US09947334B2
A multichannel acoustic system (MAS) comprises an arrangement of microphones and loudspeakers and a multichannel acoustic processor (MAP) to together enhance conversational speech between two or more persons in a shared acoustic space such as an automobile. The enhancements are achieved by receiving sound signals substantially originating from relatively near sound sources; filtering the sound signals to cancel at least one echo signal detected for at least one microphone from among the plurality of microphones; filtering the sound signals received by the plurality of microphones to cancel at least one feedback signal detected for at least one microphone from among the plurality of microphones; and reproducing the filtered sound signals for each microphone from among the plurality of microphones on a subset of loudspeakers corresponding that are relatively far from the source microphone.
US09947333B1
A voice interaction architecture has a hands-free, electronic voice controlled assistant that permits users to verbally request information from cloud services. The voice controlled assistant may be positioned in a room to receive voice commands from the user. The voice controlled assistant may also pick up background sources of speech, music, or other noise, such as from a television or stereo system, which may adversely impact the user's intended vocal input to the assistant. The assistant transmits the aggregated audio data (user command and background noise) over a network to the cloud services, which implements noise cancellation functionality to remove the background noise while isolating and preserving the user's command. Once isolated, the cloud serves can process and interpret the user input to perform some function, and return the response over the network to the voice controlled assistant for audible output to the user.
US09947332B2
A method of processing a digital radio broadcast signal includes: (a) determining a plurality of current correlation sample values representative of a time delay between samples in an analog audio sample stream and samples in a digital audio sample stream; (b) determining a current inversion status; (c) updating a delay history and an inversion status history; (d) checking the current correlation sample values for consistency with a first confidence threshold; (e) if consistency is found in step (d), determining if each of a first plurality of values in the delay history is consistent within a predetermined range of the current correlation sample values; (f) if consistency is found in step (e), determining if a value in the inversion status history is consistent with the current inversion status; and (g) if the consistency is found in step (f), allowing blending of an output to the digital audio sample stream.
US09947329B2
An apparatus for encoding an audio or image signal, includes: a controllable windower for windowing the audio or image signal to provide the sequence of blocks of windowed samples; a converter for converting the sequence of blocks of windowed samples into a spectral representation including a sequence of frames of spectral values; a transient location detector for identifying a location of a transient within a transient look-ahead region of a frame; and a controller for controlling the controllable windower to apply a specific window having a specified overlap length to the audio or image signal in response to an identified location of the transient, wherein the controller is configured to select the specific window from a group of at least three windows, wherein the specific window is selected based on the transient location.
US09947327B2
Methods and apparatus for performing variable block length watermarking of media are disclosed. An example method to encode auxiliary data in audio data comprises selecting a frequency based on a code, selecting a block size based on the code, a combination of the block size and the frequency to represent of the code, encoding the code in an audio stream according to the block size and the frequency, and transmitting the audio stream including the encoded code.
US09947323B2
An apparatus for oversampling audio signals is described herein. The apparatus includes one or more microphones to receive audio signals and an extractor to extract a set of feature points from the audio signals. The apparatus also includes a processing unit to determine a distance between each pair of feature points and an oversampling unit to generate a plurality of new feature points based the distance between each pair of feature points.
US09947306B2
An electric acoustic apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies sound-generation information including timing information representing a start of a sound-generation, a storage storing sound control pattern data representing a pattern of over-time change of a parameter defining a behavior of a sound, a reproducer that reproduces the sound control pattern data, and a sound signal generator that generates a sound signal representing a sound according to the sound-generation information and changes the behavior of the sound based on the reproduced sound control pattern data. The reproducer controls a reproduction behavior of the sound control pattern data according to the sound-generation information.
US09947302B2
A pedalboard support for electric instruments includes at least two end pieces, and at least two parallel longitudinal sections, each of which has a top surface to support pedals and at least two lower grooves forming open channels to receive attachment means. The at least two parallel longitudinal sections include at least a longitudinal groove on the top surface forming a channel which is open to the exterior. Each of the at least two end pieces joins the at least two parallel longitudinal sections together at respective ends through attachments placed in the open channels.
US09947294B2
For power-advantaged image data control, a method, system, and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes identifying, by use of a processor, a power source state, determining whether display data includes a power-adverse image based, at least in part, on the power source state, and replacing the power-adverse image with a power-advantaged image in response to the display data including the power-adverse image. In some embodiments, the method includes converting the power-adverse image into the power-advantaged image. In some embodiments, the method includes notifying a user, in response to displaying the power-advantaged image, that the power-advantaged image is displayed in place of the power-adverse image, and providing the user a control to display the power-adverse image in place of the power-advantaged image.
US09947290B2
A timing controller, a multi embedded timing controller (TED), and a display panel including a multi TED are provided. The timing controller includes: a first interface configured to receive data from a host device; and a second interface configured to communicate with another timing controller for driving the display panel, wherein the second interface is configured to communicate full link training information with the other timing controller.
US09947287B2
A transparent display device for compensating for external environmental effects, such as color background overlapping, interference due to external light, and the like, which have an effect on an image, provides an original image with a minimized distortion to a viewer. According to the present disclosure, one or more sensors are provided on a front surface and a rear surface of the transparent display device to detect the viewer's line of sight and background, and to compensate for a distortion of the image based on color coordinates estimated according to the detection results, thereby providing an image with higher quality.
US09947276B2
A liquid crystal display device (1) includes an adjustment setting section (11), a color component adjusting section (14), and a background color setting section (12). In a case where the adjustment setting section (11) carries out color component adjustment, (i) the background color setting section (12) carries out a second process of setting a background color and (ii) the color component adjusting section (14) carries out a first process of converting a grayscale level of a picture element. In a case where the adjustment setting section (11) does not carry out the color component adjustment, (i) the background color setting section (12) does not carry out the second process and (ii) the color component adjusting section (14) does not carry out the first process.
US09947257B2
A color display includes multiple composite pixels, each composite pixel including sub-pixels of more than one color type. Sub-pixels of at least one of the color types are provided with differing luminance capability in different composite pixels. Each composite pixel may include red, green and blue sub-pixels having different luminance capability in different composite pixels. The differing luminance capability may be achieved by providing sub-pixels of at least one of the color types of differing relative area. An image data processing unit (IDPU) receives input image data of a standard format, and modifies the input image data into output image data for display to account for a discrepancy between the luminance capability based on the differing luminance capability or differing size of each sub-pixel, and a luminance capability as expected based on the input image data. The IDPU then outputs the output image data to control the composite pixels.
US09947253B2
There are provided a display device capable of detecting a defect of a scan driver. The display device includes pixels positioned in regions demarcated by scan lines and data lines, a scan driver including a plurality of stages connected to the scan lines, an inspection unit connected to the stages to detect whether the stages are defective, and including first transistors turned on when a control signal is supplied, and a timing controller supplying the control signal, wherein the timing controller detects a position of a defective stage by reducing a period during which the control signal is supplied.
US09947245B1
A corrugated display sign with a former panel secured to a backer panel. The former panel includes a central section opposed by two lateral sections, two support members partially cut away from the central section and maintaining a connection with the central section via at least one fold line, and two or more preformed slots, with one slot positioned adjacent to the support members. The display sign further includes a graphic panel operable to be wrapped around exterior edges of the lateral sections, and having ends secured to the backer panel. The display sign is capable of being erected from a knockdown configuration to an erected configuration by folding the lateral sections away from the central section and wrapping the graphic panel about the lateral sections.
US09947239B2
A teaching aid to aid in evaluating data may include a frame member and an eye guide movably connected to the frame member to guide the user of the teaching aid in evaluating the data. The frame member may include a top frame wall, a pair of opposing a side frame walls to connect to the top frame wall and a bottom frame wall to connect to the pair of opposing side frame walls, and the frame member may include a divider wall to define a cavity for the data to be evaluated.
US09947231B2
Methods and systems for controlling the flight of aircraft are disclosed. An example method includes in response to a first time of arrival at a first waypoint, determining first cruise speeds and corresponding first descent speeds for the first waypoint at the first time of arrival; in response to a second time of arrival at a second waypoint, determining second cruise speeds and corresponding second descent speeds for the second waypoint at the second time of arrival, at least one of the first waypoint or the second waypoint being in a descent phase of a flight; identifying a third cruise speed and a third descent speed based on the first cruise and descent speeds and the second cruise and descent speeds, the first cruise and descent speeds including the third cruise speed and the third descent speed, the second cruise and descent speeds including the third cruise speed and the third descent speed; and identifying a trajectory of an aircraft that satisfies the third cruise speed and the third descent speed.
US09947229B2
Disclosed is a novel system and method for adjusting a flight path of an aircraft. The method begins with computing a flight path of an aircraft from a starting point to an ending point which incorporates predicted weather effects at different points in space and time. An iterative loop is entered for the flight path. Each of the following steps are performed in the iterative loop. First lift data is accessed from a fine-grain weather model associated with a geographic region of interest. The lift data is data to calculate a force that directly opposes a weight of the aircraft. In addition, lift data is accessed from sensors coupled to the aircraft. The lift data is one or more of 1) thermal data, 2) ridge lift data, 3) wave lift data, 3) convergence lift data, and 4) a dynamic soaring lift data. Numerous embodiments are disclosed.
US09947222B2
To optimize road traffic within an application server (SA) providing itineraries recommended to users connected to said application server from communication terminals (TC), each recommended itinerary being provided to a user based on a profile of the user containing the departure date or arrival date, the departure location and the arrival location, the application server compares the itineraries recommended to users whose indicated departure date belongs to a given interval time, produces a set of users whose corresponding recommended itineraries have at least one itinerary segment of given length in common, and modifies an itinerary recommended to at least one user who belongs to said set of users.
US09947214B2
An authentication apparatus includes an authentication unit configured to perform authentication processing according to power generation information from a power generation unit configured to generate electric power from ambient energy.
US09947213B2
An emergency notification device performs emergency notification to send an emergency notification to a notification center when an urgent event is generated on a vehicle, and test notification to diagnose whether the emergency notification can be performed, through a notification button that is a part of one user interface. This device has a normal mode in which emergency notification can be performed, and a test mode in which test notification can be performed, through an operation of the notification button, as well as a transit mode in which transition from the normal mode to the test mode can be performed with a predetermined vehicle operation in the normal mode as a trigger. The emergency notification device performs informing processing, which differs from mode to mode, through indicators and that are another part of the one user interface.
US09947210B2
A tracking system can provide intervention notifications to a user to notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or is in a predicted state. The tracking system may notify the user that a tracking device is potentially lost or in a predicted state based on a number of factors, including: a proximity of a tracking device to other tracking devices or a user's mobile device, a movement of a tracking device to more than a threshold distance away from a mobile device or other tracking devices, a location of a tracking device relative to a geographic location or to geographic boundaries, a usage or movement behavior of the tracking device, a usage or movement behavior of a user or owner of a tracking device, information received from an external source, or information received from sensors within the tracking device or a user's mobile.
US09947206B2
An electronic device with a display screen is provided and the device includes an infrared light emitter for emitting infrared light; and an infrared light receiver configured corresponding to the infrared light emitter such that the infrared light receiver receives infrared light emitted by the infrared light emitter when the electronic device is not deformed or deformation of the electronic device is not greater than a preset threshold. A control unit is connected with the infrared light emitter and the infrared light receiver for transmitting first information to an operation system of the electronic device when the infrared light emitter emits infrared light but the infrared light receiver does not receive the infrared light. The electronic device enables detecting deformation of electronic devices using infrared light, so that damage to the screens of the electronic devices can be avoided as soon as possible.
US09947202B1
A computer-implemented method for generating an automated response to a catastrophic event, that includes (1) analyzing a sample set of data generated in association with a catastrophic event to determine a threshold pattern; (2) receiving, with customer permission or affirmative consent, home sensor data from a smart home controller via wireless communication or data transmission, the home sensor data including data regarding at least one of (i) structural status; (ii) wind speed; (iii) availability of electricity; (iv) presence of water; (v) temperature; (vi) pressure; and/or (vii) presence of pollutants in the air and/or water; (3) determining, based upon or from computer analysis of the home sensor data, whether the home sensor data indicates a match to the threshold pattern; and (4) automatically generating a response if the home sensor data indicates a match to the threshold pattern. As a result, catastrophic events and responses thereto may be improved through usage of a remote network of home sensors.
US09947201B2
A medical monitoring system includes one or more processors (23) configured to receive (84) monitored physiological measures (16) and corresponding one or more alarm occurrences for a patient (10) and an adjustable alarm setting (56). The one or more processors are further configured to configure (86) a display (28) of at least one monitored physiological measure (76) and a retrospective graphical illustration of the physiological measure (30) including illustrations of the one or more occurrences of alarms (32) corresponding to the adjustable alarm setting (56).
US09947197B2
An alerting method for portable electronic devices, the alerting method being performed by at least one of first and second portable devices. The method includes first and second electronic devices communicating with one another through two different wireless channels, the first channel providing longer range communications than the second channel. The second electronic device may enter an alarm mode of operation if communications through a channel fails. The second electronic device may exit the alarm mode of operation if communications through the other channel are restored.
US09947191B2
A master device stores audio data and image data transmitted from an outdoor monitoring camera in an image memory and transmits the data to a mobile phone terminal, the mobile phone terminal includes a display/input unit, displays the image data and a predetermined icon on the display/input unit, and transmits a request signal for stopping the storage operation performed by the master device to the master device when a predetermined operation is performed on the predetermined icon, and the master device stops storing the audio data and the image data in the image memory.
US09947172B2
A game machine includes a display device that displays a game screen in which virtual reels formed by symbols are arranged so as to correspond one-to-one to cells as symbol stop positions. And, a game machine determines the symbol to stop in each cell through drawing, and controls a movement to change the symbol and a stop of the movement for each virtual reel based on a drawing result. Furthermore, a game machine determines a number of specific symbols that stop in the cells, and controls a movement of each virtual reel, which causes the specific symbols to appear in the cells, as one virtual reel group and a stop of the movement in units of virtual reel group.
US09947169B2
An operation portion support portion that moves in a Z direction in response to a pressing operation performed by a user, a first slide portion that is arranged at a position covering the periphery in the X direction and Y direction of the operation portion support portion and moves in the Y direction, which is orthogonal to the Z direction, due to the operation portion support portion moving in the Z direction, a second slide portion that is arranged at a position adjacent in the Y direction to the first slide portion and moves in the X direction, which is orthogonal to the Z direction and Y direction due to the first slide portion moving in the Y direction, and a biasing member that biases the second slide portion in the −X direction are included.
US09947165B2
A linkage device is provided, which includes: a banknote stacking plate, a cover plate, a transmission mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The first transmission component is mounted on the banknote stacking plate, and configured to drive the banknote stacking plate to rotate. The second transmission component and a spring are mounted on the cover plate, and the second transmission component is configured to drive the cover plate to rotate. The torque limiter is mounted on the first transmission component. The one-way bearing is mounted on the second transmission component. The linkage device may prevent a customer from placing banknotes into a fault position when depositing the banknotes, and may also avoid problems of the internal structures such as the banknote separating mechanism, the impeller wheel type banknote stacking mechanism exposed being blocked by foreign matters disposed, or being damaged for other reasons.
US09947163B2
A method of authenticating security documents and a mobile device, especially a smartphone, programmed to carry out the method, based on an analysis of features which are produced by intaglio printing, which analysis involves a decomposition of sample images of a candidate document to be authenticated based on Wavelets, each sample image being digitally processed by performing a Wavelet transform of the sample image in order to derive a set of classification features. The method is based on an adaptive approach, which includes the following steps: —prior to carrying out the Wavelet transform, defining a categorization map containing local information about different intaglio line structures that are found on the security documents; —carrying out a Wavelet selection amongst a pool of Wavelet types based on the categorization map; and —performing the Wavelet transform of the sample image on the basis of the selected Wavelet.
US09947161B2
Disk image acquiring device includes a guide for guiding a peripheral surface of a disk moving in a predetermined direction along a predetermined guide line, an imaging window defining an image-taking region on the one surface of the disk, a timing sensor to take images having a detection axis traversing a moving direction of the disk and outputting a timing signal as arrival of the disk at a predetermined position on the imaging window when the peripheral surface of the disk has been detected on the detection axis, and an imager which takes an image of the one surface of the disk via the imaging window based upon the timing signal, wherein a bisector of an angle between the guide line and the detection axis is utilized as a base line, and the imaging window is extended along the base line.
US09947156B2
Method and apparatus for granting control of a shared-access system. The method comprises: obtaining (305) an identity of a user; obtaining (310, 315) a priority rating associated with the user, wherein the priority rating is updated in response to one or more observed activities of the user, the one or more observed activities being linked to the shared-access system (100); comparing the priority rating with a threshold; and granting (320) control of at least a part of the shared-access system (100) to the user if the priority rating is above the threshold. For example, each user may have a respective ‘strength of association’ with the shared-access system or part thereof; the shared-access system may comprise one or more lighting units arranged to illuminate an environment, and a user who is present most often in the environment may be deemed to have the ‘strongest association’ with the shared-access system.
US09947143B2
A ticket dispensing module includes an elongate ticket dispensing aperture provided within a face of the ticket dispensing module, and a housing body with opposed first and second faces provided with first and second complementary slideable engagement elements and latching elements. The first slideable engagement element of a first housing body is engageable with the second slideable engagement element of a corresponding, second housing body, by relative displacement of the first and second housing bodies. The first and second slideable engagement elements of the housing bodies are configured to prevent separation of the housing bodies transverse to the direction of relative displacement when they are engaged. The housing body has opposed third and fourth faces each connecting between the first and second faces, provided with complementary slideable engagement elements and latching elements.
US09947140B2
A method for a measurement or production setup includes providing a visualization system with a processor, an output device and a capturing module for capturing identification data of a working space. The method further provides a first setup component having at least one first marker at the working space and provides a second setup component having at least one second marker at the working space and being connectable to the first setup component through at least one connection. The method captures identification data about the markers and identifies the markers. The processor retrieves digital information for the markers from a database and makes a decision on the connection of the setup components based on the retrieved digital information and the captured identification data. The method then outputs a visual representation of the connection between the first and second setup components according to the decision.
US09947139B2
A method for generating a hybrid reality environment includes receiving data of a first user and a second user at different locations. The method also includes generating a scene of an augmented reality (AR) based environment that includes the first user and a virtual object related to the second user; and generating a scene of an augmented virtuality (AV) based environment that includes the virtual object related to the second user and a virtual object related to the first user. The method further includes sending signals for displaying the scene of the AR based environment to the first user and displaying the scene of the AV based environment to the second user such that the first user can interact with the virtual object related to the second user in real time and the second user can interact with the virtual object related to the first user in real time.
US09947132B2
A material representation data structure and a method of representing a material for digital image synthesis. The data structure may be embodied in a graphics processing subsystem, including: (1) a memory configured to store a material representation data structure according to which a material is declaratively represented by a property indicative of an interaction between the material and light, and (2) a processor operable to gain access to the memory and employ the property in a rendering procedure defined independent of the material representation data structure and designed to effect the interaction.
US09947127B2
A mobile telephone receives, constructs and displays an image from a server over a mobile telephone network. The server determines the parameters for data transfer from the server to the mobile telephone, the capabilities of the mobile telephone, transfer task requirements, and apportions the processing between the server and the mobile telephone for each of a plurality of elements in each image, thereby to meet the task requirement, which can include being within a predetermined time for task completion, or being the fastest means for task completion. Parameters for data transfer from server to telephone include server transmission bandwidth, phone reception bandwidth, data channel bandwidth, transmission protocol, and channel accessibility. Phone capabilities include the data processing speed, the available memory, display size, and the data processing software available; Task requirements include the maximum transmission time and the minimum display resolution of the image.
US09947124B2
Techniques are proposed for animating a deformable object. A geometric mesh comprising a plurality of vertices is retrieved, where the geometric mesh is related to a first rest state configuration corresponding to the deformable object. A motion goal associated with the deformable object is then retrieved. The motion goal is translated into a function of one or more state variables associated with the deformable object. A second rest state configuration corresponding to the deformable object is computed by adjusting the position of at least one vertex in the plurality of vertices based at least in part on the function.
US09947121B2
A computing device is described which has a memory holding at least two input images depicting different parts of a panoramic scene, the images having been captured by a user moving the camera by hand to capture the panorama. The computing device has an image stitching component configured to identify, at a processor, a region of overlap between the at least two images and to calculate a displacement vector for each of a plurality of warp points in the region of overlap. The image stitching component is arranged to warp a second one of the at least two images using the warp points; and to join the warped second image to the first image.
US09947112B2
The present invention relates to a scanning device (10, 10′) for scanning an object (12), wherein the scanning device (10) comprises a projection unit (16) for projecting an alignment image (28) onto the object (12), said alignment image (28) comprising a main pattern (26), an image capturing unit (18) for capturing a live camera image (30) of the object (12), said live camera image (30) comprising a derivative pattern (32) of the main pattern (26), the derivative pattern (32) representing said projected alignment image (28) as seen from the image capturing unit viewpoint, and an alignment unit (22, 22′) for providing an indication of a correct position and/or orientation of the scanning device (10) with respect to the scanned object (12) on the basis of the captured live camera image (30).
US09947106B2
A method and an electronic device for object tracking in a sequence of light-field captures. A data acquisition unit acquires a sequence of light-field captures, wherein each light-field capture comprises a plurality of views. A feature determining unit determines features of an initial visual appearance model for an object of interest in a reference view of a first light-field capture. A feature matching unit matches the features in the reference view and in the further views of the first light-field capture. A feature discarding unit discards features that cannot be well matched in all views of the first light-field capture. An appearance model building unit builds an updated visual appearance model for the object of interest based on the remaining features. Finally, a movement tracking unit tracks the movement of the object of interest in the sequence of light-field captures using the visual appearance model.
US09947102B2
The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for segmenting three-dimensional images. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for segmenting a three-dimensional image is provided. The method may include receiving a three-dimensional image acquired by an imaging device, and selecting a plurality of stacks of adjacent two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional image. The method may further include segmenting, by a processor, each stack of adjacent two-dimensional images using a neural network model. The method may also include determining, by the processor, a label map for the three-dimensional image by aggregating the segmentation results from the plurality of stacks.
US09947099B2
Systems and methods are provided for determining a depth map and a reflectivity map from a structured light image. The depth map can be determined by capturing the structured light image and then using a triangulation method to determine a depth map based on the dots in the captured structured light image. The reflectivity map can be determined based on the depth map and based on performing additional analysis of the dots in the captured structured light image.
US09947094B2
There are provided a feature point extraction unit that extracts an anatomical feature point included in a medical image based on the medical image and a standardization conditions acquisition unit that acquires standardization conditions of pixel values of the medical image based on some pixel values around the anatomical feature point among the pixel values of the medical image.
US09947090B2
The present invention involves a foreign object detection system and method which involves combining several algorithms specifically enhanced for foreign object detection to provide an improved detection system.
US09947082B2
An image compensation method and apparatus is provided. The method may include: determining, as the second brightness value, a brightness value for which a SAD corresponding to the brightness value and the first brightness value is the minimum, in brightness parameters of a second image displayed at a second time; determining a membership degree corresponding to a target SAD; determining a motion compensation parameter corresponding to a first coordinate and a median frame interpolation parameter corresponding to the first coordinate; determining a brightness compensation parameter corresponding to the first coordinate based on the membership degree corresponding to the target SAD, the motion compensation parameter corresponding to the first coordinate and the median frame interpolation parameter corresponding to the first coordinate; performing an image compensation so as to display a compensated image at a time between the second time and the first time based on the brightness compensation parameter corresponding to the first coordinate.
US09947078B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer storage media directed at image resampling with geometric transformation. In embodiments the method may begin by determining a two-dimensional filter for application to an original image to produce a resampled image. This determining may be based on a specified geometric transformation. The method can proceed by computing identifiers for pixel locations in the resampled image that indicate a position of the two-dimensional filter with respect to the original image. Additionally, the method can include applying the two-dimensional filter to the original image in accordance with the computed identifiers to produce the resampled image. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09947077B2
A method and system are provided for tracking an object in a video sequence. The method includes selecting a tracking window in a current video frame, the tracking window including at least a location and a size associated with an object to be tracked, and adjusting the size of the tracking window based on an estimated change in a scale of the object, and using the adjusted tracking window for tracking the object in a subsequent video frame.
US09947073B2
Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for performing memory-aware matrix factorization on a graphics processing unit. Aspects include determining one or more types of memory on the graphics processing unit and determining one or more characteristics of each of the one or more types of memory. Aspects also include assigning each of a plurality of memory accesses of a matrix factorization algorithm to one of the one or more types of memory based on the one or more characteristics and executing the matrix factorization algorithm on the graphics processing unit.
US09947070B2
A GPU can be configured to selectively function as a PCIe switch so that a PCIe link can be formed between the GPU and a remote GPU. The GPU can include a DisplayPort interface that is coupled via a multiplexer to a USB type-C port. When it is desired to implement remote graphics, the GPU can cause the DisplayPort interface to instead function as a PCIe interface between the GPU and the multiplexer. With this PCIe connection, the GPU can forward its PCIe interface with the CPU to the remote GPU via the USB type-C port. In this way, remote graphics can be implemented without using Thunderbolt to tunnel the PCIe interface to the remote GPU.
US09947068B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus and computer program product for scheduling tasks, the method comprising: receiving a request from a context for processing a frame by a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU); allocating frame processing time for the context in association with the frame; receiving a command buffer associated with the frame; subject to a pending command buffer collection being empty, submitting the command buffer for processing by the GPU; determining priorities for all command buffers in the pending command buffer collection, including a priority for the command buffer; if the highest priority command buffer is the command buffer, submitting the command buffer for processing; otherwise adding the command buffer to the pending command buffer collection, wherein the frame processing time allocated for the context is reduced by an amount of time related to a time a previous frame associated with the context exceeded its allocated processing time.
US09947067B2
The present disclosure provides a radiation image inspection system based on B/S architecture. The system comprises: at least one client terminal, configured to initiate an image operation request to a Web server, and display an image operation result on a browser of the client terminal upon receiving a response from the Web server; an image processing assembly, configured to query, based on the image operation request from the client terminal and forwarded by the Web server, an image which the client terminal desires to process, perform an operation on an image as requested by the client terminal, convert the resulted image into an image in a designated format and quality and return the converted image to the browser of the client terminal via the Web server for displaying; and the Web server, configured to receive the image operation request from the client terminal, forward the image operation request to the image processing assembly, and return the image operation result from the image processing assembly to the client terminal.
US09947062B2
An image forming apparatus includes a reading device that reads an image from a document, a storage device, and a central processing unit (CPU). The storage device stores therein an authentication kit, a scan extension kit, and a specific information collection program. The CPU executes the authentication kit to function as an authentication unit, the scan extension kit to function as a character recognition unit, and the specific information collection program to function as a specific information collection unit. The specific information collection unit acquires information of the user for which authentication passes from a user information management system that manages the information of the user. The specific information includes a character that represents a value of a specific item indicated in a specific document as the document and that is recognized by the character recognition unit; and the information of the user acquired from the user information management system.
US09947057B2
Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social media-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social networks further spread the word about the organization's promotion.
US09947054B2
A processing server may receive transaction data from one or more point of sale (POS) terminals in near real-time. Transaction data received from each of the POS terminals may be in a format that is specific to the POS terminal. Upon receiving the transaction data having the POS specific format, the processing server may convert the transaction data to a common format that is compatible with the operations of the processing server. Further, the processing server may index the converted transaction data into one or more categories. Responsive to indexing, the processing server may generate aggregate data from the indexed transaction data. Further, the processing server may receive a request for a data report associated with the aggregate data. Responsive to receiving the request, the processing server may generate the data report, format the data report to match a user preference, and transmit the data report for presentation.
US09947049B2
Methods and apparatus to calculate and display transaction adjusted values are disclosed. An example method includes defining an order related to a tradeable object listed on an electronic exchange, wherein the order is associated with a user; determining whether the user qualifies for a pricing incentive that rewards trading activity meeting a threshold; when the user qualifies for the pricing incentive, calculating a transaction adjusted value of the order at respective ones of a plurality of price levels of a trading interface, wherein the pricing incentive is factored into the calculation of the transaction adjusted value for a first one of the price levels, and the pricing incentive is not factored into the calculation of the transaction adjusted value of a second one of the price levels; and displaying ones of the transaction adjusted values in a value axis of the trading interface in connection with respective ones of the plurality of price levels.
US09947043B2
Some embodiments of a system and a method to dynamically create a smart form have been presented. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) module, running on a server, creates a GUI to present a questionnaire having at least one question to an end-user. A rule engine, running on the server, receives an answer to the at least one question via the GUI from the end-user. Using truth maintenance, the rule engine may determine what follow-up questions to ask the end-user based on the answer received. The GUI module may dynamically modify the GUI to present the follow-up questions to the end-user.
US09947039B2
A system is provided that that recognizes an order item. The system defines an order item specification including a recognition property and a dynamic parameter property. The system further receives an order item of an order, the order item including a key that uniquely identifies a conceptual model entity and arbitrary parameters, each arbitrary parameter comprising a parameter name and a parameter value. The system further extracts the key from the order item. The system further stores the key within the recognition property. The system further identifies the conceptual model entity based on the recognition property. The system further dynamically binds parameter values from the arbitrary parameters to the dynamic parameter property based on the identified conceptual model entity.
US09947031B2
A content access management system receives an access determination requested identifying an access rule and a requesting user. The access rule may be created in advance by the content owner at the content access management system. The access rule may allow access to content objects based on the requesting user's biographic information, geographic information, affiliation information, payment information, or any other user characteristic. The user information may be entered by the requesting user at a social networking system interface for purposes unrelated to the content object or content owner. The content access management system retrieves the identified access rule and retrieves requesting user information based on the access rule. An access determination is made based on the retrieved access rule and requesting user information, and is transmitted to the content owner.
