US09953117B2
A method for solving a two-stage non-linear stochastic formulation for the economic dispatch problem under renewable-generation uncertainty. Certain generation decisions are made only in the first stage and fixed for the subsequent (second) stage, where the actual renewable generation is realized. The uncertainty in renewable output is captured by a finite number of scenarios. Any resulting supply-demand mis-match must then be alleviated using high marginal-cost power sources that can be tapped in short time frames. The solution implements two outer approximation algorithms to solve this nonconvex optimization problem to optimality including the application of a decomposition approach derived from the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) algorithm.
US09953116B2
A simulation apparatus which simulates a position of each of a plurality of objects, which move in a virtual space together with time, at each of a plural calculation time is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an object connection block for applying, to each object of each three or more objects contacting with each other at each of the plural calculation time points, a pointer value indicative of a contact destination object with which the object is in contact determining one of the three or more objects as a terminal end to connect the objects; and a pointer value updating block for repeating a pointer value updating process, by which the pointer value of each object is updated to the pointer value of the contact destination object indicated by the pointer value until the pointer values of all of the objects come to indicate the object of the terminal end.
US09953114B2
Designing a drillstring in for use in a wellbore, such as a deviated or horizontal wellbore, particularly with application to extended reach wellbores. Method comprises determining the downhole weight-on-bit transmitted by a drillstring by determining a baseline tension profile and baseline torque profile in a drill string rotating off-bottom, and then using such profiles in conjunction with a selected surface weight-on-bit slack-off value to calculate a drillstring tension profile and rotating torque profile with the bit on bottom and having weight applied thereto. The method includes buckling limit checks and rig operational limit checks to determine if sufficient torque and DWOB can be transmitted through the drillstring, and to determine whether the drill string remains operable even though portions thereof may be in a buckled condition.
US09953103B2
Techniques are provided for encoding/decoding binary XML data in a client program before sending/receiving the XML to/from a database server. By encoding the binary XML at the client, the overhead of parsing the XML text is avoided by the database server, thus improving database server scalability. Also, the XML data is sent by the server to the client in the binary form, and the binary format is decoded by the client program to perform the necessary operations.
US09953090B2
Resolving a query received from a first node in a network includes accepting, by a second node in the network, ownership of the query from the first node, receiving, at the second node, an identification of a third node in the network, wherein the identification is received from a user of the second node and the user of the second node believes that a user of the third node has information necessary to resolve at least part of the query, and transferring, by the second node, ownership of the at least part of the query to the third node, wherein the accepting, the receiving, and the transferring dynamically generates a data structure that traces a propagation of the query, and the data structure is accessible to an origin of the query.
US09953089B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving free-form text from users of an online social network, wherein the free-form text of each input corresponds to an object associated with the online social network; determining a plurality of affinity declarations from the free-form text that are associated with the object; determining, for each affinity declaration, an affinity coefficient between a respective user and the object; and upon determining that the affinity coefficient for a threshold number of users exceeds a threshold value, creating a page associated with the object for display on the online social network.
US09953080B1
Described is system for early detection of civil unrest events. A set of textual social media data having corresponding user identifications is received as input. The textual social media data is filtered with a keyword filter, resulting in a first set of data comprising keywords of interest. The first set of data is then filtered with a future date filter, resulting in a second set of data comprising future dates. The second set of data is filtered based on relevance to a civil unrest event with a text classifier module, resulting in a third set of data that is classified based on relevance to the civil unrest event. The third set of data is then filtered based on a location of interest, resulting in a fourth set of data having user identifications in the location of interest. A location is assigned to the civil unrest event, and a forecast of the civil unrest event is output.
US09953075B1
A data classification system is associated with a hybrid cloud comprising at least one private cloud and at least one public cloud. The data classification system comprises a data set classification model classifying data sets, a cloud classification model classifying the private and public clouds of the hybrid cloud, and mapping policies each specifying a particular mapping between one or more classes of the data set classification model and one or more classes of the cloud classification model. The data classification system classifies a received data set using the data set classification model, and determines for the received data set at least one cloud of the hybrid cloud to which the received data set should be directed for further processing based at least in part on a result of the classification of the received data set, the cloud classification model and a selected one of the mapping policies.
US09953070B1
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system data extraction, directing, and loading (EDL) method, system, application, and computer program is disclosed having a Data Export Workbench (DEW) application and Data Integrator (DI) application operating within an ERP system environment. The EDL method and system can use existing hardware systems to quickly and efficiently extract, direct, and load any user requested data from an ERP system to predefined and controlled destinations that can be widely accessed by one or more users.
US09953067B2
An exemplary computer implemented method for processing data in a database management system implemented on a network of two or more nodes is disclosed. The method includes receiving a query referencing first and second user-defined table functions and a table distributed across the two or more nodes. The first user-defined table function is executed on each of the two or more nodes by processing records of the table residing on the respective nodes. A data sample is generated per node as a result of executing the first user-defined table function on each of the two or more nodes. The generated data samples are stored in a selected set of nodes. The second user-defined table function is executed on each of the selected set of nodes by processing records of the data samples residing on the respective nodes of the selected set of nodes to compute a user-defined aggregate.
US09953066B2
A method and associated system for method for generating performance and capacity statistics that consists of a processor receiving statistical information from a set of monitoring entities that monitor characteristics of one or more computing resources. The processor formats the received statistics for storage in a raw-data repository, then filters and processes the data to extract data items necessary to generate predefined reports and to place the extracted data in a format consistent with historical information. The processor then merges the filtered, formatted data with the historical information to create an integrated history of the characteristics and stores the integrated history in a history repository. This integrated history is automatically translated into reports customized to requirements of particular support, personnel, which are then forwarded to local devices from which the support personnel may select, customize, and review the reports.
US09953059B2
A method may include receiving a continuous query identified by an archived relation associated with an application. The method may also include generating a physical query plan. Additionally, the method may include constructing a structured query language (SQL) equivalent expression corresponding to an attribute utilized by the operator and/or constructing an output SQL expression for the identified operator based at least in part on the SQL equivalent expression. Additionally, the method may include constructing the archiver query for the identified operator based at least in part on the output SQL expression. Further, the method may include executing the archiver query to obtain a result set of data records related to the application and/or generating a snapshot output of one or more data values related to the application based at least in part on the result set of data records.
US09953054B2
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems and methods for implementing and maintaining sampled tables in a database system. According to a particular embodiment such a system includes a processor and a memory to execute instructions at the system; a database to store database records; a query interface to submit queries to the database and receive results from the database; triggers to initiate a hash function on database insert transactions, the hash function to hash a primary key of each database record to be inserted into the database to determine whether a first hash value of the primary key of the database record to be inserted satisfies a sampling condition; a sample table to store a sample record corresponding to any database record to be inserted into the database which satisfies the sampling condition based on the hash function; a primary key index providing a first index of the primary keys of the sample records stored in the sample table; and an ordered hash index providing a second index on a second hash value corresponding to a second hash of the primary key of the sample records stored in the sample table ordered numerically by the second hash value. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09953052B1
Features are disclosed for caching network resources. A system determines whether a resource which does not contain an indication in its associated header that it is cacheable may nevertheless be cached. The determination may be based on observations of a number of requests for the resource over time and from a number of different requesting clients. In response to determining that the resource is cacheable, the system may cache the resource, and in some cases modify the cache control header of resource to facilitate caching. The system may insert fields into the header or otherwise modify the header so that the resource may be cached at a network computing provider, at a requesting client device, or at some other shared or private cache.
US09953045B2
Various embodiments provide data structures and algorithms for efficiently computing a time ordered stream that is the combination of a time ordered substream for individual persons of interest. In addition, various embodiments provide an approach for identifying how many changes of interest have happened to a particular stream since it was last viewed.
US09953039B2
There is presented a method and system for providing a compact graphical user interface for flexible filtering of data. The method comprises showing a search interface on a display device for filtering a content set by a plurality of domains, including a first domain, displaying, within the search interface, a first graphical representation of a parameter set of the first domain in response to a selecting of the first domain, receiving a first parameter subset from the first graphical representation, filtering a content set using the first parameter subset to obtain a search result, and displaying the search result on a display device. The search interface includes a temporally visible menu for selecting parameter sets of the domains and a compact single line query box to display graphical representations of parameter sets or to provide a conventional text entry box.
US09953038B2
The efficient backing up of a hierarchical system in cloud blob storage. The hierarchical structure of the system as it existed at a prior instance in time is reconstructed. A change journal that represents changes in the file system that prior instant in time is then used to formulate an updated file system hierarchy as it exists at a second instant in time. An updated injected representation of the file system, and updated file system reversal information is then formulated and provided to cloud blob storage. The injected representation of the file system is a one-to-one function of the content of the file system, in that the reversal information can be used to recover the content of the file system. Injected representations of various nodes in the system hierarchy may also be remotely stored.
US09953029B2
Embodiments are directed to a computer implemented counterproductive interaction identification system. The system includes an electronic tool configured to hold data of a user, and an analyzer circuit configured to derive a cognitive trait of the user based at least in part on the data of the user. The system further includes a decision engine configured to determine, based at least in part on the derived cognitive trait of the user, that the user is a target or a source of an actual or an impending counterproductive interaction.
US09953021B2
The invention improves document generation systems in which data is collected to enable automated, customised document generation. initially, a questionnaire which defines a dataset is completed. The system then determines which variables are relevant, and then determines whether all relevant variables are in the dataset. Finally, the system generates a fully customised document if the dataset is complete.
US09953018B2
Transfer of content between documents of different storage types is provided. Different versions of an endpoint (e.g., a productivity application) such as a mobile version and a desktop version, for example, may be enabled to process the same document and synchronize changes to the document content, even though the different versions or endpoints may use distinct formats for the same document.
US09953014B1
Providing interaction to an application with a collection of information stored in a Document Object Model is disclosed. The collection is maintained in the Document Object Model. A virtualization layer provides one or more collection interfaces to the collection. An indication of an interaction of the application with the collection is received. The collection interfaces include a safety buffer and the interaction of the application with the safety buffer triggers a functionality of the virtualization layer.
US09953011B1
Systems and associated processes for generating user pagination preference data and using that data to generate and/or present network pages are described herein. These systems and processes can dynamically collect data representing a user's preference respecting specific layout determination factors, and can store this data in association with the user. The systems and processes can also make use of that data to provide the user with a personalized user interface which will provide the user with a page layout tailored to that specific user's browsing habits. Moreover, data representing the attributes of the requested content or the user device may further contribute to generating a page layout which optimally displays the requested content to the user. Accordingly, user pagination preference data can potentially both present a more satisfying user interface and elicit more item purchases than existing pagination systems in some embodiments.
US09953010B2
Page layout of content items from a variety of sources is performed. A content processing system queues content items, such as user-generated blogs, tweets, social networking status updates and other postings, received from a variety of sources. Each content item comprises one or more assets from one or more asset types. The asset types include text, images, and video. A page builder retrieves items from the queue and determines the item's size constraints. A template is selected from a template database to use as a layout for the items on a page; each template has a number of slots into which content can be placed. A layout module lays out the items into the slots of the selected template based on the respective size and aspect ratio constraints of the items, in order to build a page to serve to a client device.
US09953000B2
A device comprising: a bus master, including a bi-directional data and clock lines, configured to produce a select signal output for enabling data transmission on the bi-directional data line to first/second different data busses supporting multiple slave devices configured to receive/transmit data over a respective data bus and to receive a clock signal from the bus master from the clock line; and a de-multiplexer including an input, first and second outputs and a control input, the input coupled to the bi-directional data line of the bus master, first/second outputs of the de-multiplexer coupled to first/second data busses, respectively, and the control input configured to receive the select signal from the bus master that is configured to communicate to a first slave device when the select signal is in a first state, and a second different slave device when the select signal is in a second different state.
US09952992B2
In certain information handling system environments, physical devices connected to a client are redirected to a server or other information handling system. Each of these physical devices will use and occupy network bandwidth. Physical devices may be virtualized so that other users of remote systems may access and use the physical devices. Transaction requests associated with physical devices located at one or more client devices from applications may be reduced by determining if the transaction requests are certain types of commands, and if so then under certain conditions handling the transaction request at the server as opposed to transmitting all such transaction requests to the client device. Optimization of transaction requests associated with redirected devices provides efficiencies for a network.
US09952983B2
Systems comprising a processor, a memory controller, and a flash memory. The flash memory comprises a programmable intelligent search memory (PRISM).
US09952981B2
A method includes reading memory pages from a non-volatile memory that holds at least first memory pages having a first bit significance and second memory pages having a second bit significance, different from the first bit significance. At least some of the read memory pages are cached in a cache memory. One or more of the cached memory pages are selected for eviction from the cache memory, in accordance with a selection criterion that gives eviction preference to the memory pages of the second bit significance over the memory pages of the first bit significance. The selected memory pages are evicted from the cache memory.
US09952978B2
Systems, methods and or devices are used to enable improving mixed random performance in low queue depth workloads in a storage device (e.g., comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory units, such as one or more flash memory devices). In one aspect, the method includes (1) maintaining a write cache corresponding to write commands from a host, (2) determining a workload in accordance with commands from the host, (3) in accordance with a determination that the workload is a non-qualifying workload, scheduling a regular flush of the write cache, and (4) in accordance with a determination that the workload is a qualifying workload, scheduling an optimized flush of the write cache.
US09952975B2
According to an example, memory traffic including memory access commands is routed between compute nodes and memory nodes in a memory network. Other traffic is also routed in the memory network. The other traffic may include input/output traffic between the compute nodes and peripherals connected to the memory network.
US09952970B2
A method for allocating cache for a disk array includes monitoring an I/O distribution of the disk array in a predetermined time period, determining a garbage collection state of the disk array, the garbage collection state allows the disk array to perform a garbage collection and prevents the disk array to perform the garbage collection, and determining an allocation of the cache based on the I/O distribution and the garbage collection state.
US09952963B2
The present invention relates to aSoC, which includes a master device, a slave device, a high-speed bus, and a monitoring apparatus. The master device is connected to a first port of the high-speed bus, and the slave device is connected to a second port of the high-speed bus, so that the master device is capable of accessing the slave device. The monitoring apparatus is arranged between the first port of the high-speed bus and the master device, and/or between the second port of the high-speed bus and the slave device, and configured to record, based on a high-speed bus communication protocol, state information of each command that passes through the first port and/or the second port, and when state information of a command indicates that an operation of the command is in a timeout state, report an interrupt to locate a faulty node on the high-speed bus.
US09952961B2
A computer-implemented method and system for assessing risk of a software program and software updates to a program to prioritize verification resources, which includes receiving code for a software product for a testing assessment. The code is analyzed according to a risk assessment criteria, and the risk assessment criteria includes risk assessment factors. The risk assessment factors for the code are weighted as part of the criteria. A risk assessment score of the code is determined based on the criteria. Testing resources are allocated in response to the risk assessment score.
US09952959B2
A logging tool running on a computing device serializes system and application events. The logging tool analyzes a logging stream from a process to identify if the logging stream includes a formatting instruction. The logging tool identifies at least one argument associated with the formatting instruction, and serializes the formatting instruction and the at least one argument by recording, to a buffer, the formatting instruction and the at least one argument without formatting the logging stream.
US09952951B2
One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for preserving coredump data. A first storage controller, of a first storage cluster, may have a disaster recovery relationship with a second storage controller of a second storage cluster. When the first storage controller fails, the first storage controller performs a coredump process to dump memory contents of the first storage controller into a storage device. During implementation of the coredump process, the first storage controller stores a storage device identifier of the storage device into a disk mailbox. Upon detecting the failure, the second storage controller reads the storage device identifier from the disk mailbox. The second storage controller performs a switchover operation to change ownership of storage devices, but excluding the storage device used by the coredump process, from the first storage controller to the second storage controller for providing clients with failover access to the storage devices.
US09952943B2
A transactional memory system salvages a partially executed hardware transaction. A processor of the transactional memory system saves state information in a first code region of a first hardware transaction. The processor executes an about-to-fail handler, the about-to-fail handler using the saved state information to determine whether the first hardware transaction is to be salvaged or to be aborted. The processor executing the about-to-fail handler, based on the transaction being to be salvaged, uses the saved state information to determine what portion of the first hardware transaction to salvage.
US09952941B2
Technologies for virtual multipath access include a computing device configured to sequester a recovery partition from a host partition while allowing the recovery partition to access one or more resources of the host partition such as host memory or data storage. A remote computing device determines whether the host partition is responsive. The recovery partition receives a request for host state data of the host partition from the remote computing device in response to a determination that the host partition is not responsive. The recovery partition retrieves the requested host state data using a host state index maintained by the host partition and transmits the requested host state data to the remote computing device. The host state index may identify the location of the requested host state data. The remote computing device may perform a recovery operation based on the received host state data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09952938B2
Methods, devices and systems enable restoring a database system more efficiently. A server computing device may be configured to determine a recovery time interval for a session store database system so as to allow a large number of sessions (e.g., ninety percent of sessions, etc.) to start and finish within that interval, periodically review database records to identify a database record that has not been updated within a most recent recovery time interval, add the identified database record to a journaling log, and update the identified database record to include information identifying a time at which the database record was last added to the journaling log. After detecting a failure event, the server computing device may perform the database operations identified in the journaling log to restore the database system.
US09952927B2
A data storage apparatus comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured to store data blocks, and one or more protection devices configured to store protection blocks, wherein the data devices and the protection devices are associated by a plurality of stripes, wherein each stripe comprises a memory block on each data device or protection device, and wherein each protection block in a protection device comprises a value for reconstructing storage blocks in the same stripe, and a controller configured to select a data device, store data blocks sequentially to the memory blocks in the selected data devices, store protection blocks in the protection devices for each updated stripe, read data blocks from a selected data device, and reconstruct damaged storage devices. It operates a cold storage system with less power consumption, low component wear, and flexible in capacity expansion.
US09952907B2
A method and apparatus for managing data is provided, including determining one or more network services associated with user-uploaded data stored in a database, and linking the user-uploaded data with the one or more network services to provide the user-uploaded data via the one or more network services.
US09952906B1
A native environment on a local device and a virtual environment on a server device linked to the native device over a network can concurrently execute. The concurrently executing can share state information to keep activities between both environments substantially time-synched. The native environment can be a user-machine interactive environment of a machine-to-user interactive interface. The native environment can perform stand-alone operation without appreciable end-user experience degradation. A process in the native environment requiring an excessive quantity of processing cycles can be detected. The native environment can not perform the processing using resources of the native environment. The virtual environment can perform the process and synchronize the result to the native environment, thereby permitting the native environment to continue to function as if the process was performed by the native environment.
US09952901B2
Described herein are technologies related to enforcing thread dependency using a hybrid scoreboard. An encoded video information that includes a plurality of threads is received, a first set and a second set of threads from the plurality of thread is determined, the first and second sets of threads are assigned to a hardware and a software, respectively, and dependency threads in the first and second sets of threads is enforced.
US09952896B2
Systems and methods are described for managing asynchronous code executions in an on-demand code execution system or other distributed code execution environment, in which multiple execution environments, such as virtual machine instances, can be used to enable rapid execution of user-submitted code. When asynchronous executions occur, one execution may become blocked while waiting for completion of another execution. Because the on-demand code execution system contains multiple execution environments, the system can efficiently handle a blocked execution by saving a state of the execution, and removing it from its execution environment. When a blocking dependency operation completes, the system can resume the blocked execution using the state information, in the same or different execution environment.
US09952886B2
Embodiments are directed towards employing a traffic management system (TMS) that is enabled to deploy component virtual machines (CVM) to the cloud to perform tasks of the TMS. In some embodiments, a TMS may be employed with one or more CVMs. In at least one embodiment, the TMS may maintain an image of each CVM. Each CVM may be configured to perform one or more tasks, to operate in specific cloud infrastructures, or the like. The TMS may deploy one or more CVMs locally and/or to one or more public and/or private clouds. In some embodiments, deployment of the CVMs may be based on a type of task to be performed, anticipated resource utilization, customer policies, or the like. The deployment of the CVMs may be dynamically updated based on monitored usage patterns, task completions, customer policies, or the like.
US09952877B2
In one embodiment, a physical device (e.g., packet switching device, computer, server) is booted using custom-created frozen partially-booted virtual machines, avoiding the time required for an end-to-end boot process. In one embodiment while the system is operating under a current version, a partially-booted virtual image of a new operating version for each of multiple processing elements of the device is produced according to static configuration information specific to the device, with each of these partially-booted virtual machines frozen. The device is rebooted to a fully operational device by unfreezing these partially-booted virtual machines, thus removing this portion of a boot process from the real-time booting of the device. The generation of the frozen partially-booted virtual machines is advantageously performed by the device itself based on current static configuration information and the availability of the specific hardware configuration of the device.
US09952876B2
There are provided a system, a method and a computer program product for selecting an active data stream (a lane) while running SPMD (Single Program Multiple Data) code on SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) machine. The machine runs an instruction stream over input data streams. The machine increments lane depth counters of all active lanes upon the thread-PC reaching a branch operation. The machine updates the lane-PC of each active lane according to targets of the branch operation. The machine selects an active lane and activates only lanes whose lane-PCs match the thread-PC. The machine decrements the lane depth counters of the selected active lanes and updates the lane-PC of each active lane upon the instruction stream reaching a first instruction. The machine assigns the lane-PC of a lane with a largest lane depth counter value to the thread-PC and activates all lanes whose lane-PCs match the thread-PC.
US09952875B2
A superscalar pipelined microprocessor includes a register set defined by an instruction set architecture of the microprocessor, execution units, and a store unit, coupled to the cache memory and distinct from the other execution units of the microprocessor. The store unit comprises an ALU. The store unit receives an instruction that specifies a source register of the register set and an operation to be performed on a source operand to generate a result. The store unit reads the source operand from the source register. The ALU performs the operation on the source operand to generate the result, rather than forwarding the source operand to any of the other execution units of the microprocessor to perform the operation on the source operand to generate the result. The store unit operatively writes the result to the cache memory.
US09952874B2
Operation of a multi-slice processor including execution slices and load/store slices, where the load/store slices are coupled to the execution slices via a results bus and the results bus includes segments assigned to carry results of a different instruction type, includes: receiving a producer instruction that includes an identifier of an instruction type and an identifier of the producer instruction, including storing the identifier of the instruction type and the identifier of the producer instruction in an entry of a register; receiving a source instruction dependent upon the result of the producer instruction including storing, in an issue queue, the source instruction, the identifier of the instruction type of the producer instruction, and an identifier of the producer instruction; and snooping the identifier of the producer instruction only from the segment of the results bus assigned to carry results of the instruction type of the producer instruction.
US09952861B2
Operation of a multi-slice processor including execution slices and load/store slices, where the load/store slices are coupled to the execution slices via a results bus and the results bus includes segments assigned to carry results of a different instruction type, includes: receiving a producer instruction that includes an identifier of an instruction type and an identifier of the producer instruction, including storing the identifier of the instruction type and the identifier of the producer instruction in an entry of a register; receiving a source instruction dependent upon the result of the producer instruction including storing, in an issue queue, the source instruction, the identifier of the instruction type of the producer instruction, and an identifier of the producer instruction; and snooping the identifier of the producer instruction only from the segment of the results bus assigned to carry results of the instruction type of the producer instruction.
US09952856B2
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a lightweight deployment of mobile cloud applications. A computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, at a server and from a remote client device, a first request to create a frame for the application; storing, by the server, the frame of the application in a repository; generating, by the server, an identifier associated with the frame and the repository; initiating, by the server, a copying of the repository to a workspace; and receiving, by the repository or the workspace and from the remote client, a pushing command including the identifier to update the frame stored in the repository or the workspace with application data associated with a created, modified or deleted version of the application.
US09952853B2
A technique, as well as select implementations thereof, pertaining to cross-mounting a device is described. The technique may involve an apparatus detecting a presence of a device not a part of the apparatus. The technique may also involve the apparatus performing an update in response to the detecting of the presence of the device. The technique may additionally involve the apparatus establishing a communication connection with the device. The technique may further involve the apparatus utilizing the device to perform one or more tasks.
US09952850B2
Systems and methods for automated firmware update with rollback are described herein. The systems include a plurality of storage zones, each storage zone including a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node including a plurality of storage media. The method includes monitoring storage system activity and parameters and maintaining a data storage system usage and parameter database containing system activity information. When a firmware update is available, data storage system activity is evaluated. Storage nodes needing the firmware update are identified. The firmware update is run on available storage nodes identified as needing the firmware update. The impact of the firmware update is evaluated and a rollback of the firmware update is initiated on all firmware updated storage nodes when parameter variations are significant and/or result in degraded performance.
US09952845B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for provisioning machines having virtual storage resources, such as virtual disks. A provisioning (or “cobbler”) server can interact with a local virtual machine installation client to initiate software provisioning to a set of target machines. Each virtualization profile or virtualized system record can have one or more virtual disks associated with it for installation and storage. The provisioning process can entail, for example, the delivery of an operating system, applications, or other software to the targets. The virtual machine installation client can identify potential locations for virtual disks on the target, such as volume identifiers, media types, and/or file systems. The cobbler server can generate a distribution to the target machine taking the configuration of the virtual disk into account, and install the provisioned software to that storage resource without a need to manually specify storage parameters. Diskless machines can also be provisioned.
US09952844B1
Embodiments relate to optimizing an indirect call function. More specifically, an indirect call function configuration comprises a first application module having a target function of the indirect function call, a second application module with a symbolic reference to the target function of the indirect function call, and a third application module to originate an indirect function call. A compiler is provided to identify potential target functions and indicate the potential target functions in the program code. Additionally, the compiler determines and indicates in the program code that the function pointer value resulting from a non-call reference of a function symbol is solely used to perform indirect calls in the same module. A linker can read the indication the compiler made in the program code and optimize the indirect call function.
US09952843B2
A solution is proposed for implementing staging in computer programs and code specialization at runtime. Even when values are not known at compile time, many of the values used as parameters for a code section or a function are constant, and are known prior to starting the computation of the algorithm. Embodiments of the claimed subject matter propagate these values just before execution in the same way a compiler would if they were compile time constant, resulting in improved control flow and significant simplification in the computation involved.
US09952841B2
In one embodiment, an improved programming system and language for application development is provided that combines elements of the C and Objective-C languages without the constraints imposed by a requirement to maintain compatibility with the C language. The language provides the functionality of the C language compatibility in certain areas to improve the inherent safety of software written in the language. The new language includes default safety considerations such as bounds and overflow checking.
US09952840B2
External references are resolved in a software compiling and linking environment by identifying a group of related external references and by processing the group of external references until a stopping condition is satisfied. The external references are processed by selecting a next external reference from the group of external references as a current external reference and by resolving the current external reference with a matching definition if a matching definition for the current external reference exists. The stopping condition is designated as being satisfied if either the selected external reference is resolved, or if each external reference in the group of external references has been selected.
US09952833B2
Proposed changes to a source code generated by client computing devices are integrated with a master version of the code resident on a server computing system remote from the client devices. The client devices connect to the server system over a network and transmit proposed changes to the server system, where resident integration/conflict resolution software automatically integrates the proposed changes into the master version. Any unresolved conflicts remaining after the automatic integration are identified and the server system automatically sends an email notifying the one or more client devices that there are unresolved conflicts. The email includes a link that enables a client device to launch a window on a monitor, and the client device user employs the window to transmit commands directly to and receive further communications directly from the integration/conflict resolution software in an interactive operation to attempt to manually resolve the conflicts.
US09952829B2
A binary fused multiply-add floating-point unit configured to operate on an addend, a multiplier, and a multiplicand. The unit is configured to receive as the addend an unrounded result of a prior operation executed in the unit via an early result feedback path; to perform an alignment shift of the unrounded addend on an unrounded exponent and an unrounded mantissa; as well as perform a rounding correction for the addend in parallel to the actual alignment shift, responsive to a rounding-up signal.
US09952826B2
An audio mixer system and method is provided. The audio mixer system includes an audio interface, an audio signal processor, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to recognize a source type of an audio signal at the audio interface based on analyzing the audio signal. The control circuit is configured to control a setting of a signal path of the audio signal from an input of the audio interface through the audio signal processor to an output of the audio interface based on the recognized source type.
US09952815B2
An image generation-output control apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus communicable with a server that controls a plurality of processes in an image processing system includes a first image processing unit, a second image processing unit, a job receiver to update an initial command information received from the server to a specific command information, a part of the initial command information updated to the specific command information processable at the second image processing unit and not processable at the first image processing unit, and a job controller to cause the first image processing unit to generate first image drawing information based on output target image information received from the server and the initial command information that is not updated, and further cause the second image processing unit to generate second image drawing information based on the specific command information and the output target image information received from the server.
US09952806B2
A mapping table loading method and a memory storage apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving a plurality of first read commands comprising a plurality of first logical units; executing a first logical-physical mapping table pre-loading operation to read a plurality of mapping information corresponding to the first logical units in a logical-physical mapping table from a rewritable non-volatile memory module to a first buffer area of a buffer memory according to a first executing sequence of the first read commands if the first logical units are not continuous logical addresses; and reading data belonging to the first logical units from physical erasing units to the first buffer area according to the mapping information of the first logical units, and replacing the mapping information of the first logical units in the first buffer area by the data belonging to the first logical units.
US09952805B2
A processor receives a command from a server computer to designate a plurality of addresses related to a plurality of logical storage areas, and write a plurality of write data to the logical storage areas. The processor receives the write data and writes it to storage areas different from storage areas in which a plurality of holding data are stored in a first memory. When the processor determines that the write data are written to the first memory, the processor transmits a success response to a host computer. When the write data satisfy a predetermined condition, the processor writes the write data in the first memory to a plurality of first device storage areas. When it is determined that at least a part of the data is not written to the first memory, the processor transmits a failure response to the host computer.
