a timed sequence of water and cleaning solution to the cleaning part upon the occurrence of a cleaning cycle initiation condition.
US09873134B2

The garden fountain and planter includes a lower container, a middle container and an upper container. A water pump positioned in the lower container pumps water up into the middle container. The upper container rests in the middle container. Using a combination of the water level in the middle container and the spacing of the bottom of the upper container with respect to the water level in the middle container, the user can accurately control the water flow to the upper container.
US09873121B2

A system for connecting a reagent container to a socket. The container has a cap with an outlet comprising a collar having an opening on its side, the collar surrounding a spout with a movable valve. The valve has a tube surrounded by a disk. A plug is centrally arranged within one end of the tube so the outer walls of the spout form-fit with the inner side of the tube and the inner walls of the spout form-fit with the outer side of the plug for closing the spout. The plug is connected to one end of the tube and a socket for accommodating the outlet of the container's cap. The socket comprises at least two movable levers to engage into openings of the collar and a socket gasket on one side for taking up the tube of the valve and tubing on the opposite side to drain liquids.
US09873117B2

A biological fluid collection device includes a collection module and an outer housing. The collection module includes a housing comprising a first end having a sample introduction opening, a second end having a sample dispensing opening, and a passageway extending between the sample introduction opening and the sample dispensing opening. A mixing chamber and a holding chamber are in fluid communication with the passageway such that a sample introduced into the sample introduction opening passes through the mixing chamber and subsequently into the holding chamber. The biological fluid collection device further includes a closure covering the first end, a cap covering the second end and including a vented plug, and an activation member adapted to force a sample contained in the holding chamber out of the sample dispensing opening. The collection module is positioned inside of the outer housing and the closure closes the open end of the outer housing.
US09873111B2

Process for preparing a catalyst support which process comprises a) mixing pentasil zeolite having a bulk silica to alumina molar ratio in the range of from 20 to 150 with water, a silica source and an alkali metal salt, b) extruding the mixture obtained in step (a), c) drying and calcining the extrudates obtained in step (b), d) subjecting the calcined extrudates obtained in step (c) to ion exchange to reduce the alkali metal content, and e) drying the extrudates obtained in step (d); process for preparing a catalyst by furthermore impregnating such support with platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 0.1 wt % and tin in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt %, each on the basis of total catalyst; ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst obtainable thereby and a process for dealkylation of ethylbenzene which process comprises contacting feedstock containing ethylbenzene with such catalyst.
US09873101B2

An apparatus and method for enhancing the yield and purity of hydrogen when reforming hydrocarbons is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock fuel (e.g., methane, vaporized methanol, natural gas, vaporized diesel, etc.) and steam at a reaction zone and reacting the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel and steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is selectively removed from the reaction zone while the reaction is occurring by selectively diffusing the hydrogen gas through a porous ceramic membrane. The selective removal of hydrogen changes the equilibrium of the reaction and increases the amount of hydrogen that is extracted from the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel.
US09873097B1

A system and method for automatically aerating drinking products, particularly wine, suitable home, business and/or industrial use is described herein. The system of the present invention is specifically designed for aerating wine for human consumption and includes a multipurpose stirring, storing and serving vessel having a captive magnetic stirring impeller coupled thereto and a programmable magnetic stir plate adapted for use therewith.
US09873088B2

Described are wrapped fluid treatment elements, comprising: a composite material; an interleaf; and an inner core; wherein the composite material and the interleaf form layers wrapped around the inner core. The composite material and interleaf may be wrapped in a spiral configuration around the inner core. The invention also relates to a method of separating a substance from a fluid, comprising the step of placing the fluid in contact with an inventive device or element, thereby adsorbing or absorbing the substance to the composite material contained therein.
US09873080B2

Integrated exhaust gas systems, methods, and processes are disclosed that includes pretreatment, treatment and post-treatment processes arranged in a variety of reaction environments to address varied application requirements and end product requirements is described in this disclosure. In addition, a contemplated ballast water treatment system—that can be used in combination with the integrated exhaust gas systems can treat seawater and return it to storage within the vessel or send treated water back to the sea. This system can be sized to treat the seawater as it is leaving the ship without prior treatment, while the seawater is aboard or treat the seawater that is within the ship and add any additional treatment to the water, as the seawater leaves the ship. This system is not involved with pumping the seawater into the ship or filtering the water prior to storage as ballast water.
US09873079B2

A process capturing CO2 from a CO2-containing gas stream, contacting a CO2-containing gas stream with a CO2-absorbing agent in an absorption step in a vessel with maximum temperature T1 resulting in absorption of CO2. The CO2 absorbing agent comprising a polymer dissolved in an aqueous medium, the polymer, a thermoresponsive copolymer, comprising amine monomer distributed through the copolymer, subjecting the CO2-containing absorbing agent to a desorption step in a vessel with maximum temperature T2, releasing CO2, wherein T1 is below LCST of the thermoresponsive polymer at maximum CO2 loading, and T2 is above LCST of the thermoresponsive polymer at minimum CO2 loading. CO2 absorbing agent comprises amine component dissolved in the aqueous medium. Use of the specific polymer dissolved in an aqueous medium at T1, wherein amine monomer, distributed through the copolymer with an amine component, improves net CO2 sorption and high absorption speed, allowing a relatively small absorption reactor.
US09873078B2

The invention relates to an oxygen separator (10), comprising at least one oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) for separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, wherein the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (24, 28) at a primary side being connected to an inlet conduct (20) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (34, 36) at a secondary side being connected to an outlet conduct (30, 32) for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), wherein the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is further connected to a source of purging gas for guiding purging gas through the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and wherein the primary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is connected to an exhaust conduct (70, 72) for guiding exhaust gas out of the oxygen separator (10), wherein the oxygen separator (10) further comprises a pressure adjusting device (40) for creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and wherein a gas sensor (82) is provided in the exhaust conduct (70, 72, 73) for determining the concentration of at least one component of the exhaust gas. Such an oxygen separator (10) provides an improved controlling behavior. The invention further relates to a method of generating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas.
US09873076B2

Various examples of the inventive subject matter include a method and corresponding system for fabricating a combination paint arrestance filter for use in the painting industry. Embodiments of the system include a single-stage combination filter having a number of first layer media pockets and a number of second layer media pockets arranged downstream of the first layer pockets. An opening of each of the first layer media pockets is arranged in parallel with one another to receive an incoming airflow into the single-stage combination filter. Each of the second layer media pockets is at least 99.97% efficient at removing 0.3 micron and larger particles at a face velocity on the filter of about 37 meters per minute.
US09873075B2

Various examples of the inventive subject matter include a method and corresponding system for fabricating a combination paint arrestance filter for use in the painting industry. Embodiments of the system include a single-stage combination filter having a number of first layer media pockets and a number of second layer media pockets arranged downstream of the first layer pockets. An opening of each of the first layer media pockets is arranged in parallel with one another to receive an incoming airflow into the single-stage combination filter. Each of the second layer media pockets is at least 99.97% efficient at removing 0.3 micron and larger particles at a face velocity on the filter of about 37 meters per minute.
US09873069B2