US09947025B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for extracting the content of a video, image, and/or audio file or podcast, analyzing the content, and then providing a targeted advertisement, search capability and/or other functionality based on the content of the file or podcast.
US09947023B2
A method that provides a virtual presentation includes providing a real-world toy associated with a registration code, receiving the code by a registration subsystem via a computer interface of a computer system, and validating the registration code. Responsive to the validating, the computer system processes the registration code to transform the real-world toy into a virtual toy that is a virtual replica of the real-world toy in a virtual world to be displayed by a computer display. Content is provided for displaying a virtual room and a selection of virtual furnishings. In response a user command, the virtual furnishings are provided, arranged and displayed at an initial location within the virtual room. In response to another user command, the one or more virtual furnishings are moved to a new virtual location within the virtual room. The virtual toy interacts with one of the virtual furnishings and exhibits an animated response that simulates a real-world activity.
US09947019B2
A method for constructing a context profile within a system implementing symmetrical object profiles. The method includes establishing one or more contextual boundary parameters defining a context within which transactions occur. A plurality of transactions associated with the context is filtered using the contextual boundary parameters to obtain a pool of filtered transactions. Each of the transactions is conducted between at least two objects in the system including a plurality of objects associated with the symmetrical object profiles. An array of filtered objects including objects involved in at least one filtered transaction is established. Each filtered object is defined by a current version of a corresponding object profile and is associated with a corresponding transaction. The method includes generating a context object profile associated with the context that is based on attribute values of filtered object profiles associated with the array of filtered objects.
US09947005B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of creating, displaying and utilizing quick response (QR) codes to perform processing an application on a mobile device and a control system network. One example method of operation may include identifying a user information parameter and generating a symbology code image that includes the user information parameter and displaying the symbology code on a mobile device display.
US09947004B2
Computer implemented systems and methods, including methods of transacting with wireless clients. Embodiments include, in various combinations, a client ID module, a scanning module configured to scan, or an act of scanning, a wireless channel set at a business locale for wireless signals of a registered customer set, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments identify out of the wireless signals certain wireless packets of a client of the registered customer set, calculate a first client signal strength of the first wireless packets, or both. In certain embodiments, a localization module calculates or is configured to calculate whether the first client is at a transaction area of the business locale, for example, based on the first client signal strength, for instance, without reliance on near field communication technology. Some embodiments include a training module or act, a point of service module or act, or both.
US09947000B2
An authentication system and method of use thereof are provided to authenticate a user involved in a transaction. The system comprises a communications interface configured to receive a one-time code generated by an electronic device, wherein the one-time code is generated by an electronic device responsive to successful verification of biometric information at the point of use of the electronic device, and one or more processors configured to retrieve account information associated with a user of the electronic device, wherein the account information is retrieved in response to receiving the one-time code, and to use the retrieved account information to access account identifying information or identifying information associated with the user of the electronic device.
US09946991B2
Medical coding systems receive as input medical terms which coders classify into medical codes, used in the remuneration of medical procedures. A set of applicable medical codes can be determined by intersecting multidimensional data structures associated with the input terms and counting medical codes occupying regions of intersection. If the resulting set contains a single code, it is presented to the coder for verification. If the resulting set contains more than a single code, the coder can be questioned in a variety of ways to access, and select from, terminology options not implied by the originally provided input terms. The interactive process may also use the multidimensional data structures to regulate the order of questions, present decision aids, and select related procedure codes. The interaction concludes when the coder has fully specified the proper code or codes that describe the required procedure or procedures.
US09946986B1
A method of improving operation of a petroleum reservoir using geotechnical analysis includes classifying a petroleum reservoir using a Reservoir Ranking Analysis (RRA) and then making one or modifications to the operation of the reservoir. RRA classification includes establishing reservoir classification metrics for at least resource size and recovery potential, and optionally profitability. The reservoir can be classified based on at least one metric in the profitability classification category, and also based on at least one metric in one or more of the resource size classification category or the recovery potential classification category. Classification of reservoirs can aid in reservoir management, planning, and development.
US09946985B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for performing workflows using a mobile device, without requiring tactile input from the user. The workflow is thus “touchless” and may utilize input preferably including optical data and/or audio data. Tactile input may be optionally provided in some embodiments, but the workflow is configured to be performed without any tactile input. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for performing a touchless mobile workflow includes: invoking a mobile application using a mobile device; receiving auditory input via the mobile device; and performing a business workflow via the mobile application based on the auditory input. Corresponding systems and computer program product embodiments configured for touchless mobile workflows are also described.
US09946984B2
A system and method manages workflows exchanges a document between a first server associated with a first service provider and a second server associated with a second service provider over a network. A first workflow engine associated with the first service provider is configured to apply the document to a first workflow based on a first set of rules. A second workflow engine associated with the second service provider is configured to apply the document to a second workflow based a second set of rules. The first and second workflow engines run the first workflow at first service provider asynchronous to the second workflow at the second service provider. The system and method transports a document between the first service provider and second service provider. A first server encrypts the document to create an encrypted document and append an unencrypted header to the encrypted document. The header has a pairwise relationship identifier.
US09946983B1
A workflow processing system may receive a representation of one or more objects corresponding to the current state of a workflow. A rule may be mapped to one or more activities of the workflow. The rule may comprise an any-of clause, an all-of clause, and a none-of clause. Each clause may contain zero or more conditions that are evaluated with respect to the current state of the workflow. When each of the any-of, all-of, and none-of clauses evaluates to true, the rule may be satisfied and the activities to which the rule is mapped are performed.
US09946982B2
Embodiments pertain generally to a method for providing subscription services based on virtual machines. The method includes providing for a service portal for users to subscribe to subscription services for at least one of technical support and software based on the virtual machines and providing the subscription services based on client information and business requirements entered by the customer in the service portal.
US09946977B2
A computer-implemented method for paperless electronic queue ticketing is provided. The method includes reading, by a processor of a user device, an electronic ticket code displayed on a ticket device, the electronic ticket code having information and instructions for an electronic ticket; decoding, by the processor of the user device, the information and instructions in the electronic ticket code; and sending, by the processor of the user device, a signal to a sensor on the ticket device to obtain the electronic ticket. A system and computer product for paperless electronic queue ticketing are also provided.
US09946976B2
A system of multiple computer systems operating over a network that creates addresses using elements received by users or determined by administrators or supplied by the system based on computer system data, content data, and user data, distinguishes the addresses using address signifiers, organizes the addresses hierarchically, provides access to users by enabling entries that manipulate element inclusion and signifier inclusion, amends entries by adjusting signifier type, and approximates entires with element matching.
US09946970B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to methods and systems for performing neural network computations on encrypted data. Encrypted data is received from a user. The encrypted data is encrypted with an encryption scheme that allows for computations on the ciphertext to generate encrypted results data. Neural network computations are performed on the encrypted data, using approximations of neural network functions to generate encrypted neural network results data from encrypted data. The approximations of neural network functions can approximate activation functions, where the activation functions are approximated using polynomial expressions. The encrypted neural network results data are communicated to the user associated with the encrypted data such that the user decrypts the encrypted data based on the encryption scheme. The functionality of the neural network system can be provided using a cloud computing platform that supports restricted access to particular neural networks.
US09946969B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a neuromorphic network for producing spike-timing dependent plasticity. The neuromorphic network includes a plurality of electronic neurons and an interconnect circuit coupled for interconnecting the plurality of electronic neurons. The interconnect circuit includes plural synaptic devices for interconnecting the electronic neurons via axon paths, dendrite paths and membrane paths. Each synaptic device includes a variable state resistor and a transistor device with a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal, wherein the drain terminal is connected in series with a first terminal of the variable state resistor. The source terminal of the transistor device is connected to an axon path, the gate terminal of the transistor device is connected to a membrane path and a second terminal of the variable state resistor is connected to a dendrite path, such that each synaptic device is coupled between a first axon path and a first dendrite path, and between a first membrane path and said first dendrite path.
US09946954B2
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and computer program products for determining distance between an object and a capture device are disclosed. The distance determination techniques are based on image data captured by the capture device, where the image data represent the object. These techniques improve the function of capture devices such as mobile phones by enabling determination of distance using a single lens capture device, and based on intrinsic parameters of the capture device, such as focal length and scaling factor(s), in preferred approaches. In some approaches, the distance estimation may be based in part on a priori knowledge regarding size of the object represented in the image data. Distance determination may be based on a homography transform and/or reference image data representing the object, a same type or similar type of object, in more approaches.
US09946949B2
Methods are systems are provided that include obtaining a digital image from a digital photograph, such as may be taken by a digital camera or a camera phone. The digital image includes, for example, a URI or URL, which may be contained within a visible frame. A character recognition technique, such as an optical character recognition technique, may be used to recognize the URI or URL from the digital image. The URI or URL may be used to access a corresponding Web page. The character recognition technique may be applied on the digital camera or cell phone itself, or remotely.
US09946946B1
A computer-implemented method comprises generating a description of a character symbol from a binarized image; comparing a template for the character symbol with the description of the character symbol based on a reference description, wherein the template comprises a grid of cells, a set of local features which may be present in the grid of cells, the reference description specifying which member of the set of local features should be present or absent in the grid of cells, and a threshold of an accepted deviation with the description of the character symbol; assigning a penalty value to the description of the character symbol via a cost function when a discrepancy exists based on the comparing; selecting the template as a match candidate for the character symbol when the penalty value is below the threshold; recognizing the character symbol based on the selecting.
US09946937B2
A method for recognizing a weather condition in the surroundings of a vehicle. The method includes a step of ascertaining at least one imaging feature in image information. The image information represents a depiction of at least a portion of the surroundings, and the imaging feature represents a light effect on a reflective or luminescent object in the portion of the surroundings. In addition, the method includes a step of determining weather information for characterizing the weather condition based on a comparison between the imaging feature and at least one expected value.
US09946936B2
A method and system for parking occupancy detection comprises collecting video of the parking facility with a video capturing device, counting an occupancy of a parking facility using at least one sensor to establish a sensor occupancy count, classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant with a classifier according to the classification threshold in order to establish a video occupancy count, determining a difference between the sensor occupancy count and the video occupancy count, and setting the sensor occupancy count to equal the video occupancy count if the difference between the sensor occupancy count and the video occupancy count exceeds a difference threshold.
US09946933B2
A computer-implemented video classification method and system are disclosed. The method includes receiving an input video including a sequence of frames. At least one transformation of the input video is generated, each transformation including a sequence of frames. For the input video and each transformation, local descriptors are extracted from the respective sequence of frames. The local descriptors of the input video and each transformation are aggregated to form an aggregated feature vector with a first set of processing layers learned using unsupervised learning. An output classification value is generated for the input video, based on the aggregated feature vector with a second set of processing layers learned using supervised learning.
US09946927B2
The present invention describes a method for marking an object (18), the object (18) having a surface of a conductive material. The method comprises a step of applying an electric spark to the surface such that the material is at least one of partially melted and partially ablated by the electric spark, thereby forming a pattern on the object (18). Further, the present application relates to a marking system (10) for marking an object (18) using a spark generator (12) having a counter electrode (14) and a connector (16) for electrically connecting the spark generator (12) to the surface of the object (18) to be marked. Further, the present application relates to an authenticating system for authenticating or identifying an object (18) marked by the above described method for marking the object (18).
US09946920B1
A fingerprint sensor is disclosed. The fingerprint sensor includes a substrate, a sensing electrode, a shielding plate, a first pair of conductive plates and an amplifier. The sensing electrode is configured to detect a capacitance in response to a touch event on the fingerprint sensor, and configured to selectively receive or not receive an input voltage. The shielding plate is configured to selectively receive the input voltage or is coupled to a reference voltage level. The first pair of conductive plates includes a first plate selectively coupled to the sensing electrode. The amplifier includes an inverting terminal coupled to a second plate of the first pair of conductive plates, and a non-inverting terminal to receive a voltage that is a fraction of the input voltage. The sensitivity of the fingerprint sensor is directly proportional to the input voltage.
US09946910B2
Provided is an optical information reading device that can reduce an installation load on a user, and can accurately read a code provided to each of various workpieces. A polarized illumination light source includes light emitters that irradiate the workpiece with illumination light through a polarization filter. A non-polarized illumination light source includes light emitters that irradiate the workpiece with illumination light without through a polarization filter. An imaging element is provided with a polarization filter having a polarization direction different from a polarization direction of the polarization filter of the light emitters. Either of the polarized illumination light source and the non-polarized illumination light source is used in accordance with the workpiece.
US09946897B2
Aspects of the technology described herein can provide data privacy management. An exemplary computing device may have a tracker to track various user data of a user distributed among different service providers based on metadata associated with the user data. When a transaction manager of the exemplary computing device receives a request for a first service provider to access the user data of the user, the transaction manager may request a second service provider having the user data to provide the user data to the first service provider if the user approves the first service provider to access the user data.
US09946896B2
A user attribute information provision system processes attribute information of users while preventing a leakage of attribute information. A provision apparatus: selects an apparatus group forming a communication path; generates information registration request in which information of a predetermined user is concealed in data recognizable only to a correspondent of the provision apparatus; and transmits the information registration request to an access destination solving apparatus via the apparatus groups. The access destination solving apparatus: stores the information of the user indicated by the information registration request and information of a correspondent provision apparatus; receives an inquiry request from an inquiry apparatus; and transfers the inquiry request by way of the correspondent provision apparatus as the user to the provision apparatus as the inquiry destination via the provision apparatuses in the communication path, thereby causing the provision apparatus to return the attribute information of the user to the inquiry apparatus.
US09946886B2
A method for securing operation of a computing device operated with a stylus includes recognizing a pre-defined gesture performed by a stylus on a touch screen, the pre-defined gesture defined as a user command to lock an item displayed on the touch screen, determining a location of the gesture, determining identity of the stylus, locking an item displayed at the location determined, and recording identity of the stylus. A method for operating a computing device with a stylus includes receiving a command with a stylus to add restricted annotations to a document, receiving identity of the stylus, linking an annotation to the identity, restricting display of the annotation on the document to a computing device receiving input from the stylus; and displaying the document absent the at least one annotation on a computing device on which input from the stylus is not received.
US09946884B2
Systems and methods for cryptographic suite management are described. A system for cryptographic suite management has a cryptographic suite management unit comprising a series of APIs enabling diverse applications to call cryptographic functions. The system enables: multiple applications on an interface to access shared cryptographic resources; applications across multiple devices to share and license cryptographic resources between devices; encryption, decryption and sharing of data between devices having different cryptographic implementations; the definition, distribution and enforcement of policies governing the terms of use for cryptographic implementations, systems and methods to secure and protect shared and dynamically loaded cryptographic providers; use by an application of multiple cryptographic resources and the management of cryptographic provider bundles and associated policies across one or many cryptographic suite management unit instances.
US09946880B2
The present disclosure includes: searching a code clone corresponding to a used source code from any analysis target source code; detecting a security sink and sensitive data of the security sink on the basis of patch information in the searched code clone; acquiring a source code which is from the user input point the a security sink by backwardly tracing the sensitive data detected in the analysis target source code; and verifying whether the searched code clone is a vulnerability in the analysis target source code by performing a concolic testing on the basis of a path from the input point to the security sink.
US09946869B1
Systems and methods for providing computer system monitoring as a service of a computing resource service provider, monitoring capacity computer system of a customer of the computing resource service provider, and based on the request, launching a monitoring agent in a protected execution environment in which the monitoring agent is configured to generate an assessment of the computer system and provide the assessment of the computer system.
US09946868B2
A system and associated method for controlling access to features of a device are provided. The system includes a feature access component that maintains an access control register configured to store an access control parameter indicating whether a user has access to a feature of the device. Responsive to receiving a request to modify the access control register to enable or disable access to the feature, an access authentication parameter is set to an authentication key of the request and an access parameter is set to a value of the request (e.g., 1 “Enable”). The access authentication parameter and access parameter are evaluated utilizing an authentication algorithm. Responsive to successfully authenticating the request, the access control register is modified based upon the value of the access parameter, such as to indicate that the user is now authorized to read and/or modify a parameter and/or invoke a service to execute.
US09946863B1
Representations of authentication objects are provided for selection via an interface. An authentication object may be generated to include information proving possession of a user of an item, such as a one-time password token or a physical trait. A selected authentication object may contain information sufficient for authentication with a corresponding system. The interface may provide multiple representations of authentication objects that are usable with different service providers.
US09946858B2
An authentication system and device including physical unclonable function (PUF) and threshold cryptography comprising: a PUF device having a PUF input and a PUF output and constructed to generate, in response to the input of a challenge, an output value characteristic to the PUF and the challenge; and a processor having a processor input that is connected to the PUF output, and having a processor output connected to the PUF input, the processor configured to: control the issuance of challenges to the PUF input via the processor output, receive output from the PUF output, combine multiple received PUF output values each corresponding to a share of a private key or secret, and perform threshold cryptographic operations. The system and device may be configured so that shares are refreshable, and may be configured to perform staggered share refreshing.
US09946839B1
In one embodiment, a matching-engine system receives from a user a search query with a location of the user and a user-specified symptom or treatment. The matching-engine system determines a base-concept of a medical diagnosis or medical procedure based on the search query. The matching-engine system may identify a set of physicians to be recommended to the user based on factors relevant to the base-concept such as readmission rate, infection rate, average length-of-stay, relative invasiveness, and healthcare facility ratings. The matching-engine system may send a search-results page to the user listing the recommended physicians.
US09946832B2
Approaches presented herein enable optimization of a network and component configuration in a dense server environment. Specifically, an approach includes: constructing a plurality of populated racks, each selected so as to contain an optimized size and configuration of components constrained according to a set of user-selected requirements that specify a type, a quantity, and one or more characteristics of at least one of the set of components; optimizing a configuration of the populated racks to minimize a cable length between populated racks, the configuration adhering to, e.g., power requirements, cooling requirements, and weight requirements for the populated racks; and optimizing a position of a set of cable trays and corresponding junctions by reducing a number of cable tray channels associated with the cable length between populated racks. Taken together, these elements provide a repeatable approach for optimizing the number of cables, quantity of multiplexed connections, cable lengths, and switch/component placement.
US09946813B2
A search support apparatus includes a receiving unit, a determining unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit receives a question containing a character string and extracts a keyword for specifying a question object and a keyword for specifying a question type from the character string contained in the question. The determining unit determines a display mode of an output of a response to the received question in accordance with the keyword for specifying the question type. The output unit outputs a search result based on the keyword for specifying the question object, in the display mode of the output.
US09946808B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method to determine whether to perform entity resolution on vertices in an entity graph. A determination is made of pairs of records in a database having a relationship value satisfying a threshold. An entity relationship graph has a vertex for each of the records of the pairs and an edge between two vertices. Each vertex has a self-information score based on content in the record, an initial unique entity identifier, and an entity information score. For each subject vertex of the vertices, a determination is made of a target vertex directly connected to the subject vertex that has a highest entity information score and whether to set the subject vertex entity identifier and entity information score to the entity identifier and entity information score of the target vertex based on the target vertex self-information score.
US09946800B2
Mechanisms are provided for performing a cognitive operation. An input graph is received having a plurality of first nodes, where subsets of first nodes are coupled to one another via first edges and each first edge has an associated weight. A blinking graph model is generated based on the graph, where blink rates are associated with second edges and are calculated based on weights of corresponding first edges in the input graph. The blink rate specifies a fraction of time a corresponding second edge is determined to be present in the blinking graph model. A relatedness metric is calculated for a target node relative to a node of interest based on the blink rates of the second edges. The relatedness metric indicates a degree of relatedness of the target node to the node of interest. A cognitive operation is then performed based on the relatedness metric.
US09946798B2
A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for content delivery. The mechanism identifies a candidate user of a social networking service. The candidate user has an associated profile including at least one concept of interest. The mechanism determines a probability that the candidate user is interested in an item of content based on a semantic similarity of the at least one concept of interest and at least one concept tag associated with the item of content using a weighted semantic graph. Responsive to the probability exceeding a probability threshold, the mechanism delivers the item of content to the candidate user. Responsive to receiving feedback comprising at least one action taken by the candidate user with respect to the item of content, the mechanism adjusts weights in the weighted semantic graph.
US09946789B1
An example method includes: identifying message labels for electronic messages; identifying, based on a classification model specific to a first user, a first and a second message labels for a first and a second electronic messages; detecting a user action by the first user on the second electronic message to indicate the first message label is descriptive of the second electronic message; responsive to the user action, re-training the classification model based on tokens produced from the second electronic message to produce an updated classification model specific to the first user; after re-training is completed, detecting an incoming electronic message having a timestamp later in time than timestamps for the first and the second electronic messages; determining that the incoming electronic message shares a predefined number of tokens with the second electronic message; and assigning, based on the updated classification model, the first message label to the incoming electronic message.
US09946788B2
A method for automated mapping of key terms to documents. Preferably a feature vector is generated for the key terms. Preferably such feature vectors are automatically generated by analyzing a corpus, but may optionally be generated manually, or using a combination of automated and manual processes. Next, preferably such feature vectors are weighted. Such weighting may optionally be performed manually, but more preferably is performed automatically. Next, a feature vector is optionally and preferably generated for the document, which preferably includes words and phrases that were extracted from the document but may optionally include words and phrases that do not appear in the document, such as synonyms and related. Each element in the document feature vector is preferably weighted. The feature vectors of the key terms and the feature vectors of the documents are compared, in order to produce relevancy scores, which are used to produce mapping between documents and key terms. This mapping may optionally be used for a wide variety of applications, such as for targeted advertising for example.
US09946779B2
A method for performing multiple merge operations with a source data structure and a plurality of destination data structures, in which the source data structure is scanned one time in order to obtain source data that is then used for multiple merge operations. The source data is then used consecutively in order to merge the source data into the one or more destination data structures. Each merge is performed using the same scan of the source data structure and within the same execution of a database command.
US09946777B1
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating the transformation of data from a tabular data set organized according to a data schema to an object based data set organized according to data ontology. The data schema and the data ontology may be used to generate a custom coding language suitable for facilitating the creation of a transform script. Error checking, type checking, autocomplete, and preview tools may be provided to permit the verification of the transform script as it is created.
US09946767B2
A method and system are disclosed for generating a list of trips on an associated transportation network, the list ranked in accordance with time-dependent modeling of passenger preferences. User preferences of choosing a specific public transportation service or change point are modeled by a set of latent variables. Any actual trip on the network is converted into a set of pairwise preferences implicitly made by the passenger during the trip. Sequences of services matrices and change points matrices from the retrieved set of trips and non-negative factorization of the services and change points matrices is performed to smooth the matrices. The set of pairwise preferences are used to learn a ranking function and the output of a journey planner is re-ranked using the ranking function.
US09946761B2
The content recommendation system that acquires attribute information of a given user, acquires at least one list from among lists of content sequentially generated over time on the basis of the attribute information of the given user, acquires user preference information, which is feature information of content preferred by the given user, extracts some content from content included in the list acquired on the basis of the user preference information, and presents the content to the given user.
US09946756B2
Techniques for implementing mechanisms for chaining continuous queries are provided. In some examples, results of a first continuous query may be stored in a data object. For example, the first continuous query may be configured to process business event data and store the results in the data object. Additionally, a second continuous query may then be processed based at least in part on the results stored in the data object.
US09946755B2
Automated database manager aspects selectively apply different active constraints within a definition statement for a hybrid constraint name to a relational database management system table data field. One at a time the definition statement constraints are selected and tested, their logical set values to TRUE in response to the testing meeting their defined conditions and an OR statement output generated of the logical values of all of the hybrid constraint name definition statement constraints, wherein the logical values are linked by logical OR operators and the output is TRUE in response to the logical value of any one of the constraints having a logical value of TRUE. In response to the OR statement output set to TRUE, the data operation is performed on the target table name and affected column name without testing any other untested ones of the constraints within the definition statement.
US09946749B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for expressing inequality expressions as a bounded number of equality expressions. One of the methods includes receiving an original query having an inequality expression for an original attribute. A new query that replaces the inequality expression with a bounded number of equality expressions is generated, wherein each equality expression references a respective auxiliary attribute, each auxiliary attribute representing intervals of values for the original attribute. The new query having the bounded number of equality expressions is provided to a database system instead of the original query. Query results that satisfy the inequality expression for the original attribute are received from the database system.
US09946745B2
Described is a reliable and efficient design for a transactional status oracle (“ReTSO”), which supports large-scale storage systems. ReTSO uses a centralized scheme and implements snapshot isolation, a property that guarantees that read operations read a consistent snapshot of the data store. The centralized scheme of ReTSO enables a lock-free commit algorithm that prevents unreleased locks of a failed transaction from blocking other transactions. Each transaction submits the identifiers of modified rows to the ReTSO, the transaction is committed only if none of the modified rows is committed by a concurrent transaction, and a log of the committed transaction is cached. To recover from failures, before a client is notified of a change, the change cached is first persisted into a write-ahead log, such that the memory state can be fully reconstructed by reading from the write-ahead log. Furthermore, ReTSO implements a lazy, auto-garbage collector hash map that reduces the number of memory accesses per request.
US09946741B2
Methods and systems for database optimization include detecting a plurality of columns in an unoptimized database that co-appear in queries to the database. The plurality of columns are compacted into a single hyper-column to form an optimized database. Each entry in the hyper-column includes data from a corresponding entry in each of the plurality of columns. An interface is generated for the optimized database that accepts queries according to a schema for the unoptimized database and translates the queries into queries according to a schema for the optimized database.
US09946739B2
An Intelligent Internet system having the capacity to discover, acquire, organize, store, and make accessible knowledge about things of interest to users and to help users more efficiently interact with these things in a rich variety of ways. The Intelligent Internet system provides users with a personalized interface that dynamically adapts to each user's interests and context. This interface provides users with direct access to “knowledge” about things that humans or machines can uniquely sense, recognize, name, understand and interact with, whether real or imagined. Users can access the knowledge stored in the Intelligent Internet system to find, learn about and select products and services; communicate with family, friends, colleagues, classmates, customers and suppliers; learn about things they encounter in their environment, make decisions about them, consume and share content related to them and perform transactions.
US09946737B2
A system and method for simplifying data access between tiers in a multi-tier system is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method is provided for receiving a request for service from a browser at a generic data access object (GDAO) layer; generating, by use of a data processor, a single, shared, generic data transfer object (GDTO) at the GDAO layer; calling through to a database tier, the database tier providing database metadata; and using the database metadata to include result data in the GDTO and return the GDTO in response to the request.
US09946736B2
A method including entering individual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized system, the set of data of each of the IDBs including at least one personal identifier of an individual and relationship data including data on one or more related individuals and the nature of the relationship, processing the entered IDBs on a processor, generating an individual-identifier data set (IDS) for each identified individual or one of the related individuals having data in the processed IDBs, and storing IDSs of identified individuals in a database.
US09946724B1
Implementations are provided herein for data deduplication, and more particularly, to post-process data deduplication on a large scale out storage system. Multiple techniques and implementations are disclosed that offer greater efficiency, higher performance, and more stability when performing post-process data deduplication at large scale. Disclosed implementations are based on a process for data deduplication involving four main phases: enumeration, commonality, sharing, and update. Multi-level hashing can be used to identify candidates for deduplication during the enumeration phase, providing a more efficient use of compute resources. In addition, datasets can be phase rotated through the post-process deduplication steps providing a more controllable deduplication environment as well as a more efficient use of resources.
US09946723B2
One or more system, apparatus, method, and computer readable media for embedding supplemental data into a compressed data stream to form a supplemented compressed data stream. In embodiments, supplemental data is embedded at a run-length encoded (RLE) compression stage. In embodiments, supplemental data is extracted from a supplemented RLE stream to recover supplemental data and/or reconstruct the compressed data stream from which the supplemental data is extracted.
US09946711B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described herein that are configured to generate an operator text in response to an alarm that is either received from an alarm or alert system or that is self-generated based on an analysis of one or more data feeds. The method of an example embodiment may include determining whether an operator text is to be generated in response to a received alert condition by performing data analysis operations comprising: analyzing, using a processor, a primary data feed and at least one confirmatory data feed to identify one or more features; and determining based on the detection of a feature in the primary data feed or the at least one confirmatory data feed satisfies at least one predetermined constraint. The method may further include generating an output text that is displayable in a user interface that describes at least a diagnosis for the feature that satisfied that at least one predetermined constraint.
US09946710B2
Business rule statements written in a natural language are automatically converted into DRL language sentences. A language conversion apparatus 10 includes: a storage device 16 that stores syntax definition information 30 for defining syntaxes to convert a business rule statement written in a natural language into a DRL language sentence on a syntax basis, and conversion information 40 for converting element variables of the business rule statement into element variables of the DRL language sentence; and a CPU 11 that analyzes a syntax of the business rule statement by comparing the business rule statement with the syntax definition information 30 and converts the business rule statement into the DRL language sentence by referring to the conversion information 40.
US09946708B2
One or more words are received. A set of frequency of occurrence values of the received word(s) within a set of domain tables is determined. A domain table in the set of domain tables is associated to the received word(s), based on the set of frequency of occurrence values meeting a threshold value. A word-sense of the received word(s) is determined based on a corresponding word-sense in the associated domain table and/or corresponding domain dictionary.
US09946705B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system may execute database queries and may comprise a computer system including at least one processor. The system may select a column of a first table as a candidate column for creating a dictionary, create tokens for a foreign key in a second table that corresponds to a primary key in the first table, generate the dictionary for the selected column using the created tokens as indexes in the dictionary and modify a query accessing the column of the first table to retrieve column values based on the dictionary. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product executing database queries in substantially the same manner described above.
US09946702B2
Disclosed herein is a digital processing system for transferring data for remote access across a multicomputer data network. In one embodiment, the digital processing system is configured to receive user input, analyze the data input, assign a reference tag to the data input based on contextual information associated with the data input, and store the reference tag within a memory device that may be accessed by one or more users of the multicomputer data network.
US09946699B1
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for location-based speech recognition for preparation of an electronic tax return.