US09952797B2
Presented herein are mass data storage networks, file system protocols, non-transitory machine readable devices, and methods for storing data blocks in mass data storage systems. Methods for storing data blocks in a file system are disclosed which include: receiving by storage controller of the data storage system a request to write a data file to a system storage module; determining whether the data file includes a sub-K data chunk that is less than approximately four kilobytes; identifying a packed block that stores a plurality of sub-K data chunks and has sufficient storage space available to store the sub-K data chunk; and placing, by the storage controller in the packed block, the sub-K data chunk and a corresponding data length and a respective offset identifying a location of the sub-K data chunk in the packed block.
US09952795B2
In a data storage system including a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) array, a page is a smallest granularity of the NVRAM array that can be accessed by read and write operations, and a memory block containing multiple pages is a smallest granularity of the NVRAM array that can be erased. Data are stored in the NVRAM array in page stripes distributed across multiple memory blocks. In response to detection of an error in a particular page of a particular block of the NVRAM array, only the particular page of the particular block is retired, such that at least two of the multiple memory blocks across which a particular one of the page stripes is distributed include differing numbers of active (non-retired) pages.
US09952793B2
A memory system may include: a memory device including a plurality of pages having a plurality of memory cells coupled to a plurality of word lines and suitable for storing read data and write data requested from a host, a plurality of memory blocks each including the pages, a plurality of planes each including the memory blocks, and a plurality of memory chips each including the planes; and a controller suitable for searching map data of the read data corresponding to a read command received from the host on a basis of a plurality of segments, triggering memory chips corresponding to the map data searched through the searches of the respective segments, reading data stored in the triggered memory chips, and transferring the read data to the host.
US09952792B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storage device workload detection using power consumption are disclosed. One aspect of the subject matter described herein includes a storage device. The storage device includes non-volatile storage. The storage device further includes a device controller for controlling access to the non-volatile storage. A power management controller separate from the device controller senses an indication of power used by at least one of the non-volatile storage and the device controller, compares the sensed indication of power to at least one threshold, and, in response to a predetermined relationship between the sensed indication of power and the at least one threshold, signals the device controller of a workload state of the storage device.
US09952789B2
A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory module and a memory controller. The nonvolatile memory module includes a plurality of memory chips and a module controller disposed on a printed circuit board. The module controller controls operations of the plurality of memory chips. Each of the plurality of memory chips includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and operates in an operation mode. The operation mode is either a memory mode or a storage mode. The memory controller performs a write operation and a read operation on the nonvolatile memory module, and performs a first error check and correction (ECC) operation on data communicated with the nonvolatile memory module. One of the module controller or the plurality of memory chips performs a second ECC operation on data stored in the plurality of memory chips based on the operation mode of the plurality of memory chips.
US09952777B2
A method of orchestrated shuffling of data in a non-uniform memory access device that includes a plurality of processing nodes that are connected by interconnects. The method includes running an application on a plurality of threads executing on the plurality of processing nodes. Data to be shuffled is identified from source threads running on source processing nodes among the processing nodes to target threads executing on target processing nodes among the processing nodes. The method further includes generating a plan for orchestrating the shuffling of the data among the all of the memory devices associated with the threads and for simultaneously transmitting data over different interconnects to a plurality of different target processing nodes from a plurality of different source processing nodes. The data is shuffled among all of the memory devices based on the plan.
US09952771B1
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for compressing data in a data storage system. The method includes performing writes to the data storage system according to a first compression algorithm and determining to perform write commands according to a second compression algorithm. Subsequent writes may be performed to the data storage system according to the second compression algorithm.
US09952770B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for responding to recall operations based on a file migration time. In one embodiment, it is determined whether the number of recall requests (R) is equal to the number of storage drives in an idle state, and if the number of recall requests (R) is equal to the number of storage drives in an idle state, the storage drive(s) that are in the idle state are assigned as having the shortest time to complete a requested recall operation. The time to complete the requested recall operation (M) of the identified idle state storage drive(s) is set to zero.
US09952750B2
A computer implemented method for managing a widget is disclosed. The widget can include a drop-down menu. The method can include opening the drop-down menu having a set of items corresponding with a set of data. The method can also include updating the set of items dynamically in the opened drop-down menu in response to a change in the set of data. The method can also include processing a selected item from the updated set of items in the opened drop-down menu.
US09952741B2
Disclosed are a mobile terminal application icon management method and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal application icon management method comprises: presetting class information about an application, and establishing a mapping relation table among an application class, a screen serial number of a display screen and an application icon; receiving an object moving instruction, obtaining regular pattern information corresponding to a moved object according to the object moving instruction, and displaying the regular pattern information; and after the moved object is successfully moved to the corresponding region of a regular pattern, updating the corresponding mapping relation table among the application class, the screen serial number of a display screen and the application icon. The present invention simplifies the management operation process of an application icon, and achieves batch management and multimodal management of an application icon, thereby greatly facilitating the management operation of a user in respect of an application icon.
US09952740B1
A color conversion panel includes a substrate, a color conversion layer, a transmission layer, and a blue light cutting filter. The color conversion layer is disposed on the substrate. The color conversion layer includes a quantum dot. The transmission layer is disposed on the substrate. The blue light cutting filter is disposed between the substrate and the color conversion layer. An interface between the color conversion layer and the blue light cutting filter includes irregularities.
US09952738B1
In some embodiments, a method includes determining a content type in response to a user accessing a webpage and further based on a user attribute. In some embodiments, the user attribute may be related to a business organization that the user belongs to. In some embodiments, the method may further include determining relevant content to be displayed based on the determined content type, and transmitting webpage data including the relevant content for rendering on a device as a graphical user interface (GUI). In some embodiments, a method comprises of receiving a request to create a dynamic content component and identifying content to be displayed therein. In some embodiments, the method may further comprises customizing a look and feel of the dynamic content component based on the user attributes, and generating a code to display the dynamic content component in response to the user accessing a webpage.
US09952730B2
A flexible touch panel having a bending region which is bendable and a flat region, includes: a plurality of first unit conductive patterns formed in the flat region; and a plurality of second unit conductive patterns formed in the bending region, and the second unit conductive pattern has a smaller width than the first unit conductive pattern.
US09952729B2
A touch screen panel includes a plurality of pixels on a substrate, a sealing thin film on the substrate, and a plurality of sensing electrodes on the sealing thin film, each of the sensing electrodes having a mesh structure, the mesh structures of the sensing electrodes and the pixels overlapping different portions of the substrate.
US09952708B2
An electronic device includes a transparent display, a display controller; configured to control the transparent display to display content; a first adjustable optical panel, arranged on a first surface of the transparent display; and an adjustable optical panel controller, configured to control states of the first adjustable optical panel, wherein the first adjustable optical panel is transparent in a first state and the first adjustable optical panel is non-transparent in a second state.
US09952707B2
A password input device includes: at least two mutually separate touch display screens; a controller configured to control the touch display screen to randomly display characters; and a processor configured to determine the characters currently displayed on corresponding touch display screens subjected to a touch operation after detecting the touch operation, determine a character string inputted by a user according to a sequence of the touch operation, and take the character string as a password inputted by the user. The password input device can adopt a flexible overall arrangement mode of the character string for the password and improve the security of password input. A password input method is further disclosed.
US09952700B2
A display device includes: a plurality of pixel electrodes each of which is provided in each of a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a display region; a driving electrode provided so as to overlap the plurality of pixel electrodes when seen in a plan view; a plurality of detecting electrodes provided so as to overlap the driving electrode when seen in a plan view; and a dummy electrode provided apart from the detecting electrodes. The detecting electrodes and the dummy electrode include a metal layer or an alloy layer. A ratio of total sum of areas of portions of the plurality sub-pixels which overlap any of the detecting electrodes and the dummy electrode when seen in a plan view to total sum of areas of the plurality of sub-pixels is 1 to 22%.
US09952698B2
Dynamically adjusting a touch resolution of a display having pixel circuits each including an OLED driven by a driving transistor according to programming information representing a desired brightness for each OLED. A first touch resolution of the display is defined to create first touch zones relative to the display as images are being displayed thereon. A first touch in one of the first touch zones is detected by measuring a voltage across an anode and a cathode of each of a first set of OLEDs in the first touch zone. The first touch resolution is dynamically changed to a different second touch resolution to create second touch zones as further images are being displayed. A second touch in one of the second touch zones is detected by measuring a voltage across an anode and a cathode of each of a second set of OLEDs in the second touch zone.
US09952687B2
An apparatus for implementing touch control and fingerprint identification includes: a fingerprint identification sensor, a fingerprint identification circuit, a combination switch and a touch control circuit. The fingerprint identification sensor comprises a plurality of sub-sensors. The fingerprint identification sensor transmits a signal generated by detection of the plurality of sub-sensors to the fingerprint identification circuit when the combination switch is open circuited, and combines the signal generated by detection of the plurality of sub-sensors into a touch signal through the combination switch so as to transmit the touch signal to the touch control circuit when the combination switch is closed.
US09952683B1
An apparatus includes a processor and a keyboard having multiple, separately moveable keys. The keyboard is configured to function as both a keyboard and a trackpad.
US09952679B2
To give various movement instructions by body gestures to an object in a virtual space, a method includes detecting movements of controllers held by both hands of a user. The method further includes determining a first movement instruction based on the movements of the controllers. The method further includes causing a first character gazed at by the user to perform a first movement and causing a second character not gazed at by the user to perform a second movement depending on the first movement instruction. With this, instructions are given to the characters in the virtual space by means of body gestures.
US09952676B2
A method is described including receiving real time signals from the sensor array, comparing the real time signals to corresponding training signals representing a gesture from each sensor in the sensor array to determine if a gesture has been recognized and transmitting a command corresponding to a recognized gesture to a remote computing device.
US09952659B2
A product guidance system is described herein that provides consistent methods and processes to aggregate product guidance from different online (and potentially local) sources, to ensure that the guidance aggregation is done with proper quality criteria (e.g., content/author reputation), to define how guidance is aggregated and presented appropriately for the context (e.g., a novice user may see different UI experience and different content than an advanced user), and to specify how the guidance is delivered within the product surface itself. The system defines a consistent information asset type meta-model, applies a semantic approach and algorithms to aggregate guidance content from varying sources and deliver through consistent interfaces, and provides an asset and user interface composition model to present the retrieved information following flexible categorization and navigation schemes. Thus, the product guidance system helps product teams deliver the right information, within the right context, and within the product surface.
US09952652B2
A virtual reality system is provided. A head mounted display apparatus is coupled to a host device via a transmission cable. A multimedia module receives multimedia content via a first signal path of the transmission cable. A multi-sensing module obtains sensing information regarding the head mounted display apparatus and the user. A power management device controls the power status of the multimedia module, the multi-sensing module, and the peripheral hub according to a power voltage via a third signal path of the transmission cable. The micro control unit detects in which mode the virtual reality system is operating according to the signal status of the first and second signal paths of the transmission cable to notify the power management device to control the power status of the multimedia module, the multi-sensing module, and the peripheral hub.
US09952650B2
A processing system with multiple processors is switchable between two modes of operation dynamically: symmetrical multi-processing (SMP) and asymmetrical multi-processing (ASMP). The system uses certain criteria to determine when to switch to improve the power consumption or performance. A controller enables control and fast-switching between the two modes. Upon receipt of a switching command to switch between SMP and ASMP, a series or sequence of actions are performed to control voltage supplies and CPU/memory clocks to the multiple processors and cache memory.
US09952647B2
A method and system are provided for managing wireless collaborative charging between at least two mobile devices that include a first mobile device and a second mobile device. The method includes monitoring power usage for at least one of the at least two mobile devices. The method further includes predicting power requirements for at least one of the at least two mobile devices. The method also includes authorizing wirelessly sending power from the first mobile device to the second mobile device based on at least one of the power usage and the power requirements.
US09952640B2
A power control system allowing multiple voltage levels from a single power adaptor includes a power supply device and an electronic device. The power supply device includes a power supply and a first power controller. The power supply is configured to supply power for a graphics card as an external renderer, and the first power controller is configured to output a voltage signal. The electronic device includes a second power controller electrically coupled to the first power controller and the second power controller is configured for obtaining the voltage signal from the first power controller. The first power controller can output a first voltage or a second voltage to the second power controller to supply power for the electronic device.
US09952638B2
In an example, a computing device is disclosed in which processing elements and other active devices may generate thermal irregularities such as hot spots on the casing of a computing device. In some cases, these hot spots may be undesirable from a comfort and usability standpoint or because they may result in thermal damage to system components. To remediate thermal irregularities, including hot spots, a localized depression may be provided in a casing or chassis to enlarge the air gap between the heat source and the bottom casing around the hot spot, so that the bottom casing skin temperature at the hot spot can be lowered with the increased air gap. A heat spreader may also be disposed above the localized depression to better distribute heat over a surface area. In some cases, ribbing may be provided to provide structural support to a heat spreader disposed over a localized depression.
US09952628B2
An apparatus comprises a first body including a display and a second body including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an input device to receive an input, and the second portion including a magnet to magnetically attach to the first body. An apparatus comprises a body having a display screen, and having a frame with a first surface having an opening to expose the display screen, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and a side portion disposed between the first surface and the second surface and having one or more magnets disposed in the side portion of the frame of the body.
US09952626B2
A highly portable semiconductor device and the like providing improved browsability of display. Provided is a semiconductor device including a flexible display panel, a first housing supporting a first region of the display panel, a second housing supporting a second region of the display panel, and a flexible base material firmly attached to the first housing. The display panel can be deformed into an open position where the first and second regions are substantially on the same plane or into a folded position where the first and second regions overlap with each other. The second housing includes a groove portion where the flexible base material can partly slide. Part of the flexible base material is inserted into the groove portion in the open position. The part of the flexible base material which is inserted into the groove portion is at least partly withdrawn in a deformation into the folded position.
US09952624B2
The invention relates to a cover comprising a decoration 11 which is visible to a user when the cover is connected to an electronic device. In order to enhance the functions provided by such a cover, it is proposed that the cover further comprises contact sensitive means 22, 23 arranged such that they generate an electrical signal when a part 12 of the decoration 11 associated to the contact sensitive means 22, 23 is touched, and connection means 24, 25 for electrically connecting the contact sensitive means 22, 23 to processing means. The invention relates equally to an electronic device with such a cover.
US09952623B2
There is provided an electronic apparatus, including a first housing, a second housing which has a display section and a support member supporting the display section, and a housing connection section which rotatably connects the second housing with respect to the first housing. The support member includes a first support section connected to the housing connection section, a second support section which fixedly supports the display section, and a support connection section, positioned between the first support section and the second support section, which has a flexibility to rotatably connect the second support section with respect to the first support section.
US09952618B2
A handlebar grip including an inward portion defining an inward portion outer diameter, an outward portion defining an outward portion outer diameter, and a recessed portion, located between the inward portion and the outward portion, and defining a recessed portion outer diameter that is less than the inward portion outer diameter and the outward portion outer diameter.
US09952614B2
Arrangements described herein relate to accessing a cloud based service. Responsive to a user of a first communication device initiating access to the cloud based service via the first communication device, a prompt for a valid password to be entered to access the cloud based service can be received by the first communication device. Responsive to the valid password required to access the cloud based service not being stored on the first communication device, the first communication device can automatically retrieve the valid password from a second communication device via a peer-to-peer ad hoc communication link between the first communication device and the second communication device. The valid password can be automatically provided, by the first communication device, to a login service for the cloud based service to obtain access by the first communication device to the cloud based service.
US09952612B2
A power system is provided for a machine, such as a marine or petroleum drilling vessel. The power system may have a plurality of power sources, each with an operating range divided into a plurality of power zones. The power system may also have at least one power consumer driven by the plurality of power sources, a load manager associated with the at least one power consumer and configured to create a load demand for the plurality of power sources, and a controller in communication with the load manager and the plurality of power sources. The controller may be configured to determine a current operational mode of the power system, and to selectively cause the plurality of power sources to operate in particular zones of the plurality of power zones based on the current operational mode and the load demand.
US09952611B2
Systems and methods for managing power on an electric power grid including a server for communicating IP-based messages over a network with distributed power consuming devices and/or power supplying devices, the IP-based messages including information relating to activities by the power consuming devices and/or the power supplying devices; and wherein the information is transformed by the system into settlement grade data corresponding to the activities of the power consuming devices and/or the power supplying devices.
US09952610B1
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a control transistor, a control circuit, a reference circuit, a current source, and a stabilizing circuit including a first transistor whose base is connected to a node to receive the reference voltage. The reference circuit includes series-connected second transistor and first and second resistors, third and fourth transistors and third and fourth resistors, and fifth and sixth transistors. The fifth transistor has connected base and collector, which base is connected to a base of the third transistor, the second transistor has a base connected to a node between third and fourth transistors, fourth and sixth transistors have bases connected to a first node between first and second resistors or a second node between second transistor and first resistor, a potential at the first or second node is the reference voltage, and a gain is determined depending on a resistance of the first resistor.
US09952609B2
A low dropout linear regulator circuit comprises a voltage reference source module (100), an error amplifier (200), a reference voltage determining module (300), a power transmission device (400) and a feedback module (500); wherein the voltage reference source module (100) provides a reference voltage for the error amplifier (200), the reference voltage determining module (300) controls an enablement of the error amplifier (200) according to whether the voltage reference source module (100) is completely started, the error amplifier (200) controls ON/OFF of the power transmission device (400) according to the reference voltage provided by the voltage reference source module (100) and a feedback voltage provided by the feedback module (500). A chip having the above low dropout linear regulator circuit and a electronic device having the above chip are provided.
US09952606B2
In an embodiment, control is performed to operate a three-way valve in accordance with a reaching ratio of pH adjustment. When process of certain steps is performed, bubbles of ammonia generated in a nebulizer can be extruded by air so as to be injected from an injection port together with aqua ammonia remaining in the nebulizer. Therefore, the pH adjustment can be performed while a large amount of bubbles of ammonia are prevented from being generated in the nebulizer.
US09952605B2
Fluid regulator systems having reset apparatus and methods are described herein. A fluid regulator system includes a fluid regulator including a loading chamber and a supply chamber. The supply chamber is in fluid communication with a supply fluid. The system includes a first fluid control device having a loading inlet and a loading outlet. The loading inlet receives a loading fluid from a loading fluid source and the loading outlet is in fluid communication with the loading chamber. The first fluid control device controls fluid flow between the loading fluid source and the loading chamber. A second fluid control device includes a vent inlet and a vent outlet. The vent inlet is in fluid communication with the loading outlet and the loading chamber and the vent outlet is in fluid communication with a vent. The second fluid control device to control fluid flow between the loading chamber and the vent.
US09952598B2
A mobile robot system capable of estimating the occurrence of various risks within its environment and executing appropriate processing to achieve an objective is provided. The mobile robot system includes an environment recognition unit for recognizing an external environment, a travelling unit, and a travelling control unit which controls the travelling unit on the basis of environment information from the environment recognition unit. The mobile robot system also includes a calculation unit which generates a travelling command to the travelling control unit, a potential risk area recognition unit, and a risk occurrence condition detection unit. When a risk occurrence condition is satisfied, the calculation unit calculates a degree of influence of the occurring risk on achievement of an objective quantitatively in each stage. When the possibility of achieving the object is low, a movement planning unit replans a moving route to raise the possibility of achieving the objective.
US09952596B2
In an embodiment, an autonomous vehicle system includes an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle includes a communications system configured to communicate with the base station, and a control system communicatively coupled to the communications system, the control system comprising a processor. The processor is configured to receive driving commands from the base station, execute the driving commands to drive the autonomous vehicle, and execute a vehicle controller-to-subsystems latency protocol to determine a communications latency between a vehicle controller and vehicle subsystems, and to stop the autonomous vehicle if the communications latency exceeds a user-configurable latency value, wherein the vehicle controller and vehicle subsystem are disposed in the autonomous vehicle.
US09952590B2
A self-propelled device can determine an initial reference frame of the self-propelled device in three-dimensional space, receive control inputs from a controller device, where the control inputs can be inputted by a user on a steering mechanism of the controller device. The self-propelled device can interpret the control inputs as control commands to maneuver the self-propelled device, and implement the control commands on an internal drive system of the self-propelled device to maneuver the self-propelled device based on the control inputs. While maneuvering, the self-propelled device can determine an orientation of the internal drive system within a spherical housing of the self-propelled device in relation to the initial reference frame, and transmit feedback to the controller device based on the orientation of the internal drive system in order to calibrate an orientation of the steering mechanism with the orientation of the internal drive system.
US09952578B2
In a method for actuating at least one actuator, two control units and a selection logic are provided, and each of the control units is designed to influence the actuator. Each of the control units performs a self-diagnosis, and each of the control units generates at least one activating signal as a function of the self-diagnosis. The activating signal indicates which of the control units is to be activated. The selection logic activates one of the two control units for influencing the actuator as a function of the activating signals.
US09952574B2
A machine learning device which learns the cleaning frequency of a fan motor which cools an electric motor mounted in a machine includes a state observation unit which observes the state of the machine, and a learning unit which updates an action value table for cleaning the fan motor, on the basis of a state variable observed by the state observation unit. This can improve both the life of the electric motor and the operating ratio of the machine.
US09952572B2
A method and apparatus for producing an object (2) comprising providing a digital model (14) of the object (2) that is to be produced; using the digital model, identifying one or more parts (8) of the object (2) that satisfy certain criteria; for each identified part (8), adjusting, in the digital model (14), the thickness of that part (8) to satisfy further criteria, thereby producing an updated model; performing a first production process to produce the part or parts (4, 6) of the object (2) that do not satisfy the criteria, thereby producing an initial object (17); performing an Additive Manufacturing process to add, to the initial object (17), the one or more identified parts (8), thereby producing the object (2). The initial object (17) and identified parts (8) are made of the same material. The first production process is different to the Additive Manufacturing process.
US09952570B2
The disclosure is related to a method for controlling an electric power consumption amount of a consumer by a server coupled to a smart grid for managing electric power distribution. The method may include receiving signals having information on electric power consumption amounts from a meter of a consumer through a communication network, determining an electric power consumption pattern of the consumer based on the information on electric power consumption amounts, calculating electric power supply amounts for a predetermined time period based on the determined electric power consumption pattern of the consumer, and transmitting a control signal to the meter of the consumer through a communication network for controlling an electric power consumption amount of the consumer based on the calculated electric power supply amounts.
US09952569B2
There is provided a building management system and a method for associating a portable sensor device with a stationary control device in such a system. Upon detection of a movement of the portable sensor device, the portable sensor device starts to transmit signals more frequently to the stationary control devices. It is determined that the movement of the portable sensor device has stopped if the signal strength of the transmitted signals received at the stationary control devices is essentially constant during a time window. In response to such a determination, the portable sensor device is associated with the stationary control device having the highest received signal strength and the portable sensor device returns to an energy-saving mode.
US09952568B2
Described embodiments relate generally to energy harvesting systems and interface devices for such systems. In particular, such energy harvesting systems may be configured to harvest kinetic energy from the environment, such as wind, hydro, wave or geothermal energy or to harvest electromagnetic energy like solar radiation. Embodiments also relate to systems and methods to facilitate remote monitoring and/or control of a system comprising an interface device.
US09952566B2
A computer-implemented method for controlling and/or regulating a technical system, in which actions to be carried out on the technical system are first of all determined using an action selection rule which was determined through the learning of a data-driven model and, in particular, a neural network. On the basis of these actions a numerical optimization searches for actions which are better than the original actions according to an optimization criterion. If such actions are found, the technical system is regulated or controlled on the basis of these new actions, such that the corresponding actions are applied to the technical system in succession. The method is suitable, in particular, for regulating or controlling a gas turbine, wherein the actions are preferably optimized with respect to the criterion of low pollutant emission or low combustion chamber humming.
US09952559B2
System for fastening gems to a watch dial and a watch provided with such a system for fastening gems
In order to make a system for fastening gems to a watch dial, the dial is made of an upper plate-shaped element and of a lower plate-shaped element facing each other, the upper plate-shaped element being provided with openings for housing the gems in a visible manner and the lower plate-shaped element being provided with openings at the openings of the upper element and having the same size as these latter. Each of the openings mutually facing by pairs extends across the thickness of the respective plate-shaped element with an own peripheral edge inclined so that each opening narrows, within the section of the respective plate-shaped element, going from the surface of the plate-shaped element facing the other plate-shaped element towards the opposite surface thereof for forming a seat for housing and retaining a gem between the two elements.
US09952558B2
An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.
US09952551B2
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charger, a developing device, a transfer device, a scraper, and a controller. The controller performs an image formation process to form the developer image on the photosensitive member by using the developing device. The controller acquires, as a first value, at least one of a value of the charging current flowing in the charger and a value of the transferring current flowing in the transfer device. The controller calculates an accumulation current value by using result of an integral of a second value over time. The second value is an absolute value of the first value. The controller performs a scraping process in which the scraper scrapes the photosensitive member when the accumulation current value reaches a threshold value.
US09952543B2
Provided is an image-forming apparatus that prevents a drop in processing speed even when a preceding job is interrupted by a simple job (interrupt job). The image-forming apparatus includes a printer unit that prints on paper, a first transporting path that passes by the printer unit, a second transporting path that path branches off from the first transporting path and moves paper that has been turned over from front to back further upstream than the printer unit, a storage unit that stores a condition table indicates conditions for which a preceding job can be interrupted by an interrupt job, and a system-control unit that references the condition table, and when the preceding job can be interrupted, sets a printing order so that printing of the interrupt job is inserted into the printing order of the preceding job.
US09952539B2
The smoothness of a toner layer is reduced and thus the gloss of a resulting print is reduced. A single toner, the original high gloss version, is enabled to print all images. A finishing option is provided which, through application of a combination of heat and pressure with a textured roller, reduces the specular gloss of the toner surface by imprinting a high frequency texture onto the smooth toner layer. By adjusting the temperature/pressure of the textured roller, the effective gloss of the press can be adjusted through software as desired.
US09952534B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, and a developing device including a developing container accommodating a one component developer including toner, and a developer detecting portion configured to detect the developer in the developing container. The developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with the toner. In addition, a developer supply portion supplies the developer into the developing container in accordance with a detection result of the developer detecting portion, and a controller controls developer supply means, in which a developer amount in the developing container when an image ratio of images formed by a predetermined number of image formations is a first image ratio is larger than the developer amount in the developing container when the image ratio of the images formed by a predetermined image formations is a second image ratio which is smaller than the first image ratio.
US09952514B2
An immersion lithography apparatus is disclosed in which liquid is supplied to a space between a projection system and a substrate, and a plate structure is provided to divide the space into two parts. The plate structure has an aperture to allow transmission of the projection beam, has through holes in it to reduce the damping effect of the presence of the plate and optionally has one or more inlets and outlets to provide various flows around the aperture in the plate. An embodiment of the invention may reduce the transportation of contaminants, stray light, temperature gradients, and/or the effect of bubbles on the imaging quality.
US09952504B2
An imprint method for transferring a pattern to an imprint material supplied to a plurality of shot areas on a substrate using a mold includes removing a foreign matter attached to a pattern of the mold in such a manner that the plurality of shot areas includes a part shot-area where a part of pattern of the mold can be formed and the mold is brought into contact with an imprint material supplied to the part shot-area to transfer the pattern of the mold to the substrate and transferring a pattern to the shot area excluding the part shot-area, among the plurality of shot areas, using the mold used in the removing the foreign matter.
US09952486B2
There is provided a image projection apparatus including an image generation unit for generating an image by using light emitted from a light source, comprising: a movable unit configured to hold the image generation unit and to be able to change a position of the image generation unit; and a drive unit configured to drive the movable unit to move, wherein the movable unit is disposed to move horizontally.
US09952484B2
A photographic background assembly, comprises a collapsible background unit having a semi-rigid frame, and a background mounting member. The collapsible background unit comprises a magnetic portion, and the background mounting member comprises at least one magnetic receiving formation configured to engage the magnetic portion of the collapsible background unit, such that the collapsible background unit is selectively attachable to the background mounting member by the magnetic portion so as to provide a background for use in photography.
US09952475B2
A liquid crystal display which enhances an aperture ratio and stabilizes a storage voltage includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, a gate line, a data line, a first sub-pixel electrode, and a second sub-pixel electrode on the first substrate, a first transistor connected to the gate line, the data line, and the first sub-pixel electrode, and a second transistor connected to the gate line, the data line, and the second sub-pixel electrode and including a source electrode, a drain electrode and at least one floating electrode between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US09952474B2
A deskew display panel is disclosed in present invention. The deskew display panel includes a plurality of data lines arranged in a column direction, a plurality of scanning lines perpendicular to the column direction and intersecting the data lines; a sub-pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in array, each sub-pixel including a transistor and disposed between any two neighboring scanning lines and any two neighboring data lines; the scanning lines disposed in the sub-pixel array and parallel to each other; sub-pixels in each row including a plurality of sub-pixel sets, each sub-pixel set including two sub-pixels, the sub-pixel including the transistor, gates of the transistors connected to two neighboring scanning lines respectively, sources of the transistors connected to the same data line, and drains of the transistors connected to a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor.
US09952466B2
A liquid crystal display includes a display substrate, in which a plurality of domains is defined, includes a pixel electrode disposed in each of the plurality of domains and configured to have a plurality of branch electrodes and a common electrode. A liquid crystal layer disposed between the display substrate and an opposite substrate. A plurality of domains is arranged in a column direction and a row direction. Each of the domains includes first and second sides, a first horizontal edge, and a second horizontal edge facing the first horizontal edge. The second side is parallel with the column direction and the first side is parallel with a first slanted direction. A slit is defined between adjacent branch electrodes. The slit has a first width adjacent to the first horizontal edge, and a second width adjacent to the second horizontal edge.