A wastewater lifting station is provided, in which at least one solids collection tank contains at least one screen for guiding wastewater therethrough and retain solids. The screen divides the solids collection tank into a region containing solids and a region free of solids, and is connected in a pivotable manner by at least one hinge to a flange of the solids collection tank. The screen in an edge region away from the hinge has a rake of comb-type webs and holes that are open on one side in the screen plane. The wastewater containing solids flows through a feed into the collection tank, is filtered through the screen, and the wastewater that is free of solids is collected in a tank downstream. When the wastewater lifting station pumps, the wastewater that is free of solids is pumped by a pump in counterflow through the screen into a pressurized line while the feed is shut off by a check valve, and the screen pivots about the hinge and is back-flushed during the process. Reliable cleaning of the screen, even of fibers, is achieved during pumping owing the rake shape and the pivoting of the screen.
US09873066B2

An ion-exchanger includes a case member provided with a cooling liquid flow-in pipe through which cooling liquid is introduced and a cooling liquid discharge pipe through which the cooling liquid is discharged, a cartridge member to be detachably accommodated in the case member, and a number of ion-exchange resin particles sealed within the cartridge member. The cartridge member is provided with an engaging portion detachably engaging with an end portion of the case member, and the case member is provided with an engagement portion to be engaged with the engaging portion provided for the cartridge member.
US09873064B1

A flying disc assembly that contains an electronics module. The electronics module is protected from impact forces by the structure of the flying disc assembly. The flying disc assembly includes an annular disc body that defines a central opening. The electronics module extends through the central opening and is joined to the annular disc body by shock absorbing elements. The shock absorbing elements enable the electronics module to move relative the annular disc body when the flying disc assembly experiences a rapid change in velocity. The range of movement is limited to prevent permanent deformation of the shock absorbing elements. However, the range of movement that is permitted significantly reduces the forces that are experienced by the electronics module.
US09873056B2

Methods, systems, devices, and media for controlling a network game in accordance with an input of a game spectator are provided. A network interface receives player input information from a game player and spectator input information from the game spectator. The network game is progressed in accordance with the player input information received by the network interface from the game player, and an aspect of the network game of the game player is controlled in accordance with the spectator input information received by the network interface. The spectator input information specifies the game player and the aspect of the network game of the game player to be controlled.
US09873052B2

A targeted in-game advertising system is provided where advertising content may be delivered to a video game network environment. Advertisements may be delivered through the tagging of advertising assets in the video game environment according to one or more characteristics including user geographical location, personal preferences, a personal profile, video game preferences or video game genre. Methodologies for tracking advertising impressions are also provided based on monitoring the video game environment to determine the quality of impression to which the user is exposed in the video game environment.
US09873049B2

Methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display (HMD) during game play of a video game. A game is executed causing interactive scenes of the game to be transmitted for rendering on a display portion of the HMD. Coordinates of the HMD are determined in a three-dimensional space of a real-world environment in which the user wearing the HMD is present, to identify a current position of the user. A movement of the HMD is determined during execution of the game by identifying a change in one or more coordinates of the HMD in the three-dimensional space. When it is determined that the user is approaching a boundary of an interaction space in a real-world environment, a warning signal is conveyed to the HMD to indicate proximity of the user to the boundary of the interaction space.
US09873041B2

A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.
US09873039B2

Methods and systems for triggering integrated game actions include monitoring a user's state during operation a video game with one or more user state sensors. It is determined whether the user's level of activity is below a predetermined activity threshold based on the monitored state considered over a period of time. If the user's level of activity is below the predetermined activity threshold, a game sequence in the video game is triggered that involves physical activity on the part of the user.
US09873033B2

The present invention contemplates a binding system for a snowboards and the like. The system includes a soft-soled boot having a hardened exterior shell consisting of a toe portion and a heel portion, which are linked by at least one sidewall portion. The toe and heel portions include two toe and two heel pegs respectively. The boot includes an instep portion having instep cables for adjusting the boot to the wearer and the cables are adjusted by grommets and tightened in position by at least one resting bar. The binding has a base plate for connecting to the snowboard. The base plate further supports a pair of toe hooks adapted to engage the toe pegs and a pair of heel peg levers adapted to releasably engage the heel pegs of the boot. A grappling hook and ratchet mechanism grabs the resting bar on the boot.
US09873032B2

Skate blade (10), which has an outside edge and an inside edge (2, 3), in the middle region (1) of which the outside edge and the inside edge (2, 3) are parallel and have the same height, and the blade has an anterior region (4) in front of the middle region (1), where the height (z) of the edges (2, 3) increases in forward direction relative to the height (z=0) assumed at the middle region, and it has a posterior region (5) behind the middle region (1), where the height (z) of the edges (2, 3) increases in rearward direction relative to the height (z=0) assumed at the middle region, and the width coordinate (y) of at least one edge (2, 3), at least in the anterior or in the posterior region (4,5) increases along and arched curve with the distance from the middle region (1) relative to the vertical central plane (6) interpreted at the middle region (1), and at every location in front or behind the middle region (1), where the width of blade (10) exceeds the value assumed at the middle region (1), both edges (2, 3) have height coordinate (z) exceeding zero at identical length coordinates (x).
US09873029B1

A golf club head may include a body having a hollow interior and a removable sole plate. The body may include a hosel portion, a front strike face, a crown and a sole. The sole may include a floor and sidewalls extending from the floor to the crown, wherein the floor may have openings opening into the hollow interior. The removable sole plate mounted to the sole over the openings of the floor the sole plate may include wings and a tail. The wings are proximate the front strike face and curve along the sidewalls towards the crown. The tail extends from the wings away from the front strike face.
US09873023B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an excellent initial velocity when being hit at a head speed of 50 m/sec and an improved initial velocity when being hit at a head speed of 40 m/sec. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a core rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator and (x) a crosslinked rubber powder, and (x) the crosslinked rubber powder is formed from a rubber composition containing (a1) a base rubber, (b1) a co-crosslinking agent, (c1) a crosslinking initiator and (r) a resin component.
US09873016B2

A machine for concurrently performing pressing motions with the hands and feet, the machine having a base having front and back ends, two or more user supports, at least one lower body user support with an engagement means for the user's feet and at least one upper body user support with an engagement means for the user's hands. The upper body user support and lower body user support move forwards and backwards along the frame and at least one of the upper body user supports and at least one of the lower body user supports cooperate with one another to move in opposing forwards and backwards movement patterns during operation of the machine.
US09873014B1

Disclosed is an arm and leg compound exercise machine using a pair of crank units and a lifting device to adjust leg motion track and exercise tension and allow users to timely adjust the exercise strength for leg exercise. When a foot pedal installed onto the arm and leg compound exercise machine is operated, the motion track produced by the foot pedal is an elliptic motion path, and the elliptic motion track is flat and gentle at the top and arc shaped at the bottom, so that the motion track produced by the users' stepping motion is ergonomic for preventing sports injuries.
US09873006B2

A device for suppressing and/or extinguishing a fire associated with a container may include a housing defining a hollow sleeve and a column configured to be received within the hollow sleeve. The column may define a first chamber, a second chamber, at least one aperture, and a piercing end configured to pierce a barrier. The first chamber may be configured to receive an expansion agent, and the second chamber may be configured to receive a fire extinguishing agent. The device may be configured such that upon activation of the expansion agent, the column extends from the housing so as to enable the piercing end to penetrate the container and to enable the fire extinguishing agent to be delivered into an interior of the container via the at least one aperture.
US09872999B2

A cardiac pacing system comprising one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured to perform cardiac pacing functions in combination with a co-implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises at least two leadless electrodes configured for delivering cardiac pacing pulses, sensing evoked and/or natural cardiac electrical signals, and bidirectionally communicating with the co-implanted ICD.
US09872995B2

