US11662225B2

An inductive sensor device has a coil arrangement and sensor electronics for determining a longitudinal position of an at least partially electrically conductive and/or magnetically polarizable object moveable at a distance from a device end face along a device sensitive axis. The arrangement has a substantially planar exciting coil for producing an alternating magnetic field for inducing eddy currents and/or magnetic polarization in the object and a first substantially planar receiving coil substantially parallel to and overlapping the exciting coil. The coils are substantially parallel to the end face. The sensor electronics determine at least one parameter of an exciting coil electrical signal, which is variable owing to an inductive backward effect of the object, at least one parameter of a voltage inducible in the at least first receiving coil based on this effect, and the longitudinal position from the determined signal parameter and the determined voltage parameter.
US11662222B2

A system and method for managing sensors including determining health operation states of the sensors correlative with sensor accuracy, classifying the sensors by their respective health operation state, and teaming two sensors each having a health operation state that is intermediate to give a team having a health operation state that is healthy. The sampling frequency of the sensors to determine sensor accuracy may be dynamic.
US11662221B2

A change point detection device includes a memory 170 that stores map information representing a structure associated with a traveling condition on and around a road, an object detection unit 162 that detects a shielding object 20 hiding the structure from an image acquired by an in-vehicle camera 110 mounted on a vehicle 100 and representing an environment around the vehicle 100, a collation unit 163 that eliminates the structure hidden by the shielding object 20 in the map information, collates the image with the map information, and calculates a coincidence degree between the image and the map information, and a change point detection unit 164 that determines, when the coincidence degree is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, that the structure represented in the image has a change point different from the corresponding structure represented in the map information.
US11662219B2

In one embodiment, a perception module of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) detects a temporary traffic control device (TTCD) located within a first lane of a multi-lane roadway. The first lane is added to a black list of one or more lanes that the ADV is not permitted to drive within. A rerouting request is made to a planning module of the ADV to route the ADV to a second lane in the multi-lane roadway. The ADV navigates to the second lane and continues navigating along the requested rerouting. The ADV monitors for additional TTCDs. One or more boundary lines of the first lane can be marked “do not cross” so that the ADV does not navigate, even partially, back into the first lane. If there are no more TTCDs in the first lane for a predetermined distance ahead of the ADV, the first lane is deleted from the black list.
US11662217B2

A method and system are disclosed and include assigning a vehicle to a user. The method also includes obtaining contextual information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and the contextual information includes at least one of location information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, route information associated with the vehicle-sharing request, and user information associated with a vehicle-sharing account corresponding to the user. The method also includes determining a cleanliness score based on the contextual information and determining whether the cleanliness score is less than a first threshold value. The method also includes transmitting, in response to (i) the cleanliness score being less than the first threshold value and (ii) a vehicle-sharing session corresponding to the vehicle-sharing request being complete, an alert that is configured to indicate that the vehicle needs to be cleaned.
US11662211B2

Information communication circuitry, including a first integrated circuit for coupling to a second integrated circuit in a package on package configuration. The first integrated circuit comprises processing circuitry for communicating information bits, and the information bits comprise data bits and error correction bits, where the error correction bits are for indicating whether data bits are received correctly. The second integrated circuit comprises a memory for receiving and storing at least some of the information bits. The information communication circuitry also includes interfacing circuitry for selectively communicating, along a number of conductors, between the package on package configuration. In a first instance, the interfacing circuitry selectively communicates only data bits along the number of conductors. In a second instance, the interfacing circuitry selectively communicates data bits along a first set of the number of conductors and error correction bits along a second set of the number of conductors.
US11662206B2

The present invention provides a micromachined gyroscope, including: a base; an anchor point fixed to the base; a number of vibration structures; and a drive structure used for driving the vibration structure to vibrate in a x-y plane along a ring direction. The drive structure includes at least four groups arranged at intervals along the ring direction and symmetrical about an x axis and a y axis. The micromachined gyroscope works in two vibration modes interchanging with each other, including a driving mode status working in a first mode status and a testing mode status working in a second mode status. By virtue of the configuration described in the invention, the micromachined gyroscope can realize three-axis detection at the same time, and greatly improves the quality utilization rate of the vibration structure.
US11662199B2

A method for measuring interfaces of an optical element, forming part of a plurality of similar elements including at least one reference optical element, the method implemented by a device, the method including: relative positioning of each reference optical element and the measurement beam, to allow a measurement of interfaces of each reference optical element; acquisition of a reference image, of each reference element; positioning of the measured optical element to allow acquisition of a measurement image, of the optical element to be measured; determining a difference of position in a field of view of the measured element with respect to each reference optical element, based on the reference and measurement images; adjusting the position of the measured optical element in the field of view to cancel the difference of position; and measuring the interfaces of the measured optical element by the measurement beam.
US11662197B2

The invention discloses a rapid measurement method for an ultra-thin film optical constant, which includes following steps: S1: using a p-light amplitude reflection coefficient rp and an s-light amplitude reflection coefficient rs of an incident light irradiating to an ultra-thin film to be measured to express an amplitude reflection coefficient ratio ρ of the ultra-thin film: ρ = r p r s ; S2: performing a second-order Taylor expansion to ρ = r p r s at df=0 while taking 2πdf/λ as a variable to obtain a second-order approximation form; S3: performing merging, simplifying and substituting processing to the second-order approximation form for transforming the same into a one-variable quartic equation; S4: solving the one-variable quartic equation to obtain a plurality of solutions of the optical constant of the ultra-thin film, and obtaining a correct solution through conditional judgment, so as to achieve the rapid measurement for the ultra-thin film optical constant.
US11662192B2

An energy storage device including: a first movable member configured to be movable in one direction relative to a base; a first biasing member configured to bias the first movable member in a second direction opposed to the first direction; a plurality of second movable members, each movable towards an engagement surface of the first movable member when subjected to a predetermined acceleration event in a direction offset from the first direction; and wherein the engagement surface having a portion which when pressed causes a movement of the first movable member in the one direction against a biasing force of the first biasing member; and the plurality of second movable members are configured to sequentially engage the engagement surface upon an increasing acceleration of the base such that energy is stored in the first biasing member.
US11662189B2

The present invention provides for a network connected training projectile that provides user feedback and is used to determine a trainee's proximity to an appropriately sized explosive blast zone. The invention solves the unmet need for close combat indirect fire (mortars and grenade launchers), or hand grenades which can be safely used in live training exercises. The invention further solves that such use is interactive with the training environment providing the ability to calculate the extent personnel participating in a training exercise would be affected by the training grenade in a real-life scenario. The invention further determines mortality of participants who would have been affected by the training grenade.
US11662174B1

A buffer tower for a rifle includes a cut-out on an upper end thereof. The cut-out extends a travel length of the bolt during bolt action. The cut-out extends the travel length by greater than 10 mm. This extended travel length reduces the felt recoil of the rifle and increases the cycle time. An increased cycle time improves feeding reliability from the magazine.
US11662173B1