US09952449B2
A presbyopia contact lens set especially for a user who has worn spherical contact lenses, a designing method for a presbyopia contact lens, and a manufacturing method for a presbyopia contact lens that uses such design method. The presbyopia contact lens set configured by combining a plurality of types of presbyopia contact lens having different specifications lens powers, includes the plurality of types of presbyopia contact lenses in which the radial lens power profile in a near-use region and that in a far-use region are defined using mutually different functions, the function for defining the radial lens power profile in the far-use region is set in accordance with a specifications lens power, and the radial lens power rate-of-change in the far-use region is made larger for lenses having a small specifications lens power than for lenses having a large specifications lens power.
US09952439B2
A head mounted device mounted on a user's head includes a display unit that displays an image to the user, a holding member that holds the display unit to the user's head, and an auxiliary member, including a rotation unit, that assists the holding member by rotating about the rotation unit to contact a front of the user's head. The rotation unit includes a biasing member that biases the auxiliary member in a direction of pressing the front region of the user's head and a restricting member that restricts the rotation at the rotation unit.
US09952438B1
A method and apparatus for performing a task. The task is performed using a tool. Information received by a display system from the tool is displayed on a viewing area that is substantially transparent in the display system. The viewing area is configured to cover an eye and display the information in the viewing area.
US09952437B2
To provide a head-mounted display excellent in portability and operability. A head-mounted display according to the present technology includes a main body and an input operation section. The main body includes a display section configured to present an image to a user and is configured to be mountable on a head of the user. The input operation section includes a first detection element that extends in a first axis direction and is provided in the main body and electrostatically detects an operation position in the first axis direction, and a first guide section that guides an input operation of the user along the first axis direction on the first detection element, and controls the image.
US09952422B2
Methods and systems are provided for enhancing the imaging resolution of three dimensional imaging using light field microscopy. A first approach enhances the imaging resolution by modeling the scattering of light that occurs in an imaging target, and using the model to account for the effects of light scattering when de-convolving the light field information to retrieve the 3-dimensional (3D) volumetric information of the imaging target. A second approach enhances the imaging resolution by using a second imaging modality such as two-photon, multi-photon, or confocal excitation microscopy to determine the locations of individual neurons, and using the known neuron locations to enhance the extraction of time series signals from the light field microscopy data.
US09952413B2
Provided are an imaging lens, which is a wide-angle imaging lens and is capable of satisfactorily correcting various aberrations, and an imaging apparatus which includes this imaging lens. The imaging lens consists of, in order from an object side: a first lens L1 that has a negative refractive power; a second lens L2 that has a negative refractive power; a third lens L3 that has a positive refractive power; a fourth lens L4 that has a negative refractive power; a fifth lens L5 that has a positive refractive power; a sixth lens L6 that has a positive refractive power; and a seventh lens L7 that has a negative refractive power. The following conditional expression (1) is satisfied. −2
US09952390B2
An optical element includes a distributed Bragg reflector, wherein the distributed Bragg reflector includes a first-order diffraction grating of a first-order period disposed in a central region, and second-order diffraction gratings of a second-order period having a coupling coefficient smaller than a coupling coefficient of the first-order diffraction grating and disposed in both end regions between which the central region is located.
US09952388B2
A tapered core waveguide which may be configured as a spectral component splitter, a spectral component combiner, and various combinations thereof including a reflective mode of operation. The tapered core waveguide has an aperture and cladding, and is dimensioned such that radiant energy admitted into the core via the aperture and having at least two spectral components would be emitted via the cladding at a location dependent on its frequency and/or its polarization, and that a plurality of spectral components injected to the core via the cladding will be mixed and emitted via the aperture.
US09952387B2
An optical fiber transmission system with a laser beam splitting and combining device includes a laser beam splitting and combining device receiving a laser beam from a laser device and projecting the laser beam onto a target through an objective lens. The laser beam splitting and combining device has a beam splitter, two transmitters, two receivers and a beam combiner. When the beam splitter divides the received laser beam and transmits the divided laser beams to the transmitters, the transmitters transmit the divided laser beams to the receivers through two optical fibers. The receivers send the divided laser beams to the beam combiner for the beam combiner to combine the divided laser beams into an output laser beam projected on the target through the objective lens. Given the optical transmission path of the laser beam splitting and combining device, the laser transmission distance can be extended.
US09952374B2
A display device includes a display panel, a light guide plate disposed under the display panel, a light source which provides a side surface of the light guide plate with incident light, a reflective plate disposed under the light guide plate, a first optical adjustment member which includes first scattering particles which scatter a first color wavelength range of the incident light into a first value and scatter a second color wavelength range of the incident light into a second value, and a second optical adjustment member which includes second scattering particles which scatter the first color wavelength range of the incident light into a third value and scatter the second color wavelength range of the incident light into a fourth value.
US09952356B2
An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.
US09952352B2
A method and system configured to provide a weather forecast for a selected zone is provided. The method and system is configured to receive meteorological reports and locally sensed measurements. The information is transmitted to a weather model preprocessor disposed on the device which generates an analysis field. This information is passed to the weather model which is an executable program also disposed on the device. The weather model processes the analysis field generated by meteorological reports, large-scale initialization data and in-situ sensor values to generate an initial weather forecast. The weather model updates the initial weather forecast with real-time, high-resolution atmospheric measurements to generate a weather forecast more representative of the user's zone than that available from Internet/media outlets. Furthermore, because the weather model is run on the mobile device itself, staleness of the forecast will no longer be an issue, as forecasts can be generated on demand.
US09952346B2
A method and apparatus for magnetic sensing is described. The apparatus includes a strain-sensing fiber coupled to a conducting strip. The strain-sensing fiber may be, for example, a distributed feedback fiber with Bragg gratings. A current may be induced to flow on the conducting strip by electrically coupling a photodiode to the conducting strip and then activating a laser optically coupled to the photodiode. In the presence of a magnetic field, a Lorentz force will be exerted on the conducting strip, causing a displacement of the conducting strip that will induce strain on the strain-sensing fiber. The strain on the strain-sensing fiber may be measured by laser-pumping the strain-sensing fiber and measuring the reflected waves. The measured strain may be used to calculate the magnitude of the magnetic field. Multiple strain-sensing fibers may be optically coupled in series and deployed into a borehole for distributed magnetic field measurements. The magnetic field measurements may be used to determine the resistivity of formations surrounding the borehole and, for example, to monitor the movement of relatively-low resistivity water fronts.
US09952332B2
A method and a PET apparatus are provided. According to an example of the method, a saturation indicia of a target detector may be determined through simulating emission of a γ photon to the target detector. The target detector is any one of SiPM detectors of a PET apparatus. The saturation indicia is for designating a maximum output voltage after amplifying an output of the target detector through a VGA when one γ photon is received by the target detector. The target VGA is a VGA corresponding to the target detector. By comparing an output voltage of the target VGA and the saturation indicia, it may determine that the target detector received a saturation event if the output voltage of the target VGA is higher than the saturation indicia. An amplifier gain of the target VGA may be adjusted until an amount of the saturation events detected by the target detector in unit time satisfies a pre-determined threshold.
US09952331B2
An apparatus for detecting the presence of a nuclear reactor by the detection of antineutrinos from the reactor can include a radioactive sample having a measurable nuclear activity level and a decay rate capable of changing in response to the presence of antineutrinos, and a detector associated with the radioactive sample. The detector is responsive to at least one of a particle or radiation formed by decay of the radioactive sample. A processor associated with the detector can correlate rate of decay of the radioactive sample to a flux of the antineutrinos to detect the reactor.
US09952328B2
The system provides a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver in a vehicle. The GNSS receiver includes a radio frequency (RF) receiving circuit configured to receive GNSS signals from a plurality of GNSS satellites orbiting Earth at respective azimuth and elevation angles, a memory device storing an predetermined antenna pattern including initial signal to noise ratio (SNR) values for each of the respective azimuth and elevation angles, and a processor. The processor is configured to calculate SNR values of the received GNSS signals, iteratively calculate an updated antenna pattern by combining the calculated SNR values with the initial SNR values, compare further SNR values of further received GNSS signals to the SNR values in the updated antenna pattern to perform at least one of the following: 1) detection and mitigation of multipath signals, 2) estimation of vehicle heading, and 3) determination of a location of the antenna within the vehicle.
US09952325B2
The invention introduces “crossed” navigation message authentication, which comprises a) generation and transmission of unpredictable bits periodically from satellites currently not connected to the ground mission segment and b) generation of digital signatures for the data from these satellites, and the transmission thereof through satellites that currently are connected to the ground mission segment. An attacker cannot spoof the navigation message as it contains an unpredictable bit pattern that is verified a few seconds later through a digital signature.
US09952319B2
A Pseudo-Random Phase Modulation (PRPM) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a first transmit-antenna that transmits a first transmit-signal generated by a first PRPM-code, a second transmit-antenna that transmits a second transmit-signal generated by a second PRPM-code, a receive-antenna used to detect a first reflected-signal arising from the first transmit-signal and a second reflected-signal arising from the second transmit-signal, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the receive-antenna and is operable to generate the first PRPM-code and the second PRPM-code. The controller is configured to generate a first sub-channel-output based on a down-converted-signal from the receive-antenna and the first PRPM-code, generate a second sub-channel-output based on the down-converted-signal from the receive-antenna and the second PRPM-code, determine a first residue-signal based on the second sub-channel-output, and determine a first residue-removed-signal by subtracting the first residue-signal from the first sub-channel-output.
US09952311B2
A radar apparatus and method of reducing interference which can reduce an amount of interference are provided. The radar apparatus transmits a modulated pulse signal and a non-modulated pulse signal. The radar apparatus includes an interference frequency detecting module and a map generating module. The interference frequency detecting module detects an interference frequency that is a frequency of an interference wave, based on reception signals containing a reflection wave caused by either one of the modulated pulse signal and the non-modulated pulse signal. The map generating module generates a frequency map for specifying an interference band that is a frequency band where the interference frequency exists and a no-interference band that is a frequency band where the interference frequency does not exist. A central frequency of at least one of the modulated pulse signal and the non-modulated pulse signal is set based on the frequency map.
US09952300B2
The present invention generally relates to paramagnetic contrast agents and a Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-MRI method for the non-invasive estimation of the delivery of a macromolecular anticancer drug or pro-drug within pathological tissues and, especially, in solid tumors and for the optimization of anticancer therapies.
US09952295B2
According to one embodiment, a medical image diagnostic apparatus includes a gantry and a screen. The gantry for medical imaging includes a bore. The screen is insertable into the bore. A predetermined image is projected by a projector on the screen. The screen forms a shape that enables light generated by the projector to arrive at an inner wall of the gantry.
US09952286B2
A power-supply control device includes a power-source input terminal, an output circuit outputting power to load, power interrupting circuits connected in parallel between the power-source input terminal and the output circuit, and a control circuit controlling each power interrupting circuit separately. Each power interrupting circuit includes an interrupting circuit and a switch element connected in series between the power-source input terminal and the output circuit. The interrupting circuit permits power to pass when receiving a passage permitting signal from the control circuit and interrupts passage of power when not receiving the passage permitting signal. ON/OFF of the switch element is controlled by the control circuit. When any of the power interrupting circuits is set as a diagnostic target circuit, the control circuit stops supplying the passage permitting signal to the interrupting circuit of the diagnostic target circuit and turns off the switch element of the diagnostic target circuit.
US09952278B2
Electronic devices (320) are provided which comprise a digital logic circuit (101) and a test module (322) adapted to receive test parameters from a remote test management device (310), generate test patterns based on the test parameters, apply the test patterns to the digital logic circuit, receive test responses from the digital logic circuit, compact the test responses into a test signature, and either transmit the test signature to the remote test management device or determine a test result based on a comparison of an expected signature received from the remote test management device with the test signature. Further provided are remote test management devices comprising means adapted to acquire test parameters suitable for generating test patterns for a digital logic circuit, acquire an expected signature corresponding to the test patterns, transmit the test parameters to at least one electronic device comprising the digital logic circuit, and either receive a test signature from the at least one electronic device and determine a test result based on a comparison of the expected signature with the test signature, or transmit the expected signature to the at least one electronic device.
US09952266B2
The disclosure features living object detectors for a wireless energy transfer systems that include a sensor featuring a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate, a shield featuring a second conductor different from the first conductor, where at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate, a ground reference featuring a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, and an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second and third conductors and configured so that during operation of the living object detector, the electrical circuit applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar.
US09952262B2
The physical parameter measurement method is performed using an electronic circuit (1) with a resistive sensor (2). The resistive sensor includes two resistors (R1, R2) mounted in series, whose connection node connected to a moving mass (M), is connected to a first input of an amplifier-comparator (3). A second input of the amplifier-comparator receives a reference voltage. One output of the amplifier-comparator is connected to a logic unit (4), which provides a digital output signal (OUT). A digital-to-analogue converter (5) provides a measurement voltage (Vdac), as a function of a digital signal provided by the logic unit, to the first resistor (R1) in a first phase of a measurement cycle, whereas the second resistor (R2) is polarized by a polarization voltage, and to the second resistor in a second phase, whereas the first resistor is polarized by a polarization voltage via a switching unit.
US09952258B2
Traceable cables (e.g., networking cables, power cables, etc.). Some embodiments include a traceable power cable with a battery (e.g., that may be rechargeable from current from an external power source to which the power cable is electrically connected). Some embodiments include a traceable networking cable configured to draw power from power-over-Ethernet (POE) power sourcing equipment (PSE) even if the networking cable is not connected to a separate powered device (PD).
US09952255B2
A probe card includes a mechanical support fixture having an inner aperture with a plurality of probes secured to the fixture that includes probe tips that extend into the inner aperture for contacting probe pads on die of a wafer to be probed. At least one magnetic shield includes a magnetic material that at least substantially surrounds a projected volume over an area that encloses the probe tips. The magnetic material has a relative magnetic permeability of at least 800.
US09952254B1
Various technologies to facilitate coupled electrical and mechanical measurement of conductive materials are disclosed herein. A gripping device simultaneously holds a specimen in place and causes contact to be made between the specimen and a plurality of electrodes connected to an electrical measuring device. An electrical characteristic of the specimen is then measured while a mechanical load is applied to the specimen, and a relationship between the mechanical load and changes in the electrical characteristic can be identified.
US09952249B2
A torque command value and an acceleration detection value are accumulated when a driven portion is subjected to acceleration/deceleration driving, and, from a ratio between the two, inertia of a movable portion is calculated. By executing the acceleration/deceleration driving about a position where influence of gravity torque is zero, the influence of the gravity torque included in the torque command value before and after the center position is offset, whereby inertia can be estimated correctly even with a machine structure in which the influence of gravity differs depending on the position of the motor.
US09952246B2
A gyroscopic rotational monitoring system may be utilized for monitoring one or more properties of rotatable container or vessel, and/or one or more properties of a displaceable material contained in the rotatable vessels. An exemplary aspect relates to the use of a gyroscope and periodicity sensor (e.g., accelerometer) to determine rotational speed of a concrete mixing drum, so that the slump or other property of the concrete can be monitored or adjusted such as by dosing with water, chemical admixtures, or mixture thereof.
US09952244B2
A device and method for handling racks of disposable pipette tips in a laboratory automation system are presented. The device comprises a guide rail for guiding racks from a loading region (I) to a supply region (II). The loading region (I) is accessible by a user or a loading device for loading a rack on the guide rail. A plurality of disposable pipette tips stored in a supplying rack located in the supply region (II) is accessible by a delivering device for delivering at least one selected one of the plurality of disposable pipette tips to a pipetting system. The device comprises at least one moveable element, which is controllably moveable by a driving device for selectively enabling or disabling a removal of the supplying rack from the supply region (II). A laboratory automation system comprising such a device and/or for carrying out the method are also presented.
US09952235B2
An external standard solution for use in the analysis of amino acid in plasma, containing, (1) at least one amino acid selected from the following components A, at a concentration of 0.0007 M to 0.49 M, and (2) (i) at least one amino acid selected from the following components B, at a concentration of 0.2 to 0.9 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among the amino acids selected from components A, (ii) at least one amino acid selected from the following components C, at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.4 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among amino acids selected from the components A, or (iii) at least one amino acid selected from the following components D, at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.2 times of the lowest-concentration amino acid among amino acids selected from the components A; [Components A] valine, glycine, alanine and glutamine [Components B] serine, proline, threonine, taurine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine and tyrosine [Components C] asparagine, ornithine, arginine and tryptophan [Components D] glutamic acid, methionine, citrulline and cystine.
US09952233B2
A system including a light source, sampling tray, and a plurality of fiber optics positioned to achieve high contrast to improve accuracy and eliminate the need to rotate the sample. A composite light image from the fiber optics is fed to a spectrometer which converts the reflected light into a fingerprint corresponding to the concentration of at least one substance in the sample. The fingerprint is processed by a statistical model to determine concentration level of the at least one substance in the sample and the concentration level is then displayed.
US09952232B2
Methods, systems and circuits evaluate a subject's CVD risk using a risk parameter that includes at least one HDL and inflammatory biomarker interaction parameter. The inflammatory biomarker may optionally comprise NMR derived measurements of GlycA from at least one biosample of the subject. The risk parameter may be gender-specific.
US09952229B2
Subject of the present invention are assays and in vitro methods for the prediction of the risk of a subject for contracting metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes mellitus and for diagnosing metabolic syndrome, comprising determining the level of arginine vasopressin pro-hormone or fragments thereof in a sample of a subject.
US09952228B2
A method for detecting adrenocorticotropic hormone comprising: bringing a liquid sample containing adrenocorticotropic hormone into contact with gelled casein to adsorb adrenocorticotropic hormone to the gelled casein; and detecting the adrenocorticotropic hormone adsorbed to the gelled casein is disclosed. An adsorbent of adrenocorticotropic hormone comprising gelled casein is also disclosed.
US09952227B2
Fluorescent proteins (Chlopsid FP I from Kaupichthys hyoproroides and Chlopsid FP II from Kaupichthys n. sp.) are used in a method for detecting bilirubin. The proteins are based on transcriptome analysis of the false moray eels, Kaupichthys hyoproroides and Kaupichthys n. sp., the later representing a heretofore undescribed species.
US09952218B2
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining HIV neutralizing antibodies in a sample. It further relates to a fusion protein to be used in said method and a nucleic acid encoding said fusion protein.
US09952214B2
The invention relates to methods for providing prognosis, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a subject, including a sports-related concussion. The invention further relates to assessing the severity of brain damage resulting from mTBI in a subject, including in a subject who has not undergone a CT scan following the injury. For example, the methods of the invention can be used to determine the suitability for someone who has suffered a sports-related injury to return to play that sport. This invention also relates to methods of predicting risk for developing brain damage and long-term dysfunction in a subject having suffered mTBI.
US09952213B2
It is intended to evaluate an ischemic heart disease with high accuracy by convenient operation. The method for evaluating an ischemic heart disease according to the present invention comprises the steps of: assaying complement factor H and/or complement factor D in a sample derived from the blood of a test subject; and comparing the concentration of the complement factor H and/or the concentration of the complement factor D assayed in the preceding step with a reference value(s), wherein it is determined that the seriousness of the ischemic heart disease is high when the concentration falls below the reference value.
US09952211B2
A capturing device (20) and method for use in capturing a substance in a liquid, by feeding the liquid through a capturing device (20) including: a lateral capillary flow matrix (13) and a capturing matrix (26) in fluid communication with the lateral capillary flow matrix (13) such as to produce a lateral capillary flow in the capturing matrix having a lower velocity than that in the lateral capillary flow matrix. This produces by the Bernoulli effect, a lower pressure with respect to the two lateral flows sufficient to impart transverse oscillations to the lateral flow in the capturing matrix, such oscillations driving the liquid into the interior of the capturing matrix thereby exposing its interior, rather than merely a surface thereof, to the liquid. In the described preferred embodiments, the capturing device is a biological assay device, and each substance in the liquid to be captured in the capture zone of the capturing matrix is a biological substance.
US09952207B2
When an immunochromatography reagent composition containing a nonionic surfactant, an N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine buffer, and casein is used as a specimen treatment solution or developing solution in detecting a detection object in a specimen according to an immunochromatographic method, an immunochromatography reagent composition which suppresses a non-specific reaction; does not cause aggregation of antibody-immobilized colloidal gold; and has a high developing rate, in comparison with conventional technology which detects a detection object by using an immunochromatographic device; and a high-performance and highly-sensitivity immunochromatographic method and a detection kit capable of rapid, simple and easy virus detection, which use the immunochromatography reagent composition are provided.
US09952202B2
The present invention relates to methods and assays for identifying agents useful in the treatment of fibrotic diseases, in particular diseases related to fibroblast migration and differentiation. The invention provides polypeptide and nucleic acid TARGETs, siRNA sequences based on these TARGETs and antibodies against the TARGETs. The invention is further related to pharmaceutical composition comprising siRNA sequences based on the TARGETs and antibodies against the TARGETs for use in the treatment of fibrotic disease. The invention further provides in vitro methods for inhibition of fibroblast migration and differentiation.
US09952193B2
A test strip device exhibits visual changes, such as color changes, when there is a only slight difference in the composition of liquids such as gasoline, oil, ethanol and water. Such a slight liquid composition difference usually requires a sophisticated and expensive instrument to differentiate. The test strip consists of one and more than one inverse opal films deposited on a substrate and achieves this goal of differentiation in a simple, fast and energy-free manner.
US09952187B2
The invention relates to an optical sensor element, comprising indicators, selected from luminescence-active means that are of the same type or different, and indicator protectors, and to a sensor, comprising at least one such sensor element, an energy source that excites the luminescence emission of the indicators, and a detector unit, wherein the sensor element or sensor is suitable for detecting molecular oxygen in a gaseous or liquid medium and/or for determining the molecular oxygen content of a gaseous or liquid medium and at least one layer of the sensor element bearing the indicator protectors is designed in such a way that the diffusion rate of the molecular oxygen formed on the indicator protectors by means of the reduction of strong oxidants back into the medium is greater than the diffusion rate of molecular oxygen from the medium in the direction of the at-least-one layer bearing the indicator molecules.
US09952175B2
A gas sensor including a first layer including copper (I) bromide, and a second layer, which is disposed on the first layer, and is a p-type semiconductor that is different from the copper (I) bromide, wherein one of the first layer and the second layer is more preferentially in contact with detection-target gas than the other.
US09952173B2
Copolymers including at least one optionally substituted 2-hydroxy-5-sulfonic aniline as a first constituent unit and at least one optionally substituted phenylenediamine as a second constituent unit are disclosed. Compositions containing the copolymers, and methods of making the copolymers are also disclosed. The compositions can also contain for example an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and/or electrical conducting additives. The compositions can, for example, be used for detecting lead ions in a sample.
US09952172B2
In some aspects, a modular analyte measurement system having a replaceable strip port module is provided to permit contaminated modules to be replaced. Some aspects of the present disclosure related to barriers for strip ports or the sealing of strip ports and/or analyte measurement devices to maintain a clean strip port and/or enable the strip port to be cleaned for reuse. Cleaning tools are also provided. Also provided are strip port interfaces that guide fluid away from the strip port opening, as well as absorptive elements that prevent fluid from entering a strip port. Analyte measurement devices with gravity sensors or accelerometers are also provided, along with methods related thereto. Also provided are docking station that serve as an information server and provides storage and recharging capabilities.
US09952160B2
A method for processing a plurality of sheet material includes receiving a plurality of sheets of material, transporting, via a transport mechanism, the plurality of sheets, one sheet at a time, past a first image capture device, obtaining, via a first image capture device, a first image of a first set of one or more of the plurality of sheets while being transported past the first image capture device, and determining, via at least one processor, a first caliper measurement of the first set of one or more of the plurality of sheets based on the first image of each of the first set.
US09952156B2
An apparatus comprising: a direct push probe configured to be pushed into a subsurface soil environment; a transparent window mounted to a side of the probe; a white light source mounted within the probe and positioned such that when the white light source is activated only white light exits the window; an ultraviolet (UV) light source mounted within the probe and positioned such that when the UV light source is activated only UV light having a given wavelength exits the window; and an imaging system disposed within the probe and configured to capture a white-light-only-illuminated image and a UV-light-induced-fluorescence image of the subsurface soil environment at a given depth, wherein the imaging system comprises a longpass filter to filter out the UV light having the given wavelength.
US09952152B2
The present invention discloses an optic distribution meter that includes a testing system and an imaging system. The testing system includes an arc-shaped brace which has an extended object holder; and a rail base which has a first rail. The imaging system, set at a side of the testing system, includes a screen and an image catcher. With the implementation of the present invention, the rail base is able to rotate or move an object to a test angle with very little light blocking of measurements. Besides, with the first rail supporting the object, the incident angle of the light of a light source to the object remains unchanged when the measuring angle of the imaging system is changed. Thus ensure the accuracy of measurements of the optic distribution meter.
US09952141B1
An approach to characterizing beams of electromagnetic radiation such as are applied in ellipsometer and the like systems, involving considering the beam to be comprised of a number of spatially distributed beam rays, each of which is represented mathematically as an effectively independent source.
US09952140B2
Methods and systems for small angle CD metrology with a small spot size are introduced to increase measurement sensitivity while maintaining adequate throughput necessary for modern semiconductor manufacture. A small angle CD metrology system includes a small angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) subsystem combined with a small angle spectroscopic reflectometry system, both operated at small angles of incidence. The small angle SE subsystem is configured to operate in a complete Mueller Matrix mode to further improve measurement sensitivity. The small angle CD metrology system includes an objective having all reflective surfaces in the light path. In some embodiments, the all-reflective objective is a Schwartzschild objective having an axicon mirror element to further reduce measurement spot size. In some embodiments, the small angle CD metrology system includes a dynamic aperture subsystem to isolate specific ranges of angles of incidence and azimuth for improved measurement sensitivity.
US09952139B2
An apparatus includes a first pedestal surface coupled to i) a swing arm and to ii) a light source. The apparatus further includes a magnet, a base plate, a mechanical stop coupled to the base plate, and a second pedestal surface mechanically coupled to said base plate and configured to receive a liquid sample, said second pedestal surface being coupled to a spectrometer. The apparatus further includes a magnetic flux sensor located between north and south magnetic flux fields of the magnet such that the magnetic flux reaching the sensor while the mechanical stop is in physical contact with the swing arm provides a linear range of output of the magnetic flux sensor, and a processor adapted to calibrate the point for minimum optical path length using a threshold magnetic flux field emitted from the magnet and detected by the magnetic flux sensor.
US09952132B2
The invention relates to methods and devices for analysis of samples using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The invention provides methods and devices in which individual ablation plumes are distinctively captured and transferred to the ICP, followed by analysis by mass cytometry.
US09952129B2
Provided is a failure detection sensor which, when attached to structural members of various structures such as buildings can easily detect the risk of the failure of the structural members, and thus the structure, before such failure occurs and has a simple structure, which leads to realization at a low price.The failure detection sensor comprises: the first member 10 and the second member 20 provided in parallel with the first member 10 such that one end of the second member 20 is fixed to or restricted by the first member 10 and the other end of the second member 20 is not fixed to or restricted by the first member 10, having fracturing characteristics such that the second member 20 fractures during elastic deformation or plastic deformation of the first member 10. The failure detection sensor may have a compression coil spring 40 which applies a tensile force to the other end of the second member 20 on the opposite side of the one end. The first member 10 and the second member 20 are constituted of, for example, a round rod or a square rod and the first member 10 is constituted of, for example, a hollow rod. The second member 20 has a notch 24 which is a stress concentration site between the one end and the other end. The second member 20 is made of brittle materials.
US09952127B2
Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of moving a target fluid in a triphasic fluid arrangement from a vessel into a tube and systems and devices for practicing the same.
US09952114B2
A circuit board including an electronic circuit unit and electronic adjusting units is disposed in a case. A signal transmitting member connected to the circuit board is mounted in a mount hole of a cover member. Operation holes corresponding to a plurality of operable portions of the electronic adjusting units are provided to the cover member. A cap member including a plurality of cap bodies and a connection portion connecting the cap bodies is attached to the cover member to close the operation holes. The operation holes for adjusting the electronic adjusting units are thus covered/uncovered by the simple cap member. The operation holes are reliably waterproofed by the cap member.
US09952110B2
A pressure sensor package includes a pressure sensor having a first side attached to a substrate and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a pressure inlet aligned with an opening in the substrate, the second side having one or more electrical contacts. A logic die attached to an opposite side of the substrate as the pressure sensor is operable to process signals from the pressure sensor. First electrical conductors connect to the one or more electrical contacts of the pressure sensor. Second electrical conductors connect to one or more electrical contacts of the logic die. A mold compound completely encapsulates the second electrical conductors and at least partly encapsulates the logic die and the first electrical conductors. An open passage in the mold compound is aligned with the opening in the substrate so as to define a pressure port of the pressure sensor package.
US09952101B2
A spectroscopic measurement apparatus includes a light source, an integrator, a first spectroscopic detector, a second spectroscopic detector, and an analysis unit. The integrator includes an internal space in which a measurement object is disposed, a light input portion for inputting light to the internal space, a light output portion for outputting light from the internal space, and a sample attachment portion for attaching the measurement object. The first spectroscopic detector receives the light output from the integrator, disperses the light of a first wavelength region, and acquires first spectrum data. The second spectroscopic detector receives the light output from the integrator, disperses the light of a second wavelength region, and acquires second spectrum data. The first wavelength region and the second wavelength region include a wavelength region partially overlapping each other.
