US09921999B2
An electronic device includes a display unit and a processor. The processor performs an input process to receive an input of a first mathematical expression including a left side member, an equality sign or inequality sign, and a right side member expressed in this order; a first mathematical expression display process to display, on the display unit, the input first mathematical expression; a verification process to verify whether the input first mathematical expression is true or false; and a second mathematical expression display process to display, on the display unit, the right side member of the verified first mathematical expression as a left side member of a second mathematical expression to be newly verified, if the first mathematical expression is determined to be true as a result of verification by the verification process.
US09921992B2
A two-phase asynchronous transmission circuit for transmitting data over a wired interface according to a two-phase asynchronous protocol, the transmission circuit including: N data output lines, where N is an integer equal to 3 or more, wherein the transmission circuit is capable of transmitting N unique data symbols, each of the output lines being associated with a corresponding one of the N data symbols, and the transmission circuit is adapted to transmit each data symbol by applying a voltage transition to the corresponding output line independently of the voltage state of the other output lines.
US09921988B2
An embedded device has a plurality of processor cores, each with a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein each peripheral device may have an output, a housing with a plurality of assignable external pins, and a plurality of peripheral pin selection modules for each processing core, wherein each peripheral pin selection module is configured to be programmable to assign an assignable external pin to one of the plurality of peripheral devices of one of the processor cores.
US09921982B2
An embedded device has a plurality of processor cores, each with a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein each peripheral device has an output. Furthermore, a housing with a plurality of assignable external pins and a protected pin ownership logic for each assignable external pin is provided and configured to be programmable to assign an output function of an associated assignable external pin to only one of the plurality of processor cores.
US09921979B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for executing a protected function are provided. A computer-implemented method may include storing a first virtual machine function instruction as the last instruction on the first trampoline page that is executable to configure access privileges according to a trampoline view, storing a page table setup instruction on the second trampoline page, and storing a second virtual machine function instruction as a last instruction on the second trampoline page that is executable to configure access privileges according to a protected view.
US09921977B2
A method for privilege based memory pinning is provided. The method includes receiving a request to pin an amount of address space memory from a process executing on an operating system. The operating system includes a configurable mode of operation. In mandatory mode, the operating system executes the request to pin address space memory based on the role hierarchy-based privilege level of the requestor process. When the requested amount is greater than the operating system's amount of memory that can be used to pin memory, the operating system fails the request. However, when the operating can satisfy the request from processes having a lower privilege level relative to the requestor process, memory is unpinned from one or more of these processes.
US09921973B2
In one embodiment, a cache manager releases a list lock during a scan when a track has been identified as a track for cache removal processing such as demoting the track, for example. By releasing the list lock, other processors have access to the list while the identified track is processed for cache removal. In one aspect, the position of the previous entry in the list may be stored in a cursor or pointer so that the pointer value points to the prior entry in the list. Once the cache removal processing of the identified track is completed, the list lock may be reacquired and the scan may be resumed at the list entry identified by the pointer. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US09921972B2
An apparatus and method for implementing a heterogeneous memory subsystem is described. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: memory mapping logic to subdivide a system memory space into a plurality of memory chunks and to map the memory chunks across a first memory and a second memory, the first memory having a first set of memory access characteristics and the second memory having a second set of memory access characteristics different from the first set of memory access characteristics; and dynamic remapping logic to swap memory chunks between the first and second memories based, at least in part, on a detected frequency with which the memory chunks are accessed.
US09921966B2
The present application is directed to employing prefetch to reduce write overhead. A device may comprise a processor and a cache memory. The processor may determine if data to be written to the cache memory comprises multiple cache lines wherein at least one of the cache lines will be fully written. If the data comprises at least one cache line to be fully written, then the processor may perform a “prefetch” wherein the processor may write dummy data to sections of the cache memory corresponding to the data to be written in full cache lines. The processor may then write actual data to the sections containing the dummy data without the processor first having to verify ownership of the sections. Any remaining data that will not be written in full cache lines may then be written to the cache memory utilizing a standard write transaction.
US09921962B2
Maintaining cache coherency using conditional intervention among multiple master devices is disclosed. In one aspect, a conditional intervention circuit is configured to receive intervention responses from multiple snooping master devices. To select a snooping master device to provide intervention data, the conditional intervention circuit determines how many snooping master devices have a cache line granule size the same as or larger than a requesting master device. If one snooping master device has a same or larger cache line granule size, that snooping master device is selected. If more than one snooping master device has a same or larger cache line granule size, a snooping master device is selected based on an alternate criteria. The intervention responses provided by the unselected snooping master devices are canceled by the conditional intervention circuit, and intervention data from the selected snooping master device is provided to the requesting master device.
US09921961B2
A multi-level memory management circuit can remap data between near and far memory. In one embodiment, a register array stores near memory addresses and far memory addresses mapped to the near memory addresses. The number of entries in the register array is less than the number of pages in near memory. Remapping logic determines that a far memory address of the requested data is absent from the register array and selects an available near memory address from the register array. Remapping logic also initiates writing of the requested data at the far memory address to the selected near memory address. Remapping logic further writes the far memory address to an entry of the register array corresponding to the selected near memory address.
US09921956B2
A system and method is disclosed for tracking block mapping overhead in a non-volatile memory. The system may include a non-volatile memory having multiple memory blocks and a processor configured to track a block level mapping overhead for closed blocks of the multiple memory blocks. The processor may be configured to track predetermined logical address ranges within which data written to a block fall, and then store the sum of the number of different logical address ranges for each respective block as a block address entropy metric. The method may include the processor using the block address entropy metric to select source blocks for garbage collection with a lower block address entropy metric or to adjust other operational characteristics such as data routing within the non-volatile memory system based on average block address entropy for a group of blocks.
US09921953B2
A hint bit detection and correction method and system that uses two additional bits as part of every cache directory. These bits represent the lwarx and stwcx instructions (larx disp, stcx disp). When a hint bit event occurs, depending the on combination of these two bits, there can be an indication of a hint bit error. Once a hint bit error is detected a software interrupt is issued and the hint bit correction method identifies and corrects the incorrect hint bit.
US09921927B2
A primary system includes a first node and a second node that backs up the first node. A secondary system includes a third node and a fourth node that backs up the third node. The first node transmits data update information generated in response to a data update in the first node, to the second node and the third node. The fourth node determines a degree of progress in transactions indicated by data update information obtained through the second node and a degree of progress in transactions indicated by data update information obtained through the third node, identifies data update information indicating a further progressed transaction, and reflects the data update information in stored data of the fourth node.
US09921916B2
Provided is a memory device, comprising a non-volatile memory, an energy store coupled to an input power module of the non-volatile memory, and a power management module configurable to determine whether or not to supply backup power to the non-volatile memory via the energy store to initiate a shutdown process, based on differentiating a voltage glitch from an actual loss of power in a power line. Provided also is a computational device that includes the memory device. Provided also is a method in which a power management module of the memory device determines whether or not to supply backup power to the non-volatile memory via the energy store to initiate a shutdown process, based on differentiating a voltage glitch from an actual loss of power in a power line.
US09921913B2
A storage management method includes receiving a degrade signal indicating a degraded state of a virtual disk associated with a host system. Rebuild-flush operations may be performed. The operations may include writing, to the virtual disk and also to a hot spare drive (HSP) associated with the virtual disk, valid-modified data, stored in a host storage cache, associated with the virtual disk. In contrast, valid-unmodified storage cache data associated with the virtual disk, may be written to the HSP only. After the rebuild-flush completes, the virtual disk may be rebuilt. During rebuild, however, any cached-LBA may be skipped where traditional RAID rebuild operations are performed for un-cached LBAs only.
US09921901B2
An approach is provided in a service desk detects a current computer resource outage and identifies applications corresponding to the computer resource outage. The service desk uses historical service request entries to match the identified applications to users previously inquiring about the applications and, in turn, sends notifications to the users regarding the computer resource outage.
US09921900B1
An apparatus includes a data collection module configured to receive a first observation value for a first variable. The first observation value is associated with a performance parameter of a processing system and with a time period. The data collection module is further configured to receive a set of second observations values for a second variable. The set of second observation values is associated with the processing of a set of tasks by the processing system. The compute module is further configured to estimate a contribution, to the first observation value, of a second observation value of the set of second observation values associated with tasks executing during the time period. The estimating the contribution includes computing an estimated error associated with the contribution. The apparatus further includes a interface module configured to transmit an indication of the contribution and an indication of the estimated error to a user interface.
US09921898B1
Apparatus and methods of operating such apparatus include iteratively programming a group of memory cells to respective desired data states, wherein a particular memory cell is configured to store overhead data and a different memory cell is configured to store user data; determining whether a power loss to the apparatus is indicated while iteratively programming the group of memory cells; and if a power loss to the apparatus is indicated, changing the desired data state of the particular memory cell before continuing with the programming. Apparatus and methods of operating such apparatus further include reading a data state of a particular memory cell of a last written page of memory cells, and marking the page as affected by power loss during a programming operation if the particular memory cell has any data state other than a particular data state.
US09921887B2
A method, system, and computer program product includes a processor storing, in an order of invocation, a plurality of operations in an ordered list. The first entry is a primary operation and that is a synchronous operation and the subsequent entries include an asynchronous operation, and the secondary operations are required to complete before the primary operation can complete. The processor invokes, in the order of invocation, the plurality of operations. Based on invoking the primary operation and the secondary operations, the processor stores information about the operations as content in a stack. The processor determines that the primary operation can be completed by analyzing a portion of the content of the stack.
US09921886B2
A mobile terminal device receives a request for a sensing operation from an application program, specifies candidate processors that are to perform condition determination to determine whether an event output from a sensor performing the sensing operation of the received request satisfies conditions for notification, the conditions being designated by the application program, calculates an evaluation value of electricity consumed by each of the candidate processors in the condition determination, using frequency of the event of the sensing operation of the received request in frequency data, the frequency data linking an event output from a sensor to frequency of generation of the event, and selects a candidate processor having an optimal evaluation value.
US09921884B1
Mechanisms are disclosed for mount and non-mount based access to filesystems contained in virtual disks in virtual machine images. Access can be had to the filesystems even when the virtual machine images are not executing. Access to the filesystems can also be provided to local and remote client applications. Access can also be provided to snapshots of the virtual machine images at various points in time.
US09921880B2
A system and method for facilitating allocating computing resources to workloads, facilitating workload performance isolation. An example method includes determining one or more workloads to be allocated a set of computing resources in the computing environment, the one or more workloads characterized by metadata describing one or more workload properties; and using the one or more workload properties to calculate a binding between each of the one or more workloads and one or more corresponding portions of the computing resources. Plural competing workloads may be isolated by binding each workload to a disjunct set of Central Processing Units (CPUs) that share as few common hardware resources as possible given a topology the computing resources. Resource allocation adjustments need not require any reconfiguration of the system or adjustment to already provisioned workloads.
US09921877B2
Provided is a method of auto-scaling. A state change event notification related to a computing resource associated with a computer application is received. Immediate parent configuration items (CIs) associated with the computer application in a configuration management database (CMDB are identified. Status of the immediate parent configuration items (CIs) associated with the computer application is determined. Auto-scaling is performed if the status of the immediate parent configuration items (CIs) associated with the computer application is normal.
US09921872B2
In a transactional memory environment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving one or more memory locations and broadcasting, by a first processor to one or more additional processors, a cross-interrogate. The cross-interrogate includes the one or more memory locations. The computer-implemented method further includes, by the one or more additional processors, receiving the cross-interrogate, not aborting any current transaction based on the cross-interrogate, and generating an indication. The indication comprises whether the one or more memory locations is in use for the current transaction by that of the one or more additional processors. The computer-implemented method further includes sending the indication from each of the one or more additional processors to the first processor and, by the first processor, combining each indication from the one or more additional processors to yield a status code and returning the status code. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed.
US09921871B2
An event processing system includes a multi-agent based system, which includes a core engine configured to define and deploy a plurality of agents configured to perform a first set of programmable tasks defined by one or more users. The first set of tasks operates with real time data. The multi-agent based system also includes a monitoring engine configured to monitor a lifecycle of the agents, communication amongst the agents and processing time of the tasks. The multi-agent based system further includes a computing engine coupled to the core engine and configured to execute the first set of tasks. The event processing system includes a batch processing system configured to enable deployment of a second set of programmable tasks that operates with non-real time data and a studio coupled to the multi-agent based system and configured to enable users to manage the multi-agent based system and the batch processing system.
US09921870B2
A system and method for supporting a scalable thread pool in a multi-threaded processing environments such as a distributed data grid. A work distribution system utilizes a collection of association piles to hold elements communicated between a service thread and multiple worker threads. Worker threads associated with the association piles poll elements in parallel. Polled elements are not released until returned from the worker thread. First in first out ordering of operations is maintained with respect to related elements by ensuring related elements are held in the same association pile and preventing polling of related elements until any previously polled and related elements have been released. By partitioning the elements across multiple association piles while ensuring proper ordering of operations with respect to related elements the scalable thread pool enables the use of large thread pools with reduced contention compared to a conventional single producer multiple consumer queue.
US09921860B1
Approaches for launching an application within a virtual machine. In response to receiving a request to launch an application, a device instantiates, without human intervention and based on a policy, a virtual machine in which the application is to be launched. The policy determines which resources of a device, such as a mobile device or computer system, are accessible to the virtual machine. The policy may, but need not, determine whether the virtual machine has access to a type of resource which obligates the user of the device to make a monetary payment for the user of the resource.
US09921858B2
Apparatus, method, and a program for causing a computer to function as an apparatus, for realizing a runtime system for programming language. The apparatus includes a storage unit for storing a first class that is an existing class in the object-oriented programming language, a second class that is a class that includes a member accessible from outside of the first class and is a class which is specialized for specific use; and a processing unit for performing processing using the second class with a predetermined instruction in software that realizes the runtime system, and performing processing using the first class with an instruction to check an identity of the second class in a user program product that is executed by the runtime system.
US09921850B2
A method for outputting alternative instruction sequences. The method includes tracking repetitive hits to determine a set of frequently hit instruction sequences for a microprocessor. A frequently miss-predicted branch instruction is identified, wherein the predicted outcome of the branch instruction is frequently wrong. An alternative instruction sequence for the branch instruction target is stored into a buffer. On a subsequent hit to the branch instruction where the predicted outcome of the branch instruction was wrong, the alternative instruction sequence is output from the buffer.
US09921840B2
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing in a computer processor conversion of a mask register into a list of index values in response to a single vector packed convert a mask register into a list of index values instruction that includes a destination vector register operand, a source writemask register operand, and an opcode are described.
US09921839B1
A multi-core processor includes a plurality of cores to execute a plurality of threads and to monitor metrics for each of the plurality of threads during an interval, the metrics including stall cycle values, prefetches of a first type, and prefetches of a second type. The multi-core processor further includes criticality-aware thread prioritization (CATP) logic to compute a stall fraction for each of the plurality of threads during the interval using the stall cycle values, identify a thread with a highest stall fraction of the plurality of threads, determine the highest stall fraction is greater than a stall threshold, prioritize demand requests of the identified thread, compute a prefetch accuracy of the identified thread during the interval using the prefetches of the first type and the prefetches of the second type, determine the prefetch accuracy is greater than a prefetch threshold, and prioritize prefetch requests of the identified thread.
US09921832B2
A vector reduction instruction with non-unit strided access pattern is received and executed by the execution circuitry of a processor. In response to the instruction, the execution circuitry performs an associative reduction operation on data elements of a first vector register. Based on values of the mask register and a current element position being processed, the execution circuitry sequentially sets one or more data elements of the first vector register to a result, which is generated by the associative reduction operation applied to both a previous data element of the first vector register and a data clement of a third vector register. The previous data element is located more than one element position away from the current element position.
US09921831B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for measuring a performance of a program running on a processing unit of a processing system. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a logic unit of each instruction in the program that is executed by the processing unit, assigning a weight to each instruction, assigning the instructions to a plurality of groups, and analyzing the plurality of groups to measure one or more metrics. In one embodiment, each instruction includes an operating code portion, and the assigning includes assigning the instructions to the groups based on the operating code portions of the instructions. In an embodiment, each type of instruction is assigned to a respective one of the plurality of groups. These groups may be combined into a plurality of sets of the groups.
US09921829B2
Various embodiments synchronize comments in a source code file with text of a source code document. In one embodiment, a source code document is compared to a corresponding source code file. The source code document comprises a set of text corresponding to a set of source code comment text in the corresponding source code file. The source code document is configured to display the set of text in a stylized format when presented to a user. The set of text in the source code document is determined to be different than the set of source code comment text in the source code file based on the comparison. At least the set of source code comment text in the source code file is automatically changed based on the set of text from the source code document and in response to the determination.
US09921827B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for developing versions of applications based on application fingerprinting. For example, an application may be ported from one operating system platform to another, or an application may be modified to be compatible with a specific device. In one embodiment, an application fingerprint is received for an application. The application fingerprint may be generated based at least in part on a static analysis of the application and a dynamic analysis of the application. A device that is incompatible with the application based at least in part on the application fingerprint may be determined. A modification to the application to make the application compatible with the device may be determined.
US09921821B2
Updating web resources includes downloading an application to a client device, extracting web resources from the application to local files, and querying an external server for web resource updates specific to at least one operating condition of the client device.
US09921817B2
An application name modification method, said method comprising: selecting a target application and, by means of a preset application inlet, modifying the application name of the selected target application; obtaining original information regarding the selected target application, and linking together and storing the obtained original information regarding said target application and the modified new application name. Additionally disclosed are an application name modification device and a computer-readable storage medium.
US09921814B2
A method and systems generate a control flow graph including an edge of the control flow graph from a branch instruction to a target address of the branch instruction in an abstract interpretation for an assignment instruction to a branch target variable of a program. The program allocates a particular branch target variable to a branch instruction having a plurality of branch targets. The branch target address is loaded from the branch target variable upon branching, a branch address of a branch instruction having one branch target as well as the address assigned by the assignment instruction to the branch target variable being determined as certain constant values determined by compiling the program. The target address assigned by the assignment instruction is added to an object of the abstract interpretation. A current abstract interpretation is terminated if the abstract interpretation reaches an instruction already subjected to the abstract interpretation.
US09921803B2
A method comprises converting an audio frequency domain signal into one or more voltage signals. Then the characteristics of the one or more voltage signals are determined. Afterwards the characteristics of the one or more voltage signals are compared with one or more characteristics of an audio trigger command. Activation of an audio user interface is then activated on the basis of the comparison.
US09921798B2
This disclosure describes a system (100, 130) for a USB to Bluetooth audio bridging method and apparatus. The system includes a host device (102) having a first universal serial bus (USB) interface (107) and a second USB interface (110); an adaptor (108) in connection with the first USB interface (107) which is compatible to operate based on a Bluetooth-type communication protocol; a peripheral device (106) coupled to the second USB interface (110); and a mobile communication device (104) linked to the host device (102) via the adaptor (108). The mobile communication device (104) communicates an audio data signal to the adaptor (108) and an audio bridging device (116). The audio bridging device (116) maps the second USB interface (110) to the adaptor (108) and routes audio data signals alone or in combination with another audio data signals to the peripheral device (106) via the second USB interface (110).
US09921795B2
A system, mobile device and method for displaying a medical image using multiple mobile devices are disclosed. A master mobile device for displaying a medical image includes a communication unit, a device information collection unit, and an arrangement designation unit. The communication unit wirelessly communicates with surrounding mobile devices and a medical image provision system. The device information collection unit searches for surrounding slave mobile devices that are to operate as slaves via the communication unit, collects the device information of each of the retrieved slave mobile devices while communicating with the retrieved slave mobile devices, and control the communication unit to transmit device information of the master mobile device and the collected device information to the medical image provision system. The arrangement designation unit receives recommended arrangement information from the medical image provision system, and outputs the recommended arrangement information.
US09921794B2
A blind display device includes a plurality of curved display panels, a support, and a plurality of rotators. Each of the curved display panels includes a curved display area between a flat display area and a bezel area. The support guides movement of the curved display panels. The rotators couple corresponding ones of the curved display panels to the support and rotate corresponding ones of the curved display panels.
US09921790B2
A combination of physical and logical components of an apparatus to establish a persistent connection over a network with a source that is provided with or part of a job service. The components extract a job instruction embodied in a first communication that is received from the source over the persistent connection, without the apparatus having provided a request for the first communication. Based on the job instruction, the components send a request to the job service for job data when the job service is able to process job data for a corresponding job, without the apparatus polling the job service or waiting for the job service to receive the corresponding job.
US09921789B2
An image processing apparatus is configured to transmit setting related information to the portable terminal in response to performing one of receipt of identification information through a receiving unit and establishment of wireless communication with a portable terminal in a first communication method within a prescribed period of time from performing another of the receipt of the identification information through the receiving unit and the establishment of the wireless communication with the portable terminal in the first communication method. The setting related information is one of: setting information stored in a storage unit in association with identification information received through the receiving unit; and acquisition information used for acquiring the setting information stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information received through the receiving unit.
US09921788B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with a communication portion that is connected to an external device via a network and communicates with the external device and a control portion that controls communication by the communication portion and executes a restart process for restarting the image forming apparatus. When a preset restart target error has occurred, the control portion executes the restart process in a state where a network port used for communication with the external device is disabled.
US09921785B2
There is provided an electronic apparatus including a connection section that performs connection with a host apparatus and an operation section. The operation section includes at least a first mode and a second mode which is different from the first mode, the first mode of receiving the instruction of the host apparatus to be operated, and the second mode of being operated as a storage of the host apparatus. The operation section causes the second mode to be switched to the first mode in accordance with any one of whether a time when there is no access from the host apparatus exceeds threshold, whether there is a switching access from the host apparatus, and whether there is an extraction instruction from the host apparatus.
US09921784B2
An information processing apparatus is connected to one or more apparatuses via a network and includes a first acquisition unit that acquires communication information for communicating with any of the one or more apparatuses and authority information for writing the communication information to a predetermined information medium, a determination unit that determines whether the writing the communication information to the information medium is permitted based on the acquired authority information, and an updating unit that writes the communication information to the information medium when it is determined that the writing the communication information is permitted, to update the information medium with the written communication information.
US09921781B2
A plurality of storage apparatuses including a first and second storage apparatus, wherein said first storage apparatus is configured to have a first virtual volume composed of a plurality of virtual segments, at least said second storage apparatus is configured to have a pool composed of a plurality of real pages, each storage apparatus is configured to manage a virtual pool comprising one or more pools including at least said pool, said virtual pool is composed of a plurality of virtual pages, each virtual page corresponding to any real page, and said first storage apparatus is configured to receive a write command that specifies an address belonging to an unallocated virtual segment, allocate a free virtual page to said unallocated virtual segment, and write data to the real page corresponding to the allocated virtual page, even when said first storage apparatus does not have a pool composed of real pages.
US09921778B2
A microcontroller includes a microprocessor, a serial flash memory interface, and input/output (I/O) terminals for coupling the serial flash memory interface to external serial flash memory. The microprocessor is operable to generate instruction frames that trigger respective commands to read data from specified addresses in the external serial flash memory. The serial flash memory interface receives and processes the instruction frames, obtains the data contained in the specified addresses in the external serial flash memory regardless of whether the specified addresses are sequential or non-sequential, and provides the data for use by the microprocessor.
US09921762B2
Data stored in a volatile memory subsystem is backed up redundantly into first and second channels of a non-volatile memory subsystem. The data is retrieved from the volatile memory subsystem upon detection of a trigger condition indicative of real or imminent power loss or reduction and multiple copies are stored in dedicated non-volatile memory channels. The stored copies may be error checked and corrected, and re-written if necessary. The redundantly backed up data can be subsequently retrieved from the non-volatile memory subsystem, error-corrected, and an error-free copy communicated to the volatile memory subsystem.
US09921760B2
Technical solutions are described for shifting wearout of an array of storage disks in a storage system. In an aspect, a method includes staggering completion of maximum number of writes for each storage disk in the array. The method also includes copying data from a storage disk in the array to a replacement disk and redirecting a request to access the data from the storage disk to the replacement disk. The method also includes, in response to passage of a predetermined duration of time since copying the data from the storage disk to the replacement disk, copying the data from the replacement disk to the storage disk and directing the request to access the data from the storage disk back to the storage disk.
US09921759B2
A method for memory de-allocation may include identifying, by a processing device, a first memory object to be de-allocated within a scope of a function, creating a private freelist associated with the function, the private freelist comprising a reference to the first memory object, performing, within the scope of the function, a plurality of iterations to de-allocate a plurality of memory objects, wherein each iteration comprises adding, to the private freelist, a reference to a memory object of the plurality of memory objects, and causing, by a processing device, a public freelist to reference the private freelist.
US09921757B1
A plurality of programmable logic blocks are programmed in a first configuration to perform one or both of an access function and a management function with respect to a plurality of non-volatile memory modules. A high data transfer rate connection is provided to an external random access memory device, wherein said at least a subset of said programmable logic blocks are programmed in said first configuration to perform one or both of said access function and said management function at least in part using data sent via a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is coupled to at least a subset of said programmable logic blocks.
US09921755B2
System, method, and apparatus for integrated main memory (MM) and configurable coprocessor (CP) chip for processing subset of network functions. Chip supports external accesses to MM without additional latency from on-chip CP. On-chip memory scheduler resolves all bank conflicts and configurably load balances MM accesses. Instruction set and data on which the CP executes instructions are all disposed on-chip with no on-chip cache memory, thereby avoiding latency and coherency issues. Multiple independent and orthogonal threading domains used: a FIFO-based scheduling domain (SD) for the I/O; a multi-threaded processing domain for the CP. The CP is an array of independent, autonomous, unsequenced processing engines that process on-chip data tracked by SD of external CMD and reordered per FIFO CMD sequence before transmission. Paired I/O ports tied to unique global on-chip SD allow multiple external processors to slave chip and its resources independently and autonomously without scheduling between the external processors.
US09921743B2
Techniques are presented for detection of a false touch on a touchscreen. The method includes recognizing a multi-touch instruction sequence, determining whether the multi-touch instruction sequence includes at least a first touch component corresponding to a predicted false touch, and in response to determining there is a false touch, disabling multi-touch functionality for the multi-touch instruction sequence.
US09921742B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a processor; a touch panel; and a display, in which the processor receives input of touch coordinates through the touch panel, the processor determines, as a selected region, a character region from among a plurality of character regions in units of a predetermined number of characters on a screen that is currently displayed on the display and includes characters in a plurality of rows, the character region overlapping a touch track that is obtained by connecting the touch coordinates in order of inputting and continues in a plurality of rows, and the processor performs a predetermined process on the determined selected region.
US09921738B2
A method for processing information in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes displaying a content, displaying a clip area on the content when detecting a clip touch interaction, correcting the clip area by analyzing a pattern and/or information of the clip area, and storing information of corrected clip area in a clipboard.
US09921734B2
A context-sensitive viewing system is disclosed in which various data visualizations, also referred to a contextual views, of a common set of data may be viewed by a user on an electronic device. Data in the system may comprise data objects and associated properties and/or metadata, and may be stored in one or more electronic data stores. As a user of the system views and manipulates a first contextual view of a set of data objects, one or more other contextual views of the same set of data objects may be updated accordingly. Updates to the secondary contextual views may, in various embodiments, happen real-time. Further, the secondary contextual views may be visible to the user simultaneously with the primary contextual view. A user may switch from one view to another, and may manipulate data in any view, resulting in updates in the other views.
US09921718B2
A method is provided for adaptation of a menu to a use context. The menu has at least one global list of trigger elements The method includes replacement of a global list of trigger elements, when said menu is reproduced, with a shortened list having predicted trigger elements among the trigger elements of the global list. The predicted trigger elements are trigger elements that have a higher probability of being selected in the use context than a selection threshold. Thus, the shortened list is not fixed but adapts itself to the use context, allowing a different menu to be offered, notably as a function of the user and/or the terminal reproducing said menu and/or agenda, etc. Also provided are an adaptable menu generator and an application having an adaptable menu.
US09921712B2
A system for providing substantially stable control of a surgical instrument is provided. The system includes a surgical manipulator for manipulating the surgical instrument and at least one computer configured to identify a first subset and a second subset of interaction geometric primitives associated with a virtual tool; determine, based on the first subset, control forces in a first subspace; and determine based on the second subset, control forces in a second subspace having at least one additional dimension. Control forces in the additional dimension are only determined based on the second subset of primitives, which is different than the first subset of primitives. The computer is further configured to determine a torque to constrain an orientation of the surgical instrument, wherein determining the torque comprises defining a virtual tool normal and a control plane normal and using the virtual tool normal and control plane normal to calculate the torque.
US09921705B2
A resistive film type touch panel includes a transparent insulating film, a plurality of upper electrodes, and a plurality of routing wires. The plurality of upper electrodes are formed on the lower surface of the transparent insulating film and are arranged in a direction, and includes a group of the electrodes electrically connected with each other. The electrical combinations of the detection electrodes adjacent with each other in the direction of a planned simultaneous detection number are different from one another. The plurality of routing wires extend from the plural upper electrodes, and are formed in a frame area outside of the plurality of upper electrodes on the lower surface. Thus, the number of the electrodes is increased in order to improve the resolution, while also miniaturizing the touch panel.
US09921704B2
A multi-layer conductive coating is substantially transparent to visible light, contains at least one conductive layer comprising silver that is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers, and may be used as an electrode and/or conductive trace in a capacitive touch panel. The multi-layer conductive coating may contain a dielectric layer of or including zirconium oxide (e.g., ZrO2), silicon nitride, and/or tin oxide in certain embodiments, and may be used in applications such as capacitive touch panels for controlling showers, appliances, vending machines, electronics, electronic devices, and/or the like.
US09921701B2
A touchscreen panel includes first and second electrode lines that cross each other with one of the first and second electrode lines being separated from the intersection of the first and second electrode lines, and the separated electrode line being connected to a bridge pattern via lower contact holes penetrating a first insulating film. The touchscreen panel includes a second insulating film covering the first insulating film; and a conductor rod pattern that is electrically connected to the separated electrode line via an upper contact hole penetrating the second insulating film and that overlaps the bridge pattern.
US09921689B2
An information processing method including: storing sequential data relating to movements of a target object over a specified plane, sequentially estimating a plurality of first likelihoods of a position of the target object in a direction of the specified plane based on the sequential data, each of the plurality of first likelihoods associating with each hypothesis on the movements of the target object, sequentially estimating a plurality of second likelihoods of touch of the target object on the specified plain based on the sequential data, each of the plurality of second likelihoods corresponding to each of the plurality of first likelihoods, and updating the plurality of first likelihoods based on the plurality of second likelihoods.