US09946697B2
A method, system and computer program product for assisting users to generate the desired meme in a document. A document is scanned to identify parts of speech, numerical text or numbers and images (collectively the “terms”) that provide positive/negative memes. A score for each of these terms is assigned. A score may then be assigned to each designated primary object (e.g., individual, company) discussed in the document using the scores assigned to the identified terms. Options may then be provided to modify the document to provide the type of meme (e.g., positive or negative meme) desired by the author to be associated with the particular designated primary object. Upon receiving a selection of one or more of these options, the document is modified accordingly to generate the desired meme in the document.
US09946692B2
Various embodiments illustrated and described herein include one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures for package file presentation. Some embodiments include receiving a package file including a presentation specification, one or more content files, and metadata defining display elements within the presentation specification and associating each display element with one of the content files. The package file may then be presented by instantiating the presentation specification as a function of executable code embedded within the presentation specification. Some embodiments further include instantiating each display element, each display element including a link to an associated content file within the package file and to generate and distribute display elements within a graphical user interface.
US09946688B2
Interpolation logic described herein provides a good approximation to a bicubic interpolation, which is generally smoother than bilinear interpolation, without performing all the calculations normally needed for a bicubic interpolation. This allows an approximation of smooth bicubic interpolation to be performed on devices (e.g. mobile devices) which have limited processing resources. At each of a set of predetermined interpolation positions within an array of data points, a set of predetermined weights represent a bicubic interpolation which can be applied to the data points. For a plurality of the predetermined interpolation positions which surround the sampling position, the corresponding sets of predetermined weights and the data points are used to determine a plurality of surrounding interpolated values which represent results of performing the bicubic interpolation at the surrounding predetermined interpolation positions. A linear interpolation is then performed on the surrounding interpolated values to determine an interpolated value at the sampling position.
US09946686B2
A measuring device for an oscilloscope provides a decimation unit. The decimation unit provides at least one input, which receives a datastream with a plurality of sampled values from at least one data source. The decimation unit also has at least one output, at which a reduced datastream is output. The reduced datastream is formed from a root-mean-squared value of respectively at least two sampled values calculated by the decimation unit.
US09946683B2
Techniques for reducing precision timing message uncertainty are described herein. A method includes resetting an elastic buffer of a first device in response to a second device linked with the first device sending SKIP (SKP) ordered sets to the first device. The method also includes initiating a PTM handshake with the second device in response to resetting the elastic buffer. Additionally, the method includes sending PTM messages to the second device immediately after receiving the SKP ordered sets.
US09946680B2
Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for peripheral device diagnostics and control over a two-wire communication bus. For example, in some embodiments, a slave device may include circuitry to receive a synchronization control frame from an upstream device, receive audio data from the upstream device subsequent to receipt of the synchronization control frame, provide a synchronization response frame toward the upstream device, and provide first data representative of an operational characteristic of an audio device coupled to the slave device subsequent to provision of the synchronization response frame; circuitry to derive timing information from the synchronization control frame; and circuitry to provide the audio data to the audio device, and receive, from a sensor coupled to the slave device, second data representative of the operational characteristic of the audio device.
US09946679B2
Disclosed herein are systems and technique for distributed audio coordination over a two-wire communication bus. For example, in some embodiments, a first slave device may include circuitry to receive, over a two-wire bus a synchronization control frame, audio data, and a dynamics processor (DP) parameter for a second audio device coupled to a second slave device. The first slave device may include circuitry to derive timing information from the synchronization control frame, and circuitry to provide the audio data and a DP parameter (based on the DP parameter for the second audio device) to a first audio device coupled to the first slave device.
US09946676B2
A system-on-a-chip, such as a logical PHY, may be divided into hard IP blocks with fixed routing, and soft IP blocks with flexible routing. Each hard IP block may provide a fixed number of lanes. Using p hard IP blocks, where each block provides n data lanes, h=n*p total hard IP data lanes are provided. Where the system design calls for k total data lanes, it is possible that k≠h, so that ┌k/n┐ hard IP blocks provide h=n*p available hard IP data lanes. In that case, h−k lanes may be disabled. In cases where lane reversals occur, such as between hard IP and soft IP, bowtie routing may be avoided by the use of a multiplexer-like programmable switch within the soft IP.
US09946674B2
A system for a multiple chip architecture that enables different system on-chip (SoC) systems with varying compatibilities to interact as one SoC via a transparent interface. The system address maps of the single SoCs are configured so that each provide a system address map of the two SoCs without overlap or address re-mapping when connected to one another via the transparent interface. The transparent interface enables components related to safety/security and interrupt communication of a first and second SoC within the multiple chip system to transparently communicate and interact. The transparent interface can enable sources of both SoCs to be flexibly mapped to interrupt services providers on the first/second SoC within the multiple chip system.
US09946673B2
A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.
US09946672B2
A method of transferring control data between a master device and a slave device over a path including at least one intermediate device, such that the path includes multiple path segments between successive pairs of devices. Data is transferred on each path segment in a plurality of frames of data, wherein the frames are synchronized between said path segments. The control data is transmitted in command slots of each frame, wherein a command slot comprises a set of control data bit slots, and wherein a control data bit slot is a time window associated with the transfer of a single control data bit over a single path segment between the devices on the path segment. The control data bit slots for each command slot are subdivided into: a first set of bit slots reserved for the transfer of control data in the direction from the master device to the slave device, and a second set of bit slots reserved for the transfer of control data either in the direction from the master device to the slave device or in the direction from the slave device to the master device. The time positions of the command slots on each path segment are offset from the positions of the command slots on each respective adjacent path segment by at least one control data bit slot.
US09946671B1
Methods and systems for processing an input/output (I/O) requests are provided. The method includes generating an I/O request by an initiator adapter of a computing device that interfaces with a target adapter; indicating by the initiator adapter that the I/O request is sequential in nature. When the I/O request is a sequential read request, the target adapter notifies a target controller to read-ahead data associated with other sequential read requests; and stores the read ahead data at a cache such that data for the other sequential read requests is provided from the cache instead of a storage device managed by the target controller. A sequential write request is processed without claiming any cache space, when data for the write request is not to be accessed within a certain duration.
US09946664B2
Exemplary embodiments include a socket interposer having a plurality of connectors configured to attach to a server board, the server board including: a first processor socket having a processor form factor, and a first memory associated with the first processor socket, a processor inserted into the at least first processor socket, the processor having access to the first memory, and a second processor socket having the processor form factor, and a second memory associated with the second processor socket, wherein the plurality of connectors are configured to fit the processor form factor; and a multi-modal I/O interface having a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode provides processor-to-processor communication, and the second mode provides the first processor with accessibility to the second memory associated with the second processor socket.
US09946654B2
A method for prefetching data into a cache is provided. The method allocates an outstanding request buffer (“ORB”). The method stores in an address field of the ORB an address and a number of blocks. The method issues prefetch requests for a degree number of blocks starting at the address. When a prefetch response is received for all the prefetch requests, the method adjusts the address of the next block to prefetch and adjusts the number of blocks remaining to be retrieved and then issues prefetch requests for a degree number of blocks starting at the adjusted address. The prefetching pauses when a maximum distance between the reads of the prefetched blocks and the last prefetched block is reached. When a read request for a prefetched block is received, the method resumes prefetching when a resume criterion is satisfied.
US09946652B2
A memory management system for managing a memory and includes a multi-stage memory management unit including control circuitry and cache memory. The cache memory may have a respective translation look-aside buffer for each stage of the multi-stage memory management unit. The control circuitry may be configured to generate a blank data request including a virtual address and information that specifies that data is not to be read from the memory, perform address translations based on the generated blank data request in multiple stages until a physical address is obtained, and discard the blank data request.
US09946645B2
An information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of processor elements, and a memory having a plurality of banks. Statistical information representing an access frequency distribution to each memory area of the memory by the plurality of processor elements is obtained. An allocation process of allocating the banks to the memory areas is performed based on the statistical information.
US09946642B2
In one embodiment, a distributed storage system comprises: a plurality of appliances, a distributed multimode storage management coordinator, and a communication mechanism for communicating distributed multimode storage management messages. A first one of the plurality of appliances can include: a plurality of storage devices that have a first storage partition including a first type of interface and a first information storage region and a second storage partition including a selective underlying exposure (SUE) interface and a second information storage region that stores a second type of information, wherein the SUE interface exposes an aspect of the second information storage region. The distributed multimode storage management coordinator can include a plurality of multimode storage management systems that direct conveyance of information to the plurality of storage devices, wherein the coordinator includes a multiple mode SUE management system that directs file activities of the second partitions via the SUE interface.
US09946631B1
Disclosed aspects relate to debug management in a distributed batch data processing environment which uses a shared pool of configurable computing resources. A debug configuration to fire a breakpoint based on an achievement of a debug criterion may be initiated in the distributed batch data processing environment. A data block may be detected in the distributed batch data processing environment. The data block may be analyzed with respect to the debug criterion by a debug management engine. Achievement of the debug criterion by the data block may be determined by the debug management engine. In response to determining the achievement of the debug criterion by the data block, the breakpoint may be fired based on the achievement of the debug criterion.
US09946617B2
A method for optimizing recovery in a data replication environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes directing I/O from a primary site to a secondary site in response to a failure at the primary site. After the primary site has recovered from the failure, the method initiates a recovery process wherein updated data elements at the secondary site are copied to the primary site. The method determines a recorded average I/O latency for a host system driving I/O to the secondary site, and calculates an expected average I/O latency for the host system driving I/O to the primary site. The method redirects I/O from the secondary site to the primary site when a difference between the expected average I/O latency and the recorded average I/O latency reaches a threshold value. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09946614B2
Faults are managed in a virtual machine network. Failure of operation of a virtual machine among a plurality of different types of virtual machines operating in the virtual machine network is detected. The virtual machine network operates on network elements connected by transport mechanisms. A cause of the failure of the operation of the virtual machine is determined, and recovery of the virtual machine is initiated based on the determined cause of the failure.
US09946611B2
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining device-related information corresponding to a plurality of devices from the device manager, selecting, for each first device, a second device matching each first device from among the at least one second device based on device-related information of the each device; determining corresponding device matching information based on the second devices matching the each first device, and sending the device matching information to the at least one second controller; wherein the device matching information includes one or more pairs of matching first device and second device.
US09946609B2
A backup tool can manage multi-level backup into a cloud and restoration from the cloud. The backup tool can request a data source to stream backup data to the backup tool, and the backup tool can then generate data objects from the data stream for storing into the cloud. The backup tool generates the data objects in accordance with serialization of the data stream. The order of the data objects resulting from the data stream serialization is encoded into the names of the data objects. In addition, the backup tool encodes the backup level into the object names. With sequencing and backup level encoded into the data object names, the data objects can be stored in the cloud for later restoration.
US09946606B1
A stream architecture for data representation is disclosed. A stream is retained with respect to write transactions to a given volume. The stream includes the write transactions and provides a sequence of the write transactions according to the order in which the write transactions were received for the given volume. By way of example, a stream image can be associated to the stream. The stream image provides a representation of the data in the given volume for a point in time by referencing a non-contiguous subset of the sequence of write transactions in the stream.
US09946598B1
Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for recording, if a non-volatile memory (NVM) location satisfies an open circuit condition, open circuit location information associated with the NVM location. Additionally, a shift of one or more bits may be conducting during a write of a codeword to the NVM location to avoid open circuit in the NVM location. Moreover, an end of a parity portion of the codeword may be punctured by an amount of the shift. In one example, the end of the parity portion includes a last circulant of the codeword.
US09946597B2
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) is enhanced by encoding at least a subset of control signals before the control signals are transmitted over a bus (e.g., a bus internal to a SoC) from a controller to an embedded nonvolatile memory (NVM). The error-detection code used causes an EMC event to introduce errors into the transmitted codewords with relatively high probability. In response to an error being detected in the transmitted codeword, a set of safeguarding operations are performed to prevent the data stored in the NVM from being uncontrollably changed.
US09946593B2
The technology disclosed relates to discovering multiple previously unknown and undetected technical problems in fault tolerance and data recovery mechanisms of modern stream processing systems. In addition, it relates to providing technical solutions to these previously unknown and undetected problems. In particular, the technology disclosed relates to discovering the problem of modification of batch size of a given batch during its replay after a processing failure. This problem results in over-count when the input during replay is not a superset of the input fed at the original play. Further, the technology disclosed discovers the problem of inaccurate counter updates in replay schemes of modern stream processing systems when one or more keys disappear between a batch's first play and its replay. This problem is exacerbated when data in batches is merged or mapped with data from an external data store.
US09946588B2
Techniques for generating a design structure for cache power reduction are described herein. In one example, a system includes logic to detect memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a first instruction, and detect memory address information corresponding to accessed data in a second instruction. The logic can also compare the memory address information corresponding to the first instruction and the memory address information corresponding to the second instruction, and detect, based on the comparison, that the accessed data in the first instruction and the accessed data in the second instruction are in a same data range of the memory device. The logic can also execute the second instruction using the accessed data from the first instruction.
US09946585B1
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for deploying an asset platform to an asset in a distributed offering network. The asset platform includes a container and an asset module and offering module implemented on the container. The asset module provides an abstraction of the asset to the offering module such that offer modules may communicate through the container with asset modules in a standard manner.
US09946579B2
A load manager comprises a configuration manager and a load monitor. The load manager is configured to monitor and manage aspects of a distributed computer system comprising a plurality of servers. Each server is configured to perform tasks according to a respective time-based scheduler configuration. In some embodiments, the load monitor monitors one or more load metrics of each of the one or more servers. In response to one or more load metrics exceeding a threshold, the configuration manager determines the current time-based task scheduler configuration of the server exceeding the threshold. The load manager is further configured to modify the time-based task scheduler configuration to adjust a further task load on the server based on the at least one or more load metrics.
US09946575B2
Method for executing a task composed of a set of sequential and alternative processes. The method includes the steps of: a) assigning to each process a hardware resource need and time constraint; b) allocating to each process a time-slot having a duration corresponding to the time constraint of the process; c) identifying a branch point at which is decided the execution of one or other of two alternative processes; d) allocating to the two alternative processes a common time-slot; e) assigning to the common time-slot a resource need equal to the larger of the resource needs of the two alternative processes; f) iterating from step c) for each branch point; g) organizing the resulting time-slots in an execution template associated with the task; and h) configuring real-time multitasking system to constrain the execution of the task according to the resource needs assigned to the time slots of the execution template.
US09946572B1
In a computing resource environment including at least one resource capable of being allocated to at least one of a plurality of tasks, techniques are disclosed for applying a taint to a resource in a computing resource environment, the taint being configured to prevent the resource from being claimed for a resource request without a toleration to that taint. Variations include receiving, at a resource scheduler in the resource environment, a request to allocate the resource to perform a particular task and determining whether the resource is subject to a taint. If the resource is subject to a taint, analyzing the request to determine if it includes a toleration for the taint. If the request includes a toleration for the taint, allocating the resource to the task. If the request does not include a toleration for the taint, not allocating the resource due to the taint.
US09946571B1
A system comprising a plurality of self-powered devices and at least one remote device. The plurality of self-powered devices may be configured to (i) perform one or more tasks and (ii) select one of a plurality of modes of operation. The remote device may be configured to (a) determine scheduling data for one or more activities based on a resource capacity of the self-powered devices and (b) communicate with the self-powered devices. The activities may comprise one or more of the tasks. The self-powered devices may determine a computational cost of performing the tasks.
US09946568B1
A micro-virtualization architecture deploys a threat-aware microvisor as a module of a virtualization system configured to facilitate real-time security analysis, including exploit detection and threat intelligence, of operating system processes executing in a memory of a node in a network environment. The micro-virtualization architecture organizes the memory as a user space and kernel space, wherein the microvisor executes in the kernel space of the architecture, while the operating system processes, an operating system kernel, a virtual machine monitor (VMM) and its spawned virtual machines (VMs) execute in the user space. Notably, the microvisor executes at the highest privilege level of a central processing unit of the node to virtualize access to kernel resources. The operating system kernel executes under control of the microvisor at a privilege level lower than a highest privilege level of the microvisor. The VMM and its spawned VMs execute at the highest privilege level of the microvisor.
US09946564B2
Migration of virtual machines within a computing environment is facilitated. A processor obtains a current virtual machine to host mapping in the computing environment, as well as a plurality of future virtual machine to host mappings. A current migration plan to migrate from a current state of the computing environment to another state of the computing environment is also obtained. Based on the current virtual machine to host mapping and one or more future virtual machine to host mappings of the plurality of future virtual machine to host mappings a determination is made that one or more potential alert conditions exist in the current migration plan. The current migration plan and/or one or more future virtual machine to host mappings are displayed. The current migration plan is adjusted to address at least one potential alert condition of the one or more potential alert conditions to improve processing within the computing environment.
US09946551B2
A netlist converter, which generates configuration information for reconfiguring a reconfigurable logic operation unit, includes: a mapping unit that enumerates k-feasible cuts where the number of nodes after cutting is an integer k or fewer, out of all cuts for each node included in a netlist generated based on a specification to be processed in the logic operation unit; and a generating unit that generates configuration information including element reconfiguration information that reconfigures elements by selecting cuts assigned to the elements out of the enumerated k-feasible cuts and channel reconfiguration information for reconfiguring the data transfer channels to realize the netlist by connecting the reconfigured elements.
US09946550B2
A technique for handling predicated code in an out-of-order processor includes detecting a predicate defining instruction associated with a predicated code region. Renaming of predicated instructions, within the predicated code region, is then stalled until a predicate of the predicate defining instruction is resolved.
US09946548B2
A processor core in an instruction block-based microarchitecture includes a control unit that explicitly tracks instruction block state including age or priority for current blocks that have been fetched from an instruction cache. Tracked instruction blocks are maintained in an age-ordered or priority-ordered list. When an instruction block is identified by the control unit for commitment, the list is checked for a match and a matching instruction block can be refreshed without re-fetching from the instruction cache. If a match is not found, an instruction block can be committed and replaced based on either age or priority. Such instruction state tracking typically consumes little overhead and enables instruction blocks to be reused and mispredicted instructions to be skipped to increase processor core efficiency.
US09946546B2
In a processor including an instruction prefetch buffer to prefetch a group of instructions with continuous addresses from a memory, the probability of occurrence of the situation where a bus is occupied by the instruction prefetch more than necessary is reduced. The processor includes an instruction fetch address generator which controls the address and amount of the instruction to be prefetched to the instruction prefetch buffer. The instruction fetch address generator includes a table which stores an instruction prefetch amount of an instruction to make the instruction prefetch buffer perform prefetching in association with a branch destination address of a branch arising in the process execution unit. When a branch arises in the process execution unit, the instruction fetch address generator makes an instruction prefetch buffer prefetch the instruction of the instruction prefetch amount corresponding to the branch destination address concerned including the branch destination address of the arisen branch.
US09946531B1
Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. In certain aspects, with the customer's permission, a computer-implemented method for updating an autonomous operation feature may be provided. An indication of a software update associated with the autonomous operation feature may be received, and several autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles having the feature may be identified. The update may be installed within the several vehicles, such as via wireless communication. Also, a change in a risk level associated with the update to the autonomous operation feature may be determined, and an insurance discount may be determined or adjusted. As a result, an insurance discount may be provided to risk averse customers that affirmatively share their vehicle data with an insurance provider, and promptly and remotely receive new versions of software that operate autonomous vehicle safety features.
US09946524B2
A method of compiling a source code described by a first programming language, the method being executed by a computer and includes: specifying a function described by a second programming language different from the first programming language from the source code, the function being allowed to use one or more arguments; and first creating an instruction to store given data that causes occurrence of an error when a register is accessed due to execution of the function in an area in the register for an argument that is not set for the function in the source code among the one or more arguments.
US09946518B2
Systems and methods for extending a visualization platform are disclosed. A user may create a visualization project created. One or more properties for a non-native widget established by a developer of the non-native widget may be received from the project. Such properties may designate a name or a type of data that the non-native widget is capable of processing. Responsive to an instruction received from the user of the visualization authoring environment, a source of data to be processed by the non-native widget or a destination of data produced by the non-native widget to be processed by other widgets may be established. The appearance or behavior of the non-native widget may be rendered based at least in part on a value available from the source of the data or the appearance or behavior of one or more other widgets may be rendered based at least in part on data produced by the non-native widget.
US09946513B2
A spin unit provided with a memory cell that stores a value of one spin of an Ising model, a memory cell that stores an interaction coefficient from an adjacent spin which interacts with the corresponding spin, a memory cell that stores an external magnetic field coefficient of the one spin and circuits that determine the next state of the one spin on the basis of a product of a value of each adjacent spin and the corresponding interaction coefficient and the external magnetic field coefficient is configured, the semiconductor device is provided with a spin array where the plural spin units are arranged and connected on a two-dimensional plane on a semiconductor substrate, a random number generator and a bit regulator, the bit regulator operates output of the random number generator and supplies a random bit to all spin units in the spin array via one wire.
US09946511B2
Provided is a method for user training of an information dialog system. The method may include activating a user input subsystem, receiving a training request entered by the user, converting the training request into text by the user input subsystem, sending the text of the training request obtained as a result of the conversion to a dialog module, processing the text of the training request by the dialog module, forming a response to the training request by the dialog module, and sending the response to the training request to the user. The response to the training request may be formed in a form of one or more of the following: a voice cue, a text, and an action performed by the information dialog system.
US09946504B2
A head-mounted display apparatus worn on the head of a user and a method for controlling the head-mounted display apparatus are disclosed. The head-mounted display apparatus includes an attitude detector that detects the attitude of the head-mounted display apparatus, a manipulation detector that detects a predetermined manipulation performed on the head-mounted display apparatus, a display, and a processor. The head-mounted display apparatus switches a display of first display information to second display information according to a change in the attitude detected by the attitude detector. However, if the manipulation detector detects the predetermined manipulation, the head-mounted display apparatus maintains the display of the first display information without switching to the second display information even if there is a change in the attitude detected by the attitude sensor.
US09946496B2
A computing system includes a storage device and a host. The storage device includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and is configured to receive data for storage in the non-volatile memory, to buffer at least some of the received data temporarily in the volatile memory, and to guarantee that any data, which is not part of a predefined amount of data that was most recently received, has been committed to the non-volatile memory. The host is configured to send the data for storage in the storage device, and, in response to a need to commit given data to the non-volatile memory, to send the given data to the storage device followed by at least the predefined amount of additional data.
US09946495B2
A hybrid drive includes multiple parts: a performance part (e.g., a flash memory device) and a base part (e.g., a hard disk drive). A drive access system, which is typically part of an operating system of a computing device, issues input/output (I/O) commands to the hybrid drive to store data to and retrieve data from the hybrid drive. Some data can be stored in one part but not the other, and this data can be synchronized with (e.g., copied to) the other part at various times. The drive access system provides indications to the hybrid drive of when to synchronize data in one part with the other part. These indications are made so that potential interference with use of the device by the user and/or power saving modes of the device due to the synchronization is reduced.
US09946483B2
Systems and methods disclosed herein allow for efficiently managing unmapped blocks to extend life of solid-state drives. In one aspect, a method includes: measuring a level of over-provisioning (“OP”) in a storage device and operating it in a first mode of operation while the OP satisfies a first threshold. The method also includes: changing to a second mode of operation if the OP does not satisfy the first threshold. While operating in the second mode of operation, the method includes: (i) determining an unmapped portion of a declared storage capacity of the storage device; and (ii) determining whether processing a write command would reduce the unmapped portion to less than a second threshold. If processing the write command wouldn't reduce the unmapped portion to less than the second threshold, the method includes: accepting and processing the write command. Else, the method includes: forgoing acceptance and processing of the write command.
US09946469B2
A solid state storage system, and method of operation thereof, including: a system interface configured to receive host commands; a controller, coupled to the system interface, configured to identify frequently read data blocks from the host commands; a non-volatile memory, coupled to the controller, configured for access of the frequently read data blocks; an error correction code unit, coupled to the controller, configured to provide health monitor parameters for the frequently read data blocks verified by the controller; and a redundant frequently read data (RFRD) area, coupled to the error correction code unit, configured to transfer a recovered data from the frequently read data blocks.
US09946468B2
A non-volatile memory system including multi-level storage optimized for ramp sensing and soft decoding is provided. Sensing is performed at a higher bit resolution than an original user data encoding to improve the accuracy of reading state information from non-volatile storage elements. Higher resolution state information is used for decoding the original user data to improve read performance through improved error handling. Ramp sensing is utilized to determine state information by applying a continuous input scanning sense voltage that spans a range of read compare points. Full sequence programming is enabled as is interleaved coding of the user data over all of the data bit sets associated with the storage elements.
US09946467B2
A data storage method and an electronic device are described where the method includes acquiring a running status parameter of an electronic device; determining, on the basis of the running status parameter, a data storage policy corresponding to the running status parameter; acquiring, on the basis of the data storage policy, target data corresponding to the data storage policy; and writing, on the basis of a data category of the target data, the target data into a flash or a cache of a solid state memory of the electronic device. The method is for solving the technical problem that the system's data writing manner is fixed.
US09946459B2
A device configured to distinguish between intentional and inadvertent input is provided. Input may be in the form of touch screen or on-screen keyboard input. Such input is examined such that a device may ignore unintentional and resting contact while reacting only to purposeful contact. The characteristics of unintentional and resting device contact are ascertained and differentiated from the contact characteristics of intentional device input.
US09946457B2
A wearable electronic device is disclosed. The wearable electronic device comprises a ring body and a substrate. The ring body has an outer cover and an interface disposed on an exterior of the outer cover, with the ring body defining an annular receiving space within the ring body. The substrate is disposed in the annular receiving space and has a plurality of capacitive plates.
US09946451B2
Provided are a terminal and a method of operating the same. The terminal includes a display unit displaying a plurality of icons that respectively represent the plurality of objects and detecting a user input; and a control unit displaying the plurality of icons on the display unit according to a first user input, displaying at least one icon to be identified according to a second user input that selects the at least one icon selected from the plurality of icons, and pasting an object corresponding to the selected icon on an input window according to a third user input that inputs the selected at least one icon into the input window.
US09946438B2
Techniques for enhancing a user's viewing experience include providing new opportunities for viewing information or manipulating data during the viewing experience. The user may take an action that has an intended purpose of changing a mode of play of content displayed at the client device. An event prompted by the user action, such as a pause or rewind of the displayed content, may be an event that triggers at least one extended option associated with the displayed content.
US09946436B2
An example method includes receiving, at a mobile device, one or more user selections by a user of the mobile device, where each user selection indicates a respective type of data item to be presented on the mobile device. The method also includes receiving, at the mobile device, one or more data items. The method also includes identifying data items that are associated with the types of data items to be presented on the mobile device, and responsive to identifying data items that are associated with the types of data items to be presented on the mobile device, presenting, on the mobile device, a dynamic icon to present the identified data items.
US09946435B2
A control device includes a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.
US09946426B2
A method for forming a metal mesh pattern is provided. The method includes the operations below. First, at least one pitch of each of mesh base units of a mesh base is determined, and thereby the mesh base is formed. Then, a seed region is set in each of the mesh base units of the mesh base, in which a ratio of an area of each of the seed regions to an area of each of the mesh base units is a constant. Then, a plurality of seeds are generated by randomly selecting a point in each of the seed regions. Finally, the metal mesh pattern is formed, in which the metal mesh pattern is a set of perpendicular bisectors of lines connecting the seeds and their adjacent neighboring seeds.
US09946413B2
A touch module and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The touch module includes a substrate, at least two first touch electrodes, at least two second touch electrodes, at least one electrode channel, and at least one bridge. All of the first touch electrodes, the second touch electrodes, and the electrode channel are embedded in the substrate. The electrode channel is configured to connect the second touch electrodes to each other. The bridge crosses over the electrode channel, is configured to electrically connect the first touch electrodes to each other. The first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are insulated from each other.
US09946407B2
An apparatus, methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that can detect touch events on touch panels in a more effective and less costly manner. According to an embodiment, a touch system includes a touch panel and a plurality of radiation sources located at a first edge of the touch panel. The intensity of light emitted from each of the plurality of radiation sources is modulated with a respective modulation frequency. The touch system further includes an optical receiver that is located at a second edge of the touch panel and is configured to receive the light emitted from each of the plurality of radiation sources.
US09946395B2
A user interface method and apparatus are provided. A user interface method of a smart device includes receiving an electrical signal from an electromyography (EMG) sensor worn on a user, determining a user input based on the received electrical signal and position information about a determined position of a detected touch of the user on a touch screen, and controlling operation of the smart device in response to the determined user input.
US09946390B2
A mobile terminal including a touch screen with a first display area disposed at a front of a terminal body and a second display area disposed at a side of the terminal body; and a controller configured to display an operation screen on the first display area, display, on the second display area, information related to the operation screen displayed on the first display area in response to the terminal body being rotated from a first position to a second position, and control the information displayed on the second display area in response to an input received through the first display area.
US09946389B2
The disclosed variable pressure touch system includes an information handling system (IHS) that may take many forms. In one embodiment, the IHS may be a tablet with a touch sensor in the form of a touch sensitive display. A user may apply pressure to the touch sensor with a finger, stylus, or other pointing device. The touch sensor may then generate a current pressure indication of the current pressure exhibited by the touch on the touch sensor. In one embodiment, a touch tool of the IHS may receive the current pressure indication and generate a display image on the display of the IHS that changes as the current pressure indication changes. In other embodiments, the touch tool of the IHS may receive the current pressure indication and generate a visual indicator on the display of the IHS that changes as the current pressure indication changes.
US09946388B2
A pressure sensor includes a piezoelectric detection electrode, an insulating substrate, a piezoelectric base film, a piezoelectric detection electrode and an insulating substrate. The insulating substrate includes a top face and a bottom face on which the piezoelectric detection electrode is formed. The insulating substrate includes a top face and a bottom face on which the piezoelectric detection electrode is formed. The pressure sensor includes the piezoelectric film whose opposite principal surfaces are provided with respective piezoelectric detection electrodes. When viewed from a direction orthogonal to the principal surfaces, an opening is provided in a center region of one of the piezoelectric detection electrodes provided on at least one of the principal surfaces.