Compliance voltage generation circuitry for a medical device is disclosed. The circuitry in one embodiment comprises a boost converter and a charge pump, either of which is capable of generating an appropriate compliance voltage from the voltage of the battery in the device. A boost signal from compliance voltage monitor-and-adjust logic circuitry is processed with a telemetry enable signal to selectively enable either the charge pump or the boost converter: if the telemetry enable signal is not active, the boost converter is used to generate the compliance voltage; if the telemetry enable signal is active, the charge pump is used. Because the charge pump circuitry does not produce a magnetic field, the charge pump will not interfere with magnetically-coupled telemetry between the implant and an external controller. By contrast, the boost converter is allowed to operate during periods of no telemetry, when magnetic interference is not a concern.
US09872990B2

A method of applying a neural stimulus with an implanted electrode array involves applying a sequence of stimuli configured to yield a therapeutic effect while suppressing psychophysical side effects. The stimuli sequence is configured such that a first stimulus recruits a portion of the fibre population, and a second stimulus is delivered within the refractory period following the first stimulus and the second stimulus being configured to recruit a further portion of the fibre population. Using an electrode array and suitable relative timing of the stimuli, ascending or descending volleys of evoked responses can be selectively synchronised or desynchronised to give directional control over responses evoked.
US09872980B2

The present disclosure provides neurostimulation systems and methods. A neurostimulation system includes at least one anode, at least one cathode, the at least one anode and the at least one cathode configured to apply electrical stimulation to a patient, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one anode and the at least one cathode, the controller configured to determine when one of the at least one anode and the at least one cathode fails, measure, in response to the determination, a quantity indicative of a charge density of the applied electrical stimulation, compare the measured quantity to a predetermined limit, and perform at least one action when the measured quantity exceeds the predetermined limit.
US09872972B2

Methods and devices are provided that allow a physician to consistently and reliably locate an implantable, magnetically settable valve (valve) and to determine and/or change (adjust) a setting of the valve from a current setting to a target setting without interference from the valve and/or patient's skin. In particular, various locator tools are provided that include a housing having a deck extending thereacross that is formed at least in part of a material which is moveable to accommodate a protrusion of a hydrocephalus valve beneath skin.
US09872970B2

A method of preparing a ready-to-use catheter by providing a catheter assembly that has a first compartment that includes a catheter therein. The catheter includes on at least a part of its surface an exterior coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction after treatment with a liquid swelling medium, and a second compartment containing a liquid swelling medium. The method includes sterilising the catheter assembly, adding the liquid swelling medium to the first compartment for wetting/activating the exterior coating of the catheter, and storing the ready-to-use catheter. By using the method according to the invention, the sterilisation of the catheter is effectuated in a dry-state, ensuring that the known problems with wet-sterilisation are completely eliminated and the need for preparing complicated and expensive liquid swelling mediums are no longer required.
US09872963B2

A fluid dispenser, including a cover element; a blister strip; a blister opening mechanism; a first displacement mechanism having an indexer wheel; a second displacement mechanism pivoting between a non-dispensing position and a dispensing position; a cocking member for urging the second displacement mechanism towards the dispensing position, the cocking member spring-loaded by opening the cover; a blocking mechanism for retaining the second displacement mechanism in the non-dispensing position; a trigger mechanism for releasing the blocking mechanism; a slidable carriage displaceable between a non-indexing position and an indexing position and including an actuator co-operating with the indexer wheel; a connection mechanism activated during inhalation that connects the carriage with the cover, so as to displace said carriage towards its indexing position when the cover element is brought towards its closed position, and so as to displace said carriage towards its non-indexing position when brought towards its open position.
US09872953B2

A nitric oxide delivery device includes a housing that is permeable to nitric oxide. A working electrode (which is a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material) is positioned inside of the housing. A conductive lead is electrically connected to the working electrode and extends outside of the housing. A reference electrode and/or a counter electrode is electrically isolated from the working electrode. The reference electrode and/or the counter electrode has a first portion that is inside of the housing and a second conductive portion that is outside of the housing. A source of nitrite ions is to be contained within the housing such that it is in contact with the working electrode.
US09872940B2

A drug coating layer which is a drug coating layer having a morphological form including a plurality of elongated bodies having long axes that each crystal of a water-insoluble drug independently has on a substrate surface, in which the long axes of the elongated bodies are nearly linear in shape, and the long axes of the elongated bodies form an angle in a predetermined range with respect to a substrate plane with which the long axis of the elongated body intersects. The drug coating layer can provide low toxicity and a high intravascular stenosis inhibitory effect.
US09872938B2

Disclosed are novel compositions and methods for making a polymer substrate and a ligand that includes a proximal portion with a photoactive compound bound to the polymer substrate, a terminal portion with an anti-infective/anti-microbial compound, and a reactive portion attaching the proximal portion and the terminal portion.
US09872936B2

The present invention provides polymers which can be used as tissue supplements or lubricants in vivo. The inventive polymers can be used as tissue-interpenetrating hydrogel supplements, viscosupplements, tribosupplements, viscoelastics, tissue space fillers, and/or anti-adhesive agents. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the inventive polymers and methods of using them including, for example, in the treatment of arthritic and injured synovial joints; in reconstruction or cosmetic procedures, intervertebral disc repair, treatment of vocal cord problems, treatment of urinary incontinence, and prevention of adhesion formation following abdominal or gynecological surgery or malfunction of naturally lubricious mucosal tissue.
US09872932B2

A fruit and clove pomander kit for efficiently creating a pomander using fruit and cloves. The fruit and clove pomander kit includes a carving and piercing tool having a piercing end adapted to create pierced holes within a fruit and a carving end opposite of the piercing end. The kit further includes a plurality of dried cloves, a rubber band, a writing instrument and at least one hanger hook. The hanger hook is comprised of a helical portion, an engaging portion extending upwardly from the helical portion and an end portion extending downwardly from the helical portion opposite of the engaging portion. The end user uses the kit to create a pomander with a piece of fruit.
US09872924B2

As an antitumor drug which is excellent in terms of antitumor effect and safety, there is provided an antibody-drug conjugate in which an antitumor compound represented by the following formula (I) is conjugated to an antibody via a linker having a structure represented by the following formula: -L1-L2-LP-NH—(CH2)n1-La-Lb-Lc- or -L1-L2-LP- wherein the antibody is connected to the terminal of L1, the antitumor compound is connected to the terminal of Lc or LP, and any one or two or more of linkers of L1, L2, and LP has a hydrophilic structure.
US09872917B2

Anion-paired metallocene-containing compounds are generally provided, along with methods of making the same. In one embodiment, the anion-paired metallocene-containing compound includes a cationic metallocene moiety covalently connected to an organic functional group, and an anion paired to the cationic metallocene moiety. Generally, the cationic metallocene moiety comprises two cyclopentadienyl anions bound to a metal center in the oxidation state I.
US09872915B2

The presently described technology provides methods of treating a patient having moderate to severe pain, narcotic or opioid abuse or narcotic or opioid withdrawal. The presently described methods are carried out by comprising administering to the patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising acetaminophen and benzoate-hydrocodone hydrochloride. The composition has reduced side effects when compared with unconjugated hydrocodone.
US09872893B2

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing a bacterial disease or infection, antibacterial compositions, and antibacterial surfaces, including isolated endolysin polypeptides from bacteriophage GRCS.
US09872890B2