US09921687B2
A finger device initiates actions on a computer system when placed in contact with a surface. The finger device includes instrumentation that captures images and gestures. When in contact with a surface, the finger device captures images of the surface and gestures made on the surface. The finger device also transmits the images and gesture data to the computer system. An application on the computer system matches the images received from the finger device to a representation of the surface, identifies an action associated with the surface representation and gesture, and executes the action. Instrumenting the finger instead of the surface, allows a user to configure virtually any surface to accept touch input.
US09921682B2
In a touch panel in which a sensor electrode array, frame wiring set that is located outside the sensor electrode array and connected to the sensor electrode array, and a first outer ground wiring line located outside the frame wiring set are formed on a transparent substrate of the touch panel, shielding wiring covering the frame wiring set is provided, with an insulating layer placed between the frame wiring set and the shielding wiring, and a second outer ground wiring line is provided outside the shielding wiring. The shielding wiring is connected to a ground wiring line included in the frame wiring set through a hole formed in the insulating layer and is insulated from the second outer ground wiring line.
US09921678B2
A tactile sensor for sensing touch from a human finger includes a triboelectric layer and includes a material that becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger. The first side of a first conductive layer is in contact with the second side of triboelectric layer. The first side of a dielectric layer is in contact with the first conductive layer and the second side of the dielectric layer is in contact with a second conductive layer. When the triboelectric layer becomes electrically charged after being in contact with the finger, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are subjected to an electric field, which has a first field strength at the first conductive layer and a second field strength, different from the first field strength, at the second conductive layer. A plurality of tactile sensors can be arranged as a keyboard.
US09921677B1
A method for fabricating a touch display device is provided. The method includes: forming a sensor on a substrate, and forming a sensing signal line electrically connected to the sensor. The method of forming the sensor includes: forming a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor pattern of the sensor on the substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on the semiconductor layer, forming a first conductor layer on the gate insulation layer, forming an interlayered insulation layer on the gate insulation layer, performing an annealing process, removing the interlayered insulation layer on a gate predetermined region after the annealing process is performed, removing the first conductor layer on the gate predetermined region, forming a gate in the gate predetermined region, and forming a second conductor layer including a source and a drain of the sensor respectively electrically connected to the semiconductor pattern of the sensor.
US09921673B2
The present invention provides an in-cell touch display panel. In the in-cell touch display panel of the present invention, a first planarization layer (14) is solely arranged between a pixel electrode (15) and source/drain electrodes (45) located on one side of a TFT substrate (1) and the pixel electrode (15) is connected through a second via (141) formed in the first planarization layer (14) to the source/drain electrodes (45) so that compared to the prior art, the thickness of two passivation layers is omitted between the pixel electrode (15) and the source/drain electrodes (45) and negative influence caused by overlapping of vias between the first passivation layer (16) and the first planarization layer (14) and between the second passivation layer (18) and the first planarization layer (14) can be eliminated, whereby there is no need to take into consideration the relationship of the first planarization layer with respect to the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer in making a design so that the aperture ratio of the pixel can be greatly increased. Further, since the number of vias formed is reduced, the structure is simple and the manufacturing difficulty is lowered down to thereby improve product yield.
US09921667B2
A method is provided for communication between a sensor controller and a host processor, wherein the sensor controller is coupled to a sensor configured to interact with an active stylus. The sensor controller supportive of a default descriptor of a defined set of stylus attributes transmits the default descriptor to the host processor. The sensor controller, when coupled with a first stylus capable of reporting on a first subset of the defined set of stylus attributes, transmits to the host processor a first stylus report that has fields of the first subset of stylus attributes filled with values reported from the first stylus. The sensor controller, when coupled with a second stylus capable of reporting on a second subset of the defined set of stylus attributes, transmits to the host processor a second stylus report that has fields of the second subset of stylus attributes filled with values reported from the second stylus.
US09921665B2
An input method editor (IME) provides a distributed platform architecture that enables associating multiple applications with the IME to provide extended functionalities. The presentations of the applications, such as skins, may be different from each other and that of the IME. The applications may be represented in a manifest file that is human-readable and editable. The IME collects multiple parameters relating to a user input into a host application including a query input by the user and a scenario of the host application, and selects one or more applications to provide candidates based on a score or ranking of the applications under the collected multiple parameters. Machine-learning may be used to improve the score or ranking. The candidates may include text candidates, rich candidates, and informative candidates.
US09921664B2
A keyboard device includes M driving circuits DC(1)˜DC(M), N transition circuits TC(1)˜TC(N), a control module, M column signal lines C(1)˜C(M), N row signal lines R(1)˜R(N) and M*N key units KU(1,1)˜KU(M,N). The control module performs a scanning process to sequentially scan the M column signal lines C(1)˜C(M) in M scan cycles scan(1)˜scan(M). If the key unit KU(k,x) connected with the k-th column signal line C(k) and the x-th row signal line R(x) is depressed, a scan voltage is transmitted from the k-th column signal line C(k) to the x-th row signal line R(x) through a switch sw(k,x) of the key unit KU(k,x). The transition circuit TC(x) connected with the x-th row signal line R(x) is turned on according to the scan voltage. Consequently, an output voltage Rout(x) from the transition circuit TC(x) has a first voltage level.
US09921662B2
Provided are a task switching method capable of rapidly and easily accessing a task of interest by using a button that may receive a touch-based input and a device for executing the task switching method. The device includes a button configured to receive an input; a display configured to display task switching screens; and a processor configured to set a task switching mode in response to the button receiving a first input, and control the display to display the task switching screens in response to the button receiving a second input.
US09921661B2
A proximity sensor including a housing, light emitters mounted in the housing for projecting light out of the housing along a detection plane, light detectors mounted in the housing for detecting amounts of light entering the housing along the detection plane, whereby for each emitter-detector pair (E, D), when an object is located at a target position p(E, D) in the detection plane, corresponding to the pair (E, D), then the light emitted by emitter E is scattered by the object and is expected to be maximally detected by detector D, and a processor to synchronously activate emitter-detector pairs, to read the detected amounts of light from the detectors, and to calculate a location of the object in the detection plane from the detected amounts of light, in accordance with a detection-location relationship that relates detections from emitter-detector pairs to object locations between neighboring target positions in the detection plane.
US09921652B2
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a mechanical input configured to move in a first direction in response to an input at the mechanical input. A mechanical input sensor is coupled to the mechanical input and configured to sense the input at the mechanical input based on the movement of the mechanical input in the first direction. A mechanical input actuator is coupled to the mechanical input and configured to displace the mechanical input in a second direction, different from the first direction. In some examples, the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. In some examples, the mechanical input comprises a rotary input configured to rotate in the first direction in response to the input. In some examples, the mechanical input actuator is configured to displace the mechanical input in the second direction while the mechanical input is moving in the first direction.
US09921646B2
A transmissive head-mounted display device includes an image display unit, a detection unit, a control unit, an imaging unit, and an imaging setting unit. The display unit generates image light representing an image, allows a user to visually recognize the image light, and transmits outside scenery when worn on a head of a user. The detection unit detects a shielding object that is located at a predetermined distance from an eye of the user. A control unit performs control of the image light based on the detection result of the detection unit. The imaging unit images the outside scenery. The imaging setting unit adjusts the imaging unit. The imaging setting unit shifts a display mode of the image display unit to an imaging adjustment mode based on the detection result of the detection unit.
US09921635B2
An approach is described herein that includes a method for power management of a device. In one example, the method includes sampling duration characteristics for a plurality of past idle events for a predetermined interval of time and determining whether to transition a device to a powered-down state based on the sampled duration characteristics. In another example, the method includes determining whether an average idle time for a plurality of past idle events exceeds an energy break-even point threshold. If the average idle time for the plurality of past idle events exceeds the energy break-even point threshold, a device is immediately transitioned to a powered-down state upon receipt of a next idle event. If the average idle time for the plurality of past idle events does not exceed the energy break-even point threshold, transition of the device to the powered-down state is delayed.
US09921628B2
A power converter for a computer device having a processing unit and a memory device is suggested. The power converter is connectable to the computer device by a coupling circuitry, wherein the computer device requires an actual input voltage. The power converter comprises a voltage regulator, a measuring entity, and a determining entity. The voltage regulator is configured to control an actual output voltage for the coupling circuitry based on a determined reference output voltage. The measuring entity is configured to measure an actual output current of the voltage regulator output to the coupling circuitry. The determining entity is configured to determine the determined reference output voltage such that the determined reference output voltage equals a sum of the actual input voltage of the computer device and the product of the measured actual output current and a resistance of the coupling circuitry.
US09921619B2
An apparatus includes a component bay having an operational height and an expanded height. The component bay is moveable between the operational height and the expanded height. A thermal element divides the component bay into one or more compartments, each compartment configured to receive a system component. The component bay at the operational height provides thermal contact between the received system component and the thermal element.
US09921610B2
A portable electronic device includes first body and second body pivoted to the first body. The first body includes casing, supporter, first magnetic component and torsion component. The casing includes accommodating trench and first trench. First lateral of the supporter is pivoted to the casing via the torsion component, and second lateral of the supporter includes notch. When the supporter is located in the accommodating trench and the first magnetic component extends into the notch, the supporter is positioned inside the accommodating trench by the first magnetic component, and the torsion component stores elastic potential energy. When the second body rotates close to the first body, the first magnetic component exits the notch due to magnetic repulsive force of second magnetic component of the second body, and the torsion component releases the elastic potential energy so that the second lateral of the supporter rotates out to support the second body.
US09921609B2
Systems and methods for deformation and haptic effects are disclosed. For example, one method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal indicating a contact with a device and a location of the contact on the device; determining a deformation effect based on the contact and the location of the contact, the deformation effect configured to cause a change in a shape of the device; and outputting the deformation effect to a deformation device configured to change the shape of the device.
US09921607B2
A portable user interface device receives user inputs in two modes. The user interface device includes a central portion attached to two side portions. Relative rotation between the central portion and the side portions converts the user interface device between the two modes. In the first mode, the user interface device is suspended on the front of a user's torso. In the second mode, the user interface device may be placed on a substantially flat horizontal surface.
US09921605B2
Receiving an indication of a frequency ratio of first and second clocks; generating an indication of a number of clock pulses of the second clock occurring between first and second clock pulses of the first clock; and generating an indication of a time offset between (1) a clock pulse of the second clock occurring between the second clock pulse and a third clock pulse of the first clock, and (2) the second clock pulse of the first clock. Also, receiving an input data word representing a fractional number, a first part of the input data word comprising an integer portion of the fractional number and a second part comprising a decimal portion of the fractional number; providing a first output data word that is either the first part of the input data word or an increment by one of the first part; and providing a second output data word that is an integer multiple of the second part.
US09921597B2
A HEMS 200 connects to equipment provided in a consumer through a communication network and controls the equipment. The HEMS 200 comprises a transceiver unit 210 transmitting control information for controlling the equipment to the equipment in each control cycle T and a control unit 240 controlling a transmission of the control information; the control unit 240 controls the transceiver unit 210 to retransmit the control information to the equipment when response information corresponding to the control information is not received within a timeout period t set to be shorter than the control cycle T from the transmission of the control information from the transceiver unit 210. The control unit 240 changes the timeout period t by controlling a retransmission possible frequency of the control information within the period of the control cycle T.
US09921595B2
A circuit includes a PMOS transistor having a source coupled to an input node and a drain coupled to an output node, a control circuit operating with a voltage of an internal line to control a gate voltage of the PMOS transistor, a comparator operating with the voltage of the internal line to cause a comparator output to change from a first state to a second state in response to a drop of voltage of the input node, a switch circuit configured to connect the input node to the internal line when the comparator output is in the first state, and to connect the output node to the internal line when the comparator output is in the second state, and a block circuit configured to block a path from the output node to the input node through the PMOS transistor when the comparator output is in the second state.
US09921590B2
A heating control unit for a building with a heating system, which includes heat exchangers supplied by a boiler, a loop for circulating the heating fluid including a mixing valve, radiators, a return loop, and a control circuit which receives information on the indoor and outdoor conditions in order to control the mixing valve. The control unit includes elements for predicting and optimizing the heating needs of the users of the building and for providing the control circuit with modified information on the outdoor temperature likely to adjust the parameters of the heating system to the needs of the users and minimize power consumption.
US09921588B2
A method for determining a fluid composition parameter, e.g., a fluid identifier, a mixing ratio or a parameter describing heat transfer properties, of an unknown fluid in a mass flow controller is disclosed. A control valve of the mass flow controller is set so as to establish a constant flow, preferably zero flow, through the mass flow controller. A heating element of the flow sensor is heated, and at least one temperature value is measured with temperature sensors arranged on both sides of the heater while the fluid contacts the flow sensor. First calibration data (LUT1) are retrieved. The first calibration data have, as input values, temperature values measured with the flow sensor at the previously established constant flow and have, as output values, values of the fluid composition parameter. The first calibration data are used to determine the fluid composition parameter from the measured temperature value.
US09921584B2
A route examination system includes a thermographic camera configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route. The thermographic camera is also configured to sense infrared radiation emitted or reflected from the route and to generate a sensed thermal signature representative of the infrared radiation that is sensed. The system also includes a computer readable memory device configured to store a designated thermal signature representative of infrared radiation emitted from a segment of the route that is not damaged. The system also includes an analysis processor configured to determine a condition of a first portion of the route relative to other portions of the route at least in part by comparing the sensed thermal signature and the designated thermal signature.
US09921582B2
An automated guided vehicle system may include a plurality of automated guided vehicles arranged in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other for supporting a payload. Each of the automated guided vehicles has a plurality of rollers extending from the automated guided vehicle and engaging a ground surface. Furthermore, at least one locator extends from the automated guided vehicle and engages the payload. Each of the automated guided vehicles also has an on-board controller arranged within a housing thereof, with one on-board controller acting as a master controller and the remaining of the on-board controllers acting as slave controllers. The master controller communicates with the slave controllers to maintain position and speed control of each automated guided vehicle in both a lateral and a longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the slave controllers send feedback information to the master controller.
US09921580B2
An apparatus for switching between driving modes of a vehicle with an automatic driving system, including: an input unit for receiving an input to switch from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode; a speed sensor for determining a current speed of the vehicle; a display unit on which a first indicator indicating a current speed of the vehicle when the vehicle is in an automatic driving mode is displayed; a pedal sensor for determining a current displacement distance of an accelerator pedal; a controller for determining a virtual speed according to the current distance displacement of the accelerator pedal when an input is received that requests switching of the automatic driving mode of the vehicle to a manual driving mode if the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode and displays a second indicator indicating the virtual speed on the display unit, and for switching the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode when the virtual driving speed is similar to the current speed of the vehicle.
US09921573B2
In a slice image creation device, a peeling processor performs peeling on a peeling line segment in a circulation direction of the peeling line segment. When the peeling reaches an intersection at which line segments of contours cross each other, an intersection information acquisition processor acquires intersection information including an intersection angle defined at the intersection by the peeling line segment and each candidate line segment connected to the intersection in a direction that is the same as the circulation direction of the peeling line segment. A transfer processor sets one of the candidate line segments that has the smallest intersection angle as the line segment to which the peeling is going to be transferred next from the peeling line segment at the intersection. A creation processor sets the line segments on which the peeling has been performed continuously as one generated contour and divides a target slice model into a printing region and a non-printing region based on the generated contour to create a target slice image.
US09921561B2
According to one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors configured to determine an instruction to be performed by a remote device. The remote device includes a plurality of preloaded instructions, and the plurality of preloaded instructions includes a preloaded instruction that matches the instruction. The processors are further configured to determine a token associated with the instruction. The remote device further includes a plurality of preloaded tokens associated with the plurality of preloaded instructions. The plurality of preloaded tokens includes a preloaded token that matches the token, and the preloaded token is associated with the preloaded instruction. The processors are further configured to transmit the token to the remote device. The remote device is configured to match the token to the preloaded token. Based on the match, the remote device is further configured to determine the preloaded instruction and perform the preloaded instruction.
US09921556B2
A machine controller intercommunicates with, and issues machining program commands to, a plurality of peripherals. The controller receives work status information on the peripherals, calculates the total power consumption by the plurality of peripherals based on the received information, and decides the work start timing for the peripherals such that the total does not reach a preset upper limit.
US09921554B2
Aspects include an adaptor and a method for providing computer based energy management. Commands specifying a control device from energy management host software located on a host system are received at an adaptor via a server network. The commands include control instructions and requests for energy usage data. Energy usage data are received from the control device in response to a command including a request for energy usage data. The energy usage data includes energy usage for one or more energy devices. The energy usage data are transmitted to the energy management host software. Sensor data are received from one or more sensors and transmitted to the energy management host software. Control commands are received from the energy management host software. The control commands are transmitted to the control device to alter a function of at least one of the one or more energy devices.
US09921541B2
A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry, by rotation, developer including toner and magnetic carrier to a developing range facing a latent image bearer; a casing including a developer container and an opening to expose a part of the developer bearer disposed in the casing; an opposing face of the casing including a conductive material and opposing to a surface of the developer bearer downstream from the developing range in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer; a developing bias source to apply a developing bias to the developer bearer; and an insulation layer disposed on the opposing face of the casing. The opposing face is disposed across, from the developer bearer, a casing gap sized to allow the developer borne on the developer bearer to contact the opposing face.
US09921537B2
In a drive mechanism, a two-stage gear has an input gear and a sun gear. A planetary gear is engaged with both of outer teeth of the sun gear and inner teeth of a ring gear. A carrier, which is capable of rotating together with a rotational shaft, supports the planetary gear, and outputs drive force. A drive force transmission switching member switches between a connecting state connecting the two-stage gear and the carrier such that they rotate together via the rotational shaft, and a separating state separating the two-stage gear and carrier such that they rotate relative to each other. A one-way clutch allows the ring gear to rotate in one of a pair of opposite directions about the central axis of the rotational shaft, and prohibits the ring gear from rotating in the other one of the pair of opposite directions.
US09921534B2
An image forming apparatus includes a replenishment empty history recording portion, a post-empty attachment detecting portion, and an image creation restricting portion. The replenishment empty history recording portion records replenishment empty history information to a storage device in correspondence with one of the plurality of developer containers in which a replenishment empty state was detected in a first attachment portion. The post-empty attachment detecting portion detects whether or not a second attachment portion is in a post-empty container attached state where the developer container corresponding to the replenishment empty history information recorded in the storage device is attached to the second attachment portion. The image creation restricting portion, upon detection of the replenishment empty state, restricts an operation of an image creating device, and upon detection that the second attachment portion is in the post-empty container attached state, releases a restriction on the operation of the image creating device.
US09921529B2
A fuser controller includes a memory configured to store a program, a processor configured to read the program from the memory and to execute the program, a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data to/from the main controller, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive an analog signal representing the temperature of the fuser from a thermistor and to convert the analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the processor controls power supplied to a fuser until the main controller completes initialization.
US09921524B2
An image formation apparatus comprising: a belt member suspended by a plurality of supporting rotating bodies and thus rotating; a cleaning member removing toner adhering to the belt member; a tray receiving waste toner removed from the belt member by the cleaning member; a vibration mechanism vibrating the tray to move the waste toner toward a lower side of the tray; a steering control mechanism to perform movement control to move the belt member in an axial direction of the supporting rotating bodies while the belt member rotates; and a vibration adjustment mechanism to change a manner of vibration of the vibration mechanism, based on the movement control by the steering control mechanism.
US09921520B2
A developing device includes a rotatable developer carrying member configured to carry a developer, and a regulating unit, formed of a resin material, configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. The regulating unit includes a regulating portion configured to regulate the amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member and a guiding portion, connected with an upstream end of the regulating portion with respect to a rotational direction of the developer carrying member, configured to guide the developer toward the regulating portion.
US09921508B2
Provided is a method of preparing a poly-silicic-ferric coagulant (PSFC) having a controlled aggregating strength. In particular, according to an embodiment, provided is a method of preparing a PSFC that may effectively suppress both formation of fine toner particles having a particle size that is smaller than a desired particle size and formation of coarse toner particles having a particle size that is greater than the desired particle size, wherein the PSFC for a toner is used in preparation of a toner by using an emulsion aggregation (EA) method. The PSFC for a toner prepared by using the method, according to an embodiment, significantly exhibits a controlled aggregating strength, and thus a viscosity of an emulsion aggregation solution for the toner preparation is appropriate, which results in suppressing production of fine toner particles and coarse toner particles. In this regard, a toner preparation yield may improve.
US09921505B2
The toner binder of the present invention contains a crystalline resin (A) and a resin (B) that is a polyester resin or its modified resin, the polyester resin being obtained by reaction of an alcohol component (X) and a carboxylic acid component (Y) as raw materials, wherein a temperature (Tp) of the top of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline resin (A) as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is in the range of 40° C. to 100° C., and endothermic peak areas S1 and S2 during heating satisfy the following equation. (S2/S1)×100≧35 (1) S1 is an area of the endothermic peak derived from the crystalline resin (A) in the first heating process, and S2 is an area of the endothermic peak derived from the crystalline resin (A) in the second heating process, when the toner binder is heated, cooled, and heated.
US09921504B2
A toner according to an embodiment includes a colorant, a binder resin, and an ester wax. The colorant, the binder resin and the ester wax form a toner particle. The ester wax contains two or more ester compounds represented by the general formula R1COOR2, where R1 and R2 each independently is an alkyl group. The total number of carbon atoms of R1 and R2 is in a range from 31 to 53. The two or more ester compounds have different number of carbon atoms from each other.
US09921501B2
A toner having a toner particle which contains a binder resin, a fatty acid metal salt, and a resin having an ionic functional group, in which the fatty acid metal salt is a fatty acid metal salt of a polyvalent metal with valency of 2 or higher and a fatty acid with carbon atom number of at least 8 and not more than 28, and the acid dissociation constant pKa of the resin having an ionic functional group is at least 6.0 and not more than 9.0.
US09921496B2
In a substrate stage, when a Y coarse movement stage moves in the Y-axis direction, an X coarse movement stage, a weight cancellation device, and an X guide move integrally in the Y-axis direction with the Y coarse movement stage, and when the X coarse movement stage moves in the X-axis direction on the Y coarse movement stage, the weight cancellation device move on the X guide in the X-axis direction integrally with the X coarse movement stage. Because the X guide is provided extending in the X-axis direction while covering the movement range of the weight cancellation device in the X-axis direction, the weight cancellation device is constantly supported by the X guide, regardless of its position. Accordingly, a substrate can be guided along the XY plane with good accuracy.
US09921489B2
An inspection apparatus (300) includes a focus monitoring arrangement (500, 500′). Focusing radiation (505) comprises radiation having a first wavelength and radiation having a second wavelength. Reference radiation and focusing radiation at each wavelength are provided with at least one relative frequency shift so that the interfering radiation detected in the detection system includes a time-varying component having a characteristic frequency. A focus detection system (520) comprises one or more lock-in detectors (520b, 520c, 900). Operating the lock-in detectors with reference to both the first and second characteristic frequencies allows the arrangement to select which of the first and second focusing radiation is used to determine whether the optical system is in focus. Good quality signals can be obtained from targets of different structure.
US09921481B2
The present invention provides a composition enabling to form a fine negative photoresist pattern free from troubles such as surface roughness, bridge defects or unresolved defects, and the invention also provides a pattern formation method employing that composition. The composition is used for miniaturizing a resist pattern by applying to a negative resist pattern from a chemically amplified resist composition and fattening the resist pattern. This composition comprises a polymer comprising a repeating unit having an amino group or a polymer mixture, and a solvent, and further comprises a specific amount of an acid or indicates a specific pH value. The polymer mixture comprises polymers whose HSP distance, determined from Hansen solubility parameter, is 3 or more. In the pattern formation method, the composition is cast on a negative photoresist pattern beforehand obtained by development with an organic solvent developer and is then heated to form a fine pattern.
US09921480B2
The present disclosure provides a method for lithography patterning in accordance with some embodiments. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over a substrate; performing an exposing process to the photoresist layer; and developing the photoresist layer, thereby forming a patterned photoresist layer. The photoresist layer includes a polymer backbone, an acid labile group (ALG) bonded to the polymer backbone, a first sensitizer that is bonded to the polymer backbone, a second sensitizer that is not bonded to the polymer backbone, and a photo-acid generator (PAG).
US09921477B2
Compounds of the Formula (I), (II) and (III) wherein Aris is for example phenylene, biphenylene or naphthylene, all of which are unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C4-alkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, CN, OR11, SR11, CH2OR11, COOR12, CONR12R13 or halogen; R1, R2, R7 and R8 independently of one another other are hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; R3 and R5 together and R4 and R6 together form a C2-C6-alkylene bridge which is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more C1-C4-alkyl; R11 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl; R12 and R13 independently of one another for example are hydrogen, phenyl, C1-C18-alkyl, C1-C18-alkyl which is interrupted by one or more O; n is 1-10; X is O, S or NR10; A and A1 are suitable linking groups; are suitable as photolatent bases.
US09921473B2
The invention relates to a photopolymer formulation comprising specific aromatic glycol ethers as writing monomers, matrix polymers and a photoinitiator. The invention further provides an unexposed holographic medium obtainable using an inventive photopolymer formulation, and an exposed holographic medium obtainable by exposing a hologram into an inventive unexposed holographic medium. The invention likewise provides a visual display comprising an inventive exposed holographic medium, for the use of an inventive exposed holographic medium for production of chip cards, identification documents, 3D images, product protection labels, labels, banknotes or holographic optical elements, and specific aromatic glycol ethers.
US09921472B2
A photosensitive composition and a quantum dot-polymer composite pattern formed from the photosensitive composition are disclosed, and the photosensitive composition includes: a plurality of quantum dots; a color filter material including an absorption dye, an absorption pigment, or a combination thereof; a polymer binder; a photopolymerizable monomer having a carbon-carbon double bond; a photoinitiator; and a solvent, wherein in a normalized photoluminescence spectrum of the quantum dot and a normalized ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum of the color filter material, a photoluminescence peak wavelength (PL peak wavelength) of the quantum dot and a wavelength of maximum absorbance of the color filter material do not overlap with each other, and the color filter material is included in an amount of less than or equal to 1 part by weight per 10 parts by weight of the plurality of quantum dots.
US09921471B2
A method of forming a photonic device structure comprises forming a photoresist over a photonic material over a substrate. The photoresist is exposed to radiation through a gray-tone mask to form at least one photoexposed region and at least one non-photoexposed region of the photoresist. The at least one photoexposed region of the photoresist or the at least one non-photoexposed region of the photoresist is removed to form photoresist features. The photoresist features and unprotected portions of the photonic material are removed to form photonic features. Other methods of forming a photonic device structure, and a method of forming an electronic device are also described.
US09921465B2
A reflective mask reducing reflection of out-of-band light. The reflective mask includes a light shielding frame formed in a mask region corresponding to a boundary region of a chip on a semiconductor substrate multiply exposed. The substrate of the light shielding frame includes a layer having a different refractive index or includes pores to change the path of incident out-of-band light to thereby suppress the out-of-band light from being reflected off the conductive film. The substrate also includes a layer having a different refractive index relative to out-of-band light reflected off the conductive layer. With the reflective mask of this configuration, influence on the wiring pattern dimension can be reduced and productivity of the semiconductors can be improved.
US09921462B2
A light source optical system includes a micro lens array, a condenser lens unit, and a dichroic surface. In a direction orthogonal to an optical axis in a cross section parallel to a normal of the dichroic surface and the optical axis of the condenser lens unit, a width of the dichroic surface is narrower than a width of the condenser lens unit. A light source optical system satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.
US09921460B2
A storage case includes a storage space accommodating a projector, a cover body configured to open or close an upper opening of the storage space, an elevating mechanism provided in the storage space and configured to move the projector up and down, and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a projection direction of the projector moved up by the elevating mechanism.
US09921458B2
There is provided a camera module including: a housing unit; a lens unit which is movable relative to the housing unit in an optical axis direction and directions perpendicular with respect to an optical axis; and an actuator unit moving the lens unit, wherein corners of the housing unit are provided with flat surfaces which are inclined with respect to an optical axis of the lens unit.
US09921456B2
An illumination apparatus includes a light source, a light-receiving unit, and a light guide unit formed in an arc shape. The light guide unit includes a light incidence section on which light from the light source is incident. The light incidence section is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the light guide unit, and faces the light source. The light guide unit further includes a first reflecting section having a first and a second region, and a second reflecting section having first and second surfaces. The first surface reflects the light incident from the light incidence section toward the first region, and the second surface reflects the light incident from the light incidence section toward the second region. The light-receiving unit is disposed at a position between the first and the second surfaces.
US09921437B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including an organic insulation film including a first contact hole penetrating to the switching element, an island-shaped relay electrode and a common electrode which are formed on the organic insulation film, an interlayer insulation film including a second contact hole at a position different from a position of the first contact hole, a pixel electrode which is formed on the interlayer insulation film and includes a slit which is opposed to the common electrode, and an alignment film covering the pixel electrode and the interlayer insulation film.
US09921433B2
The invention discloses an array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and a display device, since the first shield electrode, which intents to shield instantaneous electromagnetic signals in a data signal line, and a pixel electrode are provided in the same layer, compared to the existing array substrate in which the shield electrode and a common electrode are provided in the same layer, since the pixel electrode is closer to the data signal line, through the first shield electrode, the light leakage phenomenon can be effectively prevented from occurring in the array substrate, and the color mixing phenomenon of the array substrate can be alleviated, and further the distance between the first shield electrode provided in the same layer as the pixel electrode and the data signal line can be decreased, and the width of the first shield electrode is decreased.
US09921430B2
A display component includes a glass substrate GS including a display area AA and a non-display area NAA surrounding the display area AA, a color filter 29 overlapping a surface of the glass substrate GS in the display area AA, a CF board side alignment film 32 disposed in at least the display area AA to cover the color filter 29 and partially including a thickness variation portion 36 that gradually decreases thickness thereof toward an outer side, and a film forming control portion 37 disposed in the non-display area NAA to be next to the display area AA and overlapping the surface of the glass substrate GS and configured to form the CF board side alignment film 32 such that the thickness variation portion 36 is in the non-display area NAA.
US09921426B2
A liquid crystal display has a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer surrounding a layer of liquid crystal material. The display may have an active area with an array of display pixels. An inactive area may surround the active area. A black mask structure may be formed in the inactive area. A black matrix having a grid shape with rectangular openings may be formed in the active area. Red, green, and blue color filter elements may be formed in the rectangular openings. The black matrix may have a first layer that is formed from a grid of blue photoresist on a color filter substrate and a second layer that is formed from an aligned grid of black photoresist. In the inactive area, the black mask structure may be formed a layer of blue photoresist covered with a layer of black photoresist.
US09921423B2
A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present system and method includes: a first substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; a passivation layer disposed on the thin film transistor and including a first portion and a second portion thicker than the first portion; a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode disposed on the passivation layer, spaced apart from each other, and positioned on one pixel region; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first sub-pixel electrode is disposed on the second portion of the passivation layer, and the second sub-pixel electrode is disposed on the first portion of the passivation layer.