US09946377B2
The present invention relates to a touch panel comprising a structure body comprising: a substrate; a conducting pattern that is provided on at least one surface of the substrate; and a light absorption pattern provided on at least one surface of the conducting pattern and provided on at least a portion of regions corresponding to the conducting pattern, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US09946373B2
A system and method is provided for, on a multi-display touch screen apparatus executing a single-display application program, establishing an interface between the multi-display touch screen apparatus and the single-display application program, the interface comprising a virtual display and virtual sensors, obtaining sensor data from physical sensors of the multi-display touch screen apparatus, providing at least a first subset of the sensor data to the single-display application program via the virtual sensors of the interface, specifying to the single-display application program virtual display parameters which emulate single display parameters of a single-display touch screen apparatus, receiving at the virtual display of the interface a window image to be displayed from the single-display application, and displaying the window image on at least a first one of multiple displays of the multi-display touch screen apparatus.
US09946366B2
A touch input device configured to synchronize a stylus acquisition process with both a touch data acquisition process and a display refresh process is provided. The touch input device can include one or more processors that can synchronize the stylus data acquisition process to the touch data acquisition process by coordinating stylus scans to take place in between touch scans. The one or more processors can also virtual data banks to synchronize both the touch data acquisition and the stylus scan acquisition with the display refresh process.
US09946362B2
A system for inputting commands to a processor. A processor detects an object in one or more images and extracts one or more image analysis parameters associated with the object. A first motion detection test is applied to the one or more image analysis parameters. Based on a result of the first motion detection test, a second motion detection test is applied to the one or more image analysis parameters. A command associated with the second motion detection test is executed.
US09946359B2
A key cap includes a cap body having a bottom surface, and at least one pivot retainer protrusively disposed on the bottom surface of the cap body. The pivot retainer includes a position-limiting portion, two lateral portions and a shaft-received recess. The lateral portions are connected to the same side of the position-limiting portion, and the shaft-received recess is disposed in the position-limiting portion, and is located between the two lateral portions.
US09946345B2
A portable terminal and a method for providing a haptic effect to an input unit are provided. The method includes displaying at least one object on a touch screen, detecting a touch input by the input unit with respect to the object displayed on the touch screen, determining a preset mode based on the detected touch input of the input unit, and transmitting a control signal corresponding to a predetermined haptic pattern based on the preset mode to the input unit.
US09946343B2
A head-mounted display device includes a display element with a two-dimensional array of pixels, and an enclosure at least partially enclosing the display element. The head-mounted display device also includes a plurality of light sources located on the enclosure for determining a position of the head-mounted display device. Each light source of the plurality of light sources is uniquely identifiable based at least in part on light emitted by the light source.
US09946340B2
According to one embodiment, an eye-worn electronic device includes a first nose pad, a first electrode, a second nose pad, a second electrode and a third electrode. The first electrode is on the first nose pad. The second electrode is on the second nose pad. The first electrode and the second electrode are in a first straight line extending in a first direction and are used for measuring first ocular potentials in the first direction. The third electrode is on the second nose pad and is at a position distance away from the first straight line. The first electrode and the third electrode are in a second straight line extending in a second direction different from the first direction and are used for measuring second ocular potentials in the second direction.
US09946331B2
Signal processing may include determining a first component common to a first input signal and a second input signal and extracting the first component from at least one of the first input signal or the second input signal, a second component from the first input signal, and a second component from the second input signal. The second component of the first input signal may be different from the second component of the second input signal. An operation may be performed using the extracted, second components. The first component may be combined with a result of the operation.
US09946330B2
An information processing apparatus includes transmitting-receiving units, response processing units, and a switching unit. The transmitting-receiving units transmit data to and receive data from networks. An operation state of each of the response processing units is able to be switched between a first state and a second state. The switching unit performs switching between the first state and the second state of each of the response processing units. The transmitting-receiving units and the response processing units are provided for plural respective networks. In a case where all the response processing units are in the second state, the switching unit switches, among all the response processing units, an operation state of a response processing unit that has received predetermined data from the second state to the first state.
US09946328B2
In an approach to managing racks in a MAID system, a first rack of a data center is identified. The data center comprises a plurality of racks. The first rack corresponds to a request. The request is one of (i) a request to change a power status of a storage device of the first rack or (ii) a request to service the first rack. An optimal placement of the plurality of racks is calculated to satisfy a condition of the request. One or more of the racks are moved from a first location to a second location, based on the calculated optimal placement of the one or more racks.
US09946313B2
A peripheral card for an information handling system mounts to an end of a chassis. The peripheral card has an opposite end secured to a base. The base has switchable features for accommodating different types of peripheral cards that may be installed in the chassis.
US09946312B2
A cover for a mobile computing device includes two or more hinges so constructed that the hinges are substantially rigid when in-plane and flexible when out-of-plane. The cover includes segments made of a rigid material disposed between the hinges. The cover, when swiveled to the back side of the computing device, forms a contour around an object such as a stylus to secure the object to the back side of the computing device when the object is present. The cover becomes substantially flat and parallel to the back side of the computing device when the object is absent.
US09946308B1
Electronic apparatuses and electronic subassemblies having integrated stands are provided. An electronic subassembly includes a display device and a housing coupled with the display device. The housing has an integrated stand that encircles an open area and that projects away from the display device. The electronic subassembly also includes a processor disposed in the housing and that controls information displayed on the first display device. The integrated stand pivots relative to the housing and supports the housing at different angles relative to a surface on which the housing is disposed. Another electronic subassembly may be removably coupled with the electronic subassembly having the integrated stand.
US09946305B2
An electronic device includes: a sheath including a connection magnet to couple another device, wherein the connection magnet is installed in a region of the sheath where the another device is coupled; a movable part installed in the region of the sheath where the another device is coupled, wherein the movable part is foldable back to a side where the connection magnet is present; and a magnetism-blocking part installed on a region of the movable part that covers the connection magnet when the movable part is folded back to the connection magnet side.
US09946293B2
Embodiments for a user input device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input device comprises a body, an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user, a magnet to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.
US09946287B2
An apparatus including a first node and a network operations center (NOC). The first node is within the facility and is coupled to a second node via a demand coordination network. The first node has a node processor coupled to a first device, and transmits data and status via the network for generation of schedules, and operates the first device within an acceptable operating margin to maintain a first environment by cycling on and off according to the schedules. The NOC generates the schedules to control the peak demand of the resource, where one or more run times start prior to when otherwise required to maintain corresponding local environments. The NOC coordinates run times for the first device and a second device, where coordination is based on a global schedule, an adjusted first descriptor set characterizing the first environment, and an adjusted second descriptor set characterizing a second environment.
US09946282B2
A voltage regulator includes a feedback regulation loop and a drive transistor configured to source current to a regulated output. A transient recovery circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit and includes a first transistor coupled to source current into a control terminal of the drive transistor, wherein the source current is in addition to current sourced in response to operation of the feedback regulation loop. The first transistor is selectively actuated in response to a drop in voltage at the regulated output. The transient recovery circuit further includes a second transistor coupled to sink current from the regulated output. The sink current has a first non-zero magnitude in the quiescent operating mode of the regulator circuit. In response to an increase in voltage at the regulated output, the operation of the second transistor is modified to increase the sink current to a second, greater, non-zero magnitude.
US09946281B1
A method achieves minimum limit cycle oscillation (LCO) amplitude of a digital low dropout regulator (D-LDO) by adding auxiliary unit power transistors in parallel with the main PMOS array with selected unit strength and LCO mode. An improved D-LDO with reduced LCO amplitude includes an auxiliary power transistor array in selected strength driven by an output of a comparator in parallel with a main power transistor array.
US09946272B2
Thermostatic valve including a housing; a sleeve for regulating the circulation of a fluid in the housing, movable along its axis; a thermostatic element, the moving part of which is movable along the axis relative to its stationary part resulting from an expansion of the thermodilatable material of this element so as to move the sleeve; a compression spring for returning the stationary and moving parts toward one another; and a bracket supporting the spring, which supports a decompression thrust produced by the spring and is provided with both fasteners for fastening to a bearing portion of the housing transverse to the axis, these fasteners cooperating in a form-fitting manner with the bearing portion so as to be attached with the bearing portion along the axis resulting from a decompression thrust produced by the spring, and locking for locking the bracket in position while axially abutting against the bearing portion.
US09946266B2
The presently disclosed subject matter includes, inter alia, a method and a system which enables to classify information of a scanned outdoor or indoor environment to different types of environment elements. The identification of environment element types enables to improve detection of obstacles in an environment. The improved detection of obstacles can assist in motion planning to enable to advance quickly and safely through the environment.
US09946261B2
A propulsion system for an aquatic vessel is provided. The propulsion system includes a plurality of Magnus-type rotors and a drive arrangement for rotating the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The plurality of Magnus-type rotors are operable to rotate about corresponding substantially upright axes. The propulsion system also includes a control arrangement for receiving one or more measured apparent wind speeds and for controlling the drive arrangement to vary rates of rotations of the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The rates of rotations may, for example, be varied as functions of the measured apparent wind speeds and a direction of travel of the aquatic vessel. Moreover, the control arrangement includes a user-operable control for adjusting propulsion provided by the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The control arrangement is operable to control the drive arrangement to vary a drive applied to rotate one or more Magnus-type rotors from the plurality of Magnus-type rotors.
US09946260B2
A system for sparse map autonomous navigation of a vehicle along a road segment may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive a sparse map of the road segment. The sparse map may have a data density of no more than 1 megabyte per kilometer. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive from a camera, at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle, and determine an autonomous navigational response for the vehicle based on the analysis of the sparse map and the at least one image received from the camera.
US09946250B2
A servo actuator default disconnected ID setting method is performed by a servo actuator controlling system, which includes a plurality of servo actuators. A first message is broadcasted which indicates that an original ID is replaced with a non-default-disconnected to the plurality of servo actuators. The original ID of each actuator is replaced with the non-default-disconnected according to the first message. A second message is broadcasted which indicates that the non-default-disconnected ID is replaced with a default disconnected ID. And the non-default-disconnected ID of each servo actuator is replaced with the default disconnected ID according to the second message.
US09946242B2
An optimized operation schedule of a control-target apparatus is ensured while maximally reducing a burden share to a facility operator. An energy predictor sets, for a control-target apparatus, a predicted value of energy consumption or energy supply within a predetermined future time period based on process data. A schedule optimizer optimizes an operation schedule of the control-target apparatus within the predetermined time period with a predetermined evaluation barometer based on the predicted value, the characteristic of the control-target apparatus, and the process data. An approval request determiner determines a necessity of an approval for a latest operation schedule based on a preset determining condition. A determination result transmitter transmits a determination result by the approval request determiner.
US09946237B2
An energy management device includes a measurement manager and a communicator. The measurement manager manages energy information based on a physical quantity measured from at least one measurement object belonging to each of a plurality of energy types in a customer. The communicator communicates the energy information of each of the energy types to another device over a network.
US09946236B2
The present invention discloses an electronic device and control method thereof. The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a main engine and a USB man-machine interface unit connected thereto; an illuminating source and a drive circuit thereof are arranged on the USB man-machine interface unit; the USB man-machine interface unit receives illuminating information sent by the main engine, generates a control command according to the illuminating information and sends the control command to the drive circuit so as to drive the illuminating source. Because the present invention sends the illuminating information to the USB man-machine interface unit through the main engine and then obtains the control command to switch on or off the illuminating source after processing the illuminating information through the USB man-machine interface unit, a user can participate in controlling the illuminating source so as to realize an illuminating effect expected by the user.
US09946234B2
A method for control of a flow network in order to improve the performance of the flow network comprises: (a) applying predetermined excitations at multiple control points within the flow network, wherein the multiple control points are at different branches of the flow network; (b) receiving measurements of changes in one or more flow parameter(s) in one or more flow path(s) in which flows of more than one of the different branches have been combined; (c) carrying out an analysis of the flow parameter measurements to identify variations induced by the applied excitations; (d) determining an adjustment to be made at one or more of the control point(s) in order to improve the performance of the flow network, for example by building and solving an optimization model; (e) making the determined adjustment to the control point(s) of the flow network or making an alternative adjustment decided upon by the flow network operator; and (f) repeating steps (a) to (e) one or more times to thereby iteratively improve the performance of the flow network.
US09946232B2
A set of load data for a selected point in time and resulting from the machine operation is received. The load data is provided from a first database comprising predefined machine conditions associated to different sets of load data for the machine. One of the predefined machine conditions that is most representative of the received set of load data is selected.
US09946225B2
A mobile hologram apparatus is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a sheet folded along preformed creases into a pyramid structure configured to be actuated between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. The pyramid structure has a base section and a top section connected by four side sections. The pyramid structure in the compressed state has a height that is less than 1/10th the height of the pyramid structure in the uncompressed state. The apparatus also includes an elastic band connected to a perimeter of the base section of the pyramid structure and configured to cause the pyramid structure to self-actuate from the compressed state to the uncompressed state.
US09946218B2
Provided is a cleaning blade disposed to be in contact with an image carrying belt having an elastic layer for removing foreign material from a surface of the image carrying belt, including: a base; and an amorphous coating layer on the base, the coating layer including a contact portion disposed to be in contact with the image carrying belt, wherein the contact portion is curved to have a predetermined curvature with respect to a direction of a movement of the image carrying belt.
US09946203B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a fixing device comprises a first rotating body; a second rotating body configured to face the first rotating body and be stretched over a plurality of rotating bodies; and a first mechanism configured to enable at least one among a plurality of the rotating bodies to move to change a nip width between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.
US09946202B2
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image to the recording medium. A heating unit heats the fixing member. A control unit receives a print job, the print job indicating a print mode and at least one job condition. The control unit determines a ready temperature based on the print mode and the at least one job condition. The control unit controls a heating operation of the heating unit based on the determined ready temperature.
US09946198B2
A developing cartridge includes a casing to accommodate toner; an agitator to agitate the toner and rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction, the agitator including one end portion and another end portion in the predetermined direction, the agitator being movable in the predetermined direction between a first position and a second position; a first gear mounted to the one end portion and rotatable along with the agitator; an input gear engaging with the first gear; a second gear mounted to the another end portion and rotatable along with the agitator; a third gear; and a protrusion. The second gear is mounted to the another end portion while the first gear engages with the input gear in the first position. And the second gear is separated from the another end portion while the first gear engages with the input gear in the second position.
US09946193B2
A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion capable of accommodating a developer, a storage capable of storing the developer, with the storage being provided with a discharge opening configured to permit discharge of the developer from the storage, and a pump portion changeable between a maximum volume state and a minimum volume state and actable to the discharge opening. In addition, a discharge suppressing portion is movable between a first position in which the discharge suppressing portion is remote from the discharge opening and a second position in which the discharge suppressing portion is close to the discharge opening, wherein the discharge suppressing portion is in the second position at least for a predetermined period of time when the pump portion is in the minimum volume state.
US09946191B2
An image forming apparatus that continuously carries out image formation on a plurality of recording materials includes an image bearing member and a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member. A first feeding screw is provided in a developing chamber and includes a first screw portion, a second screw portion and a third screw portion. Each of the second and third screw portions are provided with a blade portion formed helically on an outer peripheral surface of a rotation shaft of the first feeding screw, and the first screw portion is not provided with the blade portion. Based on information on the relative humidity in the developing container and on the amount of toner consumed with the image formation on a plurality of recording materials, a controller controls a driving speed for rotationally driving the first feeding screw by a driving device.
US09946176B2
Provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing a conductive support having thereon a photosensitive layer and a surface layer laminated in that order, wherein the surface layer contains a conductive filler having a number average primary particle size of 10 to 500 nm in a resin; and the conductive filler is treated with a surface treatment agent containing a fluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer.
US09946175B2
To provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member which satisfies abrasion resistance and electrical properties and which is difficult to cause image deletion. A surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of this invention contains a polymerized product of a hole transporting compound having a polymerizable functional group, in which the hole transporting compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a compound consisting of one or more carbon atoms, one or more hydrogen atoms, and one or more halogen atoms; and a compound consisting of one or more carbon atoms, one or more hydrogen atoms, one or more oxygen atoms, and one or more halogen atoms.
US09946163B2
An immersion exposure apparatus and method involves (i) supporting a substrate with a stage, (ii) arranging the stage under an optical assembly to maintain immersion liquid in a gap between the optical assembly and the stage, (iii) projecting an image onto the substrate via the optical assembly and the immersion liquid, (iv) arranging a movable pad, which is movable separately from the stage, adjacent to the stage, and (v) moving the stage and the pad adjacent to each other relative to the optical assembly to arrange the pad under the optical assembly in place of the stage such that the immersion liquid is maintained below the optical assembly during the movement, thereby to arrange the movable pad under the optical assembly to maintain the immersion liquid in a gap between the optical assembly and the pad.
US09946160B2
A pattern forming method which includes: forming a plurality of first line patterns of which longitudinal direction is a first direction and a plurality of second line patterns of which longitudinal direction is the first direction and of which etching characteristic is different from etching characteristic of the plurality of first line patterns, so that at least one edge portion of each of the plurality of first line patterns and at least one edge portion of each of the plurality of second line patterns are adjacent to each other; and removing at least a portion of the plurality of first line patterns by etching.
US09946157B2
A resist composition contains: a novolak resin (A1) having a protective group capable of being cleaved by action of an acid, an acid generator (B), an anticorrosive agent (G), and a solvent (D) as well as a method for producing a resist pattern includes steps (1) to (4); (1) applying the resist composition according to the above onto a substrate; (2) drying the applied composition to form a composition layer; (3) exposing the composition layer; and (4) developing the exposed composition layer.
US09946151B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for producing a mask and a mask obtained by this method. The mask is configured to shield light during an exposure of a product. The method includes steps of: producing a composite membrane, wherein the composite membrane includes a first protection layer, a bonding layer, a shielding layer and a second protection layer stacked in sequence; only cutting the first protection layer, the bonding layer and the shielding layer of the composite membrane, wherein a cutting line corresponds to a shape of an area to be exposed of the product; removing the first protection layer and cut portions of the bonding layer and the shielding layer which have a same shape as that of the area to be exposed; attaching the formed composite membrane onto a base substrate of an open mask, and removing the second protection layer.
US09946149B1
A method of producing a packaging material for making a packaging bag configured to contain hair dye includes the steps of preparing a first biaxially-oriented polyester film and an aluminum foil film, coating them with adhesives, and hot pressing them; preparing a second biaxially-oriented polyester film and roughening opposite surfaces thereof; coating one surface of the second biaxially-oriented polyester film with an adhesive, adhere it to the aluminum foil film and hot pressing them; preparing a cast polypropylene film and coating a surface thereof with an adhesive; and adhering the surface of the cast polypropylene film to the other surface of the second biaxially-oriented polyester film and hot pressing them.
US09946147B2
To provide a transmission-type transparent screen which is excellent in the see-through property for a scene on the other side of the transparent screen as viewed from an observer in a state where no image-forming light is projected from a projector and which is excellent in visibility of an image displayed on the transparent screen as viewed from the observer in a state where image-forming light is projected from the projector, as well as an image display system and an image display method, employing the transparent screen. A transmission-type transparent screen 1 which has a first surface A and a second surface B on the opposite side thereof and which has a light scattering layer 34 comprising a transparent resin 32 and a light scattering material 33, wherein the light scattering layer 34 further contains a light absorbing material, the haze is from 3 to 30%, the total light transmittance is from 15 to 95%, and the diffuse reflectance is from 0.1 to 2.4%.
US09946131B2
A liquid crystal display device in which smear error is suppressed and transmittance is uniform is provided. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a plurality of pixels and uses comb-teeth-shaped transparent conductive films 110 as common wirings, the common wirings include mesh-shaped common metal wirings 101v and 101h extending in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction and the comb-teeth-shaped transparent conductive films 110 are connected between adjacent pixels.
US09946128B2
In an image display device including a first display panel and a second display panel, there are provided a first panel body, a first panel body emission-side polarizing plate disposed at a front-surface side with respect to the first panel body, a second panel body, a second panel body incidence-side polarizing plate disposed at a back-surface side with respect to the second panel body, at least one inter-panel polarizing plate disposed between the first panel body and the second panel body, and a back-surface irradiation light source configured to emit light toward the back-surface side. The back-surface irradiation light source is provided in one of regions between the first panel body emission-side polarizing plate and the second panel body incidence-side polarizing plate.
US09946119B2
To provide a display device of high quality and high reliability by securely sealing the gap between the bezel and the display panel even when variation is generated in the gap. The display device includes: a display panel including a display face; a bezel which includes a frame part and an aperture end that is on the inner side of the frame part, and covers the fringe of the display panel on the display face side by the frame part; a frontal panel provided by sandwiching the bezel on the display face side of the display panel; and a resin member provided along the whole circumference of the aperture end of the bezel. The resin member has a first resin member formed on the display face and a second resin member formed to cover over the first resin member and a surface of the bezel opposing to the frontal panel.
US09946118B2
To improve the reliability of a display device, a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having a back surface, a substrate having a front surface opposing the back surface, a display functional layer arranged between the substrate and the substrate, and a sealing section SL that adhesively fixes the substrates around the display functional layer in a plan view. The sealing section SL includes a member PS extending along an outer edge of the display functional layer and sealing materials adjacently arranged on both sides of the member PS and continuously surrounding the periphery of the display functional layer in a plan view. The member PS includes a plurality of portions PS1 having a height TK1 and a plurality of portions PS2 arranged among the plurality of portions PS1 and having a height TK2 smaller than the height TK1.
US09946109B2
The present application discloses a color filter, comprising: a substrate; a black matrix layer formed on the substrate; color film layers formed on at least one first sub-pixel opening area and a plurality of second sub-pixel opening areas on the substrate; wherein the size of the first sub-pixel opening area is smaller than the size of the second sub-pixel opening area; the size of the color film layer on the first sub-pixel opening area is smaller than the size of the color film layer on the second sub-pixel opening area; a flat layer formed on the color film layer; an alignment mark formed on the flat layer and located at a designated position around the first sub-pixel opening area; a spacer layer formed on the flat layer.
US09946107B2
A display device including a plurality of pixels includes a first display part including a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second display part including the second electrode, a third electrode and a light function layer provided between the second electrode and the third electrode, the light function layer controlling the diffusion state or transparency state of light and being provided on the same side the light emitting layer with respect to the second electrode.
US09946105B2
An array substrate and a method for fabricating the same and a display device are disclosed. The array substrate includes a protection layer, wherein the protection layer overlays a display region and a non-display region of the array substrate. The non-display region includes a cutting region, and a thickness of a part of the protection layer overlaying the cutting region is larger than that of a part of the protection layer overlaying the display region.
US09946104B2
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a cover panel, a display panel opposed to the cover panel, an adhesive layer provided between the cover panel and the display panel and attaching the display panel to the cover panel, the adhesive layer including a first area to which the display panel is fixed and a second area located further outward than an outer periphery of the display panel, a backlight unit opposed to the display panel, and a case containing the display panel and the backlight unit, at least a part of the case being fixed to the cover panel by the second area of the adhesive layer.
US09946101B2
A method for operating a gate driver that is driving pixel transistors of a display panel, is described. An internal start pulse is produced in response to an external start pulse and in accordance with a system clock, wherein the internal start pulse is input to a first cell of a gate driver shift register whose outputs are coupled to level shifting output stages that are driving the rows of pixel transistors of the display panel. The produced internal start pulse was qualified by an output of a last cell of the gate driver shift register. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09946098B2
The embodiments herein provide an eyewear with an improved structure for temple. The eyewear comprises a cellular communication module and a push button mounted in the pair of temples. The cellular communication module is configured to provide wireless communication between the eyewear and a computing device for tracking GPS location coordinates of the eyewear. The eyewear is tracked by the computing device using an identification number programmed in the cellular communication module. The eyewear is tracked by identifying GPS location coordinates of the eyewear using an eyewear detecting application in the computing device. Further, the push button is configured to make emergency calls to a plurality of emergency contact numbers programmed in the cellular communication module. The push button enables to make an emergency call during an emergency occurred to the user of the eyewear.
US09946097B2
In some embodiments, a first device may be provided. The first device may comprise a lens housing adapted to support a first lens and a second lens, a first temple movably coupled to the lens housing, a second temple movably coupled to the lens housing, an electronics module disposed at least partially within the first temple, and a first electrical conductor coupled to the first temple. A first conductive path may be provided from the first temple to the lens housing at least in part by the first electrical conductor. The first electrical conductor may be configured to couple the electronics module to the first temple.
US09946092B2
Methods and apparatus to form biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the methods and apparatus to form the biocompatible energization elements involve forming cavities comprising active cathode chemistry. The active elements of the cathode and anode are sealed with a biocompatible material. In some examples, a field of use for the methods and apparatus may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.
US09946091B2
The eyeglasses frame includes a first hinge barrel provided on a lens holding portion, a second hinge barrel provided on a temple, a first screw that pivotably couples the first hinge barrel and the second hinge barrel, and a second screw provided in the second hinge barrel and contactable with the first hinge barrel. A tip portion of the first hinge barrel is a cam that includes a first depression where the second screw comes to rest when the eyeglasses frame is completely open, a second depression where the second screw comes to rest when the eyeglasses frame is completely closed, substantially straight portions that join the first and second depressions, and a corner portion where the substantially straight portions change direction at a point therebetween.
US09946090B2
A flexible foam nose cushion block attached on top of the nose area of an eyeglass frame takes stress off of the nose of the wearer of the eyeglasses. It replaces the traditional eyeglass nose supports, thereby releasing stress on the nose. The cushion sits atop the nose, as opposed to the side of the nose like ordinary eyeglass nose supports, thus distributing the weight of the eyeglasses, increasing the comfort, and eliminating the typical indentation marks left by traditional eyeglasses. The flexible nose cushion is attached to a horizontally extending supporting cross member between the two eyeglass lens frame members at or near the top of the lenses.
US09946085B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a 3D panel. The 3D panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and liquid crystals configured to be filled between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein both the first substrate and the second substrate are provided with a common electrode and a signal electrode. Since the substrates at two sides of the 3D panel of the present invention have electrodes which can be independently controlled, the switching of a grating electrode function between the upper and lower substrates can be achieved by switching the signal to the two substrates, thereby improving the application range of the 3D panel and the compatibility and versatility of the 3D panel. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention also disclose a method for producing the 3D panel and a 3D display apparatus having the 3D panel.
US09946078B2
A head-up display device including a screen; a projector that projects a visual image to the screen using a projection lens; and an image generator that generates a virtual image of the visual image to be visually recognized by a user from the visual image projected to the screen, wherein the visual image is composed of a first visual image and a second visual image; and the image generator generates a first virtual image, which is a virtual image of the first visual image, from the first visual image, and generates a second virtual image, which is a virtual image of the second visual image, from the second visual image.
US09946076B2
A system projects a user-viewable, computer-generated or -fed image, wherein a head-mounted projector is used to project an image onto a retro-reflective surface, so only the viewer can see the image. The projector is connected to a computer that contains software to create virtual 2-D and or 3-D images for viewing by the user. Further, one projector each is mounted on either side of the user's head, and, by choosing for example a retro angle of less than about 10 degrees, each eye can only see the image of one of the projectors at a give distance up to 3 meters, in this example, from the retro-reflective screen. The retro angle used may be reduced with larger viewing distance desired. These projectors use lasers to avoid the need for focusing, and in some cases there projectors use instead of lasers highly collimated LED light sources to avoid the need for focusing.
US09946075B1
Architecture and designs of wearable devices for virtual reality and augmented reality applications are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a display device is made in form of a pair of glasses and includes a minimum number of parts to reduce the complexity and weight thereof. A separate enclosure is provided as portable to be affixed or attached to a user (e.g., a pocket or waist belt). The enclosure includes all necessary parts and circuits to generate content for virtual reality and/or augmented reality applications. The content is optically picked up by an optical cable and transported by one or more optical fibers in the optical cable to the glasses, where the content is projected respectively to the lenses specially made for displaying the content before the eyes of the wearer.
US09946073B2
A virtual-reality system includes a head-mounted display system comprising an eye tracker and a display screen comprising an array of pixels. The virtual-reality system monitors movement of a user's eye using the eye tracker. A first plurality of frames for virtual-reality images is displayed on the display screen using a first persistence in accordance with a first display mode. The persistence is a percentage of a frame duration during which the array of pixels is activated. While displaying the first plurality of frames in accordance with the first display mode, a saccade of the user's eye is detected. In response to detecting the saccade, the virtual-reality system switches from the first display mode to a second display mode having a second persistence that is greater than the first persistence. In the second display mode, a second plurality of frames for the virtual-reality images is displayed using the second persistence.
US09946066B1
Apparatuses, devices and systems and methods for microscopy and optical data storage in transparent media, as well as for laser material processing of transparent or semi-transparent materials. Optics for diffraction limited focusing inside transparent or semi-transparent media comprising aplanatic focusing optical system and positive meniscus lens where reciprocal positions of the components and a transparent medium are optimized with criterion of minimized aberration providing diffraction limited internal focusing at a given depth inside the said transparent medium. For modern high resolution microscopy the optical components have achromatic and apochromatic optical designs. Immersion in space between the meniscus lens and the transparent material is used to increase the system numerical aperture. Simultaneous compensation of aberrations at different depths in a transparent medium provides diffraction limited focusing in wide depth range and simultaneous operation in multiple working planes separated along optical axis that is required in modern multi-focus microscopy. For modern scientific and industrial applications the movable optical components can be motorized.
US09946065B2
Provided is an optical system, including, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, which is configured to move during focusing, and a third lens unit having a positive or negative refractive power, the first lens unit consisting of, in order from the object side to the image side, a positive lens (Gp1), a positive lens (Gp2), and a subunit including a plurality of lenses, the subunit including at least one negative lens, in which an Abbe number νdGp1 of a material of the positive lens (Gp1), an Abbe number νdGn1 of a material of a negative lens (Gn1) closest to the object side among the negative lenses of the subunit, and a partial dispersion ratio θgFGn1 of the material of the negative lens (Gn1) are each appropriately set.