A projectile launch apparatus for discharging a NERF™ brand dart, or toy launchers each having a rotatable dart carrier in either a gun-like or rifle-like configuration. Each of the apparatus includes an energy creation system embodying a cylinder housing a piston and a launch spring, a handle for priming the apparatus, and components for causing the dart carrier to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the launch apparatus.
US11662166B2

A magazine for a firearm with a magazine well and a reciprocating bolt. A body of the magazine is engaged within the well and has a top, interconnected front, sides and rear walls, and a bottom defining a cartridge holding interior. A spring supported within the interior contacts the bottom and upwardly biases a follower positioned atop the spring toward an opening in the top, through which the cartridges are loaded into the magazine. A feed tower integrated into the top supports a pair of feed lips positioned along opposed edges defining the opening. An aperture is formed in the top rearward of the feed tower. A rear upward projection of the follower aligns with the aperture and, following discharge of a final cartridge, elevates above the top in order to actuate a separate bolt catch or bolt hold open adaptor to prevent a forward returning motion of the bolt.
US11662162B2

A heat exchanger network retrofit method including analysis, targeting and retrofitting an existing heat exchange network (HEN) to lower the annual operating cost. The revamped/retrofit design is based on one of two mathematical techniques: Simulated Annealing (SA) and Fixed Structure.
US11662160B2

A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which may have at least one flat tube, may include at least one recess, through which a separator may be inserted into the collector tube in an insertion position. The separator may have a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit may be present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator. The separating wall may provide at least one elevation to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator. In the insertion position of the separator, the at least one elevation may be arranged in an area of the recess. In the insertion position, a press fit may be present between the at least one elevation and the recess.
US11662152B2

A plate heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked together and each having openings at four corners thereof. The heat transfer plates are partially brazed together such that a first flow passage through which first fluid flows and a second flow passage through which second fluid flows are alternately arranged with one of the heat transfer plates disposed therebetween, openings at the four corners being connected forming first headers through which the first fluid enters and is discharged and second headers through which the second fluid enters and is discharged. At least one of two heat transfer plates between which the first flow passage or the second flow passage is disposed is formed by a pair of metal plates stacked together. The metal plate adjacent to the second flow passage is thinner than the metal plate adjacent to the first flow passage.
US11662143B2

A cosmetic sponge drying and storage container has a plurality of components, including at least a first component and a second component, the first component being moveable with respect to the second component to position the container in at least an open condition and a closed condition. At least one of the first component or said second component is perforated with perforations. A cosmetic sponge may be placed within the container when in the open condition and the perforations provide at least 10% ventilation when the container is in the closed condition. Preferably, both the first and second components are perforated to provide for cross-ventilation. In addition, a base may be provided to support the first and second components, and most preferably the base may be perforated.
US11662141B2

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a solvent is injected into a feed of natural gas at a solvent injection point. A mixed feed is produced from a dispersal of the solvent into the feed of natural gas. The mixed feed contains heavy components. A chilled feed is produced by chilling the mixed feed. The chilled feed includes a vapor and a condensed liquid. The condensed liquid contains a fouling portion of the heavy components condensed by the solvent during chilling. The liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components is separated from the vapor. The vapor is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger following separation of the liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components from the vapor, such that the vapor being directed into feed chiller heat exchanger is free of freezing components.
US11662138B2

A water circuit assembly for a refrigerator that delivers water from a source to a first destination and a second destination spaced apart from the first destination. The water circuit assembly includes an inlet valve positioned outside a compartment of the refrigerator and a water filter assembly positioned adjacent a top wall and a first side wall of a liner that defines the compartment. The water circuit further includes a bracket secured to a rear wall of the liner, a water tank supported by the bracket along the rear wall of the liner, and a diverter valve attached to the bracket and fluidly connected to the inlet valve to thereby divert the flow of water from the inlet valve to a selected one of the first destination or the second destination.
US11662122B2

A tankless water heater system (100), with a heat exchanger device (20) comprising at least one hollow chamber (21, 22, 23, 24) and at least one electrical heating element (52, 53, 54), and a controller device (30) with a temperature control unit (35), a tap event counter unit (32), a down-time counter unit (33) and a time delay unit (34); an electrical switching element (41, 42, 43) for connecting or is connecting one or several heating elements (52, 53, 54) to/from a power supply; an outlet temperature sensor (27) linked with the temperature control unit (35); a flow rate sensor (29); wherein: the tap counter unit (32) is connected to the flow rate sensor (29) and is triggered when water flow rate exceeds a tap indication threshold the down-time counter unit (33) is triggered and retriggered by the tap counter unit (32) and both provide a down-time event signal after any inactivity period with no water flow and records the duration of inactivity; the time delay unit (34) is connected to and triggered by the tap counter unit (32) starting a delay period which duration is switched from a short default delay period to a long delay period by the down-time signal provided by the down-time counter unit (33); and the switching elements (41, 42, 53) are triggered by the time delay unit (34) only after the delay period has elapsed.
US11662121B2

A linear fireplace system, assemblies, modular units, and related methods that can be installed in a modular fashion at a selected installation location so as to avoid drawbacks experienced in the prior art. The system can include modular linear units, corner units, and/or end units interconnectable to form a modular linear fireplace assembly. The system can include an alignment track system with a track member that receives alignment rails on the bottom of the modular units to axially align the interconnected units. The system can include a combustion air flow passage within the fireplace that maintains a relatively low exterior temperature of the assembly and that allows combustible and non-combustible building materials to be installed against or immediately adjacent to the top and base portions of the modular units of the assembly.
US11662120B2

A boiler system having a generally cylindrical housing or shell includes a main or fire tube with a furnace or combustion chamber extending longitudinally near the bottom of the housing and a burner to accomplish combustion within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber opens at its rear end to furnace tube sheet, and to a first set of tubes extending longitudinally of the boiler. The first set of tubes extends to and through the rear tube sheet of the boiler to a turnaround space, which transitions to a second set of tubes located above the combustion chamber and first set of tubes to generally span a length extending from the rear tube sheet of the boiler to the front tube sheet. The boiler system as disclosed has a reduced size while maintaining efficiency in steam and hot water applications.
US11662113B2

A building cooling system includes one or more cooling devices operable to affect an indoor air temperature of a building and a system management circuit. The system management circuit is configured to obtain an objective function that includes a power consumption term and a comfort term, perform an optimization of the objective function over a time horizon to determine values of the cooling capacity of the cooling devices where each value of the cooling capacity corresponds to a time step of the time horizon, and control the cooling devices based on the values of the cooling capacity of the cooling devices. The comfort term of the objective function a difference between a prediction of the indoor air temperature of the building and a temperature setpoint for the building, while the power consumption term is a function of the power consumption of the one or more cooling devices.
US11662108B2

Systems, apparatus and methods for operating an environmental control system that delivers dehumidified outdoor air into a conditioned space through an air valve. The method includes establishing CO2 setpoints corresponding to a ventilation outdoor air flow rate and a dehumidification outdoor air flow rate, determining a humidity metric of the conditioned space, and delivering outside air to the conditioned space at the ventilation outdoor air flow rate or dehumidification outdoor air flow rate based upon the humidity metric. The outside air may be tempered with return air from the conditioned space. The dehumidification CO2 set point is determined by predicting the dehumidification CO2 set point based on the airflow quantity per occupant and the relationship of the occupant predicted water vapor emission rate and CO2 emission rate.
US11662105B2