US09952100B2
A handheld LIBS spectrometer system features an optics stage moveable with respect to a housing and including a laser focusing lens. A laser source is mounted in the housing for directing a laser beam to a sample via the laser focusing lens. A detection fiber is mounted in the housing and is fixed relative thereto. A first mirror is fixed relative to the housing and includes an aperture for the laser beam. This mirror is oriented to re-direct plasma radiation for delivery to the detection fiber. A controller subsystem is responsive to the output of a spectrometer subsystem and is configured to control the laser source and the optics stage.
US09952092B2
An optical sensor and optical system are disclosed. The optical sensor is disclosed to include a light source, a photodetector having a proximity sensing portion and an ambient light sensing portion, and a controller configured to implement a proximity sensing phase where the proximity sensing portion of the photodetector is utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is ON and then implement an ambient light sensing phase where the ambient light sensing portion of the photodetector is utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is OFF.
US09952091B2
The invention provides a management system for an illumination facility, which comprises an illuminance measuring instrument, a position detector for detecting a position of the traveling vehicle, and an arithmetic device, which are mounted on a traveling vehicle, wherein the arithmetic device is configured to save a map information, positional data of an illumination lamp, initial data including illuminance data, and the illuminance data as acquired by the illuminance measuring instrument while driving the traveling vehicle, and wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate daily management data of the illumination facility based on the positional data of the traveling vehicle as detected by the position detector, the map information, and the illuminance data, and further wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a change of the illumination facility including the illumination lamp based on the initial data and the daily management data.
US09952081B2
A level sensor assembly includes a fiber that is configured to be at least partially disposed in a tank and to be coupled to a light source and to a light detector. The fiber includes a plurality of sensing regions spaced apart along a length of the fiber. Each sensing region of the plurality of sensing regions includes a Bragg grating configured to generate a reflection spectrum responsive to incident light and a strain layer around the Bragg grating. Each strain layer is configured to induce a strain on the fiber at a respective Bragg grating based on a temperature of the strain layer such that shifts in the reflection spectra of the Bragg gratings indicate which of the sensing regions are submerged in a liquid.
US09952071B2
A sensor unit includes a sensor module including a first plane and a second plane that crosses the first plane, and an armor body configured to house the sensor module. The armor body includes a first reference inner plane for positioning the first plane of the sensor module, a first reference outer plane parallel to the first reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the first reference inner plane, a second reference inner plane for positioning the second plane of the sensor module, and a second reference outer plane parallel to the second reference inner plane and provided on an outer surface of the second reference inner plane.
US09952069B2
A tipping indicator (10) for fixing to a side surface of a packing box (1) includes an ink bag (11), an ink absorber (12), and an outer bag (13). The ink bag (11) includes an ink chamber (11a) internally filled with an ink (G). The ink absorber (12) is ink absorptive and has a different color from the ink (G). The outer bag (13) is formed from a film within which the ink bag (11) and the ink absorber (12) are enclosed. At least part of the outer bag (13) has a visual confirmation region (R3) in which the ink absorber (12) is visible.
US09952062B2
A consumption meter for measuring consumption data of a supplied utility is provided, the consumption meter comprising: a housing with an opening, where the housing forms a closed compartment when the opening of the housing is closed with a cover; a communication module provided in the closed compartment; a front plate provided in the closed department and arranged adjacent to the cover, wherein the front plate has a first front plate surface facing the cover, and a second front plate surface facing opposite; and an antenna comprising an antenna body with an antenna conductive element, which is connected to the communication module; wherein the front plate has an indentation arranged between the first and the second front plate surfaces, and wherein the antenna body is arranged in the indentation. The consumption meter provides an antenna with a high transmission performance. Further, the antenna is mechanically supported, and is arranged inside the closed compartment, eliminating the need of any feedthrough across the housing wall.
US09952060B2
A method for the real-time estimation of the total consumption of a fluid, in particular water or gas, distributed from a unit (A) to users (b1, b2 . . . ) via a network of supply pipes (E) with a branch (d1, d2 . . . ), for each user, fitted with a counter (c1, c2 . . . ) of the fluid consumed by the user, which method involves defining cohorts of users having homogeneous behavior with regard to the consumption of fluid; defining, for at least one of these cohorts, a sample of users from the cohort that is statistically sufficient to represent the cohort; fitting only the branches of the users of each sample with a remote reading device (t1, t2, . . . ) for reading the consumption; also fitting remote reading devices to the branches of the users of the other cohorts that have not been sampled; and processing the information provided by the remote reading devices to obtain a real-time value representative of the total consumption of the network.
US09952059B2
A method for delivering information to a user terminal is provided. The method includes obtaining user data. The user data may include a plurality of user activity locations and corresponding user activity time. The method may further include identifying a first position and a second position based on the user activity locations and the user activity time, selecting a travel path based on the first position and the second position, determining a user activity area based on the selected travel path, and sending content to the user terminal based on the user activity area.
US09952044B2
A calibration block for calibrating a touch probe includes a calibration block body forming a bored hole providing a concave measurement surface, and a three dimensional object protruding from the calibration block body and providing a convex measurement surface, wherein the convex measurement surface provides opposing measurement contact points in at least two dimensions.
US09952042B2
A waveguide apparatus includes a planar waveguide and at least one optical diffraction element (DOE) that provides a plurality of optical paths between an exterior and interior of the planar waveguide. A phase profile of the DOE may combine a linear diffraction grating with a circular lens, to shape a wave front and produce beams with desired focus. Waveguide apparati may be assembled to create multiple focal planes. The DOE may have a low diffraction efficiency, and planar waveguides may be transparent when viewed normally, allowing passage of light from an ambient environment (e.g., real world) useful in AR systems. Light may be returned for temporally sequentially passes through the planar waveguide. The DOE(s) may be fixed or may have dynamically adjustable characteristics. An optical coupler system may couple images to the waveguide apparatus from a projector, for instance a biaxially scanning cantilevered optical fiber tip.
US09952025B2
A projectile includes a body containing pyrotechnic material. A rear cap closes a rear end of the body. A pyrotechnic unit includes an ignitor in communication with the pyrotechnic material. A striker is arranged to strike a primer of the pyrotechnic unit. A safety lever is arranged initially to restrain movement of the striker towards the pyrotechnic unit. An external safety keeper is arranged initially to clamp a portion of the safety lever to the body.
US09952024B2
A training ammunition cartridge comprises a projectile and a cartridge case with a pyrotechnic propellant. The projectile has a projectile body with at least one compartment therein forming a void and containing a material that transitions from a solid to a liquid after set-back and after exiting from a barrel of a gun. The void is of such configuration as to cause the liquid material therein to induce forces and moments that, after a period of stable ballistic flight, destabilize the projectile and shorten its flight. Alternatively, the projectile void contains a solid mass that is released to shift its position after set-back and after the projectile exits from the barrel of the gun, wherein the void is of such configuration as to cause the mass, upon shifting, to induce forces and moments that, after a period of stable ballistic flight, destabilize the projectile and shorten its flight.
US09952023B2
A bolted telescopic rod-type defense spray apparatus includes a first tube body, a cap, a compression elastic piece, a second tube body, an anti-extraction element, a spring pin component, and a push joint component. In the bolted telescopic rod-type defense spray apparatus, two sectioned tube pieces and a spring pin component and a push joint component that are between the two tube pieces are applied to lock and unlock a relative position relationship between the two tube pieces, so that the defense spray apparatus has composite functions of a rod-piece additional function of a locking configuration of relative positions of the two tube pieces and a press-lever spray irritant gas can of an unlocking configuration of the relative positions of the two tube pieces.
US09952014B2
The invention relates to a vibration damper (35) for archery bows. The vibration damper comprises a housing (36) extending along an axis (X) and forming at least one chamber (37, 38, 39, 40), wherein the at least one chamber is partially filled with granular solid material (9). The housing is formed by a stack of two or more bowl-shaped parts (1, 2, 4) arranged along the axis, wherein the at least one chamber is closed by the subsequent part in the stack. The stack of parts is held together by a central attachment device (41) extending along the axis, to close the at least one chamber, such that the at least one chamber forms an open space circumventing the central attachment device.
US09952008B2
An apparatus is described for cleaning the exterior of a furnace heat exchanger that includes a bundle of finned convection or bare radiant tubes heated when in use by the flue gases of a heater furnace. The apparatus comprises a motorized carriage 10 guided for movement along the outer surface of the bundle in a direction parallel to the tubes and a holder 24 on the carriage for holding a lance 20 in a position relative to the carriage 10 that permits the lance 20 to penetrate between the tubes of the bundle and to be advanced along the core by the carriage while remaining in the latter position.
US09952007B2
Presently disclosed thermal actuators may be incorporated into a self-regulating thermal insulation, such that expansion and contraction of the thermal actuators in response to changes in temperature adjacent the thermal insulation automatically changes the thermal resistance of the thermal insulation. In this manner, a self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to locally adjust in response to local changes in temperature of a part being insulated, for example, during curing or some other manufacturing process. Such self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to respond to temperature changes without feedback control systems, power, or human intervention. One example of a thermal actuator may include a first segment of a first material, and a plurality of second segments of a second material, the second segments being coupled to the first segment and spaced apart from one another along the length of the first segment.
US09951998B2
A multi-pass heat exchanger is provided wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of a plurality of stacked heat exchange plates defining a plurality of alternating first and second fluid channels interconnecting respective pairs of manifolds. At least one of the manifolds in the pairs of manifolds is in the form of an annular manifold structure which divides the heat exchanger into at least a first part and a second part thereby forming at least a two-pass flow path. The annular manifold structure is provided by a generally tubular manifold insert having one end embedded within the manifold. A first annular manifold flow passage communicates with one of the sets of fluid channels in the first part of the heat exchanger and a second, central manifold flow passage communicates with the corresponding set of fluid channels in the second part of the heat exchanger.
US09951994B2
A mechanical draft cooling tower employs air cooled condenser modules and operates by mechanical draft to exchange heat between atmospheric air and steam. The cooling tower utilizes a modular air cooled condenser with heat exchange deltas having tube bundles that are manufactured and assembled prior to being shipped to the tower site.
US09951989B2
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door and a hinge assembly connecting the door and the cabinet. A sensor detects an opening angle of the door. The sensor includes: a first component and a second component, where one of the first component and the second component is a magnetic element, and the other one is a magnetic sensing element. The first component is provided at the hinge assembly, and the second component is provided at the door. This enables the magnetic sensing element to accurately sense a magnetic field of the magnetic element, and simplify a structure of the cabinet.
US09951988B2
A refrigerator includes a storage chamber having an opening; a drawer type door to open or close the opening; a display positioned at the drawer type door; a first connector provided at a sidewall of the storage chamber; a second connector provided at the drawer type door and being electrically connected to the display; a first frame coupled to an inner wall of the storage chamber, the first frame to cover the first connector; a second frame coupled to the drawer type door, the second frame to support a storage box; and a wire electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector. The first frame has a first accommodating part to accommodate one portion of the wire and the second frame has a second accommodating part to accommodate another portion of the wire.
US09951974B2
A flash tank economizer includes a sensor for sensing a condition indicative of pressure in the flash tank, and when that pressure is found to equal or exceed the critical pressure of the particular refrigerant being used, a controller responsively closes a valve in the economizer vapor line to shut off the economizer. A sensor is also provided to sense the pressure at the compressor mid-stage, and if that pressure is found to exceed the pressure in the flash tank, the controller causes the flow control device to function so as to prevent the flow of refrigerant from the compressor mid-stage to the flash tank. Provision is also made for selectively draining refrigerant from the flash tank to reduce the pressure therein from a supercritical to a subcritical condition.
US09951973B2
A cooling system (1) that cools an HV apparatus (31) includes a compressor (12) that circulates a refrigerant, a heat exchanger (14) that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an expansion valve (16) that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, a heat exchanger (18) that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air-conditioning air, a cooling portion (30) that cools the HV apparatus (31) using the refrigerant that flows between the heat exchanger (14) and the expansion valve (16), and a gas accumulator (70) that retains a gas-phase refrigerant gasified by heat exchange with the HV apparatus (31) in the cooling portion (30).
US09951969B2
A register box for HVAC installations has a body with a plurality of side panels arranged in a generally rectangular or square configuration and a wall extending across the rectangular configuration, a duct opening through the wall so as to communicate with an interior of the body, and an expandable foam polymeric material affixed to an inner side of the side panels. The wall has a surface extending from the opening of the duct to the side panels. The expandable foam polymeric material is affixed to the surface of the wall. The expandable polymeric material is polyurethane.
US09951967B2
Various arrangements are provided related to thermal energy coordination systems. A thermal energy coordination system may analyze solar irradiance measurements to identify an overgeneration solar energy event. The system may activate a thermal energy storage event to coincide with the overgeneration solar energy event at the plurality of solar panels. The system, which can include many network-enabled smart thermostats, may control air conditioners or other HVAC system within various structures. The system may determine a time to initiate cooling and a temperature to which to cool the structure based upon the received indication of the thermal energy storage event. Cooling may be initiated by the system based on the determined time and the determined temperature in response to the received indication of the thermal energy storage event
US09951965B2
A method for heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is described. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a temperature of a first room of a building via a first thermometer placed in the first room and measuring a temperature of a second room of the building via a second thermometer placed in the second room and receiving the temperature of the first room via a first data communication device communicatively coupled to a first HVAC register in the first room and receiving the temperature of the second room via a second data communication device communicatively coupled to a second HVAC register in the second room. In some cases, the first data communication device is configured to communicate data between the first thermometer and a central automation controller and the second data communication device is configured to communicate data between the second thermometer and the central automation controller.
US09951961B2
Control housing (1) for a heating or ventilation or air conditioning system, consisting in a housing body (2) closed by a lid assembly and being characterized by the fact that the housing body (2) includes at least one hydraulic control compartment (4) in which a hydraulic equipment-receiving space is formed, the hydraulic control compartment (4) including at least one opening (16, 17) for piping element(s) to pass through, the receiving space further including a unit (27, 28, 36) for maintaining in position at least one piping element. The maintaining unit may include a device (27, 28) for supporting piping element(s) which are formed by at least one pair of bearing surfaces (29) and a unit for locking in position at least one piping element against at least one bearing surface (29).
US09951952B2
A method of making a hot surface igniter is described. A silicon carbide composition that includes both fines fraction and a coarse fraction is sintered in a nitrogen and argon reducing atmosphere in a manner that controls the incorporation of nitrogen with in the lattice of recrystallized silicon carbide. The controlled incorporation of nitrogen in the lattice provides enhanced control over heating and electrical properties, while simultaneously achieving a lower surface area fully recrystallized structure for oxidation resistance and long service life.
US09951951B2
An apparatus for adjusting and controlling the combustion in a fuel gas burner. The apparatus comprises the following mutually integrated components: a comburent gas/fuel gas mixing pipe provided with a Venturi mixer in correspondence of which a fuel gas supply duct opens; means for adjusting the flow rate of fuel gas; a fan, at least partially housed in said mixing pipe; a burner arranged downstream of said fan; a safety system based upon the detection of the flame present in said burner; and an electronic control unit of devices belonging to the apparatus. The apparatus is characterized in that it further comprises: a temperature probe arranged on the inner surface of the burner; a valve for adjusting the fuel gas flow rate in the duct; said valve belonging to said control means and being mechanically controlled by an actuator; and an electronic card, electronically connected to said probe, to said fan and to said actuator.
US09951947B2
An incineration grate includes several levels including first and second grate bars arranged in rows alongside one another and in rows one above another, forming step-shaped combustion surfaces with their upper supporting surfaces. At least once in an area of the upper supporting surfaces, the first grate bars form, over their width, a smaller supporting surface for fuel than that of the second grate bars via a first shoulder disposed inwards in a direction of a longitudinal center plane. In an area of the upper supporting surfaces, the second grate bars have a supporting surface with a larger width in order to form an overlap with the first grate bars via a second shoulder disposed outwards over the width of the first grate bars. The second grate bars have at least one pin configured to be introduced into a pocket in the first grate bars and increase the larger width.
US09951941B2
Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods associated with light mounting systems. Embodiments may include lighting shelves that are configured to be mounted to a fixed structure, such as to a wall or supports within a room via a cantilever design that is mounted to unistrut. The lighting shelves may be anchored at only a single end to the unistrut, and the lighting shelves may protrude away from the unistrut. The lighting shelves may have a sufficient width and length to cover an entire region of interest below the lighting shelves, which may enable to lighting shelves to uniformly distribute light to plants.
US09951940B2
A floating illumination device for a water feature has a housing having a sub-housing extending down from a bottom section of the housing. A lighting circuit is held by the sub-housing. A plurality of illuminating elements of the lighting circuit is attached to an outer perimeter of the sub-housing. A cover is positioned over the sub-housing forming a watertight seal.
US09951935B2
The invention relates to a display device (1) having a display area (2) consisting of non-illuminated areas (9) and illuminated areas (12), wherein the centroids of adjacent illuminated areas (12) are located at distances (11, 11.1) from each other which are smaller than the resolving power of a viewer (50), wherein preferably the proportion of the non-illuminated areas (9) in the entire display area (2) is more than 70%, and wherein the display device (1) has at least one functional element (40.1, 40.2, 40.3, 40.4).
US09951934B2
Junction boxes for enclosing and making electrical connections to LED drivers are disclosed. The junction boxes include a bottom or base and a cover. Dividers arising from the base divide the junction box into high-voltage and low-voltage compartments. A cut-out open at the top of each divider allows a driver to be placed in a junction box without having to pull wires through holes or openings. Typically, the base is open along the top and along at least a portion of one sidewall, with the cover being L- or U-shaped to complete the enclosure. Various mounting mechanisms are disclosed for securing drivers within junction boxes. Embodiments that can house several drivers or components within one junction box are disclosed, as are weather- and water-resistant embodiments.
US09951932B2
Various embodiments provide a light emitting diode (LED) module. In one embodiment, the LED module comprises a circuit board; a peripheral metal board abutting and about said circuit board; an electrical insulation layer on both a first surface and a second surface of said circuit board and said peripheral metal board; electrical traces on said electrical insulation layer; and one or more LEDs mounted on said electrical traces and said electrical insulation layer over said peripheral metal board.
US09951928B2
A multi-color spotlight has a lens on a first side, a rotational mechanism, a knob for actuating the rotational mechanism, and a power supply source within a housing operably coupled to the rotational mechanism. The rotational mechanism has a rotatable rod having a plurality of substrates coupled around the circumference thereof, each substrate having an LED chip mounted in the same vertical geometric plane in relation to the other LED chips, and wherein only the LED chip that is positioned directly beneath the lens is configured to receive power from the power supply source and illuminate.
US09951922B2
An LED light unit comprises a support portion, a light source having at least one LED, the light source being arranged on the support portion and having a source-side light intensity distribution (LISS), and a refractive optical element having an inner surface and an outer surface, with at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface being non-spherical, the refractive optical element being arranged over the light source and being attached to the support portion.
US09951921B2
A vehicle taillight system being capable of representing various situations occurring upon driving a vehicle is provided. The vehicle taillight system includes: first and second taillights mounted at the rear of a vehicle; a plurality of light sources installed at each of the first and second taillights; and a controller connected to the first and second taillights and that controls the plurality of light sources to together or individually operate and that controls to output driving information of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle through the first and second taillights. Therefore, because a driver's intention expression can be more clearly represented, various safety accidents can be beforehand prevented.
US09951917B2
An emergency lighting system (ELS) for an aircraft has a capacitor, a light emitting diode (LED) selectively powered by the capacitor, and at least one of a photoluminescent sign and a photoluminescent panel configured to receive light emitted from the LED.
US09951910B2
A LED lamp includes an at least partially optically transmissive enclosure and a base. A LED assembly includes at least one LED, where the LED is located in the enclosure and is operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. An electronics board is in the electrical path and is coupled to the base by an electrical interconnect comprising at least one base-side contact that is biased into engagement with the base.
US09951907B2
A cryogenic system to remove energy includes a heat engine to store content at a predetermined temperature; one or more fans to deliver air flow through the heat engine; a cryogenic storage unit to store cryogen and having one or more insulated pipes thermally coupled to the heat engine to cool the heat engine; one or more reuse pipes coupled to one or more insulated pipes to send a portion of cryogen gas flow back to the cryogenic storage for reuse; a controller to maintain the predetermined temperature; and an on-board power generator to supply operating power to the controller and the one or more fans.
US09951906B2
In a heater for a liquefied stream, a first heat transfer zone has a box stretching longitudinally along an axis. A first heat transfer surface is arranged inside the box, across which a first indirect heat exchanging contact is established between a liquefied stream that is to be heated and a heat transfer fluid. A second heat transfer zone is located gravitationally lower and includes a second heat transfer surface across which the heat transfer fluid is brought in a second indirect heat exchanging contact with the ambient. A downcomer fluidly connects the first heat transfer zone with the second heat transfer zone and has a first transverse portion and a first downward portion that are fluidly connected to each other via a connecting elbow portion. The connecting elbow portion, when viewed in a vertical projection on a horizontal plane, is located external to the box compared to the axis.
US09951905B2
A compressed natural gas storage and dispensing system having descending pressure bulk storage banks in fluid communication with a supply source for CNG and high pressure storage banks in fluid communication with the descending pressure bulk storage bank, both banks being in fluid communication with fuel dispensers, wherein the delivery pressure of the CNG during simultaneous refueling of CNG powered vehicles is equalized.
US09951903B2
A digital display mounting and lift bracket can be employed to mount a display device to a wall or other surface or within an enclosure. The bracket can be configured to pivot between an open and a closed position. When the bracket is in the open position, a display device will be lifted upwardly thereby facilitating access to the rear surface of the display device. The bracket can then be returned to the closed position in which the display device will be properly oriented for use.
US09951901B2
A rapid pipe freezing method including a process of wrapping the pipe with a cooling coil along the outer circumference surface of the pipe rapidly is disclosed. The method includes bending the cooling coil not to be blocked by itself so that a refrigerant flow through the inside thereof and arranging the cooling coil to form a freezing area, fixing the cooling coil to fix the cooling coil on one surface of the cover sheet such that at least one part of the freezing area may be overlapped with the cover sheet, installing the cover sheet wrapping the outer circumference surface of the pipe with the cover sheet such that the cooling coil of the freezing area may face the outer circumference surface of the pipe, and flowing a refrigerant by connecting a refrigerant cooling device to the one end of the cooling coil and the other end of the same and flowing a refrigerant through the inside of the cooling coil to freeze the inside of the pipe where the freezing area is overlapped.
US09951900B2
An external seal for sealing against an elbow fitting of a fluid line has an elbow clamp and a seal. The elbow clamp has a first part that is sized and shaped to engage the outer radiused curve of the elbow fitting, and a second part that engages the inner radiused curve of the elbow fitting. The first part defines a tool opening and a tool engagement profile sealingly engages a valve in axial alignment with the tool opening. A clamping member brings the first part into engagement with the outer radiused curve of the elbow fitting. The seal is adjacent to the first part of the elbow clamp in line with the tool opening and seals around the tool opening between the elbow clamp and the elbow fitting when the clamping force is applied.
US09951897B2
An elastic seal element seals a fluid passage between a first component and a second component from the surroundings, the fluid passage passing through the seal element. The seal element has a first bead, which provides a sealing line to sealingly contact the first component around the fluid passage. The seal element further has a second bead, which provides a second sealing line to sealingly contact the second component around the fluid passage. The seal element has a tubular shape, a tubular casing extending between the first bead at the first end of the seal element and the second bead at the second end of the seal element, wherein the tubular casing allows a transversal offset of the second bead relative to the first bead to seal the fluid passage by the seal element even when the second component is offset transversely relative to the first component.
US09951895B2
A fitting for connecting tubular assemblies includes a base member defining a first bore configured to receive a tube therein. A retaining band defines a second bore for receiving a portion of the base member. The retaining band defines an engagement feature on a radially outward surface configured to engage a locking mechanism of a fastening member.
US09951889B2
A cable tie system has a cable tie member and a cable retaining member. The cable tie member has a base with an inner facing surface and an outer facing surface, a pair of cable tie strips connected to the base and projecting outward from the inner facing surface, and a locking member connected to the base and projecting outward from outer facing surface. The cable retaining member has a retainer housing with a top surface, a bottom surface, a pair of tie strip receiving passageways complimentary to the cable tie strips, a resilient tie strip engaging arm positioned in each tie strip receiving passageway and in releasable contact with one of the cable tie strips when the cable tie strips are positioned in the tie strip receiving passageways, and a release member connected to an end of each resilient tie strip engaging arm.
US09951882B2
Provided is a cap for a handwheel that opens and closes a valve, capable of being readily attached to the handwheel without requiring a large space around the handwheel. The cap has easily switchable two working modes: One is a co-rotation mode where the cap is capable of rotating with the handwheel and the other is an independent rotation mode where the cap is capable of rotating independently of the handwheel. The cap has an internal casing to be securely fitted to the handwheel; an external casing being rotatable around its axis and having the internal casing in an interior thereof; a clutch for connecting the external casing with the internal casing and for disconnecting the former from the latter; and a maintaining member for keeping the external casing rotatable independently of the internal casing when they are disconnected by the clutch.
US09951881B2
A solenoid operated unit for detecting and bleeding undesired liquid present in desired liquid of different resistivity and specific gravity, the two liquids being immiscible with each other; with an electrical arrangement having a pair of parallel sensor pins and a pair of serial sensor pins. A dual function diaphragm ensures suitability for use with contaminated fluids. A pressure equalization outlet ensures smooth and speedy bleeding of undesired liquid. A modular mechanical sensor, when provided, provides redundancy such that desired fluid is not drained in situations of any electro-mechanical failure.
US09951877B2
A system including a valve trim having a plurality of flow paths, wherein each flow path of the plurality of flow paths includes a series of stages, and a plurality of expansion zones disposed in series with the series or stages, wherein each expansion zone of the plurality of expansion zones is disposed between a sequential set of adjacent upstream and downstream stages of the series of stages, wherein each expansion zone of the plurality of expansion zones is configured to flow a fluid in a direction that is generally transverse to directions of flow in both the adjacent-upstream stage and the adjacent-downstream stage, and wherein each expansion zone of the plurality of expansion zones is in line with one of the adjacent-upstream stage or the adjacent-downstream stage and offset from a different one of the corresponding adjacent-upstream stage or the adjacent-downstream stage.
US09951876B2
A double eccentric valve includes a valve seat having a seat surface, a valve element having a sealing surface, a passage in which the valve seat and the valve element are arranged, and a rotary shaft which rotates the valve element attached to an attaching part of the rotary shaft. With respect to the valve element and the valve hole, a main axis of the rotary shaft is doubly eccentric in a passage direction and a direction perpendicular to the passage. By rotation about the main axis, the valve element moves between a fully closed position where the sealing surface contacts the seat surface and a fully open position where the sealing surface is furthest away from the seat surface. A second axis of the attaching part extends parallel to the main axis and eccentrically in a radial direction of the rotary shaft from the main axis.
US09951875B2
A valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve body central axis. A valve actuator is operably connected to the valve body and is located such that a central axis of the valve actuator is nonparallel to the valve body central axis. A strut extends from the valve body to the valve actuator to support the valve actuator in a fixed relationship to the valve body. A pneumatically-actuated butterfly valve includes a valve body having a valve body central axis and a valve disc. A pneumatic actuator is located such that its central axis is nonparallel to the valve body central axis. The actuator includes a piston disposed in a cylinder, the piston operably connected to the valve disc. A strut extends from the valve body to support the actuator in a fixed relationship to the valve body.
US09951871B2
A brush seal assembly may seal a gap between a diaphragm and a rotor of a turbine. The brush seal assembly includes a brush, one end of which is inserted in a rotor facing surface of a diaphragm while the other end thereof protrudes toward a rotor, and a support strip spaced apart from one side of the brush so that one side end portion of the support strip is fixed and the other side end portion thereof supports one side of the brush.
US09951868B2
A piston ring for an internal combustion engine or for a compressor, in particular a piston ring includes an exterior running surface (3), two flanks (5, 6), and an interior circumferential surface (7); the running surface (3) has a profiled section with a groove (2), the groove (2) being located between an upper portion (3′) of the running surface and a lower portion (3″) of the running surface in relation to the cross-section of the piston ring (1).
US09951867B2
A piston damper has a cylinder including an attachment portion; a piston reciprocatingly disposed inside the cylinder; and a rod including an attachment portion that is moved synchronously with the piston. Each of the attachment portions of the cylinder and the rod is adapted to connect to different one of a first member and a second member to damp a movement of the other member relative to one member among both the members. At least one of the attachment portion of the cylinder and the attachment portion of the rod is formed with a fitting hole, and the attachment portion is axially supported in a fitted state between the fitting hole and an axis relative to at least one of the first member and the second member, and includes an urging device absorbing looseness of the fitting hole relative to the axis.
US09951864B2
This invention provides a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which includes a plurality of engaging mechanisms. The plurality of engaging mechanisms includes a mechanical engaging mechanism configured to function as a brake. The mechanical engaging mechanism can be switched between a first state in which rotation of a rotational element is restricted only in one direction and a second state in which the rotation is restricted in both directions. When switching from the first state to the second state, the control apparatus executes engagement control to set a plurality of hydraulic friction engaging mechanisms in an engaging state. Control to set a predetermined hydraulic friction engaging mechanism in a half-engaging state and brake an output member can be executed in parallel to the engagement control.
US09951862B2
A drive device includes a gear having a hole; a shaft that passes through the hole; and a grease composition that is held in a clearance between the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the hole. The gear rotates on a peripheral surface of the shaft. At least one of the gear and the shaft is made of a resin. The clearance is in a range of 10 to 110 μm. The grease composition contains a hydrocarbon base oil and lithium soap serving as a thickener. A weight ratio of the hydrocarbon base oil to the lithium soap is in a range of 94.5:5.5 to 96.0:4.0. A consistency of the grease composition is in a range of 360 to 400.