US09946057B2
A microscope module (300) for imaging a sample (270) is disclosed. The microscope module (300) includes at least one illumination objective (210) for producing an illumination beam along an illumination beam path (215) arranged to illuminate lower surface of the sample (270) and at least one detection objective (220) having a detection path (225). The detection path (225) is at an angle to the illumination beam path (215).
US09946052B2
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises six lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened.
US09946049B2
An embodiment includes a housing including a guide protrusion projecting from an upper surface thereof and a guide groove formed adjacent to the guide protrusion, a first magnet disposed at the housing, a bobbin on which a lens is mounted, a first coil disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the bobbin to move the bobbin by interaction with the first magnet, an upper elastic member coupled to the bobbin and the housing and having an end disposed in the guide groove, a damping member disposed between a side surface of the guide protrusion and a first end of the upper elastic member disposed in the guide groove, and a second coil for moving the housing by interaction with the first magnet.
US09946041B2
An opto-electronic contact, method and connection system can utilize an active opto-electronic converter configured for removable optical engagement with an opposing contact. A barrel housing defines an interior cavity to capture the converter in the interior cavity for external optical engagement to the opposing contact via the first barrel opening for relative movement of the converter axis along the elongation axis, transverse thereto, and oblique thereto to accommodate mating tolerances responsive to engaging the opposing contact. A flexible circuit board assembly can be used to externally electrically interface the converter.
US09946040B2
In some examples, an optical fiber may include a clad portion and an exposed fiber core that extends from the clad portion. Multiple such optical fibers may be included in a fiber bundle having a condensed region of fiber cores spaced at a first center-to-center spacing and a non-condensed region of clad portions spaced at a second center-to-center spacing greater than the first center-to-center spacing. Such optical fibers may be formed with exposed fiber cores ab initio.
US09946030B1
A beam branching device capable of suppressing an increase in the cost and the like even when the number of branching directions of an incident beam is large and increasing the coupling efficiency even when the rotation accuracy of a rotary motor is not increased too high and coping with high-speed switching of the optical path is provided. In a beam branching device, a rotation shaft of a rotary motor is rotated to rotate a rotating member together with a plurality of reflection mirrors so that an incident beam is reflected from a reflection mirror surface portion of any one of the plurality of reflection mirrors and the incident beam is branched to a plurality of directions to switch an optical path of a reflection beam. A central axis of the rotating member is at a skewed position in relation to a central line of the incident beam, and the plurality of reflection mirrors are arranged at a position on the rotating member to face both sides in an axial direction of the rotating member with a position closest to the incident beam interposed therebetween.
US09946027B2
A device and method for post-fabrication trimming of an optical ring resonator using a dopant-based heater is provided. An optical ring resonator at the device can be heated using heaters in an optical slab from which the optical ring resonator extends, the heater including a non-uniform doping profile. A controller determines an initial resonance frequency and a target resonance frequency of the optical ring resonator. The controller applies predetermined electrical parameters to the heater using electrical connections to shift a resonance frequency of the optical ring resonator from the initial resonance frequency to the target resonance frequency by causing the dopant in the heater to migrate.
US09946023B2
An optical attenuator and/or optical terminator is provided. The device includes an optical channel having two regions with different optical properties, such as an undoped silicon region which is less optically absorptive and a doped silicon region which is more optically absorptive. Other materials may also be used. A facet at the interface between the two regions is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the channel. The angle can be configured to mitigate back reflection. Multiple facets may be included between different pairs of regions. The device may further include curved and/or tapers to further facilitate attenuation and/or optical termination.
US09946014B2
An optical pedestal fiber is configured to be taperable to form a tapered fiber having a mode field diameter at the tapered end that differs from the mode field diameter at the untapered end in correspondence with the difference between the cladding diameter at the tapered end and the cladding diameter at the untapered end. A plurality of such pedestal fibers can be used to construct a tapered fiber bundle coupler that provides matching of both core pitch and mode field diameter between a plurality of input fibers and individual cores of a multicore fiber. Further, the tapered fiber bundle coupler can be constructed using a plurality of fibers, in which individual fibers are configured to have different effective refractive indices, thereby suppressing crosstalk therebetween.
US09945997B2
An intermediate image is formed inside a light guide member by a projection lens or the like, whereby a small optical system having a wide viewing angle and high performance is provided. At least one curved surface among curved surfaces forming an optical system is an opposite-sign curvature curved surface having an opposite-sign curvature point different in curvature depending on direction, whereby the optical system is placed in a satisfactory aberration correction state.
US09945975B2
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of vibration control for a wellbore logging tool is disclosed. The wellbore logging tool includes an acoustic transmitter. The method may include providing a braking signal to the acoustic transmitter. The braking signal may be based, at least in part, on at least one prior vibration in the acoustic transmitter. The method may include determining a present vibration in the acoustic transmitter after the braking signal has been provided to the acoustic transmitter. The method may include determining whether to update the braking signal and, if so, updating the braking signal based, at least in part, on the present vibration in the acoustic transmitter.
US09945973B2
Method and system for generating a full acquisition path for a marine seismic acquisition system. The method includes receiving survey area information about a survey area to be seismically surveyed; selecting a radius (R) and a length (L) of a lace; selecting an overlap distance (OL) between first and second lanes; generating the full acquisition path by repeating the lace along a first lead line inside the first lane and along a second lead line inside the second lane and replicating the first and second lanes until the entire survey area is covered with laces; and sending the full acquisition path to a streamer vessel for performing the seismic survey.
US09945964B2
An X-ray detector includes an arrangement of detector elements and an evaluation logic of the arrangement of detector elements. The evaluation logic includes a multi-level first multiplexer. A plurality of detector elements are assigned to a first group and each detector element of the first group is assigned to an input of a first level of the multi-level first multiplexer. The respective total number of the inputs of the levels of the multi-level first multiplexer is greater than the total number of outputs of the levels of the multi-level first multiplexer. A serial output is assigned to an output of a last level of the multi-level first multiplexer.
US09945960B2
A street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture.
US09945949B2
A device for measuring a distance of a target by means of a telemeter comprises: a laser pulse emitter; a receiver of the laser echoes backscattered by the target, comprising, a spatial detection device which comprises at least one photodiode set up as integrator and is able to provide a spatial signal, and a temporal detection device which comprises at least one photodiode coupled to a transimpedance circuit and is able to provide a so-called temporal signal, means of processing of the spatial signal and of the temporal signal, comprising a unit for calculating the distance of the target, the temporal signal being in the form of a data frame which is the recording of data detected over a predetermined duration. The means of processing comprise: means of post-integration of temporal signals, linked at output to the unit for calculating the distance of the target, linked to the spatial detection device and to the temporal detection device, means for selecting the temporal signals to be transmitted to the post-integration means, as a function of the spatial signal.
US09945940B2
Position and orientation tracking systems and methods include a transmitting antenna transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal. At least one receiving antenna acquires the RF signal. One of the at least one receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna is designated a reference antenna. A processing unit determines a phase difference between the RF signal received by each receiving antenna and the reference antenna. The processing unit computes a position of the transmitting antenna with respect to the at least one receiving antenna in response to the phase difference determined for each receiving antenna.
US09945933B2
In a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar processing system and method, a linear frequency ramp signal is defined. The linear ramp signal is divided into a plurality of time sections. The sections of the linear ramp signal are rearranged in time such that the plurality of sections define a transmit control signal different than the linear ramp signal. A radar transmission signal is generated having a frequency varying with time according to the transmit control signal, and the radar transmission signal is transmitted into the region of interest. An intermediate frequency (IF) signal is generated using the radar transmission signal and radar receive signals received from the region of interest, a frequency of the IF signal being a difference between the frequency of the radar transmission signal and a frequency of the radar receive signals. The IF signal is low-pass filtered. Radar processing is performed on the low-pass-filtered IF signal.
US09945932B2
Power control for a radar system issues power draw commands to each array in the radar system. Each power draw command controls direct current (DC) power draw by the respective radar array on a dwell-by-dwell basis, based on total energy resources (including stored energy) available to the respective array at the start of a dwell period, a power spend rate expected for the respective array during the dwell period, and a rate of “waste” power set to be dispersed to reduce excess power at the respective array during the dwell period. In determining power draw for an array, the power control takes into account a predetermined number of future dwell periods and any transmit and/or receive tasks scheduled for such periods. If necessary to maintain less than a predetermined ripple on total DC power drawn from a source of the DC power by the radar system, the power control adjusts a duration of empty dwell periods within the dwell schedule for one or more of the arrays.
US09945931B2
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable storage media for navigating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using signals of opportunity are disclosed. The UAV may include a receiver for detecting a plurality of signals at two or more receiver elements. The UAV may estimate an angle of arrival (AoA) for at least two signals of the plurality of signals, and may estimate a position of the receiver based, at least in part, on the AoA for each of the at least two signals. Known locations of the transmitters that are transmitting the at least two signals may be used in conjunction with the AoAs to determine the estimate of the position of the receiver. More than two signals may be used to localize the estimated position of the receiver.
US09945926B2
A method of designing bandwidth-efficient ranging waveforms provides waveforms usable in non-contiguous spectral bands that have low SNR thresholds and are usable at low and moderate SNR's. A set of allowed frequencies in the desired spectral region is divided into bands. A first group of band combinations is selected having a required accuracy at high SNR. Those band combinations in the first group that have the smallest autocorrelation secondary peaks are selected as a second group. Finally, waveforms are selected that occupy band combinations from the second group and have desired factors such as simultaneous or sequential transmission, a desired order of sequential transmission, and/or a desired modulation of the individual bands. Multiple simultaneous transmissions can share a set of bands, and individual transmitters can employ different modulating waveforms with good cross-correlation. In embodiments, waveforms having 4-6 bands provide a SNR threshold only 6-9 dB lower than conventional waveforms.
US09945925B2
A method for detecting a malfunction of a battery control system including a plurality of sensors intended to measure separate physical quantities of the battery, the method including the following steps: a) reading output values of the sensors; and b) determining, by means of a processing unit, whether the read values are consistent with a physical phenomenon conditioning relationships between at least two of the quantities.
US09945913B2
A magnetic sensor includes: a magnetoresistive effect element having a sensitivity axis in a specific direction in which a fixed magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer, and a free magnetic layer are laminated in this order; an antiferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the free magnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the free magnetic layer; and a ferromagnetic layer which generates an exchange coupling bias with the antiferromagnetic layer and which aligns the magnetization direction thereof in a predetermined direction provided on the antiferromagnetic layer. The magnetization direction on the exchange coupling bias in the free magnetic layer is the same direction as that on the exchange coupling bias in the ferromagnetic layer, and the ferromagnetic layer is able to impart a reflux magnetic field having a component along a sensitivity axis to the free magnetic layer.
US09945911B2
An apparatus for measuring impedance for fuel cell diagnosis may include: a current measurement unit configured to measure a current flowing to a load from a fuel cell stack; a voltage measurement unit configured to measure a voltage of the fuel cell stack; and a calculation unit configured to monitor a variation of the current measured through the current measurement unit, perform a frequency analysis operation at each sampling while sampling the current and voltage of the fuel cell stack, and calculate impedance based on the analyzed voltage and current of the fuel cell stack.
US09945904B1
An apparatus for performing a scan test of IC chip includes a shift-frequency searching unit that executes first scan test for first scan pattern whole or part of which constituting first scan section and second scan test for second scan pattern whole or part of which constituting second scan section, and searches usable shift frequency for the second scan section. The first scan pattern is scan pattern inputted to scan path right before the second scan pattern. The shift-frequency searching unit shifts the first scan section to the scan path with first shift frequency in the first scan test, shifts the second scan section to the scan path with second shift frequency in the second scan test, and determines, when both results of the first scan test and the second scan test indicate pass, the second shift frequency as the usable shift frequency for the second scan section.
US09945902B2
A burn-in test process is omitted for some or all lots. In burn-in necessity determination processing, whether each semiconductor chip requires a burn-in test to be performed is determined based on measurement data obtained in a probe test process. In an assembly process, based on the results of determination made in the burn-in necessity determination processing, the assembled packages are sorted into a first lot which includes packages each including a semiconductor chip determined to require a burn-in test to be performed and a second lot which includes packages each including a semiconductor chip determined to require no burn-in test to be performed. In a burn-in test process, only the packages of the first lot are subjected to a burn-in test.
US09945897B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for on-line monitoring of the condition of insulation in electrical devices employing a differential current sensor. In certain embodiments a monitor that can be fitted to existing electrical devices by attachment of the sensor to a pair of phase cables is provided. In other embodiments, an electrical device configured with an insulation monitor is provided.
US09945894B2
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting arc faults. For some embodiments, arc faults are detected from waveforms that are acquired and processed, preferably using an Average Magnitude Difference Function (AMDF). The characteristics of the waveform provide an indication of whether or not an arcing fault occurred.
US09945869B2
Herein is reported a method for the detection of free antigen of a multispecific antibody in a sample, whereby the antigen to be detected can be specifically bound by a first binding site of the multispecific antibody, comprising the step of incubating a sample comprising free antigen and multispecific antibody with an anti-idiotypic antibody, which specifically binds to a second binding specificity of the bispecific antibody, which is different from the first binding specificity, whereby the anti-idiotypic antibody is bound to a solid phase.
US09945866B2
Disclosed herein is a protein standard for gel electrophoresis. The standard may be detected using multiple modalities. These modalities include, for example, observation of color or fluorescence arising from dyes, porphyrins, or haloalkylated tryptophan residues covalently linked to proteins of the standard; or detection of fluorescence or chemiluminescence arising from antibodies or other binding partners bound to proteins of the standard through polypeptide epitopes or affinity tags. The protein standard comprises multiple protein sets, each set corresponding to a different gel band, and proteins within a set may be detectable with one or more modalities.
US09945853B2
The present disclosure highlights the relationship between extracellular mitochondrial components, optionally in combination with the secreted phospholipase A2-IIA and/or an auto-antibody, and in vivo as well as in vitro and inflammatory reactions/conditions, especially those released as a result of the degradation of a platelet. The present disclosure provides methods for determining the presence of inflammatory mediators, for limiting inflammatory reactions/conditions, for the diagnosis inflammatory reactions/conditions, for screening therapeutics for the treatment and/or the alleviation of symptoms of inflammatory reactions/conditions based on the detection or modulation of the level of these extracellular mitochondrial components.
US09945848B2
One aspect relates to a method of calibrating event data. The method includes obtaining, via an electronic device including a processor, event data for an assay including a reagent. The reagent is associated with one of a plurality of manufacturing lots of the reagent. The method includes receiving one or more calibration factors for the reagent based on an identifier associated with the one of the plurality of manufacturing lots. The method further includes generating calibrated event data based on an application of the one or more calibration factors to the event data.
US09945847B2
The present disclosure provides immunoassays using one or more over-labeled fluorescent probes, which provides for rapid, accurate and quantitative detection of one or more target analytes in sample, reading fluorescent intensity. The disclosed immunoassays provide multiplexing capability with low cross-reactivity.
US09945841B2
A method for measuring cell cycles includes immobilizing a capture specifically binding to a cell membrane protein to a substrate, wherein the cell membrane protein is a counterpartner binding to the capture, binding a cell having the cell membrane protein as the counterpartner to the capture, and measuring a redox potential of the cell. A method for screening a substance affecting cell cycles includes immobilizing a capture specifically binding to a cell membrane protein to a substrate; wherein the cell membrane protein is a counterpartner binding to the capture, binding a cell having the cell membrane protein as the counterpartner to the capture, treating a test substance of interest for analysis to a cell, and measuring a redox potential of the cell.
US09945839B2
This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel. In another implementation, the system includes a processing vessel, a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel.
US09945832B2
A system and apparatus for determining soil properties and managing the ground can include a platform equipped with traction anchors, wherein at least one anchor is configured to provide a point of traction on the ground and to pull the platform. The system also includes one or more sensors positioned and configured to detect ground properties near the anchor, and a computer subsystem configured to receive and process data on ground properties measured by the sensor, to process this information, and capable of transmitting information about the ground soil to a remote receiver.
US09945830B2
A calibration solution for a wet chemistry analyzer is provided. The solution comprises a calibration agent. The solution also comprises a cleaning agent. The cleaning agent is selected such that the wet chemistry analyzer is simultaneously cleaned and calibrated.
US09945829B2
According to the invention for a deep-frying device (2) including a stationary deep-frying oil sensor (5) which immerses into deep-frying oil (4) of a deep-frying oil basin (3), in order to monitor the stationary deep-frying oil sensor (5), a receiving unit (17) having a receiving data interface (8) is provided, via which interface a reference value obtained beforehand by a portable deep-frying oil measuring device (14), the portable deep-frying oil sensor (15) of which is immersed into the deep-frying oil (4) in the deep-frying oil basin (3) for measuring, can be transmitted in order to adapt a characteristic curve stored in the stationary evaluation unit (6) of the deep-frying device (2) such that the stationary evaluation unit (6) calculates a value for an evaluation variable for characterizing the deep-frying oil (4), this value being consistent with the reference value of the portable deep-frying oil measuring device (14).
US09945828B1
A self-contained UAV sensor payload and on-board or off-board hardware and software for precision agriculture. The invention combines multiple cameras and navigation sensors to create a system for automatically collecting, geo-referencing, and stitching red, green, blue, and near infrared imagery and derived vegetation indices. The invention is able to produce all of these quantities in a single flight. The tight integration with integrated navigation sensors eliminates the need for integration with external sensors or avionics hardware and enables innovative solutions to image processing and analysis which greatly improve accuracy, processing speed, and reliability over alternative approaches.
US09945819B2
A transducer assembly includes an acoustic sensor element and an acoustic waveguide. The acoustic waveguide includes a rotatable acoustic coupler, a tube, and a foot. The foot has a mounting surface that is mountable on a fluid conduit. A circuit assembly couples to acoustic sensor element and provides a diagnostic output.
US09945811B2
A method of detecting chlorate in soil includes contacting soil wetted with a solvent containing an electrically conductive salt with an electrode comprising layers of vanadium-substituted phosphomolybdate alternating with layers of para-rosaniline, and performing voltammetry with the electrode, wherein a catalytic reduction current indicates a likelihood of the presence or absence of chlorate in the soil. A system includes a potentiostat operably connected to the electrode and in communication with hardware and software sufficient to produce an output indicating a chlorate level in soil.
US09945809B2
Kits, systems, and methods are provided for transferring biological macromolecules from an electrophoresis slab gel to a blotting membrane using conductive polymer electrodes.
US09945800B2
A fuel gas composition sensing system may include a remotely controllable valve, with the valve including a gas inlet port, a gas outlet port, an internal chamber, and at least one actuating mechanism configured for successively opening the inlet port to allow gas to enter the internal chamber, closing the inlet port and the outlet port to retain the gas in the internal chamber for a period of time, and opening the outlet port to release the gas from the internal chamber. One or more micro-sensors may be mounted in the internal chamber of the valve, with each of the micro-sensors being configured to sense a characteristic of a gas introduced into the internal chamber of the valve. One or more heating elements may be mounted in the internal chamber, with each of the heating elements being associated with one of the one or more micro-sensors, and the one or more heating elements may be configured to implement a different temperature level at each of the micro-sensors in order to enable detection of a resulting change in the characteristic of the gas corresponding to a thermodynamic property of the gas that correlates to a composition of the gas.
US09945798B2
The invention comprises a method for determining degree of modified potency of a medicament. A medicine is a medicament comprising a therapeutic component and a homeopathic, i.e., activated-potentiated, component, wherein the activated-potentiated component has some physical, chemical or biological affect on the therapeutic component and/or the pharmacological efficacy thereof. The therapeutic component is biologically related to the starting substance of the homeopathic component. An analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form is made prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form. The same analytical measurement(s) are made and after interaction between the therapeutic and activated-potentiated forms. This data is used to confirm the presence of any modified potency is caused by the presence of molecular form in the activated-potentiated form. Further, the claimed analytical measurement of at least one characteristic parameter of the therapeutic form prior to its interaction with the activated-potentiated form and again after such interaction serves to quantify the degree of modifying potency associated with the activated-potentiated form in relative dimensionless activity units (release activity).
US09945792B2
A system which may be used to generate a plurality of spots on a surface is provided. The spots may be aligned with the incident plane of oblique illumination. The system may include a diffractive optical element configured to split a beam into a plurality of beams by generating a plurality of diffraction orders. The system may also include a focusing lens configured to focus at least some of the plurality of beams on the surface in the plurality of spots. At least some of the plurality of beams may be focused on the surface at an oblique illumination angle. The system may also include an illumination source positioned off-axis relative to an optical axis of the diffractive optical element. Using the system, a plurality of spots may be generated on an inclined surface.
US09945790B2
Increasing the precision of process monitoring may be improved if the sensors take the form of travelling probes riding along with the flowing materials in the manufacturing process rather than sample only when the process moves passed the sensors fixed location. The probe includes an outer housing hermetically sealed from the flowing materials, and a light source for transmitting light through a window in the housing onto the flowing materials. A spatially variable optical filter (SVF) captures light returning from the flowing materials, and separates the captured light into a spectrum of constituent wavelength signals for transmission to a detector array, which provides a power reading for each constituent wavelength signal.
US09945786B2
Embodiments of this invention include image-based systems and methods for detection of one or more analytes. A surface has identifiable analyte-specific capture particle(s) immobilised thereto at any point of an assay, to which different analytes attach due to the affinity of analyte-specific capture molecule(s) linked to the surface of the capture particle(s) for the analyte. Analyte-specific detector molecules with conjugated detection moieties are then attached to the analyte, and a computer assisted, image-based detection system captures images of the capture particles with or without attached analytes and detector molecules. By using different subsets of analyte-specific capture molecules, each subset having a characteristic identifiable feature; it is now possible to perform capture particle-based, rapid multiplex assays of biological and non-biological analytes without flow. These image-based systems can be used to aid in diagnosis of disease, evaluation of therapy for disease, or laboratory investigation.
US09945781B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for use in analyzing discrete reactions are provided. The analytical devices of the invention use an array of nanoscale regions (a chip) that has discrete patches, for example, patches of nanoscale regions. In some embodiments an analytical system is provided that has an analysis chip with an array of patches, each of the patches comprising nanoscale regions that emit fluorescent light when illuminated. The system has a two-dimensional (x, y) array of dichroic prisms, each prism comprising a dichroic element that diverts illumination light up in the z dimension of the array to a patch on the analysis chip above it. Each dichroic element transmits fluorescent light emitted by the patch that it illuminates, whereby the emitted light from each patch passes down through each dichroic prism. The analytical system also has a detector below the array of dichroic prisms that detects the transmitted fluorescent light. Such systems are useful for monitoring many analytical reactions at one time including single molecule sequencing reactions.
US09945775B2
A sensor comprises a pair of mirrors (11, 12) opposed along an optical axis and shaped to provide an optical cavity with stable resonance in at least one mode and having a cavity length of at most 50 μm. An actuator system is arranged to move the mirrors relative to each other along the length of the optical cavity for tuning the wavelength of the mode of said cavity. A chemical sample is introduced inside the optical cavity using a sample introduction system (21). An EM radiation source (20) illuminates the cavity and a detector (25) detects the EM radiation emitted from, transmitted through, or reflected from the optical cavity.
US09945774B2
Disclosed is a multi-channel light measurement system adapted to illuminate and measure a test sample in a vessel. The multi-channel light measurement system has at least one photodetector per channel and a variable integrate and hold circuit coupled to each photodetector, the variable integrate and hold circuit allows adjustment of a sampling factor selected from a group of an integration time, a value of capacitance, an area of a discrete photodetector array, or any combination thereof. The system may readily equilibrate reference intensity output for multiple channels. Methods and apparatus are disclosed, as are other aspects.
US09945770B2
A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette.
US09945767B2
Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of metallic materials at downhole wellbore condition with fixed or changing well fluids are disclosed. In general, the methods according to the disclosure include carrying out an electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface by simultaneously dynamically moving electrodes exposed to the well fluid while measuring the changes in electrical characteristics between the electrodes.
US09945763B1
Heat induced antigen retrieval systems for biological specimens may include a sealable heating pressure chamber, a programmable process controller, a nonpareil operating element, and perhaps even a substantially user-disencumbering autonomous processing component of a plurality of biological samples perhaps using various user selected protocols, and the like.
US09945762B2
A method and a system for introducing a sample into a mobile phase of a chromatography system is provided. The method includes initially directing the mobile phase directly into a separation unit of the chromatography system, bypassing a sample loop, the mobile phase including a combined solvent, metered from a pressurized first solvent and a second solvent; loading the sample into the sample loop, while the mobile phase continues to be directed directly into the separation unit; pressurizing the sample in the sample loop with the pressurized first solvent, while the mobile phase continues to be directed directly into the separation unit; and switching the sample loop into the mobile phase, thereby introducing the pressurized sample to the separation unit.
US09945755B2
In an operating machine, one example of a method for monitoring operation of operating machinery includes converting an actual sound pattern generated by the machine into an audio signal and digitizing the audio signal to create a real-time acoustic fingerprint unique to the actual sound pattern. A reference database contains a plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints, each stored acoustic fingerprint in the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints representing a unique sound pattern associated with a particular operating condition. A controller compares the real-time acoustic fingerprint to the stored acoustic fingerprints in the reference database and generates an output in response to detection of a match between the real-time acoustic fingerprint and one of the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints. One example of the machine is a corruptor machine that converts paper webs into corrugated paperboard sheets.
US09945750B2
A processing circuit is provided which includes at least an integrator circuit which uses a reference voltage set to have a predetermined magnitude as an operation reference and which integrates a detection signal so as to convert the detection signal into a voltage waveform and a base voltage adjustment circuit which is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the integrator circuit and which adjusts the magnitude of a base voltage that is a potential when the detection signal in an output signal output from the integrator circuit is not present. As another form, a processing circuit can be adopted which includes at least one or more amplifier circuits which amplify an output signal from an integrator circuit and a base voltage adjustment circuit which is connected between a supply portion of a reference voltage fed to the amplifier circuit and an input terminal of at least one of the amplifier circuits and which adjusts the magnitude of a base voltage that is a potential when a detection signal in an output signal output from the amplifier circuit is not present.
US09945733B2
An arrangement for temperature measurement at high-voltage potential is disclosed. The energy for measuring the temperature of an optical current transformer is provided by a single photodiode. The photodiode is supplied by light emitted by a light source and guided to the photodiode via an optical waveguide.
US09945731B1
A system includes a source of laser beams forming an array, a source of a reference laser beam, and an optical detector for measuring respective phase differences between the array laser beams and the reference laser beam. The system includes a mask, having apertures with a shape, size and position identical to a shape, size and position of the array laser beams, and positioned in the reference laser beam to form respective beams of the reference laser beam corresponding to the beams from the array laser beams. A phase modulator phase modulates respective beams of one of (a) the array laser beams and (b) the beams of the reference laser from the mask. A photodetector receives the respective array laser beams and the corresponding reference laser beams from the mask to generate a composite signal. Processing circuitry is responsive to the composite signal for generating respective signals representing the phase differences of the individual laser beams from the reference laser beam.
US09945730B2
Techniques for controlling an optical system include accessing a measured value of a property of a particular pulse of a pulsed light beam emitted from the optical system, the property being related to an amount of coherence of the light beam; comparing the measured value of the property of the light beam to a target value of the property; determining whether to generate a control signal based on the comparison; and if a control signal is generated based on the comparison, adjusting the amount of coherence in the light beam by modifying an aspect of the optical system based on the control signal to reduce an amount of coherence of a pulse that is subsequent to the particular pulse.
US09945723B2
The present invention provides an interferometer and the like, that is capable of ensuring the speed stability of the movable mirror while achieving the speed up of the reciprocal movement of the moving mirror and suppressing the increment of the maximum instantaneous thrust force required for the turning back as much as possible. The interferometer includes a moving mirror, a movement mechanism for reciprocating the moving mirror, a movement control part for controlling the movement mechanism and allowing the moving mirror to be reciprocated at a constant speed, and a measurement part for measuring a position of the moving mirror. The movement control part is adapted to receive target position data indicating a target position of the moving mirror, and control the movement mechanism to bring the measurement position of the moving mirror measured by the measurement part close to the target position indicated by the target position data.
US09945717B2
The application describes methods and apparatus for distributed fiber sensing, especially distributed acoustic/strain sensing. The method involves launching interrogating radiation in to an optical fiber and sampling radiation backscattered from within said fiber at a rate so as to acquire a plurality of samples corresponding to each sensing portion of interest. The plurality of samples are divided into separate processing channels and processed to determine a phase value for that channel. A quality metric is then applied to the processed phase data and the data combined to provide an overall phase value for the sensing portion based on the quality metric. The quality metric may be a measure of the degree of similarity of the processed data from the channels. The interrogating radiation may comprise two relatively narrow pulses separated by a relatively wide gap and the sampling rate may be set such that a plurality of substantially independent diversity samples are acquired.
US09945714B1
A method of determining the mass of an object by scanning the object in a radiographic inspection system, specifically in an X-ray scanner with the capability to take scan images at a plural number J of energy leves, has three modes or parts, namely: an initial learning mode, a normal operating mode, and a learning improvement mode. An inintial learning mode in which refernce object are scanned and their actual masses weighed and stored as reference values. A normal operating mode wherein smaple objects with unknown mass m are scanned and analyzed for compatibility with the reference values, and if found incompatible, the method switches to the learning improvement mode. A learning improvement mode in which the actual mass of the sample object found incompatible is determined by weighing and updates the stored reference values.