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a housing having a base wall, a first electrical component coupled to the base wall, a panel movably coupled to the housing and configured to transition between a closed configuration that defines an air gap between the panel and the base wall and that blocks access to the first electrical component and an open configuration that enables access to the first electrical component, and a second electrical component coupled to the panel. The second electrical component is disposed on a side of the panel opposite the air gap in the closed configuration of the panel.
US11662104B2

A temperature control (“TC”) unit and associated method for providing simultaneous independent temperature control of conditioned air to first and second rooms. The TC unit includes a cabinet. The cabinet may be divided into first and second compartments, the first compartment being adapted to receive and exhaust air from and to, respectively, the first room, and the second compartment being adapted to receive and exhaust air from and to, respectively, the second room. Sound dampening insulation may be positioned between the first and second compartments. First and second evaporators may be positioned within the cabinet so that: air from the first room passes through the first evaporator before exhausting back to the first room; and air from the second room passes through the second evaporator before exhausting back to the second room. The TC unit may be or include a vertical terminal air conditioning (“VTAC”) unit.
US11662101B2

A user interface for a thermostat that controls a radiator valve can include a user input member that is movable from a home position to a set point increase or decrease position to increase or decrease a set point temperature of the thermostat. In some embodiments, a return mechanism returns the user input member to the home position after being released from one of the set point increase and decrease positions. The user interface can include an indicator panel and controller that controls the indicator panel to provide an indication of when the set point temperature of the thermostat is being adjusted. The user interface can also include a lockout controller that prevents further set point temperature adjustments using the user interface when the set point temperature differs from the environmental temperature by a specified amount.
US11662092B2

A biochar apparatus and a related biochar module may have a horizontal table-shaking mechanism and a tapered channel for causing biochar pieces generated in a firebox to fall through openings in the table to a conveyor system below. The table may be configured with replaceable grate panels. A quenching reservoir pan for holding quenching liquid receives a drainage basket at a discharge end of the conveyor system for quenching hot pieces of biochar and allowing easy retrieval of the quenched pieces.
US11662091B2

A device to facilitate and maintain a fire, having a camera assembly with a base, an apex, lateral columns, a first ring, and a second ring; and an air intake channel connected to the camera assembly. The first and second rings are intercepted by the lateral columns to define a plurality of apertures. The camera assembly defines a cavity area. The cutouts are positioned around the base separated a predetermined distance from each other, and extend from the base bottom edge without reaching the base top edge. The main opening extends from the base bottom edge towards the base top edge. The main opening defines a semi-circle. The plurality of apertures defined at the camera assembly and air intake through the air intake channel provide a sufficient amount of oxygen so that a fire is maintained until matter upon the camera assembly is consumed without suffocating and become extinguished.
US11662086B2

A controller assembly for a light fixture may include a controller housing to be received within a knockout opening of a light fixture housing from which light is emitted, and a user input assembly positioned within the controller housing. The user input assembly may include a mechanical actuator accessible through a controller opening in the controller housing, and a connector interface to be electrically connected by wiring to a driver of the light fixture, and circuitry electrically coupled to the mechanical actuator and the connector interface. The circuitry may be used to detect actuation of the mechanical actuator by a user and, in response, change a control signal from the connector interface to the driver from a first control signal to a second control signal in order change a property of the emitted light.
US11662077B2

Illumination devices with improved color mixing optics are disclosed herein for mixing the colors produced by a multi-colored LED emitter module to produce uniform color throughout the entire beam angle of the output light beam, along with smoother edges and improved center beam intensity. Embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of multi-color LEDs within an emitter module, a unique exit lens with different patterns of lenslets on opposing sides of the lens, and other associated optical features that thoroughly mix the different color components, and as such, provide uniform color across the output beam exiting the illumination device. Additional embodiments disclosed herein include a unique arrangement of photodetectors within the primary optics structure of the LED emitter module that ensure the optical feedback system properly measures the light produced by all similarly colored emission LEDs.
US11662076B2

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lighting system, and discloses a vehicle lighting device. The vehicle lighting device includes a bracket, a plurality of rotating arms and a plurality of lighting modules. The rotating arms include driving columns and rotating shafts; the plurality of lighting modules are mounted on the plurality of rotating arms respectively, and the rotating shafts are rotationally mounted on the bracket, so that the rotating arms can be independently driven by the driving columns to rotate around the rotating shafts; and the rotating shafts are horizontally arranged in parallel. The lighting modules can independently and synchronously rotate up and down, the adjustment range of a light pattern position is wide, an occupied space in a headlight is small, and control is convenient. The present disclosure further discloses a vehicle headlight including the vehicle lighting device, and a vehicle.
US11662073B2

A lamp for a vehicle includes a first lamp module including a first light source part, and a first lens structure that forms a first light distribution pattern with light irradiated from the first light source part, and a second lamp module including a second light source part, and a second lens structure that forms a second light distribution pattern having characteristics that are different from those of the first light distribution pattern with light irradiated from the second light source part. The first light distribution pattern and the second light distribution pattern overlap each other to form a low beam pattern. Shapes of input surfaces of the first lens structure and the second lens structure, to which the light is input, are different.
US11662070B2

A placement device for placing optoelectronic components on electrical lines includes a holding device for holding at least one electric line extending in a longitudinal direction, and an application device for arranging optoelectronic components on the at least one electrical line.
US11662067B2

LED lamp systems having improved light quality are disclosed. The lamps emit more than 500 lm and more than 2% of the power in the spectral power distribution is emitted within a wavelength range from about 390 nm to about 430 nm.
US11662054B2

Webcam systems and mount assemblies are disclosed that can dispose a camera at or near a middle of computer monitor whereby a user is viewed by the camera from a face-front position, and wherein the position of the camera is vertically and laterally manually adjustable (without tools) to facilitate a variety of positions according to need or desire. The webcam systems and mount assemblies further may be used with any of a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, a free-standing computer monitor, etc., and may be mounted to any edge or an adjacent structure while permitting disposing the camera at or near a center of the monitor.
US11662051B2

An electronic computing system preserves a pre-error state of a processing unit by receiving a first stream of inputs; buffering the first stream of inputs to generate a buffered stream of inputs identical to the first stream of inputs; conveying the first stream to a primary instance of a first program; conveying the buffered stream to a secondary instance of the first program; executing the primary instance on the first stream in real time; executing the secondary instance on the buffered stream with a predefined time delay with respect to execution of the primary instance on the first stream; detecting an error state resulting from execution of the primary instance; and in response to detecting the error state, pausing the secondary instance and preserving a current state of the secondary instance, wherein the current state of the secondary instance corresponds to a pre-error state of the primary instance.
US11662047B2