US09921421B2
A optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer having a first spectrum in a dark state, and a second spectrum in a faded state; and a color balancing layer having a third spectrum; each of the first, second and third spectra comprising a visible portion; the first and third spectra combining to provide a dark state spectrum approximating a dark state target color; and the second and third spectra combining to provide a fades state spectrum approximating a faded state target color. The optical filter may further comprise a light attenuating layer. The optical filter may further comprise part of a laminated glass.
US09921419B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an annular device superior to a conventional annular device in the stability over an eyeball when being worn, which overcomes problems caused by wearing a conventional annular device.The above object is attained by preparing an annular device to be worn over the surface of the sclera, the annular device including an opening exposing the cornea and one or a plurality of approximately encircling grooves on an intermediate part between an inner rim part and an outer rim part. The annular device has a maximum thickness preferably in the intermediate part.
US09921417B2
An optical image stabilizer including an offset remover configured to remove a direct current offset of an angular velocity signal and output a corrected angular velocity signal; an idle state determiner configured to determine a moving-state or an idle state of the optical image stabilizer based on the corrected angular velocity signal; a switching filter configured to filter the corrected angular velocity signal using a second filter during a stabilization time and subsequently filter the corrected angular velocity signal using a first filter switched from the second filter when the optical image stabilizer is in the moving-state; and an integrator configured to integrate the filtered corrected angular velocity signal from the switching filter to output an angular position signal.
US09921412B2
Shaped glasses have curved surface lenses and spectrally complementary filters disposed on the curved surface lenses configured to compensate for wavelength shifts occurring due to viewing angles and other sources. The spectrally complementary filters include guard bands to prevent crosstalk between spectrally complementary portions of a 3D image viewed through the shaped glasses. In one embodiment, the spectrally complementary filters are disposed on the curved lenses with increasing layer thickness towards edges of the lenses. The projected complementary images may also be pre-shifted to compensate for subsequent wavelength shifts occurring while viewing the images.
US09921409B2
Provided is an image pickup apparatus, including: an image pickup optical system including a protection lens, which is arranged closest to a light incident side and has a convex-shaped surface on light incident side; and a housing houses the image pickup optical system, in which the image pickup optical system includes an aperture stop, and an optical systems A and B, which are arranged on an image side of aperture stop to be selectively placed in an optical path of image pickup optical system, the optical systems A and B having mutually different optical characteristics, and in which the housing separates a medium outside of housing and an inside of housing, and in which the image pickup apparatus further includes a switching unit selectively places one of optical systems A and B in optical path of image pickup optical system depending on a medium outside housing.
US09921408B2
An embodiment is directed to an optical element arrangement including at least one optical element. A first optical element includes a fiber and a curved surface. The fiber emits light beams during oscillation at different angular positions relative to a system axis of the first optical element. The curved surface includes an array of lenslets. Each of the lenslets in the array of lenslets is configured to receive light beams from the fiber that are emitted within a particular range of the first curved surface and to collimate the light beams received by the lenslet at a lenslet-specific field angle relative to the system axis. In other embodiments, one or more additional optical elements with respective fibers can be deployed as part of the optical element arrangement, and any of the optical elements in the optical element arrangement may include multiple curved surfaces with respective lenslet arrays.
US09921406B2
An optical device is described that may be used as a microscope system for real-time, three-dimensional optical imaging. The device includes a miniature, fiber optic, intra-vital probe microscope that uses a dual-axes confocal architecture to allow for vertical scanning perpendicular to a surface of the sample (e.g., a tissue surface). The optical device can use off-axis illumination and collection of light to achieve sub-cellular resolution with deep tissue penetration. The optical device may be used as part of an integrated molecular imaging strategy using fluorescence-labeled peptides to detect cell surface targets that are up-regulated by the epithelium and/or endothelium of colon and breast tumors in small animal models of cancer.
US09921397B2
Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting assembly, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.
US09921395B1
A reflective optics system that requires the presence of both convex and a concave mirrors that have beam reflecting surfaces. Application thereof achieves focusing of a beam of electromagnetic radiation with minimized effects on a polarization state of an input beam state of polarization that results from adjustment of angles of incidence and reflections from the various mirrors involved. This invention is also a combination of a focusing element and a filtering element that provides an optimum electromagnetic beam cross-sectional area based on optimizing the beam cross-sectional area in view of conflicting effects of aberration and diffraction inherent in said focusing element, which, for each wavelength, vary oppositely to one another with electromagnetic beam cross-sectional area.
US09921390B1
A mirror assembly mountable to a wall includes a mirror platform having a front surface and a rear surface, a chassis engageable with the mirror platform to define a mirror assembly interior, at least one electrical component disposed within the mirror assembly interior, and a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a support member mounted to one of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis and a hanger member mounted to the other of the rear surface of the mirror platform and the chassis. The hanger member is removably securable on the support member to mount the mirror platform to the chassis.
US09921383B2
A rack system comprising a plurality of removable housing modules each configured to hold a plurality of electronic modules in stepped rows, with the housing modules being arranged on a tray at least partly within a housing in a dense configuration, thereby providing ease of access to the electronic modules for routing wire connectors to each of the electronic modules in an organized manner.
US09921381B2
An optical fiber cable comprising 200 micrometer (μm) optical fibers (fibers with an outer diameter of approximately 200 μm) that are located within buffer tubes. This permits fiber packing densities of 3.8 fibers/mm2 or higher. The buffer tubes have wall thicknesses (tbuffer) between approximately 7.5 percent (7.5%) and approximately 30% of the buffer tube's outer diameter (ODbuffer), and a Young's modulus that is between approximately 750 mega-pascals (MPa) and 2,200 MPa, thereby providing the necessary structural integrity to resist kinking yet maintain flexibility.
US09921380B2
An optical fiber cable comprising a stack of optical fiber ribbons. The stack comprises corner fibers at the corners of the stack, edge fibers the edges of the stack, and internal fibers that are internal to the stack. The corner fibers have a higher tolerance to fiber bending (or lower sensitivity to bending) than the internal fibers.
US09921377B2
A substrate comprises multiple interposers. Each interposer includes interposer elements, where an optical device is coupled to at least some of the interposer elements; two passages formed through the interposer, where each passage is registered with respect to the interposer elements; two blind holes formed in a surface of the interposer, where each blind hole is concentric with a different passage; two annular troughs formed in the surface, each concentric with a different passage, and an annular area separates the annular troughs from an outer diameter of the corresponding concentric passage; and two spherical registration elements, where each registration element is positioned on uncured adhesive on one of the annular areas, where the passages enable a vacuum to be drawn through such that the registration elements are pulled toward the surface of the interposer to self-align to the inner diameter of the blind holes.
US09921367B2
The present invention relates to a display device and a backlight assembly thereof. The backlight assembly according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a circuit board on which a circuitry member for controlling the display device is mounted; a cover bottom which covers the rear surface of the display device, in which an insertion hole corresponding to the circuit board is punched on the bottom thereof, and in which the circuit board is installed to be accommodated in the interior of the insertion hole; a first coupling part coupled to the circuit board; and a second coupling part coupled to the cover bottom. The backlight assembly comprises a bracket that fixes the circuit board to the cover bottom.
US09921358B2
In one aspect, a display comprises a light source, a film-based lightguide with a light emitting region positioned adjacent to and directing light to an active area of a spatial light modulator in a thickness direction. The film may have a light mixing region positioned between a light input region and the light emitting region. In one aspect the display comprises a guide element having a surface curved in a first plane positioned along a first edge of the spatial light modulator, wherein the film is folded along the curved surface at a first fold such that the first fold positions a portion of the light mixing region above or below the active area, the light mixing region comprises the first fold, and an inner surface of the film in the light mixing region is in contact with and curved along the curved surface of the guide element.
US09921356B2
A display may have a backlight unit with a row of light-emitting diodes that emit light into the edge of a light guide layer. The light guide layer may have opposing upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface of the light guide layer may have ridges and the lower surface of the light guide layer may have bumps. The edge of the light guide layer may have light mixing structures. The light mixing structures may include an alternating pattern of protrusions with different shapes. For example, triangular protrusions of a first size may be patterned with triangular protrusions of a second size. The light mixing structures may reduce the mixing distance of the backlight unit.
US09921352B1
A retarder system that comprises at least two plates, each of which comprise two surfaces that are parallel to, or substantially parallel to one another, said plates being tipped with respect to one another so that the surfaces of one thereof are not parallel to the surfaces of the other, each said plate further comprising a biased fast axis that is neither parallel to, or perpendicular to surfaces of said plates.
US09921349B2
A display device is provided. The display device includes an anti-reflection film. The anti-reflection film includes a base film, a retardation coating layer disposed on a first side of the base film so as to delay a phase of transmitted light, and a polarizer coating layer disposed on a second side of the base film so as to allow a polarization component of the transmitted light in a specific direction to pass through, wherein the retardation coating layer and the polarizer coating layer are formed by applying a liquid crystal on the base film.
US09921348B2
An optical film includes: a first optical phase retardation layer having a relation nx1≥ny1≥nz1; a second optical phase retardation layer disposed under the first optical phase retardation layer and having a relation nx2≈ny2
US09921345B2
Optical systems are described that include a lighting component, a switchable diffuser adjacent the lighting component, and a low-absorbing optical component disposed adjacent the switchable diffuser opposite the lighting component or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the switchable diffuser or disposed adjacent the lighting component opposite the display panel. The switchable diffuser is capable of being in either a substantially clear state or in a first hazy state. The low-absorbing optical component provides a collimating effect or a turning effect when the lighting component is illuminated and the switchable diffuser is in the substantially clear state.
US09921340B2
The invention provide a class of water-processable polymerizable prepolymers which comprises (1) siloxane-containing monomeric units derived at least one siloxane containing monomer having one hydrophilic group or chain and/or polysiloxane-containing crosslinking units derived from at least one hydrophilized polysiloxane or chain-extended polysiloxane crosslinker; (2) hydrophilic monomeric units derived from one or more hydrophilic vinylic monomers; and (3) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of polymerizable units each having a pendant or terminal, ethylenically-unsaturated group and free of any polysiloxane segment. The prepolymer comprises from about 20% to about 50% by weight of silicone relative to the total weight of the prepolymer and has a high water solubility or dispersibility of at least about 5% by weight in water and suitable for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
US09921339B2
The present invention is an apparatus and method of forecasting solar energy irradiance potential and subsequent photovoltaic output in a region. The apparatus and method includes collecting meteorological data for a given region and then estimating irradiance levels using parameters collected from the meteorological data. Solar energy production is then simulated using the collected meteorological data, estimated irradiance levels, and physical characteristics of a solar generating system in the given region at a predetermined time.
US09921337B2
System and methods of generating calibrated downhole images of a subterranean formation (110) surrounding a wellbore (105). The method involves placing a pad at a distance from a highly conductive surface and measuring a current between return electrodes of the pad and the highly conductive surface. The current may be used to determine a theoretic impedance of the current path, and impedance amplitude and impedance phase may be calibrated using theoretical impedance phase and theoretical impedance amplitude. Multiple standoff calibrations and temperature variation calibrations may also be used.
US09921320B2
According to an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The first detector is configured to detect first radiation at a first frequency within a first time by at least a first radiation detecting element and a second radiation detecting element that are positioned near to each other, and output a first signal. The second detector is configured to detect second radiation at a second frequency less than the first frequency within a second time by at least the first radiation detecting element and the second radiation detecting element, and output a second signal. The controller is configured to generate a third signal representing a difference between the first signal and the second signal, and calculate energy using the third signal.
US09921314B2
A Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) includes a plurality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference receivers configured to receive and process GNSS satellite measurements. The GBAS further includes at least one processing module communicatively coupled to the plurality of GNSS reference receivers, configured to: determine a respective ionosphere quality metric along lines of sight for of observable GNSS satellites using code minus carrier measurements from the observable GNSS satellites; define one or more valid ionosphere regions where at least one respective ionosphere quality metric meets a threshold; determine which of the observable GNSS satellites have an ionosphere pierce point within the one or more valid ionosphere regions; and output at least one overbounded Vertical Ionosphere Gradient standard deviation (σvig) corresponding to the one or more valid ionosphere regions and an indication of which observable GNSS satellites have an ionosphere pierce point within the one or more valid ionosphere regions.
US09921308B2
An exemplary computer implemented digital image processing method conveys probabilities of detecting terrestrial targets from an observation aircraft. Input data defining an observation aircraft route relative to the geographical map with lines of communications (LOC) disposed thereon are received and stored as well as input data associated an aircraft sensor's targeting capabilities and attributes related to the capability of targets to be detected. Percentages of time for line-of-sight visibility from the aircraft of segments of LOC segments are determined. Probability percentages that the sensor would detect a terrestrial target on the segments are determined. The segments are color-coded with visibility and sensor detection information. A visual representation of the map with the color-coded segments is provided to enhance the ability to select appropriate observation mission factors to achieve a successful observation mission.
US09921305B2
A radar apparatus includes an antenna that receives echo signals, each of the echo signals being a radar signal reflected by one or more objects; a Doppler-frequency acquirer that acquires Doppler frequencies at each range bin from the received echo signals; a direction correlation power-value calculator that calculates direction correlation power values for respective combinations of the Doppler frequencies and at least one of a distance to the one or more objects and an arrival direction of the echo signals, each direction correlation power value indicating a strength of a corresponding echo signal; and a normalized direction correlation-value calculator that calculates, for the respective combinations, normalized direction correlation values, each normalized direction correlation value indicating a probability of the arrival direction of the corresponding echo signal.
US09921292B2
Embodiments herein relate to determining the location of a device using hybrid localization techniques. For example, a first technique such as trilateration may be used to determine an approximate location of the device. An error associated with the approximate location may also be implemented to increase the likelihood of locating the device upon applying a second localization technique, such as fingerprinting. Fingerprinting, when applied to the approximate location determined from trilateration, may determine the location of the device, or a more precise location than that determined from trilateration, such that reduced power consumption by the device may be achieved without sacrificing location accuracy.
US09921290B2
A method providing persons in a group information about the whereabouts of others in the group, including whether persons in the group have moved away from an associated vehicle. The method includes receiving information into a computer system derived from measured rf signal strength sent in digital form from one or more portable devices. The information indicates whether any of the persons has moved from a first relatively close position with respect to an associated vehicle and farther away from the associated vehicle than the first position. A timer function may be initiated if the received information indicates that a first person has moved farther away from the associated vehicle than the first position. Updated information may be received, indicating whether the first person remains farther away from, or has moved to a position at least as close as the first relatively close position is to, the associated vehicle.
US09921284B2
In order to provide a technique for improving image quality by selectively exciting only a target region with high precision in either of a two-dimensional spatial selective excitation method or a three-dimensional spatial selective excitation method, selecting a k-space trajectory restraining excitation in a non-target region by side lobes is received. At this time, an excitation region of the selected k-space trajectory is presented to an operator, and the operator can adjust the excitation region through the display. After the adjustment of the excitation region by the operator is reflected, a multi-dimensional spatial selective excitation pulse is stabilized.
US09921282B2
A method of measuring NMR response in an NMR instrument includes heating a sample at a heater temperature that is higher than the temperature of the interior of the NMR instrument, positioning the heated sample in the NMR instrument, and measuring the NMR response of the heat sample. Typically, the sample is dry and includes fat. Furthermore, a method of determining an amount of a component of a sample includes positioning a sample in an NMR instrument, applying a sequence of radio-frequency pulses to the sample, measuring the amplitudes of the signals produced by the application of the sequence of radio-frequency pulses, and determining the amount of a component in the sample using the measured amplitudes of the signals. The disclosed methods typically provide accurate analysis of samples in a shorter time period than traditional NMR techniques and solvent-based analysis techniques.
US09921280B2
Provided are an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device and an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance measuring method. The method includes applying a first measurement bias magnetic field corresponding to an excitation frequency of a coherent biomagnetic field generated in association with the electrophysiological activity of human body organs, applying a second measurement bias magnetic field having the same direction as the first measurement bias magnetic field and having a different magnitude than the first measurement bias magnetic field, and measuring a magnetic resonance signal generated in the human body by using magnetic field measuring means.
US09921277B2
Devices and methods are provided for shutting down a magnet system. The device includes a portable housing, a communication unit, and a switch on the portable housing. The portable housing encloses a field shutdown initiation circuitry. The communication unit is disposed at least partially in the portable housing and the communication unit is configured to establish communication between the field shutdown initiation circuitry and the magnet system. The switch is configured to turn on the field shutdown initiation circuitry to initiate a magnet field shutdown in the magnet system.
US09921272B2
A system for determining a discharge power limit value and a charge power limit of the battery cell is provided. The system has a microprocessor that calculates a maximum allowed voltage drop value of the battery cell. The microprocessor calculates a first current level through the battery cell for a predetermined amount of time to obtain the maximum allowed voltage drop value. The microprocessor calculates a first discharge power limit value, if the first current level is less than or equal to a maximum allowed discharge current. The microprocessor calculates a second discharge power limit value, if the first current level is greater than the maximum allowed discharge current.
US09921268B2
A test probe aligner for aligning a test probe card with devices under test of a wafer is provided. The test probe aligner includes a backer plate arranged with its bottom side to the test probe card, and a stiffener mounted to the test probe card outside a horizontal dimension of the backer plate. The stiffener and a top side of the backer plate end in a same plane above the test probe card. The alignment further includes a bridge beam locked to a top side of the stiffener. Furthermore, the test probe aligner also includes at least two actuators and at least two corresponding force measurement sensors below a top surface of the bridge beam, arranged such that forces are applicable to the test probe card.
US09921262B2
An integrated apparatus and method to provide test, diagnostics and characterization access to backplane electrical signals during electronic product development is presented. The apparatus removes need for manual and ad hoc connections made in an engineering laboratory or assembly line which make the process prone to damage of the components, inaccurate measurements and arbitrary fluctuations in function. The method and apparatus is a mechanized way to connect backplane signals to corresponding drivers, receivers and test equipment through probes placed on equidistant electrical traces, reducing inter signal variations.
US09921259B2
A ground fault detecting device includes a signal generating unit that generates a signal for ground fault detection, a signal supply unit that supplies the signal for ground fault detection to an object of ground fault detection a signal processing unit that executes signal processing of a detection-target signal including at least the signal for ground fault detection obtained from the object of ground fault detection a signal separating unit that extracts the signal for ground fault detection from an output signal of the signal processing unit, and a ground fault detecting unit that detects occurrence of a ground fault in the object of ground fault detection based on the signal for ground fault detection output from the signal separating unit. The signal supply unit and the signal separating unit are configured by passive elements. The signal generating unit and the signal processing unit are configured as active circuits.
US09921256B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for field strength monitoring of electromagnetic fields generated by a guided surface waveguide probe. A field meter measures the field strength of the electromagnetic field. The field meter communicates the measured field strength to a probe control system coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe. Adjustments can be made to one or more operational parameters of the guided surface waveguide probe according to the measured field strength.
US09921248B2
A method of measuring fluctuations in electric fields is disclosed, the method comprising the step of: placing a Liquid Crystal Device in communication with the electric field, the device having disparate orthogonal polarization sensitivity to an external electric field; utilizing an optical probe beam having a known polarization state to interrogate the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal device to produce a response beam; and analyzing the polarization state of the response beam to provide an indicator of the corresponding fluctuations in the electric field.
US09921243B2
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The system includes a radio frequency output stage configured to output at least one radio frequency waveform and a current sensor coupled to the output stage and configured to output a first differentiated signal corresponding to a current of the at least one radio frequency waveform, the current sensor coupled to a first conditioning circuit configured to integrate the first differentiated signal to output a processed current signal indicative of the current. The system further includes a voltage sensor coupled to the output stage and configured to output a second differentiated signal corresponding to a voltage of the at least one radio frequency waveform, the voltage sensor coupled to a second conditioning circuit configured to integrate the second differentiated signal to output a processed voltage signal indicative of the voltage, wherein the first and second conditioning circuits have a substantially similar bandpass and phase response.
US09921241B2
A scanning probe microscope has a cantilever having: a probe that is to be contacted or approached on a surface of a sample; and a processor that operates to perform a process including: calculating a measurement width MW and an offset value OV from a minimum value Smin and a maximum value Smax of a signal indicating a displacement of the cantilever with the following Equations (1) and (2) when a prescanning operation is performed before the measurement data is acquired by the probe microscope controller; and adjusting at least one of the offset value OV and the measurement width MW based on a temporal variation of the signal at the same position on the surface of the sample when the prescanning operation is performed. MW=(Smax−Smin) Equation (1) OV=(MW/2)+Smin Equation (2)
US09921237B2
A sensor apparatus for detecting a wheel speed of a vehicle has a rod-shaped sensor carrier and a sensor, which is introduced into the sensor carrier and, in order to detect the wheel speed, senses the rotation of a rotor rotating together with the wheel. The sensor apparatus has a carrier structure for accommodating the sensor and a potting compound for filling the sensor carrier. The surface, in particular the lateral surface, of the sensor carrier is formed by a plurality of interrupted, metal surface areas of the carrier structure and areas filled with the potting compound, wherein at least two metal surface areas are in the form of contact surfaces.
US09921230B2
This invention relates to compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating concussion/mTBI.
US09921217B1
A test device uses driven flow technology in a simplified testing format, such as dip format, to provide a rapid diagnostic test device that shortens the interpretation time of the test result to less than one minute and minimizes manufacturing costs. The test device shortens the distance between the opening on the front side housing and the conjugate pad without squeezing the sample pad and without requiring a separate component, such as a cap, to squeeze the sample pad. The test device utilizes a single, integral housing made from, for example, a flexible transparent material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that integrates the traditional base and top, or inner and outer tubes, into one to save the manufacturing costs.
US09921213B2
The present invention discloses a rapid diagnosis method of citrus huanglongbing. In the present invention, the accuracy of diagnosis of citrus huanglongbing is significantly improved in the following manners: eliminating the interference of residual starch by effectively removing the residual starch contained in the leaf; eliminating the interference of chlorophyll by effectively removing chlorophyll; and directly developing the color on the leaf rather than mixing and grinding the leaf in water, so as to avoid the problem that the accuracy of color development reaction conducted by mixing the leaf with water is liable to be interfered since the starch is insoluble in water. Therefore a rapid diagnosis of the citrus huanglongbing with much higher accuracy is achieved, which provides effective detection means for the control of the citrus huanglongbing and is beneficial for the control of the citrus huanglongbing.
US09921212B2
A method of screening for a therapeutic and/or preventive drug for cartilaginous hyperplasia and a therapeutic and/or preventive drug for cartilaginous hyperplasia are provided.The following are provided: a method of screening for a therapeutic and/or preventive drug for cartilaginous hyperplasia, comprising a step of culturing chondroprogenitor cells under conditions in which the cells are brought into contact with a test substance and conditions in which the cells are not brought into contact with the test substance and a step of determining the SOX9 promoter activity, cAMP level, or degree of phosphorylation of CREB in the cells or the extracellular matrix volume in a culture; and a therapeutic and/or preventive drug for cartilaginous hyperplasia, comprising as an active ingredient an adenylate cyclase inhibitor.
US09921201B2
A calibration curve creating method includes: (a) acquiring observation data of a plurality of samples of a test object; (b) acquiring content of a target component of each sample; (c) estimating a plurality of independent components when the observation data of each sample is separated into the plurality of independent components, and acquiring a mixing coefficient corresponding to the target component for each sample; and (d) acquiring a regression equation of a calibration curve. (c) includes acquiring an independent component matrix by performing a first preprocessing including normalization of the observation data, a second preprocessing including whitening, and an independent component analysis process in this order. β divergence is used as an independence index of the independent component analysis process, and a robust regression method is used in (d).
US09921187B2
A non-contact testing system and method using acoustic sensors and a mobile sensing system using this system and method is disclosed. The leaky surface wave is recorded with directional microphones. A fast inversion analysis algorithm is introduced to estimate the shear velocity profile and elastic modulus for the subsurface layers of pavement structures, using the dispersion curves obtained from the acoustic signals. An electrical hammer is used to produce impact impulses automatically. A mobile sensing system is integrated on a mobile cart to perform the mobile subsurface sensing for pavement structures.
US09921179B2
A sensor for detecting the properties of the fuel of an internal combustion engine includes at least one pair of internal electrodes (12, 13), extending in an axial direction relative to a further or third external electrode (14) which surrounds them. The invention also relates to a fuel rail (2) to which the sensor may be mounted, and a method for detecting the properties of the fluid.
US09921173B2
A sample (106) is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation such as X-Rays and diffraction data is sampled at inner and outer caustic rims formed at a sensor surface (108) and defined by a continuum of Debye cones (130, 132) formed by diffraction of the incident radiation. Intensities of the inner and outer rims while translating and rotating the sample are converted using a tomographic technique into X-ray diffraction images and material discrimination is also possible.
US09921166B2
Assay modules, preferably assay cartridges, are described as are reader apparatuses which may be used to control aspects of module operation. The modules preferably comprise a detection chamber with integrated electrodes that may be used for carrying out electrode induced luminescence measurements. Methods are described for immobilizing assay reagents in a controlled fashion on these electrodes and other surfaces. Assay modules and cartridges are also described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, these modules are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick.
US09921165B2
Various embodiments are drawn to systems and methods for detecting an analyte of interest in a sample including an optical sensor, a capture probe attached to a surface of the optical sensor wherein the capture probe is capable of binding to the analyte to form a duplex or complex, and an antibody capable of binding to the analyte, duplex, or complex. In several embodiments, systems and methods further include a particle attached to the antibody or capable of binding to the antibody. In several embodiments, systems and methods for analyte detection feature one or more of the following: high detection sensitivity and specificity, scalability and multiplex capacity, ability to analyze large analytes, and ability to detect or measure multiple individual binding events in real-time.
US09921164B2
A system and a method for optical sensing of single molecule or molecules in various concentrations are provided. The optical sensor system comprises a first fiber, a second fiber, a light source and a detection device. The first fiber and the second fiber are fused together to form an optical coupler. The first fiber serves as the passageway for the analyte, while the second fiber serves as the waveguide for the light that will interact with the said analyte. One end of the second fiber is connected to the light source (e.g. laser), and the opposite end is connected to the detection device (e.g. spectrometer). The analyte is introduced into the first fiber through one of its ends, and is allowed to flow through inside the hollow core of the said first fiber. When light is delivered through the input end of the second fiber, the evanescent light is formed in the optical coupler and is allowed to interact with the analyte in the first fiber. One scenario in this analyte-light interaction results in, for example, the generation of Raman emission that is used as the probing signal. The spectrum of the Raman emission is analyzed by the detection device to determine the presence of target molecule.
US09921161B1
Methods and systems are provided for estimating locations of sub-wavelength-sized emitters, which may be sparsely arrayed among inactive emitters, in one or more dimensions to synthesize a super-resolved image. The emitter emits light in response to structured illumination, which may be acousto-optically generated. The structured illumination is translated, and a detector, such as a camera pixel, senses the emitted linear or nonlinear response, producing a periodic signal. A processor computes a phase of the signal using phase shifting interferometry and uses it to estimate the emitter location with resolution finer than a quarter of the illumination wavelength. Modulation depth and/or amplitude of the signal may be used to estimate emitter size and/or evaluate location fidelity. Optical sectioning or extended depth of field may be provided by controlling spatial coherence of the illumination. Encoding and decoding emitter locations with non-periodic patterns is also described.
US09921160B2
A laser beam 6 irradiated from a side face of a microchip 1 in which plural channels 2 fill ed with a member of a refractive index n2 in an inner portion of a member of a refractive index n1 (n2
US09921158B2
A method and apparatus are provided for determining an isotopic property of a sample mass including placing a sample mass on a solid state detector exposing the solid state detector to a neutron flux. The solid state detector is configured to receive fluorescence damage in response to interaction with a fission product produced from fission of at least a portion of the sample mass. The method also including exposing the solid state detector to a light source, measuring the light emissions of the fluorescence damage, and determining an isotopic property of the sample mass based on the light emissions of the fluorescence damage.
US09921157B2
Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.
US09921156B2
A system and method for determining fluorescence decay in a biological sample is provided. The method includes acquiring optical signal data from at least a part of a biological sample undergoing fluorescence, assembling the optical signal data into a set of spatial time-series data, and converting the set of spatial time-series data into a set of spatial frequency time-series data. The method also includes applying a spatial filter to the set of spatial frequency time-series data to yield a set of filtered frequency-series data, the spatial filter configured to separate, from the set of frequency-series data, fluorescence signals consistent with a non-diffuse component and converting the set of filtered frequency-series data into a set of filtered time-series data. The method further includes determining, using the filtered time-series data, a fluorescence signature consistent with fluorescence decay of at least one fluorophore, and generating a report indicative of the fluorescence signature of the biological sample.
US09921153B2
A method for segmenting the data of a 3D sensor produced in the presence of aerosol clouds and for increasing the situation awareness and the location detection of obstacles involves transforming the sensor data are transformed into a 3D measurement point cloud, determining related subsets as measurement point clusters from the 3D measurement point cloud of an single measurement cycle of the 3D sensor based on the local measurement point density, determining at least one of the characteristic parameters of the individual measurement point clusters, the characteristic parameters including position, orientation in space, and shape, and determining a time variation of the characteristic parameters using the recorded parameters calculated from subsequent measurement cycles, from which the association of a measurement point cluster with a real obstacle or with the aerosol cloud results.
US09921148B2
A polarized light imaging apparatus is provided. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for producing light beams; an illumination optic coupled to the light source for guiding the light beams towards the sample; a linear polarizer coupled to the illumination optic and configured to produce a linearly polarized light towards the sample respective of the light beams; a TIR birefringent polarizing prism (BPP) coupled to the sample to maximize a refraction difference between ordinary waves and extraordinary waves of light returning from the sample; and a detection optic unit coupled to the non-TIR BPP for guiding the light waves returning from the sample towards a single polarization sensitive sensor element (SE), the SE is configured to capture at least one frame of the sample respective of the light waves returning from the superficial single-scattering layer of the sample apart from the deeper diffuse layer.
US09921145B2
A method of determining degradation of a thermoplastic when exposed to light and heat includes illuminating the thermoplastic with a desired wavelength of light at a desired irradiance while maintaining the ambient air surrounding the thermoplastic at a desired temperature. The method is useful to measure the discoloration rate of transparent, translucent and opaque thermoplastics such as polycarbonates, the discoloration rate being determined by transmission or reflectance spectra of transmitted or reflected white light through or from the thermoplastic.
US09921144B2
Devices and methods for detecting particulate matter are described herein. One device includes a laser, a reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector, and a detector, wherein the laser is configured to emit a beam, the reflector is configured to reflect the beam toward the ellipsoidal reflector, and the ellipsoidal reflector has a first focal region located on a path of the reflected beam, and a second focal region located at a surface of the detector.