US09945710B2
A high liquid-level alarm device is configured such that one casing includes a plurality of liquid-level alarm units, the liquid-level alarm units are directed for monitoring one liquid level, issue an alarm for a different height of the liquid level, have radio wave detection units for detecting a radio wave, respectively, each of the liquid-level alarm units has a radio wave detection unit for detecting a radio wave, transmits a radio wave when not detecting a radio wave, and performs a determination operation as to whether a predetermined liquid level is reached, and when one of the liquid-level alarm units is performing the determination operation, the rest of the liquid-level alarm units do not perform the determination operation.
US09945702B2
A pointer is rotational relative to a screen. A driver unit is equipped with the pointer and configured to rotate the pointer. A controller sends an output signal to the driver unit to rotate the pointer at a rotational position in a rotational range. The controller is configured to modify the rotational range. The controller is configured to modify the graphic according to the rotational range, which is modified.
US09945699B2
Provided is a sensor node package where the breakage of a package member and/or a lid member due to thermal stress is reduced.The Young's modulus (220 GPa or less) of the package member, the thermal expansion coefficient (2 to 12 ppm/° C.) of the package member, the difference (5 ppm/° C. or less) in thermal expansion coefficient between the package member and the lid member, and the thickness (3 mm or less) of the lid member are adapted respectively to fall within predetermined ranges, thereby making it possible for the breakage of the package member and/or lid member due to thermal stress to be reduced effectively.
US09945698B2
The present disclosure relates to a macro-micro composite grating ruler measuring system based on conversion and amplification in vertical and horizontal directions. The macro-micro composite grating ruler includes a grating ruler, a macro-micro reading system moving with respect to the grating ruler, and a counting and image processing module. The macro-micro reading system faces grating strip datum and is parallel to the grating ruler. The system further includes a measuring reference line. The measuring reference line obtained by the image sensor together with grating strips forms an image overlap in the counting and image processing module. The measuring reference line and the grating strip jointly include an angle θ. With the foregoing configuration, the present invention is compatible with the existing incremental grating rulers and absolute grating rulers, so is highly applicable.
US09945689B2
A method and apparatus for location referencing roadway data. A server determines a roadway event; the roadway event including a roadway description and a roadway location. The server then generates a roadway message. The roadway message includes the roadway description and a roadway path. The roadway path includes a LinkID set, a length of the roadway event, and an offset from a reference node of a starting link. The LinkID set includes at least the starting link. The server then broadcasts the roadway message. A device receives the data. The device decodes and displays the data.
US09945683B1
Transport communication comprising, associating a wireless device and a user, associating a transport and the wireless device, determining a characteristic of the user based on at least one of a user search history and a user preference selection, determining a probable route the transport based on at least one of a route history and an input destination and ranking at least one suggestion of a route deviation based at least one of the determined probable route and determined characteristic.
US09945680B1
A method or apparatus to provide a display of friends in a local area to a user, receive a request to meet, and calculate an optimal location for a meeting is described. In one embodiment, the system provides guidance to the user to the optimal location.
US09945677B1
Systems and methods are provided for automated route discovery. A computing device can receive location data for designated actor(s) of a plurality of actors operating within an environment. The plurality of actors can also include a robotic device. The computing device can determine a route network of paths taken by the designated actor(s) within the environment, where the route network includes information about frequencies of paths taken by the designated actor(s) based on the location data. The computing device can receive a starting location and a destination location for the robotic device. The computing device can select a selected path from the starting location to the destination location based on the route network taken by the designated actor(s). The computing device can provide an instruction to the robotic device to use the selected path to travel from the starting location to the destination location.
US09945669B2
A rotation rate sensor for detecting a rotational movement of the rotation rate sensor about a rotational axis extending within a drive plane of the rotation rate sensor include: a first rotational element, a second rotational element and a drive structure moveable in parallel to the drive plane, the first rotational element being drivable about a first center of rotation to achieve a first rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the second rotational element being drivable about a second center of rotation to achieve a second rotational vibration in parallel to the drive plane, the drive structure being (i) coupled to the first and second rotational elements, and (ii) configured to generate a drive mode in phase opposition of the first and second rotational vibrations.
US09945664B2
The estimation device comprises an estimation assembly for determining a corrected estimated incidence, with the aid of an estimated incidence which is computed on the basis of aerodynamic parameters and of inertial parameters related to the aircraft and of a measured incidence which is determined on the basis of measurements carried out on the aircraft by at least one incidence probe. This estimation device thus makes it possible to obtain estimations of the speed of the aircraft, of its incidence and of the total temperature, on the basis of aerodynamic and inertial parameters.
US09945663B2
The invention relates to an antenna attitude measurement sensor as well as an attitude measurement method based on this sensor, wherein the antenna attitude measurement sensor is composed of a solar position sensor, a three axial gravity acceleration sensor, a GPS module, a CPU, a power supply module and a memory output module. Antenna attitude measurement method includes the following steps: A. installing antenna attitude measurement sensor; B. acquiring antenna geographic location, antenna hanging height, antenna pitch angle γ and rolling angle θ as well as the incident sunlight azimuth angle φ related to the solar position sensor and the corresponding standard time to form the azimuth angle; C. calculating the vertical incident angle α and level incident angle β; D calculating the antenna azimuth δ; E. memory output.
US09945647B2
Designs and methods are provided for a retractable broadhead blade. In one exemplary embodiment the broadhead blade is configured to be received in a slot in a broadhead body, and moveable between a retracted or in-flight position, and a deployed or target penetrating position. The broadhead blade includes a front end that faces substantially forward when the blade is in the retracted position, a distal end opposite the front end, an outward facing sharpened leading edge between the front end of the blade and the distal end, and an inward facing trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The blade further includes an integral spring member with a contact surface configured to bear against a blade locating portion of a broadhead body when the blade is in the retracted, or in-flight position.
US09945645B2
An igniter assembly for which an igniter and a conductive igniter collar are integrated via an insulating layer, wherein the igniter comprises a metal eyelet, a metal cover that retains the eyelet therein, an ignition charge that is disposed in the cover and in a space in contact with an end face of the eyelet, a heating body that is connected to the end face of the eyelet, and a conductive pin that passes through the insulating layer and is electrically connected to the heating body. The other end of the conductive pin is exposed from the insulating layer so that a current supplying circuit is connected. An IC tag is disposed in the insulating layer and near the conductive pin. The IC tag has an IC chip and a coil antenna that is wound around the IC chip.
US09945643B2
The present invention relates to a device and method for providing immediate additional ballistic resistant portable personal protection for first responders, such as Police, Fire, EMS, and military personnel, during an emergency event. The device, configured for insertion into either the driver or passenger interior floor of an emergency vehicle is comprised of a molded shell with layers comprising a ballistic resistant layer that both provides vehicle floor matting and fits seamlessly into the contours of the emergency vehicle foot well and interior floor. For easy removal and immediate use as a directional portable personal protection device, handles are provided on the shell such that the handles do not interfere with driving.
US09945632B1
Electromagnetic force holds a reciprocatively movable bolt in a charged position in resistance to compressive force from a bolt actuating spring, while generating recoil impacts that simulate firing rounds of ammunition from an ammunition belt in imitation machine gun. Terminating the electromagnetic force allows the compressive force from the actuating spring to move the bolt from the charged position after simulating the firing of the last round from the ammunition belt.
US09945631B2
A firearm and a jig for modifying or constructing a firearm with a locking magazine release button is provided. The firearm has a lower receiver including a magazine locking pin aperture disposed in an upper surface thereof where the magazine locking aperture intersects with a magazine release button aperture in a side surface of the lower receiver. The firearm also has an upper receiver attached to the lower receiver via a pivot pin, a magazine attachable to the lower receiver, a magazine locking pin inserted into the magazine locking pin aperture, and a magazine release button comprising a recessed locking catch. The magazine release button releases the magazine when the upper receiver is away from the lower and the pin is not in the magazine locking aperture. The button is inoperable when the upper receiver is next to the lower receiver and the pin engages the locking catch.
US09945629B2
A collapsible pistol features enhanced safety, ease of use, and improved performance as compared to prior designs. The pistol is easily reconfigured from an open, ready-to-fire position to a closed or collapsed position that makes the pistol quite compact, safe, and readily concealable. The overall design of the pistol is such that the manipulation of the pistol into and out of the open, ready-to-fire position can be accomplished with a user having relatively small hands and/or relatively low grip strength.
US09945623B2
The invention relates to various ways in which to integrate control valves into the structure of a heat exchanger. Accordingly, there is provided a heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger and a valve integration unit. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relation, and at least one inlet manifold and one outlet manifold interconnected by one of the plurality of first or second fluid passages, the valve integration unit being fixedly attached to heat exchanger and comprising a fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds. A valve mechanism is mounted within the valve integration unit in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the valve mechanism controlling the flow of a heat exchange fluid through said fluid passage.
US09945606B2
Methods and apparatus for cryogenic distillation of air. In a system of air separation columns, all the air is taken to a high pressure which is 5 to 10 bar greater than a medium pressure. A portion of air, between 10% and 50% of the high pressure air stream, is boosted in a cold booster. This boosted air is then sent to an exchanger and a portion of it liquefies at the cold end of the exchanger. Part of the air is sent to one column of the column system, and another fraction is partly expanded in a Claude turbine. After expansion in the turbine, the air is sent to a medium pressure column, and a liquid stream is withdrawn for one of the columns of the system. The withdrawn stream is pressurized and vaporizes in the exchange line. The cold booster is coupled to either an expansion turbine, an electric motor, or a combination of the two.
US09945598B2
Systems and methods for making ice utilize self-demolding ice molds. Responsive to freezing of water in the mold into ice, an ejection apparatus is compressed. Via a force arising from the compression, the ejection apparatus ejects the ice from the mold. Ice machines may utilize multiple molds, and water filling a first mold may be utilized to at least partially melt ice in a second mold to facilitate ejection of the ice from the second mold.
US09945597B2
The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration system for cooling the interior of a mobile refrigerated space, for example a refrigerated container, comprising two speed-controlled compressors, which can be operated in parallel as a single stage or one after the other as two stages by one controllable bypass line per compressor and a controllable valve device between the pressure side and the suction side of each compressor. The valve devices receive signals from a controller having algorithms, into which the usage temperature and ambient temperature are fed as a target value or measured value. The most energy-efficient operating modes and the rotational speeds of the compressors result from the requirements profile of the container refrigeration.
US09945592B2
Provided is a throttle device to decompress a refrigerant cooled by a condenser in a refrigerating cycle and to deliver the refrigerant to an evaporator, where a minimum space between a needle valve and a valve port can be accurately set. Inside a cylindrical main body case including a primary chamber connected to the condenser and a secondary chamber connected to the evaporator, a valve seat member formed with a valve port and a cylindrical guide member integral to the valve seat member are provided. A coil spring to energize the needle valve toward the valve port side is provided inside the guide member. A needle portion of the needle valve protrudes from the valve port toward the primary chamber. A tip portion of the needle portion abuts against a stopper member and the tip portion is thereby positioned.
US09945585B2
An aspect of the present disclosure is a receiver for receiving radiation from a heliostat array that includes at least one external panel configured to form an internal cavity and an open face. The open face is positioned substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and forms an entrance to the internal cavity. The receiver also includes at least one internal panel positioned within the cavity and aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the at least one internal panel includes at least one channel configured to distribute a heat transfer medium.
US09945580B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation assembly comprising a main housing adapted for installation into standard 2′×4′ wall or ceiling construction within a building or space. The main housing can include a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the main housing, and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the main housing. The ventilation assembly can be installed in place of an existing ventilation exhaust fan assembly, or can be installed in a space where no ventilation assembly has previously existed. The main housing can provide support to a blower assembly, including a scroll and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll. A motor may be nestled within the scroll and coupled to the blower wheel. Electrical power can be supplied to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the blower wheel to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet.
US09945578B2
A monitored heat exchanger system that includes a heat exchanger unit in operable engagement with a heat generating device, with an at least one service fluid being transferable therebetween, and a monitoring module coupled to the heat exchanger unit. The monitoring module includes a primary microcontroller in operable communication with an at least one sensor assembly. The at least one sensor assembly includes a mounting frame; a support platform; a circuit board; an inner sensor housing configured to extend out and around the circuit board and the support platform; a first magnet coupled to an underside of the inner sensor housing; and a rotating member comprising a plurality of blades, the rotating member being disposed on top of the inner sensor housing.
US09945573B2
An air conditioning system which includes a controller having processing circuitry connected to a database and a dispenser is disclosed. The controller includes at least one memory, at least one processor, and at least one timer. The timer may be programmable to trigger the dispenser via the controller to dispense an air treatment or scent based on the time of day, morning or evening/night. The air conditioning system also includes a facial recognition camera or a sensor array each configured to cause the dispenser to dispense an air treatment or scent. The facial recognition camera is coupled to the controller to dispense an air treatment or scent based on the majority preference of the recognized faces. The sensor array includes a motion detector and a light detector configured to trigger the dispenser via the controller to dispense an air treatment or scent in an air stream of the air conditioner.
US09945571B2
A room pressure control system includes an air supply valve, an exhaust valve, and controller circuits. One of the controller circuits includes a room pressure correction control circuit that controls the valve operating as a room pressure control valve, between the air supply valve and the exhaust valve, so that the room pressure coincides with a set room pressure value; and processing circuitry that determines whether the room pressure easily fluctuates, determines whether the room pressure is stable, and sets parameters. In particular, the processing circuitry sets a dead zone parameter with which responsiveness of room pressure control is valued when it is determined that the room pressure easily fluctuates and otherwise sets a dead zone parameter with which reduction in the number of operations of the room pressure control valve is valued above the responsiveness of the room pressure control.
US09945562B2
A gas turbine that includes: a combustor coupled to a turbine that define a working fluid flowpath; a compressor discharge cavity; a staged injection system that includes the forward injector and a staged injector; a stator blade positioned extending across the working fluid flowpath between an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall. A one-way continuous coolant flowpath that includes: an intake section that comprises an upstream port connected to the compressor discharge cavity and a downstream port formed through one of the inboard and outboard sidewalls; an outtake section that comprises a downstream port connected to the staged injector and an upstream port formed through the same one of the inboard and outboard sidewalls; and a cooling circuit extending through an interior of the airfoil of the stator blade and connecting to the downstream port of the intake section and the upstream port of the outtake section.
US09945559B2
A fire starter includes a casing made from a first material a first material having a first time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the casing burns after being ignited. A second material disposed in the casing has a second time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the second material burns after being ignited. An igniter, disposed in the casing and adjacent to the second material, generates a first thermal event to ignite the second material wherein the second material combusts to define a second thermal event that ignites the first material. An actuator is coupled to the igniter and is positioned outside of the casing for activating the igniter to generate the first thermal event.
US09945553B2
Aqueous working fluid (WF) steam generation system including: pressure vessel containing heat exchanger; enclosed combustion air (CA) chamber; burner; another heat exchanger outside pressure vessel; and WF conduit. Heat exchanger includes first: enclosed WF chamber having WF input and output apertures (IOA); and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA and passing through enclosed WF chamber. Enclosed CA chamber includes second: enclosed WF chamber having WFIOA; and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA. Burner is connected to second CA input aperture. Another heat exchanger includes third: enclosed WF chamber having WFIOA; and enclosed CA passageway communicating with CAIOA. WF conduit connects third WF output aperture to second WF input aperture. Second WF output aperture is connected to first WF input aperture; and second CA output aperture is connected to first CA input aperture; and first CA output aperture is connected to third CA input aperture.
US09945547B2
An illuminant may include at least one light-emitting element unit, which has a carrier, at least one light-emitting element arranged on the carrier and is surrounded by an encapsulating material, at least one contact area formed on the carrier, and at least one contact element arranged on the contact area, wherein the light-emitting element surrounded by the encapsulating material is electrically connected to the contact element via the contact area, and at least one mating contact element, wherein electrical contact can be made between the mating contact element and the contact element via a plug-type connection, wherein the contact element is a female connector element, and the mating contact element is a male connector element and having a plurality of pin contact elements, or the contact element is a male connector element and having a plurality of pin contact elements, and the mating contact element is a female connector element.
US09945546B2
The invention proposes an optical signaling device, in particular a signaling lamp or a modular signaling column (1) or the like, having at least one luminous unit (2) comprising at least one luminous element (20) for optically indicating one or more different operating states of a technical device such as a machine, an installation or the like, at least one electrical and/or electronic connection unit (27) being provided for the purpose of connecting or making contact with at least the technical device, at least one electrical and/or electronic linking unit (12) being provided between the connection unit (27) and the luminous unit (2) for the purpose of electrically and/or electronically linking the connection unit (27) to the luminous unit (2), thus implementing additional technical possibilities or functionalities. This is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the linking unit (12) has at least one electrical and/or electronic switching element (21, 22) for establishing and/or disconnecting the electrical and/or electronic link between the luminous unit (2) and the connection unit (27), the electrical and/or electronic switching element (21, 22) also being in the form of an actuator switch (21, 22) for switching at least one actuating element (28) of a first actuator (8) of the technical device and/or a second actuator (8) which is separate from the technical device.
US09945542B2
A lighting device (1) that includes a light transmissive tube (2), a support (4) to which a series of light emitting elements (7) are mounted and a connector (5) for connecting the light emitting elements to a power source. The support (4) is formed of a planar resilient material twisted or wound into a spiral or helix and received within and constrained by an inner circumferential surface of the tube (2) such that it is mounted directly to and/or in interference fit with the tube (2).
US09945528B2
A headlight module includes a light source, a light guide element, and a projection optical element. The light source emits light. The light guide element has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from the light source and an emitting surface for emitting light reflected by the reflecting surface. The projection optical element projects light emitted from the emitting surface. In a direction of an optical axis of the projection optical element, an end portion on the emitting surface side of the reflecting surface includes a point located at a focal position of the projection optical element.
US09945520B2
An LED tube lamp includes a glass tube, a plurality of LED light sources, two end caps respectively sleeving two end portions of the glass tube, a power supply in one of the end caps or separately in both of the end caps, and an LED light strip in the glass tube. The plurality of LED light sources is on the LED light strip. Each of the end caps comprises a plurality of openings formed thereon. The plurality of openings dissipating heat resulted from the power supply are divided into two sets. The two sets of the plurality of openings are symmetric to each other with respect to a virtual central axis of the end cap.
US09945510B1
A flashlight mount is provided comprising a suction cup base, a modular, flexible mast attached to the suction cup base at a first end wherein the modular, flexible mast is capable of being positioned in any orientation, a clamp adaptor attached to an elbow joint at a second end of the flexible mast wherein a plurality of inner grooves are formed vertically on an inside surface wherein the elbow joint is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the flexible mast and wherein the clamp adaptor is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the elbow joint, and an inner ring having a plurality of outer grooves formed vertically on an outside surface of the inner ring wherein the inner grooves and outer grooves interlock wherein the inner ring is rotatable 360 degrees with respect to the clamp adaptor and an opening in the inner ring is configured to hold a flashlight.
US09945503B2
A rotate-to-press inflation adaptor is provided for use with an English valve and includes a valve connector having a side surface recessed inwardly to form a positioning cavity having an inside surface in which slide channels are formed and two opposite ends respectively forming a valve opening and a coupler opening in communication with the positioning cavity. The coupler includes an air charging hole extending axially therethrough and an outer surface on which an external thread and two slide blocks are formed for being slidably received in the slide channels for reciprocal movement. The rotary knob has a through hole in which an internal thread is formed and the knob body is fit over and combinable with the valve connector in a rotatable manner with the internal and external threads engaging each other. An air tube is connected to the coupler.
US09945500B2
A flexible pipe suitable for transporting fresh water is described. The pipe has a circular cross-section when it is pressurized and which can collapse in on itself. The pipe has an outer diameter of between 1 and 7 meters and a length of between 200 and 3000 meters and includes an envelope which is sealed from the transported liquid, and at least two peripheral reinforcing elements increasing the mechanical resistance of the pipe to a positive differential pressure so that the pipe can support a positive differential pressure of between 1 and at least 10×105 Pa without bursting or cracking.
US09945494B2
A pneumatic system for operating a hydraulic valve is provided. The system may include: a first piston set; a first connector attached to the first piston operably connecting the first piston; a first spring biasing the first piston to move in an axial direction; a second port in the first housing; a second piston set with in a second cavity defined by a second housing; a second connector attached to the second piston, a second spring biasing the second piston to move in an axial direction; a first port in the second housing; and a second port in the second housing configured to provide fluid communication with in the second cavity at a second end of the second piston.
US09945492B2
A solenoid assembly for providing control over fluid pressure distribution in a transmission, where the solenoid assembly includes a sleeve, a valve portion substantially contained within the sleeve, an armature located within the sleeve, a plunger connected to the armature and in contact with the valve, and a housing located within the sleeve in proximity to the armature. The armature is moveable relative to the sleeve and the housing, and the valve portion includes a valve, where the movement of the valve is controlled by the movement of the armature. The valve is biased towards an open position to provide a fluid pressure balance between multiple ports.
US09945491B2
A device for actuating a valve, comprising a casing, said casing exhibiting a transparent region and said casing preferentially having been formed from an upper part and a lower part, a transmission assembly, an electric motor and a base board for attaching electrical components, wherein LEDs or a multicolor LED and an optical waveguide have been arranged in the casing, preferentially on the base board, the position or another function of the valve being indicated by the LEDs lighting up, and the optical waveguide collimating and focusing the light of the LEDs for the purpose of indicating the position or malfunction.
US09945488B2
A valve actuation apparatus is provided. The apparatus may comprise a mechanical activation device, a primer, an explosive cord, and a gas-generating device. The valve actuation apparatus may actuate a valve system, which opens a valve and allows airflow to inflate an inflatable emergency evacuation slide for an aircraft.
US09945482B2
A seal for sealing between a first member and a second member, including a first annular insert and a second annular insert axially spaced from the first annular insert. An elastomeric body includes a first portion over-molded on the first annular insert and a second portion over-molded on the second annular insert and an intermediate web extending between the first and second portions. The first and second portions including an annular flap extending from the first and second annular inserts that in an un-installed condition, extend radially relative to the first and second annular inserts and in an installed position are adapted to be compressed between the annular inserts and a surface of the first and second members.
US09945473B2
A kick-down element for a vehicle, complete with a housing, an actuator that is fastened in the housing such that it can be moved axially and a force surge element that can be moved axially in the actuator and which is axially loaded by an elastic element. There is a plate-shaped protruding part on at least one housing panel, which runs perpendicular to the movement direction and the upper end of which runs diagonally downward. The force step element interacts with at least one roller, which is located between the protruding part and a wedgeshaped (9) of the force surge element in a resting position. The kick-down element is intended to allow for a relatively long travel path for the actuator in the most compact design possible. This is achieved by keeping the roller attached to a lower end of the actuator.
US09945472B2
A lubricating structure for a transmission includes: a case that includes a center support fixation portion that extends from the inner peripheral surface toward the radially inner side, and that houses the transmission on the first side of the center support fixation portion in the axial direction of the transmission; a center support that is press-fitted into the center support fixation portion, that rotatably supports an input shaft of the transmission, and that rotatably supports a clutch drum of the transmission; a bearing provided between the clutch drum and the center support in the axial direction; an oil reservoir portion formed on the center support on the second side of the center support fixation portion in the axial direction to open on the upper side in the vertical direction, the second side being opposite to the first side; and an oil passage formed in the center support, one end of the oil passage opening in the oil reservoir portion, and the other end of the oil passage opening in a space between the clutch drum and the center support in the axial direction.
US09945465B2
The invention relates to a differential gear for a drive axle of a motor vehicle, having a driven differential case (12), which has effect on a carrier (24), particularly on a driving pin, via a coupling block (26) that is guided in a rotationally fixed but axially movable manner, on which carrier (24) planetary wheels (22) are mounted which interlock with outputting output wheels (20), wherein the output wheels (20) output on output shafts (16, 18) on both sides, and having a torque-dependent locking device for shifting the driving torque by means of at least one coupling device (28) integrated in the differential case (12), which coupling device (28) can additionally be actuated via at least one actuator (34; 44), independently of the driving torque. According to the invention, the at least one actuator (34; 44) is arranged in the region of at least one of the output shafts (16, 18) and has effect on the coupling device (28) by means of at least one transfer means (38, 40).
US09945463B2
A torque converter, including: an axis of rotation; a cover arranged to receive torque from an engine and including a first indentation; an impeller shell fixedly secured to the cover; at least one impeller blade fixedly secured to the impeller shell; a turbine including a turbine shell and at least one turbine blade fixedly secured to the turbine shell; and a lock-up clutch including a first carrier plate fixedly secured to the cover and including a first protrusion disposed in the first indentation and a clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the first carrier plate.
US09945452B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle is provided. The planetary gear train includes an input shaft receiving power of an engine and an output shaft outputting the power. Additionally, four planetary gear sets are provided. Various shafts the connect the elements of the gear sets either selectively or directly. The planetary gear set maximizes driving efficiency of the engine and improves power delivery performance and fuel consumption through the achievement of the more shift-stages of the automatic transmission.
US09945441B2
A cylinder device includes a recess provided on either one of the piston and the cylinder, the recess facing the other one of the piston and the cylinder; an extension-side discharge passage configured to permit only a flow of liquid from the extension-side chamber toward the recess; a compression-side discharge passage configured to permit only a flow of liquid from the compression-side chamber toward the recess; a tank-side discharge passage configured to allow the extension-side discharge passage and the compression-side discharge passage to communicate with the tank through the recess; an extension-side damping force generation passage configured to apply a resistance to a flow of liquid passing therethrough so as to exert a damping force during extension; and a compression-side damping force generation passage configured to apply a resistance to a flow of liquid passing therethrough so as to exert a damping force during contraction.
US09945440B2
A device for damping the movement of a movably mounted component includes a first, mechanically acting braking device with at least one friction pair, wherein, in order to generate a braking force, a driven friction surface can be rotated about an axis of the first braking device relative to a secured friction surface resting thereon, and a second braking device which is coupled to the first braking device, wherein the friction surfaces of the friction pair, or of at least one of the friction pairs, are pressed against each other in response to a braking force exerted by the second braking device. The second braking device has at least one driven damper surface that can be rotated about an axis of the second braking device and cooperates with at least one secured damper surface to enclose at least one gap in which a viscous damping medium is present that causes a braking force of the second braking device when the at least one driven damper surface is rotated with respect to the at least one secured damper surface.
US09945439B2
Elastomer members for a torsional vibration damper, methods of making the same, and torsional vibration dampers having the elastomer members are disclosed. The elastomer members have a first major surface and an opposing second major surface with opposing side joining the first major surface to the second major surface, have a median sagittal plane extending parallel to the first major surface and the second major surface, and a transverse plane perpendicular to the median sagittal plane. In a cross-sectional geometry in a plane bisecting the median sagittal plane and the transverse plane, a thickness of the elastomer member changes along the median sagittal plane in a direction parallel to the transverse plane with a first thickness at both opposing sides and a second thickness at the transverse plane, where the second thickness is greater than the first thicknesses.
US09945434B2
A brake assembly having a brake spider that may receive an anchor pin or a sleeve that receives an anchor pin. Features such as splines may be provided with the anchor pin to help secure the anchor pin to the brake spider or the sleeve. Engagement features may be provided with the sleeve to help secure the sleeve to the brake spider.
US09945429B2
The present disclosure relates to a clutch, in particular a multiple disc clutch, having an outer clutch part, and an inner clutch part and a tuning element encasing the outer clutch part and influencing the acoustic behavior of the clutch.
US09945422B2
A rolling bearing apparatus includes: a bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of balls, and a cage; and an oil supply unit provided axially adjacent to the bearing. The oil supply unit includes a tank in which to accumulate lubricant, and a pump that receives the lubricant in the tank and supplies the lubricant to the bearing. The tank is provided with a holding material for the lubricant, the holding material having minute pores. The holding material includes a first holding portion provided in a region on an outlet-side of the tank, and a second holding portion provided in a part other than the region and having a porosity higher than that of the first holding portion.
US09945417B2
A method for correcting variations of parameters of components of an active magnetic bearing and/or assembly of active magnetic bearing as a whole, the active magnetic bearing includes a memory (M) to store values of production and/or electrical and/or installation variations of at least one component of the active magnetic bearing and/or variations of the whole active magnetic bearing assembly and/or correction values formed from the variations, the memory (M), a control system and/or detectors (D) of output signal of sensors (A) of the position and/or the evaluation circuits being interconnected or interconnectable.
US09945409B2
An extruded corner bracket is provided, the corner bracket comprising a length; a body extending the length; a pair of wings extending the length and extending outward from the body to define, with the body, an outer right angle and a pair of inner right angles, the inner right angles being normal to each other, each inner right angle having a first face and a second face; and a slot within the body and extending the length, the slot for slidably, non-rotatably retaining a nut and for housing a distal end of a bolt, the slot including an elongate opening defined by a distal edge of each first face. A corner bracket assembly, rectangular structures using the corner bracket assembly and a kit are also provided.
US09945398B2
A power transmission assembly for a vehicle with prime mover, prime mover output shaft, and right and left traveling devices, comprises a power distribution unit that receives rotary power from the prime mover output shaft and distributes it between right and left transmission units, which each include: a center section with a closed fluid circuit, a lateral first portion, and a second portion perpendicular thereto; a hydraulic pump mounted on the first portion such that a pump shaft is parallel to the prime mover output shaft; a hydraulic motor on the second portion fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump via the closed fluid circuit, having a lateral motor shaft; and a speed reduction device on a distal side of the hydraulic motor that transmits power from the hydraulic motor to the right or left traveling device.
US09945393B2
A pressure accumulator has at least one accumulator housing (103) with at least one connection (111; 113) for a pressure medium (149), especially in the form of a fluid that can be accumulated in the accumulator housing (103). A filling material (119) that has hollow chambers or that forms at least one hollow chamber for accommodating at least part of the pressure medium (149) introduced into at least sections of the accumulator housing (103). An interior (117) of the accumulator housing (103) is completely filled with the filling material (119) to such an extent that the filling material (119) contacts the entire surface of a wall (120) of the accumulator housing (103).