Method for digitally determining the daily insulin regimen for a diabetic patient. The invention divides the patient's day into adjustable time intervals containing basal insulin dosage rates and Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio(s) (for determining meal insulin doses). The invention identifies the Corrective Insulin doses over a time interval as an “error” in the Prescription Insulin (Basal Insulin+Meal Insulin). Methods involve first estimating the change to one of these two components of Prescription Insulin, and then determining the change to the other by subtracting from the error. One method estimates Change in Meal Insulin distributed among intervals proportional to old Meal Insulin. Another method lumps After-Meal Corrective Insulin together with Meal Insulin. Another method splits the interval at the After-Meal Corrective Dose and determines Basal from Time-Boundary Corrective Dose. Data may be obtained from the previous day, and a small fraction of error applied, leading to asymptotic reduction of error. Data may be obtained from recent history, and a larger fraction of error applied by doctor or automatic method.
US09872888B2

The invention relates to the use of one or more nucleotides for improving the heat stability of an aqueous micellar casein composition comprising 6 to 20 g per 100 ml of micellar casein, and having a pH of about 6 to 8. The invention also relates to heat-treated liquid nutritional compositions comprising 6 to 20 g, preferably 9-20 g, of protein per 100 ml of the composition and having a pH of about 6 to 8, in which all or a major part of said protein comprises micellar casein, further comprising one or more nucleotides.
US09872887B2

This disclosure provides extracellular matrix-binding synthetic peptidoglycans comprised of one or more synthetic peptides conjugated to a glycan and methods of their use.
US09872885B2

Antimicrobial and/or anti-inflammatory peptide compositions and therapeutic uses thereof are provided. The peptides and analogs or derivatives thereof may be used as an antimicrobial agent and/or as an anti-inflammatory agent. In certain embodiments, the peptides are cationic peptides. The peptides are useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as microorganism-caused infections, acne, and psoriasis. The peptides and peptide formulations may be used topically or parenterally.
US09872874B2

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating a proliferative disorder in a subject, said method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of (i) sapacitabine, or a metabolite thereof; and (ii) seliciclib; in accordance with a dosing regimen comprising at least one first treatment cycle and at least one second treatment cycle, wherein said first treatment cycle comprises: (a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of sapacitabine, or a metabolite thereof, for 3 to 5 consecutive days for 2 weeks, starting on day d, where d is the first day of treatment with sapacitabine, or the metabolite thereof, in said first treatment cycle; and (b) optionally administering a therapeutically effective amount of seliciclib for 3 to 5 consecutive days for 2 weeks, starting on day (d−1) relative to the administration of sapacitabine or the metabolite thereof, in said first treatment cycle; followed by a rest period of at least 2 weeks, or until treatment-related toxicities are resolved, whichever is longer; and wherein said second treatment cycle comprises: (a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of sapacitabine, or a metabolite thereof, for 3 to 5 consecutive days for 2 weeks, starting on day d, where d is the first day of treatment with sapacitabine, or the metabolite thereof, in said second treatment cycle; and (b) administering a therapeutically effective amount of seliciclib for 3 to 5 consecutive days for 2 weeks, starting on day (d−1) relative to the administration of sapacitabine or the metabolite thereof, in said second treatment cycle; followed by a rest period of at least 2 weeks, or until treatment-related toxicities are resolved, whichever is longer. Further aspects of the invention relate to a kit of parts, and corresponding uses.
US09872867B2

The present invention is directed towards a method of modulation of the innate immune of an organism system with the phosphorylated polyprenols of the present invention. The present invention is also directed towards a method of activation and/or modulation of the Toll-like Receptors with the phosphorylated polyprenols of the present invention. The present invention is also directed towards compound(s) comprising C35-C90 polyisoprenyls of Formula 1 and Formula 2 and their derivatives as well as methods of use of including activation and/or modulation of TLRs including TLR-2 and TLR-4 receptors and uses thereof including, e.g., use as antimicrobial, immunoregulatory, anti-cancer, for control of inflammatory conditions and as vaccine adjuvants.
US09872866B2

The present disclosure provides compositions that include a nanoparticle and a compound that increases the biological activity of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (e.g., a VDR agonist), and methods of using such compounds to increase retention or storage of vitamin A, vitamin D, and/or lipids by a cell, such as an epithelial or stellate cell. Such methods can be used to treat or prevent fibrosis.
US09872854B2

Methods of treating, managing or preventing psoriatic arthritis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of apremilast, alone or in combination with a second active agent.
US09872852B2

Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I): (I). Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds as immunomodulators, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of virological diseases or disorders and cancer.
US09872844B2

Methods useful for reducing or preventing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or hepatic steatosis are provided herein. Such methods may comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a sirtuin pathway activator and/or PDE5 inhibitor alone or in combination with an amount of a branched amino acid in free amino acid form, or a metabolite thereof. Also provided herein are compositions and kits for practicing any of the methods described herein.
US09872819B2

Solid stick antiperspirant compositions include an antiperspirant active, one or more waxes, and a plurality of liquids. The one or more waxes include a polar wax. The plurality of liquids include about 60% or greater, by weight of the plurality of liquids, of a non-volatile silicone. The solid stick antiperspirant composition is substantially or completely free of volatile silicones. Antiperspirant product containing solid stick antiperspirant compositions are also described herein.
US09872818B2

The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for transdermal delivery, treatment of skin, and improving the appearance of skin. In some cases, the composition may include nitric oxide and/or peptides. The nitric oxide and/or peptide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other vesicles containing nitric oxide, peptides, or both. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like.
US09872811B2

Methods, systems, and products estimate distances to aid a visually impaired user of a mobile device. As the user carries the mobile device, a camera in the mobile device captures images of a walking cane. The images of the walking cane are analyzed to infer a distance between a tip of the walking cane and the mobile device. The distance may then be used by navigational tools to aid the visually impaired user.
US09872805B2

The invention relates to an auxiliary mobility system for a wheelchair, comprising a frame, at least one wheel-bearing part and at least one steering element or handlebar, said bearing part being connected to the frame such that it can rotate concentrically about its axial axis under the action of the steering element. The system also comprises means for rotating the bearing part concentrically in relation to an axis substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel.
US09872803B2

A transport device includes a flexible base plate which is rolled up when not in use and is spread out flat to receive a load to be transported and is raised at least at the longitudinal sides when in use. The transport device has holes for the attachment of straps or belts at least along two longitudinal edges of the base plate. Reinforcing elements each include two plates fixed to the base plate on both sides by an eyelet and two further fastening elements associated with the holes. The eyelet borders the hole for attachment of the strap or belt. The eyelet and the two further fastening elements are disposed in a triangle.
US09872800B2

A diaper assembly including a diaper including hook fasteners positioned beneath and concealed by covers constructed from resiliently stretchable material, and a pocketed sling configured to removably attach to the diaper, the pocketed sling including loop fasteners arranged to removably attach to the hook fasteners concealed beneath the covers, thereby concealing attachment points between the diaper and the pocketed sling.
US09872794B2

A spinal orthosis includes posterior panels arranged with a flat spinal curvature to create a reverse three-point pressure system to the spine. The reverse three-point pressure system relieves pressure on the posterior side of the vertebrae beneficial for certain indications. Various arrangements allow for securing the posterior panel to the spinal orthosis. The spinal orthosis includes a belt member length adjustment system including belt members having end portions reducible in length and a belt panel adapted to secure to the end portion of the belt member reduced in length to form at least in part a belt circumference of the spinal orthosis.
US09872789B2