A system and method of use thereof to produce pipe connections to conduits which have been remediated using a liner. A pipe clamp is attached after a bore has been made and is secured with a clamping strap, for example. A pipe connection adapter with a flange collar and a seal arranged thereon is introduced from the inside of the pipe. An anti-rotation device between the pipe clamp and the pipe connection adapter ensures that the latter assumes a precisely defined position, such that a flange collar, with a shape corresponding to the intersection curve of the conduit/bore, provides a seal on the liner exactly on the edge of the bore. Connection can also be made from the outside of the conduit.
US11662028B2

A body covering a disk in a butterfly valve comprises: an upper body; and a lower body, wherein an inserting space is formed by combining the upper body with the lower body, the disk is inserted into the inserting space, and at least one of the upper body and the lower body includes a framework formed of a metal and a plastic layer formed on the framework.
US11662026B2

A seal assembly for preventing the flow of fluid includes a rotating component having a first sealing surface, a stationary component coaxial with the rotating component and having a second sealing surface with the second sealing surface configured to form a seal with the first sealing surface of the rotating component, and indents in one of the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The indents are configured to control a width of a gap between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface to allow fluid to flow into the gap. At least two of the indents are at least partially aligned in the radial direction.
US11662025B2

A mechanical seal having a first seal ring, which is mounted in a receptacle of a fixed part, and a second seal ring, which is mounted in a sleeve of a rotary part having a fixing portion fixed to a rotary shaft. The second seal ring extends radially inwards relative to the fixing portion of the sleeve, above an upper ending surface of the rotary shaft. The first seal ring is disposed above the second seal ring in such a way that the sliding surfaces of the first seal ring and of the second seal ring are in mutual contact. The sliding surfaces of the first seal ring and of the second seal ring have a mean diameter that is lower than an external diameter of the rotary shaft.
US11662024B2

Provided is a cartridge axial double-end-face split type mechanical seal, including: a shaft sleeve, a gland, a medium rotary ring, a medium stationary ring, an atmospheric rotary ring, and an atmospheric stationary ring which are all center-split, wherein the shaft sleeve is sleeved on a main shaft, a medium rotary ring groove is disposed at the bottom of the shaft sleeve, the medium rotary ring is fixed in the medium rotary ring groove, the medium stationary ring is sealingly connected with the medium rotary ring, and a first push ring is disposed at the top of the medium stationary ring; an atmospheric rotary ring groove is disposed at the top of the shaft sleeve, the atmospheric rotary ring is fixed in the atmospheric rotary ring groove, the atmospheric stationary ring is sealingly connected with the atmospheric rotary ring.
US11662020B2

A continuously variable transmission changes a gear ratio by changing a groove width between the fixed side pulley half body and the movable side pulley half body in each of the driving pulley and the driven pulley using pulley pressure. At least any of a drive shaft of the driving pulley and a driven shaft of the driven pulley includes a pulley pressure supply oil passage for supplying pulley pressure to the movable side pulley half body, a lubricating oil passage provided on a downstream of the pulley pressure supply oil passage to supply oil as a lubricating oil to an endless member, and a flow control valve that is provided between the pulley pressure supply oil passage and the lubricating oil passage and operates according to pulley pressure.
US11662016B1

A hydrostatic transmission subassembly for a vehicle includes an adapter manifold and a hydraulic pump mounted to the adapter manifold. The pump includes a pump housing and a pump porting manifold including pump porting for communicating fluid to and from the pump. The adapter manifold may include a mounting section adapted for mounting to the vehicle and a fluid interface section extending from the mounting section. The fluid interface section includes a pump interface having pump interface porting, in which the pump interface engages with the pump porting manifold to fluidly connect the pump interface porting with the pump porting. When the mounting manifold is mounted to the vehicle via the mounting section, the mounting manifold supports the hydraulic pump. The fluid interface section also includes a motor interface having motor interface porting for fluidly connecting to a motor, which enables the mounting manifold to fluidly connect the pump and motor.
US11662014B2

A gear unit includes a housing, a trough for guiding oil and reducing losses due to splashing surrounding a circumferential section of a toothing part, particularly a gear wheel, especially in the radial and axial direction, the trough including at least three parts, e.g., at least one bottom plate and two side walls, the bottom plate being screw-connected to the two side walls, the trough being fastened to the housing, the trough having an opening, particularly a channel, especially at its lowest surface area, e.g., particularly at the surface area having the greatest radial distance, in particular, during rotational movement of the gear wheel, oil being conveyed from the oil pan of the gear unit through the opening between the trough and gear wheel, especially to a position higher than the level of the oil pan, the bottom plate and the side walls being stamped bent parts.
US11662012B2

A water cooling structure of a reducer and a reducer assembly are disclosed. The water cooling structure comprises a chamber formed by a reducer housing and a cover plate, and the cover plate is fixedly connected to the chamber. The chamber is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet respectively. The chamber is also provided with one or several partition plates on two opposite side walls. The partition plates are arranged in an interdigitating manner and each of the partition plates is connected with only one side wall of the chamber, and there is a gap between the partition plates and the opposite other side wall of the chamber, so as to form an S-shaped water path. The water inlet and water outlet are respectively disposed at both ends of the water path. A plurality of baffles are further vertically provided on the partition plates and side walls of the chamber that are parallel to the partition plates, and the baffles are arranged in an interdigitating manner. The water cooling structure disclosed in the present disclosure is integrated with the reducer housing into one part, and thus has a simple structure, saves space and is convenient to arrange on the vehicle. Moreover, the cooling efficiency is further improved by the above special structure.
US11662006B2

A differential gear mechanism in which when a plurality of contact lines between a gear tooth and a pinion tooth is defined on either a tooth surface of the gear tooth of a crown gear or a tooth surface of the pinion tooth of a pinion gear at a predetermined angle around an axis of the pinion gear, and the plurality of contact lines and a center line of a pinion tooth bottom surface of the pinion gear are projected onto a plane, including an axis of a pair of the crown gears, around the axis of the pinion gear, the center line of the pinion tooth bottom surface projected onto the plane includes an inclined line passing through a range between two of the contact lines which are selected from the plurality of contact lines projected onto the plane and by which a contact ratio is 1.0 or higher.
US11661998B2

A power transmission chain (2) for use with a drive member (4) having a plurality of teeth (6), and wherein: (i) the power transmission chain (2) comprises a plurality of chain links (8) which are pivotally connected together by connecting members (9) and pivot arrangements (10) so that the power transmission chain (2) can pass around the drive member (4) in use; (ii) each one of the pivot arrangements (10) comprises first and second pivots (12, 14) which extend towards each other from opposite sides (16, 18) of the chain links (8); (iii) the first and second pivots (12, 14) have adjacent ends (20, 22) which face each other and which are spaced apart; (iv) the power transmission chain (2) comprises a plurality of engaging formations (24) for enabling engagement with the drive member (4); (v) the engaging formations (24) are positioned between the adjacent ends (20, 22) of the first and second pivots (12, 14); and the engaging formations (24) and the spacing apart of the adjacent ends (20, 22) of the first and second pivots (12, 14) cause the power transmission chain (2) in use always to be positioned on the drive member (4) for maximum efficiency of drive transfer between the drive member (4) and the power transmission chain (2), and irrespective of the diameter of the drive member (4).
US11661996B2