US09945390B2
In one aspect, a centrifugal blower assembly is provided. The centrifugal blower assembly includes a housing defining an interior space and an impeller configured to channel an airflow within the interior space. A motor is coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate the impeller about an axis. The centrifugal blower also includes a plurality of mounting arms. Each mounting arm of the plurality of mounting arms includes a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to the motor. Each mounting arm of the plurality of mounting arms has a cross-sectional profile that comprises a portion of an airfoil shape.
US09945380B2
A refrigerant scroll compressor for a motor vehicle air conditioning system having a fixed scroll, a orbiting scroll engaging with the fixed scroll, wherein the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll cooperate to compress a refrigerant gas. An intermediate pressure chamber is disposed adjacent the orbiting scroll, an oil return duct provides fluid communication between the intermediate pressure chamber and a high pressure area of the refrigerant scroll compressor, and at least one intermediate pressure duct is formed in one of the orbiting scroll and fixed scroll and is in fluid communication with the intermediate pressure chamber.
US09945374B2
Disclosed are systems and methods utilizing multiple parallel pumps to deliver a mixture of the proppant and clean fluid via a manifold trailer. One method of providing a step-change in proppant concentration includes selecting a first flow rate for a first pump connected between a first input node and first output node, calculating a first transit time for a flow of a fluid at the first flow rate through a first flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the first pump, and to the first outlet node, and calculating a second flow rate for a second pump connected between the first input node and the first output node such that a second transit time for a flow of the fluid through a second flow path extending from the first inlet node, through the second pump, and to the first outlet node is equal to the first transit time.
US09945370B2
A gas compression system is provided. The gas compression system includes a compressor, an adsorption device, and a fluid control device. The compressor includes a first port and a second port. The adsorption device is adapted to output the high pressure hydrogen gas to the first port and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas from the second port. The adsportion includes a first container connected to the first port or the second port, and a second container connected to the first port or the second port. The first container and the second container includes a hydrogen adsorption material adapted to release the high pressure hydrogen gas when heated, and absorb the low pressure hydrogen gas when cooled. A method of using the gas compression system is also provided.
US09945366B1
The wheeled pumping station includes a front axle and a rear axle with wheels that mobilize a pumping station supported via a chassis. The pumping station is enclosed within a housing. The housing supports a pump from which an intake hose descends down. The pump is wired to a powering member. The powering member is also wired to at least one solar panel provided on a top surface of the housing. The powering member is wired to a computer, GPS unit, and transceiver. The computer is able to track location and maneuver the wheeled pumping station to different locations as needed. The pump is connected to both the intake hose and an irrigation pipe such that water collected via the pump is removed from the land, and transferred via the irrigation pipe to another location.
US09945364B2
A pump has a pump body and at least first and second pumping elements, each pumping element including a piston defining a head-end and a rod-end. The pump receives a pressurized fluid at an inlet, and returns fluid through a drain outlet. A hydraulic distributor operates to fluidly connect the head end of an extending piston to the pressurized fluid, and the rod end of the extending piston to the drain outlet. The hydraulic distributor further connects the rod-end of a retracting piston to the drain outlet, and the rod-end of one or more retracting pistons to the drain or to a return pressure, which is lower than an extending pressure.
US09945360B2
To provide a radial piston pump capable of displacement control without using an electronic control valve. For achieving the above object, the radial piston pump includes: a first cam circumferentially varying in radius on an inner circumferential side or outer circumferential side of the cam in a continuous manner; a second cam circumferentially varying in radius on an inner circumferential side or outer circumferential side of the cam in a continuous manner; a first operation member operating along a side of the first cam on which the radius of the cam continuously varies; a second operation member operating along a side of the second cam on which the radius of the cam continuously varies; a first piston connected to the first operation member; a second piston connected to the second operation member; a cylinder connecting with the first piston and the second piston and varied in volume by motion of at least one of the first piston and the second piston; and an adjustment unit for rotating at least one of the first cam and the second cam.
US09945346B2
A method is provided for controlling an ignition system which includes a spark plug control unit adapted to control at least one coil stage, the at least one coil stage adapted to successively energize and de-energize to provide a current to a spark plug, each coil stage includes a primary winding inductively coupled to a secondary winding. The method includes measuring low side voltages at one or more of each coil stage and controlling a duty cycle or a pulse width of a PWM-signal of a step-down converter stage dependent on a battery voltage, a maximum primary current threshold, and the measured voltages.
US09945343B2
A control device for an engine including an EGR system, the control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to forcedly open and close an EGR valve and make a malfunction diagnosis of the EGR system, during fuel cutoff, perform ignition timing retard control when the engine returns from the fuel cutoff, and set the ignition timing at a start point of the ignition timing retard control to a more advanced value when an elapsed period from the malfunction diagnosis of the EGR system to a return from the fuel cutoff is short, as compared with the case where the elapsed period is long, so as to reduce a retard amount of the ignition timing at the start point of the ignition timing retard control, relative to the ignition timing immediately before the start of the ignition timing retard control.
US09945339B2
In the method provided herein, quantities of fuel are determined during a direct injection of a motor vehicle. In this connection, within one work cycle, test injections are carried out in two cylinders of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle during overrun phases, speed oscillations of moved masses of the cylinders are measured and a relative difference in quantity of the fuel quantity of the test injections within one work cycle is determined from the speed oscillations. By evaluating a relative signal between the test injections within one work cycle in the two cylinders, an intrinsic dependence of the drive train of the quantity of fuel signal is compensated.
US09945337B2
A piezo injector for direct fuel injection may comprise an injector body, an actuator unit having a piezoelectric actuator with a head plate and a base plate, a hydraulic coupler having a coupler piston, a coupler cylinder, and a coupler spring, and a nozzle unit having a nozzle needle arranged in a nozzle body. The piezoelectric actuator is surrounded by a corrugated tube braced between the head plate and the base plate such that the piezoelectric actuator has a preload imparted to it. The coupler spring forces the coupler piston against a face side, facing toward the coupler piston, of the nozzle needle.
US09945335B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for damping or attenuating acoustic vibrations in an air induction system of a motor vehicle, the apparatus defining a passageway through which induction air may be drawn to an engine of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising: damping means, the damping means being provided around the passageway for damping or attenuating acoustic vibrations in the induction air; and hydrocarbon trapping means, the hydrocarbon trapping means comprising a sheet of trapping material provided around at least a portion of the passageway, the trapping means being arranged to provide a flow-past hydrocarbon trap for trapping hydrocarbon vapors entering the passageway from the engine.
US09945332B2
One variation may include a method of controlling exhaust gas flow in an internal combustion engine system, and products and systems using same.
US09945329B2
An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining first and second cylinders, and a cylinder head coupled to the block. The engine also includes a passage having a first outlet and a second outlet for exhausting post-combustion gasses from the cylinder head. The engine additionally includes a mechanism for selectively activating and deactivating the first cylinder and a turbocharging system having a low-flow turbocharger and a high-flow turbocharger. The low-flow turbocharger is driven by gasses from the first outlet and the high-flow turbocharger is driven by gasses from the second outlet. The turbocharging system also includes a first flow-control device that directs the gasses via the first and second outlets to the turbochargers when the first and second cylinders are activated. The first flow-control device also directs the gasses via the first outlet only to the low-flow turbocharger and blocks the second outlet when the first cylinder is deactivated.
US09945318B2
A cylinder block made of aluminum includes an inner wall defining an inner space wherein a piston moves, an insulating coating layer partially disposed along an inside surface of the inner wall, and an Fe, or iron, sprayed layer coating an inner surface of the inner wall and the insulating coating layer, the Fe sprayed layer being formed by a thermal spaying process.
US09945317B2
When a main injection is performed, a first timing that is a time earlier than a second timing is selected as the valve opening starting timing, and a first period that is the period of time shorter than a second period is selected as the control period. Also, when a pilot injection is performed, the second timing that is the time later than the first timing is selected as the valve opening starting timing, and the second period that is the time longer than the first period is selected as the control period. Thus, in an injector with increased valve opening responsiveness, the valve opening behavior of a control valve of the injector in fuel injection with a minute injection quantity can be stabilized without replacing a control device, particularly an EDU with that of a large current specification.
US09945314B2
An apparatus for controlling an oxygen sensor may include an oxygen sensor configured to measure the exhaust gas which is generated by the combustion of the engine to generate an oxygen signal, and a controller configured to detect, through the oxygen sensor, a lag of the oxygen signal having responsiveness which is reduced depending on an oxygen amount of the exhaust gas, store information on occurrence factors which cause the lag of the oxygen signal, and increase a current heating quantity of a corresponding specific region about the occurrence factors to reconfirm whether the oxygen signal lags and determine the oxygen sensor as a failure or release a failure detection for the oxygen sensor.
US09945304B2
A pressuring system for a vehicle engine includes an intake manifold into which ambient gases flows. A control valve connects to the intake manifold. An engine block connects to the intake manifold and connected to a gases outlet. A timing belt cover connects to the engine block. A gases pipe connects between the control valve and the timing belt cover.
US09945302B2
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to characterizing vehicle mass. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more operating parameters of the vehicle are obtained, and at least one qualifying period of time is identified in which the operating parameter or parameters are within a range of values associated with the parameter. A value that provides an estimate of the mass is then generated based on the one or more operating parameters.
US09945296B2
A six-stroke engine includes a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head, a combustion chamber, an intake port, an exhaust port, an intake valve, an exhaust valve, a fuel injector, and an ignition plug. The six-stroke engine includes a valve gear that operates the intake valve and the exhaust valve to execute an intake stroke, a compression stroke with ignition, an expansion stroke with combustion, an exhaust stroke, an expansion stroke without combustion, and a compression stroke without ignition. The valve gear opens, only for a predetermined period of time while the piston is located at top dead center, at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve within a period from the exhaust stroke to the intake stroke. A valve overlap state is produced at least once within the period from the exhaust stroke to the intake stroke.
US09945294B2
A gas turbine that includes a working fluid flowpath extending aftward from a forward injector in a combustor. The combustor may include an inner radial wall, an outer radial wall, and, therebetween, a flow annulus. A staged injector may intersect the flow annulus so to attain an injection point within the working fluid flowpath by which aftward and forward annulus sections are defined. Air directing structure may include an aftward intake section that corresponds to the aftward annulus section and a forward intake section that corresponds to the forward annulus section. The air directing structure may be configured to: direct air entering through the aftward intake section through the aftward annulus section in a forward direction to the staged injector; and direct air entering through the forward intake section through the forward annulus section in a forward direction to the forward injector.
US09945286B2
A variable geometry turbine has annular inlet passageway defined between a first surface of a radial wall of a movable wall mounted within a cavity and a facing wall of the turbine housing. The radial wall defines a second surface that opposes the first surface. The moveable wall member comprises an annular flange that extends axially into the cavity and supports a radial flange defining opposing third and fourth surfaces. The radial flange seals against an annular sleeve in the cavity to define a first area within the cavity which includes the radial second and third surfaces and a second area within the cavity which includes the radial fourth surface. The first and second areas are in fluid communication with regions of the annular inlet passageway which are respectively upstream and downstream of a radial vane passage.
US09945274B2
When the compression ratio of a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine (10) is set at a low compression ratio, a lubricating oil ejected from a lower link oil passage (25) is reflected by an upper link (11) at the piston top dead center, and supplied to a cylinder inside wall surface on the side on which a control link (15) is located in a view as viewed in the axial direction of the crank shaft. When the compression ratio of the variable compression ratio internal combustion engine (10) is set at a high compression ratio, the lubricating oil ejected from lower link oil passage (25) is reflected by upper link (11) at the piston top dead center, and supplied to the back side of the piston crown.
US09945271B2
Provided is a valve opening/closing timing control device that can speedily achieve a stable operation at the time of starting an engine. The device includes a drive-side rotating body that is rotated in synchronism with a crankshaft and has a plurality of projecting portions, a driven-side rotating body that has a partition portion which forms an advance angle chamber and a retard angle chamber and that is rotated together with a camshaft for valve opening/closing, an intermediate lock mechanism switchable between a locked state and an unlocked state, a pump for supplying fluid to the advance angle chamber, the retard angle chamber or the intermediate lock mechanism, and a communication passage configured to establish communication between the advance angle chamber and the retard angle chamber disposed adjacent in a circumferential direction when the intermediate lock mechanism is under the locked state.
US09945267B2
Provided is a heat-collecting-type power generation system capable of maintaining a stable power generation efficiency even if supplied heat varies. The system includes an evaporator that heats and vaporizes a working medium; a displacement-type expander driven by the vaporized working medium; a power generator driven together with the expander; a condenser that cools and condenses the gas-phase working medium sent from the expander; and a circulation pump that draws the condensed liquid-phase working medium, raises pressure and transports the same to the evaporator, wherein the expander includes a plurality of expansion parts that expand the working medium stepwise, and internal volume ratios of the expansion parts are adjusted in a design phase, so that if at least one of a suction pressure and a discharge pressure of the expander varies, an overall thermal insulation efficiency is 70 percent or more, in a range of the variation.
US09945264B2
A control method for optimizing or enhancing an operation of a power plant that includes thermal generating units for generating electricity. The power plant may include multiple possible operating modes differentiated by characteristics of operating parameters. The method may include tuning a power plant model so to configure a tuned power plant model. The method may further include simulating proposed operating modes of the power plant with the tuned power plant model. The simulating may include a simulation procedure that includes: defining a second operating period; selecting the proposed operating modes from the possible operating modes; with the tuned power plant model, performing a simulation run for each of the proposed operating modes whereby the operation of the power plant during the second operating period is simulated; and obtaining simulation results from each of the simulation runs.
US09945259B2
A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine may include a geared architecture, a central body support and a bearing package. The geared architecture may interconnect a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. The central body support may provide an annular wall for a core flow path and an integral flex support inwardly extending therefrom. The integral flex support may couple the geared architecture to the central body support. The bearing package may include a bearing support removably coupled to the integral flex support.
US09945258B2
Systems are provided for a reinforcement element coupled to a sheet metal turbine housing that imparts desirable thermal-protective and structurally strengthening characteristics to the housing layers. In one example, a system may include a turbine comprising a housing surrounding a turbine rotor, the housing having an outer layer surrounding an inner layer at a distance to form an intermediate space between the inner and outer layers. Moreover, disposed in the intermediate space is a reinforcement element coupled to the inner and outer layers, providing strength and consistent rigidity without a significant increase in weight to the housing.
US09945255B2
It comprises a body that has an inertial asymmetrical and/or the body is asymmetrical in terms of geometry and/or mass of with respect to a XZ plane passing substantially through the centre of a wind turbine rotor for withstanding asymmetrical loads acting on the wind turbine. The inertia in sections of the structural member body at one side of the XZ plane may be 50% greater than the inertia in sections of the structural member body at another side of the XZ plane. The structural member may connect the wind turbine tower with the wind turbine rotor and may comprise at least two asymmetrical portions defined on both sides of the XZ plane which may be mutually asymmetrical reinforcing elements.
US09945250B2
An aircraft gas turbine is constituted by accommodating a compressor (14), a combustor (15), and a turbine (16) in a cylindrical main unit casing (12). A thick wall part (52) is provided on an outer periphery side of rotor blades (34) in the main unit casing. A cooling passage (53), for cooling the thick wall part (52) by circulating compressed air compressed by the compressor, is provided in the thick wall part. Also provided is a discharge passage (55) for discharging compressed air having circulated in the cooling passage to a combustion gas passage A. The structural strength of the thick wall part is ensured by appropriately cooling the thick wall part of the casing, while simplifying the structure and preventing a decrease in efficiency, thereby ensuring effective containment performance and an appropriate clearance between the casing and the rotor blades.
US09945247B2
An anti-icing system for an engine section stator of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an environmental control system pre-cooler heat exchange system and a conduit. The environmental control system pre-cooler heat exchange system is configured to exchange heat between air bled from a compressor of the engine and bypass duct air. The conduit is configured to exchange heat from the pre-cooler heat exchange system to a heat transfer medium. The conduit is also configured to transfer the heat from the heat transfer medium to the engine section stator.
US09945246B2
The invention relates to a method (1000) for monitoring a degree of coking at the dynamic seals of a turbine engine comprising: a gas generator, comprising a rotary shaft and an injection wheel mounted on said shaft, an injection manifold, dynamic seals for ensuring a seal between the injection wheel and the injection manifold, and a starter, the method comprising the steps: measuring (1500), during a phase for initiating rotation of the shaft of the gas generator by the starter, a current flowing through the starter and a voltage on the terminals of the starter, determining (1600), from the measured current and voltage, a degree of coking at the dynamic seals. The invention also relates to a turbine engine comprising a system for monitoring a degree of coking.
US09945236B2
A unitary one-piece hub has first and second rings and a midsection arranged between the first and second rings. The midsection includes a plurality of windows configured to receive a plurality of cross members. The windows include a lip configured to surround the cross members. A gas turbine engine and a method of providing a hub for a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
US09945235B2
A coning-resistant rotor and a seal assembly including a coning-resistant rotor are disclosed. An embodiment of the rotor includes a rotor base, a rotor head, and an axially-extending web interposed between the rotor base and rotor head, wherein the web includes axial and radial web regions defined by at least one circumferential groove provided in the web. In another embodiment, a rotor base includes a sealing surface and an inner diameter surface, and the inner diameter surface includes a channel with a taper.
US09945223B2
Aspects of the disclosure can relate to a system for tracking fatigue damage experienced by a tool in real-time. The system can include a processor operably coupled to a memory and operable to execute one or more modules to generate master curve fitting coefficients for a connection type associated with a tool component (e.g., a component of a bottom hole assembly). The master curve fitting coefficients can be for a threaded connection master curve, a port hole master curve, and so forth. The processor can also be operable to execute the one or more modules to generate a fatigue calculator for the tool component. The system may receive a real-time trajectory for the tool, determine a curvature from the trajectory of the tool, determine a bending moment based upon the curvature, and determine fatigue damage for the tool component based upon the bending moment using the fatigue calculator.
US09945216B2
A frac system that includes a hydraulic energy transfer system configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid.
US09945204B2
A safety mechanism comprising: an obstructing member moveable between a first position where fluid flow is permitted, and a second position where fluid flow is restricted preferably blocked; a movement mechanism; and a wireless receiver, often an acoustic transceiver, adapted to receive a wireless signal; wherein the movement mechanism is operable to move the obstructing member from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions in response to a change in the signal being received by the wireless receiver. Embodiments of the invention thus provide a safety mechanism for a well such as a valve, packer, plug or sleeve, which can be operated wirelessly and so may allow operation of safety mechanisms in a well even when emergency situations have occurred.
US09945193B1
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in subterranean exploration, and provides a rapid rig-up and rig-down pipe racking system that is capable of being retrofit to an existing drilling rig. In particular, the invention relates to a pipe drill floor mounted pipe racking system that is capable of controlled movement of pipe in three dimensions, and most importantly, capable of rapid and precise movement of multiple connected sections of pipe. The invention is capable of moving stands of connected pipe from a racked position on the drill floor to an accurate stabbing position directly above a drill string component held in a rotary table.
US09945185B2
A method of forming polycrystalline diamond includes encapsulating diamond particles, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in a container. The encapsulated diamond particles, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide are subjected to a pressure of at least 4.5 GPa and a temperature of at least 1400° C. to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond particles. A cutting element includes polycrystalline diamond material comprising inter-bonded grains of diamond. The polycrystalline diamond material is substantially free of graphitic carbon and metallic compounds. The polycrystalline diamond material exhibits a density of at least about 3.49 g/cm3 and a modulus of at least about 1000 GPa. An earth-boring tool may include such a cutting element secured to a body.
US09945184B2
A downhole under-reamer for use in reaming a downhole bore. The under-reamer comprises a body and a plurality of cutters mounted on the body. The cutters are mounted on the body so as to be extendable from a retracted position to at least two extended positions. The at least two extended positions comprise reaming positions at respective first and second reaming diameters.
US09945181B2
In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation at an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation, and detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.
US09945176B2
A barrier for the inside of a home. The barrier includes two partitions that slide relative to each other to increase and decrease a distance between ends of the barrier. The partitions slide into and out of confronting relationships with each other. The partitions engage each other at upper and lower locations and further at a medial location where an elongate member of one partition is received in a tube engaged to the other partition. A threaded piece upon being turned brings pressure to bear upon an end of the tube such that the partitions can be incrementally expanded apart and thereby pressurized between two locations within the home so as to block off one portion of the home. The threaded piece is slideable along the elongate member.
US09945168B2
A friction based counterbalance mechanism for coupling with a closure panel to assist in opening and closing of the closure panel for at least a portion of a path between a fully closed position and a fully open position of the closure panel, the counterbalance mechanism including: an elongate member positioned on a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the counterbalance mechanism, the elongate member having a peripheral surface, the elongate member having a proximal end for coupling to one of the closure panel and a body of a vehicle; a travel member having a body and at least one friction member mounted on the body, the travel member positioned on the longitudinal axis for reciprocation there along and for providing contact between the at least one friction member and the peripheral surface, said contact for generating a friction force in a first region along the longitudinal axis and in a second region along the longitudinal axis; and a support member coupled to the travel element at a proximal end and for coupling at a distal end to the other of the closure panel and a body of a vehicle, the support member for guiding said reciprocation. The friction based counterbalance mechanism can be incorporated as part of a biasing strut such as a spring configured strut.
US09945166B2
A device for moving a movable furniture part, the device including a basic component on which a force accumulator is present such that the movable furniture part under the action of the force accumulator is capable of being put in the opening direction of the movable furniture part. A separate cover component, configured so as to match the basic component, of the device is present, which cover component covers the basic component, wherein connection means on the cover component are configured in such a manner that integration of the device on a counter portion on the item of furniture and/or the guide means is arrangeable using the connection means which are present on the cover component.
US09945157B2
A dual-ring tubular lock assembly is provided. Inner and outer walls of a key are formed with inner-ring and outer-ring notches. A lock cylinder is inserted in a central through hole of a lock housing. A front end of the lock cylinder is formed with a tubular keyhole. The tubular keyhole is formed with inner-ring and outer-ring grooves corresponding to the inner-ring and outer-ring notches and mounted with inner-ring and outer-ring key pins. A rear end of the lock cylinder passes through a central perforation of a lower bead seat and extends out of the lock housing. The lower bead seat is fixed in the center through hole. The lower bead seat is formed with inner-ring and outer-ring holes corresponding to the inner-ring and outer-ring grooves and mounted with inner-ring and outer-ring driver pins and springs. The latch is fixed to the rear end of the lock cylinder.
US09945150B2
A latch handle is disclosed. The latch handle may comprise a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may comprise a high aspect ratio. The second portion may have a width greater than the second portion.A nacelle is disclosed. The nacelle may comprise a first panel and a latch assembly. The latch assembly may include a latch housing and a latch handle. The latch handle may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may comprise an aspect ratio greater than one. The second portion may have a width greater than the width of the first portion. A cut-out configured to accommodate the latch assembly may be disposed on the first panel. The first panel may be a fan cowl panel.
US09945146B2
A cylinder alignment monitoring system for a mast or derrick hingedly connected to a substructure wherein at least a pair of extending cylinders move the mast or derrick between a storage position and an upright use position. The monitoring system includes a distance measurement device to determine the extension distance of each of the extending cylinders. A comparison device compares the extension distances measured for each of the extending cylinders.
US09945145B2
An embedded pole installation method including applying a rotational force to a leading pole and an intermediate pole. The leading pole comprises a first helical plate disposed on a first portion of the leading pole. The intermediate pole is coupled to a second portion of the leading pole and comprises a second helical plate disposed on a first portion of the intermediate pole. The diameter of the intermediate pole is greater than a diameter of the leading pole. Applying the rotational force embeds the first helical plate and the second helical plate into a foundation such that a second portion of the intermediate pole does not penetrate the foundation. The method further includes coupling a utility pole to the second portion of the intermediate pole.
US09945143B2
A swiveling joint for use in a pole such as a light pole is disclosed. The swiveling joint connects a first member mounted to a lower leg of a pole with a second member mounted to an upper leg of the pole. The second leg has a skirt which sits around an annular portion of the first member, with a bearing member located between the first and second members. The bearing member can be moved from outside the second member between a locked position where the joint is fixed, and a released position where the joint can rotate.
US09945140B2
A cleaner includes an external casing forming a suction hood, an upper suction mouth, the casing also being provided with a drive arranged on each side and equipped with independent motors and corresponding transmission mechanisms on each side, and cleaning rollers; sets of internal cleaning rollers disposed close to the center of the hollow interior of the casing and having a width approximately equal to the distance between the side elements of the casing; sets of external cleaning rollers located close to the front and rear edges of the casing of the cleaning device and having a total width slightly greater than the width of the casing; a resilient joint at the support for the external rollers; a pair of adhesion turbines; auxiliary drive wheels on the internal cleaning rollers; a flotation body connected to the casing and having a fixed and/or variable volume; and laterally mobile turbines.
US09945139B2
A floating weir basket (40) that eliminates the need for hinged doors on conventional fixed pool skimmers (4).
US09945138B1
Disclosed is a safety barrier system for use at construction sites. An inventive, simple to use, reusable, efficient to assemble and disassemble safety guard rail system for use in construction of multistory structures, primarily multistory apartment complexes is described. The inventive system allows for common 2″×4″ or 2″×6″ wooden posts to be used for a railing system. The system includes a single reversible centerline safety rail, or guard rail post having apertures on its central region, and keyholes along the folded edges thereof. The post may be installed on any horizontal or vertical surface that is usually above the ground. In operation, the guard rail post is mounted on a flat surface, such that a keyhole engages with a fastener attached to the flat surface. Guard rails are received in the apertures formed on the support plate to create a safety rail arrangement.
US09945129B2
A method for making a covering is described. The covering includes a first layer made of a flexible material; a second and a third layers made of a preferably rigid material engaged on opposite sides to the first layer. The second and the third layers respectively have a plurality of V-shaped grooves defining respective adjacent rigid and corresponding structural portions. Each rigid structural portion can be oriented with respect to the adjacent rigid structural portion, by folding the first layer so as to model the covering according to three-dimensional configurations and/or a simple or double curvature. The method is preferably performed through a virtual designing of the shape desired to be obtained and a processing of the same for the obtainment of the grooves required to attain such shape.
US09945125B2
A cover for a drain is disclosed. The cover may be used with roof drains or other drains and allow for fluid collection into the drain even with buildup of debris around or on the cover. The cover may have a lower flange or portion with a large area and extending outwardly in an arcuate configuration and having openings for fluid flow. The lower portion may be oriented at a small angle with respect to the horizontal. An upper portion may be connected to the lower portion and may be more vertically-oriented than the lower portion and also extend arcuately and having openings. A top may be connected with the upper portion and may have a removable lid. An outer ring may be attached to an outer perimeter of the lower portion and have openings. The cover may include a mount with flex joints for securing the cover to contoured surfaces. The cover may include moveable parts for expansion/contraction of portions of the cover. The cover may be contoured to abut a structure such as a wall.
US09945118B2
A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion. The insert members, when in position in the mold box for casting, are substantially in lateral alignment with respective bottom surfaces of at least some of the partitions and can be inserted and retracted through openings in an end wall of the mold box.
US09945112B2
In a first embodiment, the present invention is a valve insertable into a sewage line in order to prevent backflow into a structure. The valve includes a mouth formed therein which corresponds to the size of an inlet of the sewage line and means for rotating for rotating the valve within the sewage line. Rotation of the valve to an open position aligns the mouth with the inlet of the sewage line to permit flow through the sewage line and rotation of the valve body to a closed position rotates the mouth away from the inlet of the sewage line to prevent flow through the sewage line. In a second embodiment, the present invention further includes a conduit adapter that replaces a converging section of the sewage line in order to retrofit the valve into a sewage line where the valve would otherwise not fit therein. Additionally, in either the first or second embodiment, the present invention provides for the simultaneous purging of the sewage line by attaching means for purging to the valve.
US09945105B2
In the invention a drain plug linkage device (100) is provided, comprising: a drain plug (4) at least partially disposed in a pipe body (5); a pull rod assembly including a pull rod, a link rod (2) and a pull rod connector (9), wherein the link rod (2) at its upper end comprises a receiving portion, the pull rod connector (9) comprises a central hole and adapted to be snapped into the containing portion, and the pull rod at its bottom comprises a snap portion adapted to be snapped into the central hole; and a lever member (3) comprising a first end operatively connected to the link rod (2), and a second end extending into the pipe body (5) and configured to operate the drain plug (4); wherein the receiving portion comprises an expansion portion (22) for expanding the central hole, and the pull rod connector (9) is configured, when snapped into the receiving part, to be movable between a position where the central hole is unexpanded and a position where the central hole is expanded by the expansion portion (22).
US09945082B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bollard base including a top plate, a plurality of spaced-apart anchors each integrally connected to and extending downwardly from the top plate, a plurality of adjustable leg assemblies at least partially connected to the top plate, and a tubular baffle connected to and extending downwardly from the bottom of the top plate, wherein the plurality of adjustable leg assemblies include a plurality of spaced-apart tubular legs integrally connected to and extending downwardly from the top plate, and a plurality of adjustable feet respectively partially insertable into the tubular legs. Various embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a bollard base including a top plate and a tubular baffle connected to and extending downwardly the top plate.
US09945080B2
The grounded modular heated cover is disclosed with a first pliable outer layer and a second pliable outer layer, wherein the outer layers provide durable protection, an electrical heating element between the first and the second outer layers, the electrical heating element configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy, a heat spreading layer, and a thermal insulation layer positioned above the active electrical heating element. Beneficially, such a device provides radiant heat, weather isolation, temperature insulation, and solar heat absorption efficiently and cost effectively. The modular heated cover quickly and efficiently removes ice, snow, and frost from surfaces, and penetrates soil and other material to thaw the material to a suitable depth. A plurality of modular heated covers can be connected on a single 120 Volt circuit protected by a 20 Amp breaker. The modular heated covers are grounded for safety using the conductive heat spreading layer.