A joint for a rehabilitation device and a rehabilitation device are disclosed. The joint is defined for operation between an end of a first member and an end of a second member. The joint enables the second member to pivot at the joint with respect to the first member. The joint includes a positioning mechanism for defining a set position from which the second member pivots. The joint also includes a restriction mechanism for restricting the degree of pivoting of the second member, from the set position. The joint further includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the second member such that it returns to the set position when an opposing force applied to the second member is less than the bias of the biasing mechanism. When the joint is in the set position, the biasing mechanism is configured such that no bias is applied to the second member.
US09872785B2

A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self-expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to an implant site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially outside the implant in the catheter, the catheter including a first shaft element to pull the sheath proximally and a second shaft element to push the implant distally to prevent the implant moving proximally with the sheath when the sheath is pulled proximally, wherein the second shaft element comprises a pusher-guider tube having a wall thickness with a plurality of discrete slits, the slits extending through the wall thickness of the pusher-guider tube.
US09872784B2

A fixed sequence activation handle is described that forces a predetermined activation sequence. Such handles are suitable for use in the delivery of medical devices or for other application that require a fixed sequence of activations.
US09872775B2

The present disclosure is directed to a modular shoulder prosthesis measuring device having an adjustable radial offset provided by relative rotation of an adapter interdisposed between the stem and the head. Specifically, the interface configuration between the stem and the adapter, as well as between the adapter and the head are designed such that relative positioning of these components provides a continuous adjustment in the radial offset. Indicia are provided to precisely determine the magnitude and direction of the adjustment being made.
US09872774B2

A femoral component having a modular stem is discussed. While the femoral component can have any suitable characteristic, in some cases, it includes an external articular surface and an internal surface. While the stem can have any characteristic, in some cases, it includes a proximal end and a distal end. Although the femoral component and stem can attach to a femur in any suitable manner, in some cases, the stem is inserted into the femur's intramedullary canal. In some cases, the femoral component is then: slid onto a resectioned portion of the femur at an angle between 20 and 80 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the femur's distal portion, by rolling the femoral component onto the resectioned portion, or in any other suitable manner. In some cases, the distal end of the stem is then permanently fixed to the femoral component's internal surface. Other implementations are described.
US09872769B2

Apparatus is provided, including an intracardiac annuloplasty structure. A first adjustment member has an end at a first location at first portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. A second adjustment member has an end at a second location at the second portions of the annuloplasty structure that are opposite each other. The annuloplasty structure, the first-adjustment-member end, and the second-adjustment-member end are disposed within a catheter during delivery. After delivery, the first-adjustment-member end is moveable with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from a plane of the annuloplasty structure to adjust a relative disposition of the first portions, and the second-adjustment-member end is moveable independently of the first-adjustment-member end and with respect to the annuloplasty structure toward and away from the plane to adjust a relative disposition of the second portions. Other embodiments are also described.
US09872768B2

Medical devices and delivery systems for delivering medical devices to a target location within a subject. In some embodiments the medical devices can be locked in a fully deployed and locked configuration. In some embodiments the delivery systems are configured with a single actuator to control the movement of multiple components of the delivery system. In some embodiments the actuator controls the independent and dependent movement of multiple components of the delivery system.
US09872765B2

A heart valve assembly has a frame having an anchoring section defined by a plurality of rows of cells, with each cell defined by a plurality of struts that encircle each cell, and a pair of legs extending from the anchoring section. The assembly also includes a leaflet assembly that has a plurality of leaflets that are stitched to the legs. The heart valve assembly is delivered to the location of a native mitral annulus, and the anchoring section is deployed inside the left atrium such that the anchoring section is completely retained in the left atrium, and the legs and leaflets extend through the native mitral annulus.
US09872753B2

Provided is an implantable sling for supporting a body organ. The sling may be used, for example, as a urethral sling, a puborectal sling or a surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapsed repair. The sling of the invention has a first sling element, having a first sling body and two or more slender first projections extending from the first sling body. The sling may further include a second sling element having a second sling body and two or more slender second projections extending from the second sling body, and one or more detachable connections connecting the first sling element and the second sling element. In some embodiments, the connections are configured to tear when the first and second sling elements are pulled apart.
US09872749B2

The bite registration block is used for recording the relation between a patient's maxillary and mandibular arches for proper fabrication of a fixed dental prosthesis, or prostheses, such as fixed crowns or the like. The bite registration block is particularly adapted for use when a patient's prepared teeth are opposed by an edentulous arch (i.e., opposed by an area of missing teeth). The bite registration block is formed from a resilient material, such as a suitable type of plastic or the like, and is formed as a block having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a pair of laterally opposed side surfaces, and a pair of longitudinally opposed side surfaces. The upper surface defines a concave, longitudinally extending recess for positioning about an edentulous region of the patient's jaw.
US09872739B2

A treatment chamber or treatment carrier for use in a device for treating a medical or dental instrument. The device comprises a housing, which at least partially surrounds the instrument. The device also comprises at least one conductor made of an electrically conductive material layer applied to the housing for converting electrical energy into thermal energy, and at least two electrical contacts embedded in the conductor for supplying the at least one conductor with electrical energy. A treatment device having such a treatment chamber and/or such a treatment carrier is also described.
US09872738B2

Various exemplary methods, systems, and devices for control of surgical tools in a robotic surgical system are provided. In general, a robotic surgical system can be configured to control a surgical instrument in one of first and second modes of operation. In the first mode, the robotic surgical system can be configured to receive an input from a master tool indicating movement of the master tool. In response to the input, the robotic surgical system can be configured to cause the instrument to corresponding move. In the second mode, the robotic surgical system can be configured to receive an input from the master tool indicating movement of the master tool, and, in response to the input, adjust a non-positional output characteristic of the instrument. The robotic surgical system can be configured to switch control of the instrument between the first and second modes.
US09872735B2

A micro-catheter delivery system that includes radio-opaque marker bands optimized for the purpose of length reference to assist the operating physician to estimate the length of a tortuous lesion and to anticipate foreshortening of stents with multiple sizes. The radio-opaque maker bands are positioned at the distal end of a stent delivery catheter at a certain intervals acts like a ruler. In another embodiment, a stent delivery system includes a stent delivery wire with one or more radio-opaque markers distanced from the stent distal end for indicating the non-restrained length of the stent when discharged from the delivery catheter.
US09872721B2

Systems and methods for treating or manipulating biological tissues are provided. In the systems and methods, a biological tissue is placed in contact with an array of electrodes. Electrical pulses are then applied between a bias voltage bus and a reference voltage bus of a distributor having switching elements associated with each of the electrodes. The switching elements provide a first contact position for coupling electrodes to bias voltage bus, a second contact position for coupling electrodes to the reference voltage bus, and a third contact position for isolating electrodes from the high and reference voltage buses. The switching elements are operated over various time intervals to provide the first contact position for first electrodes, a second contact position for second electrodes adjacent to the first electrodes, and a third contact position for a remainder of the electrodes adjacent to the first and second electrodes.
US09872710B2

The present invention is directed an anchor assembly for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The anchor assembly preferably includes a bone anchor, a body with a rod-receiving channel, an insert member (preferably a bushing), and a locking cap with a saddle. The anchor assembly preferably enables in-situ assembly where the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body of the bone anchor assembly. Accordingly, the anchor assembly enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body may be snapped onto the bone anchor and a spinal rod may be inserted into the rod-receiving channel.
US09872708B2