An assembly for a hybrid drivetrain of a motor vehicle, having a first torque transmission device and a second torque transmission device connected thereto so as to transmit torque. The first torque transmission device is arranged to be axially spaced apart from the second torque transmission device and the second torque transmission device has a smaller radial extension than the first torque transmission device. An installation space for a drivetrain device is defined radially above the second torque transmission device such that said drivetrain device is delimited axially by the first torque transmission device. A spacer device is arranged between the two torque transmission devices in the torque transmission path for axial spacing and is designed such that an axially definable minimum spacing between the defined installation space and the first torque transmission device is maintained and has a balancing device for compensating for imbalance of the assembly.
US11661994B2

A manufacturing method for a cylinder device which includes a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, a seal member, and an installing member, the method includes: a welding step for fixing the installing member to the cylinder through electrical resistance welding; a demagnetizing step for demagnetizing at least an opening portion of the cylinder; and an assembling step for assembling the piston, the piston rod, and the seal member in the cylinder through the opening portion.
US11661989B2

A hollow tubular foam spring having a plurality of radially extending holes extending from an outer surface towards a central hollow core. The tubular foam spring is arranged with wall thickness and diameter to height ratios such that center bulging is achieved under compressive loads. In an embodiment, such as in a mattress, seat, cushion or pillow, springs are arranged in an array whereby some impinge upon one another due to central bulging.
US11661986B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for designing lattice structures for heat dissipating devices include a method including: obtaining a 3D model of a device that passes a fluid through an internal structure of the device, including a lattice for the internal structure; performing computational fluid dynamics simulation using the 3D model to generate fluid turbulence data that indicates fluid flows through the lattice for the internal structure; modifying a first density in accordance with the fluid turbulence data; performing computational structural simulation using the 3D model and defined loading condition(s) for the device to generate structural integrity data that indicates a structural weakness of the device; modifying a second density in accordance with the structural integrity data; and providing the 3D model of the device, the 3D model including the modified first density and the modified second density.
US11661985B2

A method for making a brake disc may include providing a disc brake with a braking band and depositing on the disc a layer of chromium carbide and nickel-chromium in particle form to form a base protective coating. The method may also include depositing on the base protective coating a material in particle form consisting of tungsten carbide, iron, chromium and aluminium to form a surface protective coating made of tungsten carbide, iron, chromium and aluminium. Both protective coatings may be made by High Velocity Oxygen Fuel or High Velocity Air Fuel or Kinetic Metallization techniques.
US11661981B2

A power transmission device has a first pressure member (5a), a second pressure member (5b) and a back-torque transmitting cam. The first pressure member (5a) presses the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other. The second pressure member (5b) releases a press-contact force between the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7). The back-torque transmitting cam moves the second pressure member (5b) relative to the first pressure member (5a) to keep pressing the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other when a rotational force is input to the clutch member (4), via the output shaft (3), in a process where the weight member (8) moves from the radially-outer position to the radially-inner position and the first pressure member (5a) moves to follow the interlocking member (9).
US11661978B2

A pneumatic clutch actuator is described herein. The pneumatic clutch actuator includes a piston housing and a piston slidably received within the piston housing and configured to selectively change a clutch state between an engaged state and a disengaged state. The piston includes a self-adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust an axial length of the piston. The self-adjustment mechanism includes a position locking assembly that includes a locking member and a positioning member. The locking member includes a plurality of locking flanges spaced along an outer surface of the locking member. The positioning member includes a plurality of positioning slots that are spaced along the positioning member. The position locking assembly is positionable between an unlocked state with the locking member spaced a distance from the positioning member, and a locked state with at least one locking flange inserted into a corresponding positioning slot.
US11661971B2

A damper device includes first and second rotors, a first pre-damper, and a first main elastic member. The second rotor includes a hub and a flange. The first pre-damper elastically couples the hub and the flange in a rotational direction, and is actuated in a first range of torsion angle between the first and second rotors. The first main elastic member elastically couples the first and second rotors in the rotational direction, and is actuated in a greater second range of torsion angle. The first pre-damper includes first and second subordinate elastic members. The first subordinate elastic member is compressed in a neutral state, and urges the flange to a first side in the rotational direction with respect to the hub. The second subordinate elastic member is compressed in the neutral state, and urges the flange to a second side in the rotational direction with respect to the hub.
US11661969B2

A bearing cover assembly can be assembled to a bearing housing in which a rolling element bearing is accommodated. The bearing housing assembly includes an annular adapter and an end cap that can be mated together. The annular adapter can have a tapered inner annular surface and can be inserted into the housing bore of the bearing housing. The end cap can have a corresponding outer tapered surface. When the end cap is inserted into the adapter hole defined by the annular adapter, the sliding contact between the tapered inner annular surface and the outer surface radially expands the annular adapter inside the housing bore creating a positive engagement retaining the bearing cover assembly to the bearing housing.
US11661968B1

A flexure bearing having a first sleeve and a second sleeve is provided. Each sleeve includes a first pillar having a first end attached to the sleeve and a second end projecting outwardly from the sleeve and a second pillar having a first end attached to the sleeve and a second end projecting outwardly from the sleeve parallel to and diametrically opposed to the first pillar. The flexure bearing has a plurality of blind holes and a plurality of compression springs, each compression spring having a first spring end fit into one of the blind holes of a pillar of the first sleeve and a second spring end fit into a corresponding blind hole of an adjacent pillar of the second sleeve when the second sleeve is interconnected to the first sleeve.
US11661965B2

A device includes a head having a material having a plurality of pores, wherein at least some of the pores from the plurality of pores each have a size that is smaller than a water molecule and larger than an air molecule such that the air molecules can pass through the pores and the water molecules are prevented from passing through the pores; and an elongated body extending from the head and having a thread on an outer surface thereof and having a conduit extending longitudinally through the elongated body to the head. The device is configured to fasten a first surface to a second surface using the thread of the elongated body.
US11661958B2

A high-pressure unit (HPU) skid for greasing and actuating a frac tree valve includes one or more hydraulic pumps, a grease pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and two or more accumulators all of which are mounted on a portable frame. The HPU skid further includes fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to an output of the grease pump and fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to at least one of the two or more accumulators. The hydraulic pumps are configured to withdraw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir for charging the accumulators, operating the grease pump, or charging the accumulators and operating the grease pump at a same time.
US11661956B2

A fan frame includes a metal base and a frame body. The metal base has a center portion, a plurality of supporting portions with strip shapes and a plurality of wing portions. Each of the supporting portions has a head end, a middle part and a tail end. The head end connects to a peripheral part of the center portion. The wing portions extend outwardly at an angle from the middle parts of the supporting portions, respectively. The frame body has a frame wall. The wing portions are partially at least covered by the frame body. Another fan frame is also disclosed.
US11661951B2

Methods for manufacturing an impeller wheel assembly (e.g., an impeller wheel attached to one or more additional components) are provided. In one example, a method includes casting an impeller wheel without a hub feature in a mold and holding the cast impeller wheel in a fixed position using a holding plate during subsequent stages of fabrication (e.g., the addition of a shaft via friction welding).
US11661948B2