US09951861B2
An automatic transmission uses 6 shift elements applied in combinations of four to establish ten forward speed ratios and a reverse speed ratio. The automatic transmission uses a hydraulic control system to control engagement of the six elements, control engagement of a torque converter bypass clutch, control engagement of a parking pawl, and to provide fluid for a hydrodynamic torque converter and for lubrication. The parking pawl is disengaged in response to engagement of two of the six shift elements and remains disengaged in response to engagement of other shift elements. A single valve controls several different functions associated with the two-pass torque converter. Pressurized fluid is provided by a variable displacement engine driven pump and also by an electric pump. A priority valve reduces lubrication flow when other fluid demands are high as indicated by the pump displacement control circuit.
US09951854B2
A differential gear set assembling method includes: a pivoting step of closing openings by guide portion and pivoting a pair of pinions between a pair of side gears; and an insertion step of inserting a pinion shaft into a pair of case shaft holes and a pair of pinion shaft holes from outside the differential case. The pivoting step is performed in a state where projecting portions are buried in the guide portions. The insertion step is performed in a state where the projecting portions are projected from the guide portions toward the pair of side gears, and the pair of side gears are pressed by the projecting portions so as to apply loads against biasing forces of coned disc springs to the pair of side gears.
US09951850B2
A drive assembly for a motor vehicle has a multi-step transmission and a differential drive. The multi-step transmission comprises a rotatingly drivable driveshaft and an intermediate shaft parallel to the driveshaft, and at least one first transmission stage and a second transmission stage for transmitting torque from the driveshaft to the intermediate shaft with different transmission ratios, as well as a shift unit, wherein the intermediate shaft comprises an output gear for transmitting torque to a differential carrier of the differential drive, wherein a rotational axis of the differential carrier extends parallel to the intermediate shaft, wherein the output gear and the shift unit are arranged axially between the at least two transmission stages, and wherein the driveshaft comprises bores for supplying lubricant.
US09951848B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, an input shaft mounted with the first, second, and third planetary gear sets at an external circumference of the input shaft, an output shaft disposed in parallel with the input shaft and mounted with the fourth planetary gear set on external circumference of the output shaft, a first shaft, a second shaft directly connected with the input shaft, a third shaft, a fourth shaft gear-meshed with the output shaft, a fifth shaft, a sixth shaft, a seventh shaft, an eighth shaft, a ninth shaft directly connected with the output shaft, a tenth shaft, and transfer gears, each gear-meshed with at least one of the shafts.
US09951847B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft; an output shaft; a first to fourth planetary gear sets and six control elements disposed at portions selectively connecting between the rotation elements or disposed at portions selectively connecting between the rotation elements and a transmission housing, wherein the input shaft is continuously connected to the second rotation element, the output shaft is continuously connected to the eleventh rotation element, the first rotation element is continuously connected to the fourth rotation element, the fifth rotation element is continuously connected to the eighth rotation element, the sixth rotation element is continuously connected to the eleventh rotation element, the ninth rotation element is continuously connected to the tenth rotation element, the ninth rotation element is selectively connected to the transmission housing, and the six control elements are selectively operated in combination of three of the six control elements.
US09951835B2
A window system is disclosed. The window system includes a window which has a first window pane spatially separated from a second window pane. The window panes are surrounded by a window frame, which houses a memory device for storing electronic data.
US09951832B2
Floating calliper for disc brake comprising a calliper body and a bracket, wherein the calliper body is suitable for being positioned astride the disc brake, extending from an inner side to an outer side of the calliper, the bracket comprises means of attachment of the calliper for disc brake to a relative support, the calliper body sliding in relation to the bracket in an axial direction, the calliper comprising means of coupling between the calliper body and the bracket, suitable to permit the relative sliding between these parallel to the axial direction. The bracket extends only on the inner side of the calliper and delimits a first seat housing at least a first pad to exert the braking action on an inner side of the disc brake. The calliper body delimits a second seat, axially opposite the first seat, so as to house at least a second pad exerting a braking action on an outer side of the disc brake facing the outer side of the calliper. Advantageously, the coupling means comprise a guide pin and an attachment pin, the guide pin enabling and guiding a relative sliding, in the axial direction, of the calliper body in relation to the bracket and the attachment pin angularly blocking the calliper body on the bracket, preventing its rotation in relation to the guide pin, so that the calliper body is axially guided solely by the guide pin.
US09951830B2
An electronic control unit performs lockup clutch engagement control in the sequence of fast fill control, constant-pressure standby control and command pressure raising control, and starts the lockup clutch engagement control from that one of the fast fill control and the command pressure raising control which is later in sequence than the other, as a command pressure for a control oil pressure at a transition time point for making a transition to the lockup clutch engagement control rises, in making the transition to the lockup clutch engagement control during the lockup clutch release control. Therefore, when the command pressure for the control oil pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined value that is needed to carry out packing for narrowing a pack clearance of a lockup clutch, the lockup clutch engagement control is started from the command pressure raising control.
US09951822B2
In a constant-velocity joint, an inner member thereof includes holders that serve to retain respective roller assemblies. When each of the holders is hypothetically divided into three equal parts made up of a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion from a side of an annular member, an inner wall surface of an inner roller of the roller assembly contacts only a side wall surface of the proximal end portion. The inner roller preferably has an inside diameter, which is minimum at a contact point that contacts the side wall surface of the proximal end portion. More specifically, the inside diameter of the inner roller gradually expands in diameter from the contact point to a side that faces toward the annular member, and further, gradually expands in diameter from the contact point to a side that faces toward the distal end portion.
US09951809B2
A rolling-element bearing includes an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring. The inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring define an axial direction and a circumferential direction. The rolling-element bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements. The rolling elements are configured to roll circumferentially between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. The rolling-element bearing includes at least one oil chamber. The oil chamber is between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. Each oil chamber is defined by the inner bearing ring, the outer bearing ring and an oil chamber housing. The oil chamber housing is fixed to one of the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring. The rolling-element bearing includes at least one duct corresponding to each oil chamber. The at least one duct is for a supply of oil to the corresponding oil chamber. Each duct extends through the bearing ring to which the oil chamber housing is fixed.
US09951800B2
A surface plasma actuator includes a conducting wire attached to a surface of a target object and electrically insulated from the target object. Surface plasma is generated along a neighborhood of the conducting wire by applying a pulse voltage between the conducting wire and a conductive portion on a side of the target object. An induced gas flow is generated by the surface plasma.
US09951799B2
An open/shut valve mechanism for detecting that a piston member of a hydraulic pressure cylinder has reached an unclamp position comprises: a valve body reception hole that communicates with a unclamp hydraulic pressure operating chamber, a valve body movably received in the valve body reception hole and having an annular concave engagement portion on its external circumferential portion; a spherical body that is movably installed in a cylinder main body and that can engage with the concave engagement portion; and an engagement portion that is formed on an auxiliary rod and with which the spherical body can engage; and when hydraulic pressure is charged into the unclamp hydraulic pressure operating chamber and the piston member has reached its unclamp position, the valve body receives the hydraulic pressure, a portion of the spherical body engages to the engagement portion and the valve body changes over to the valve closed position; and, when the piston member has shifted from its unclamp position, the spherical body engages with the annular concave engagement portion without engaging to the engagement portion, so that the valve body is held in its open position.
US09951798B2
A control device includes a valve, having a body connected to the first chamber of a cylinder via a first hydraulic connection and to the second chamber of the cylinder via a second hydraulic connection. The control device includes a first hydraulic duct connected to a first actuating-fluid source, and a second hydraulic duct connected to a second actuating-fluid source. The hydraulic ducts communicate with the body of the valve. The valve further includes a distribution device that is movable within the body of the valve, between a first position, in which the distribution device places the first hydraulic connection and the first hydraulic duct in fluid communication, and a second position, in which the distribution device places the second hydraulic connection and the second hydraulic duct in fluid communication.
US09951786B2
A centrifugal pump impellor includes balancing holes that reduce axial thrust while minimizing the loss of pump efficiency. In one general aspect, the balancing holes penetrate the rear shroud between the blades, and are angled in both axial and rotational directions so as to direct the leakage fluid approximately parallel to the primary process fluid, so that it causes minimal interference with the primary fluid flow. In a second general aspect, the balancing holes extend from the rear cavity within the impellor blades and through the leading edges of the blades, thereby entering the primary flow in locations where the process fluid is almost static relative to the blades. This minimizes the impact on the flow of the process fluid past the blades, and thereby minimizes the loss of pump efficiency caused by the balance holes. In embodiments, each blade leading edge includes a plurality of balancing hole outlets.
US09951778B2
A structural improvement of the canned pump is to improve the stiffness of a stationary shaft and, according to requirement, to dispose a monitor device. The method for improving the stiffness of the stationary shaft includes axially inserting a shaft metal rear support of the metal structural of a motor rear casing of a canned motor into the inner side of a rotor yoke of an inner rotor of the canned motor, tightly attaching the shaft metal rear support to a rear shaft seat for improving the stiffness of the stationary shaft by longer hold length, and for shortening an arm length of the composite force. The monitor device, used for detecting the wear of a bearing for enhancing the reliability and satisfying the driving requirement, is installed in the ring slot to be protected by the rear shaft seat.
US09951775B2
On a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft, an upper muffler chamber has a plurality of flared portions that are flared from a center of a rotation shaft toward between penetrating bolts and a plurality of small-diameter portions that connect between the flared portions, are apart from penetrating bolts, and are formed on a center side of the rotation shaft from the penetrating bolts. A muffler outlet is provided in each flared portion. A second outlet and a refrigerant path hole of an upper end plate are positioned on an inside of one of a plurality of flared portions, and an opening area of the muffler outlet of one flared portion is greater than an opening area of the muffler outlet of each of the other flared portions.
US09951772B2
A scroll compressor includes scroll compressor bodies, which, in turn, include a fixed scroll compressor body and a moveable scroll compressor body. The scroll compressor bodies have respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases, and which mutually engage about an axis for compressing fluid. The scroll compressor also includes a housing to house the scroll compressor bodies. A separator plate is configured to separate a high-pressure gas chamber from a low-pressure gas chamber within the housing. The separator plate has no machined surfaces, and has an outer perimeter portion which is attached to an unmachined inner surface of the housing. Having no machined surfaces indicates that no material is removed from the separator plate during its manufacture apart from operations to form initial inner and outer diameters of the separator plate.
US09951768B2
A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
US09951767B2
A vibrational fluid mover includes a housing having at least one actuator element positioned thereon that vibrates responsive to a wave shape voltage applied thereto, such that a volume of a chamber in the housing increases and decreases to entrain and eject fluid into/out from the chamber. A control system is operably connected to the actuator element to cause the voltage to be provided thereto so as to actively control the movement of the actuator element. The control system is programmed to set a baseline value for an operational parameter of the vibrational fluid mover generated responsive to a target voltage and frequency being provided, monitor operation of the vibrational fluid mover during operation at the target voltage and frequency, identify a deviation of the operational parameter from the baseline value, and modify the voltage and frequency provided to the actuator element based on any deviation of the operational parameter.
US09951747B2
The invention relates to extracting kinetic energy from surface waves. Therein, at least one float (8) is kept floating in the area of the surface waves, while a working fluid is held in a reservoir structure (2, 3). The float is connected to a fluid displacement structure in such manner that an individual surface wave, which causes an upward stroke of the float, moves the working fluid within the reservoir structure in such manner that the potential energy of the working fluid is increased. Before the wave has reached the float, the wave is detected by a sensor (7). Based on said detection, a prediction is calculated of the amount of kinetic energy available in the wave. Tuned to said prediction, an energy transmission structure of the fluid displacement structure is adjusted for realizing the energy conversion.
US09951745B2
An axial flow water turbine according to an embodiment includes a discharge ring and a runner vane. When seen in the runner meridional cross section, a straight line that passes a border between a cylindrical surface and a spherical surface of the discharge ring and that is perpendicular to a water turbine rotation axis is denoted as A. A crossing point between the straight line A and the water turbine rotation axis is denoted as B. A straight line inclined by an angle θ of 10 degrees or less is denoted as C. A cross point between the straight line C and the external peripheral end surface of the runner vane is denoted as D. In this case, the external peripheral end of the forward edge of the runner vane is located on the crossing point D.
US09951729B2
A fuel supply device has a cover member which is attached to an opening of a fuel tank, a pump unit comprising a pump, and a connecting portion configured to connect the cover member and the pump unit. A connecting shaft which is formed to one of the two connected members of the connecting portion is inserted into a connecting hole which is formed to the other of the two such that the pump unit is connected to be relatively movable to the connecting portion. The pump unit includes an upper base on which the pump is placed, and a lower base which contacts to the fuel tank. The upper base and the lower base are coupled through attachments whereby an engagement portion of the upper base is fitted into a recessed portion formed on the side of the lower base. The recessed portion has a pair of planes opposing to each other and oriented toward a bottom surface of the lower base from a predetermined position. The recessed portion is further configured such that an interval between a pair of the planes is gradually increased toward the bottom surface.
US09951722B2
A chamber for reducing operating noise of a purge control solenoid valve (PCSV) for an evaporative emission control system comprises a first housing into which operating noise of the PCSV enters. The first housing has an inner space to change a cross sectional area of an operating noise path or an operating noise transfer direction at least once. A second housing has an upper portion coupled to a lower portion of the first housing to transfer the operating noise outside. At least one end of the chamber in a length direction thereof is connected with a vapor hose which connects a canister collecting fuel evaporation gas generated from a fuel tank with the PCSV to deliver the fuel evaporation gas to an engine and through which the fuel evaporation gas flows.
US09951719B2
A nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan nacelle bounding a bypass flow path. The fan nacelle includes a first nacelle section and a second nacelle section. The second nacelle section includes a moveable portion movable relative to a forward portion to define a secondary flow passage. The first nacelle section includes an inlet lip. A thrust reverser is configured to selectively communicate a portion of bypass airflow between the bypass flow path and the secondary flow passage. A pump is configured to selectively communicate airflow between the inlet lip and the secondary flow passage. A method of flow distribution for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
US09951713B2
A fuel injection apparatus includes: an injector disposed at a position offset from an ignition plug toward an intake port and injecting a fuel spray toward a crown surface of a piston, and an injection controller causing the injector to perform injection in accordance with an amount and timing of fuel injection preset in accordance with an operating state of an engine. The piston includes: a first recess formed by recessing a central portion of the crown surface and a second recess formed by recessing part of the first recess on an injector side further than the first recess. The injector injects 50% or more of fuel to be injected for the last fuel injection toward the second recess during a compression stroke, and injects part of the fuel to be injected for the last fuel injection toward an area of the first recess other than the second recess.
US09951710B2
An electronic control unit sets a misfire determination threshold to a first value in the cylinder injection mode, and sets the misfire determination threshold to a second value smaller than the first value in the port injection mode, and determines that a misfire occurs in the engine when a rotation fluctuation of the engine is larger than the misfire determination threshold. In a case where the cylinder injection mode is changed to the port injection mode, when a predetermined period has elapsed from the change, the electronic control unit changes the misfire determination threshold from the first value to the second value.
US09951709B2
A hybrid electric vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator connected via a first clutch. In response to a system stop request in a vehicle stop state, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a predetermined rotation speed higher than a predetermined resonance frequency band by a negative torque applied to the internal combustion engine from the electric motor/generator via the first clutch. Then, the disengagement of the first clutch starts. The rotation speed of the engine falls below the predetermined resonance frequency band within a predetermined period from the start of the disengagement. As a consequence, the required period from a stopping operation of the internal combustion engine until actual operation stop thereof in a vehicle stationary state is reduced.
US09951708B2
The invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine (10) including a control target (60V, 52) that controls controlled variable (Pim, Regr). The control apparatus according to the invention is capable of selectively performing single control that is control for controlling the controlled variable to a target value thereof (Pimt, Regrt) without considering a change in the controlled variable that acts as a disturbance on the control of the controlled variable, and composite control that is control for controlling the controlled variable to the target value thereof in consideration of the change in the controlled variable that acts as the disturbance on the control of the controlled variable. The controlled variable is controlled to the target value thereof through the single control when an absolute value of a controlled variable change rate (Rpim, Rregr) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (Rpimth, Rregrth). The controlled variable is controlled to the target value thereof through the composite control when the absolute value of the controlled variable change rate is larger than the predetermined value.
US09951706B2
Modified calibration strategies for controlling an internal combustion engine and monitoring catalyst performance are disclosed. The modified calibration strategies are implemented using an engine and test cell/catalyst chamber setup wherein the engine is a Euro V 1.2 L turbo gasoline direct injection engine and test cells/catalyst chamber are implemented as substantially free of platinum group metals (PGM) catalysts, herein referred as ZPGM catalysts, and synergized PGM (SPGM) catalysts including a stoichiometric spinel structure within the catalyst configuration. The utilization of an open ECU enables the modified calibration of the engine out targeted AFR. The conventional ECU AFR control strategies are not modified to have the ECU AFR control strategies to continue running normally and only the final engine out targeted AFR values are modified by applying offset AFR values. The modified calibration strategies improve engine operation and catalyst conversion efficiency of the ZPGM and SPGM catalysts including the spinel structures.
US09951705B2
The first memory of a control unit has a control program stored therein, and an update of the control program is performed at a predetermined timing. After the update of the control program, the second memory in the control unit is referred to, and an event code stored in the second memory is extracted if the event code does not correspond to any one of event code group respectively associated with events that can possibly be generated by the updated control program. Due to the decreased necessity for use as reference data, the extracted event code may be considered as un-necessary and may be deleted, for example, from the memory.
US09951702B2
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine having dedicated EGR and operating at a net stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In such engines, one or more cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of the exhaust produced by the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) may be directed back to the intake manifold. Because the engine's exhaust is net stoichiometric, its exhaust aftertreatment system has a three-way catalyst. An EGR loop is configured to recirculate EGR from the dedicated EGR cylinder(s) to the engine's intake manifold. A diversion line, modulated with a valve, connects the EGR loop to the exhaust aftertreatment system, thereby allowing adjustment of the relative amounts of EGR to be recirculated and to be provided to the exhaust system.
US09951694B2
An emergency start system for a turbine engine of an aircraft including at least one solid propellant gas generator, an electrically controlled ignition device, a computer connected to the ignition device, and at least one starter motor comprising a turbine for driving a shaft which is for coupling to a shaft of the turbine engine The outlet of the gases from the generator are connected to the inlet of the turbine of the starter motor.
US09951693B2
A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor includes a fuel distribution manifold. A first fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing and provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector disposed within the outer casing. A second fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing. The second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector within the outer casing. In particular configurations, the fuel supply system includes a shield that surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing and at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.
US09951682B2
A compressor for an internal combustion engine is provided. The compressor includes a compressor shaft having compressor blades attached thereto, positioned in an intake air duct, and rotating about an axis during compressor operation and a magnetic bearing positioned upstream of the compressor blades in the intake air duct, including a ring positioned around the compressor shaft, stator electrics arranged in the ring, and at least two magnets arranged on the compressor shaft configured to exert a magnetic force on the stator electrics to form an air gap between the ring and the compressor shaft.
US09951680B2
A turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber and a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. The turbocharger system further includes a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, a wastegate actuator coupled to the wastegate adjusting a position of the wastegate, and an air-cooled solenoid valve coupled to wastegate actuator adjusting a position of the wastegate actuator, the air-cooled solenoid valve receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine.
US09951672B2
Methods and systems are provided for sensing particulate matter by a particulate matter sensor positioned downstream of a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system. In one example, a method may include accumulating incoming particulate matter by applying a higher bias to a first trap of the particulate matter sensor, and further charging the particulate matter and forming highly charged dendrites. The method further includes capturing the dendrites exiting the first trap by applying a lower bias to a second trap also housed within the same particulate matter sensor, thereby reducing the effects of exhaust flow rate on the particulate matter sensor and further increasing the sensitivity of the particulate matter sensor.
US09951671B2
A heat transfer device that includes a thermionic power generator, a wiring, a load circuit, and a switch circuit. The thermionic power generator includes an emitter electrode and a collector electrode facing each other with an inter-electrode gap distance, and converts heat energy into electric energy by capturing, with the collector electrode, a thermoelectron that is emitted from the emitter electrode. The wiring electrically connects the emitter electrode and the collector electrode. The load circuit is connected to an electric current path of by wiring between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode. The switch circuit switches between an ON state and an OFF state.
US09951670B2
An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes an oxygen ion conductor which can conduct oxygen ions when a voltage is applied to the conductor and a NOx absorption/discharge device. The NOx absorption/discharge device is formed by a first electrode provided on a first surface of the oxygen ion conductor and a second electrode including silver and provided on a second surface of the oxygen ion conductor opposite to the first surface across the oxygen ion conductor. The apparatus applies a voltage between the first and second electrodes such that oxygen ions move through the oxygen ion conductor from the first electrode toward the second electrode when satisfied is a purification condition that nitrogen oxide discharged from the NOx absorption/discharge device can be purified in the exhaust passage.
US09951668B2
A filter assembly that includes a separator for separating gas from a fluid. The assembly includes; a base with surrounding walls that define a fluid reservoir; a baffle that overlies at least a portion of the reservoir; a filter element that is beneath the baffle and in the reservoir; and, a cover that is removably fastened to the base and includes a fluid inlet that terminates in a conical base with an unrestricted opening and the baffle includes a fluid impact cone.
US09951665B2
A cover assembly unit includes a thin-walled cover pan with a sealing flange, at least two screw holes in the sealing flange, at least one fixing opening, a fastening screw captively arranged in each screw hole; and a carrier frame gasket with a carrier, a gasket, which bears against the sealing flange, a screw passage for each screw hole, a fixing element for each fixing opening, and a centering body for the fastening screw in each screw passage.
US09951644B2
Provided is a gas turbine capable of achieving high-speed startup of the gas turbine through quick operation control of an ACC system during startup of the gas turbine, improving the cooling efficiency of turbine stationary components, and quickly carrying out an operation required for cat back prevention during shutdown of the gas turbine. Included are a pressurizing device (40) connected to a branching channel (42) branching from the discharge side of a compressor (11) and capable of carrying out an operation for introducing and pressurizing air independently from the compressor (11); a temperature-control-medium supply channel (43) that guides compressed air pressurized at the pressuring device (40) to a turbine-cooling-medium channel (50) provided in stationary components of a turbine (13); and a temperature-control-medium return channel (44) that guides the compressed air that has passed through the turbine-cooling-medium channel (50) to the discharge side of the compressor (11) such that the flows are combined, and the pressurizing device (40) is operated at startup of the gas turbine and in preparation immediately before startup to carry out temperature-raising and cooling by letting the compressed air flow in the turbine-cooling-medium channel (50). The pressurizing device (40) is operated during shutdown of the gas turbine to exhaust the high-temperature gas remaining in the turbine (13).
US09951638B2
A shaped rim cavity wing includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface has a geometric shape to control the separation of airflow as it passes around the lower surface to the top surface. A point of maximum extent defines the boundary between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the point of maximum extent defines a corner that that separates airflow from the shaped rim cavity rim and creates a flow re-circulation adjacent to the top surface of the shaped rim cavity wing.
US09951637B2
A rotary machine includes a machine rotor, a machine stator, a labyrinth seal disposed between the machine rotor and the machine stator, a dry gas seal disposed between the machine rotor and the machine stator, the dry gas seal being disposed downstream of the labyrinth seal, the labyrinth seal including a labyrinth seal rotor, and, a labyrinth seal stator, the labyrinth seal stator having a cavity containing a heat transfer medium configured to transfer heat between the labyrinth seal stator and a zone adjacent the labyrinth seal stator to cool or heat a pressurized process fluid before the process fluid bears against the dry gas seal.
US09951632B2
Hybrid bonded turbine rotors and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. A method for manufacturing a hybrid bonded turbine rotor comprises the steps of providing turbine disk having a rim portion comprising a live rim of circumferentially continuous material and a plurality of live rim notches in an outer periphery of the turbine disk alternating with a plurality of raised blade attachment surfaces defining the outer periphery; providing a plurality of turbine blades, each of which comprising an airfoil portion and a shank portion, the shank portion having a base surface; metallurgically bonding a compliant alloy material layer to either or both of the raised blade attachments surfaces of the turbine disk and the base surfaces of the blade shanks; and linear friction welding the plurality of blades to the turbine disk so as to form a bond plane between the raised blade attachments surfaces of the turbine disk and the base surfaces of the blade shanks, the compliant alloy material layer being disposed at the bond plane.
US09951629B2
An airfoil according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a suction sidewall and a pressure sidewall, each sidewall extending spanwise from an airfoil base and extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A tip wall extends chordwise from the leading edge to the trailing edge and joining respective outer spanwise ends of the suction and pressure sidewalls. A tip leakage control channel is recessed into the tip wall, the tip leakage control channel including a control channel floor that extends between a first control channel vane sidewall and a second control channel vane sidewall established by a corresponding tip leakage control vane. An internal cooling cavity is disposed between the suction sidewall and the pressure sidewall and a channel cooling aperture feeds airflow from the internal cooling cavity to the tip leakage control channel.
US09951622B2
A system paints the external and internal faces of a splayed end of a hollow shaft, with a rotary paint bench. This splayed end includes an end support face and an opposite support face. The system includes a fixing ring applied against the end support face and a counter-ring applied against the opposite support face as well as a fixing device, an end hub fixed to the fixing ring in line with the splayed end, and including a running belt suitable for resting on two rollers of the bench, a hollow external hub including two half-hubs delimiting a running belt suitable for resting on two rollers of the bench, and fixed to the counter-ring while surrounding the splayed end.
US09951620B1
A working fluid turbo comprising an enclosed housing; an intake port; an exhaust port; at least two sets of a plurality of disks within the housing; and a shaft connected to at least one set of the at least two sets of plurality of disks. The at least two sets of a plurality of disks has a first set of disks aligned with the intake port and a second set of disks aligned with the exhaust port. The shaft connects to at least one set of the at least two sets of disks. The first set of disks and the second set of disks each include an end plate with X-shaped walls that forms an X-shaped disk shaft, whereby the X-shaped disk shaft allows the working fluid to move between solid disks and holed disks.
US09951619B2
Disclosed are rotary positive displacement machines capable of acting as an engine and as a pump, serving to improve the profile of working members of helical rotary engines, compressors and pumps. An actuator is comprised of a pair of rotors having engaged helical teeth. The rotors are disposed in chambers which encircle both. The working areas of the profiles of the teeth in an engaged pair are delineated in cross-section by portions of a cycloidal curve for one rotor and by arcs of circumferences which are eccentrically offset from the axis of the second rotor. Such a profile of teeth produces an eccentrically cycloidal engagement capable to work efficiently at very high rotor rotation speeds. The presence of power contact and low sensitivity to gearwheel skews allow for working with nonhomogeneous media, including those containing solid inclusions.
US09951610B2
A downhole signal transmission system provides electric radiofrequency signals that are coupled to electrically conductive or non-conductive fluids through electrical insulators. A plurality of signal repeaters are tuned to the frequencies of the radiofrequency signals, and a plurality of transmission lines terminated by resonance circuits are also provided such that the terminating resonance circuits resonate on the frequencies of the electric radiofrequency signals. The plurality of signal repeaters and plurality of transmission elements are arranged to be redundant such that a failure of one or more of the signal repeaters or a failure of one or more of the transmission elements does not substantially affect the operation of the data transmission system. The signal repeaters and transmission elements also are arranged such that a failure of any of the signal repeaters or a failure of any of the transmission elements is communicated to the surface.
US09951609B2
A three phase power system provided with a data communications system and associated method of data transmission for transmitting data over a three phase power system between a surface and a sub-surface location for an arrangement such as an oil field electrical submersible pump, the data communications system comprising a cabled connection from a surface system to a sub-surface system; a power module coupled to the cabled connection via a tuned circuit tuned to a first frequency, a data signal module coupled to the cabled connection via a tuned circuit tuned to a second frequency, independently of the coupled power module so as to minimize interference between the power signal module and data signal module during operation.
US09951606B2
A method and apparatus for directional drilling using mechanical wave detectors and a drill string having a drill bit at a drill bit end of the drill string. During an underground drilling operation in an underground formation, a mechanical wave signal is transmitted using a mechanical wave transmitter carried at the drill bit end of the drill string. The mechanical wave signal is received by an array of mechanical wave receivers at a ground surface above the underground formation. The received mechanical wave signals are processed to determine at least the location of the drill bit in the underground formation. The position and direction of travel data is communicated to a drilling control unit.
US09951600B2
A method of cementing a tubular string in a wellbore includes: deploying the tubular string into the wellbore; pumping cement slurry into the tubular string; launching a cementing plug after pumping the cement slurry; propelling the cementing plug through the tubular string, thereby pumping the cement slurry through the tubular string and into an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore; and controlling flow of fluid displaced from the wellbore by the cement slurry to control pressure of the annulus.
US09951595B2
A method of initiating or accelerating the establishment of fluid communication between injection and production wells located in a formation, including injecting sufficient solvent into the wellbores of the wells such that the solvent occupies more than the horizontal sections of the wells; pressurizing the solvent column in the injection wellbore and optionally also the solvent column in the production wellbore by injecting gas such that the pressures at the toe and heel of the horizontal section of the injection well and optionally the production well are greater than a fracture pressure of the formation; maintaining the pressure in the injection wellbore and optionally also the production wellbore; depressurizing the injection wellbore and optionally the production wellbore, either simultaneously or consecutively in the case where both wellbores have been pressurized; and repeating the pressurization and depressurization steps for at least one more cycle to generate pressure swings.