A pectus excavatum correction apparatus includes two pectus bars each made of a stick plate. Each bracket of the apparatus has a plate shape with a length-direction bent part. The first side of the bent part is hooked onto an upper or lower part of a rib and a second side of the bent part faces an outer surface of the pectus bar. Each of a first and second bridge has through-holes provided in two length-direction ends of the bridge. Each coupling unit includes a supporting part provided between the rib and the pectus bar, a slide protruding from an outer surface of the supporting part, and a second coupling part coupled to the first coupling part to press and fix the pectus bar, the bracket, and the bridge. The second distance is greater or less than the first distance within a preset range.
US09872704B2

Devices, systems, and methods for delivering a substance within a mammalian luminal organ or area adjacent thereto. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system comprises an inner delivery device, comprising an inner portion configured to receive a substance therein, a pock tip at or near a distal end of the inner delivery device, the pock tip configured to deliver the substance from the inner portion, through a pock tip aperture defined within the pock tip, and into a mammalian tissue and/or luminal organ, and an embolus positioned within the inner portion, the embolus configured so that the substance remains distal to the embolus when the substance is positioned within the inner portion.
US09872696B2

A battery-powered, modular surgical device includes an electrically powered surgical instrument operable to surgically interface with human tissue and a handle assembly connected to the surgical instrument. The handle assembly has a removable hand grip and a handle body. The hand grip is shaped to permit handling of the surgical device by one hand of an operator, has an upper portion and a cordless internal battery assembly that powers the surgical instrument. The internal battery assembly has at least one energy storage cell. The handle body is operable to removably connect at least the upper portion of the hand grip thereto and create an aseptic seal around at least a portion of the hand grip when connected thereto and electrically couple the internal battery assembly of the hand grip to the surgical instrument and thereby power the surgical instrument for interfacing surgically with the human tissue.
US09872687B2

The nucleotomy device makes it possible to produce a nuclear space Es in an intervertebral disc Di using a transosseous approach previously pierced in the body of a vertebra Va. The device includes a tool holder (2) provided with first connection elements (3) ensuring the placement of an electric rotary driving motor (4), second connection elements (5) for the placement of a blade cutting tool (6), driving elements (7) imparting rotational and longitudinal translational movements to the cutting tool (6), and injection and suction elements (8) making it possible to evacuate the debris from the nucleus resulting from cutting when it is formed inside the intervertebral disc.
US09872683B2

A surgical stapler includes a jaw assembly at a distal end connected to a handle assembly that is configured to control the stapler and actuate the deployment of staples. The surgical stapler successfully eliminates intermediate caming portions commonly known as pushers that are located between the staples and a translating slider. The staples are located in pockets at an angle such that the base of the staple is parallel to an angled caming surface of the slider. The translating slider comes into direct contact with staples during deployment as the slider moves through each staple pocket where staples are partially supported by recesses along the slider pathway. The staples are deployed at an angle against the anvil surface. Because there are no pushers, a great deal of space is saved resulting in a much smaller diameter surgical stapler that is particularly suitable for laparoscopic stapling applications.
US09872677B2

A method for securing a flexible member may include forming a bore in a bone; inserting an anchor into the bore, the anchor including a passage and being coupled to a flexible member; slideably positioning a first load distributing member along the flexible member; inserting the first load distributing member into the bore such that the flexible member engages the first load distributing member; and applying tension to a portion of the flexible member to secure the anchor and load distributing member within the bone.
US09872675B2

A physical retractor apparatus and method for retracting anatomy during surgery wherein the apparatus includes a handle rod, a body portion, a retractor blade and a mechanism which allows the retractor blade to be angularly adjusted, and secured, to one of any number of angular positions. The retractor blade may be first manually positioned to a gross angular position and thereafter fine tuned in angular position. The adjustment mechanism includes a pair of arms forced together to contract about a pivot pin to set an angular position and a threaded screw device which is rotatable to adjust further the angular position.
US09872669B2

A matrix array probe including a transducer array and integrated circuitry coupled to the transducer elements dissipates heat generated by the array and integrated circuitry through the cover of the transducer probe. A pump in the probe connector pumps fluid through a closed loop system including inbound an outbound fluid conduits in the cable. The fluid conduits in the cable are separated by the cable electrical conductors for the probe. The heat transfer in the probe is done by a heat exchanger in the transducer backing block. Additional cooling may be provided by metal to metal contact with a chiller in the ultrasound system.
US09872665B2

A catheter including a sheath configured to be inserted into a lumen; a drive shaft inserted into the sheath; an image information acquiring unit fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft and acquires image information; a hub which moves the drive shaft in an axial direction of the sheath; an outer tube on a proximal end side of the sheath and includes a first connector at a proximal end thereof; a second connector which includes on a proximal end side of the outer tube a male connector able to be connected to and disconnected from the first connector; and an inner tube on a distal end side of the hub, that moves with respect to the outer tube along with the movement of the hub, and includes at a distal end thereof a latch section that is not able to pass through the second connector.
US09872662B2

A method is for determining a spatial distribution of a material property value in an examination region of an examination object. According to an embodiment, the method includes capturing measurement projection data; reconstructing image data based upon the captured measurement projection data; estimating a distribution of two basic materials using a threshold value by classifying image points; determining a distribution of the two basic materials based upon the estimated distribution and a general dependency rule; and determining a spatial distribution of the material property value, independent of the measurement energy, based upon the determined distribution and based upon a previously known theoretical relationship between the distribution of the material property value and a distribution of the two basic materials. In addition, a material property distribution determining device is described in one embodiment, and a computer tomography system is also described in another embodiment.
US09872652B2

A method and corresponding apparatus employ a time-varying spectral analysis approach for reconstructing an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal that includes motion artifacts. The motion artifacts are produced by motion of an ECG sensor relative to a sensing location. The time-varying spectral analysis based approach enables the ECG signal to be reconstructed with accuracy by suppressing the motion artifacts. Example applications for the method and corresponding apparatus include ECG-based heart rate monitoring in wearable devices for fitness tracking and health monitoring even during intense physical activities.
US09872648B2

A method and a device for collecting data for posturography comprising a magnetizable body and an acceleration sensor are located on the platform, which magnetizable body and acceleration sensor are connected to a computer by means of an A/D converter. An electromagnet is located under the platform and is attached so as to be displaceable in two axes parallel to the plane of the platform, wherein the electromagnet is connected to an A/D converter and a power supply by means of a circuit, and a time-variable display, which is connected to the A/D converter, and a digital camera which are connected to the computer. By means of the method and the device it is now possible to standardize posturographic measurements, simultaneously detect the acceleration and the position of the platform, and more variably carry out provocations.
US09872646B2

A method for producing a membrane ring or test strip ring for a diagnostic test device includes an elongate strip that is divided into segments by cuts running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip, where the cuts are made only as far as a residual width of the strip so that a material bridge remains intact between the segments adjacent to the cuts (24). The strip is closed by bringing its ends together to form a ring where the cut edges of the cuts running towards the material bridges each enclose an acute angle (α). The ring is inserted into a support structure as a membrane ring or test strip ring for the test device.
US09872619B2