A bearing support (26) for a compressor (10) includes an annular body. The annular body includes a circle opening (28) that is configured to receive a bearing (21) and a shaft (20). A tapered portion (30) is tapered away from the circular opening. The tapered portion (30) includes a passage (32). A vibration sensor (34) is situated in the passage. A compressor and a method of sensing vibration adjacent a bearing in a compressor are also disclosed.
US11661939B2

A rotary compressor includes a casing including an oil reservoir configured to store lubricating oil inside, and a compression mechanism including a reciprocator and a support. The reciprocator defines a compression chamber and reciprocating along a first direction. The support has a support surface configured to support the reciprocator. The support surface includes a first groove and a second groove formed therein. The first groove extends along a second direction intersecting with the first direction and is configured to transfer the lubricating oil to the second groove. The second groove extends from a center of the first groove toward the compression chamber along the first direction.
US11661930B2

A pulsation damper for a condensate pump comprising a housing defining a fluid chamber having a liquid inlet connectable to an outlet of the condensate pump, an air inlet, and a liquid outlet, wherein the air inlet includes a one-way valve configured to selectively introduce air into the housing to maintain a first air pocket within the fluid chamber as liquid flows through the fluid chamber, wherein the liquid outlet is located outside the first air pocket, and wherein the air pocket is configured to dissipate pulsations within liquid entering the housing at the liquid inlet prior to the liquid discharging via the liquid outlet.
US11661926B2

A geothermal power plant related maintenance support system comprises: a thermodynamic calculation module for determining performance of specified geothermal power plant components; a plurality of. embedded sensors, each of which is embedded in a different geothermal power plant location and adapted to sense a corresponding real-time geothermal power plant parameter; a plurality of environmental sensors adapted to sense ambient conditions in the vicinity of the geothermal power plant; and a processor in data communication with each of said embedded sensors and environmental sensors.
US11661924B2

A lock for preventing rotation of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotatable lock pin, a pin support supportable in a nacelle of the wind turbine and a mechanism for rotating the lock pin. The pin support has a hub-facing face proximate a rotor hub. The rotatable lock pin is rotatably mounted on the pin support. The lock pin has a cammed portion extending away from the hub-facing face toward the hub. The lock pin inserted into a complementary rotor lock aperture on the rotor hub when the pin support is supported in the nacelle. Rotation of the lock pin causes engagement of an exterior surface of the cammed portion with an interior surface of the rotor lock aperture to immobilize the lock pin against the interior surface to prevent relative motion between the lock pin and the aperture to prevent rotation of the rotor.
US11661921B2

A power generation system includes a flotation assembly configured to float in water and a first harnessing assembly coupled to the flotation assembly and disposed in an airflow above the water. The first harnessing assembly is configured to harness the airflow to create a first rotational energy. The system also includes a second harnessing assembly coupled to the flotation assembly and disposed in the water. The second rotational assembly is configured to harness movement of the water to create a second rotational energy. The flotation assembly also includes a generating module to convert the first and second rotational energies into electrical energy.
US11661915B2

A system for starting an engine of a vehicle has a fuel injector injecting fuel into a closed intake port to form an air fuel mixture. The system also includes an actuator rotating a crankshaft in a first direction to open the intake port by moving a piston within a cylinder coupled to the crankshaft. A combustion chamber defines between the cylinder and the port receiving the air fuel mixture through the intake port. The actuator rotates the crankshaft in a second direction to close the intake port. A spark plug ignites the air fuel mixture to start the engine. The engine also includes many other disclosed features.
US11661914B2

Systems and methods for starting an engine that may be started via two different electric machines are described. In one example, the method reserves an amount of torque that is based on a torque capability of a belt integrated starter/generator and the engine is started with the reserved torque if engine starting torque is greater than a torque capability of the belt integrated starter/generator.
US11661909B2

A rotary detonation rocket engine generator system can include an axial drive shaft operably coupleable to an electrical generator. At least one support arm is radially coupled to the axial drive shaft and has corresponding rotary detonation rocket engines. An air-fuel mixing chamber receives ambient air and fuel to form an air-fuel mixture and deliver the air-fuel mixture to an annular combustion chamber. At least one pulse detonation combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the annular combustion chamber to receive an oxidizer and fuel to form an oxidizer-fuel mixture. The at least one pulse detonation combustion chamber creates a detonation wave that travels along the at least one pulse detonation chamber to the annular combustion chamber and ignites the air-fuel mixture as the detonation wave travels around the annular combustion chamber to generate thrust force that causes rotation of the axial drive shaft to drive the electrical generator.
US11661891B1

A component susceptible to the formation of deposits, such as a component of a hydrocarbon system in a gas turbine engine. The component includes a substrate having a surface susceptible to the formation of a deposit thereon. A shape memory alloy coating is formed on the surface of the substrate. The shape memory alloy coating is a plurality of particles formed on the surface, and each particle of the plurality of particles is formed from a shape memory alloy.
US11661883B2

A heat management system of the present invention comprises: a coolant heater for heating coolant; a first coolant pump which is connected to a coolant inlet or a coolant outlet of the coolant heater to pump the coolant and is coupled to the coolant heater; and a second coolant pump which is connected to a battery side to pump the coolant and is coupled to the coolant heater, wherein the coolant heater, the first coolant pump, and the second coolant pump are arranged in an engine room of a vehicle. Thus, a loss of coolant pressure can be reduced in a pipe which connects components constituting a coolant system of the vehicle, such that the performance of the system is improved and noise and vibration in the interior of the vehicle may be reduced.
US11661882B1

The invention presented is a crossover section for a vehicle exhaust system that includes a middle pipe and two outer pipes, each outer pipe in contact with and attached to the middle pipe. Diversion gates extend from the middle pipe into each of the outer pipes to divert a sample of exhaust gas into the middle pipe. A sensor, such as an oxygen sensor, is provided to measure one or more components of the combined exhaust. Also provided is an exhaust system that includes the inventive crossover section and a vehicle that includes one or more of the inventive exhaust systems.
US11661881B2

A method for detecting a replacement of a differential pressure sensor arranged for measuring a differential pressure across a filter of an aftertreatment system of a vehicle. The method includes determining a sensor offset value being an offset from a sensor value measured with a differential pressure sensor; adding an adaption value to the measured sensor value to compensate for the offset value to centre the sensor value around a predetermined level; if a sum of a subsequently measured sensor value and the adaption value exceeds a limit value, concluding that the differential pressure sensor has been replaced.
US11661879B2

A tubular member for an exhaust gas treatment device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: a tubular main body made of a metal; and an insulating layer formed at least on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body. The insulating layer contains glass, the glass contains barium, and the glass has a content of barium of 5 mol % or more.
US11661877B2