US09921123B2
A Pipe Mapping Probe Apparatus for Searching Pipe Route Position includes: a first disc fitted and fastened on a shaft member thread-fastened to the inner side of a connection shaft at a first side of an internal body of a first pig; a cap coupled to a side of the shaft member outside the first disc; a first pig coupled to the shaft member; elastic members composed of three flexible springs coupled to a second side of an external body of the first pig; a cable that electrically connects a battery, a sensor unit, and a control board of the first pig and an encoder of a second pig, is connected with the battery through a first cable socket coupled to the external body of the first pig, and is connected to an encoder through a second cable socket disposed at the center of the second plate coupled to a first side of the second pig and through an encoder socket on the top of the encoder disposed in an internal body of the second pig; the second pig coupled to second sides of the elastic members at the first side of the second pig and coupled to a second plate, which is coupled to the second cable socket at the center, at the first side; and a second disc disposed on a second side of the external body of the second pig.
US09921118B2
A power measurement assembly mounted within an axle. In a specific example, the axle is a spindle that is interconnects the cranks of a bicycle, exercise, bicycle, or other fitness equipment. The power measurement assembly may include strain gauges connected with an appropriate circuit (e.g., Wheatstone bridge) that provides an output of the force on the axle by a rider pedaling the crank. In the case of an axle, the strain gauges measure the torsion due to the applied torque on the crank. The value is converted to a power value by a processor and that value is then wirelessly transmitted for display. The processor and/or the transmitter may be mounted within the axle. A separate power measurement assembly may be mounted on one of the cranks, which may include its own processor and transmitter or may take advantage of the processor and transmitter within the axle.
US09921115B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to a strain sensor, system and method of fabrication and use that includes an optical fiber, an optical signal generator that transmits an optical signal through the optical fiber, at least two photonic crystal slabs within the optical fiber separated by a first segment of optical fiber, a photo-detector that detects a reflected optical signal from the at least two photonic crystal slabs, and a processor that computes a mechanical strain over the first segment of optical fiber based on the reflected optical signal detected by the photo-detector.
US09921098B2
An optical unit includes an optical element serving as a light guide path, which includes an incident entrance, an emitter, a light coupler which is arranged in the case where a plurality of incident entrances are arranged, and which couples a primary light, and a light separator which is arranged in the case where a plurality of emitters are arranged, and which separates the primary light to each of the emitters. The optical unit further includes a detector which directly or indirectly detects a leakage light leaking outside of the light guide path from the light guide path.
US09921089B2
A pressure type flow rate control apparatus is provided wherein flow rate of fluid passing through an orifice is computed as Qc=KP1 (where K is a proportionality constant) or as Qc=KP2m (P1-P2)n (where K is a proportionality constant, m and n constants) by using orifice upstream side pressure P1 and/or orifice downstream side pressure P2. A fluid passage between the downstream side of a control valve and a fluid supply pipe of the pressure type flow rate control apparatus comprises at least 2 fluid passages in parallel, and orifices having different flow rate characteristics are provided for each of these fluid passages, wherein fluid in a small flow quantity area flows to one orifice for flow control of fluid in the small flow quantity area, while fluid in a large flow quantity area flows to the other orifice for flow control of fluid in the large flow quantity area.
US09921088B2
A device (1) for determining temperature and a measuring arrangement for determining flow that allows for a secure attachment on an object. The device has a measuring element (2) with a temperature-dependent electric resistance value. The measuring element (2) is surrounded by a thermally conductive fixing element (5) and is encompassed by a retaining bracket (6).
US09921082B2
A position measurement system including a material measure and a scanning device movable relative to one another with respect to a measurement direction. The material measure has a plurality of markings which are arranged in a row with respect to the measurement direction, wherein the scanning device includes a transmitter winding arrangement. Multiple receiver coils are provided which are arranged in a row with respect to the measurement direction. The inductive coupling between the transmitter winding arrangement and the receiver coils is a function of the position of the scanning device with respect to the material measure. The transmitter winding arrangement defines multiple separate transmitter areas which are arranged in a row with respect to the measurement direction. A maximum of one single receiver coil is situated in each of the transmitter areas. At least one switching means is provided via which the two adjacent receiver coils are differentially interconnectable.
US09921068B2
A device and associated methods for escaping from a venue when a threat is detected is described. Venues can be buildings or outside areas and contain the area where the threat constitutes a hazard to a protected person. Threats include fire, terrorists, gunmen, explosion, collapse, loss of critical resources and crowd panic. The device incorporates a machine learning system implemented with a neural network or other pattern matching system and is trained in steps. Pre-training is based on general requirements such as edge-detection and audio analysis. Principles and data for venue layouts and human behavior can be included. The produced model is further trained from data gathered from sensors and servers after entry into the venue. Operation of the model produces warnings of threats and a plan of escape with steps of the plan communicated to the protected person by audio, visual or tactile sensory channels.
US09921065B2
A unit for improving positioning accuracy of an autonomous vehicle driving on a road includes a first computation unit configured to compute a first position of the vehicle at a time T1 using data from at least an inertial measurement unit (IMU); a second computation unit configured to compute a second position of the vehicle at the time T1 using data from at least one external sensor and a map; a comparison unit configured to compute a position difference between the computed first and second positions; a correction unit configured to correct an error parameter of the IMU, wherein the error parameter is used for correcting a third position of the vehicle computed by the first computation unit at a time T2 with the computed position difference at time T1, if the second computation unit is unable to compute a fourth position of the vehicle at the time T2.
US09921061B2
A method for operating a construction laser by means of a remote controller, which has an input field, for initiating an action of the construction laser, wherein the remote control unit contains a sensor for determining a change in a parameter of the remote control unit, and the change in the parameter influences the at least one action, wherein the parameter is a parameter from the group comprising position, tilt, and movement of the remote control unit, and the action is an action or one operating mode from the group comprising rotational speed of the laser head, cross-sectional mode, mask mode, scan mode, tilt of the plane spanned by the particularly rotating laser beam, and point mode. To enable easy handling, following activation of the input field, the action is initiated only when the degree of change in the parameter of the remote control unit has reached a threshold value.
US09921055B2
The time and labor required to set an extraction region of point cloud data is decreased. A shape measuring apparatus includes a projecting unit that projects a measurement beam onto a measurement region of a measurement target, an imaging unit that captures an image of the measurement target onto which the measurement beam is projected, a movement mechanism that relatively moves the projecting unit or the imaging unit with respect to the measurement target so that a position of the measurement region of the measurement target changes, and an extraction region setting unit that sets an extraction region for image information used for calculating a position of the measurement target from capture images captured by the imaging unit, on the basis of positions of images of the measurement beam captured by the imaging unit when the measurement beam is projected onto different measurement regions.
US09921053B2
Sensor for enabling positioning of a flexible element subject to applied forces, the sensor includes at least two spatially separated light permeable tubes, 10 each having a first end 1a, 10a arranged on a first frame portion 11a and a second end 1b, 10b arranged on a second frame portion 11b of the flexible element. Each of the light permeable tubes in the sensor includes a light detecting device 3, that is connectable to a processing unit 4, and arranged at a light detecting position of each of the light permeable tubes and configured to detect light emitted from a light emitting source 2 through each 10 of the at least two light permeable tubes 1, 10 and configured to transfer information including information relating to the detected light to the processing unit 4.
US09921049B2
There is provided a three-dimensional coordinate measurement apparatus capable of reducing shaking of a Y carriage and improving measurement accuracy. A groove is formed along a Y-axis direction in a right side part of a surface plate made of stone, and a Y guide is formed between the groove and a right side surface of the surface plate to support a Y carriage in a portal shape in a movable manner in the Y-axis direction. A support section is provided at a lower end of a right Y carriage on the right side of the Y carriage, and the support section is supported by the surface plate through air pads which are disposed by two air pads back and forth on the corresponding one of a top surface, a right side surface, and a bottom surface, of the surface plate, and a right side surface of the groove.
US09921036B2
A system for mounting an accessory to an accessory rail of a firearm includes an accessory mount which provides a plurality of rotational positions of the accessory relative to the firearm. The accessory mount also provides one-handed insertion and removal of the accessory without touching the accessory mount. Methods of use are disclosed.
US09921032B2
Weapon equipment including a launcher and a projectile, the projectile having an operating head, a tail and a weight between 750 g and 1000 g. The tail includes a tube made of an aluminum alloy having an inner diameter between 21.5 and 22.5 mm, a stroke between first and second locations between 110 mm and 120 mm, and a thickness in the vicinity of the first location between 4.6 mm and 5 mm, a piston movable between the first and second locations and defining with the tube a hermetically-sealed propulsion chamber, a propulsion charge placed in the propulsion chamber, the propulsion charge including a powder having a heat of combustion between 3500 J/g and 4000 J/g, the propulsion charge having a mass greater than 2.4 g and less than 3.7 g.
US09921028B2
A method, apparatus and system for networking accessories to a firearm or weapon wherein the accessories are conductively powered from the rail and data is transferred between the accessories and the rail via conductive coupling. In one embodiment, a weapon is provided, the weapon having: an upper receiver; a lower receiver; a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and an apparatus for conductively networking a microcontroller of the powered accessory to a microcontroller of the upper receiver and a microcontroller of the lower receiver, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from the rail.
US09921022B1
A firearm comprising a barrel assembly, forward receiver, and receiver brake. The barrel assembly comprises a barrel, compression spring, gas tube, and front and rear bushings. The gas tube is situated around the barrel between the front and rear bushings and is not attached to the barrel. The compression spring is situated around the barrel between the front and rear bushings and inside of the gas tube. The front and rear bushings are fixedly attached to the forward receiver. The barrel comprises a gas port that is covered by a gas regulator and is in fluid communication with a gas chamber situated between the front bushing and the gas regulator, which is fixedly attached to the barrel. The receiver brake is fixedly attached to the forward receiver on its distal end.
US09921019B2
A barrel for a firearm including a chamber configured to receive a round of ammunition, and a shoulder at least partially extending from an exterior surface of the barrel. The barrel also has a gas vent feature formed in the exterior surface of the barrel to vent gases from the chamber. The gas vent feature may include at least one channel formed in the exterior surface of the barrel, and the at least one channel may have a predetermined depth and at least partially extend into the shoulder of the barrel.
US09921018B2
A multi-mode and/or multi-ammunition weapon is described, whereupon being removed from a stored position is always initially in a first mode that is intended to disable or stun a subject. If deadly force is required, the weapon is easily and quickly placed in a second mode that is deadly. When returned to the stored position, the weapon is automatically placed in the first mode. Different mechanisms for disabling and/or stunning a subject are also described. A mechanism is optionally included for recording sequences of attack modes and/or ammunition types fired to provide an un-alterable record of events when the weapon is fired.
US09921016B1
A firearm magazine unloader includes an unloader housing, including right and left sides, and a bridge member; an unloading protrusion; and right, left and top flange grips. The magazine unloader can be plastic molded in one piece. Also disclosed is a method of using the magazine unloader, including positioning unloader and unloading a firearm round.
US09921012B2
A water heating apparatus includes a burner, a heat exchanger for heating hot and cold water with use of heat from the burner, a scale detector for detecting occurrence of scale clogging in the heat exchanger, a notifying unit for notifying an error when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, and a controller performing a control of allowing the notifying unit to notify an error and prohibiting combustion operation of the burner when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to the predetermined amount. The controller is configured to start a cleaning mode for cleaning inside the heat exchanger when the controller detects shifting operation to the cleaning mode after the combustion operation of the burner is prohibited.
US09921001B2
An evaporator for a heat recovery steam generator has two horizontal steam drums of moderate size, one located slightly higher than the other. It also includes a coil having tubes located in the flow of a hot gas. The lower drum communicates with the inlets of the tubes for the coil. The outlets of the tubes communicate with the upper drum. A drain line connects the bottom of the upper drum with the lower region of the lower drum, so that water will flow from the upper drum to the lower drum. Water, which is primarily in the liquid phase, enters the lower drum through an inlet line and mixes with water from the upper drum. The mixture flows through into the coil. Here some of it transforms into saturated steam while the rest remains as saturated water. The saturated steam and saturated water flow into the upper drum where the steam escapes and the water flows back into the lower drum to recirculate through the coil. Owing to their moderate sizes, the drums can withstand high pressures without having excessive wall thickness, and this enables the evaporator to be set into operation with minimal or no hold points. Yet the two drums provide a retention time—and the protection that it provides—of a single large capacity drum having substantial wall thickness.
US09920995B2
A sand dispensing system with a compact movable sand reservoir, mounted for movement atop a metal making furnace, is refillable with a predetermined amount of sand, and tilts with the furnace. The reservoir dispenses a directed stream of the predetermined amount of sand through a nozzle in a sump panel door to fill a tap hole in the furnace. One end of the nozzle receives the directed stream of sand. The opposite end of the nozzle projects into the furnace, to direct the sand stream into the tap hole when the sand reservoir is in the dispensing position. An imaging device may be used to inspect the tap hole before and after the sand is directed into the tap hole. A remote control may be used to operate the sand dispensing system. The predetermined amount may be adjusted as the fill volume of the tap hole increases.
US09920992B2
A metal scrap submergence device comprising an open top chamber including walls of a heat resistant material, an inlet positioned in a side wall of the chamber, an outlet positioned in the base of said chamber, and a ramp adjacent said side wall of the chamber. The side wall further includes a feature affecting molten metal flow. The feature can include, for example, a baffle, a vane, a passage, a diverging or converging shape and combinations thereof. Similarly, the molten metal flow can be affected by slanting the ramp inwardly or outwardly.
US09920987B2
A system and method of gas liquefaction having a compression sequence for a mixed refrigerant in which a mixing column is used to provide liquid and vapor product streams at least one step of the compression sequence in which a phase separation is desirable. In addition, the compression sequence may optionally or alternatively use a stripper column in at least one step in the compression sequence in which a phase separation is desirable.
US09920984B2
A cooling apparatus is provided in which items to be cooled may be vertically stacked on each other in a state in which the items to be cooled are laid out or laid on their sides. When the items to be cooled are vertically stacked in the cooling apparatus, a problem in that an upper space of the cooling apparatus is not utilized may be solved to efficiently utilize an inside of a refrigerator or a back surface of a door. Also, a problem in that capacity within the refrigerator is reduced when the items to be cooled are horizontally received may be solved.
US09920974B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a refrigeration system by establishing a defrost period during an initial defrost period. One or more compressors of the refrigeration system are monitored to establish if the one or more compressors are running, and a parameter representative of the one or more compressors running is monitored. The monitoring establishes at least one parameter limit value representative of whether a defrost period or a non-defrost period is to be initiated. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a refrigeration system subsequent to an electrical power interruption. The invention also relates to control units for applying one or both of the methods according to the invention, and to a refrigeration system having one or more control units controlling the refrigeration system according to one or both of the methods.
US09920969B2
Provided is an oil level detection device to be mounted on a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, the oil level detection device being configured to detect an oil level of oil accumulated inside a compressor forming the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus. The oil level detection device includes an oil level detection unit installed on an outer surface of the compressor and configured to detect a temperature of an installation position, a sensor output unit configured to output, to the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, a signal for changing an operation state of the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, and a determination unit configured to determine depletion of the oil accumulated inside the compressor based on measurement values obtained by the oil level detection unit at least after an output of the signal to be output from the sensor output unit.
US09920967B2
The hot and cold water air conditioning system includes a water temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of water flowing out of the heat pump heat source apparatus by an operation of the water circulation pump, and a controller configured to perform, in a heating operation, on/off normal control that turns on a compressor when the water temperature detected by the water temperature sensor becomes lower than a target water temperature and turns off the compressor when the water temperature becomes higher than a first temperature value higher than the target water temperature, and to switch from the on/off normal control, upon repeating the on/off operation of the compressor at a minimum frequency necessary for an operation of the compressor in the on/off normal control, to on/off restriction control that turns on the compressor when the water temperature becomes lower than a second temperature value lower than the target water temperature and turns off the compressor when the water temperature becomes equal to or higher than a third temperature value higher than the target water temperature.
US09920965B2
An air conditioner and a method for controlling and air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include at least one compressor, a main suction passage to guide a refrigerant into the at least one compressor, at least one oil separator connected to the at least one compressor, that separates oil from the refrigerant discharged from the at least one compressor, at least one oil level sensor disposed in the at least one compressor to detect whether the at least one compressor lacks oil, a return passage to collect the oil separated from the at least one oil separator into the at least one compressor, a distribution return passage branched from the at least one return passage and connected to the main suction passage, and a valve disposed in each of the at least one return passage and the distribution return passage.
US09920956B2
An absorber tube, especially for solar collectors in solar thermal power plants with at least one collector mirror, is provided. The absorber tube includes a metal tube for supplying and heating a heat transfer medium, a sheath tube surrounding the metal tube to form an annular space that can be evacuated, a wall extending through the sheath tube and the metal tube to seal the annular space, and a getter material binding free hydrogen in the annular space. The absorber tube has a temperature variation device that changes the temperature of the getter material and the wall.
US09920950B2
A chilled beam has separate primary and secondary inlets and plenums each or which generates separate sets of induction jets to draw air through a chilled beam heat exchanger. Various system and method embodiments are described as well as features usable in conventional active chilled beams to facilitate the use variable thermal and ventilation load applications.
US09920945B2
An air-conditioning control apparatus controlling a plurality of air conditioners calculates an adjustment time for adjusting a temperature of an area to be adjusted by the air conditioners to be controlled to between a desired temperature and an allowable temperature, generates a control schedule based on the adjustment time, and controls the air conditioners with the generated control schedule, instead of controlling with a preset stop time which is fixed, in order to bring the temperature around the air conditioners to the desired temperature. Thus, the air conditioners can be made to stop heat exchange before the desired temperature is reached, so that power consumption can be reduced.
US09920937B2
This invention materially enhances the quality of the environment and mankind by contributing to the restoration or maintenance of the basic life-sustaining natural elements, by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide introduced to the atmosphere from a combustion system, achieved by furnishing a system's approach to optimize the amount of oxygen to be chemically combined with fuel upon ignition of both allowing the correct amount of carbon to combine with the correct amount of oxygen thus fully release the thermal energy stored therein.
US09920934B2
A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-open signal if an oven door is in an open position. An electric broiling element is activated to perform an open-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-open signal. The temperature within a cooking chamber is determined during the open-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a first shutoff temperature. The method also includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a second shutoff temperature.
US09920928B2
This invention provides a system (10) for generating energy from waste material. The system comprises a first batch processing oven (12) for generating syngas and a second batch processing oven (14) for generating syngas. At least one thermal treatment chamber (20) heats the syngas after it is produced, and an energy converter (22) converts energy from the syngas to electrical energy.
US09920922B2
An automatic light intensity compensating device of a surgical light includes a suspension or support system and one or multiple light heads carried on the suspension or support system. Each of the light head includes a housing, one or multiple grips mounted to the housing for hand holding and moving the light head to a desired position, one or multiple light sources mounted in the housing for illumination, a focus adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focal length of illumination, a focusing detection mechanism for detecting a position of the focus adjustment mechanism within a variation range, and an automatic illuminance compensation device, which automatically increases or decreases luminance of the light source according to the position of the focus adjustment mechanism.
US09920918B1
A portable light having a light head with a plurality of light elements and a rotatable diffuser to selectively diffuse the light produced by the light elements. The diffuser is operable by an actuator. The actuator further includes a switch for controlling the dimming level of the light elements. A separate switch controls whether the light is “on” or “off”.
US09920901B2
An LED lensing arrangement for lighting fixtures includes (1) a rigid light-transmissive outer structure having an outwardly-facing light-exit surface and an outer-structure light-input surface, (2) an optically-clear molded polymeric inner structure having a light-entrance surface and a light-output surface which is adhered to the outer-structure light-input surface, the inner structure being of a material which is pourable upon molding, one example being a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) material, and (3) at least one LED light source secured with respect to and optically coupled to the inner-structure light-entrance surface.
US09920896B2
A lighting apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of lighting elements coupled to the housing, wherein a first subset of the plurality of lighting elements is powered by a solar power source and a second subset of the plurality of lighting elements is powered by a low-voltage electrical power source, and a switch for selectively switching between operation of the first subset and the second subset.
US09920895B2
A street light has a hollow standard having a lower end and an upper end. The standard is root mounted at its lower end and supports a lamp and a solar panel. An illumination circuit is mounted in the base compartment and connects a battery to the lamp for control of the lamp. A charging circuit connects the battery to the solar panel and to an electricity connection for charging. A control circuit inside the base compartment controls the brightness. The electricity connection extends from the root portion of the standard for connection of the light to an AC electricity supply. The charging circuit is programmed to connect the battery to the electricity supply at low electricity tariff times and to disconnect the battery from the mains before high electricity tariff times. The charging circuit is programmed to connect the battery to the solar panel for charging during daylight.
US09920887B2
The invention relates to a housing (1) for an electrical device wherein an inner surface (2) of said housing has a conductive pattern (3) providing at least one conductive track, said track being arranged to provide local electric interconnection from the housing to at least one enclosed electrical component of said electrical device and/or vice versa, wherein the conductive pattern is fixedly fastened to said inner surface (2) of said housing so that said conductive pattern will break if the housing wall is broken where the conductive pattern is fastened.
US09920884B2
A device for filling a small portable pressure vessel from a larger pressure vessel with a compressed fluid such as carbon dioxide. The device comprises an inlet adapted to receive fluid from a pressurized source, and an outlet adapted to connect to a pressure vessel. Between the inlet and the outlet there is a fill valve and a vent valve and at least one cam shaft configured to rotate and operate the valves.
US09920882B2
In a method and apparatus for filling a gas in a gas compartment portion of a bag, a bag-conveying gripper (41) including a pair of gripping elements (45 and 46), and the inner surface (gripping surface) of the gripping element (45) being formed with a shallow groove (47). The bag-conveying gripper (41) grips the sealed portion (12) of the bag, and a neck section (16a) of the gas compartment portion (16) in the sealed portion is held at a groove formed in the gripping elements of the bag-conveying gripper. Compressed gas is ejected into the gas compartment portion through incision (17) formed in the neck section, inflating the gas compartment portion 16. The inflated shape of the neck section held by the bag-conveying gripper is restricted to a flat configuration by the inner surfaces of the bag-conveying gripper.
US09920878B2
A lubrication system for lubricating bearings that includes at least one lubrication pump for pumping lubricant to the bearings and at least one metering valve for distributing the pumped lubricant throughout the lubrication system to the bearings. The system further includes a lubrication controller in communication with the at least one lubrication pump and at least one metering valve for controlling the lubrication system. The controller has firmware configured to provide a sequence of instructions to perform specified tasks and hardware that carries out the sequence of instructions to perform the specified tasks. In an unconfigured and unconnected state, the lubrication controller can be configured by reprogramming the firmware, to selectively control at least one of a series progressive lubrication system, a dual line lubrication system and a single line parallel lubrication system.
US09920871B2
A blast wave damper comprises a section of duct, with a multiplicity of rigid elements each extending across the duct. All the elements are parallel to each other, and they are arranged in an array consisting of a multiplicity of lines, each such line extending across the duct. The elements in one line are staggered relative to the elements in an adjacent line, and the gaps between successive elements within a line are no wider than the widths of the elements. There may be ten columns of tubular elements in a regular array. This may be combined with a louver mechanism arranged to shut if the pressure drop exceeds a threshold.
US09920866B2
A fitting device includes a fitting body having an interior surface defining an interior, a packing assembly maintained within the fitting body interior, a retaining nut, and a shoe member maintained between the retaining nut and the axially outer rim of the fitting body, whereupon inserted tubes or pipes can be securely inserted into the fitting interior and maintained therein.
US09920862B2
A fluid conduit comprises a wall defining a fluid flow path and a confinement feature within the wall and being configured to confine energy within a cavity, wherein at least a portion of the fluid flow path extends through the cavity. The confinement feature may be configured to confine electromagnetic energy. The fluid conduit may comprise an oscillator defined by the cavity and a positive feedback arrangement. The fluid conduit may be configured for sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit or for use in sensing a property of a fluid present in or flowing through the fluid conduit.
US09920850B2
A flow control valve including a main valve and a pilot valve for controlling a piston of the main valve. The pilot valve is controlled in part with relatively high pressure fluid ported from a high pressure port of a flow sensor and relatively low pressure fluid ported from a low pressure port of a flow sensor, and also controlled with a control fluid applied to a control plate acting on a compression spring to bias the pilot valve. The pressure in the control fluid is controlled by pressurizing a control fluid reservoir with a mechanism accessible from outside the valve and the piping in which the valve is installed. The flow sensor and the reservoir are preferably disposed within the flange of the valve.
US09920846B2
Methods and systems are provided for regulating fluid flow through a three-way valve assembly, including a three-way split conduit coupled to a movable rotary ring with plurality of openings. In one example, a three-way split conduit may include one fluid inlet conduit splitting into two outlet conduits with an included angle of less than 90 degrees between the two splitting outlet conduits. A movable rotary ring coupled to the three-way split conduit may be rotated by an actuator to open or block the three way split conduits, regulating the fluid flow passages along the three-way valve assembly.
US09920842B1
A choke valve body of a valve apparatus includes a lower stem that terminating at a lower end thereof with a plug. A conduit traverses a lower portion of the lower stem between at least one plug aperture traversing the plug to at least one top aperture traversing an upper end of the lower portion. The lower portion is slidably retained within the valve chamber between closed and open positions. A bonnet fixed with the valve body has a bonnet chamber for receiving the lower portion, and a bore with at least one annular seal for slidably retaining an upper portion. A yoke assembly is fixed with the bonnet, terminates at an upper end with a drive mechanism, and includes an upper stem with a threaded upper end that is driven between raised and lowered positions by the drive mechanism, the upper stem fixed with the lower stem.
US09920840B2
The present invention provides a valve with different threads for preventing rotation of and locking a bonnet with the valve.
US09920839B1
A controlled leakage, hydrostatic, mechanical seal that eliminates sources of contact friction; advantageously locating contact friction forces to be in alignment with the seal face centroid; optimizes the seal face design to achieve maximum hydrostatic film stiffness and minimum sensitivity to radial taper; eliminating unnecessary O-rings and other sources of significant force variation; utilizes a design-for-manufacture approach to design hardware that can be consistently manufactured to precise tolerances; optimizes the double delta channel seal to achieve adequate compression, minimal frictional drag force, and maximum wear resistance; eliminates sources of circumferential waviness such as bolt preload and other non-axisymmetric features; and, thermally isolates components of different materials to mitigate the deformation due to differential thermal expansion.
US09920837B2
A sealing device suppresses deterioration of sealing properties due to plastic deformation (settling) of an outer circumferential lip, including a packing (10) having an outer circumferential lip (12) provided on a sealed fluid side and an inner circumferential lip (13) on an inner circumferential side, and a metal spring member (20) mounted in a mounting groove (11) and having an outer circumferential pressing portion (21) that extends radially outward and toward the sealed fluid side from a groove bottom of the mounting groove (11) and presses the outer circumferential lip (12) radially outward, and an inner circumferential pressing portion (22) that extends radially inward and toward the sealed fluid side from the groove bottom of the mounting groove (11) and presses the inner circumferential lip (13) radially inward. Among the outer circumferential lip (12) and the inner circumferential lip (13), a protrusion (13a) for preventing the spring member (20) from coming off is provided only on the inner circumferential lip (13).
US09920830B2
A planetary gearbox includes a gearbox housing, a sunwheel rotatable in the housing about a central gearbox axis and having outer teeth, a ringwheel arranged concentrically to the central gearbox axis within the housing and having inner teeth, a planet gear carrier rotatable in the gearbox housing about the central gearbox axis, and a plurality of planet gears mounted on the planet gear carrier for rotation about corresponding planetary gear pins and having outer teeth meshing with the inner teeth on the ringwheel and the outer teeth of the sunwheel. At least one segmented radial sliding bearing supports the planet gear carrier on the gearbox housing and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart radial sliding bearing segments positioned radially outside the planetary gear pins so that the planet gear carrier is supported by the radial sliding bearing at a position located radially outside the planetary gear pins.
US09920821B2
A high-load linear actuator includes a driving mechanism, a worm shaft, a worm wheel assembly, a lead screw, a telescopic pipe and an outer pipe. The driving mechanism includes a base and a motor. The base has a supporting portion and an accommodating portion. The motor is fixed to the supporting portion. The worm shaft extends from the motor into the supporting portion. The worm wheel assembly includes a worm wheel and two bearings for supporting the worm wheel in the accommodating portion. The worm wheel is engaged with the worm shaft. The lead screw is disposed through the worm wheel and driven by the motor for rotation. The telescopic pipe slips on the lead screw to be threadedly connected therewith. The outer pipe slips on the telescopic pipe. The rotation of the lead screw drives the telescopic pipe to linearly extend or retract relative to the outer pipe.
US09920816B2
A transmission that reduces the difference of rotational speed when engaging a main shaft-side sprocket and a main shaft-outer shaft, in a low-speed traveling mode. When shifting from first gear to neutral in the transmission, a dog on a drive gear is engaged with a dog hole in a main shaft-side sprocket, engagement between a dog on a driven gear for first gear and a dog hole in a driven gear is released, and then a first clutch and a second clutch are disconnected with the drive gear and the main shaft-side sprocket being engaged.
US09920815B2
An energy guiding chain (12) with additional protection against a line break is proposed. It includes link members (20) or segments for guiding one or more lines like cables, hoses or the like, wherein the link members or segments can be angled relative to each other to form a direction-changing curve (28). The protection means includes a detector for monitoring the energy guiding chain. The detector (16) is mechanically operatively connected to a low-stretch triggering cord (30) and has a sensor (36) for detecting a kinematic parameter of the triggering cord (30). A break (13) in the energy guiding chain (12 can be detected in good time by a change in the kinematic parameter. In that way guided cables, hoses or the like can be protected against a line break.
US09920792B2
A torsional vibration damper, including: an axis of rotation; a spring retainer plate including a plurality of openings passing through and wholly surrounded by material forming the spring retainer plate and a plurality of rivet tabs, each rivet tab including a respective portion aligned with a respective opening from the plurality of openings so that a line in an axial direction, parallel to the axis of rotation, passes through the respective portion and the respective opening; an intermediate plate; a plurality of rivets passing through the plurality of rivet tabs and connecting the intermediate plate to the spring retainer plate; and a plurality of springs engaged with the spring retainer plate.
US09920791B2
A rolling bearing with a rotation sensor includes an inner race and an outer race, one of which is a rotating race and the other of which is a stationary race. An annular magnetic encoder alternately magnetized in opposite polarities in its circumferential direction is mounted on the rotating race. A magnetic sensor configured to detect the changes in magnetic flux when the magnetic encoder is rotated is mounted in a resin sensor housing mounted on the stationary race. The sensor housing is made of a resin material including a resin composition containing polyphenylene sulfide, an inorganic filler, and glass fiber.