US09945076B2
The present invention provides for a method of producing a creped paper and the crepe paper products made using this method. The method includes treating the surface of a crepe fiber web and/or surface of a Yankee drum dryer or cylinder with compositions containing a combination of hydrophobes and surfactants and wherein these compositions have been subjected to physical treatments to reduce the mean particle size to about 1 micron (μm) or less.
US09945073B2
An omnibus process of pulping and bleaching lignocellulosic materials in which a charge of a lignocellulosic material is biopulped and/or water extracted prior to pulping and bleaching. The lignocellulosic material may be mechanically pulped and bleached in the presence of an enzyme that breaks lignin-carbohydrate complexes.
US09945071B2
The present invention pertains to carpet and methods of making and recycling carpet. In one aspect, the carpet includes: a primary backing which has a face and a back surface; a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing and extending from the face of the primary backing and exposed at the back surface of the primary backing; an adhesive composition backing; and an optional secondary backing adjacent to the adhesive backing. The method of making carpet includes extrusion coating the adhesive composition onto the back surface of a primary backing to form the adhesive composition backing. The method of recycling carpet can recover one or more polymeric carpet components.
US09945067B1
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an airfoil apparatus is provided which minimizes entry of entrained air into a system having a controlled internal environment, such as a corona treatment system, such entrained air resulting from a high-speed web moving into the system. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the airfoil apparatus is rotatable relative to the system so that the airfoil apparatus can be adjusted to changes in the web.
US09945065B2
A dryer, including a cabinet with an entry hole formed on the front surface thereof, a door being installed in the entry hole, a drum disposed within the cabinet and rotatable therein, an evaporator disposed in the cabinet to remove moisture from air circulating through the drum by condensing the moisture, a drawer space disposed under the entry hole and depressed backward from the front surface of the cabinet, a drawer disposed in the drawer space to move with respect to the cabinet so that it is pulled out from the drawer space, a condensate discharge container to store condensate from the evaporator, the condensate discharge container being detachably held in the drawer, and exposed to a user when the drawer is pulled out, and a guide supporter to couple a cabinet-side structure and a drawer-side structure and to guide the pulling out of the drawer.
US09945063B2
A washing machine comprises a drum and a heat pump system for heating water to be fed to the drum in a washing program. The heat pump system has an evaporator in heat exchange relationship with a room air flow and a condenser in heat exchange relationship with water to be heated, an air deflector being configured to divert said room air flow downstream the evaporator away from the condenser in a water heating configuration and to convey said air towards the condenser in a room air dehumidifying configuration of the washing machine.
US09945061B2
A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, comprising a basket defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry to be washed. The basket has multiple perforations through which liquid may pass. A blade can be rotated about the exterior of the basket creating a suction force acting on the perforations to draw liquid from the treating chamber through the perforations.
US09945050B2
A method for preparing semiconductor nanocrystals comprises reacting cation precursors and anion precursors in a reaction mixture including one or more acids, one or more phenol compounds, and a solvent to produce semiconductor nanocrystals having a predetermined composition. A method for forming a coating on at least a portion of a population of semiconductor nanocrystals is also disclosed. The method comprises forming a first mixture including a population of semiconductor nanocrystals, one or more amine compounds, and a first solvent; adding cation precursors and anion precursors to the first mixture at a temperature sufficient for growing a semiconductor material on at least a portion of an outer surface of at least a portion of the population of semiconductor nanocrystals; and initiating addition of one or more acids to the first mixture after addition of the cation and anion precursors is initiated. Semiconductor nanocrystals and populations thereof are also disclosed.
US09945047B2
In the present invention, a crucible formed of SiC as a main component is used as a container for a Si—C solution. The SiC crucible is heated such that, for example, an isothermal line representing a temperature distribution within the crucible draws an inverted convex shape; and Si and C, which are derived from a main component SiC of the crucible, are eluted from a high-temperature surface region of the crucible in contact with the Si—C solution, into the Si—C solution, thereby suppressing precipitation of a SiC polycrystal on a surface of the crucible in contact with the Si—C solution. To the Si—C solution of this state, a SiC seed crystal is moved down from the upper portion of the crucible closer to the Si—C solution and brought into contact with the Si—C solution to grow a SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal.
US09945039B2
A method for improving the efficiency and durability of reversible solid oxide cells during electrical energy storage is disclosed. The method utilizes a specific set of operating conditions that produces a storage chemistry where approximately thermal-neutral operation can be achieved at low cell over-potentials. Also disclosed are reversible solid oxide cell energy storage system configurations, including one that utilizes storage in natural gas and water storage/distribution networks, thereby reducing storage cost.
US09945032B2
Under one aspect, a structure is provided that includes a substrate including a first material having a threshold temperature above which the first material is damaged and a layer consisting essentially of a second material molecularly bonded to the first material of the substrate. The second material is formed on the substrate at a reaction temperature that is higher than the threshold temperature of the first material. An interface between the substrate and the second material is a substantially defect-free surface.
US09945019B2
Disclosed herein is a nickel-based heat-resistant superalloy produced by a casting and forging method, the nickel-based heat-resistant superalloy comprising 2.0 mass % or more but 25 mass % or less of chromium, 0.2 mass % or more but 7.0 mass % or less of aluminum, 19.5 mass % or more but 55.0 mass % or less of cobalt, [0.17×(mass % of cobalt content−23)+3] mass % or more but [0.17×(mass % of cobalt content−20)+7] mass % or less and 5.1 mass % or more of titanium, and the balance being nickel and inevitable impurities, and being subjected to solution heat treatment at 93% or more but less than 100% of a γ′ solvus temperature.
US09945014B2
A high-manganese wear-resistant steel having excellent weldability comprises 5 to 15 wt % of Mn, 16≤33.5C+Mn≤30 of C, 0.05 to 1.0 wt % of Si, and a balance of Fe and other inevitable impurities. The microstructure thereof includes martensite as a major component, and 5% to 40% of residual austenite by area fraction.
US09945009B2
The present disclosure relates to processes for recovering rare earth elements from an aluminum-bearing material. The processes can comprise leaching the aluminum-bearing material with an acid so as to obtain a leachate comprising at least one aluminum ion, at least one iron ion, at least one rare earth element, and a solid, and separating the leachate from the solid. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing at least one of the at least one aluminum ion and the at least one iron ion from the leachate and optionally obtaining a precipitate. The processes can also comprise substantially selectively removing the at least one rare earth element from the leachate and/or the precipitate.
US09945003B2
A highly impact resistant ductile iron casting is made from a specified high nickel content ductile iron composition and post-treated with a specified heating and cooling profile to achieve an elongation exceeding the ASTM A536 (“60-40-18”) standard, and meeting or exceeding Charpy V Notch impact resistance at −20° F. of greater than 11.0 ft.lbs.
US09945000B2
Acid hydrolysis of biomass is an important step for releasing the component sugars before converting them to fuels and/or biochemicals. During such a process, a significant amount of mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid, is used. In most cases, the residual acid is neutralized with lime before the sugar conversion step. By doing so, a waste calcium sulphate stream is generated and sent to disposal. The efficient separation of acid from the sugars would allow the recycle of the acid and make the entire process more economically viable. We found that a resin bed packed with an acid retardation resin can be used to achieve an efficient separation (i.e. 98.5% recovery of the acid) of the sulfuric acid from the sugars. The resin bed can be simply regenerated with water.
US09944984B2
A high density DNA array comprising a patterned surface, said surface comprising a pattern of small DNA binding regions separated by a non-DNA binding surface, wherein the DNA binding regions comprise DNA capture chemistry and the non-DNA binding surface does not have the DNA capture chemistry wherein more than 50% of the DNA binding regions in the array have single informative DNA species.
US09944980B2
Methods of producing substrates having selected active chemical regions by employing elements of the substrates in assisting the localization of active chemical groups in desired regions of the substrate. The methods may include optical, chemical and/or mechanical processes for the deposition, removal, activation and/or deactivation of chemical groups in selected regions of the substrate to provide selective active regions of the substrate.
US09944975B2
Disclosed herein are hybridization buffer compositions and hybridization compositions, methods of making the compositions, and methods of using the compositions, such as the hybridization of DNA or RNA sequences by fluorescence in situ hybridization (“FISH”) and blot hybridization methodologies.
US09944974B2
A method and diagnostic kit for selective isolation of microorganisms of interest and/or nucleic acids of interest including: a) bringing a liquid biological sample into contact with a saponin formulation to destabilize untargeted elements within the liquid biological sample, b) inducing osmotic shock of the untargeted elements to specifically lyse the untargeted elements, c) adding a solution of at least one enzyme capable of lysing free nucleic acids derived from the untargeted elements lysed in solution in the sample, and d) selectively obtaining the microorganisms of interest or the nucleic acids of interest. A precipitant of the unlyzed microorganisms of interest may be optionally added in solution. The microorganisms of interest have cell membranes or capsids that do not contain cholesterol. The untargeted elements may include untargeted cells having cell membranes containing cholesterol, and optionally viruses with envelopes containing cholesterol, mycoplasmas containing cholesterol, and cell debris.
US09944966B2
The invention relates to a method for production of single-stranded macronucleotides by amplifying and ligating an extended monomeric single-stranded target nucleic acid sequence (targetss) into a repetitive cluster of double-stranded target nucleic acid sequences (targetds), and subsequently cloning the construct into a vector (aptagene vector). The aptagene vector is transformed into host cells for replication of the aptagene and isolated in order to optain single-stranded target sequences (targetss). The invention also relates to single-stranded nucleic acids, produced by a method of the invention.
US09944963B2
The present disclosure relates to polypeptides having transaminase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides.
US09944959B2
A microbial cell is used for producing at least one fatty acid ester, wherein the cell is genetically modified to contain (i) at least one first genetic mutation that enables the cell to produce at least one fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A (CoA) thereof by increased enzymatic activity in the cell relative to the wild type cell of malonyl-CoA dependent and malonyl-ACP independent fatty acyl-CoA metabolic pathway, wherein the fatty acid contains at least 5 carbon atoms; and (ii) a second genetic mutation that increases the activity of at least one wax ester synthase in the cell relative to the wild type cell and the wax ester synthase has sequence identity of at least 50% to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1-8 and combinations thereof or to a functional fragment of any of the polypeptides for catalyzing the conversion of fatty acid and/or acyl coenzyme A thereof to the fatty acid ester.
US09944954B2
Provided herein are glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) enzymes with increased KM for NADH and GPD enzymes with substantially the same affinity for NADH and NADPH and/or are feedback inhibited by glycerol-3-phosphate. Also provided herein are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a deletion or disruption in an endogenous gene encoding GPD. Also provided are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a butanol biosynthetic pathway. Further provided are methods of producing butanol comprising providing the recombinant microorganisms described herein and contacting the recombinant microorganism with at least one fermentable carbon substrate under conditions wherein butanol is produced.
US09944953B2
An expression method of active goldfish gfTP1 transposase protein comprises: constructing an expression vector comprising a gfTP1 transposase reading frame of a goldfish Tgf2 transposon, after transferred into escherichia coli Rosetta 1 (DE3), culturing an expression strain until absorbance of a bacteria solution under OD600 reaches 0.3-0.4, adding IPTG, culturing under 21-22° C. in shaking of 150-200 rpm, inducing to express soluble recombinant protein, and purifying to obtain a functionally active transposase. Also provided are an expression plasmid and the expression strain of the goldfish gfTP1 transposase protein, and a use of the strain in transgenosis.
US09944935B2
The present invention relates to methods of developing gene inserts that are more compatible with the host vectors by modifying a protein sequence to lessen potential interference with vector propagation while ensuring that the protein is expressed and processed efficiently and maintains desired structural features, and designing a gene with a nucleotide sequence that resembles the base composition of the host vector genome.
US09944923B2
Methods for construction of DNA origami nanostructures, as well as for binding, isolation, linking, and deep sequencing information, such as both of TCR alpha and beta CDR3 mRNA, from individual cells within a mixed population of cells without the need for single cell sorting.
US09944919B2
Described herein are compounds and methods for tethering proteins. For example, dimers of proteins, including SOD1 and DJ-1, are described, where the dimers are formed by the covalent bonding of a cysteine on the first monomer to a cysteine on the second monomer via a cyclic disulfide linker. The covalently attached dimers exhibit increased stabilization.
US09944915B2
A cellulase having improved thermostability is disclosed. The cellulase comprises a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the modification is adding a cysteine in N terminal and adding a glycine and a cysteine or adding a proline and a cysteine in C terminal.
US09944912B2
Engineered CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases with altered and improved PAM specificities and their use in genomic engineering, epigenomic engineering, and genome targeting.
US09944909B2
The present disclosure provides engineered transaminase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type transaminase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered transaminase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered transaminase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered transaminase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds.
US09944907B2
The present disclosure relates to mutated genes of the LUX operon and their use in producing autoluminescent plants and bacteria exhibiting improved light output.
US09944905B2
The present invention relates to a variant polypeptide having fumarate reductase activity, which has modified NADP(H)-dependent and/or NAD(H)-dependent activity as compared with a reference polypeptide having fumarate reductase activity. Such a variant may be overexpressed in a host cell in order to improve production of a dicarboxylic acid.
US09944894B2
Provided herein are novel methods for expansion and passaging of cell aggregates comprising stem cells and/or differentiated cells and comprising the use of closed systems on rocking platform bioreactors. The methods of the invention permit closed system serial passage expansion of pluripotent stem cells and/or progeny thereof with associated pluripotency markers and differentiation potential.
US09944891B2
An alcoholic beverage is aged in a wooden barrel after the barrel is covered by a film having an oxygen transmission rate of at least 50 cc/m2/day and an ethanol transmission rate of less than 30 g/m2/day. The beverage acquires one or more specific flavor components in an amount of 50%, 75%, or 100% relative to amounts of one or more of the same flavor components in a control alcoholic beverage aged in a wooden barrel without the film thereon. Covering the barrel with the film reduces the angels' share evaporative loss, while allowing the beverage to develop desirable flavor components during aging. In another embodiment, the process reduces angels' share evaporative loss while achieving organoleptics indistinguishable from a control.
US09944884B2
A lubricating coating composition and a compressor including a sliding member coated with the lubricating coating composition. The lubricating coating composition includes a thermosetting or thermoplastic polyimide-based resin as a binder, a solid lubricant, various solvents, and other additives at a controlled ratio. The compressor includes a first member including a first sliding surface and a second member moving relative to the first member including a second sliding surface. The lubricating coating composition is applied to the first sliding surface or the second sliding surface.
US09944878B2
The present invention relates to a lubricant and/or clean-out composition comprising: (a) a dispersant component comprising a succinimide dispersant and/or a quaternary ammonium salt dispersant; (b) a carrier fluid component; and (c) an optional corrosion inhibitor, as well as methods of cleaning out deposits in a lubricant system, such as a hydraulic system, using such compositions.
US09944873B1
The add-on system for removing paraffin from a natural gas dehydration system is a method of removing paraffin from the dehydrated TEG. The add-on system for removing paraffin from a natural gas dehydration system processes the cooled and dehydrated TEG through a second heat exchanger, which raises the temperature of the dehydrated TEG to a previously determined temperature. Once the dehydrated TEG is at temperature, the TEG is processed through one or more separators, which separates the paraffin from the dehydrated TEG. The separated paraffin is collected in one or more collection apparatus for disposal while the processed TEG is released to further processing and delivery to the contactor for reuse. The add-on system for removing paraffin from a natural gas dehydration system comprises a second heat exchanger, one or more separators, one or more pumps, one or more collection apparatus, and a plurality of valves.
US09944857B2
Described herein are processes for converting a biomass starting material (such as lignocellulosic materials) into a low oxygen containing, stable liquid intermediate that can be refined to make liquid hydrocarbon fuels. More specifically, the process can be a catalytic biomass pyrolysis process wherein an oxygen removing catalyst is employed in the reactor while the biomass is subjected to pyrolysis conditions. The stream exiting the pyrolysis reactor comprises bio-oil having a low oxygen content, and such stream may be subjected to further steps, such as separation and/or condensation to isolate the bio-oil.
US09944854B2
The present disclosure describes methods and compositions for reducing and/or preventing soil water repellency. Embodiments of methods of reducing soil water repellency (SWR) of the present disclosure include applying to an area of groundcover a composition including an effective amount of at least one isolated enzyme capable of degrading or altering organic matter associated with SWR, where the SWR of the area of groundcover is reduced after treatment with the enzyme composition.
US09944851B2
A method for producing a nitride fluorescent material having high emission luminance can be provided. The method includes heat-treating a raw material mixture containing silicon nitride, silicon, an aluminum compound, a calcium compound, and a europium compound.
US09944849B2
The invention provides a light emitting diode device comprising a light emitting diode arranged on a substrate and a wavelength converting element. The wavelength converting element contains as a luminescent material a Mn4+-activated fluoride compound having a garnet-type crystal structure. The Mn4+-activated fluoride compound preferably answers the general formula {A3}[B2-x-yMnxMgy](Li3)F12-dOd, in which formula A stands for at least one element selected from the series consisting of Na+ and K+ and B stands for at least one element selected from the series consisting of Al3+, B3+, Sc3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Ti4+ and In3+, and in which formula x ranges between 0.02 and 0.2, y ranges between 0.0 (and incl. 0.0) and 0.4 and d ranges between 0 (and incl. 0) and 1. Said compound is most preferably {Na3}[Al2-x-yMnxMgy](Li3)F12-dOd.
US09944845B2
A proppant includes a particle present in an amount of from 90 to 99.5 percent by weight and a polymeric coating disposed about the particle and present in an amount of from 0.5 to 10 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the proppant. The polymeric coating is formed from a curable composition comprising an isocyanate, an acrylate, and a polyol. A method of forming the proppant includes the steps of combining the isocyanate, the acrylate, and the polyol to form the curable composition, coating the particle with the curable composition, and curing the curable composition to form the polymeric coating.
US09944838B2
Provided is a polishing composition with which haze and surface defects can be reduced. This invention provides a polishing composition comprising a synthetic water-soluble polymer ML-end that has a hydrophobic region at least at one end of its main chain. The hydrophobic region has at least one hydrophobic group derived from a polymerization initiator.
US09944835B2
Non-silicone urea-based adhesives are disclosed which are prepared by the polymerization of reactive oligomers with the general formula X—B—X, where X is an ethylenically unsaturated group and B is a unit free of silicone and containing urea groups. The reactive oligomers can be prepared from polyamines through chain extension reactions using diaryl carbonates followed by capping reactions. Adhesive articles, including optical adhesive articles may be prepared using the disclosed non-silicone urea-based adhesives.
US09944822B2
The present application is directed to a method of making an article. The method comprises coating a composition to a surface of a substrate. The coating composition comprises an aqueous continuous liquid phase, a silica nano-particle dispersed in the aqueous continuous liquid phase, and a polymer latex dispersion. The coated substrate is then heated to at least 300° C.
US09944819B1
An eco-friendly lacquer composition and a method of preparing the eco-friendly lacquer composition are provided. The eco-friendly lacquer composition may include 43% by weight (wt %) to 55 wt % of an acrylic modified alkyd resin including a modified alkyd resin and dimethyl carbonate; 17 wt % to 23 wt % of acetone; and 28 wt % to 34 wt % of tert-butyl acetate, and may be an anti-corrosion lacquer applied onto a surface of a metal.
US09944812B2
Provided is an ink composition having excellent printing properties and capable of forming a thick transparent conductive film with low surface resistivity even when it is used in gravure offset printing or pad printing. The ink composition contains (A) a conductive polymer, (B) a binder, and (C) a conductivity enhancer, wherein the composition has a viscosity at 25° C. of 5 to 500 dPa·s and a solids content of 10% to 80% by weight, and the composition exhibits a surface resistivity of 2000 Ω/sq or lower and a total light transmittance of 70% or higher when applied at a wet film thickness of 15 μm.
US09944809B2
The present invention provides an ink for ink-jet recording having high storage stability and high discharge stability and providing high abrasion resistance to the resulting image. The ink for ink-jet recording includes polymer particles. The polymer particles each include a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer from the inside to the outside in this order. The first layer is formed of an uncrosslinked first polymer, the second layer is formed of a crosslinked second polymer having ionizable groups, and the third layer is formed of units each having a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part.
US09944807B2
There is provided an ink composition, including: a dye (M-2); a dye (Y-1); an alkylene oxide adduct of acetylene glycol having a main chain of 12 or more carbon atoms; acetylene glycol having a main chain of 10 or more carbon atoms; and a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, in which the content ratio A of the dye (M-2) and the dye (Y-1) (the dye (M-2):the dye (Y-1)) is 1.25:1 to 4.75:1.
US09944801B2
An object is to provide an environmentally benign metal member having excellent corrosion resistance which exhibits a long-lasting corrosion resistance effect even in a saltwater environment or the like in which a water current is present, without requiring an external factor such as ultraviolet light. Provided is a metal member having excellent corrosion resistance in which at least a surface is made of an aluminum-based metal, the metal member comprising a corrosion protection film containing a poorly water-soluble lithium compound on the surface or a solid material containing a poorly water-soluble lithium compound on the surface.
US09944793B2
The present invention relates to a composite material comprising nanoporous particles and at least one binder constructed from at least one isocyanate and at least one polymer P selected from the group consisting of polyvinylamine, poly(meth)acrylic acid, poly(meth)acrylic ester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylthiol and mixtures thereof, wherein said at least one binder is used in an amount of 0.1 to 20 wt %, based on the amount of nanoporous particles, a composition for producing a composite material of this type, a process for producing a composite material of this type, shaped articles comprising said composite material and the use of said composite material for thermal and/or acoustical insulation.
US09944791B2
A composition comprising a mixture of: (i) an aromatic polycarbonate; (ii) a graft copolymer including polyacrylonitrile; and, (iii) a non-crosslinked acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than or equal to 65,000 Daltons (Da).
US09944787B2
The present invention provides a resin composition which can simply provide, with good reproducibility, a laminate, a printed wiring board, and the like that not only have excellent heat dissipation properties but have good moldability, good mechanical drillability and excellent appearance, and a prepreg, a metal foil-clad laminate, and the like using the same. A resin composition having a cyanate ester compound (A), an epoxy resin (B), a first inorganic filler (C), a second inorganic filler (D), and a molybdenum compound (E), wherein an average particle diameter ratio of the first inorganic filler (C) to the second inorganic filler (D) is in a range of 1:0.02 to 1:0.2.
US09944779B2
Provided is a resin composition containing: (A) an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer containing 91.0-99.9 parts by mole of (a) an ethylene-derived unit and 0.1-9.0 parts by mole of (b) a C3-C8 α-olefin-derived unit (wherein (a)+(b) is 100 parts by mole), while satisfying the requirements (i)-(iv) and (B) a thermoplastic resin and/or a thermosetting resin, wherein the mass ratio (A)/(B) is 0.1/99.9 to 50/50. This resin composition is useful for providing a toner which can be fixed by a relatively-low-temperature heating body and has good offset resistance, and which is suppressed in increase of particle diameters even if the toner is stored for a long time. (i) The Mw is 400 to 1,500. (ii) The Mw/Mn is 1.2 to 2.5. (iii) The penetration measured at 25° C. is 13 dmm or less. (iv) The melting temperature is 50° C. to 110° C.
US09944778B2
The present invention relates to microspheres and to their use, preferably as laser absorbing additive, and to a process for their production.
US09944774B2
Graphene functionalized carbon nanotube polymer composites and methods for their preparation and use
Methods of forming graphene functionalized carbon nanotube polymer composites are provided. The methods can include functionalizing a plurality of carbon nanotubes using conducting functional molecules to form a composite nanofiller and embedding the composite nanofiller within a polymer material to form the graphene functionalized carbon nanotube polymer composite.
US09944767B2
The organic-inorganic composite of the present invention includes an organic compound having a carbonyl group, an inorganic compound containing a metal component, and a silver component. The ratio of the number of metal atoms in the inorganic compound to the number of carbon atoms in the organic compound is from 0.04 to 1.60, and the ratio of the number of silver atoms in the silver component to the number of carbon atoms in the organic compound is from 0.07 to 0.55. The organic-inorganic composite may include, for example, an inorganic compound having a metal matrix structure containing a metal M and oxygen, an organic compound having a carbonyl group, and silver ions. The carbonyl group is bonded to a side chain R1 of the organic compound and has an end group R2.
US09944765B2
A method for preparing an ionically-charged membrane comprising the steps (1) applying a film of curable composition to a support; (2) curing the film of curable composition to give anionically-charged membrane; and (3) removing the ionically-charged membrane from the support; wherein the curable composition comprises a) 5 to 50 wt % of curable compound comprising one ethylenically unsaturated group and anionic group; b) 10 to 70 wt % of crosslinking agent comprising at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups and having a molecular weight of at least 500 dalton per ethylenically unsaturated group; and c) 5 to 60 wt % of inert solvent.
US09944762B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing chlorinated polyvinyl chloride resin in which polyvinyl chloride resin is chlorinated by radiating ultraviolet light in a reactor into which polyvinyl chloride resin and chlorine have been introduced, wherein the radiation of the ultraviolet light is performed by using at least one light source selected from the group consisting of an ultraviolet LED, an organic EL and an inorganic EL, the light source is disposed within the reactor, at least one radiation direction of the ultraviolet light is within a range of 30° or more and 115° or less with respect to a stirring direction of polyvinyl chloride resin, and an amount of ultraviolet light radiated within the range of 30° or more and 115° or less with respect to the stirring direction of polyvinyl chloride resin is 24% or more based on a total amount of ultraviolet light radiated from the light source taken as 100%.
US09944760B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a silicone-modified epoxy resin which produces a cured product having excellent low gas permeability and strength; a composition of the resin; and an epoxy resin cured product obtainable by curing the composition.Disclosed is an epoxy resin represented by the following Formula (1): wherein R1 independently represents a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; R2 independently represents a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; R3 independently represents a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; R4 represents an oxygen atom or a divalent hydrocarbon group having an aliphatic cyclic structure; R5 represents silicone chain having a norbornane epoxy structure at either end; and X represents an organic group having a norbornane epoxy group.
US09944754B2
The present invention relates to the field of polymer chemistry and more particularly to multiblock copolymers and micelles comprising the same. Compositions herein are useful for drug-delivery applications.
US09944752B2
The present invention relates to the field of polymer chemistry and more particularly to multiblock copolymers and micelles comprising the same. Compositions herein are useful for drug-delivery applications.
US09944745B2
Flame retardant polyesters obtainable by reacting an aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and/or ester of anhydride thereof, with an aliphatic polyol or mixtures thereof and with melamine, are provided. Methods of making said polyesters are also provided.
US09944744B2
The invention relates to an in-situ process for preparing an alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The process comprises the step of providing a raw alkylphenol composition. The raw alkylphenol composition comprises one or more alkylphenol compounds and at least about 1 wt % phenol. Each alkylphenol compound has one or more alkyl substituents. The raw alkylphenol composition is reacted directly, without pre-purification, with one or more aldehydes to form an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin. The invention also relates to an in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin formed from the in-situ process, and its use in a tackifier composition and rubber composition. The tackifier composition and rubber composition containing the in-situ alkylphenol-aldehyde resin show, inter alia, improved tack performance.
US09944741B2
Modified conjugated diene polymer, method for preparing same, and rubber composition containing same
Disclosed is a method of preparing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer, including (a) polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer, or a conjugated diene monomer and an aromatic vinyl monomer, using the compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent, thus forming an active polymer having an alkali metal end, and (b) coupling or reacting the active polymer with the compound represented by Chemical Formula 2.
US09944740B2
Disclosed herein are polymers made from at least one monomer of formulae (I), (II), (III), and (IV), in combination with a monomer of formula (V) that may be used in pharmaceutical formulations. These polymers comprise a hydrocarbon backbone and are made from monomers that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Methods of making these polymers are also disclosed.
US09944738B2
A polymer compound containing a repeating unit shown by the formula (1c) and one or more repeating units selected from a repeating unit shown by the formula (2) and a repeating unit shown by the formula (3), wherein Mb+ represents a sulfonium cation shown by the formula (a) or an iodonium cation shown by the formula (b), This polymer compound is suitable as a base resin of a resist composition capable of forming a resist film that allows pattern formation with extremely high resolution, small LER, and excellent rectangularity.
US09944737B2
Provided is a method of suspension polymerization comprising (i) providing a suspension of liquid droplets in an aqueous medium, wherein said droplets comprise (a) one or more water-insoluble vinyl monomers, and (b) a polyelectrolyte (PED) having a polarity, (c) one or more initiators, and wherein said aqueous medium comprises a polyelectrolyte (PEW) having a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of said polyelectrolyte (PED), (ii) polymerizing said vinyl monomer or allowing said vinyl monomer to polymerize.
US09944721B2
The present invention relates to a branched or unbranched free or glycosidically bound polysialic acid according to general formula (1) as given as follows poly-(α(2→8 or 2→9)Neu5Ac)n (1) wherein Neu5Ac is N-acetylneuraminic acid, and n is an integer in the range from 14 to 26 and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a polysaccharide composition comprising the polysialic acid (1), and the use as a medicament, particularly in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of degenerative, demyelinating and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, and degenerative or inflammatory retinal diseases.
US09944718B2
A method of diagnosing metastatic potential of a breast cancer in an individual with breast cancer is described. The method comprises a step of assaying a breast cancer tumor sample from the patient for expression of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 22, (ADAM22), wherein expression of ADAM22 correlates with increased potential for metastasis compared with a patient who is ADAM22 negative. The invention also describes an agent for use in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in a patient, in which the agent is selected from leucine-rich, glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) protein (SEQ ID NO:1) and an LGI1 peptide mimic capable of mimicking the ADAM22 binding activity of LGI1 by binding to the LGI1 binding domain of ADAM22 (SEQ ID NO: 4) and which is capable of inhibiting migration of endocrine resistant breast cancer cells.