The subject matter of the present invention relates to trained machine-learning models (300), methods (200, 400) and apparatuses (500) allowing a future resonant frequency of a catalyst for selective reduction of nitrogen oxides (SCR) to be predicted, the resonant frequency being representative of a concentration of a reducing agent within the SCR. The SCR forms part of a system for after-treatment of a flow of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine with which a motor vehicle is provided. The general principle of the invention is based on the observation of correlations between the resonant frequency of an SCR and the concentration of ammonia present within the SCR. This observation led the inventor to envision using machine learning to create a trained machine-learning model in order to predict the resonant frequency of an SCR. In the invention, the trained machine-learning model is a so-called predictive model in which significant correlations are discovered in a set of past observations and in which it is sought to generalize these correlations to cases that have not yet been observed.
US11661876B2

An aftertreatment system for treating an exhaust gas comprises an exhaust conduit, a preheating oxidation catalyst, a primary oxidation catalyst disposed downstream of the preheating oxidation catalyst, and a selective catalytic reduction system disposed in the exhaust conduit downstream of the primary oxidation catalyst. A controller is configured to determine a temperature of an exhaust gas at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction system. In response to the temperature being below a threshold temperature, the controller generates a hydrocarbon insertion signal configured to cause hydrocarbons to be inserted into or upstream of the preheating oxidation catalyst so as to increase a temperature of the exhaust gas to above the threshold temperature.
US11661875B2

A tubular member for an exhaust gas treatment device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes: a tubular main body made of a metal; and an insulating layer formed at least on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body. The insulating layer contains glass containing a crystalline substance, and the glass contains silicon, boron, and magnesium.
US11661873B2

A compact slip-in spark arrester having an interior shell (125) with a circular cross-section changing in diameter along its axial length which is axially aligned between an inlet cap member (115) and an outlet cap member (145). The tubular center section (130) of the interior shell (125) containing a centrifugal whirling means to remove any particulate matter from the exhaust flow by means of centrifugal force or deflection and trapping the particulate matter in an outer chamber (155) between the interior shell (125) and existing silencer shell (100).
US11661868B2

Systems, devices and methods for diagnosing malfunctioning in a crankcase ventilation (CCV) system are provided. A controller includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to: receive a plurality of pressure values including (i) a first pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing from a crankcase to a breather assembly of a system, (ii) a second pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing through a first tube coupled to the breather assembly, and (iii) a third pressure value indicative of a pressure of fluid flowing through a second tube coupled to the breather assembly; determine a pair of pressure differences based on the first pressure value, the second pressure value, and the third pressure value; and detect a malfunctioning in the CCV system based on the pair of pressure differences.
US11661867B2

A gas turbine exhaust heat recovery plant includes a plurality of gas turbine exhaust heat recovery devices that have a gas turbine and an exhaust heat recovery boiler for generating steam by recovering exhaust heat of the gas turbine, a steam-utilizing facility that utilizes the steam generated by the exhaust heat recovery boiler, and an inter-device heat medium supply unit capable of supplying a portion of water heated or a portion of the steam generated by at least one of the gas turbine exhaust heat recovery devices out of the plurality of gas turbine exhaust heat recovery devices, to the other gas turbine exhaust heat recovery device.
US11661862B2

A system and method for predicting a remaining oil life of oil in a gearbox of an air turbine starter of a vehicle. The method includes generating a temperature data, generating an environmental data set by an environmental sensor, predicting a remaining oil life based on the temperature data set and the environmental data set and scheduling a maintenance event in response to the prediction of the remaining oil life.
US11661859B2

A system and method for determining performance of an engine is provided. The system includes two or more sensors configured in operable arrangement at two or more respective positions at a flowpath. The system includes one or more computing devices configured to perform operations, the operations include acquiring, via the two or more sensors, parameter sets each corresponding to two or more engine conditions different from one another, wherein each parameter set indicates a health condition at a respective location at the engine; comparing, via the computing device, the parameter sets to determine the respective health condition corresponding to the respective location at the engine; and generating, via the computing device, a health condition prediction based on the compared parameter sets.
US11661855B2

A hybrid abradable seal including a stator substrate having an external surface; a casing coupled to the external surface, the casing including radial walls extending radially from the external surface; an abradable material disposed within the casing; the abradable material and the casing being coupled together and configured to resist a deflection responsive to engine gas loads.
US11661848B2

A Scotch yoke actuator includes a housing formed with four piston bores spaced equally 90° from each other, a shaft with four yokes, each of the yokes having a slot, and four pistons including two pairs of 180° opposing pistons, one pair of the opposing pistons being orthogonal to the other pair of the opposing pistons. Each of the pistons is arranged for linear motion in one of the piston bores. Each of the pistons includes a piston rod which includes a piston pin which is slidable in the slot. Linear motion of the pistons in the piston bores causes rotation of the shaft.
US11661834B2

A monitoring system operable to monitor an oilfield additive system having multiple components. The oilfield additive system is operable to transfer an additive-containing substance for injection into a wellbore. The monitoring system includes sensors each associated with, and operable to generate information related to an operational parameter of, a corresponding one of the oilfield additive system components. The monitoring system also includes a monitoring device in communication with the sensors and operable to record the information generated by the sensors to generate a database. The database includes information indicative of maintenance aspects of the oilfield additive system and/or the oilfield additive system components.
US11661828B2

An electrical submersible pump assembly (ESP) has a centrifugal production pump with production pump stages. A gas separator upstream is from the production pump. A centrifugal charge pump is upstream from the gas separator. The charge pump has charge pump stages and a discharge that leads to an intake of the gas separator. Each of the production pump stages has a higher lifting capacity than each of the charge pump stages. The impellers of the production pump stages have vane exit angles greater than vane exit angles of the impellers of the charge pump stages.
US11661822B2

Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to protecting a control line as it passes through a junction in a downhole environment. A retractable transition joint (RTJ) comprises at least two members. A first member is operable to retract into a second member. A tubular extends through the first and second members. The tubular comprises a distal end that is removably attached to a distal end of the second member. The first and second members are operable to receive the control line.
US11661815B1

The present disclosure may relate to a method of remediating a wellbore. The method may comprise pumping a resin treatment fluid from a surface location to an annular space bounded by an outer diameter of a production tubular, wherein the resin treatment fluid comprises a liquid hardenable resin, a hardening agent, and a particulate bridging agent. The resin treatment fluid may gravity settle in the annular space to contact production equipment in the annular space such that at least a portion of the particulate bridging agent bridges across one or more damaged sections of the production equipment, wherein at least a portion of the liquid hardenable resin sets to form a hardened mass to seal the one or more damaged sections.
US11661814B1

A frac plug with lower slips and a lower cone. In embodiments, a lower cone ramp angle is greater than or equal to a cone bevel angle and a slip inner cut angle. This geometry enables the fins of the cone to not interact with the lower slips, which may not break the lower slips as the lower slips move over the cone. Instead, the lower slips may break due to stresses caused by the tendency of the lower slips to expand as they lower slips interact with the ramp of the lower cone.
US11661801B2