US09920780B2
Provided is a slewing drive apparatus for a construction machine capable of satisfactory pump-flow-rate control regardless of change in engine speed, including a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a slewing motor, a slewing operation device, a control valve, a relief valve, and a pump-flow-rate control device that performs a relief cut control and includes: a section for detecting an engine revolution number Ne and a slewing speed of a slewing body; a section for determining a target pump flow rate Qo that is a sum of a slewing-speed correspondence flow rate Q1 and a minimum required relief flow rate Qmin; a section for determining a target pump-tilt-angle qtg obtained by dividing the target pump flow rate Qo by the detected engine revolution number Ne; and a section for adjusting an actual pump-tilt-angle of the hydraulic pump so as to bring the actual pump-tilt-angle to the target pump-tilt-angle qtg.
US09920779B2
An aircraft hydraulic thermal management system utilizes fuel to cool hydraulic fluid by means of a heat exchanger. A hydraulic pump includes a case drain flow of hydraulic fluid at a first temperature to drive a hydraulic motor; the hydraulic motor circulates hydraulic fluid to a reservoir at a second temperature. The heat exchanger is positioned remotely of the fuel tank, and has first and second channels positioned in thermal communication to transfer heat from the hydraulic fluid to the fuel. The hydraulic motor is mechanically coupled to the fuel pump; the hydraulic motor, driven by case drain flow through the first channel, thus operates the fuel pump to move fuel through the second channel. The thermal management system is configured to assure that a) the hydraulic pump circulates hydraulic fluid to the reservoir at the second temperature, and b) the second temperature is always lower than the first temperature.
US09920778B2
A valve (10) for the temperature-dependent control of at least one hydraulic load includes a valve housing (12) with a tank connection (T), a working connection (A), and a supply connection (P). A control piston (30) controls the connections (A, P, T), is moveable in the valve housing (12) and is preloaded by a working spring (74). A thermal element (62) can be supplied with a fluid at a specifiable temperature (TFIuid) and is actively coupled to the control piston (30). The control piston can be moved by control pressure present at the supply connection (P). The thermal element (62) interacts with the working spring (74) such that the thermal element causes a temperature-dependent change of the preload force acting on the control piston (30).
US09920775B2
The present invention is a distributed piston elastomeric accumulator which stores energy when its elastomeric member stretches from its original length in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is returned when the fluid flow is reversed and the accumulator discharges the fluid as its elastomeric member returns to its original length and moves the piston to its initial position. At least one part of the novelty of the invention is that the accumulator is not subject to radial strain gradients and the accumulator allows for precise pressure and linear position measurements. Accordingly, the invention allows for optimization of the energy strain storage capacity of a given elastomer.
US09920772B2
A system may include a reversible fan module that creates an airflow. The reversible fan module may include a set of attachment members, disposed on a face of the reversible fan module, that secure the reversible fan module a first orientation or a second orientation. The system may further include a chassis that include a divider that divides an interior region of the chassis into a front compartment and a rear compartment, a window, disposed on the divider, that allows airflow between the front compartment and the rear compartment, a first opening in the chassis that opens the front compartment to a first external region, a second opening in the chassis that opens the rear compartment to a second external region, and a bay that receives the reversible fan module.
US09920770B2
A flow machine with a rotor-side shaft includes: a stator-side housing in which the rotor-side shaft is mounted; a seal bushing configured to seal a gap between the stator-side housing and the rotor-side shaft; a retaining bolt configured to center the seal bushing at the stator-side housing in a heat-resilient manner; and a clamp configured to fix the seal bushing in a positively engaging manner at the stator-side housing while ensuring a radial displaceability of the seal bushing relative to the stator-side housing.
US09920766B2
Systems and methods for sump pump remote monitoring can include control circuitry integrated into a portable housing, with a backup sump pump connected to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can be powered by a line power and when the line power is not available, the control circuitry can be powered by a battery power. The control circuitry can be connected to a control panel, and the control circuitry can include a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer to measure a pressure in a fluid level sensor, and based on the measured pressure, the control circuitry to adjust the speed of the backup sump pump. A wireless controller can be connected to the control circuitry, the wireless controller for wirelessly receiving monitoring instructions and wirelessly transmitting backup sump pump status data, with the control circuitry providing an indication of the backup sump pump status data to the control panel.
US09920765B2
A system and method for sensing level of a fluid associated with a submersible pump having an impeller driven by an associated motor include a fluid level sensor having a probe with a plurality of discrete resistive elements each having an associated contact pair substantially evenly spaced along a length of the probe and an associated switch powered by an induced voltage or current generated by power provided to the submersible pump motor and activated by the fluid conducting across the contact pair to shunt the associated discrete resistive element.
US09920755B2
A pump having at least two fluid drivers and a method of delivering fluid from an inlet of the pump to an outlet of the pump using the at least two fluid drivers. Each of the fluid drives includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement member. The prime mover drives the fluid displacement member to transfer fluid. The fluid drivers are independently operated. However, the fluid drivers are operated such that contact between the fluid drivers is synchronized. That is, operation of the fluid drivers is synchronized such that the fluid displacement member in each fluid driver makes contact with another fluid displacement member. The contact can include at least one contact point, contact line, or contact area.
US09920754B2
An air maintenance tire pump simulator that simulates the environment of an air maintenance tire system is provided. The simulator includes at least one pneumatic cylinder, a structure that forms a closed cavity, and a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the pneumatic cylinder and the closed cavity. A cam is operably connected to a motor, and is also operably connected to the pneumatic cylinder. Engagement of the motor actuates rotation of the cam, which in turn actuates operation of the pneumatic cylinder to increase a pressure in the closed cavity. A method of simulating an air maintenance tire system is also provided.
US09920752B2
A fluid pump includes a pump body having a fluid path with an inlet and an outlet. The fluid pump also includes a diaphragm disposed along the fluid path between the inlet and the outlet, a non-return valve to control direction of flow along the fluid path, and a diaphragm actuating unit. The diaphragm actuating unit includes an unbalanced motor. Further, a steam generator may include the fluid pump.
US09920745B2
Wind farm comprising a farm master and a plurality of wind energy installations. The farm master has a controller with an input for a control parameter for power supplied to a grid and transmits desired value specifications to a local controller of the wind energy installations. The local controller has a dual structure and comprises a desired value channel, to which the desired value specification is applied by the farm master and which is designed to output a stationary reactive power desired value, and a responsive channel comprising an autonomous controller, to which no desired value specification is applied by the farm master and to which an actual voltage of the particular wind energy installation is applied via a washout filter. The autonomous controller with the washout filter enables a fast and dependent response to transient disturbances (e.g., voltage spikes and voltage dips as a result of a short circuit).
US09920744B2
The present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for detecting rotor asymmetry of a wind turbine. The method includes measuring wind condition at a location downwind of the rotor for a plurality of rotor positions. Another step includes storing the measured wind condition(s) in predetermined wind bins. The method also includes analyzing the stored wind conditions for each of the predetermined wind bins. If a particular wind bin reaches a certain threshold of captured data points, then the method includes determining a variance between each of the stored wind conditions for the predetermined wind bins that have reached the threshold, wherein a variance between any one of the measured wind conditions greater than a predetermined amount is indicative of rotor asymmetry.
US09920738B2
A method for introducing microwave energy into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine in which the microwaves reach a combustion chamber through a microwave window, wherein the microwaves are run about a circumference of the combustion chamber and radially coupled into the combustion chamber after passing through the microwave window. Accordingly a device for introducing microwave energy into the combustion chamber of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder with a cylinder head and a combustion chamber in the cylinder includes at least one circumferential annular hollow conductor cavity extending about the combustion chamber and including at least one feed for the microwave and at least one outlet opening for the microwave arranged between the annular hollow conductor cavity and the combustion chamber. An internal combustion engine includes the features of the device.
US09920736B2
In a general aspect, a circuit for controlling operation of an ignition circuit including an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) device can include a current slope detection circuit configured to detect a slope of a current in a primary winding of an ignition coil included in the ignition circuit and a driver circuit coupled with the current slope detection circuit. The current slope detection circuit can be further configured to, during charging of the ignition coil, if the detected slope is above a first limit, provide a first indication to the driver circuit; and, if the detected slope is below a second limit, provide a second indication to the driver circuit. The driver circuit can be configured to, in response to receiving the first indication or the second indication, modify operation of the ignition circuit.
US09920731B2
A method for restart when Start-Stop Coasting (SSC) is released may include: determining whether a traveling vehicle satisfies a condition for releasing SSC after entry into SSC (S100); determining whether emergency startup of the vehicle is required (S200) when the traveling vehicle satisfies the condition for releasing SSC after entry into SSC; and performing a first startup process (S300) in which a clutch (420) is engaged along with an operation of a starter motor (430) when the emergency startup of the vehicle is required.
US09920729B2
Embodiments may provide a starting device for a gas internal combustion engine whereby non-combusted gas accumulating in the gas internal combustion engine and an exhaust channel is discharged before ignition startup of the gas internal combustion engine and abnormal combustion of the gas internal combustion engine is prevented so as to improve safety, breakage prevention, durability and reliability. A starting device of a gas internal combustion engine 1 having an air starting device 30 includes a rotation-speed detection unit of the gas internal combustion engine 1, a compressed-air introduction unit 5 for supplying compressed air to each of cylinders according to an order of an ignition timing of the gas internal combustion engine 1, a compressed-air supply unit 3 for supplying the compressed air to the compressed-air introduction unit 5, and a control device 2 including a cumulative rotation-speed setting device 21 whereby an operator can set a threshold value of a cumulative rotation speed optionally, the control device 2 being configured to halt supply of the compressed air by the compressed-air supply unit 3 if a set cumulative rotation speed is achieved on the basis of the rotation speed detected by the rotation-speed detection unit.
US09920723B2
A multilayered motor vehicle pipeline, wherein the pipeline has at least two layers, preferably at least three layers of plastic. At least one surface of at least one layer connected to another layer is configured profiled, wherein the profiling has maxima and minima. The height difference Δh between the maxima and the minima directly adjacent to the maxima is between 1 and 100 μm.
US09920722B2
An intake system of an engine includes an engine and an intake manifold. The intake manifold defines individual intake air passageways each connecting one of cylinders to a volume chamber. Each of the individual intake passageways includes a first route and a second route. The first route has a natural frequency, of an air column, synchronized with a first revolution higher than an engine revolution for maximum torque such that a dynamic supercharging effect is obtained at the first revolution. The second route has a natural frequency, of an air column, synchronized with a second revolution higher than the engine revolution for maximum torque such that a dynamic supercharging effect is obtained at the second revolution. The second revolution differs from the first revolution. A difference between the first and second revolutions is set lower than or equal to 15% of a maximum engine revolution.
US09920715B2
Various methods and systems are provided for adjusting a flow of exhaust gas in an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises controlling a flow of exhaust gas through an exhaust gas recirculation system of an engine system based on a choke level of a turbocharger. For example, the flow of exhaust gas in the exhaust gas recirculation system may be reduced to within a threshold of a choke level of the turbocharger, in response to an ambient condition.
US09920711B2
A natural gas fueling system supplies methane gas to an engine and includes a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a gas inlet configured to receive inlet gas and a methane permeable filter configured to separate methane gas and first contaminant gases from the inlet gas. The natural gas fueling system also includes a reformer apparatus configured to convert the first contaminant gases into a reformed gas stream including methane gas. The reformed gas is supplied to the gas inlet and is recirculated through the filter assembly to extract the methane gas from the reformed gas stream.
US09920708B2
A nose cone assembly for a gas turbine engine and method of circulating air in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The nose cone assembly includes a nose cone having an aperture communicating air to an interior space of the nose cone and a discharge member communicating the air out of the nose cone.
US09920703B2
At least after off of an injection pulse of partial lift injection, a first filtered voltage Vsm1 being a negative terminal voltage Vm of a fuel injection valve filtered by a first low-pass filter having a first frequency f1 as a cutoff frequency, the first frequency f1 being lower than a frequency of a noise component, is acquired, and a second filtered voltage Vsm2 being the negative terminal voltage Vm filtered by a second low-pass filter having a second frequency f2 as a cutoff frequency, the second frequency f2 being lower than the first frequency f1, is acquired. Time from a predetermined reference timing to a timing when a difference Vdiff (=Vsm1−Vsm2) between the filtered voltages has an inflection point is calculated as voltage inflection time Tdiff, and the injection pulse of the partial lift injection is corrected based on the voltage inflection time Tdiff.
US09920689B2
A hybrid propulsion system includes a wave rotor combustion engine operating in parallel with an electrical motor-generator element. The motor-generator element is coupled to the turbine shaft to selectively drive or be driven by the turbine shaft. In one mode of operation, the motor of the motor generator element is powered by a battery to provide rotational energy to the turbine shaft. In another mode of operation, the wave rotor combustion engine drives the generator to recharge the battery. The wave rotor combustion engine may be further directly coupled to auxiliary components without a gearbox to drive the components at substantially the same speed as the turbine shaft. The turbine rotor of the combustion engine includes a plurality of chambers defined by circumferentially spaced curved vanes that improves specific fuel consumption for the engine.
US09920688B2
Combustion engine having a rotor, a housing and at least two combustion chambers which are formed between the rotor and the housing, wherein the housing has at least one ignition recess on the side thereof which faces the rotor, into which ignition recess a fuel feed and ignition system opens. At least one valve device which is mounted rotatably in the housing is configured for dividing the combustion chambers at least temporarily into an ignition chamber and a compression chamber. The valve device has at least one rotor passage section, at least one closing section and at least one gas passage section. Alternatively, the valve device temporarily at the same time disconnects a compression chamber from a first combustion chamber and an ignition chamber from a second combustion chamber, wherein there is a fluidic connection during this time between the ignition chamber and the compression chamber.
US09920684B2
A combustion chamber is provided within an internal combustion engine, the chamber bounded by a cylinder bore, a primary end, and a secondary end. The secondary end reciprocates between a TDC position nearest the primary end and a BDC position. Induction and exhaust ports are timed to open and close to transfer air into, and gasses from, the chamber. The chamber becomes fuel stratified when the secondary end is positioned within a stratified distance of the primary end. When stratified, the chamber is comprised of a central region, a perimeter region, and a transfer passageway between regions. A fuel injector at the primary end injects fuel only into the central region and only prior to ignition. The perimeter region pumps air into the central region prior to ignition, creating tumble turbulence. Combustion is initiated near TDC in the central region and concluded near TDC in the transfer passageway.
US09920669B2
Method to control the sealing of a blow-by gas breather circuit of an internal combustion engine, comprising a separator device to agglomerate the particles of finely atomised lubricating oil and to remove the solid particulate particles and having an outlet connected by a pipe to an intake pipe through which the gas purified from the lubricating oil and the particulate flows out and a pressure sensor; the method providing the following steps: acquiring the signal coming from said pressure sensor; filtering the signal coming from the pressure sensor; integrating over time the square of the filtrated signal coming from the pressure sensor; and determining the sealing of the pipe according to the integrated signal which is the combustion energy generated by the internal combustion engine.
US09920662B2
A cam cap is placed on a journal of a camshaft attached to a sprocket to constitute a bearing supporting the journal. The cam cap includes an accommodating groove in which a thrust plate provided on the journal is accommodated, an oil passage having an opening at a position facing a camshaft oil groove of the journal, the oil passage communicating with the accommodating groove, and an oil reservoir provided in a first sidewall of the accommodating groove. The cam cap is placed on the journal such that the accommodating groove is located at a position closer to the sprocket than is the opening of the oil passage. When the thrust plate is accommodated in the accommodating groove, the oil passage and the oil reservoir communicate with each other at a position outward of an outer peripheral edge of the thrust plate in a radial direction of the thrust plate.
US09920658B2
A system and method for providing dry cooling of a source liquid, having a plurality of heat exchangers which depolymerize and polymerize a polymer. Specifically, the depolymerization process is endothermic and draws heat from a source liquid in a first heat exchanger, and the polymerization process is exothermic and expels heat from a second heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers and holding tanks may be incorporated in the system and method. In some embodiments the system further provides additional cooling of the polymer prior to depolymerization using cooler night ambient air.
US09920656B2
A barrier coating for isolating a metallic support component from a composite component in a gas turbine engine is provided. The barrier coating may be applied to the metallic support component so that when the ceramic component is mounted on the metallic support component the barrier coating is engaged.
US09920655B2
A gas turbine having a guide vane assembly (2) and a securing ring (1) for axially locking the guide vane assembly in position that has a radially outer rim (1A) which is configured in a housing-side groove (3.1), a radially inner rim (1B) which is configured outside of the groove, and a slot (10) which extends from the radially outer rim to the radially inner rim, and a first flank having a radially inner rim section (12) and an undercut portion (11), the radially inner rim section forming an angle (α) of at least 50° with the radially inner rim.
US09920644B2
A seal of a turbomachine reduces a leakage flow between a first and second component of the turbomachine. The first component has a first surface and the second component has a second surface, wherein the first component is stiff with regard to a first force exerted perpendicularly thereto and the second component is stiff with regard to a second force exerted perpendicularly thereto. The first surface is opposite the second surface, together defining boundaries of a fluid passage for the leakage flow. The first surface has a first surface riffle. A turbomachine has a seal described above, wherein the turbomachine is a gas turbine engine. A method of manufacturing a first component of a turbomachine with a reduced leakage flow between the first component and a second component of the turbomachine includes fabrication of a first surface riffle, in particular by grinding and/or by electrical discharge machining.
US09920643B2
A distributor device for distributing cooling air within a gas turbine engine, the device including a base mountable adjacent an inlet for air to be distributed; and a deflector supported by the base and in fluid communication with the air inlet, the deflector being configured to direct air from the air inlet in a plurality of directions within the engine; wherein the deflector includes one or more deflecting surfaces curvilinearly configured to direct the air differentially in a plurality of desired directions within the engine. In embodiments the deflecting surface(s) is/are curved and are so configured such that air from the air inlet is directable either: (i) in directions of travel in each of a plurality of desired different, non-parallel directions within the engine; or (ii) in each of a plurality of desired different directions within the engine with different flow rates.
US09920634B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method of manufacturing a component for a turbomachine, such as an airfoil. Another embodiment is a unique airfoil. Yet another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for cooled gas turbine engine components. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US09920630B2
A wind turbine blade (1) is formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material comprising a polymer matrix. The blade (1) further comprises a first region (11), a second region (12) and a transition region (13) between the first and the second region (11, 12). The first region (11) is reinforced predominantly with a first reinforcement fiber material (21). The second region (12) is reinforced predominantly with a second reinforcement fiber material (22). The first and the second reinforcement fiber material differ from each other and has differing E-modulus. The transition region (13) additionally comprises a third type of reinforcement fiber material (23) differing from both the first and the second reinforcement fiber material (21; 22) and having an E-modulus between that of the first reinforcement fiber material (21) and that of the second reinforcement fiber material (22).
US09920613B2
A method (50) and an assembly (10) for milling an obstruction disposed within a wellbore (W) includes a milling module (12) having a motor (22) rotating a milling bit (14), a first electronics cartridge (26) for controlling the motor based upon a motor torque value, a tractor module (16, 18) for engaging with the wellbore and providing a push force against the wellbore to urge the milling assembly in a direction of the milling bit, and a second electronics cartridge (28) for controlling a push force value of tractor module. The method involves rotating the milling bit (54) and engaging the tractor module with the wellbore (56), and adjusting, iteratively, the operation (58) based on a calculated torque value and a calculated push force value to maintain the calculated values at around a target torque value and below a push force limit value (66, 70).
US09920602B2
A swing chamber pump can be situated within a horizontal wellbore for pumping wellbore fluids to surface using a power gas. The pump has two fluidly independent and separate pump chambers, each having a self-orienting gas valve and a self-orienting fluid outlet. A switch alternately directs the power gas into a chamber for conveying stored fluid therein to a production string, while the other chamber passively fills with wellbore fluids. A latency device converts a continuous motion into a sudden snap actuation of the switch and controls a period of delay between the actuation of the switch.
US09920595B2
The present invention provides wellbore cleaning tool and method featuring a wiper assembly which allows fluid to bypass the tool in one direction while diverting the well fluid through a filter screen in another direction. This may be achieved by either circulation of the fluid in the wellbore or by moving the tool relative to the fluid in the wellbore. The wiper assembly includes multiple groups or series of wiper elements wherein one petal shaped element aligns with a slot to form a seal when the tool body is retrieved from the well.
US09920586B2
An apparatus for containing leaks from a stuffing box on a wellhead production assembly, the apparatus comprises a containment vessel consisting of two half shells that are joined below the stuffing box. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a transparent lid having an upper opening to receive a polished rod extending from the stuffing box. The lid is secured to the containment vessel in a liquid tight manner such that the stuffing box is substantially isolated from the environment so that any leaks originating from the stuffing box will be contained in the apparatus.
US09920584B2
A collet lock assembly for use on a downhole tool allows repeat cycling of a “RELEASE” and “SET” position. In the “RELEASE” position, the collet lock assembly allows bi-directional relative movement of the mandrel in relation to the collet lock assembly, while in the “SET” position, the assembly allows bi-directional load transfer along the mandrel directly into the slip assembly while diverting axial loads away from components positioned along the downhole tool.
US09920581B2
A wired pipe assembly includes a first wired pipe segment including a first body extending from a first box end to a first pin end and a second wired pipe segment including a second body extending from a second box end to a second pin end. The assembly also includes an electromagnetic directional coupler including an input line disposed in the first wired pipe segment and an output line disposed in the second wired pipe segment.
US09920578B2
A superabrasive cutter and a method of making the superabrasive cutter are disclosed. The superabrasive cutter may comprise a plurality of polycrystalline superabrasive particles and about 0.01% to about 4% by weight of the superabrasive particles of a dopant as evaluated prior to a high pressure/high temperature process. The dopant may be immiscible with a catalyst for forming the polycrystalline superabrasive particles.
US09920574B2
An apparatus for providing pressurized fluid to a formation that includes a power source body configured to contain a gas-generating fuel and a tool body comprising a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to hold a fluid, and the second chamber is configured to receive gas from the gas-generating fuel within the power source body. The apparatus further comprises a piston sealed between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to stroke through the first chamber in response to a pressure increase within the second chamber, and a hose configured to generate a high-pressure jet of the fluid and to extend from the tool body or a diverter sub into the formation when the piston strokes through the first chamber.
US09920573B1
A drill string coupling and uncoupling method includes forming a well bore by conducting a drilling operation using a drill string having a first drill string segment and a second drill string segment detachably coupled to the first drill string segment; immobilizing the second drill string segment in the well bore; uncoupling the first drill string segment from the second drill string segment; at least partially retracting the first drill string segment in the well bore away from the second drill string segment; reinserting the first drill string segment in the well bore to the second drill string segment; and re-coupling the first drill string segment to the second drill string segment.
US09920568B2
A composite profile for doors, windows, or other facade elements includes a first and second metal profile between which at least one intermediate metal profile is provided. The first metal outer profile is connected to the intermediate metal profile in a first insulating web zone via one or more insulating web(s), and the second metal profile is connected to the intermediate profile in a second insulating web zone via one or more insulating web(s). Both the first and second insulating web zones have different shear strengths orthogonally in relation to the cross-sectional plane of the composite profile.
US09920562B2
A door closing device for installation between a door and a door jamb includes a closer rod having an end configured to be fixed to the door jamb, the closer rod being movable between a withdrawn position in which the door is closed and an extended position in which the door is opened. The device also has a hold-open mechanism that includes a driver fixed to the closer rod and movable between a release position that permits movement of the closer rod, and a hold position that holds the closer rod in the extended position, and a resilient retainer configured to capture the driver in the hold position. The driver is separated from the retainer by a disengagement force applied to the retainer.
US09920559B2
An adjustable sliding privacy screen for a premium class passenger suite may include a guide rail mounted to a wall partition. The adjustable sliding privacy screen may also include a yaw and roll adjustment bracket slidingly attached to the guide rail and to the screen. The yaw and roll adjustment bracket may include a flanged adjustment screw for adjusting the yaw and roll of the screen and a locking screw for securing the yaw and roll adjustment of the screen. The screen may also include a ball joint adjustment bracket slidingly attached to the guide rail and to the screen. The ball joint adjustment bracket may include a ball joint and adjustment screw for adjusting the pitch of the screen and a locking nut for securing the pitch adjustment of the screen. The device of the present invention thus allows for the adjustment of the yaw, roll, and pitch of the screen.
US09920546B2
Components of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are detailed. The components may include brushes configured to attach to blades of scrubbers of the APCs. The flexible brushes may rotate as their associated blades rotate and have fingers which flex so as to adduce contact between a to-be-cleaned pool or spa surface and bristles protruding outward from sides of the fingers.
US09920526B2
Structural systems having coated structural members with enhanced durability are provided, along with methods of making and using the same. Structural members including at least one coating material applied to a substrate that comprises at least one protrusion may exhibit increased strength and/or durability and may be less likely fail during use. For example, structural members as described herein exhibit an improved resistance to cracking when a force is applied to the protrusion. Structural systems according to embodiments of the present invention can be suitable for use in a variety of applications, including in ready-to-assemble furniture or cabinetry applications or as building and construction materials such as wall board, flooring, trim, and the like.
US09920525B1
An acoustical baffle assembly comprising an elongated rigid upper carrier, a rigid panel supported on the carrier and a plurality of clips attaching the panel on the carrier at a plurality of locations along the length of the carrier, the clips each being clinched on an upper edge of the panel and being engaged with the carrier.
US09920523B2
A pressure-sensitive relief panel for screened enclosures of swimming pools, spas or patios is disclosed. By securing the panels with a pressure release system the structure and panels can remain intact year round. If a weather event occurs either with or without warning the panels will automatically provide relief from loads or forces imposed by the event that could cause damage or even collapse of the structure.
US09920521B2
Provided is a construction panel assembly, which is applicable to a detachable method capable of assembling and disassembling a ceiling, a wall or a floor material which partitions spaces of various kinds of buildings. Also, the construction panel assembly allows materials to be reused, so that the generation of construction waste may be minimized.
US09920520B2
A privacy screen apparatus can include a body having a plurality of elongated recesses and between elongated pillow regions. The pillow regions can have a larger width than the recesses. In some embodiments, the body can be configured to bend about the elongated recesses to different configurations. A plurality of stand elements can be connected to the bottom of the body to permit the body to be free standing. In other embodiments, a plurality of connectors can be connected to the body for connecting the body to an article of furniture, such as a tabletop or a desktop.
US09920516B2
An insulation system includes roof sheathing panels, spaced apart structural members, a plurality of pins, insulation support material, and insulation. The plurality of pins are secured to the roof sheathing panels, the structural members, or both. The insulation support material is connected to the pins to form an insulation cavity below the roof sheathing panels and below the structural members. Insulation is disposed on the insulation support material, between the spaced apart structural members and directly under the bottommost surfaces of the structural members.
US09920509B2
The current invention comprises a flexible conduit means for an exhaust system of a combustion engine vehicle, comprising a bellows member (2), an outer flexible braided or knitted member (3) enclosing the bellows member, a resilient member (4), that is elastically deformable and encloses the outer braided or knitted member at least partially and abuts against it, whereas the bellows member comprises two corrugated portions (21), a connecting portion (24) between the corrugated portions, and the resilient member (4) encloses the connecting portion at least partially, the connecting portion (24) comprises flanks (25) that are formed at its axial ends and extend at least in a radial direction, and a curved portion (26) which connects the flanks with each other and which is at least partially enclosed by the resilient member (4).
US09920507B2
A valve including a housing having a first inlet chamber defined by a first chamber wall and configured to receive the cold water, a second inlet chamber defined by a second chamber wall and configured to receive the hot water, and a mixing chamber configured to receive the cold water from the first inlet chamber and the hot water from the second inlet chamber, wherein at least a portion of the mixing chamber is located between the first and second chamber walls; a first flow control valve extending through the first inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of cold water from the first inlet chamber to the mixing chamber; and a second flow control valve extending through the second inlet chamber and moveable relative to the housing for controlling the flow of hot water from the second inlet chamber to the mixing chamber.
US09920501B2
A rollered grading assembly, including an elongated roller drum, an axle extending through the drum, an elongated housing partially enclosing the drum and connected to the axle, an elongated blade connected to the housing, a pivot rod perpendicular to the axle and connected to the housing, a coupler connected to the housing, and a pivot actuator connected to the coupler and housing. The coupler has a proximal end connected to the housing portion and positioned adjacent the roller drum and a spaced distal end extending away from the housing. Movement of the distal end a first distance while the proximal end remains stationary urges the housing to pivot around the drum and move the blade portion a second, shorter distance into a desired position relative grade.
US09920498B2
The present invention relates to floating lakes and to the treatment of the water in such lakes. The present invention further relates to large floating lakes that can be installed within a natural or artificial water body to improve water conditions that are unsuitable for recreational uses. The floating lake can be provided with a chemical application system; a filtration system including a mobile suctioning device and filters; a skimmer system, and optionally a coordination system.
US09920497B2
An appendage or apparatus attached to the leading edge of a shovel for the purpose of small shock absorption from contact between paved roadways and the shovel. The invention aims to prevent the most basic fissures and cracks at contact with the roadway without complicated devices and can be retrofitted onto existing shovels.
US09920490B2
A prefabricated paving slab includes specialized combinations of substantially vertical passages and cavities to enable “drop in” installation. The paving slab may include retractable coupling rods aligned using spacers having seating surfaces and alignment surfaces. Cavities of the paving slab, each configured for receiving a coupling rod, preferably are arranged in orientation(s) and pattern(s) selected for receiving and transferring the stresses of loads travelling in a pre-determined direction.
US09920484B2
The present invention relates to a method of making a paper product having improved printing characteristics. This is achieved by forming a fibrous substrate, and applying a surface treatment which comprises an aqueous composition. Notably, the aqueous composition includes surface enhanced pulp fibers, with the placement of the surface enhanced pulp fibers optimizing their functionality, with surface placement by use of a paper machine size press desirably facilitating a reduction in the typical starch usage. The present method comprising the steps of providing a aqueous slurry comprising a blend of cellulosic fibers and water and dewatering the aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers and water to form a fibrous substrate. The present method further includes applying a surface treatment to the fibrous substrate, wherein the surface treatment comprises an aqueous composition including surface enhanced pulp fibers, to form a treated fibrous substrate, and thereafter drying the treated fibrous substrate to form a paper product having enhanced printing characteristics.