A physiologic sensor pod comprises a housing, and first and second electrodes on a bottom surface of the housing and spaced apart from one another. Within the housing is a battery, a battery charging circuit, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor circuit powered by the battery and adapted to sense an ECG signal, and a reset detection circuit. The battery charging circuit is adapted to charge the battery when the first and second electrodes of the physiologic sensor pod are placed in contact with first and second electrical contacts of a charging unit. The ECG sensor circuit is adapted to obtain an ECG signal while the first and second electrodes are placed against a user's chest. The reset detection circuit is adapted to output a reset signal, which causes the physiologic sensor pod to be reset, when a voltage between the first and second electrodes is greater than a reset threshold level.
US09872612B2

An endoscope reprocessor includes: a first fluid supply section configured to supply a fluid to a forceps plug pipe sleeve of an endoscope; a second fluid supply section configured to supply a fluid to a suction pipe sleeve; and a control section, wherein the control section performs: first control of driving the first fluid supply section and the second fluid supply section at the same time; second control of driving the first fluid supply section such that a flow rate of the second fluid supply section becomes lower than a flow rate of the first fluid supply section; and third control of driving the second fluid supply section such that the flow rate of the first fluid supply section becomes lower than the flow rate of the second fluid supply section after the first control or the second control.
US09872610B2

A reflected light image and a fluorescent light image of an observed region are acquired with an imaging system. A gradation level of the reflected light image is set on the basis of a feature value of the acquired reflected light image. The focus of the imaging system is controlled in accordance with the set gradation level. The fluorescent light image is corrected using a focus-controlled reflected light image of the observed region. Accordingly, the image of an object in the observed region from which the fluorescent light is generated is sharpened.
US09872605B2

A positioning system is provided for use in remotely-controlled surgical procedures. Also provided are methods of manufacture and use of such a positioning system. The positioning system may hold an instrument, and may provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to the instrument. The positioning system may be coupled to a control unit, such that manipulation of the control unit results in movement of the positioning mechanism, thereby eliminating the need to manually hold and position the instrument. According to some aspects, the positioning system may be hydraulically actuated.
US09872591B2

A heated ice scraper assembly includes a scraper that has a handle and a wedge. The handle may be manipulated thereby facilitating the wedge to scrape ice from a window. A blade is coupled to the wedge and the blade may frictionally engage the ice thereby facilitating the ice to be removed from the window. A cover is selectively positioned on the blade. A heating unit is coupled to the scraper and the heating unit is in thermal communication with the blade. The heating unit heats the blade thereby enhancing the scraping ice with the blade.
US09872584B2

Provided are media cartridges that have adjustable bypasses using linear movement, and systems and methods that use them. Aspects include an adjustable bypass filter cartridge where a treated stream and an adjusted non-treated stream combine prior to post-filtration and the percentage or ratio of treated the and the non-treated water is adjustable at the time of installation from the outside of the filter cartridge with a known or predictable level of bypass. Media cartridges comprise: an inlet in fluid communication with a feed chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with a mixing compartment; a media compartment containing a media; a bypass port in fluid communication with the feed chamber and the mixing compartment; and a bypass regulator that is adjustable by linear movement. Such cartridges maybe adjusted to meet the needs of a wide variety of end uses.
US09872583B2

A portable nested cook-set includes a cook pot having a pot sidewall with a retention projection and defining an upwardly opening pot interior chamber, a press-pot piston having a piston sidewall and a lower end portion defining an upwardly opening piston interior chamber, and a storage container having an exterior portion and a selectively sealable interior storage chamber. The piston sidewall has a sidewall opening and a retention notch positioned to removably receive the retention projection therein. The press-pot piston sidewall is dimensioned to be selectively storable at least partially within the cook pot. The storage container having an exterior portion with a lower portion dimensioned to be selectively storable at least partially within the piston interior chamber. The storage container and the press-pot piston being releasably threaded together.
US09872572B1

A gravity-feed bin includes a generally hollow main bin having an open end, a storage reservoir and a dispensing chute. The dispensing chute has an opening disposed near a distal end. The bin also includes a gate seal and a dispensing gate movable between open and closed positions. When the dispensing gate is in the closed position the dispensing gate blocks the opening of the dispensing chute and the gate seal forms a seal between the opening and the dispensing gate. A first generally hollow extension section may be selectably coupled to the open end of the main bin. A resilient seal element may be intermediate the open end of the main bin and the first extension section. In some embodiments a gasket lid having a sealing gasket is selectably coupled to the bin.
US09872559B2

Provided is a desk for electric products. Particularly, the desk for electric products includes a power supply, a wire-reeling part, and a cover part for covering the power supply and the wire-reeling part. Thus, wires are neatly arranged on the wire-reeling part so as not to drag on the floor, thereby allowing the floor cleaning to be easily performed. Also, wires wound on the wire-reeling part are covered, thereby improving the exterior of the desk.
US09872556B2

A make-up brush system includes a mandrel having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a gripping surface for engagement with a hand of a make-up artist and the second end being shaped and dimensioned for selective engagement with a plurality of make-up brushes. A plurality of make-up brushes is provided. Each of the plurality of make-up brushes includes a first end and a second end, the first end including a functional component of the make-up brush and the second end including a coupling member shaped and dimensioned for selective engagement with the second end of the mandrel. The system also includes a case both supporting and sanitizing the various components of the present invention. The case includes a tray supporting the plurality of make-up brushes in accessible positions within the case.
US09872554B2

Wearable articles and methods for configuring wearable articles and using wearable articles are described. A top portion, a front portion, a bottom portion, and a back portion are disclosed. At least one means for releasably configuring aspects of a wearable article is disclosed. At least one means on a wearable article for attaching, carrying and/or displaying items to it is disclosed. At least one means for adjusting the size of the at least one aspect of a wearable article is disclosed.
US09872553B1

A support system for an optical instrument having a neck strap with lower ends for supporting the instrument on the torso of a user, the system including an carrying case having a top opening and supportable by a pair of elastomeric case support straps each coupleable to an intermediate portion of the neck strap to position the case to enclose the instrument, and a strap assembly coupleable to the lower portion of the case and attachable to a belt or garment of a user, wherein downward displacement of the case will expose the instrument for removal and elevation to eye level use by the user, whereby the case will be elevated and returned to its carrying position, and a case lid having a closure fastener releaseable upon downward movement of the case for permitting removal and reception of the instrument for use and storage.
US09872547B2

A telescoping handle assembly, a mobile device, and a method of assembling a telescoping handle assembly for a mobile device. The handle assembly may include a first handle section, and a second handle section telescopingly arranged relative to the first handle section. The handle assembly may further include a latch assembly fixed to one of the first handle section and the second handle section and selectively engageable with the other of the first handle section and the second handle section. The latch assembly may include a latch body positioned between the first handle section and the second handle section and a shock-absorbing mount positioned between the latch body and the one of the first handle section and the second handle section.
US09872537B2

Footwear components are made from lightweight textile structures (e.g., including circular knitted structures made from natural or synthetic fibers, such as socks or sock-type structures). The textile structures are selectively supported at various areas to provide desired local characteristics. Additional aspects relate to methods of making such components, precursors to such components, and articles of footwear containing such components.
US09872530B2

There is provided lighted headgear having a head-fitting fitting portion and a brim portion extending forwardly therefrom. A light source is received within a cavity in the brim portion so that the light source is spaced rearwardly from an outboard edge of the brim portion. A light transmissive portion is disposed forwardly of the light source for transmitting light from the light source therethrough and forwardly of the brim portion.
US09872527B2