US09951594B2
A method of utilizing carbon monoxide to increase oil recovery includes methods of injecting an effective amount of carbon monoxide into an oil reservoir. The carbon monoxide increases oil flow from the oil reservoir through a variety of chemical mechanisms.
US09951590B2
The present application includes and assembly having a rigid hollowed body and an internal dart configured to traverse the length of a well bore and remove contaminants. The body having a central channel for accepting the dart. The dart includes a central passage and an exit port to selectively permit the passage of working fluid around and through the dart. The dart is configured to transition between an extended position and a seated position. The body includes one or more restricted diameter sections to create a dampener effect to minimize and distribute the impact forces upon the assembly. The assembly optionally includes one or more external wear pads, and an expandable seal coupled to the body configured to expand in diameter from the increase in pressure in the well bore. The expandable seal contacts the walls as the assembly rises in the well.
US09951578B2
A borehole barrier comprises a scroll where the overlapping parts have a ratchet for radial expansion against a surrounding tubular with the ratchet controlling springing back. The outer surface can have carbide or other hard particles to penetrate the surrounding tubular for fixation. The end of the scroll forms a tapered ball seat. Expansion into place can be with a tool, or by releasing potential energy in the scroll or by using a shape memory alloy that enlarges at above its critical temperature. The scrolls can be removed by milling or allowed to dissolve or disintegrate with exposure to well fluids. The scroll design is quickly deployed and removed and is far more economical than known plugs that have the traditional seal and slip design. The balls can be milled out with their associated scrolls or flowed to the surface with produced fluids.
US09951576B2
A lockdown tool for locking down a high pressure wellhead with a conductor wellhead housing includes a housing that includes a conductor wellhead housing facing surface designed to come in contact with a conductor wellhead housing positioned at or near a seafloor. The housing further includes a lockdown mechanism facing surface designed to come in contact with a lockdown mechanism that is between the conductor wellhead housing and a high pressure wellhead seated in the conductor wellhead housing. The housing also includes a wellhead facing surface having a profile that matches a profile of the high pressure wellhead formed on an outer surface of the high pressure wellhead. The lockdown tool further includes a piston positioned in a cavity of the housing and a hydraulic pressure port extending through a wall of the housing for applying hydraulic pressure by an external hydraulic pressure source into the cavity of the housing.
US09951573B2
A method includes conveying a whipstock and a latch anchor into a parent wellbore, the latch anchor being attached to the whipstock at a releasable connection and the parent wellbore being lined with casing that includes a latch coupling. The latch anchor is secured to the latch coupling and the whipstock is then separated from the latch anchor at the releasable connection and thereby exposing a portion of the releasable connection. The whipstock is then removed from the parent wellbore and a completion deflector is subsequently conveyed into the parent wellbore in combination with lateral tubing (with or without a multilateral junction positioned thereabove), and the completion deflector is attached to the latch coupling at the releasable connection. The lateral tubing (with or without multilateral junction positioned thereabove) is then installed to correct depth.
US09951572B2
Apparatus and methods include an x-direction support structure extending in the same direction as a line extending between a well center and a V-door on a drilling rig and include a y-direction support structure moveable along the x-direction support structure. The y-direction support structure extends on a drilling rig in a direction transverse to the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig. A racker device is carried by the y-direction support structure and is configured to connect to and carry a tubular stand used in a well drilling process, the racker device being moveable along the y-direction support structure from a position inline with the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig to a position offline from the line to provide space for additional drilling processes along the line extending between the well center and the V-door on the drilling rig.
US09951564B1
A subterranean support-bolt drilling assembly has a drill bit rotatable about a central axis and including at least one cutting edge. The drilling assembly also includes a spacer coupled to a rearward end of the drill bit. A reamer member is coupled to a rearward end of the spacer, the reamer member having at least one cutting element, the at least one cutting element having a cutting edge that extends radially beyond an outer peripheral portion of the drill bit relative to the central axis. A subterranean support-bolt drill bit includes a bit body and at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body. The support-bolt drill bit has a central pilot extending from the bit body in an axially forward direction. The cutting edge of the at least one cutting element extends radially beyond the central pilot relative to a central axis of the drill bit.
US09951560B2
A method for predicting an amount of axial motion of a drill bit having one or more cutters for drilling formation rock includes: receiving lithology data for the formation rock; receiving drilling parameters; calculating confined compressive strength (CCS) of the rock using the received information; calculating an area of cut into the formation rock by each of the one or more cutters; calculating an effective back rake of each of the one or more cutters; calculating a force applied to each of the one or more cutters using the CCS, the area of cut and the effective back rake of the one or more cutters, and by accounting for an orientation of each cutter with respect to a surface of the rock to be cut; and summing the calculated forces applied to each of the one or more cutters to calculate the weight on bit and torque on bit.
US09951556B2
A motorized system for reeling and unreeling a flexible member on a roller tube between fully open wound and fully closed unwound conditions to minimize sound pressure level has a rotatable roller tube and a flexible member that winds on the tube. A d-c motor drives the tube through a gear reduction. The motor has a motor speed versus torque characteristic extending linearly from high maximum RPM, low minimum torque, to low minimum RPM high maximum torque with peak efficiency at a given RPM. The motor moves the member between the two positions at a motor speed less than the given peak efficiency RPM and less than 50% of high maximum RPM with efficiency less than 25% of peak efficiency, intentionally at a high torque and low efficiency. The motor has two or more modes each moving the member at predetermined different linear speed.
US09951555B2
The present invention relates to a device for mounting a shaft of a screen, such as a window covering, on a surface such as a wall, window frame or a ceiling, wherein the device comprises a mounting bracket and a shaft holder, wherein the mounting bracket is configured for mounting on the surface and the shaft holder is attachable to the mounting bracket, wherein the shaft holder is provided with coupling means for coupling the shaft and the shaft holder in releasably attachable manner to the mounting bracket.
US09951546B1
A safe locking system that provides a means to operate one of two (or more) safe locks of any type to facilitate safe opening of a door. The safe door can be opened by operating either of two locks, regardless of the type or style; e.g., e-locks and mechanical locks. A sliding bar assembly is mounted to the rear face of the safe door for displacing the boltwork into and out of the door frame. Extension of the lock bolts of both locks prevents movement of a main locking bar and attached boltwork, which prevents a user from opening the door. Retraction of either of the lock bolts permits sliding movement of the main locking bar, such that a user can unlock the door from the frame.
US09951544B2
A cylinder lock 1 for use with a lock assembly 10. More specifically the cylinder lock is of the kind including a cam 5 rotatable from one side by a hand turn means 4, and an opposed side by a key controlled barrel 3. The configuration of the first side of the cam 5 so as to inhibit the interaction with the barrel 3 provides a useful result.
US09951541B1
A modular umbrella shading system includes a base module, a core module assembly and a first extension assembly, the first extension assembly connecting the base unit to the core umbrella assembly. A modular umbrella shading system further includes an arm expansion sensor module and a second extension assembly, the second extension assembly detachably connecting the core umbrella assembly to the arm expansion sensor module.
US09951535B2
There is disclosed a system for depositing building materials comprising a motor vehicle, a container comprising a material depositing system and at least one device for removing the container from the motor vehicle. The device can comprise one or more outriggers which are adapted to remove the container from the motor vehicle and which can be used to deposit the container on a job site. In addition there is a system which includes a hydraulically controlled crane and silo doors for allowing material to be automatically added to containers for mixing building materials.
US09951532B2
In an installation adjustment device for an auto-return arrangement which comprises a support rod with a front stop surface and an adjustable slide which is slideably supported on the support rod so as to be stepwise position-adjustable, the slide is provided with an adjustment surface which extends parallel to the stop surface and the normal vectors pointing to the stop surface and the adjustment surface have the same direction, whereby the adjustment of an auto-return arrangement is facilitated.
US09951531B2
A system is presented for covering a plurality of line sets with respective sizes. The system includes a first portion defining a plurality of slots formed along a sidewall of the first portion. The system also includes a second portion including a latch to extend from a sidewall of the second portion. The latch selectively engages one of the plurality of slots to secure the first and second portions with an opening therebetween of an adjustable size. The slot engaged by the latch is selected such the adjustable size of the opening corresponds to the respective size of the line set of the plurality of line sets to be covered by the system. A method is also presented for covering the plurality of line sets with respective sizes.
US09951530B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing laminate floorboards having edges following the natural curvature of veneer planks cut from timber planks with natural curvature. With the method laminate floorboards are obtained, each floorboard comprising a veneer plank glued onto a substrate, the contour of the substrate and the veneer corresponding with each other.
US09951528B2
A method of fabricating a plate for a support pedestal used to support a building surface component above a fixed surface includes forming one or more ribs into a sheet of material adjacent a periphery of the sheet so that the rib extends substantially continuously about a central axis of the sheet that is perpendicular to first and second opposite surfaces of the sheet and creating a series of spacer tabs out of the sheet between the central axis and the rib that are configured to space adjacent building surface components placed over the sheet.
US09951521B2
A self-confining structural article includes a ceramic matrix with a reinforcement member disposed within the ceramic matrix. The reinforcement member is continuous, and has a mesh with holes not exceeding 4 mm in size.
US09951517B2
A clip for attaching and supporting wall panels to a building (such as for an exterior building envelope), a wall panel system, and systems and methods for supporting wall panels is provided. The clip includes a main body portion, a first extension portion, a second extension portion, and a face portion. The clip is used with a system of interlocking vapor barrier wall panels to support the wall panels and affix them to a building frame without compromising the vapor barrier. Exterior façade panels can also be affixed to the clip and building frame without compromising the vapor barrier.
US09951515B2
An expansion joint design for supporting transfer loads. The system includes an elongated core and at least one longitudinal load-transfer member which are bonded together.
US09951513B2
The invention relates to a method for erecting a structure 0 comprising at least two prefabricated concrete elements 1, 2, the method comprising: installing a first concrete element 1; placing a second concrete element 2 with at least one spacer 4 maintaining a gap between respective end faces 104, 203 of the first element and second element; tensioning at least one bar 105, 3 held on the first and second elements and passing through the gap maintained by the spacer, and introducing a hardenable interface product 5 into said gap. The method thus makes it possible to move off the critical path relating to the erection the need to wait, between two assembly operations, for the joints between the assembled pieces to have hardened. Incidentally, a significant reduction in the time taken for erecting such a structure is obtained.
US09951511B2
A roof system which includes a shear tie for the ridge beam is provided. This system is for use in connection with tile roofing systems in which a ridge vent for ventilation is also provided, but can be used with other roof systems. Sheathing is located on the rafters and a gap or slot is provided between the top edge of the sheathing and the ridge beam that extends along a majority of the ridge beam in order to provide an air flow path for building ventilation. A shear tie strap is connected to the ridge beam and to the sheathing on either side of the ridge beam. A shear tie strap is also provided.
US09951493B2
A prefabricated retaining wall structure and method of installing. The structure has a precast concrete face panel and an elongated support column permanently joined to the face panel. The face panel has a top and bottom, opposing end edges and first and second sides with a thickness therebetween. The elongated support column is secured to the face panel between the opposing end edges. The column has first and second ends and an elongated body therebetween and extends along a portion of the first side of the face panel.
US09951489B2
A waste collector includes a bag body and a waste collecting apparatus. The bag body, which is made of flexible material, has a top opening and a waste collecting cavity. The waste collecting apparatus includes two elongated scraper arms spacedly affixed at the bag body to partition the bag body into a first bag portion and a second bag portion. When the bag body is reversibly flipped inside out from the top opening to form a temporary waste cavity within the first bag portion of the bag body, the scraper arms are moved toward each other for enclosing the temporary waste cavity within the first bag portion of the bag body and for scraping a waste within the temporary waste cavity. Therefore, the bag body is flipped back for automatically retaining the waste in the waste collecting cavity from the temporary waste cavity.
US09951487B1
A selectively activated speed bump is placed on streets to slow down vehicles. The cover has a central part and lateral parts on both sides of the central part. An elevation movement mechanism for the cover is installed in a rectangular pit formed by a box. A shaft has a terminal end joined to pillow blocks inside the box and a plurality of cams, being flexible offset discs, along a length of the shaft. The cams turn to raise the cover to a higher level than the ground and continue to turn in order to return the cover to the same height of the ground. The speed bump slows vehicles on streets and on avenues.
US09951486B2
Disclosed are PP/PE copolymer backbone based pre-manufactured thermoplastic airport signage compositions primarily applied in relatively large sections onto airport runways, taxiways, and additional paved surfaces. The composition provides alkali resistant formulations comprising at least 6 weight percent PE/PP, 20 weight percent binder resin with between 5 and 15 weight percent of a tackifier resin, between 2 and 12 weight percent titanium dioxide with an optional organic dye, wherein the intermix is at least 30 weight percent of the composition and wherein the intermix is an inorganic filler that greatly reduce or eliminate debris resistance when compared to other polymer backbone compositions.
US09951485B2
Cart for building a bridge board forward progressive which incorporates a system for positioning reinforcement pieces, which have displacement tracks on the upper working surface and runners on which the reinforcement pieces are situated and which are displaced on the displacement tracks, where by means of the system for positioning reinforcement pieces it situates the reinforcement pieces in a position of the upper working surface for a subsequent concreting of a section of the board of the bridge, with the cart being fixed in the position thereof.
US09951481B2
A dowel placement system including a fastener configured to be engageable with a form, and a radially compressible bushing coupled to the fastener and defining an adjustable outer diameter. The system further includes an elongate dowel sleeve having opposed proximal and distal end portions, and an axial opening having an inner diameter and extending into the dowel sleeve from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The bushing is insertable within the axial opening of the dowel sleeve, and the bushing and dowel sleeve are configured such that insertion of the bushing within the dowel sleeve causes the outer diameter of the bushing to compress and conform to the inner diameter of the dowel sleeve and to create a friction force between the bushing and the dowel sleeve to mitigate movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing during formation of the concrete structure.
US09951475B2
The disclosure provides methods and compositions for increasing the dry strength of paper. The invention utilizes a tailored strength agent whose size and shape is tailored to fit into the junction points between flocs of a paper sheet. The strength agents is in contact with the slurry for just enough time to collect at the junction points but not so much that it can migrate away from there.
US09951472B2
A converting line for producing a paper product. The converting line includes a paper web being unwound from a parent roll. The paper web has a plurality of sections with at least one mark having a paper rating assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit that reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web and produces a corresponding output. The converting line includes a controller that receives the output from the mark reading unit, and is configured: (i) to obtain the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit, and (ii) to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating. The converting line also includes a finisher. The paper web is fed to the finisher and converted into a paper product.
US09951467B2
The present invention provides a method for imparting bacteriostatic effect to a textile product by immersing the textile product for 20 minutes or more in an aqueous solution containing a cationic polypeptide at a concentration of 250 ppm or more, which solution has a temperature of 25° C. or more. By bacteriostatically treating a textile product in accordance with such method, the bacteriostatic effect is not reduced and thus retained even after the textile product is washed for a plurality of times.
US09951459B2
A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine comprises a plurality of channels. Each channel has an input port, an output port, and a glass tube. Each input port and output port is adapted to be fluidly coupled to the laundry machine. The system includes a monitoring unit associated with each of the glass tubes. Each monitoring unit includes a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit. A beeper is configured to generate an indication of an alarm condition based on a determination made by any one of the monitoring units. The system has a display screen, a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the monitoring units. The controller is configured to execute the instructions to wirelessly communicate to a web page a volume of a sanitation agent that has passed through each of the glass tubes.
US09951447B2
A jacket for a load-bearing, lengthy body, wherein the jacket is comprised of a plurality of braid elements which, when braided, enclose at least a portion of the lengthy body, and wherein the braid element is comprised of a braided ribbon. A method of forming the jacket is also described.
US09951435B2
An advanced coating for parts used in plasma processing chamber. The advanced coating is formed over an anodized surface that has not been sealed. After the coating is formed, the coated area is masked, and the remaining anodized surface is sealed. The porous and rough structure of the anodized but un-sealed aluminum enhances adhesion of the coating. However, to prevent particle generation, the exposed anodized surface is sealed after formation of the coating. The coating can be of yttria, formed by plasma enhanced atomic deposition techniques which results in a dense and smooth coating.
US09951428B2
The present invention relates to formulations for inhibiting the corrosion of the metals used in the oil industry, and more generally in all types of industries for drilling for fossil compounds or ores, such as gas or oil. The corrosion-inhibiting formulations are stable during storage, and have improved properties due to the presence of at least one compound having at least one triazine unit. The invention also relates to the use of at least one compound comprising at least one triazine unit in a corrosion-inhibiting formulation, as well as to the use of said corrosion-inhibiting formulation in the oil, gas and mining industry.
US09951427B2
A coating arrangement has the following characteristics: —particles having a scratch hardness greater than or equal to 9 and a median grain size that can be determined, —a coating having a thickness equaling approximately half the median grain size, —a coating carrier with a surface comprising recesses, wherein a portion greater than 85% of the recesses compared to a surface surrounding the associated recess is designed with a depth smaller than approximately 10% and/or a opening width smaller than or equal to approximately 15% of the coating thickness, and —the coating is applied to the surface of the coating carrier and surrounds the particles at least at a lower region oriented toward the coating carrier.
US09951416B2
A vacuum coating apparatus includes at least a chamber, an arc discharge plasma source, a feeding-reeling unit, and a roller set. The first and second openings are connecting with the feeding or reeling unit so as to allow the substrate to enter and leave the chamber therethrough, respectively. The arc discharge plasma source located inside the chamber generates the plasma, which discharges radially from the arc discharge plasma source as its center. The roller set includes a plurality of the first rollers, which are located in the chamber and enclosing the arc discharge plasma source. A first surface of the substrate is facing the plurality of the first rollers and contacts tightly on the periphery of the first rollers so that the first rollers can rotate by the moving of the substrate. The material evaporated and emitted by the plasma is attached onto the first surface of the substrate.
US09951410B2
An infrared surface light source generating device includes a substrate layer and a carbon material layer formed on a surface of the substrate layer and having a sheet resistance value ranged between 0.01 and 1000Ω/□. The carbon material layer is able to emit far infrared rays when it is heated by an amount of external low-power energy to a temperature above 36° C. A method of manufacturing the above infrared surface light source generating device is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (A) providing a substrate layer and (B) forming a carbon material layer that is located on a surface of the substrate layer and has a sheet resistance value ranged between 0.01 and 1000Ω/□. Since the method involves only a simplified manufacturing process, the infrared surface light source generating device can be manufactured at reduced cost.
US09951409B2
A system and method of fabricating a percussion tool that includes one or more surfaces modified using the ferritic nitrocarburization process. The percussion tool includes a piston positioned in sliding contact within a casing. The piston includes an inner wall and an outer wall, where the inner wall defines a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough. The outer wall is positioned in close fitting relationship with an internal surface of the casing. One or more surfaces of at least one of the casing's internal surface and/or the piston's outer wall are modified using the ferritic nitrocarburization process.
US09951408B2
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for preventing oxidation or contamination during a circuit printing operation. The circuit printing operation can be directed to OLED-type printing. In an exemplary embodiment, the printing process is conducted at a load-locked printer housing having one or more of chambers. Each chamber is partitioned from the other chambers by physical gates or fluidic curtains. A controller coordinates transportation of a substrate through the system and purges the system by timely opening appropriate gates. The controller may also control the printing operation by energizing the print-head at a time when the substrate is positioned substantially thereunder.
US09951404B2
One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to low-alloy steels exhibiting high hardness and an advantageous level of multi-hit ballistic resistance with minimal crack propagation imparting a level of ballistic performance suitable for military armor applications. Certain embodiments of the steels according to the present disclosure have hardness in excess of 550 HBN and demonstrate a high level of ballistic penetration resistance relative to conventional military specifications.
US09951401B2
This boron-containing aluminum material is obtained by carrying out the following: a mixed powder, obtained by mixing a boride powder containing first boride particles, second boride particles and particles of unavoidable impurities with an aluminum powder or aluminum alloy powder that forms a matrix, is filled into in a square aluminum pipe having a prescribed shape and then rolled by using pressure rolls the gap between which is adjusted.
US09951400B1
A wrought machinable low copper, silicon, zinc alloy having a copper content between about 66 weight percent and about 70 weight percent and wherein the silicon content is between about 1.3 weight percent and about 2.0 weight percent.
US09951394B2
Methods and systems for processing raw animal hides into leather are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning manager that directs the routing of hides to a plurality of tanning drums. This allows the tanning manager to efficiently use the capacity of the plurality of tanning drums and provides improved consistency in the tanning of the hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning manager to route hides to tanning drums based on various factors, such as hide type, hide weight, and hide size. In addition, one or more embodiments provide the tanning manager with greater control over the processing of hides into leather by customizing the tanning recipes applied to each batch of hides.
US09951385B1
A method of nucleic acid detection including (a) contacting a primed template with a polymerase, nucleotide cognate of a first base type and nucleotide cognate of a second base type under ternary complex stabilizing conditions; (b) contacting the primed template nucleic acid with a polymerase, nucleotide cognate of the first base type and nucleotide cognate of a third base type under ternary complex stabilizing conditions; (c) examining products of (a) and (b) for signals produced by a ternary complex that includes the primed template nucleic acid, polymerase and next correct nucleotide, wherein signals for the product of (a) are ambiguous for the first and second base type, and signals for the product of (b) are ambiguous for the first and third base type; (d) disambiguating signals acquired in (c) to identify the next correct nucleotide.
US09951383B2
Methods, compositions, and systems are provided for characterization of modified nucleic acids. In certain preferred embodiments, single molecule sequencing methods are provided for identification of modified nucleotides within nucleic acid sequences. Methods are provided that include linking forward and reverse strands of a double stranded segment to form circular template molecules, and obtaining sequence data from the circular template molecule to identify modified bases, for example including the use of bisulfite treatment. Modifications detectable by the methods provided herein include chemically modified bases, enzymatically modified bases, abasic sites, non-natural bases, secondary structures, and agents bound to a template nucleic acid.
US09951381B2
Apparatus, systems, chips, and methods of performing a large number of simultaneous chemical reactions are provided herein. The chips of the invention comprise addressable units that can be addressed according to the temperature of the reaction to be run. The subject apparatus, systems, and chips are particularly suited for performing polymerase chain reactions on thousands of nucleic acid sequences, up to and including sequences of an entire genome of an organism of interest.
US09951375B2
Methods, devices and systems for handling sample liquids, encapsulating liquids and magnetic particles are disclosed.
US09951374B2
Disclosed are methods for cell transfection and regulating cellular behavior. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods of non-viral cell transfection and regulating cellular behavior using mineral coatings that allow for the enhanced transfection of cells. The mineral coatings bind polynucleotides and provide a source of calcium and phosphate ions to enhance transfection. The present disclosure also provides a high throughput platform for screening non-viral transfection of cells. The methods of the present disclosure also provide an advantageous polynucleotide delivery platform because the mineral coatings may be deposited on various medical device materials after being specifically developed using the high throughput screening platform.
US09951369B2
A device designed to receive a biological sample and methods of using the same are disclosed. The device includes a leak-proof container, a sampler, and a receptacle. The container includes an enclosure, a filler and a closing mechanism that hermetically closes the filler. The sampler is positioned inside the enclosure. The sampler samples biological and/or physiochemical information from a sample and analyzes the information. The receptacle includes a disinfecting agent that is released when the receptacle is opened. An analysis restrictor inhibits analysis by the sampler. A portion of the sampler and/or the analysis restrictor is designed to shift from a first position that prevents analysis of the sampler to a second position that allows analysis of the sampler. A receptacle opening is mechanically induced when shifting from the first position to the second position.
US09951368B2
The invention provides an inclusion body fusion partner to increase peptide and polypeptide production in a cell.
US09951365B2
The present disclosure relates to a recombinant gram-negative bacterial cell comprising: a.) a mutant spr gene encoding a spr protein having a mutation at one or more amino acids selected from D133, H145, H157, N31, R62, I70, Q73, C94, S95, V98, Q99, R100, L108, Y115, V135, L136, G140, R144 and G147 and b.) a gene capable of expressing or overexpressing one or more proteins capable of facilitating protein folding, such as FkpA, Skp, SurA, PPiA and PPiD, wherein the cell has reduced Tsp protein activity compared to a wild-type cell, methods employing the cells, use of the cells in the expression of proteins in particular antibodies, such as anti Fc Rn antibodies and proteins made by the methods described herein.
US09951364B2
The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein an alpha-amylase and a thermostable endoglucanase is present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in processes of the invention.
US09951355B2
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.
US09951352B2
There is provided a method for inserting a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a foreign peptide into a poxvirus genome, said method comprising: identifying in the poxvirus genome a poxvirus open reading frame wherein said open reading frame is characterized by an initial ATG start codon and wherein expression of said open reading frame is driven by an operably-linked poxvirus promoter located upstream of the open reading frame and wherein expression of said open reading frame provides a peptide that is non-essential to viability of the poxvirus; and inserting the nucleic acid sequence that encodes the foreign peptide at a position downstream of the poxvirus promoter; wherein following said insertion, (i) the nucleic acid that encodes the foreign peptide is operably-linked to the poxvirus promoter and expression of said nucleic acid is driven by said poxvirus promoter; and (ii) translation of the foreign peptide is initiated at an ATG start codon located at the same position as the ATG start codon of the poxvirus open reading frame. Also provided are a poxvirus vector and corresponding uses of the poxvirus vector in medicine.
US09951345B2
The present invention provides for a method of producing one or more fatty acid derived dicarboxylic acids in a genetically modified host cell which does not naturally produce the one or more derived fatty acid derived dicarboxylic acids. The invention provides for the biosynthesis of dicarboxylic acid ranging in length from C3 to C26. The host cell can be further modified to increase fatty acid production or export of the desired fatty acid derived compound, and/or decrease fatty acid storage or metabolism.
US09951344B2
Provided herein are exogenous terminator sequences for use in fungi cell transcriptional termination.
US09951343B2
A process for efficient expression of a foreign gene in a Bacillus host was developed by varying the length and nucleotide sequence in the spacer region between ribosomal binding sequence (RBS) and initiation codon (ATG) of the gene. Bacillus thuringiensis cry2Ac gene was selected as a model gene because it requires an upstream open reading frame designated as orf2 for its efficient expression and crystallization in a Bacillus host.
US09951340B2
The methods and compositions described herein relate to the delivery of polypeptides to a target cell, e.g. by utilizing engineered non-pathogenic bacteria comprising a type three secretion system (T3SS) and T3SS-compatible substrates. In one aspect, described herein are non-pathogenic microbial cells that have been engineered to express both a functional type three secretion system (T3SS) and at least one polypeptide that is compatible with the T3SS. Due to the wide variety of polypeptides that can be delivered to a target eukaryotic cell using the compositions and systems described herein, a commensurately wide variety of applications is contemplated, e.g. therapeutics and reprogramming.
US09951335B2
The present invention is based, in part, on our studies of molecular pathways that include the deubiquitinase CYLD. Accordingly, the present invention features, inter alia, nucleic acid constructs that express CYLD or a biologically active variant thereof (e.g., a variant including the catalytic domain), nucleic acids that inhibit the expression of a negative regulator of CYLD (e.g., PDE4B or LNK2), nucleic acids that modulate the expression of downstream CYLD targets (e.g., Akt, by inhibiting or promoting the expression of the downstream target), compositions including one or more of these types of constructs (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions), kits including one or more of the compositions described herein and instructions for use, screening methods to identify therapeutic agents {e.g., anti-inflammatory agents) that upregulate CYLD, downregulate a negative regulatory of CYLD, or modulate (e.g., inhibit) a downstream CYLD target (e.g., Akt), and various methods of treatment including the administration of the nucleic acids described above, protein biotherapeutics, and/or small molecules, alone or in combination, to address cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis. The compositions described herein can be used in the preparation of a medicament (e.g., used in the preparation of a medicament to treat cancer, inflammation, fibrosis, or one or more of the more specific conditions described herein).
US09951319B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US09951303B2
This disclosure relates to composition for grafting fragrance substances, as well as related articles, consumer products, and methods.
US09951300B2
Liquid laundry detergent compositions containing a microcapsule with a cationically charged coating and a fluorescent brightener with a distyrylbiphenyl unit, preferably Fluorescent Brightener-49, are provided. The compositions provide improved delivery efficiency of microcapsules and brightening of fabric while minimizing phase stability issues.
US09951294B2
Accordingly, there are provided coated microcapsules including: a microcapsule including a polymeric shell and a liquid core material encapsulated therein; and a metallic coating surrounding said microcapsule, wherein the metallic coating includes particles of a first metal adsorbed on said polymeric shell and a film of a second metal formed thereon; wherein the particles of the first metal are sterically-stabilized nanoparticles; processes for preparing the coated microcapsules, as well as formulations related thereto are also provided.
US09951288B2
The use of an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula wherein m, m′, n, n′, p, p′ and k are integers in the range of ≥1, R1 denotes an unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl radical, R2 denotes —CH2—CH3, and R3 denotes a hydrogen atom or —CH3, as an additive in a fuel for reducing fuel consumption in the operation of an internal combustion engine with this fuel.
US09951283B2
A petroleum feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying a mixed stream that includes hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream having an increased concentration of lighter hydrocarbons and/or concentration of sulfur containing compounds. The modified stream is then supplied to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent operable to remove at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce a trimmed stream. The trimmed stream is then separated into a gas and a liquid streams, and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.