US09920479B2
A process of analyzing wear on a papermaking fabric includes forming a first representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. A first image is generated based on the first representation. At least one characteristic related to the surface of the fabric is determined using the first image. The fabric is worn. A second representation of a portion of the surface of the fabric is formed showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. A second image of the knuckles of the fabric is generated based on the second representation. At least one characteristic related to the surface of the fabric is determined using the second image. The determining steps are performed using an image analysis program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.
US09920478B2
A sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the invention includes: a manufacturing unit which manufactures a sheet; a supplying unit which supplies a mounted material mounted thereon to the manufacturing unit; and a determination unit which determines whether or not to initiate manufacturing of the sheet in a state where the mounted material is mounted on the supplying unit.
US09920465B2
A washing machine contains a wash tub, an impeller and a motor. Clothing is put into the tub and the load is detected. Water is added until the water level is below or equal to load height. To begin washing, the impeller drives the clothing to overturn, resulting in generating three types of water flows: agitating flow, enhancing flow and balancing flow. At first, the agitating flow breaks the balance of the load to disperse clothing, then the enhancing flow overturns clothing for washing. Finally, the balancing flow maintains the circulation path for the load balance overturning. Single sequential control or repeatedly alternating cycle control of the three types of water flows can be adopted for washing. The invention can save water, improve washing efficiency and avoid intertwining of clothing, characterized by full-range, thorough, repeated and efficient washing.
US09920458B2
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a yarn constituted by a multi-filament core coated in a polymer sheath. The sheath is made by depositing a miscible mixture of molten polymers on the multi-filament core, the mixture comprising: at least one flame-retarding agent; and at least two polymers that, in the molten state, do not establish mutual permanent chemical bonds, with one of the polymers, referred to as the co-flame-retarding polymer, presenting both a glass transition temperature that is significantly lower than the glass transition temperature of the other polymer, referred to as the base polymer, and also a melting temperature that is likewise significantly lower than the melting temperature of the base polymer; said deposition being followed by a cooling step during which the base polymer freezes first and the co-flame-retarding polymer migrates outwards entraining at least a fraction of the flame-retarding agent therewith.
US09920455B2
A cellulosic fiber includes a fiber body including a cellulosic material and non-encapsulated phase change material dispersed within the cellulosic material. The non-encapsulated phase change material forms a plurality of distinct domains dispersed within the cellulosic material. The non-encapsulated phase change material has a latent heat of at least 40 Joules per gram and the cellulosic fiber has a latent heat between 9.8 Joules per gram and 132 Joules per gram and a transition temperature in the range of 0° C. to 100° C., and cellulosic fiber provides thermal regulation based on at least one of absorption and release of the latent heat at the transition temperature.
US09920454B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of fibers and fibers prepared by the process. The process can provide discontinuous colloidal polymer fibers in a process that employs a low viscosity dispersion medium.
US09920448B2
An electroplating system includes a processor has a vessel having a first or upper compartment and a second or lower compartment containing catholyte and anolyte, respectively, with an processor anionic membrane between them. An inert anode is located in the second compartment. A replenisher is connected to the vessel via catholyte return and supply lines and anolyte return and supply lines, to circulate catholyte and anolyte through compartments in the replenisher separated by a replenisher anionic membrane. The replenisher adds metal ions into the catholyte by moving ions from a bulk metal source, and moves anions from the anolyte through the anionic membrane and into the catholyte. Concentrations or metal ions and anions in the catholyte and the anolyte remain balanced.
US09920447B2
A graphene composite coating on a metal surface with excellent corrosion resistance by electrophoretic or electrolytic deposition has been obtained. The composite coating was shown to significantly increase the resistance of the metal surface to electrochemical degradation.The graphene coating significantly reduces cathodic current, which is an indicator of the rate of corrosion at the interface between the cathodic material and the anodic material.
US09920443B2
Modular cathode assemblies are useable in electrolytic reduction systems and include a basket through which fluid electrolyte may pass and exchange charge with a material to be reduced in the basket. The basket can be divided into upper and lower sections to provide entry for the material. Example embodiment cathode assemblies may have any shape to permit modular placement at any position in reduction systems. Modular cathode assemblies include a cathode plate in the basket, to which unique and opposite electrical power may be supplied. Example embodiment modular cathode assemblies may have standardized electrical connectors. Modular cathode assemblies may be supported by a top plate of an electrolytic reduction system. Electrolytic oxide reduction systems are operated by positioning modular cathode and anode assemblies at desired positions, placing a material in the basket, and charging the modular assemblies to reduce the metal oxide.
US09920438B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a photoelectrode includes a semiconductor for photocarrier generation, and a catalyst layer for altering the reaction rate in an adjacent electrolyte. The catalyst layer covers part of the semiconductor. The thickness of the catalyst layer is less than 60% of its minority carrier diffusion distance. If the photoelectrode is a photoanode, it has an OEP that is more than the potential of the valance band edge but less than the potential of the Fermi level of the semiconductor. If it is a photocathode, it has an RHE potential that is less than the potential of the conduction band edge but more than the potential of the Fermi level of the semiconductor. The absolute value of difference (OEP minus potential of valence band edge, or RHE potential minus potential of conduction band edge) is greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.2V.
US09920433B2
A build piece is made from a build plan by an additive metal deposition process, the build plan created from a three dimensional definition of a desired part, the build plan having a first set of dimensions corresponding to the desired part and includes a support structure. The build piece is to a chemical etchant such that the support structure is removed from the build piece and the dimensions of the build piece corresponding to the desired part are reduced to a second set of dimensions.
US09920430B2
A method for improving the adhesive capacity of a protectively coated steel sheet is proposed, in which, in a continuous process, a protective coating based on Zn—Al—Mg is applied to the steel sheet and, in a further step, the protective coating undergoes a surface treatment in which an aqueous composition is applied in order to modify the natural oxide layer, which contains Al2O3 and MgO, without pickling this natural oxide layer as a result. In order to significantly increase adhesive capacity of the protectively coated steel sheet, the invention proposes skin-pass rolling the protectively coated steel sheet and then reacting the natural oxide layer with an aqueous fluoride-containing composition, reducing its MgO content in order to thus modify the natural oxide layer.
US09920418B1
A physical vapor deposition (PVD) apparatus having a deposition chamber and a source chamber of minimal volume, which can be selectively isolated from each other by a various load-lock valves. Exemplary embodiments can include a tapered high vacuum chamber disposed between the deposition chamber and the source chamber. The pump down time of the apparatus can be reduced, as compared to conventional PVD systems, due to the combined reduced volume of the chambers. Coating uniformity can also be improved by spinning each part to be coated on its' own axis while selectively exposing to a deposition source with minimal particle generation.
US09920409B2
Provided is stainless steel foil that is suitably used for forming a catalyst carrier for an exhaust gas purifying facility, the catalyst carrier being installed in a vehicle that discharges exhaust gas having a temperature lower than the temperature of exhaust gas of a gasoline-powered automobile. The ferritic stainless steel foil contains, by mass %, C: 0.05% or less, Si: 2.0% or less, Mn: 1.0% or less, S: 0.005% or less, P: 0.05% or less, Cr: 11.0% to 25.0%, Ni: 0.05% to 0.30%, Al: 0.01% to 1.5%, Cu: 0.01% to 2.0%, N: 0.10% or less, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.
US09920403B2
A high-strength magnesium alloy member is suitable for products in which at least one of bending stress and twisting stress primarily acts. The member has required elongation and 0.2% proof stress, whereby strength and formability are superior, and has higher strength and large compressive residual stress in the vicinity of the surface of a wire rod. In the magnesium alloy member formed as a wire rod in which at least one of bending stress and twisting stress primarily acts, the wire rod includes a surface portion having the highest hardness of 170 HV or more in the vicinity of the surface and an inner portion having a 0.2% proof stress of 550 MPa or more and an elongation of 5% or more, and the wire rod has the highest compressive residue stress in the vicinity of the surface of 50 MPa or more.
US09920401B2
The present invention relates to an aluminum base alloy with high thermal conductivity, and more particularly, to an alloy for die casting that does not become brittle and has high thermal conductivity, so as to be easily used for LED lighting parts, and contains 0.2 to 2.0 wt % of Mg, 0.1 to 0.3 wt % of Fe, 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of Co, with the remainder being Al.
US09920400B2
The disclosure is directed to Ni—Cr—P eutectic alloys bearing Nb as substitution for Cr that are capable of forming metallic glasses with critical rod diameter of at least 1 mm or more. With further minority addition of Si as replacement for P, such alloys are capable of forming metallic glasses with critical rod diameters as high as 10 mm or more. Specifically, Ni-based compositions with a Cr content of between 5 and 14 atomic percent, Nb content of between 3 and 4 atomic percent, P content of between 17.5 and 19 atomic percent, and Si content of between 1 and 2 atomic percent, were capable of forming bulk metallic glass rods with diameters as large as 6 mm or larger.
US09920397B2
A process for the removal of ferric iron as hematite from a nickel solution containing ferric and ferrous ions including the steps of: raising the temperature of the nickel solution to between 90° C. and the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure; raising the pH of the nickel solution to be between 2 and 3; and adding a hematite seed to facilitate hematite precipitation, wherein ferric ions are precipitated as hematite in a predominantly crystalline form.
US09920388B2
Process for the production of sugars from biomass including at least one polysaccharide which comprises putting a biomass in contact with an aqueous solution of at least one organic acid having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, the pH of said aqueous solution being ranging from 0.6 to 1.6, preferably ranging from 0.9 to 1.3. The sugars thus obtained can be advantageously used as carbon sources in fermentation processes for the production of alcohols (e.g., ethanol, butanol), diols (e.g., 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol), lipids, or other intermediates or products. Said alcohols, diols, lipids, or other intermediates or products, can be advantageously used in the chemical industry or in the formulation of fuels for motor vehicles. Said alcohols and said diols can also be advantageously used in the bio-butadiene production.
US09920384B2
The invention relates to a process for identifying gene(s)/genetic element(s) associated with mating impairment in strains of Trichoderma reesei QM6a or strains derived thereof comprising the steps of a) providing a first strain being a Trichoderma reesei QM6a strain having a MAT1-2 locus or a strain derived thereof, b) sexually crossing said strain with a second strain being a mating competent strain of a Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) strain having a complementary locus, i.e. the MAT1-1 locus, c) repeatedly back-crossing the MAT1-1 progenies from the crossing of b) or the back-crossing thereof with the first strain of a), until a strain is obtained that is substantially identical to the first Trichoderma reesei QM6a strain or a strain derived thereof, but carries the MAT1-1 locus and is mating competent for crossing with Trichoderma reesei QM6a or any of its MAT1-2 progeny, d) selecting the progeny from step c) that is mating competent for crossing with a Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) having a MAT1-2 locus, and e) identifying the gene(s)/genetic element(s) associated with mating impairment by comparing the genome of the progenies selected in step d) with the genome sequences of the first strain of a) whereby said gene(s)/genetic element(s) may be fully or partially missing or existing in a mutated form or in a form having deletions or insertions in the first strain thus being a gene or a genetic element directly or indirectly associated with mating impairment in strains of Trichoderma reesei QM6a or a strain derived thereof as well as to a process for correcting the mating impairment of a Trichoderma reesei QM6a strain or a strain derived thereof having a MAT1-1 locus and that is not competent to mate with a Trichoderma reesei QM6a strain having a MAT1-2 locus or a strain derived thereof, wherein one or more mutated or fully or partially missing gene(s) and/or genetic element(s) identified as above is/are replaced by or complemented with the corresponding functional gene(s) and/or genetic element(s). Moreover, the invention relates to the use of a thus obtained fungal strain of the genus Trichoderma in industrial breeding and production of a product of interest. Moreover, the invention relates to the genes associated with mating impairment of Trichoderma reesei QM6a and strains derived therefrom and to genes essential for mating of Trichoderma reesei QM6a and strains derived therefrom.
US09920379B2
Described herein are polynucleotides associated with prostate and lung cancer. The polynucleotides are miRNAs and miRNA precursors. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of those medical conditions are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of prostate and lung cancer.
US09920375B2
Methods and compositions are provided for diagnosing or detecting a condition, e.g., lung disease in a mammalian subject by use of a micro-RNA expression level or an expression level profile of multiple miRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the subject which is characteristic of COPD or NSCLC. Detection of changes in expression in specific miRNA biomarkers from that of a reference sample or miRNA expression profile are correlated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and/or COPD and permit differentiation among healthy subjects, subjects with COPD and subjects with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
US09920374B2
The present invention provides methods for diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer using expression analysis of one or more groups of genes, and a combination of expression analysis with bronchoscopy. The methods of the invention provide far superior detection accuracy for lung cancer when compared to any other currently available method for lung cancer diagnostic or prognosis. The invention also provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis of other lung diseases, particularly in individuals who are exposed to air pollutants, such as cigarette or cigar smoke, smog, asbestos and the like air contaminants or pollutants.
US09920369B2
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of CSF3.
US09920368B2
The Invention relates to a method of predicting resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis in salmon, the method comprising determining the alleles present at a DNA polymorphism in the salmon and predicting whether or not the salmon is resistant to infectious pancreatic necrosis based on the determination of the alleles. The invention also relates to a method of selecting a salmon for use as broodstock, wherein the salmon is selected based on the prediction by the first method that the salmon will have resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis.
US09920356B2
An object of the invention is to provide a nucleic acid detection method which takes advantage of the high specificity of hybridization techniques, reduces the time length and the number of steps required for detection of PCR products, and allows for easy and highly accurate detection by visual observation without the need of special equipment; and a nucleic acid detection device or kit. The invention provides a method for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample, which includes performing amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence to synthesize an amplification product having a partially double-stranded structure where a single-stranded region is added to each end of the target sequence, and hybridizing a nucleic acid sequence bound to a development medium and a nucleic acid sequence labeled with a labeling compound with the single-stranded regions of the amplification product to form a sandwich hybridization complex; and a detection device thereof.
US09920345B2
Methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars are provided which rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is pretreated in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment to very low severity. The pre-treated biomass is hydrolysed, typically as a whole slurry, using enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by an enzyme mixture comprising endoglucanase, exoglucanase, β-glucosidase, endoxylanase, and β-xylosidase activities at activity levels in nkat/g glucan of endoglucanase of at least 1100, exoglucanase of at least 280, β-glucosidase of at least 3000, endoxylanase of at least 1400, and β-xylosidase of at least 75, so as to produce a hydrolysate in which the yield of C5 monomers is at least 55% of the original xylose and arabinose content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment.
US09920331B2
A newly identified protein that is encoded by a polynucleotide sequence associated with cytoplasmic male sterility restorer activity (Rf3) is described. The cytoplasmic male sterility restorer gene can be inserted through breeding introgression into plant genomes to restore cytoplasmic male sterility in plants. Further applications of the newly identified polynucleotide sequence associated with cytoplasmic male sterility restorer activity include a mutation (rf3) which results in cytoplasmic male sterility. The cytoplasmic male sterility restorer gene can be inserted through breeding introgression into plant genomes to result in cytoplasmic male sterility in plants. Methods for detecting the cytoplasmic male sterility restorer (Rf3) and the cytoplasmic male sterility (rf3) gene sequences are further described.
US09920328B2
The present invention provides DNA molecules that constitute fragments of the genome of a plant, and polypeptides encoded thereby. The DNA molecules are useful for specifying a gene product in cells, either as a promoter or as a protein coding sequence or as an UTR or as a 3′ termination sequence, and are also useful in controlling the behavior of a gene in the chromosome, in controlling the expression of a gene or as tools for genetic mapping, recognizing or isolating identical or related DNA fragments, or identification of a particular individual organism, or for clustering of a group of organisms with a common trait.
US09920318B2
The invention relates to isolation of novel β-actin and ribosomal protein S21 (rpS21) promoters and uses thereof. In particular, this invention features nucleotide sequences for rodent β-actin promoters including, hamster, rat, and mouse, and hamster rpS21 promoter.
US09920299B2
Methods are disclosed for generating HLA homozygous parthenogenetic human stem cell (hpSC-Hhom) lines from both HLA homozygous and HLA heterozygous donors. These hpSC-Hhom lines demonstrate typical human embryonic stem cell morphology, expressing appropriate stem cell markers and possessing high levels of alkaline phosphatase and telomerase activity. Additionally, injection of these cell lines into immunodeficient animals leads to teratoma formation. Furthermore, in the case of HLA heterozygous donors, the hpSC-Hhom lines inherit the haplotype from only one of the donor's parents. SNP data analysis suggests that hpSC-Hhom lines derived from HLA heterozygous oocyte donors are homozygous throughout the genome as assessed by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. The protocol as disclosed minimizes the use of animal-derived components, which makes the stem cells more practical for clinical application.
US09920295B2
The present invention relates to a bioreactor apparatus, and methods of use, for the isolation of rare blood cells, including hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocytes. The apparatus includes a soft substrate and an anti-contractility agent, thereby providing a soft microenvironment to cultured cells. The apparatus of the invention is permissive for the survival of non-dividing cells while dividing cells are eliminated. This unique property allows for the simple isolation of rare blood cells without the use of costly equipment and antibodies.
US09920291B1
This disclosure describes a biochemical reactor with tank inlet disposed above lower divider. The biochemical reactor may include a tank configured to house immobilized carriers and fluid. The biochemical reactor may include a circulation conduit at least partially disposed within the tank. The circulation conduit may include a circulation outlet opening. The biochemical reactor may include one or more vanes disposed proximate to the circulation outlet opening. The biochemical reactor may include a tank recirculation port disposed proximate to a second end. The biochemical reactor may include a tank inlet configured for feeding fluid into the tank. The biochemical reactor may include a tank outlet configured for drawing fluid from the tank. The tank outlet may be disposed proximate to a first end. The biochemical reactor may include a first divider and a second divider. The tank inlet may be disposed between the first divider and the second divider.
US09920282B2
A low-foaming composition for cleaning a ware-washing machine comprises water, an alkoxylate, an acid (preferably citric acid), and preferably a phase separation promoter (for example a polyethylene glycol or an ionic salt). The composition is in two separate layers under ambient conditions.
US09920280B2
This invention relates to non aqueous non-volatile alkylated siloxane compositions having low VOC and vapor pressure of about 31 millimeters of mercury at 20° C. consisting essentially of a mixture of a linear or open-chain methyl alkylated siloxane having two silicon atoms and a siloxane having three silicon atoms alkylated with methyl groups.
US09920277B2
A concentrated metalworking fluid comprising from 60 to 90 percent by weight base oil selected from the group consisting of water soluble polyalkylene glycols, methoxypolyethylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, and combinations of two or more thereof; from 5 to 20 percent by weight glycol ether; from 0.01 to 5 percent by weight oil soluble polyalkylene glycol; and from 0.2 to 6 percent by weight one or more additives selected from the group consisting of anti-weld agents, corrosion inhibitors, extreme pressure additives, buffers, biocides, lubricity additives, and combinations of two or more thereof is provided. Further provided is a metalworking process.
US09920273B2
Cutting fluids for brittle materials, e.g., silicon ingot, comprise, in weight percent: A. 70-99% polyalkylene glycol (PAG), e.g., polyethylene glycol; B. 0.01-10% PAG-grafted polycarboxylate; and C. 0-30% water. These cutting fluids are used with abrasive materials, e.g., silicon carbide (SiC), to form cutting slurries. The slurry is sprayed on the cutting tool, e.g., a wire saw, to cut a brittle work piece, e.g., a silicon ingot.
US09920264B2
A process for hydroconversion-distillation of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oils, which comprises four stages: 1) desalting and separation of the feedstock; 2) catalytic hydrotreating of light fraction (optional); 3) catalytic hydroconversion of heavy fraction, and 4) distillation of hydrotreated products to provide products that can be processed in conventional refining schemes designed to operate with light and intermediate crude oils.
US09920262B1
Methods for processing pyrolysis oil employs two or more of the following steps: A first separation creates (a) a lighter fraction and heavier fraction, (b) subjecting the lighter fraction to distillation and (c) subjecting the heavy fraction to removal of at least one of sulfur and nitrogen.
US09920261B2
A hydrocracking system is upgraded by modifying an existing ebullated bed initially utilizing a supported ebullated bed catalyst to thereafter utilize a dual catalyst system that includes metal sulfide catalyst particles and supported ebullated bed catalyst. The upgraded hydrocracking system achieves at least one of: (1) hydroprocess lower quality heavy oil; (2) increase conversion of higher boiling hydrocarbons that boil at 524° C. (975° F.) or higher; (3) reduce the concentration of supported ebullated bed catalyst required to operate an ebullated bed reactor at a given conversion level; and/or (4) proportionally convert the asphaltene fraction in heavy oil at the same conversion level as the heavy oil as a whole. The metal sulfide catalyst may include colloidal or molecular catalyst particles less than 1 micron in size and formed in situ within the heavy oil using a catalyst precursor well-mixed within the heavy oil and decomposed to form catalyst particles.
US09920257B2
A simplified process is provided for creating hybrid crude oils and hybrid crude fractions with characteristics superior to the original. The process uniquely combines gases with crude oil or crude fractions in an effervescent turbulent manner at low temperatures and pressures and without the further aid of catalysts. The process breaks large chain hydrocarbons into smaller chain hydrocarbons, molecularly combines carbon, hydrogen, and/or hydrocarbon molecules from the gases with and into hydrocarbon molecules of the crude or crude fraction, and separates contaminants and impurities.
US09920256B2
There is provided a hydrocarbon distillation separation apparatus for fractionally distilling hydrocarbon compounds discharged from a Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reactor synthesizing hydrocarbon compounds, comprising a heavy hydrocarbon fractionator configured to fractionally distil liquid heavy components of the hydrocarbon compounds discharged from the reactor into a first middle distillate and a wax fraction, a light hydrocarbon fractionator configured to fractionally distil gaseous light components of the hydrocarbon compounds discharged from the reactor into a second middle distillate and a light gas fraction, a light hydrocarbon separator configured to separate hydrocarbon compounds equivalent to naphtha from the light gas fraction; and a mixing section configured to mix the first and second middle distillates, and the hydrocarbon compounds equivalent to naphtha separated from the light gas fraction by the light hydrocarbon separator.
US09920248B2
The invention relates to compounds of the formula I, and to a liquid-crystalline medium, preferably having a nematic phase and negative dielectric anisotropy, which comprises one or more compounds of formula I, defined herein, for use in an electro-optical display, particularly in an active-matrix display based on the VA, ECB, PALC, FFS or IPS effect, and to the use of the compounds of the formula I for the stabilization of a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises one or more compounds of the formula II and one or more compounds of the formulae III-1 to III-4, defined herein.
US09920238B2
A process for recovering oil from a carbonate reservoir of high salinity, wherein supercritical CO2 floodings are combined with a fluorosurfactant in the tertiary recovery. Embodiments include alternating injection and co-injection schemes of the supercritical CO2 and the fluorosurfactant. A stable fluorosurfactant-CO2 foam that is not susceptible to the harsh conditions of the reservoir (temperature, pressure and salinity) can be successfully generated, leading to a reduction in the mobility of CO2, an increase in the mobility of the reservoir oil, higher contact between the injected fluid with the oil and a better sweep efficiency of the oil.
US09920230B2
The invention pertains to heat transfer compositions, particularly to automobile refrigerants comprising a hydrofluoroalkene, an iodocarbon, and at least one lubricant having hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms, wherein no more than 17% of the total number of hydrogen atoms which are attached to a carbon atom are tertiary hydrogen atoms.
US09920229B2
Moisture curable compositions having a low modulus and a high resilience are prepared by curing a composition containing a first polymer which predominately contains two moisture-curable silyl groups, and a second polymer which is terminated by an alkoxy group and contains but a single moisture-curable silyl group, or a hydroxyl group.
US09920212B2
Low temperature processes for converting mixtures of metal inks into alloys. The alloys can be dealloyed by etching. A method comprising: depositing at least one precursor composition on at least one substrate to form at least one deposited structure, wherein the precursor composition comprises at least two metal complexes, including at least one first metal complex comprising at least one first metal and at least one second metal complex different from the first metal complex and comprising at least one second metal different from the first metal, treating the deposited structure so that the first metal and the second metal become elemental forms of the first metal and the second metal in a treated structure. Further, one can remove at least some of the first metal to leave a nanoporous material comprising at least the second metal. Precursor compositions can be formulated to be homogeneous compositions.
US09920207B2
Metal nanowires, such as silver nanowires coated on a substrate were sintered together to form fused metal nanowire networks that have greatly improved conductivity while maintaining good transparency and low haze. The method of forming such a fused metal nanowire networks are disclosed that involves exposure of metal nanowires to various fusing agents on a short timescale. The resulting sintered network can have a core-shell structure in which metal halide forms the shell. Additionally, effective methods are described for forming patterned structure with areas of sintered metal nanowire network with high conductivity and areas of un-sintered metal nanowires with low conductivity. The corresponding patterned films are also described. When formed into a film, materials comprising the metal nanowire network demonstrate low sheet resistance while maintaining desirably high levels of optical transparency with low haze, making them suitable for transparent electrode, touch sensors, and other electronic/optical device formation.
US09920202B2
A lignocellulosic composite article includes a plurality of lignocellulosic pieces and an adhesive system disposed on the plurality of lignocellulosic pieces for bonding the plurality of lignocellulosic pieces. The adhesive system includes a binder component and a compatibilizer component. An example of a suitable binder component is an isocyanate component, e.g. a diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), a polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI), and combinations thereof. The compatibilizer component includes a trialkyl phosphate. The compatibilizer component is utilized in an amount of at least about 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder component. The compatibilizer component is useful for reducing the amount of press time required during manufacture of the composite article. The adhesive system can include additional components, such as an isocyanate-reactive component. The composite article may be various lignocellulosic composites, such as oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard (PB), fiberboard (e.g. medium density fiberboard; MDF), etc.
US09920199B2
An improved silane modified polymer useful in adhesive compositions is made from a silane precursor material made by a process comprising reacting an organic compound having a backbone that is terminated by an amino group having at least one active amino hydrogen and a hydrolysable silane, wherein the backbone is comprised of at least one secondary amino group having one active amino hydrogen and a Michael addition acceptor compound, wherein the Michael addition compound fails to have a group reactive with an isocyanate group to form the silane precursor compound. The silane precursor compound is reacted with an isocyanate terminated polyurethane prepolymer to form a silane modified prepolymer. The silane modified prepolymer may then be cured with moisture and may be employed in an adhesive composition containing other components such as a plasticizer, catalyst and filler.
US09920197B2
A liquid binder composition for binding fibrous materials in the fabrication of resin-infusible preform is disclosed. The binder composition is an aqueous dispersion containing (a) one or more multifunctional epoxy resins, (b) at least one thermoplastic polymer, (c) one or more surfactants selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and combinations thereof, (d) water, and is essentially free of organic solvents. Also disclosed is an emulsification process for producing the liquid binder composition.
US09920187B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an HNBR composition and an HNBR crosslinked body excellent in abrasion resistance and pressure resistance. The object is achieved by an HNBR composition containing 3 to 20 parts by weight of carbon fibers or wollastonite as a hard filler per 100 parts by weight of a hydrogenated nitrile rubber and containing 72 to 87 parts by weight of a carbon black having an average particle diameter of 40 to 50 nm, an iodine adsorption of 35 to 49 g/kg, and a DBP oil absorption of 100 to 160 ml/100 g, as well as an HNBR crosslinked body acquired by crosslinking the HNBR composition.
US09920182B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing composite particles, particularly composite particles based on titanium dioxide and carbonate, with the help of combined mixing, homogenization and precipitation in a pipeline mixer based on the rotor-stator principle. The method is based on an aqueous suspension of a particulate base component (e.g. titanium dioxide), which is preferably produced in an intermediate vessel equipped with a high-speed agitator. At least one of the required precursor substances and/or a pH-controlling component for precipitating calcium carbonate, for example, is metered into the pipeline mixer, and the calcium carbonate is precipitated. The method can be operated as a continuous process or as a batch process and permits shorter production times. The composite particles produced display homogeneous dispersion of the precipitated particles and the particulate base component.
US09920177B2
Disclosed herein is a method for producing a polystyrene foam. The polystyrene is dosed with a gas and the polystyrene and gas are mixed in an extruder in order to obtain a homogenous mixture. The homogeneous mixture is cooled as it travels through the extruder and is then extruded from the die at a pressure of less than 7 MPa to form a foam with a smooth skin.
US09920170B1
A process includes utilizing biorenewable cis-3-hexenol to form a bio-derived cross-linker and utilizing the bio-derived cross-linker to form a cross-linked polymeric material.
US09920160B2
A method for a synthesis of a polymer containing multiple epoxy groups includes steps of: under protection of nitrogen or argon, with a photosensitive free radical initiator under an ultraviolet light irradiation, initiating a mixture of a dithiol compound and alkynyl glycidyl ether or other alkynyl-containing compounds to proceed a thiol-yne polymerization, so as to obtain the polymer. The number of the epoxy groups is able to be adjusted through changing a type of a dithiol monomer, a mixing ratio of the dithiol monomer, and a mixing ratio between the alkynyl glycidyl ether and other alkynyl compounds. The present invention has advantages of: fast reaction, convenient process, easy post-processing, a large number of the epoxy groups, and adjustable and controllable content. The obtained polymer has a wide potential application in fields of coating, adhesive, ink, encapsulating material, resin for composite material, additive, high performance material, function material, and so on.
US09920149B2
Polymers are functionalized at chain ends thereof with silane-containing carboxyl groups of the formula (I) where R1 and R2 are the same or different and are each an H, alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, alkaryl, alkaryloxy, aralkyl or aralkoxy radical; R3 and R4 are the same or different and are each an H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl radical; and A is a divalent organic radical.
US09920140B2
The invention relates to aqueous, cationically stabilized primary dispersions comprising dispersed polymer particles having a Z-average particle diameter of 5 to 500 nm and which are obtainable by emulsion polymerization of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer (A). The emulsion polymerization takes place in the presence of one or more emulsifiers (EQ) having the following general formula: R1—N−(R2)(R3)(R4)X⊖, where R1 is a moiety with 15 to 40 carbon atoms which contains at least one aromatic group and at least one aliphatic group, and which contains at least one functional group selected from hydroxyl groups, thiol groups, and primary or secondary amino groups, and/or has at least one carbon-carbon multiple bond, R2, R3, and R4, independently of one another, are the same or different aliphatic moieties containing 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and X stands for the acid anion of an organic or inorganic acid. The invention further relates to a method for producing the primary dispersions, and to coating agents which include the primary dispersions, and to the use of the primary dispersions for producing electrodeposition coatings, and also to conductive substrates coated with the coating compositions. The invention further relates to emulsifiers which are used for producing the primary dispersions according to the invention.