A lower garment with a crotch opening is provided. A front cover is releasably attached to the front side of the lower garment and is sized to cover a front portion of the crotch opening. A rear cover is releasably attached to the rear side of the lower garment and is sized to cover a rear portion of the crotch opening. The front cover and the rear cover are removable from the lower garment independent of each other. Therefore, only a portion of the patient's body that needs to be exposed is exposed, while other portions are covered.
US09872525B2

An apparatus selectively attaches a physiologic sensor pod to an article of apparel or clothing, wherein the sensor pod includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface, and a groove extending around the peripheral surface. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises an elastic ring having an inner circumference slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove in the outer circumference of the sensor pod. The apparatus can also include a slit extending from an outer circumference of the elastic ring toward, but not all the way to, the inner circumference of ring, wherein a portion of fabric is insertable into the slit, at which point, a peripheral portion of the elastic ring can be sewn or otherwise attached to the fabric. In another embodiment, the adaptor includes a support ring adapted to be sewn to the elastic ring with a portion of fabric therebetween.
US09872517B2

A tip for a smoking article such as a cigar is disclosed. The tip comprises a longitudinally extending element comprising a plurality of bicomponent fibers which define at least one channel extending longitudinally of the element.
US09872508B1

Disclosed is a gas supply device provided for a container in which a breathing plant is housed. The device supplies nitrogen-enriched air into the container. The device is provided with a malfunction diagnosis section which checks whether each of components of the device works properly or not and specifies a malfunctioning portion if an oxygen concentration of the nitrogen-enriched air does not fall to or below a predetermined concentration. The malfunction diagnosis section checks whether each of an air pump, a motor, and a switching mechanism works properly or not, and determines that an adsorbent is not working properly when it is determined that all of the air pump, the motor, and the switching mechanism are working properly.
US09872505B2

A method for separating fat from lean, while minimizing the loss of micronutrients from the lean, is disclosed. The method includes combining a mixture of fat particles that are a majority of fat, and lean particles that are a majority of lean, with a saturated aqueous fluid, wherein a density of the fluid is greater than a density of the fat particles, and wherein the fluid is saturated with one or more components found in beef prior to being combined with the beef particles. The method includes collecting the fat particles separate from the lean particles by causing the fat particles to rise in the fluid, and collecting the lean particles. The saturated fluid reduces the depletion of micronutrients from the lean.
US09872497B2

A pesticidal mixture including (a) spinetoram; and (b) a compound of group A selected from novaluron, pyriproxyfen, tau-fluvalinate, and a combination thereof.
US09872481B2

A system and method for monitoring the health of an animal using multiple sensors is described. The wearable device may include one or more sensors whose resultant signal levels may be analyzed in the wearable device or uploaded to a data management server for additional analysis. One or more embodiments include variations of the sensor system to determine whether the wearable device is being worn properly by the animal so that the resultant signal levels are of optimal quality.
US09872477B1

A novel maize variety designated X80H133 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X80H133 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X80H133 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X80H133, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X80H133. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X80H133.
US09872471B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01064177. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01064177. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01064177 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01064177 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09872461B1

A novel maize variety designated X95H691 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X95H691 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X95H691 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X95H691, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X95H691. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X95H691.
US09872457B2

The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated FA4W11-6067. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar FA4W11-6067. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar FA4W11-6067 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar FA4W11-6067 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods.
US09872451B2

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated CJ6085, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line CJ6085 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line CJ6085, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line CJ6085, and plants produced according to these methods.
US09872447B2

The invention relates to an automatic watering device which is self-contained, free standing, portable and easy to install. The automatic water device has at least one reservoir, at least one float, at least one conduit, and at least one base spike and enables the automatic watering device to dispense liquid at a regulated and constant rate by the principle of capillary action or wicking.
US09872435B2

A tine for use with a harvester. The tine is preferably an injection molded polymer pickup reel tine, which uses a front-to-rear mold parting line direction. The tine preferably has a snap ring or strap portion which is configured to engage a bat tube, as well as a finger portion which is configured to engage the crop during harvesting. Preferably, the front-to-rear parting line is along both portions. The front-to-rear parting line allows for the ability to provide a deep front-to-rear cross section for rigidity at the high stress area of the tine. Two front-to-rear material saving features can be utilized to minimize material usage and allow for relative consistent wall thickness, which results in a rigid cross section that maintains deflection stability in the normal direction of deflection. The preferred form of the tine cross section includes three deep oval sections or projections, connected by two oval depressions, but other variations are entirely possible while still resulting in effectively the same benefits.
US09872433B2

The systems and methods described herein adjust harvest characteristics by selecting one or more harvest characteristics according to the location of a harvester within a field. For example, the selection includes determining the location of the harvester within the field, associating the location with a corresponding zone of a plurality of zones in the field where each of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective crop planted within the field (for instance a hybrid type), and assigning one or more harvest characteristics to a harvest operation according to at least the corresponding zone and the respective crop within the corresponding zone. Harvest operations are conducted with the assigned one or more harvest characteristics. The systems and methods described repeat selecting the one or more harvest characteristics as the harvester changes location within the field according to further examples.
US09872424B2

A monitoring system and method for modify a motor speed driving a seed conveyor on an implement so that the seed release speed is matched to the travel speed of the implement. A speed sensor measures the travel speed of the implement. A seed conveyor having a plurality of flights receives seeds from a seed meter. A monitor is in communication with the speed sensor, the motor driving the seed conveyor, a first sensor disposed to detect the passing of seeds and the flights as they travel toward the soil and a second sensor disposed to detect the passing of flights after the seed is released, wherein the monitor modifies the motor speed of the conveyor based on the speed sensor and signals generated by the first sensor and second sensor.
US09872422B2

An agricultural tillage implement for use in a field. The agricultural tillage implement including a frame section and a plurality of wing sections. The frame section has a pull hitch extending in a travel direction. Each of the plurality of wing sections are coupled to the frame section and/or a wing section. The wing sections each have an articulated portion pivotal about an axis substantially perpendicular to the travel direction. The wing sections include a first wing section and a second wing section. The articulated portion of the first wing section pivoting independent of the articulated portion of the second wing section.
US09872421B2

A sod harvester can include an inclined stacking conveyor from which slabs of sod are removed for stacking on a pallet. The direction of incline of the stacking conveyor can be opposite that of one or more inclined conveyors used to convey sod from a cutting head to the stacking conveyor. Therefore, slabs of sod can ascend along the one or more inclined conveyors and then descend along the inclined stacking conveyor from which they are removed by the stacking head. The stacking head can also be inclined to correspond with the incline of the stacking conveyor. By inclining the stacking conveyor and the stacking head, the stacking head does not need to move vertically when removing slabs of sod from the stacking conveyor.
US09877414B2

The disclosure describes methods and apparatuses that are used to provide a telecommunication equipment chassis for supporting telecommunication equipment within server racks while providing an adjustable venting arrangement for the telecommunication equipment. More particularly, the disclosure describes a telecommunication equipment chassis for supporting telecommunication equipment within a server rack, which is vertically adjustable, rather than horizontally adjustable, to modify the venting arrangement for the telecommunication equipment without changing a width of the telecommunication equipment chassis.
US09877413B2

A connector system with improved thermal management is provided. A module includes a thermal dissipation system. A receptacle is provided that has a cage with thermal channels that allow air passing through the receptacle to directly remove thermal energy from the thermal dissipation system and carry the thermal energy out of the cage.
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