US09951279B2
A biochar and electric power generator that receives carbonaceous material and outputs variable amounts of electrical energy and char, including a pyrolysis module, a reaction module, and a char removal mechanism arranged between the pyrolysis module and the reaction module, an engine module including an engine and an alternator, configured to convert gaseous fuel produced by the reaction module into electric power and to provide waste heat to the pyrolysis module, and a flare configured to burn tar gas and to provide waste heat to the pyrolysis module.
US09951263B2
A process for the recovery of heavy oil from an underground reservoir, comprising: injecting an oil-in-water nanoemulsion into one or more injection wells; recovering said heavy oil from one or more production wells. Said process is particularly advantageous for enhancing the recovery of heavy oils from underground reservoirs within the range of technologies for tertiary recovery, usually known as “EOR” (Enhanced Oil Recovery”).
US09951261B2
A cement spacer fluid for use in a wellbore includes an aqueous cement spacer carrier fluid and a preformed synthetic polymer swellable in the aqueous cement spacer carrier fluid in an amount effective to displace a drilling fluid during a cementing operation. Preferably, the polymer is particulate, and forms a hydrated pack of particles. A method of cementing a wellbore comprising a drilling fluid includes injecting the cement spacer fluid into the wellbore to displace the drilling fluid; injecting a cement slurry into the wellbore subsequent to injecting the cement spacer fluid; and hardening the cement in the slurry to cement the wellbore.
US09951257B2
An epoxy caulking adhesive, including: a component A and a component B. The component A at least includes the following components in parts by weight: between 50 and 100 parts of an epoxy resin, between 0 and 100 part(s) of an inorganic filler, between 0 and 20 part(s) of a thickener. The component B at least includes the following components in parts by weight: between 20 and 100 parts of an amine curing agent, between 0 and 150 part(s) of the inorganic filler, and between 0 and 25 part(s) of the thickener. The weight ratio of the component A to the component B is between 1:1 and 10:1. At least one of the inorganic filler and the thickener exists in both the component A and the component B.
US09951256B2
Epoxy adhesive compositions contain a heat-activatable catalyst. The heat-activatable catalyst includes a tertiary amine catalyst and a novolac resin that has a weight average molecular weight of at least 3000. One-component epoxy adhesive formulations that contain the heat-activatable catalyst have unexpectedly good storage stability.
US09951251B2
Particles that have an exterior surface coated with a thin polymer coating, such as a coating that includes a sulfur-containing polymer can be used as lightweight fillers in compositions, such as fuel resistant sealant and coating compositions. The compositions can be used to seal apertures on aerospace vehicles.
US09951249B2
An aqueous coating agent of the invention comprising (A) an aqueous polyurethane resin containing a polyurethane resin having an acid group and a polyamine compound, (B) a water-soluble polymer, and (C) an inorganic layered mineral as main constituents, wherein solid formulation ratios of the aqueous polyurethane resin (A), the water-soluble polymer (B) and the inorganic layered mineral (C) occupied in a total solid content of the aqueous coating agent are within approximate ranges indicated below. Aqueous polyurethane resin (A): 5 to 60 mass % Water-soluble resin (B): 25 to 80 mass % Inorganic layered compound (C): 8 to 20 mass %
US09951238B2
An ink-jet ink of the invention is an ink-jet ink using a pigment and includes polymer particles containing an urethane polymer which includes at least repeating units derived from a polycarbonate diol, repeating units derived from an alicyclic isocyanate, and repeating units derived from an acid group-containing diol, which has an acid value of from 5 to 30 mgKOH/gm, and in which the number of urethane groups is 10 times or more the number of urea groups. The content of the polymer particles is from 0.5 to 3 times the content of the pigment.
US09951233B2
A composition may include a binder; a coalescing agent with the general formula of wherein Z is C1-C10, wherein X is —H and Y is ═O or X is ═O and Y is —H or —CH3, and wherein R1 and R2 are independently selectable and comprise a C1-C12 or derivative thereof; and a solvent. The composition may be used in products like a paint, a coating, an adhesive, an ink, a toner, a sealant, a stain, a glaze, a carpet backing, and a primer.
US09951232B2
The present disclosure relates to solution processed nanomaterials, and methods for their manufacture, with activity in the infrared (IR) region for a variety of commercial and defense applications, including conformal large-area IR coatings, devices and pigments that necessitate an absorption band edge in the MWIR or LWIR.
US09951225B2
This invention is directed to photoluminescent compounds based on rhodamine dyes with green emission and uses thereof for photoluminescence based devices.
US09951218B2
The invention relates to elastomeric compositions containing plant derivatives as biofillers and vegetable oil derivatives acting as extender oils. In particular, one object of the invention are elastomeric compositions comprising at least one elastomer, at least one vegetable oil derivative, at least one biofiller of plant origin and at least one coupling agent.
US09951215B2
The invention relates to an injectable composite material comprising: (a) 28 to 95% by weight of a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer; (b) 0 to 10% by weight of a flow enhancer; (c) 1 to 20% by weight of an impact modifier; (d) 1 to 20% by weight of a compatibilizing agent; and (e) 3 to 70% by weight of natural fibers, wherein the polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer forms a matrix. It also relates to a method for preparing this composite material as well as to a method for its use for manufacturing parts by injection or by overmolding.
US09951211B2
The invention relates to heat-curing reactive compositions based on natural and/or synthetic liquid elastomers containing olefinic double bonds and on vulcanizing agents, where these comprise a quantity, relative to the entire composition, of from 1 to 25% by weight, preferably from 1 to 15% by weight, of at least one liquid polyisoprene, preferably at least one cis-1,4 polyisoprene; a quantity, relative to the entire composition, of from 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight, of at least one functionalized liquid polybutadiene; a quantity, relative to the entire composition, of up to 40% by weight, preferably from 1 to 25% by weight, of a triglyceride fraction, the distribution of fatty acid in which comprises a proportion of at least 5% by weight, more particularly at least 60% by weight, of one or more omega-3 fatty acids and/or one or more omega-6 fatty acids; and at least one vulcanizing agent, where the proportion, relative to the entire composition, of synthetic polymers having at least one C═C double bond and/or at least one C≡C triple bond is at least 7.5% by weight, preferably 9% by weight. These have plastisol-like rheology and therefore can be applied at room temperature by conventional spray systems. The invention also relates to use of same as sealant composition or as coating composition, and to methods for bonding components and/or sealing joints between components and/or coating components with use of the compositions.
US09951204B2
The use of tetrahydrobenzoxazines I where R1 is a hydrocarbyl radical and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups or hydrocarbyl radicals, and where R2 to R5 may also form a second and a third tetrahydrooxazine ring, with the proviso that at least one of the substituents has from 4 to 3000 carbon atoms and the remaining substituents, when they are hydrocarbyl radicals, each have from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, as stabilizers for stabilizing inanimate organic material, especially turbine fuels, against the action of light, oxygen and heat.
US09951193B2
A resin foam composition comprises, at least, a resin emulsion and cellulose nanofibers.
US09951175B2
A method of forming a polymer comprising a conjugated backbone and side-groups pendant from the conjugated backbone wherein the method comprises the steps of: polymerizing one or more monomers to form a precursor polymer comprising the conjugated backbone and precursor groups pendant from the conjugated backbone, and subsequently converting the precursor groups to the side-groups.
US09951171B2
The present invention relates to polyester polyols made from aromatic polyacid sources such as thermoplastic polyesters. The polyols can be made by heating a thermoplastic polyester such as virgin polyethylene terephthalate, recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or mixtures thereof, with a glycol to give a digested intermediate which is then reacted with a digestible polymer, which can be obtained from various recycle waste streams. The polyester polyols comprise a glycol-digested polyacid source and a further digestible polymer. The polyester polyols provide a sustainable alternative to petrochemical or biochemical based polyester polyols.
US09951164B2
Non-ionic photo-acid generating (PAG) polymerizable monomers were prepared that contain a side chain sulfonate ester of an alpha-hydroxy aryl ketone. The aryl ketone group has a perfluorinated substituent alpha to the ketone carbonyl. The sulfur of the sulfonate ester is also directly linked to a fluorinated group. PAG polymers prepared from the PAG monomers release a strong sulfonic acid when exposed to high energy radiation such as deep UV or extreme UV light. The photo-generated sulfonic acid has a low diffusion rate in an exposed resist layer subjected to a post-exposure bake (PEB) at 100° C. to 150° C., resulting in formation of good line patterns after development.
US09951159B2
A compound represented by formula (I), a resin including a structural unit derived from the compound and a resist composition including the resin: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group in which a hydrogen atom may be replaced by a halogen atom, R2 represents a C1 to C6 perfluoroalkyl group or *—CHRf1Rf2, * represents a binding site to a carbonyl group, Rf1 and Rf2 each independently represent a C1 to C4 perfluoroalkyl group or Rf1 and Rf2 may be bonded together with a carbon atom bonded thereto to form a ring, A1 represents a single bond, a C1 to C6 alkanediyl group or **-A3-X1-(A4-X2)a-(A5)b-, ** represents a binding site to an oxygen atom, A2, A3, A4 and A5 each independently represent a C1 to C6 alkanediyl group, X1 and X2 each independently represent —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—, a and b each represent 0 or 1, and W1 represents a C5 to C18 divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group.
US09951156B2
Catalyst compositions containing activator-supports and half-metallocene titanium phosphinimide complexes or half-metallocene titanium iminoimidazolidide complexes are disclosed. These catalyst compositions can be used to produce olefin polymers having relatively broad molecular weight distributions and low levels of long chain branching.
US09951151B2
A method of producing a polymer latex drag reducer. The method begins by forming an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant, a buffer and water. The method then forms an organic solution comprising a monomer and a co-stabilizer. The aqueous solution and the organic solution are mixed to form an emulsion. The emulsion is then subjecting to a high shear device to produce a miniemulsion, wherein the monomers are broken into small droplets followed by polymerizing the miniemulsion with the addition of an initiator, wherein a nucleation occurs in the small monomer droplets.
US09951150B2
Disclosed are an end-modified conjugated diene-based polymer configured such that the end of a conjugated diene-based polymer is coupled with an aminosilane-based end modifier, and a method of preparing the same.
US09951145B2
Disclosed are a CH3 domain variant pair of an antibody, a method for preparing same, and a use thereof. A mutation is induced in the CH3 domain so as to improve a yield of forming a heterodimer heavy chain constant region of an antibody. The CH3 domain heterodimer forms a heterodimer heavy chain constant region with a high efficiency of 90 to 95% or more and also has outstanding heat stability. A heterodimer heavy chain constant region including the CH3 domain heterodimer can construct a bispecific monoclonal antibody which simultaneously recognizes two kinds of antigens. The CH3 domain heterodimer and the bispecific antibody or fusion protein of an antibody constant region comprising same can be usefully applied to the treatment or prevention of a disease associated with a target antigen or a target protein.
US09951142B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for determining sepsis in an individual. Specifically, the present invention provides for antibodies of fragments thereof that specifically bind to presepsin. The antibodies of the present invention may be monoclonal antibodies, and they may specifically bind to a particular epitope of presepsin. The present invention further provides methods of using such antibodies to determine whether an individual has sepsis, and kits comprising the disclosed antibodies.
US09951140B2
The present invention relates to antibodies against human CSF-1R (CSF-1R antibody), methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.
US09951139B2
The present invention relates to antibodies against human CSF-1R (CSF-1R antibody), methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.
US09951137B2
The present invention relates to ST2L antagonists, polynucleotides encoding the antagonists or fragments thereof, and methods of making and using the foregoing.
US09951128B2
The present disclosure describes novel caninized anti-NGF antibodies, antigen binding proteins and polynucleotides encoding the same. The disclosure further describes use of the novel antibodies, antigen binding proteins and/or nucleotides of the invention for the treatment and/or prevention of NGF related disorders, particularly for the management of canine pain.
US09951118B2
The HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is a critical component in controlling HIV replication and is an important part of the ultimate failure to eradicate the virus. Disclosed herein are methods for genetically enhancing the HIV-specific CTL response to allow long-term viral suppression or viral clearance. Human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were genetically modified such that they differentiate into mature CTLs that will kill HIV infected cells. As disclosed herein, the functional effector cells are not human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted. As disclosed herein, stem cells are transduced with non-HLA restricted chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that allow the recognition of HIV or HIV-infected cells when expressed by a CTL. These CARs are hybrid molecules that contain an extracellular HIV recognition domain and an intracellular TCR-zeta signaling domain. The CTL response may be enhanced through the targeting of T cell inhibitory receptors. The methods and compositions disclosed herein may be used to engineer antiviral immunity and HIV-specific CTL responses in vivo. Also disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the treatment of chronic viral infections such as HIV.
US09951117B2
This document provides methods and materials related to vesicular stomatitis viruses. For example, vesicular stomatitis viruses, nucleic acid molecules encoding VSV polypeptides, methods for making vesicular stomatitis viruses, and methods for using vesicular stomatitis viruses to treat cancer are provided.
US09951115B2
The embodiments provide a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) agonist peptide or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, including pharmaceutical compositions comprising a CGRP agonist peptide. The embodiments further provide treatment methods, including method of treating metabolic disorders and metabolic disorders selected from metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity. The methods involve administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of CGRP peptide.
US09951114B2
Recombinant therapeutic cytokines (“therakines”) for the treatment of cancer are provided. The recombinant therakines include a truncated region of MDA-7/TL-24 (“M4”) not normally found in nature that has anti-cancer activity and a secretory signal which causes secretion of the therakine from plasmid/virus transduced normal and cancer cells and interaction of the therakine to MDA-7/IL-24 receptors on adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells. Therakine interaction results in bystander killing of the target cancer cell as well as adjacent, neighboring and distant cancer cells.
US09951111B2
The subject invention pertains to agonist peptides of type I interferons and methods of using the peptides. These peptides are based on the amino acid sequence of the C-terminus region of the type I IFN molecules and are capable of binding to the cytoplasmic domain of type I IFN receptors. Surprisingly, these peptides were found to possess the same or similar biological activity as that associated with the full-length, mature type I IFN proteins, even though these peptides do not bind to the extracellular domain of the type I IFN receptors. In one embodiment, the peptide is a peptide of IFNα. In another embodiment, the peptide is a peptide of IFNβ. Exemplified peptides of the invention include those having SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, and SEQ ID NO:40. The subject peptides have been shown to effect increased resistance to viral infection. Peptides of the invention can be used to treat or prevent viral infections, to treat oncological disorders, and to treat autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
US09951110B2
The invention provides short peptides derived from an insect neuropeptide for controlling insects, particularly peptides or their analogs derived from PBAN family neuropeptide having at least one dPhe residue. The invention further provides an environmentally friendly method for controlling and/or preventing insect infestation by applying the short peptides in very low concentrations.
US09951108B2
A general method and strains of bacteria are described by means where the endogenous DNAK protein or homolog of the DNAK protein is tagged with a recognizable amino acid sequence and that through this tag, DNAK may be efficiently removed, and as such, recombinant protein purification may be greatly improved both in yield and purity with simplified purification steps that remove the DNAK and reduced cost, waste accumulation and labor, and the isolated recombinant protein will significantly benefit research and therapeutics in its application.
US09951094B2
The following formula is an example of a phosphole compound of the present invention. The phosphole compound of the present invention has the characteristic of maintaining a high fluorescence quantum yield in a wide range of solvents from low-polarity solvents to high-polarity solvents, as well as the characteristic in which the fluorescence wavelength shifts to the longer wavelength side as the polarity of the solvent increases. Because of these characteristics, the phosphole compound of the present invention is expected to be used, for example, for quantitatively determining the polarity in the environment therearound by using the absorption wavelength and fluorescence wavelength thereof, or used as a new fluorescent probe dye or a highly efficient luminescent material in organic electronic devices.
US09951093B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds that contain PNA units substituted with phosphonic acid ester functions or phosphonic acid functions, and have at least one chiral center. The compounds may be used for the treatment of viral diseases, such as AIDS.
US09951092B2
Methods, kits and devices for separating phospholipids and proteins from small molecules in biochemical samples can feature an apparatus having a wetting barrier, at least one fit and a separation media. For example, an apparatus can include at least one wall defining a chamber having an exit and an entrance; a wetting barrier disposed between the exit and entrance, so as to define a separation media space located between the wetting barrier and the exit and a sample receiving area located between the wetting barrier and the entrance; and a separation media disposed adjacent to the wetting barrier and having a specific affinity for phospholipids. The wetting barrier is adapted to (i) retain the liquid sample and a protein precipitating agent in the sample receiving area under a first force, thereby facilitating the formation of a protein precipitate and a processed sample, and (ii) flow the processed sample through the wetting barrier and separation media under a second force, wherein the second force is greater than the first force, thereby retaining the protein precipitate in the sample receiving area, retaining phospholipids in the separation media, and eluting small molecules.
US09951075B2
The present invention relates to the use of pteridines as inhibitors of HCV replication as well as their use in pharmaceutical compositions aimed to treat or combat HCV infections. In addition, the present invention relates to compounds per se and their use as medicines. The present invention also concerns processes for the preparation of such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and combinations of said compounds with other anti-HCV agents.
US09951074B2
The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically compositions thereof. Compounds of Formula (I) have been found to bind bromodomains and/or bromodomain-containing proteins (e.g., bromo and extra terminal (BET) proteins). Also provided are methods, uses, and kits of the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting the activity (e.g., increased activity) of bromodomains and/or bromodomain-containing proteins and for treating and/or preventing in a subject diseases associated with bromodomains or bromodomain-containing proteins (e.g., proliferative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, fibrotic diseases, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, endocrine diseases, and radiation poisoning). The compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits are also useful for male contraception.
US09951073B2
Compounds and compositions for treating injuries caused by exposure to chemical warfare agents are described herein.
US09951067B2
A method for producing an optically active α-trifluoromethyl-β-amino acid derivative, the method including: allowing a compound represented by the following General Formula (1) and a compound represented by the following General Formula (2) to react in the presence of a copper-optically active phosphine complex obtained from a copper compound and an optically active phosphine compound, to thereby obtain an optically active α-trifluoromethyl-β-amino acid derivative represented by the following General Formula (3):
US09951064B2
This invention relates to novel compounds which are inhibitors of T790M containing EGFR mutants, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to processes for their preparation, and to their use in therapy for the prevention or treatment of cancer.
US09951063B2
The invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as described in the description; to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and to the use of such compounds as medicaments, especially as modulators of the CXCR3 receptor.
US09951062B2
Compounds according to Formulas I, IA or IB: to pharmaceutically acceptable composition, salts thereof, their synthesis and their use as SIK2 inhibitors including such compounds and methods of using said compounds in the treatment of various diseases and/or disorders such as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular, obesity and type II diabetes.
US09951061B2
The present invention provides compounds useful as inhibitors of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US09951060B2
[Problem]To provide a compound which is useful as an active ingredient for a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating urine storage dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, lower urinary tract dysfunction, and the like.[Means for Solution]The present inventors have found that a thiazole derivative substituted with pyrazinylcarbonylamino at the 2-position is an excellent muscarinic M3 receptor-positive allosteric modulator and is expected as an agent for preventing or treating bladder/urinary tract diseases associated with bladder contractions via a muscarinic M3 receptor, thereby completing the present invention. 2-Acylaminothiazole derivative or a salt thereof of the present invention is expected as an agent for preventing or treating bladder/urinary tract diseases associated with bladder contractions via a muscarinic M3 receptor, for example voiding dysfunction such as underactive bladder.
US09951058B2
The present invention relates to a novel compound, to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or optical isomer thereof, to a method for preparing same, and to a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of viral diseases containing same as an active ingredient. The novel compound according to the present invention not only has low cytotoxicity but also has excellent antiviral activity against picornavirus such as coxsackievirus, enterovirus, echovirus, poliovirus and rhinovirus, and thus can be effectively used as a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of viral diseases such as infantile paralysis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, viral meningitis, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, vesicular disease, hepatitis A, myitis, myocarditis, pancreatitis, diabetes, epidemic myalgia, encephalitis, cold, herpangina, foot-and-mouth disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, sinus infection, or otitis media.
US09951054B2
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing pad comprising a polymeric matrix and 0.1-15 wt. % of metal oxide particles. The polymeric matrix has pores, the metal oxide particles are uniformly distributed throughout the pores, and the metal oxide particles have a specific surface area of about 25 m2/g to about 450 m2/g. The invention further provides a method of polishing a substrate with the polishing pad.
US09951051B2
The present invention relates to a Sonogashira-Carbonylation reaction using two types of gas, as well as novel crystals which can control a heat of the said reaction and the process of producing the same. In addition, the present invention relates to a ligand (additive) to prevent the deactivation of a palladium catalyst.
US09951042B2
The invention relates to a polymorphic form of [5-fluoro-3-({2-[(4-fluorobenzene)sulfonyl]pyridin-3-yl}methyl)-2-methylindol-1-yl]-acetic acid which has higher solubility than other forms and is therefore useful for preparing stable pharmaceutical formulations.
US09951032B2
The present invention relates to the following compounds for use in the treatment of a bacterial infection wherein the integers are as defined in the description. The invention also relates to compounds for use as medicaments, pharmaceutical compositions and some novel compounds.
US09951029B2
The present invention relates to styryl quinazoline derivatives of the general formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, hydrates, salts, regioisomeric and polymorphic forms thereof as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of the described compounds as pharmaceutically active agent. The compounds have been identified as new drug candidates for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases related to disfunction(s) of hematopoiesis and cancer or any other form of neo- or hyperplasias related to Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) containing Internal Tandem Duplications (ITD), especially in the case of myeloid leukemia. The compounds have been also identified as new drug candidates as antibacterial agents (having bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity) which can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of bacterial infectious diseases.
US09951023B2
A method for the preparation of compounds of formula (I), for example, N-methyl-3-difluoromethyl-5-fluorpyrazole aldehyde, starting from compounds of formula (II), for example, N-methyl-3-haloalkyl-5 chloropyrazole aldehyde, comprising simultaneous fluorination (one step process) of haloalkyl group in position 3 and replacing haloatom in position 5 by fluorine.
US09951021B2
Disclosed are novel compounds of specific chemical structures having inhibitory activity on c-Myc/Max/DNA complex formation or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09951016B2
The present invention is related to crystalline forms of 2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-N-(6-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-(o-tolyl)pyridin-3-yl)propanamide which is an NK-1 antagonist useful in the treatment of induced vomiting and other disorders.
US09951014B2
Compounds and related methods for inhibition of mammalian and bacterial nitric oxide synthase.
US09951010B2
The compounds of Formula (I) which can be used as CRTH2 receptor antagonists are provided. The compounds of Formula (I) can be used in the treatment and prevention of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, as well as other diseases mediated by prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) at the CRTH2 receptor.
US09951007B2
Compounds of Formula (I) are disclosed herein and their use in inhibiting quorum sensing in bacteria.
US09951001B2
The present invention provides hepatoprotectant acetaminophen mutual prodrugs, which have an acetaminophen moiety covalently linked to a second moiety that may act as a hepatoprotectant against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Additionally, acetaminophen mutual prodrugs may have improved water solubility which may provide better suitability for parenteral and other dosage forms relative to administration of acetaminophen. Also provided are methods of treating a disease or condition that is responsive to acetaminophen (such as fever, pain and ischemic injury) using hepatoprotectant acetaminophen mutual prodrugs, as well as kits and unit dosages.
US09950992B2
A compound that is selected from the group consisting of 3-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-3-oxopropanoic acid (hereinafter “DCOPA”); N-methyl-DCOPA; N,2-dimethyl-DCOPA; 2-methyl-DCOPA; isobutyl-DCOPA; N-methyl-isobutyl DCOPA; 3-(3,4-bibromoanilino)-3-oxopropanoic acid; and analogs of DCOPA; and analogs of 3-(3,4-bibromoanilino)-3-oxopropanoic acid; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds, are disclosed. A method of controlling bone erosion in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of these compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of at least one of these compounds, is provided. A method of reducing inflammation in a patient having an inflammatory condition comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of these compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of at least one of these compounds is provided.
US09950981B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of using homogenous rhodium-BIPHEPHOS catalysts comprising for the hydroformylation of an allyl alcohol. In some aspects, the methods provided herein relate to the hydroformylation of allyl alcohol to produce 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde in a continuous process.
US09950966B2
It has been discovered that waste cross-linked polymer materials both synthetic (scrap tire rubber, used polyurethane, and epoxy and phenol resins in discarded printed circuit boards) and natural (wood biomass, keratin, and chitin) can be conveniently depolymerized at slightly elevated temperatures and moderate pressures by the action of a liquid chemical reagent. The proposed inexpensive process results in a substantial to total depolymerization of synthetic polymers and thereby recovers valuable liquid and solid materials. When applied to lignocellulosic biomass, the proposed process, depending on the reaction conditions, either unlocks the lignin-hemicellulose matrix making cellulose more available for fermenting microorganisms or results in carbonization, or coalification of the biomass that may be desirable in terms of sequestering excessive carbon from the Earth's biosphere.
US09950965B2
A ceramic element includes: a ceramic body; a first coating layer disposed on a first part of a front surface of the ceramic body; and a second coating layer disposed on a second part of a back surface of the ceramic body. The first coating layer continuously extends from the front surface to a first region of a side surface of the ceramic body, the side surface being a machined surface, and the first region being a front side region of the side surface. The second coating layer continuously extends from the back surface to a second region of the side surface of the ceramic body, the second region being a back side region of the side surface. In the machined surface, one of the first and second coating layers is disposed at least partially on the other of the first and second coating layers.
US09950958B2
A magnetoelectric effect material includes as a primary component, a polycrystalline oxide ceramic containing at least Sr, Co, and Fe. In the polycrystalline oxide ceramic, the crystal c-axis is oriented in a predetermined direction, and the degree of orientation of the c-axis is 0.2 or more by a Lotgering method. A component substrate is formed of this magnetoelectric effect material.
US09950948B2
An Ag2O—V2O5—TeO2 lead-free low-melting glass composition that is prevented or restrained from crystallization by heating so as to soften and flow more satisfactorily at a low temperature contains a principal component which includes a vanadium oxide, a tellurium oxide and a silver oxide; a secondary component which includes at least one selected from the group consisting of BaO, WO3 and P2O5; and an additional component which includes at least one selected from the group consisting of oxides of elements in Group 13 of periodic table. A total component of the principal component is 85 mole percent or more in terms of V2O5, TeO2 and Ag2O. Contents of TeO2 and Ag2O each is 1 to 2 times as much as a content of V2O5. A content of the secondary component is 0 to 13 mole percent. A content of the additional component is 0.1 to 3.0 mole percent.
US09950928B2
A process and a related equipment for producing ammonia synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock (20), the process comprising the steps of: primary reforming with steam (21), secondary reforming with an oxidant stream (23), and purification of the effluent of said secondary reforming, said purification comprising a step of shift conversion (13) of carbon monoxide, wherein the synthesis gas (25) produced by said secondary reforming is subject to a medium-temperature shift over a copper-based catalyst, and the global steam to carbon ratio of the process is not greater than 2.
US09950924B2
A method for fabricating an integrated MEMS-CMOS device uses a micro-fabrication process that realizes moving mechanical structures (MEMS) on top of a conventional CMOS structure by bonding a mechanical structural wafer on top of the CMOS and etching the mechanical layer using plasma etching processes, such as Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE). During etching of the mechanical layer, CMOS devices that are directly connected to the mechanical layer are exposed to plasma. This sometimes causes permanent damage to CMOS circuits and is termed Plasma Induced Damage (PID). Embodiments of the present invention presents methods and structures to prevent or reduce this PID and protect the underlying CMOS circuits by grounding and providing an alternate path for the CMOS circuits until the MEMS layer is completely etched.
US09950920B2
A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) structure and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The MEMS structure includes a sacrificial layer, a lower dielectric film, an upper dielectric film, a plurality of through holes and a protective film. The sacrificial layer comprises an opening. The lower dielectric film is on the sacrificial layer. The upper dielectric film is on the lower dielectric film. The plurality of through holes passes through the lower dielectric film and the upper dielectric film. The protective film covers side walls of the upper dielectric film and the lower dielectric film and a film interface between the lower dielectric film and the upper dielectric film.
US09950911B2
A wear pad assembly for a telescopic boom includes a wear pad having a first side for contacting an outer wall of an inner section of the boom, and a second side facing an inner wall of an outer section of the boom. At least one rigid plate is secured to the second side of the wear pad, and a stud in screw-threaded engagement with the outer section of the boom or a plate secured to the outer section of the boom is associated with each rigid plate, the end of stud and the associated rigid plate having mating formations to enable the stud to urge the first surface of the wear pad against the outer wall of the inner section while preventing the wear pad from being displaced in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the stud.
US09950895B2
A welding wire coil packaging system including a process stand having an upright, the upright defining a hub receiver, the upright including a yolk supported on upright and spaced axially inward therefrom, and a cartridge including a shaft having a hub at one axial extremity, the hub being received in the hub receiver and at least partially supported on the yolk, a mandrel mounted on the shaft between a pair of end forms and adapted to receive a welding wire thereon in a coil winding process.
US09950892B2
A method for providing a nonlinear line of weakness on a web material includes: providing a counter component comprising a nonlinear shape, where the nonlinear shape has a shape width, W; providing a blade in operative relationship with the counter component and comprising a plurality of teeth; rotating at least one of the blade and the counter component into interacting relationship with the other of the blade and the counter component; feeding a web between the counter component and the blade such that while in interacting relationship the blade cooperates with the counter component to perforate the web, wherein the web is moving in a machine direction; and reciprocally shifting one of the counter component and the blade for a distance, D, in a shifting direction, wherein D is at least the translational distance that one tooth travels to cover the shape width, W.