US09920135B2
It is intended to provide an anti-human CD26 antibody which permits analysis, etc., of the expression of CD26 in cancer tissues, immune tissues, or the like, for example, in order to select a patient applicable to treatment or to monitor therapeutic effects, and can also be used in immunostaining. The present invention relates to an anti-human CD26 monoclonal antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, binding to an epitope which is recognized by a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma deposited under Accession No. NITE BP-01642, a hybridoma deposited under Accession No. NITE BP-01643, or a hybridoma deposited under Accession No. NITE BP-01644.
US09920129B2
Disclosed is a monoclonal antibody binding to an ITM2A protein. This antibody is useful in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer such as Ewing's sarcoma, T cell leukemia, T cell lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, B cell tumor, and multiple myeloma. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition, a cell growth inhibitor, and an anticancer agent containing the antibody as an active ingredient, and a method for treating cancer, a method for predicting the efficacy of cancer treatment, and a method for determining the presence of cancer in a test subject using the antibody.
US09920119B2
New chimeric molecules involving in their structure, a combination of the extracellular domain (EC) of the FasL protein and a domain enabling oligomerisation of this Fas Ligand (FasL) EC domain, such as the Ig-like (so-called Ig in the following pages) domain of the gp190 receptor for the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), or involving in their structure variants of the domains. Also, compositions including the chimeric molecule defined herein and the use of these chimeric molecules especially to trigger cytotoxic activity toward cells sensitive to FasL.
US09920118B2
A complex comprising a GDF15 polypeptide is described. Methods of treating individuals with a metabolism disorder, such as, glucose metabolism disorder and/or a body weight disorder, and compositions associated therewith, are provided.
US09920115B2
Disclosed herein are single domain serum albumins binding proteins with improved thermal stability, binding affinities, and robust aggregation profiles. Also described are multispecific binding proteins comprising a single domain serum albumin binding protein according to the instant disclosure. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the binding proteins disclosed herein and methods of using such formulations are provided.
US09920114B2
Described herein are anti-sclerostin antibody crystals, methods of making such antibody crystals and formulations comprising the antibody crystals.
US09920109B2
This invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly fusion proteins that include a serpin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serpin and second polypeptide comprising of at least one the following: an Fc polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from an Fc polypeptide; a cytokine targeting polypeptide or a sequence derived from a cytokine targeting polypeptide; a WAP domain containing polypeptide or a sequence derived from a WAP containing polypeptide; and an albumin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serum albumin polypeptide. This invention also relates to methods of using such molecules in a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic indications, as well as methods of producing and purifying such molecules.
US09920107B2
The present invention refers to a method of purification of HMG (human menopausal gonadotropin) by multimodal chromatography in order to obtain HMG-UP (human menopausal gonadotropin with ultra-purity grade) composition.
US09920088B2
The present invention relates to the use of triterpenoid derivatives for the preparation of a medicament for preventing or treating influenza diseases, in which the substituents are as defined in the specification. The triterpenoid derivatives of the present invention have obvious inhibition effect on influenza virus, and are capable of obviously preventing influenza virus from entering cells, and can be used for preventing or treating influenza.
US09920084B2
The invention relates to the chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, e.g., oligoribonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention relates to compounds of formula (II) processes for making these compounds, and the use thereof in the chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, e.g., oligoribonucleotides. The invention also relates to methods of synthesis of oligomers, including but not limited to oligopeptides, oligosaccharides and oligonucleotides, particularly oligoribonucleotides and also oligodeoxyribonucleotides, in solution systems, and ionic tag linkers for use in methods provided herein.
US09920075B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): wherein A and R1 are each as defined in the specification, and compositions comprising any of such novel compounds. These compounds are myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitors and/or eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) inhibitors, which may be used as medicaments.
US09920073B2
The present invention includes novel compositions useful for preventing or treating an HIV-1 infection in a subject in need thereof. The present invention further includes a novel method of preventing or treating an HIV-1 infection in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of the invention. In certain embodiments, the subject is further administered at least one additional therapeutic agent.
US09920067B2
The present invention relates to bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds and a process for their preparation. More in particular, the present invention relates to a new angular bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compound and the process for its preparation wherein said process comprises reacting at least one dihalogenated dithiophene compound with at least one terminal alkyne and the subsequent double annulation reaction. Said bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds can be appropriately functionalized and polymerized to produce electron donor compounds that can be advantageously used in the construction of photovoltaic devices or semiconductor polymers. Furthermore, said bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds, after functionalization, may be advantageously used as spectral converters in luminescent solar concentrators.
US09920061B2
The invention provides substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidinyl carboxamide and related organic compounds, compositions containing such compounds, medical kits, and methods for using such compounds and compositions to treat medical disorders, e.g., Gaucher disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease, dementia, or multiple system atrophy, in a patient. Exemplary substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidinyl carboxamide compounds described herein include substituted 2-heterocyclyl-4-alkyl-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-8-carboxamide compounds and variants thereof.
US09920057B2
Disclosed is a compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 and its therapeutic use in treating and/or preventing a disease or condition related with phosphodiesterase type 5 in a mammal wherein an inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 is considered beneficial
US09920049B2
The invention provides novel compounds having the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X and Y are as described in the description and in the claims, as well as or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or enantiomers, or diastereomers thereof. The invention also contains compositions including the compounds and methods of using the compounds.
US09920041B2
Disclosed are compounds of formula I, compositions containing them, and methods of use for the compounds and compositions in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK 2 and JAK3, are therapeutically useful. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds.
US09920040B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating of disorders that are affected by the modulation of the GPR40 receptor. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I), as follows: wherein R1, R2, R4, W, X, Y, and G, are defined herein.
US09920020B2
Squaraine dyes are used to detect the presence of protein in a test sample, which is a substance that may contain protein. A squarine dye is placed in water, and in some instances joined with an aggregation agent, to create an aqueous dye solution. That dye solution is joined with a test sample. When the dye solution is joined with the test sample and the resultant test solution is excited by the application of photons, a resulting fluorescence or absence thereof reveals if protein was present in the test sample.
US09920019B2
Base compounds including 1,3-oxazinan-6-one derivatives of N-alkyl or N-alkenyl or N-cycloalkyl or N-aryl propionic acids and paraformaldehyde, and their application as corrosion inhibitors with multifunctional properties serving as inhibitory/dispersant of asphaltene in production processes, transportation, refining and storage of crude oil and derivatives. The corrosion inhibitor with inhibitory/dispersant of asphaltenes properties comprises an active substance base of 1,3-oxaninan-6-ones and hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, alcohols, aliphatic branched and unbranched alcohols containing from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as isopropanol, butanol and pentanol, and mixtures of hydrocarbon solvents with aliphatic branched or unbranched liquid fuels. In addition, a process for obtaining 1,3-oxazinan-6-ones derivatives of N-alkyl or N-alkenyl or N-cycloalkyl or N-aryl propionic acids and paraformaldehyde is described.
US09920016B2
Processes for the preparation of 4-amino-1-((1S,4R,5S)-2-fluoro-4,5-dihydroxy-3 -hydroxymethyl-cyclopent-2-enyl)-1H-pyrimidin-2-one(13, RX-3117) and its intermediates are described.
US09920014B2
The present invention provides novel bisbenzimidazole compounds and methods of using the compounds as antibacterial agents.
US09920009B2
There is provided a range of novel compounds which have been demonstrated to have useful UV absorbing properties. These compounds will find use in a range of applications such as active components in sunscreen formulations, paints, plastics, fabrics, glass and UV protective coatings.
US09919985B2
Additives for mixing into the base catalyst inventory of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process units, so as to achieve a high selectivity of light olefins (ethylene and propylene), are described. Such additives comprise an FER zeolite and an MFI zeolite, the MFI zeolite preferably being zeolite ZSM-5. The mixture of the additive in a concentration greater than 2% w/w relative to the base catalyst of an FCC unit allows greater selectivity for light olefins, propylene and ethylene, while maintaining catalytic activity.
US09919984B2
The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of isomers of xylene. The process includes method step of contacting an activated alkylation catalyst composite with toluene and methanol in the presence of an inert gas, at a temperature of 300 to 500° C. to obtain isomers of xylene. The alkylation catalyst composite used in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a molecular sieve loaded with at least one metal ion. The metal loaded on the molecular sieve is at least one alkali earth metal selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, magnesium and calcium.
US09919983B2
Processes and apparatuses for the production of propylene are provided. In an embodiment, a process is provided for production of propylene from an oxygenate feed comprising passing the oxygenate feed to an oxygenate-to-olefin reactor to contact the oxygenate feed with a catalyst to provide an effluent stream comprising olefins comprising ethylene, propylene and butylene. The effluent stream is separated in a product separation zone to generate a propylene product stream, an ethylene stream and a C4+ stream. The ethylene stream is reacted in an ethylene dimerization or oligomerization reactor in presence of a dimerization or oligomerization catalyst to provide a first process stream. The C4+ stream and the first process stream are cracked in a cracking reactor under cracking conditions to provide a cracked stream comprising additional amounts of ethylene and propylene. Finally, the cracked stream is passed to the product separation zone to recover additional amounts of propylene.
US09919982B2
A method for gas processing, in particular for processing biogas of a biogas plant in which in one method step a membrane process or a reactive process is executed, and in at least one further method step an adsorption and/or absorption process is executed.
US09919963B2
A method of making an antimicrobial glass article that includes the steps: submersing the article in a strengthening bath to exchange a portion of ion-exchangeable metal ions in the glass article with a portion of ion-exchanging metal ions in the strengthening bath to form a compressive stress layer extending from the first surface to a diffusion depth in the article; removing a portion of the compressive stress layer from the first surface of the article to a first depth above the diffusion depth in the article to define a new first surface and a remaining compressive stress layer; and submersing the article in an antimicrobial bath to exchange a portion of the ion-exchangeable and the ion-exchanging metal ions in the compressive stress layer with a portion of the silver metal ions in the antimicrobial bath to impart an antimicrobial property in the article.
US09919952B2
Described herein are alkali-free, boroalumino silicate glasses exhibiting desirable physical and chemical properties for use as substrates in flat panel display devices, such as, active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and active matrix organic light emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs). In accordance with certain of its aspects, the glasses possess excellent compaction and stress relaxation properties.
US09919949B2
To devise a tempered glass and a glass to be tempered each of which is lowered in density and viscosity at high temperature, hardly deteriorates a KNO3 molten salt, and is excellent in thermal shock resistance. The tempered glass having a compression stress layer in a surface thereof, including as a glass composition, in terms of mol %, 50 to 80% of SiO2, 5 to 30% of Al2O3, 0 to 2% of Li2O, 5 to 25% of Na2O, and 0 to 5% of K2O, and being substantially free of As2O3, Sb2O3, PbO, and F.
US09919934B2
A water softening ball for generating softened water by immersing it in water is provided, comprising a shell having a generally hollow ellipsoidal shape, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the shell for the inside and the outside of the shell to communicate; and a filter unit included within the shell and comprising an ion exchange resin. The ellipsoidal shape includes a spherical shape.
US09919916B2
A method of forming microneedles where through a series of coating and etching processes microneedles are formed from a surface as an array. The microneedles have a bevelled end and bore which are formed as part of the process with no need to use a post manufacturing process to finish the microneedle.
US09919910B2
A fluid pressurization and dispensing system, including a coupler releasably attached to a vessel via an attachment means for securing a vacuum seal between the coupler and the vessel for maintaining pressure within the vessel, refreshing the gas composition within the vessel, and dispensing of a fluid contents externally from within the vessel without disturbing the vacuum seal. The coupler has a rigid single body unit having a tap head, a shank, and a cap which are contiguous thereof the coupler including a plurality of channels each integrally machined within an interior portion of the coupler. The system regulates a flow of gas from a pressurized gas cartridge via a gas pressure regulator, enables venting excess gas via a gas pressure relief valve, enables measurement of gas pressure within the vessel via a gas pressure gauge. Another embodiment of the system includes a coupler including a bi-level tap head.
US09919899B2
An elevator car has a brake system with braking devices engaging braking webs integrated into guide rails to brake the car. The braking devices include a brake housing, a first brake body movable by contact with the braking web and relative movement between the braking web and the brake housing to clamp the brake web, and a pusher arranged on the brake housing with the braking web arranged between the first brake body and the pusher with a required passage clearance. The pusher can be advanced toward the first brake body and pressed against the braking web to forcibly bring the first brake body into contact with the braking web. A pressing lever pivotally mounted on the brake housing acts to press the pusher against the braking web.
US09919892B1
A sheet processing apparatus includes a first holding unit configured to hold one or more sheets and movable in a sheet transport direction, a first drive unit configured to move the first holding unit in a first direction along the sheet transport direction, a biasing member that biases the first holding unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and an energy storage unit that stores energy discharged from the biasing member.
US09919882B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure a system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site including a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system dispenses the proppant from the one or more containers and delivers the proppant to other fracking operation equipment. Moreover, the system includes a dust collection assembly positioned proximate and associated with the proppant delivery assembly to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and delivered by the proppant delivery assembly. The dust collection assembly is positioned to direct an air flow in a flow path overlying the dust particles to capture the dust particles and move the dust particles away from the proppant thereby reducing risk of dust exposure to fracking operation site personnel.
US09919880B2
An electronic component transportation device includes a rotation path and a first magnetic force generator. The rotation path extends along a transportation direction of an electronic component with a rectangular or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The rotation path is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. The rotation path includes a first surface and a second surface intersecting with each other. The first magnetic force generator is arranged at a lateral side of the rotation path.
US09919879B2
A sorting device comprising an endless path placed on a frame, a series of trays provided with a pusher mechanism to be driven by an exchange system placed on the frame for pushing away an object substantially transverse to the conveyance direction, a drive system comprising alternately arranged first and second driving elements that are mutually connected to each other so as to hinge for a movement of the drive system that is oriented substantially parallel to the conveyance direction, a drive adapted for transferring a drive power onto the drive system, which power is directed substantially parallel to the conveyance direction.
US09919875B2
A motorized drum having a drum shell with a motor therein, the motor having a stationary shaft, stator windings, and a stator support structure that is affixed to the stationary shaft. A rotor rotates coaxially around the stator, and a cycloidal reducer has an output that rotates at a reduced rate. The reducer output is rotationally fixed to, and is disposed within, the drum shell. An input gear of the reducer received a hollow eccentric input shaft, and is urged into eccentric motion as the input shaft rotates. The output gear urges the drum shell into rotation at same rate of rotation as the output gear. An harmonic drive speed reducer that has an input shaft provides rotatory motion to a wave generator that is disposed against a flexible splined member. The flexible splined member engages a rigid circular spline member at two radially opposed zones. Induction and permanent magnet forms of operation are used.
US09919874B2
A powered drive unit system of an aircraft is disclosed herein. The system may include a support structure, a plurality of motor driven tires configured to present a horizontal motive force on an object, and an axle of a tire. The axle of the tire may be retained by the support structure. The object may move relative to the static support structure. The location of an axle of the tire may be rigidly fixed in position relative to the support structure housing the axle. Normal force on the object by the tire may be created through tire compliance. The axle of the tire may be retained by the support structure. The axis of rotation of the axle may be in a substantially static three dimensional plane relative to the support structure.
US09919865B2
A conveying system for conveying a conveyable material from a hopper where the system includes a fluid port located below the hopper outlet and in a vertical flow path into hopper outlet that can be momentarily opened for an on the go release of a charge of compressed air directly upward into the hopper outlet and into the underside of the bridge in the hopper to either disintegrate or unlock the bridged particles from each other thereby causing the bridged material to fall into the hopper outlet and into the conveying system where the material can be transported to a remote location or to remove any material that may be adhering to the wall during an emptying phase.
US09919861B2
A housing module (601) for use with a smart package (110) has a main body suitable for having an electronic device (605) affixed thereto. The main body includes one or more retention wings (603a, 603b) extending from the main body. The one or more retention wings are sized and configured for co-operation with a slot (88a, 88b) associated with the smart package (110) such that the housing module (601) is retainable substantially within the smart package (110). The one or more retention wings (603a, 603a) are shaped, sized and configured to co-operate with an end-stop of the slot (88a, 88b) for locating the housing module (601) within the smart package (110).
US09919846B2
A hinged slider for a closure assembly of a bag includes a top wall and a pair of legs extending from the top wall. A first leg and a second leg of the pair each includes a top end attached to the top wall and a bottom end opposing the top end. A pair of wings is hingedly attached to the pair of legs. A first wing and a second wing of the pair is each hingedly attached to the bottom end of the first leg and second leg, respectively. The first wing and the second wing hinge upwardly in order (a) to engage the first wing to one of (i) the first leg and (ii) the second wing, (b) to engage the second wing to one of (i) the second leg and (ii) the first wing, and (c) to install the slider onto the closure assembly.
US09919842B2
A food holding device includes a receptacle member having a body and a surrounding wall for containing food. A flexible strap is attached to the receptacle member. One end of the strap is connectible to secure the receptacle around an object (e.g., a thigh of a child). The flexible strap has ends that are configured for releasable connection (e.g., using hook and loop material). The ends can overlappingly connect to secure the receptacle to the child. The strap can be attached to the receptacle member in a number of ways, and may be removable. A liner and/or a closure device (e.g., lid or drawstring) may be used with the device. The receptacle member can receive and hold a container or a pre-packaged item. The receptacle member can be a pre-packaged item itself with an attached or attachable strap. One or more parts of the device can be disposable and/or reusable.
US09919841B2
The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.
US09919839B2
A collapsible bottle with a channelway provided in a side wall which, in collapsed conditions of the bottle, the channelway becomes engaged with opposed portions of the side wall and define a flow passageway therethrough toward a discharge opening at one end of the bottle and a closed other end of the bottle.
US09919838B2
A highly efficient bakery tray is provided. The tray includes a square base and is configured to stack upon another like tray in any of three or four orientations to provide three or four different product clearance heights between the trays.
US09919836B2
A product dispensing system and a method of queuing usage of products. In one form, a plurality of layers of products, each having multiple items in separate packages, is provided, each layer having a carrier with the separate packages being secured to and extending from the carrier. The layers are assembled in a stacked orientation behind a front layer with layers behind the front layer being at least partially concealed and inaccessible. Products are used one layer at a time, and when the separate packages from the front layer are removed, the packages of the next-succeeding layer are exposed for use. In another form of the invention, the packages for each layer are secured to and extend in series from the carrier for each layer, with a first package secured to the carrier for the layer, and each succeeding package being secured to the next preceding package. The carrier and packages of each layer are secured to one another with successive package connections of increasing strength with increasing distance from a package most distant from the carrier.
US09919828B2
A balloon anchor and a table top centerpiece for anchoring a balloon filled with a substance that is lighter than the surrounding ambient air is disclosed. The centerpiece has a bottom wall and one or more sidewalls. The centerpiece provides a fill material receiving space for receiving decorative fill material below the rim. The bottom wall has a balloon anchor member.
US09919825B2
A system for packaging a food product including a conveying system for supporting and moving the food product. The system includes a detection device for collecting data related to the shape of the food product while the food product is supported by the conveying system. The system also includes a film dispensing device for dispensing one of a plurality of different films. A controller configured to direct the film dispensing device to select one of the plurality of films for dispensing. The system also includes a wrapping device for wrapping the food product in the selected film.
US09919823B2
A packaging machine is disclosed for packing cartons with beverage cans in two overlaying layers. The packaging machine has a selector flight, a can flight, and a carton flight, all synchronously movable. A single infeed assembly directs first groups of cans into selector bays on the selector flight, sweeps them into adjacent can bays, and directs second groups of cans into the same selector bays, all on the same level. The selector flight and the second groups of cans then ramps up to an elevated level, from where the second groups of cans are swept into the adjacent can bays atop the first groups of cans. The thus staged cans are pushed into open cartons on the carton flight.
US09919810B2
A dynamic aircraft headlight, includes an LED group, having a plurality of LEDs, and an optical system, comprising at least one optical element, for shaping an output light intensity distribution from the light emitted by the LED group. The LED group and the optical system are stationary within the dynamic aircraft light unit, with each LED of the LED group has a set position with respect to the optical system and with a light output of each LED being affected differently by the optical system.
US09919807B2
A bladder external to a fuel tank of a vehicle that allows an operational range of the vehicle to be increased. Preferably the bladder is external to the rest of the vehicle and the vehicle is an aircraft. The external bladder allows fuel in the fuel tank to expand and contract without requiring additional space within the vehicle, thus allowing more fuel mass to be held by the vehicle and a smaller vehicle profile that is more aerodynamically efficient. More preferably, the bladder is disconnectable from the rest of the vehicle to allow increasing of aerodynamic efficiency and weight reduction during use.
US09919801B2
Disclosed is a foot well divider for adjacent parallel passenger seats, having a movable structure adapted to be hinged to a static structure positioned between first and second adjacent parallel passenger suites, the movable structure configured to pivot between a first position separating foot well space of the first suite from foot well space of the second suite, and a second position connecting the foot well spaces of the first and second suites. In certain aspects, the movable structure is a foot well divider in an aircraft foot well.
US09919798B2
A system for moving loads including a cargo compartment floor into which there is integrated at least one roller conveyor permitting displacement of a load in a direction parallel to a surface of said cargo compartment floor. The system also comprises a transport vehicle comprising a drive system and a platform movable between a first operating position and a second operating position. In its first operating position, the platform is arranged such that the transport vehicle is positionable under a load which is supported on the roller conveyor integrated into the cargo compartment floor. In its second operating position, the platform is arranged such that the load is entrained when a movement of the transport vehicle occurs in a direction parallel to the surface of the cargo compartment floor, and is displaced on the roller conveyor integrated into said cargo compartment floor.
US09919783B1
An outboard motor having an upper cowling that covers an internal combustion engine, a driveshaft housing located below the upper cowling that covers a driveshaft that is rotated by the internal combustion engine, a transmission housing that is located below the driveshaft housing and covers a transmission that is operably connected to the driveshaft, and a lower gearcase that is located below the transmission housing and covers a set of angle gears that operably connect the transmission to a propulsor for imparting a propulsive force in a body of water.
US09919782B2
An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include a standoff box joined with a drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The drive unit includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The drive unit is vertically movable from a raised mode to a lowered mode, in which the propeller shaft is a preselected distance from a bottom of the boat hull, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and standoff box are also provided.
US09919769B2
A device for interconnecting two tethers. The device comprises a body arranged to secure a first tether thereto and has an aperture therein for receiving a second tether. An arm extends from the body and away from the aperture. In use, the second tether is arranged to form a loop, passed through the aperture and around the arm, thereby allowing the device to interconnect the first and second tethers.
US09919765B2
Embodiments of a front derailleur gear shifting system including various unique chain guides attached to and operating from a single pivot point. This derailleur system provides a simple, yet, elegant and robust improvement in shifting technique over conventional, lateral motion front derailleurs. Embodiments of open and closed annulus chain guides having specially shaped lifting and pulling surfaces for acting upon a bicycle chain during shifting are also disclosed. Additionally, as an optional enhancement, a dual-sided chain catcher that prevents unintended over-shifts in either direction is disclosed.
US09919763B2
A bicycle sprocket comprises a first member and a second member. The first member comprises a plurality of first teeth and a first body. The first body includes a plurality of first arms arranged in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket. The second member comprises a plurality of second teeth and a second body. The second body includes a plurality of second arms arranged in the circumferential direction. The second member is configured to be attached to the first member so that an interior cavity is provided between the first member and the second member. The interior cavity is at least partially provided between at least one of the first arms and at least one of the second arms facing the at least one of the first arms in a state where the second member is attached to the first member.
US09919760B2
A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, an operating construction, a wire takeup member, a ratchet member, a first pawl, and an actuating member. The wire takeup member is configured to be rotatable relative to the base member about a rotational axis in a first direction and a second direction. The ratchet member has ratchet teeth. The actuating member includes a second pawl. The actuating member is configured to move the first pawl away from the ratchet member and to engage the second pawl with one of the ratchet teeth, in response to a second operation of the operating construction.
US09919745B2
A motor vehicle structure includes two left and right bell-shaped suspension element supports arranged inside a front compartment close to a bulkhead of the vehicle. The suspension element supports are respectively adjacent to side walls of the front compartment. Each of the suspension element supports includes an internal face opposite the side wall. The structure also includes left and right spacers that extend respectively between the left and right suspension element supports and the rigid cross member, in a substantially longitudinal direction. The spacers are respectively anchored to the internal faces of the two suspension element supports. The spacers each have a skirt-shaped edge that can be applied to the suspension element supports, and a folded edge extending between a free end and an opposing attachment end to be joined to the cross member. The spacers include a central portion joining the folded edge and the skirt-shaped edge together.
US09919730B2
A steering device includes tie rods connected to right and left wheels, and rack bars connected to the respective tie rods. The steering device is capable of simultaneously steering the right and left wheels to the right or left of the vehicle, by moving the rack bars to the right or left. A rack bar moving arrangement is provided which is capable of moving the rack bars in opposite directions by the same distance, and rack teeth are arranged along the opposite directions. The rack bar moving arrangement includes a synchronizing gear in mesh with the rack bars, and is configured to convert the movement of one of the rack bars in one of the opposite directions to the movement of the other of the rack bars in the other opposite direction, thereby steering the wheels in opposite directions.
US09919724B2
A steering column assembly is provided and includes a steering column shaft and a column adjustment assembly configured to translate the steering column shaft between a retracted position and a deployed position. A disengagement assembly selectively couples a steering column telescope lead screw to the column adjustment assembly. The disengagement assembly is configured to selectively disengage the telescope lead screw from the column adjustment assembly to facilitate manual movement of the steering column shaft between the retracted position and the deployed position.
US09919723B2
An aerial system and method use a distance sensor to measure spatial distances between the distance sensor and plural vehicles in a vehicle system formed from the vehicles operably coupled with each other during relative movement between the distance sensor and the vehicle system. The spatial distances measured by the distance sensor are used to determine a size parameter of the vehicle system based on the spatial distances that are measured.
US09919722B2
A railroad vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle units, a cable, and a disconnector. In the plurality of vehicle units respective vehicles are coupled. The cable is placed astride the vehicles to connect the power supply unit of each vehicle unit. The disconnector is installed at some midpoint in the cable and electrically separates the vehicle units from one another.
US09919719B2
A running gear frame for a rail vehicle, comprising a frame body. The frame body comprises two longitudinal beams and a transverse beam unit providing a structural connection between the longitudinal beams, such that a substantially H-shaped configuration is formed. Each longitudinal beam has a free end section forming a primary suspension interface. Each longitudinal beam has a pivot interface section associated to the free end section and forming a pivot interface for a pivot arm. Each longitudinal beam has an angled section associated to the free end section, the angled section being arranged such that the free end section forms a pillar section. The pivot interface section is integrated into to the angled section and the frame body is formed as a monolithically cast component made of a grey cast iron material.
US09919717B2
Position information of a vehicle 100 and feature amounts of driving operations by a driver are acquired as triggered by occurrence of switching from an automatic driving mode to a manual driving mode, and a driving operation to be corrected in the automatic driving mode and a correction amount thereof, are determined from these feature amounts. A driving operation in the automatic driving mode is corrected using the determination result, so that the vehicle 100 is controlled in the automatic driving mode in which the corrected driving operation is included.
US09919708B2
A vehicle system includes a user interface device and an autonomous mode controller. The user interface device receives a user input representing a driving mode selection. The autonomous mode controller commands one or more vehicle subsystems to operate in accordance with characteristics associated with the driving mode selection. Examples of characteristics can include how aggressively the vehicle accelerates or decelerates, a minimum distance from the vehicle to a front vehicle, or how frequently the vehicle changes lanes, among others.
US09919699B2
A method for controlling a synchronizer of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises an engine unit, a transmission unit configured to selectively couple with the engine unit and to couple with at least one of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, a synchronizer configured to adjust a power transmission between the transmission unit and the wheels. The method comprises acquiring an operation mode and operation parameters of the vehicle and controlling the synchronizer to adjust the power transmission between the transmission unit and the wheels based on the operation parameters. A vehicle including a controller configured to control the synchronizer according to the method is also provided. The vehicle further includes a first motor generator configured to adjust a rotating speed of the synchronizer according to a speed of the vehicle, and a second motor generator configured to drive at least one of wheels of the vehicle.
US09919696B2
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle determines a scheduled travel route. The control apparatus further determines a downhill section included in the scheduled travel route by using gradient information acquired for a road section at a time when the vehicle has traveled on the road section and using gradient information stored in a navigation database for a road section on which the vehicle travels for a first time. The control apparatus determines a section from a downhill control start point to an end point of the target downhill section as a downhill control section. The downhill control start point is a point located a predetermined first distance closer to the vehicle from a start point of the target downhill section. When the vehicle travels on the downhill control section, the control apparatus executes downhill control.
US09919692B2
An arrangement of motor vehicle units includes a vacuum pump, a power brake unit, a pump which pumps a hydraulic fluid with a control pressure, and a control valve. The vacuum pump comprises a pump rotor, a coupling element, a control connection, a coupling arrangement switchable by the control connection to lock/unlock the coupling element with the pump rotor, and a suction connection. The power brake unit comprises a negative pressure chamber connected with the suction connection. The control valve, when unlocked, switches the control pressure of the hydraulic fluid through to the control connection to unlock. The control valve comprises an actuator acted on by a pressure of the negative pressure chamber which switches the control pressure through to the control connection if the pressure in the negative pressure chamber is greater than a threshold pressure so that the switchable control valve is switched into its unlocked state.
US09919688B2
A method for detecting an operating state of a vehicle, includes selecting the operating state from at least a first or a second operating state for a vehicle that includes a pneumatic brake system and a pneumatic control connection for connecting the pneumatic brake system to a further pneumatic brake system of a trailer. The method includes the following steps: applying pressure to the control connection until a starting pressure in the control connection is set; opening the control connection such that a pressure between the control connection and an environment is equalized; detecting a temporal pressure pattern during the pressure equalization; comparing the temporal pressure pattern to a reference pressure pattern; determining an evaluation result based on the comparison of the temporal and the reference pressure pattern; and assigning the evaluation result to the first or the second operating state of the vehicle.
US09919687B2
Vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in an upstream portion due to operations of a slip control device during anti-lock control are transmitted to a control pressure chamber via a pressurizing piston of a master cylinder and a control piston of a regulator. During anti-lock control, in contrast, a pressure-increase linear valve and a pressure-reduction linear valve are opened, allowing change in volume of the control pressure chamber, resulting in reduction in stiffness. This reduction suppresses vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in the control pressure chamber, resulting in suppression of vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in a front pressure chamber. As a result, it is possible to reduce the lowering in control accuracy for a hydraulic pressure in a brake cylinder in anti-lock control using the hydraulic pressure in the front pressure chamber, which can well avoid a long braking distance.
US09919683B2
A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type includes an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, wherein free ends of the wiper blade are connected to a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, and wherein the wiper blade is provided with a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped, wherein at least one connecting piece comprises an internal transverse reinforcement rib, wherein the spoiler is removed along a portion of the length of the wiper blade; at a distance from a free end of the wiper blade facing the connecting piece so as to form a transverse slit, and wherein in mounted position the internal transverse reinforcement rib rests inside the slit.
US09919678B2
The invention relates to an assembly module (20) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which is suitable for: a) monitoring a detection region (150) lying outside of the motor vehicle (1) in order to determine the proximity of a user (10), b) in the event of a detection of the user (10) in the detection region (150), monitoring an activation region (160) arranged within the detection region (150) in order to determine whether the user (10) is located within the activation region (160), and c) in the event of a detection of the user (10) in the activation region (160), triggering a signal for the execution of an action at the motor vehicle (1).
US09919676B2
On a belt retractor (10) for a vehicle seat belt comprising a frame (12) provided with plural locking teeth (24), a belt reel (14) which is rotatably supported in the frame (12) and includes a locking tooth system (26) corresponding to the locking teeth (24), and comprising a locking mechanism adapted to transfer the belt reel (14) from a home position in which it is freely rotatable into a locking position in which the locking tooth system (26) of the belt reel (14) engages in the locking teeth (24) of the frame (12), wherein at least one pivoting control lever (28) is provided in which one side of the belt reel (14) is rotatably supported and which is adapted to guide the belt reel (14) from the home position into the locking position, an interlock mechanism is provided which releases the pivoting movement of the control lever (28) not before the latter has been rotated in the unwinding direction (A) of the webbing out of a home position into a release position.
US09919672B2
A far side airbag device and a vehicle seat with which, in a structure in which an armrest is connected to a region at a vehicle width direction middle side of a seatback, a portion of an airbag may be inflated and expanded between the armrest and an occupant. In a far side airbag device, a side airbag is disposed between a side frame and a proximal end of an armrest at a vehicle width direction middle side of a seatback. A distal end of the armrest projects forward from the seatback and the proximal end of the armrest is connected to the side frame. In the inflated and expanded state, a vertical direction portion of the side airbag overlaps with the armrest in side view. In the folded state, a vertical direction portion of the side airbag overlaps with the armrest in side view.
US09919666B2
A method for diagnosing leakage of electronic parts and servicing guide of a driving state for a vehicle in a battery management system is provided. The method includes normally driving the vehicle or stopping the vehicle by cutting off a relay based on whether electronic parts broken due to insulation resistance breakdown are required for the driving of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes services a guide required for each broken electronic part about a driving state of the vehicle, by stepwise measuring insulation resistance of vehicle key on, engine starting, an operation of load parts such as a driving motor in the vehicle, an air conditioner, and a low-voltage DC-DC converter, and the like.
US09919664B2
A vehicle fuel mileage determining system includes a fuel consumption measuring device, a distance measuring device, a display configured to display fuel mileage data and a controller. The controller is coupled to the fuel consumption measuring device, the distance measuring device and the display. The controller is configured to calculate fuel mileage data using baseline data, data from the fuel consumption measuring device and data from the distance measuring device. The controller further shows the fuel mileage data calculated on the display. The controller is further configured to determine the baseline data as follows: in response to a reset condition being detected, the controller defines the baseline data as being equal to initial factory settings; and in response to the reset condition not being detected, the controller defines the baseline data as being equal to previously determined fuel and distance data.
US09919660B2
A modular side lining for a motor vehicle includes a fastener, a first lining member including a first surface along an edge of the first lining member and at least one receiver for receiving the fastener, and a second lining member including a second surface along an edge of the second lining member. The second surface abuts the first surface to form a split line, and an extension extending from the second surface has at least one hole for receiving the fastener.
US09919654B2
A storage compartment for a vehicle includes a housing structure and a cover pivotably coupled on the housing structure. The cover is pivotably positionable from a first position completely closing a compartment of the housing structure into a second position partially revealing the compartment and into a third position completely revealing the compartment. The storage compartment further includes at least one structure-side magnet and at least one cover-side damping magnet arranged in a mutually repelling manner in the first and second position of the cover.
US09919637B1
A system for transporting and operating a crane includes a front adapter which connects to the front end of the base of the crane, and a rear adapter which connects to the rear end of the base of the crane A coupler pivotally connects to the front adapter, and also connects to the tractor. A dolly pivotally connects to the rear adapter. In a transportational configuration the crane is suspended above the support surface between the coupler and the dolly. In an operational configuration the coupler and the dolly remain connected to their respective adapters, with their weight fully supported by the ground. This allows the crane to be used with no reduction to the manufacturer's rated capabilities. In accordance with another embodiment, the dolly includes a rear cradle which is shaped and dimensioned to receive and support the boom during transportation. In accordance with another embodiment, the coupler includes a front cradle which is shaped and dimensioned to receive and support the boom during transportation.
US09919636B2
An air cart for distributing air entrained particulate material from a chamber or tank to a plurality of distribution lines for application to an agricultural field has a tank refilling feature utilizing air flow from the cart distribution system or from a dedicated pneumatic source. The cart conveying system air flow is diverted and passed through an assembly containing multiple venturis which also receives particulate material from a supply source. The air entrained material from the source is conveyed to and gently deposited in the cart tank. Exhaust air from the tank may be directed back into the cart conveying system or vented through an air diffuser located beneath the cart. Exhaust air which is directed back to the cart conveying system may return to a location closely adjacent that from which it was originally diverted.
US09919634B2
The invention relates to a storage compartment for a center console of a motor vehicle, having a partial cylinder shell-shaped compartment divider, which is movable on a circular path, in order to separate a storage region from the storage compartment in order to store a beverage container. For the purpose of supporting a stored beverage container in a tilt-free manner, the invention provides a spring-loaded support element on the compartment divider, the movement of which is synchronized with fixed support elements on a circumference of the storage region.
US09919632B2
A cup holder for a vehicle includes a holder body, a support unit, a temperature sensor, and a control unit. The holder body is configured to accommodate a cup, is provided with a thermoelectric element, is formed in a double sidewall structure, and is provided with an internal blower that is disposed in the inner space of the double sidewall structure. The support unit is configured such that the front portion thereof protrudes from the inner side of the holder body and supports a side of the cup, and is provided with an illuminant that is capable of expressing a plurality of colors and radiates light onto the cup. The temperature sensor is provided on the holder body, and measures temperature. The control unit changes the color of the illuminant of the support unit based on the measured temperature.
US09919631B2
An adjustable cup holder assembly is provided. That adjustable cup holder assembly includes a support having a guide track and a drag bar. The adjustable cup holder also includes a cup holder having (a) a body including a well, (b) an actuator and (c) a drag. The cup holder may be displaced along the guide track and secured in various positions on the support by engaging the drag bar. A motor vehicle door including a cup holder with an adjustment mechanism for displacing the cup holder along the body of the door between multiple positions is also disclosed.
US09919619B2
A motor-vehicle frame includes a pair of longitudinal members; a plurality of cross members, which join the longitudinal members to one another; a resting surface, which is supported by the longitudinal members and cross members and defines the surface of the floor of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; a pair of front uprights; and a front-seat assembly. The frame includes a platform structure, arranged on which is the front-seat assembly, which affords a greater comfort within the passenger compartment and moreover strengthens the overall structure of the motor vehicle.
US09919605B2
A driving force controller for an electric vehicle includes a feed-forward compensator for computing a second target driving force so as to suppress overshooting of an actual driving force that is actually outputted, with respect to a first target driving force requested by a driver, the feed-forward compensator includes a first transfer function expressing a characteristic that the actual driving force becomes a predetermined response with respect to the first target driving force; and an inverse of a second transfer function approximately expressing a transmission characteristic between a input target driving force and the actual driving force in a control system except the feed-forward compensator.
US09919599B2
A terminal detection unit detects a mobile terminal located inside a vehicle. An action history information generation unit and storage unit associate the mobile terminal detected by the terminal detection unit and an action of the vehicle associated with each other and store them as action history information. An action suggestion unit searches the action history information stored in the storage unit for the action associated with the mobile terminal detected by the terminal detection unit and suggests the found action to a passenger of the vehicle.
US09919594B2
In a method for operating a fuel tank system for a motor vehicle, with the fuel tank system having a fuel tank and an accumulation tank to which a suction side of a fuel pump is connected, at least one sensor determines a geodetic orientation of the fuel tank when a fill level of the fuel tank is below a predetermined minimum fill level. A fueling parameter is read out from a characteristic curve field based on the geodetic orientation, and the fueling parameter is displayed by a signaling device.
US09919593B2
A mount device includes an inner rod, a damper made of an elastic material to be mounted to the inner rod, and an outer cover to be mounted to the damper. The damper includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting radially outward from the inner rod and small-thickness portions thinner than the plurality of projecting portions in a radial direction. Spaces are formed radially outward of the small-thickness portions. The outer cover includes a plurality of contact surfaces to respectively come into contact with the plurality of projecting portions. The contact surfaces have a larger curvature than that of a circumscribed circle of the damper.
US09919588B1
A door strap system includes a trailer that may contain cargo. The trailer has an outer wall and a rear side and the rear side is open to access an interior of the trailer. A door is slidably coupled to the trailer and the door is positionable between an open position and a closed position. A lift truck is selectively driven through the rear side of the trailer when the lift truck loads and unloads the trailer. A strap is coupled to the door thereby facilitating the door to be pulled downwardly into the closed position. A retention unit is coupled to the strap and the retention unit selectively engages the outer wall of the trailer such that the lift truck is inhibited from contacting the strap when the lift truck is driven through the rear side.
US09919586B2
The present invention relates to an air nozzle device (10) for a vehicle (1) comprising a housing (11) defining an interior volume and having an air inlet (12) at one side, an air discharge opening (14) at a second side and an air flow channel (18) through the housing (11) for transporting a flow of air between the air inlet and the air discharge opening, the device (10) further comprising a moveable operating member (30), a shutoff mechanism (40) and an air flow adjustment arrangement (20), said shutoff mechanism (40) being pivotably connected to said housing and configured to regulate the air flow and said air flow adjustment arrangement (20) being pivotably connected to said housing and configured to adjust the direction of the air flow in a longitudinal direction X and in a vertical direction Z, wherein said operating member (30) comprising a user-actuated manual mechanism (32), a first linkage member (34) and a second linkage member (36), wherein said user-actuated manual mechanism (32) is arranged downstream of said air flow adjustment arrangement (20) to permit manual operation of the air flow adjustment arrangement (20) and the shutoff mechanism (40) from the outside of the device.
US09919585B2
An operating device (10) for an air vent (12) which includes at least one swiveling vane (14), the operating device (10) having a first operating lever (22) which has a first lever arm (30), a second lever arm (34), and a bearing member (38) which is arranged therebetween, the first operating lever (22) being mounted around the bearing member (38) for swiveling about a swivel pin (24), and a second operating lever (26) which has a first lever arm (32), a second lever arm (36), and a bearing member (40) which is arranged therebetween, the second operating lever (26) being mounted around the bearing member (40) for swiveling about a swivel pin (28), the first lever arm (32) of the second operating lever (26) being coupled to the second lever arm (34) of the first operating lever (22) and the second lever arm (36) of the second operating lever (26) being adapted to be coupled for swiveling motion to the vane (14).
US09919582B2
A computing device determines that a first time for a first sound generated by a vehicle to reach a first sound maximum amplitude and a second time for a second sound generated by the vehicle to reach a second sound maximum amplitude are within a range. An object that reflects the second sound is identified based on an interval between receipt of the first and second sounds. A speed of sound is determined based at least in part on the time interval and a distance to the object. A humidity is determined based at least in part on the speed of sound. A vehicle subsystem is adjusted based on the humidity.
US09919567B2
A tire (pneumatic tire 1) provided with regularly arranged concave portions (concave portions 80) dented toward a tire inner side direction from a tire surface (tire surface 50) in at least some areas on the tire surface wherein in a direction along with the tire surface, a maximum width L of the concave portion is in a range of 0.1 micrometer or more to less than 50 micrometers, a depth D reaching to a point of the innermost part of the concave portion toward the tire inner side direction from the tire surface is within a range of 0.1 micrometer or more to less than 10 micrometers, in the direction along with the tire surface, an arrangement interval P of the concave portions is within a range more largely than 0.1 micrometer to less than 100 micrometers.
US09919556B1
A system for compensating for a flat tire, including a tire deployment sub-system and a tire pressure monitoring sub-system. The tire deployment system comprises an extendable auxiliary tire mounted to the frame of the automobile that is in communication with the tire pressure monitoring system and a user interface. The tire pressure monitoring system is adapted to monitor the internal pressure of the tires of the vehicle, via either direct or indirect means, and send a notification signal to the tire deployment system when the pressure sensor detects that one of the tires of the vehicle is losing pressure. The deployed auxiliary tire provides a temporary support for the tire that has gone flat, allowing the driver to continue driving for a period of time and thereby obviating the need to immediately pull to the side of the road and change out the flat for a spare tire.
US09919553B2
The present invention is directed to an embossing tool having a microstructure on its surface wherein the surface of the embossing tool has a thin layer of gold or an alloy thereof. Such an embossing tool not only can reduce adhesion between the surface of the embossing tool and a cured material, but also does not cause any significant change to the profile of the microstructure.
US09919537B2
A method of manufacturing a pattern includes providing a pattern of a first liquid and a movement-restraining liquid on a medium, the movement-restraining liquid configured to restrain the first liquid from moving on the medium, applying a powder material to the pattern, and removing the powder material not adhering to the pattern to form a pattern of the powder material.
US09919529B2
Provided is a cap unit that can prevent or suppress collision between the drive gear and intermittent gear when the drive gear and intermittent gear begin to mesh. A cap unit 25 has a moving mechanism 28 that moves a cap 26. The moving mechanism 28 has an intermittent cam gear 36 with a cam channel 43; a drive gear 35; and a cap holder 45. The cap holder 45 includes a holding member 48 that holds the cap 26; a cam follower pin 49; a pin support mechanism 50 that supports the cam follower pin 49; and a coil spring 51 that urges the cam follower pin 49 toward the bottom 43a of the cam channel 43. A slope 57 is disposed to the bottom 43a of the cam channel 43. The cam follower pin 49 is on the slope 57 when meshing of the intermittent cam gear 36 and drive gear 35 is disengaged, and the intermittent cam gear 36 turns in conjunction with the cam follower pin 49 moving on the slope 57 due to the urging force of the coil spring 51.
US09919525B2
In an example, a fluid ejection apparatus includes a printhead die embedded in a printed circuit board. Fluid may flow to the printhead die through a plunge-cut fluid feed slot in the printed circuit board and into the printhead die.
US09919524B2
In an embodiment, a printhead includes a printhead die molded into a molding. The die has a front surface exposed outside the molding to dispense fluid and an opposing back surface covered by the molding except at a channel in the molding through which fluid may pass directly to the back surface. The die has a first bond pad on the front surface surrounded by a first dam to prevent the molding from contacting the first bond pad.
US09919517B2
Addressing an EPROM on a printhead is described. In an example, a printhead includes an electronically programmable read-only memory (EPROM) having a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns, each of the cells having a addressing port, a row select port, and a column select port. A conductor is coupled to the addressing portion of each of the plurality of cells. A column shift register is coupled to the column select ports of the plurality of cells, the column shift register having a register location for each column of the plurality of cells and having an input to receive a first input signal. A row shift register is coupled to row select ports of the plurality of cells, the row shift register having a register location for each row of the plurality of cells and having an input to receive a second input signal.
US09919514B2
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head unit that has a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, that discharges a liquid from each of the plurality of nozzles, and that causes liquid columns to extend downwardly; a liquid droplet generating unit that irradiates at least the two liquid columns with a laser beam in a direction obliquely intersecting with the arrangement direction when viewed from the center of the nozzle array and that separates liquid droplets from the liquid column; and a direction changing unit that applies energy to the liquid droplets and changes flying directions of the liquid droplets.
US09919505B2
In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a mandrel is disclosed. The mandrel having a shape memory alloy (SMA) shell having a longitudinal axis, an interior extending along the longitudinal axis and an exterior contour, the SMA shell being configured to interface with a structure to be cured, and at least one SMA actuation member disposed within the interior and connected to the SMA shell, where the at least one SMA actuation member is configured to exert pressure against the SMA shell effecting an interface pressure between the exterior contour of the SMA shell and the structure to be cured where the exterior contour has a predetermined actuated shape that corresponds to a predetermined cured shape of the structure to be cured.
US09919503B2
The present disclosure relates to extrusion coating systems, extrusion coated substrates, and processes for making the same. In some aspects, extrusion coating systems as described herein may include an at least partially insulated outlet wall, which may facilitate production of coated substrates exhibiting a very desirable surface texture and appearance. Coated substrates of the present invention may be utilized in a variety of end applications, including, but not limited to, interior and exterior construction materials for homes, buildings, and furniture.
US09919492B2
An armor panel is formed of a central layer of ballistic tiles, a support plate and a layer of high strength fiber weave. An outer layer of fiber weave formed of two plies of high strength fiber is wrapped around central layer, support plate and layer of high strength fiber weave. An inner layer of fiber weave formed of two plies of high strength fiber is wrapped around central layer. Armor panel is formed by molding.
US09919489B2
A sandwich structure including at least one fastener attached to a first facesheet, an ordered three-dimensional microstructure core defined by a series of interconnected polymer waveguides around the at least one fastener and attached to the first facesheet, and a second facesheet attached to the ordered three-dimensional microstructure core. The ordered three-dimensional microstructure core is sandwiched between the first facesheet and the second facesheet.
US09919487B2
A mandrel (300) for holding an intraocular lens blank (200) during manufacturing includes an intraocular lens holding section configured to hold an intraocular lens, the intraocular lens holding section including: a central cavity (310) configured to hold a mounting material (315) such that the mounting material contacts an optic of the intraocular lens blank when the intraocular lens blank is mounted on the mandrel, and a projection (325) extending around a periphery of the central cavity, the projection having an outer wall (330) and an inner wall (335), and the projection being configured such that an outer peripheral edge of the intraocular lens blank extends up to or beyond the projection when the intraocular lens blank is mounted on the mandrel. A second mounting material (320) is deposited in the first trench (340) and then the haptic is milled using e.g. an end mill (365).
US09919483B2
Methods for manufacturing a panel for a ball, in particular for a soccer ball, as well as panels manufactured by these methods and balls with such panels. A method comprises the following steps: providing a carrier material having an outer side and an inner side within a mold having at least one first and at least one second mold part. Three-dimensionally molding an outer layer of the panel on the outer side of the carrier material within the mold. Three-dimensionally molding an inner layer of the panel on the inner side of the carrier material using at least the first mold part.
US09919480B2
A method for producing a textile preform includes manufacturing a multi-layer fiber fabric, which includes a first flange portion and a web portion connected to the first flange portion, deforming a first fiber layer of the first flange portion with respect to the web portion, such that the first fiber layer is at a first flange portion angle to the web portion, a web height of the web portion being set in a variable manner during the deformation of the first fiber layer, and depositing a unidirectional fiber fabric only on the deformed first fiber layer of the first flange portion.
US09919473B2
First and second composite members each containing first discontinuous fibers of fiber length La, are placed such that end surfaces thereof face each other at an interval of first length L1. Ends of the first and second composite members are melted over a second length L2 from the end surfaces. A connecting member containing second discontinuous fibers of fiber length Lb, is melted and placed to bridge a space between the ends, to form a stack. The stack is pressed, whereby the melted connecting member and the melted end portions flow into the space between the end surfaces to form a mixture portion. The mixture portion is cooled and solidified to produce a fiber-reinforced resin bonded body. The first length L1 is equal to or more than ½ of the fiber length Lb, and the second length L2 is equal to or more than the fiber length La.
US09919468B1
A tire rubber extruder automatic loading and management system is provided for continuous and automatic control of a rubber extrusion line. Batches of rubber slab material, whether for sidewall or tread, are connected in an automated manner to provide a continuous material stream for feeding a tread extruder supply conveyor within a tire manufacturing system. Joiner between adjacent slabs are implemented utilizing a stitched joint of material. Stitch pins are driven through both rubber slab layers to a specific depth into a clearance hole to create an optimized rubber mechanical adhesion zone. The result is a funnel shaped adhesion channel penetrating entirely through the layers of material perpendicular to the direction slab movement and tension. The resulting “rivet” like button structures are extremely strong, have no Impurities that could otherwise be added via adhesives, and can be formed in an automated manner within the available process cycle times.
US09919460B2
Systems and methods for improving adhesion of an insulating foam to a molded polymeric insulating structure through use of ozone gas for functionalization of molded polymeric surfaces of an internal cavity of the insulating structure.
US09919447B2
A method and a device for fracture splitting a connecting rod and a connecting rod formed therefrom are provided, in which a force exerted on an outer rim of an eye of the connecting rod by a separating tool is generated by an electromagnetic force. The separating tool includes at least two separating members inserted into the eye, and the electromagnetic force is generated by displacing the at least two separating members away from each other inside the eye in response to application of the electromagnetic force. The electromagnetic force may be generated by passing current through coils positioned between the at least two separating members in a manner that causes the coils to repel one another, preferably with a pulse duration of less than 100 microseconds, in order to minimize plastic deformation at the fracture locations.
US09919446B2
A food processing system includes a food slicing machine having a control arrangement for regulating a thickness of slices cut by the machine so that they are cut according to a current value of a slice size parameter. An under-weight signal is generated which is responsive to generation of any under-weight groups of slices by the slicing machine, and an end-of-line weighing device monitors the weight of groups of slices outputted by the system and generates an end-of-line weight signal responsive thereto. The system identifies any under-weight groups of slices so that their weight can be increased by addition of a further slice before being outputted by the system. The control arrangement receives the two signals and determines the value of the slice size parameter having regard to them. The slice size parameter may be adjusted to minimize give-away by the system.
US09919435B1
A utility tool that combines several features, including a folding cutting blade, a putty knife or painter's multitool, and a finger loop that aids with manipulation of the utility tool.
US09919419B2
A robot system includes a robot, a control apparatus that controls the robot, a teaching apparatus having a first operation part that makes an emergency stop of a motion of the robot and teaching the motion of the robot, and an emergency stop processing apparatus having a second operation part that continues the motion of the robot after the first operation part is operated, wherein the second operation part is separately provided from the control apparatus.
US09919410B2
A method for controlling an electrical tool having a motor, a transmission mechanism, a control device, and a function member. The motor drives the function member to move in a reciprocating manner via the transmission mechanism. The function member has a standard position and the control device controls the motor. The control device at least has an associated position sensor capable of detecting a position of the function member. The method for controlling the electrical tool includes at least a reset movement process that is used to reset the function member to the standard position after the function member completes more than one cycle of reciprocating movement.
US09919405B2
A conditioning device complements a silencer with higher sound attenuation and also allows the silencer to better withstand abrasion of grit entrained exhaust air flow from decompressing an airblast pot. The device is configured to achieve four functions. First is to control and direct the exhaust air flow. Second is to absorb the impact of the entrained particles. Third is to diffuse and slow down the exhaust air velocity. Fourth is to direct and deflect the sound waves to the sound absorption surfaces located downstream.
US09919396B2
A tool gripping arrangement for loading an elongate tool having a lengthwise axis into a collet. The tool gripping arrangement includes a tool clamp comprising a pair of tool clamp grippers for clamping the tool along a clamping axis. The tool gripping arrangement further includes a mounting arrangement for mounting the gripping arrangement to a robot arm, the tool clamp being mounted for free rotation relative to the mounting arrangement.
US09919395B2
A method is proposed for controlling tool change operations on a machine tool, wherein a machining procedure on a workpiece includes a sequence of machining operations having in each case a particular tool and in each case a particular duration, and for a tool change, tools of a tool spindle are provided by a second storage device in communication with a first storage device, and wherein there is associated with the machining procedure a sequence of tool provision operations in which a tool provision operation has in each case a particular duration, wherein the method includes a determination stage wherein the durations of the machining operations and the tool provision operations are determined, and a control stage wherein the tool provision operations are temporally grouped in relation to the machining operations such that the tool provision operations bring about a minimized idle time in the machining procedure.
US09919394B2
One first drive unit that advances or recedes in the X-direction and that exerts a drive force in the X-direction to a movable table is arranged to exert a drive force to a center position in the Y-direction of one end part in the X-direction of the movable table. Two second drive units that advance or recede in the Y-direction that is perpendicular to the X-direction, and that exert the drive forces in the Y-direction to the movable table are arranged to be point-symmetric with respect to the center of the movable table as the center of symmetry. Plural plane guide bearings are arranged at positions such that the total sum of the moment forces of the respective plane guide bearings is zero on the center axis line in the X-direction of the movable table.
US09919387B2
A differential device including a planetary gear mechanism having a sub-gear, an annular gear and a planetary gear is more compact than a differential gear using a bevel gear mechanism. Since revolution torque of the planetary gear is transmitted to a free gear, and torque from the main gear is reduced to be transmitted, the differential device can use a small-sized drive unit in comparison with a conventional one. Hence, a machining apparatus including such a differential device is also compact. If the machining apparatus has three drive units, a pair of ring gears, first and second power transmission shafts, a radial movement mechanism and an axial movement mechanism, a tool holder, namely, a tool coupled to the radial movement mechanism and the axial movement mechanism, can be freely moved in axial and radial directions with respect to the pipe.
US09919383B2
A laser machining method includes a first piercing process of forming a non-through piercing hole extending from a top surface to a central portion of a workpiece; a workpiece cooling process; a second piercing process of making the piercing hole pierce to a bottom surface of the workpiece; and a workpiece cutting process. The second piercing process includes performing piercing by irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam while changing the output of the laser beam from a second output value to a third output value, which is smaller than the first output value and larger than the second output value, the focal position from a first in-focus position to a second in-focus position having a larger in-focus amount than the first in-focus position, and the depth of focus from a second depth deeper than a first depth to a third depth deeper than the second depth.
US09919380B2
Methods of and devices for forming edge chamfers and through holes and slots on a material that is machined using a laser, such as an ultrafast laser. The shaped material has predetermined and highly controllable geometric shape and/or surface morphology. Further, a method of and a device for preventing re-deposition of the particles on a material that is machined using a laser, such as an ultrafast laser. A fluid is used to wash off the particles generated during the laser machining process. The fluid can be in a non-neutral condition, with one or more chemical salts added, or a condition allowing the coagulation of the particles in the fluid, such that the particles can be precipitated to avoid the reattachment to the machined substrate.
US09919374B2
A gripper sensor device for aligning fine wires. The robotic gripper sensor device including a housing having a probe receiving cavity. A sensor probe is positioned in the probe receiving cavity. An arm of a positioning member includes a wire engagement section for engaging respective fine wires and a probe engagement section for engaging a portion of the sensor probe. As the wire engagement section is moved into cooperation with the wire, force is applied to the arm of the positioning member causing the probe engagement section to move relative to the portion of the probe, causing the probe to convert a stress change of the portion of the probe into a force reading.
US09919371B2
A gear machining apparatus includes a machining tool having a plurality of protruding tool edges on an outer periphery of the machining tool, and driving apparatuses that form a tooth on a work piece by rotating the machining tool around a central axis thereof, rotating the work piece W around a central axis thereof, and moving the machining tool relative to the work piece. Radial outer faces of the protruding tool edges form multiple steps that are parallel to the central axis of the machining tool such that the diameter of the machining tool increases in a stepwise manner from a tool leading end toward a tool base end of the machining tool.
US09919364B2
A cutting tool including a body, a blade, a feed shaft, and a locking member. The body defines an axis and is adapted to be received by a spindle of a power tool. The blade is removably supportable on the body and rotatable about the axis for cutting a workpiece. A feed shaft is removably supportable in the body and rotatable about the axis for engaging a workpiece, the feed shaft being mountable in the cutting tool to engage and at least partially restrain the blade. The feed shaft further includes an opening transverse to the axis. The locking member is engageable with the body and with the opening in the feed shaft. Advancement of the locking member into the opening tightens both the blade and the feed shaft to the body.
US09919344B2
Flextensional transducers and methods of using flextensional transducers. The transducer includes a piezoelectric element and may include at least one endcap coupled with the piezoelectric element. The endcap may have an outer portion formed of a first material and an inner portion formed of a second material having a greater flexibility than the first material. The endcap may be coupled with an annular piezoelectric element near either its outer circumference or its inner circumference. The piezoelectric element may be a planar disk or have a curved bowl-shape. The transducer may be coupled with, and at least partially restrained by, a support structure. The transducer may also be configured to permit light to pass therethrough.
US09919343B2
An ultrasound transducer includes: an acoustic matching layer bending with a predetermined curvature; a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on an inner face on a side of a curvature center of the acoustic matching layer in such a manner that the plurality of piezoelectric elements bend; a plurality of wirings including respective one ends electrically connected to the plurality of piezoelectric elements, respectively; a substrate to which respective other ends of the plurality of wirings are electrically connected; and a holding member provided on the plurality of wirings at a position partway of the plurality of wirings between the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the substrate, the holding member being configured to hold a pitch of the plurality of wirings so as to be a pitch that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined arrangement pitch of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
US09919342B2
An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer device includes a transducer array consisting of an array of vibrating elements, and a base to which the array of vibrating elements in the transducer array are attached. The base include integrated electrical interconnects for carrying driving signals and sensed signals between the vibrating elements and an external control circuit. The base can be an ASIC wafer that includes integrated circuitry for controlling the driving and processing the sensed signals. The interconnects and control circuits in the base fit substantially within an area below the array of multiple vibrating elements.
US09919334B2
The present disclosure is directed to a microfluidic die that includes a plurality of heaters above a substrate, a plurality of chambers and nozzles above the heaters, a plurality of first contacts coupled to the heaters, and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the heaters. The plurality of second contacts are coupled to each other and coupled to ground. The die includes a plurality of contact pads, a first signal line coupled to the plurality of second contacts and to a first one of the plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of second signal lines, each second signal line being coupled to one of the plurality of first contacts, groups of the second signal lines being coupled together to drive a group of the plurality of heaters with a single signal, each group of the second signal lines being coupled to a remaining one of the plurality of contact pads.
US09919330B2
An installation for spraying a coating product on objects, such as motor vehicle bodies, that are moved by a conveyor (4) parallel to a conveying axis (X4) and having base (102) and mobile (104-108) portions. A multi-axis spraying robot (50) is dedicated to spraying a coating product. A multi-axis handling robot (60) is dedicated to maneuvering the mobile portion (104-106-108) of an object (100) to be coated relative to the base portion (102). Each robot is movable parallel to the conveying axis. Ventilation means provide a flow of ventilation air (F1) inside a booth (3), perpendicular to the conveying axis (X4). The spraying and handling robots (50, 60) are both slidably mounted along a same rail (8) parallel to the conveying axis (X4), and can pass each other. The rail is disposed upstream from the objects to be coated (100), in the direction of flow of the ventilation air (F1).