US09950878B2
A case manipulator receives cases from an infeed conveyer and manipulates individual cases or groups of cases and transfers the manipulated cases to a row accumulator platform in a desired and pre-determined orientation and positioned on the accumulator platform to a desired and pre-determined location. The manipulation of individual cases, or groups of cases, is continued in a sequential operation until a complete row is formed on the accumulator platform according to a pre-determined build menu. The case manipulator includes a swing plate pivotal on a first axis and a paddle arm that is attached to the swing plate and pivotal on a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. The invention allows the palletizer to have the next case in a row transferred from the infeed conveyer to the row-build staging area while the case manipulator is operating on an already-delivered case.
US09950871B2
The present invention relates to a packaging method comprising the operation of transferring containers to an endless conveyor element moving forward continuously, conveying suspended containers and describing a closed trajectory imposed by a series of rotary diverting elements using to that end a container transferring device assembled on one of the diverting elements of the endless conveyor element, and rotating in a synchronized manner therewith. A device for putting the method into practice comprises a rotary body driving a plurality of clamps guided by mechanisms which can further slow down the displacement of the clamps without changing the rotating speed of the rotary body.
US09950870B2
The present application discloses vertical spiral conveyors for transporting loose material without the use of vibration or oscillation and methods of transporting materials without the use of vibration or oscillation. In certain embodiments, the vertical spiral conveyor (600) comprises a vertical spiral fabrication (690) having a spiral conveyor tray (680) connected to a vertical member (612) that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (670), a drive arm (660) extending from the vertical spiral fabrication (690), and a drive system for rotating the vertical spiral fabrication (690) about the axis of rotation (670). The drive system comprises a power source (610) and a transmission (620) coupled to the drive arm (660). The drive system generates alternating forward and backward strokes on the drive arm (660) that rotate the vertical spiral fabrication (690) clockwise and counterclockwise about the axis of rotation to cause loose material to be conveyed around the spiral conveyor tray (680).
US09950869B1
A belt tensioner for a food processing machine includes a base member, a nose member, a belt member, and a driving member. The nose member is pivotally connected with the base member. The belt member is moveably disposed around the base member and the nose member. The driving device is configured to pivotally move the nose member relative to the base member. As the nose member pivotally moves relative to the base member the nose member applies variable levels of tension on the belt member.
US09950843B2
A packaging container has an improved degree of freedom in the shapes of a container body and a cap, and prevents required turning force from being excessively large. The packaging container includes a container body having an upward-facing mouth, and a cap for closing the mouth. The container body has a plurality of axial drive ribs and a circumferential locking groove formed on an outer perimeter of the mouth. The cap has protruding rib portions on an inner surface side and locking claws to elastically lock into the locking groove, extended down from a top surface thereof.
US09950841B2
Multi-layer bags may be formed to include first and second sidewalls joined along a first side edge, an opposite second side edge, and a closed bottom edge. The first and second layers may be non-continuously laminated together to include bonded regions in which the layers are bonded and unbonded regions in which the layers are not bonded. Such a bag may be described as a “bag-in-a-bag” type configuration in which the inner bag is non-continuously bonded to the outer bag. The inventors have surprisingly found that such configurations of non-continuous bonding provides increased and unexpected strength properties to the multi-layer films and bags.
US09950839B2
A semi-flexible device configured to act as a spout or funnel for medium to large size containers. When flat, the device is trapezoidal in shape, with the top narrower than the bottom, and the sides angled to connect the top to the bottom. When used as a spout, the device is semi-circular in profile, configured to follow the shape of a container rim. When used as a funnel, the device is circular in profile, configured to fit into a hole such as the opening of a jar. The device includes at least one edge that includes two lips or rims close together but separable, the gap between which is configured to receive the rim of a container. At least one of frictional force of the lips on the container rim and pressing force of the device pushing against the more rigid container holds the device onto the container rim.
US09950837B2
A bottle that includes adaptive measuring equipment. The bottle having a container and a measuring receptacle. The container includes a securing device secured thereto and includes a device base, a fitting member and a receiving chamber. The device base includes a securing mechanism receiving passageway extending there through. The fitting member extends from the device base, while the receiving chamber is accessible through the securing mechanism receiving passageway and positioned within inner walls of the fitting member. The measuring receptacle includes a receptacle base, a side wall extending from an upper surface of the receptacle base, and a securing mechanism extending upward from the upper surface of the receptacle base and passing through the securing mechanism receiving passageway.
US09950835B2
Products (30) are distributed to retail outlets in containers (20). The products (30) are loaded onto the tray assembly (1) that is placed in a container (20) at a production or storage facility and transported to the retail outlet. Information as to a sequence in which the products (30) will be placed on retail shelving (32) at the retail outlet is used to determine a loading order of the products (30) on the tray assembly (1) so that the products (30) may be removed from the carrying device in the order required for placement on the retail shelves (32). The tray assembly (1) is removable from the container, and the trays (6) are moveable relative to each other to facilitate loading and unloading.
US09950822B2
A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.
US09950819B2
Provided is a tablet packing method including: a step of conveying a long sheet material that is a material of a packing bag in a longitudinal direction; a step of introducing all of a same kind of tablets of the tablets prescribed to each patient to a packing space formed by the conveyed long sheet material; a step of sealing the long sheet material to form a section in which the packing space provided with the tablets is airtight; and a step of cutting the long sheet material provided with one or a plurality of the sections, in predetermined units in the longitudinal direction.
US09950815B2
A system and method of detecting damage to a component may include a first sensor and a processor. The method may include the steps of receiving, by the processor, a first data for the component from a first sensor, aligning, by the processor, the first data with a reference model, determining, by the processor, a feature dissimilarity between the first data and the reference model, classifying, by the processor, the feature dissimilarity, and determining, by the processor, a probability that the feature dissimilarity indicates damage to the component.
US09950814B1
Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.
US09950813B2
A robotic apparatus comprising an articulated arm mounted to a chassis and having an end effector capable of inspecting the root and tip, as well as the length between the root and tip, of an airfoil-shaped body (such as a rotorblade). The robotic apparatus has means for propelling the chassis in a spanwise direction. The chassis-mounted articulated arm facilitates the scanning of sensors over the root or tip of the airfoil-shaped body without repositioning the chassis.
US09950805B2
Systems and methods for displaying N1 speed on a flight deck display in a manner that provides increased resolution at the upper end of the operating range. This is accomplished by a variable scale(s) which improves the functionality of the N1 gauge (serving as an indication of thrust) in the desired region. Also, there is visual indication to provide pilots the ability to discern if the current thrust is within a specific tolerance to the desired value within the takeoff region. This additional indication is based on color changes associated with the N1 display structure.
US09950799B2
An anti-icing system is provided for an inlet lip annularly extending about a nacelle of an aircraft engine assembly. The anti-icing system includes an interior wall structure at least partially forming an annular anti-icing chamber with the inlet lip and an annular shield with a first end coupled to the interior wall structure and a second end extending into the annular anti-icing chamber. The annular shield divides the annular anti-icing chamber into first and second chamber portions fluidly coupled together by a passage formed between the second end and the internal surface of the inlet lip. The anti-icing system further includes a nozzle at an inwardly radial position relative to the first end of the annular shield such that the heated air exits the nozzle into the first chamber portion in which the annular shield blocks direct impingement on the internal surface of the inlet lip.
US09950797B2
A seat back assembly that includes a composite seat back cover. The composite seat back cover includes at least one composite layer, that includes a layer of reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic layer surrounding the reinforcing fibers. The thermoplastic layer is coextensive with the layer of reinforcing fibers. In various embodiments, the seat back includes a seat back frame. The seat back frame includes a side rail, a top rail main section, and a top rail cap. The side rail, the top rail main section, and the top rail cap are fused to each other by a homogenous chemical bond. A homogenous chemical bond is formed between the seat back cover and the seat back frame creating a unitary seat back assembly.
US09950790B2
Heavier-than-air, aircraft having flapping wings, e.g., ornithopters, where angular orientation control is effected by variable differential sweep angles of deflection of the flappable wings in the course of sweep angles of travel and/or the control of variable wing membrane tension.
US09950776B2
Weed-trimmer outboard motor attachment has a lower shaft housing with a proximal coupling to correspondingly mate and engage a distal mid-shaft coupling of an upper part of a motorized weed-trimming device having a motor and a shaft that rotate a number of rotations per minute when operating; a distal termination thereto, which includes a propeller; and a rotation speed reduction unit to reduce a number of rotations of the propeller in relation to the number of rotations of the motor of the motorized weed-trimming device. The attachment can be assembled with the weed-trimming device to provide an outboard motor. A mount for mounting the weed-trimmer outboard motor to a boat can be provided as well.
US09950763B2
A bicycle handlebar assembly including a stem extension and a handlebar cross member, a pair of steering bars affixed perpendicular to the handlebar cross member, and a pair of forearm supports affixed to the handlebar cross member in proximity with the steering bars. The gear shifting and brake controls are placed at the forward ends of the two steering bars. An embodiment of the invention would allow this handlebar assembly to be raised or lowered as the rider desires, to provide raised comfort position and a lowered aerodynamic position. The forearm supports and steering bars provide comfort and control to the rider not provided by typical handlebars. Alternatively the pair of steering bars could be replaced with a single closed steering bar circuit.
US09950751B2
A method can be executed to diagnose an aerodynamic system and includes the following steps: (a) determining, via a controller, a first expected downforce acting on an aerodynamic element of a vehicle based, at least in part, on a current position of the aerodynamic element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle, wherein an electric motor is operatively coupled to the aerodynamic element; (b) determining, via the controller, a second expected downforce acting on the aerodynamic element of the vehicle based, at least in part, on an electrical current used to move the electric motor in order to move the aerodynamic element from the current position to another position; (c) determining a deviation, via the controller, based on the first expected downforce and the second expected downforce; and (d) controlling, via the controller, the aerodynamic element based, at least in part, on the deviation.
US09950750B2
An apparatus for partially covering an end of a vehicle bed includes a tailgate comprising a frame adapted for moving between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the vehicle bed. The frame supports at least one member adapted for moving along the frame to at least partially expose the end of the vehicle bed without moving the frame to the lowered position. A plurality of movable members in the form of panels may be provided, along with actuators for rotating and/or moving one or more of the panels between the raised and collapsed configuration. A related method is also disclosed.
US09950749B2
A vehicular instrument panel having a reinforcement that includes a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin, and a substrate coupled to the reinforcement comprising a plurality of chopped carbon and chopped glass fibers within a nylon resin. The plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate are segregated such that the carbon fibers and the glass fibers are each substantially concentrated within respective driver-side and passenger-side portions of the substrate. The substrate can also include a boundary region such that the plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate are substantially mixed in the boundary region.
US09950745B2
A cockpit cross beam for a motor vehicle includes at least one structured metal section arranged on the driver's side, wherein the metal section exhibits cross-sectional areas varying in the axial direction and has connection elements for connecting the metal section to other structural parts of a motor vehicle body. A cockpit cross beam that permits variable steering column angles of inclination with identical steering column connection is achieved in that the metal section arranged on the driver's side in each case has rotationally symmetric cross-sectional areas as connection elements at its ends and the cross-sectional areas of the ends have a common rotational axis.
US09950738B2
A trailering assist system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle equipped with the trailering assist system. The rearward facing camera is operable to capture image data representative of the scene rearward of the equipped vehicle. When a trailer is near and/or attached to the equipped vehicle and is rearward of the equipped vehicle, a processor is operable to process the captured image data and, responsive at least in part to such processing, is operable to determine a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle.
US09950725B2
A reversible cart with wheels is disclosed which can be flipped from one orientation with wheels down and handles pointed upwards, to another orientation with the wheels and handles both pointed downwards (relative to the ground). In the latter embodiment, the cart functions as a table. To accomplish this, portals extend through the cart/table, at least some of which are equidistantly spaced from others, and two support beams of a handle or handles are inserted into two successive portals. The portals can be on narrow and long sides of a rectangular cart/table, allowing the handles to be inserted in various configurations, such as only on the narrow side, on both narrow sides, or on the long side. The cart/table itself can have two sides spaced apart by ribbing, creating a shelf there-between.
US09950720B2
A system and method for adjusting light emitter output for a railway track inspection system based on data feedback from one or more sensors.
US09950717B2
There is described a peripheral post of railway field devices, comprising: a plurality of control modules operatively connected or connectable by electric cables to respective railway field devices; —a rack housing said plurality of control modules, wherein said rack comprises: —a wiring frame adapted to be permanently attached to a support surface or to an installation wall, comprising a front side and an opposite rear side and comprising on the rear side first connectors adapted to be electrically connected to end portions of said cables; —a support and containment frame of the modules adapted to house said modules and adapted to be coupled to the wiring frame by drawing said support and containment frame near the wiring frame from said front side so as to reach a coupling position.
US09950715B2
In some example implementations, there is provided a method. The method may include generating, by an air-coupled transducer, a first ultrasonic guided wave to cause the generated ultrasonic guided wave to propagate into a rail being tested for one or more defects, wherein a frequency of the first ultrasonic guided wave is controlled by at least changing the frequency of a voltage sent to the air-coupled transducer generating the first ultrasonic guided wave; receiving, by a receiver, a second ultrasonic guided wave, wherein the second ultrasonic guided wave is received from the rail; and analyzing a signal representative of the received second ultrasonic guided wave to detect the one or more defects in the rail. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also provided.
US09950711B2
A device having a sensor, a control unit, and a display designed for a vehicle which is designed as an at least partially self-driving vehicle. The sensor detects objects in the surroundings of the vehicle. The device displays the objects, together with the vehicle, on the display in animated form.
US09950710B2
A device for operating an apparatus comprising a first controller configured to be controlled by a first control signal, a second controller configured to be controlled by a second control signal, a control unit operatively connected to the first controller and the second controller, wherein the first controller and the second controller are both configured to operate the apparatus.
US09950704B2
Provided is a charging control device that allows the actual state of charge of a secondary battery to converge quickly to an upper limit value given as a control center value when the actual state of charge is higher than the upper limit value so that charging may be performed in an efficient manner and fuel economy may be improved. The charging control device (10) includes a charge/discharge integration unit (23) for computing an integrated charge/discharge value (IW) of the secondary battery, a charge control unit (26) for controlling the charging of the secondary battery such that the recognized state of charge is maintained at a prescribed upper limit value (80%) lower than a fully charged state (100%) by switching a generation voltage of a generator. When a disconnection of a terminal of the secondary battery is detected by a terminal disconnection detection unit (25), the charge control unit (26) prohibits the charging of the secondary battery from then on until the integrated charge/discharge value reaches a prescribed discharge value (−20%).
US09950687B2
An airbag of an occupant protection device as fully deployed includes a front panel section deployable in front of the head of an occupant for catching the head when the head moves forward, a left panel section deployable on a left side of the head for catching the head when the head moves towards the left, and a right panel section deployable on a right side of the head for catching the head when the head moves towards the right. The front panel section includes a main panel region that is deployable in such a manner as to be opposed to a front face of the head and an extended panel region that extends downwardly from the main panel region so as to catch at least an upper part of a thorax of the occupant.
US09950686B2
An occupant protection apparatus is provided with a first airbag device having a window airbag that protects an occupant in a vehicle and a second airbag device having an adjacent airbag that completes inflation to contact the window airbag for which inflation is completed, thereby protecting the occupant. Where the internal pressure of an inflation chamber at the contact site during contact with the adjacent airbag by the window airbag is P1 and the internal pressure of the adjacent airbag is P2, P1
US09950679B2
A fabrication method for fabricating an equipment part for an automotive vehicle. The method includes the following steps. Supplying a sheet comprising ceramic fibers and thermofusible polymer fibers, the melting temperature of the thermofusible polymer being higher than 200° C. Heating the sheet, at a temperature higher than 200° C., so as to melt the thermofusible polymer. Applying a fabric on the sheet, the fabric comprising filament yarns having a core made of polymer presenting a softening point temperature that is higher than or equal to 200° C. And then thermoforming of the fabric and the sheet in a conforming mold.
US09950672B1
A vehicle having a cargo area accessible through a liftgate opening frame and partially defined by a floor, side quarter trims, and pillar covers is provided. The vehicle includes an articulated fence movable between a stowed position and an elevated position, and a guide formed in at least one of the pillar covers for guiding the articulated fence between the stowed position and the elevated position. A motor is positioned behind one of the side quarter trims for moving a belt attached to the articulated fence. The articulated fence is transparent and positioned within a recess beneath the floor in the stowed position. A cover may be attached to the articulated fence and is substantially flush with the floor when the articulated fence is in the stowed position.
US09950669B2
Systems and methods are described for creating a unified output image based on image data from multiple cameras with overlapping fields of view by converting a raw image from each camera into a rectified output image using a look-up table. Camera misalignments are mitigated by generating an updated look-up table based on feature point detection and matching in the overlapping fields of view.
US09950667B2
A vehicle system for detecting an object, including: an image input unit installed at the front or the rear of a vehicle to capture images in the vicinity of the vehicle; an image processing unit converting the image input from the image input unit; an object detecting unit analyzing the images converted by the image processing unit and extracting key points for a background of the images to detect a moving object approaching the vehicle; an interface unit including an input means for the vehicle and an output means outputting information; and a control unit controlling a warning for the moving object to be detected from the object detecting unit and output through the interface.
US09950664B2
An environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator apparatus. The apparatus includes a vehicle state sensing unit, a sound source storage unit, a sound source playback unit, a sound source amplification unit, a sound output unit, and a control unit. The control unit receives a sensing signal from the vehicle state sensing unit and controlling the operation of the sound source playback unit so as to play back the operating sound in different playback methods to control and change the operating sound according to the received sensing signal. The vehicle state sensing unit senses a vehicle speed, and if it is determined according to a vehicle speed signal that the vehicle speed reaches a preset speed range, the control unit fades out the output of the sound output unit at a preset ratio of the vehicle speed to a time elapsed after the vehicle speed reaches the preset speed range.
US09950662B2
A multifunctional lamp for a vehicle interior includes a housing having a light source installed therein. An indirect illumination diffusing lens is disposed in front of the housing to diffuse and emit light of the light source. A concentrated illumination light emitting unit moves back and forth while passing through the light diffusing lens. The concentrated illumination light emitting unit emits the light of the light source toward a front side of the housing through an internal passage of the light emitting unit in the form of concentrated illumination and shields the light diffusing lens from the light when concentrated illumination light emitting unit moves to surround a periphery of the light source.
US09950652B2
A headrest assembly includes a headrest bun adjustably supported on a linkage system. An adjustable cover assembly is operable between stowed and deployed positons relative to a position of the headrest bun and is configured to cover the linkage system in use. The adjustable cover assembly includes first and second members, wherein the first member is coupled to the linkage system for movement therewith and the second member is pivotally coupled to the first member. A gap is defined between the first member and the second member, and the gap is maintained by a plurality of spacers disposed on the first member as the cover assembly moves from the stowed position to the deployed position with the headrest bun.
US09950649B2
A child car seat that includes a headrest portion that is adjustable with respect to the car seat base in a vertical and horizontal direction, wherein the adjustment of the headrest in a vertical direction is accomplished via a screw-type mechanism.
US09950644B2
A vehicle seat control apparatus is configured to be provided in a vehicle switchable between a manual driving state in which a driver performs a driving operation of the vehicle and an automatic driving state in which the driving operation is performed automatically. The apparatus includes a seat adjuster, a controller, and a storage. The seat adjuster adjusts a position of a seat of the vehicle. The controller drives the seat adjuster and makes a transition between the driving two states. The storage stores seat position information indicating the seat position in the the manual driving state. The controller drives the seat adjuster on a basis of the seat position information read out from the storage, and moves, by the seat adjuster, the seat rearward on a basis of the seat position in the manual driving state as a reference position, upon making a transition from the manual driving state to the automatic driving state.
US09950631B2
Disclosed is a crane and a tractor used at a container base of a harbor or a container terminal, and more particularly, a charging system in which a power supplying device capable of supplying power in a contactless fashion is installed at the crane and a power collecting device capable of receiving power from the power supplying device is installed at the tractor, so that the tractor receives power from the power supplying unit installed at the crane while performing lifting or landing works below the crane to charge power required for movement of the tractor.
US09950612B2
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting grille shutters based on engine coolant temperature and a difference in aerodynamic drag between the grille shutter positions. In one example, the grille shutters may be adjusted into a position closer to a first smaller opening when a difference in aerodynamic drag between the first and second positions is large. In other examples, the grille shutters may be adjusted into a position closer to the second larger opening when a difference in aerodynamic drag between the first and second positions is small thus maintaining the engine at lower temperatures.
US09950602B2
The installation structure for the lithium battery box of the electric vehicle includes a battery box body and a vehicle frame oblique beam, where an insertion hole is produced in a front end of the battery box body; an installation groove is produced in the vehicle frame oblique beam; a front battery box base is installed in a front installation groove; an insertion bolt driven through a key is arranged on the front battery box base; where an upwards-bulged arc-shaped limit groove is produced in the middle of the lower cover in the axis of the box body; the installation groove of the vehicle frame oblique beam is an installation groove with a front opening and a rear opening; a limit bulge adaptive to the arc-shaped limit groove is produced on a groove bottom of the installation groove.
US09950599B2
A roof module for a vehicle roof, which can have a roof panel for closing an opening in the vehicle roof, a frame for mounting the Roof module onto the vehicle roof, a sealing which can be fixedly mounted to the frame for sealing engagement with the panel, and adjusting elements for adjusting the roof panel relative to the frame. The sealing can have a cover lip for covering the adjusting elements, wherein the cover lip can be bent away in a resilient manner for accessing the adjusting elements.
US09950596B2
A sunshade assembly includes a flexible sunscreen and two opposed longitudinal guides for guiding longitudinal edges of the sunscreen. A rotatable winding shaft winds and unwinds the sunscreen. An operating beam is connected to the opposite transversal edge of the sunscreen. Two drive cables are connected to opposite ends of the operating beam. Two positioning members move with the operating beam. Each positioning member extends into a corresponding one of the opposed longitudinal guides. Each of the opposed longitudinal edges of the sunscreen near the opposite transversal edge is provided with a wing folded inward in a direction away from the respective positioning member, so that the wing and the respective positioning member are on opposite sides of the sunscreen. The wing accessible to the respective positioning member from the opposite side of the flexible sunscreen in order to engage the respective positioning member.
US09950594B1
A vehicle includes a door and an impact absorbing structure. The door has an interior panel. The impact absorbing structure is secured to an inner surface of the interior panel. The impact absorbing structure has a centrally located hub and a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the hub toward a peripheral boundary of the interior panel.
US09950586B2
Disclosed herein is a cleaning robot including an improved driving unit to escape from an undriveable state occurring under various driving conditions. The cleaning robot includes a body, and a driving unit that drives the body. The driving unit includes a first driving motor and a second driving motor that generate driving power; a driving wheel that rotates when the driving power is delivered to the driving wheel from the first driving motor; and a wheel frame that supports the driving wheel to be rotatable and rotates between a first position and a second position with respect to a motor shaft of the first driving motor. The wheel frame rotates in at least one section between the first position and the second position when the driving power is delivered to the wheel frame from the second driving motor.
US09950584B2
An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a wheel attachment component for attaching the assembly to a wheel, a chassis attachment component for pivotably attaching the assembly to a chassis of the vehicle, and a suspension component operably interposed between the wheel attachment component and the chassis attachment component. A first adjustment element is coupled with the chassis attachment component and coupled with a first portion of the suspension component, and a second adjustment element is coupled with the chassis attachment component and coupled with the first portion of the suspension component. The first and second adjustment elements are configured to shift the first portion of the suspension component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the chassis attachment component. A single strut bar slidingly engages the wheel attachment component and is rigidly coupled with a second portion of the suspension component.
US09950578B2
A tire air pressure detection device has transmitters each detecting a running state of a vehicle on the basis of a detection signal of an acceleration sensor and transmitting a frame when it is determined that the vehicle is running. Because acceleration varies independently of a tire rotation speed, a frame can be transmitted even before a vehicle speed reaches or exceeds, for example, 30 km/h. Consequently, data on a tire air pressure can be transmitted in a short time period from a running start of the vehicle and hence a decrease in tire air pressure can be detected in a short time period from the running start of the vehicle.
US09950570B2
A pneumatic tire includes at least three circumferential main grooves that extend in the tire circumferential direction, and land portions that are partitioned and formed by these circumferential main grooves. In addition, a belt layer is formed by laminating a pair of cross belts each having a belt angle of not less than 10° and not more than 45° as an absolute value and having mutually opposite signs, and a circumferential reinforcing layer having a belt angle within a range of ±5° with respect to the tire circumferential direction. In addition, in a cross-sectional view taken along the tire meridian direction, a diameter D1 at a point at an edge portion on the inner side of a shoulder land portion in the tire width direction and a diameter D2 at a predetermined point within the ground-contact surface of the shoulder land portion have a relationship such that D2
US09950546B2
A printer includes a recording head performing recording on a medium and includes a base stand that has a mounting surface capable of mounting the medium. A pump that absorbs or suctions the medium mounted on the mounting surface of the base stand, in which a pressure or a suction force is applied from a part of the medium to an entirety thereof.
US09950542B2
A facility for processing ink input is described. In one example facility, the facility receives ink input from an input device. The facility generates and renders ink stroke data structures in response to received ink input in accordance with an ink input processing pipeline. The facility provides to an executing application access to information traversing the ink input processing pipeline at a selected point in the ink input processing pipeline.
US09950537B2
A printing material supply system 10 includes a printer 50 equipped with a holder 600 and cartridges 20 that are detachably attached to the holder 600. The holder 600 has a first apparatus-side locking element 810 and a lever 800. The first apparatus-side locking element 810 is formed as part of the lever 800. The cartridge 20 has a first cartridge-side locking element 210 that includes a first locking surface 211 to engage with the first apparatus-side locking element 810. The first cartridge-side locking element 210 has an extended surface 219 that prevents a negative Z-axis end 818 of the lever 800 from running on the first locking surface 211.
US09950536B2
A liquid supply mechanism includes a sub-tank that supplies liquid to a liquid ejection head and a liquid replenishing mechanism that suctions liquid from a main tank into the sub-tank. The liquid replenishing mechanism has a diaphragm, a biasing member, and a drive member. The diaphragm has a movable portion and a mounting portion and closes one end of a liquid container chamber provided on the sub-tank. The biasing member biases the diaphragm in a first direction in which a volume of the liquid container chamber is decreased. The drive member pulls the diaphragm in a second direction in which the volume of the liquid container chamber is increased. The movable portion of the diaphragm can move in the first direction and the second direction. The movable portion has a first portion, which is flexible, and a second portion that retains its shape when the liquid container chamber is pressurized.
US09950529B2
There is provided an ink jet printer including a carriage, and an ink jet head. The ink jet head has two first nozzle groups to jet a first ink, two second nozzle groups to jet a second ink, and two third nozzle groups to jet the second ink. Each of the first, second and third nozzle groups includes a plurality of nozzles arrayed at a pitch P along a second direction. The second nozzle groups accord respectively with the first nozzle groups in terms of nozzle position in the second direction, the third nozzle groups are dislocated respectively from the second nozzle groups in terms of nozzle position in the second direction, and any two groups selected from the first and second nozzle groups are arranged respectively on two opposite sides of each of the third nozzle groups in the first direction.
US09950520B2
A printhead having a number of single-dimensional memristor banks is described. The printhead includes a number of nozzles to deposit an amount of fluid onto a print medium. Each nozzle includes a firing chamber to hold the amount of fluid, an opening to dispense the amount of fluid onto the print medium, and an ejector to eject the amount of fluid through the opening. The printhead also includes a number of single-dimensional memristor banks. Each memristor bank includes a number of memristors arranged in a single dimension and a number of serially-connected de-multiplexers to selectively activate a target memristor of the memristor bank. The number of serially-connected de-multiplexers is equal to the number of memristors and an output of at least one de-multiplexer is an input into a subsequent de-multiplexer.
US09950519B2
There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including a conveyor, a liquid jet head, a carriage, a carriage moving device, and a controller. The controller carries out printing by repeating a scan-printing operation and a conveyance operation, and carries out a process of determining a jet-timing such that the jet-timing and a predetermined reference timing may deviate oppositely from each other between a print area on the upstream side and a print area on the downstream side along a scanning direction for the carriage to move in the scan-printing operation with respect to a predetermined reference position in the scanning direction, based on a value of a correction parameter. The correction parameter is set to the same value for nozzles included in an identical one of nozzle groups and to different values for the corresponding nozzles included in different ones of the nozzle groups.
US09950516B1
A method of slicing and printing multi-color 3D object includes following steps of: executing a path-slicing process to a coordinate information of a multi-color 3D object (22) to generate a plurality of path data; generating a plurality of continuous-tone images according to a color information of the multi-color 3D object (22); calculating a plurality of dithering masks according to a plurality of displacement values and an initial mask; generating a plurality of halftone images according to each dithering mask and the same-layer continuous tone image; and, controlling a modeling nozzle (100) of a multi-color 3D printer (1) to print a plurality of printing slices (S1-S3) according to each path data layer by layer and controlling a coloring nozzle (102) of the multi-color 3D printer (1) to color each of printed printing slice (S1-S3) according to the same-layer halftone image.
US09950514B2
Provided are a vibrating plate, a first electrode provided over the vibrating plate, a piezoelectric layer provided over the first electrode, and a second electrode provided over the piezoelectric layer are provided. The piezoelectric layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The piezoelectric layer includes an active portion of which at least one end portion is defined by the first electrode, and a non-active portion provided on an outside of the end portion of the first electrode for defining the active portion. The vibrating plate includes a first vibration portion under the non-active portion and a second vibration portion on an outside of the first vibration portion. The second vibration portion includes a taper part having the thickness which is increased toward the first vibration portion.
US09950513B2
A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.