A downhole assembly that includes tubulars rotationally coupled to one another. An interface is between adjacent tubulars that makes up at least a portion of the rotational coupling. Certain surfaces of adjacent tubulars come into contact with one another when adjacent tubulars are rotationally coupled; and which are defined as contact surfaces. Each contact surface is profiled with facets that are complementary to facets on a corresponding contact surface of an adjacent tubular. The profiling of the contact surfaces is such that when a contact surface is brought together with a corresponding contact surface; facets on the contact surface abut facets on the corresponding contact surface along planes that are oblique or parallel with an axis of the tubular. At least some of a rotational torque transmitted between adjacent tubulars occurs across the abutting facets.
US11661800B1

A portable mast assembly is comprised of a skid assembly having a horizontally oriented frame having longitudinally extending support surfaces and a mast assembly having at least two vertically extending column assemblies that are supported upon one or more longitudinally extending mast supports. A means for moving the one or more mast supports along the extending support surfaces of the frame is provided.
US11661783B1

This disclosure is directed to an electric support rod having a driving assembly, an actuating assembly, and a bearing. The driving assembly has a first outer tube and a driving unit in the first outer tube. An internal thread is configured in the first outer tube. The actuating assembly has a second outer tube and a transmission screw rod in the second outer tube. Multiple elastic arms axially are extended from the second outer tube and arranged spacedly around the transmission screw rod. Each elastic arm has an outer thread structure and a hook portion. The second outer tube is inserted in the first outer tube, the internal thread is screwed with the outer thread structure. One end of the transmission screw rod protrudes from the second outer tube to engage the driving unit. The bearing sheathes the transmission screw rod and the hook portion latches the bearing.
US11661782B2

An exemplary armature assembly is configured for use with a door control mounted to one of a door or a doorframe. The door control includes a rotatable pinion, and the armature assembly includes an armature, a shoe, and an elastic component. The armature has a first end and an opposite second end, and the first end includes an opening sized and shaped to receive the pinion at a first interface. The shoe is configured for mounting to the other of the door or the doorframe, and the second end of the armature is pivotally connected to the shoe at a second interface. In certain forms, the elastic component coupled with the armature and configured to absorb mechanical shocks at one of the first interface or the second interface. In certain forms, the elastic component is configured to absorb mechanical shocks along the length of the armature.
US11661780B2

An automatized mechanical opening/closing device is mounted to an oven mouth of an oven device and includes an outer door frame assembly, an inner door frame assembly, a door panel, a first driving device, and a plurality of second driving devices. The first driving device and the second driving devices are set in electric connection with a control platform is, so that the first driving device is operable to drive the inner door frame assembly to move inside the outer door frame assembly in an X-axis direction and the second driving devices is operable to drive the door panel to move inside the inner door frame assembly in a Y-axis direction. The control platform can be used to set automatized opening and closing operations of the oven mouth of the oven device to thereby save human labor and to reduce material damage due to manual operation.
US11661777B2

An appliance includes a door with a plurality of panels spaced apart by a vertical support. A lower hinge mount is coupled with an appliance body. A first pivot member is coupled with the lower hinge mount and includes a first protrusion. A lower hinge support is fixedly coupled with the vertical support and includes an elongate coupling plate and a hinge arm that extends orthogonal relative to a longitudinal extent of the elongate coupling plate. A stop extends from the hinge arm. A second pivot member has a receiving space that receives the stop. The second pivot member includes a second protrusion that is in abutting contact with the first protrusion. A lower hinge pin extends through the lower hinge support and the second pivot member. The lower hinge pin is vertically translated when the second pivot member moves from a first position to a second position.
US11661776B2

The present disclosure provides a hinge, such as for housings for devices, such as a split-core current transformer. The housings can include hinges and housing parts to be rotatably coupled together at such hinges that can be injection molded. A hinge of a housing can include a first knuckle and a second knuckle, which can be integrally formed with or coupled to a first housing part and each are configured to receive an end of a hinge pin. One of the knuckles includes a knuckle slot to provide radial access for a cut-away portion of a hinge pin to pass through. At assembly of the first housing part to a second housing part, a first hinge pin end is to be disposed within an opening of the first knuckle and a second hinge pin end is to be disposed within the second knuckle after passage of the key portion through the knuckle slot of the second knuckle.
US11661767B2

A drawer assembly includes a member having a first locking element. A drawer includes a frame and a handle. The handle includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the frame. The second portion is coupled to the first portion. A drawer release includes a first end and a second end. The drawer release is rotatably coupled to the drawer. The first end includes a second locking element. The second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion to move the drawer release from a first orientation in which the second locking element directly engages the first locking element to prevent the drawer from sliding relative to the member to a second orientation in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the first locking element to allow the drawer to slide relative to the member. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.
US11661764B2

The invention relates to a cross-sectional profile (1) for a flat key or the keyway of a cylinder lock, comprising a back surface (2), a first lateral surface (4) and a second lateral surface (4′), wherein the lateral surfaces (4, 4′) extend in the vertical direction to the back surface (2), the lateral surfaces (4, 4′) are arranged offset to one another by a distance (5), which varies along their extension, and the outline of the cross-sectional profile (1) defines a preferably substantially rectangular base profile (6), and wherein the lateral surfaces (4, 4′) each extend at least in sections along sinusoidal profiling lines (7, 7′), wherein the centerlines (8, 8′) of the profiling lines (7, 7′) lie within the base profile (6). Further, the invention relates to a flat key (16) with such a cross-sectional profile (1) and a cylinder lock with a keyway (13) for receiving such a flat key (16).
US11661756B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately modifying a concrete slab on subsided ground by injecting an expandable resin below the concrete slab more than once, which also allows for easy control of the work process. The method of the present invention as a means for resolution includes performing the following steps: on a concrete slab in an area including a region where ground subsidence has occurred, determining points to drill injection holes for injecting an expandable resin at a pitch of 0.5 to 2.0 m in a grid pattern or a staggered pattern; injecting an expandable resin below a point where the subsidence of the concrete slab is severest and expanding the expandable resin to push up the concrete slab at most 30 mm more than once.
US11661743B2

A connector (10) for jointing bars is provided. It comprises a shank (13) for attaching to a first bar, a connection head (14) jointed to the shank (13). The connection head (14) comprises a projecting post (22) and a well (24), which are in alignment with the longitudinal axis (17) of the shank (13). The size and shape of the well (24) correspond to the size and shape of the projecting post (22). An identical connector is provided for attaching a second bar.
US11661741B2

A stripping lifting insert is provided for precast insulated panels having an insulating material layer between opposing wythes, the insulating material layer, wythes, and precast insulated panel having respective widths. The stripping lifting insert includes an elongated connecting shaft having a shaft axis. First and second spaced apart wythe engagement members are connected to the connecting shaft in spaced apart relation to each other. Each wythe engagement member includes a hub and a plurality of three or more protrusions connected to and emanating from hub. Each of the protrusions extending radially outward from the shaft axis. The wythe engagement members have a height less than the width of the wythes, whereby each wythe engagement member can be completely embedded in a respective wythe of the precast insulated panel. A precast insulated panel and a method of making a precast insulated panel are also disclosed.
US11661733B2

A float tree for suspending floats within a basin system includes a rod portion, a cap section, movably affixed to the rod portion, and a spring provided between the cap section and the rod section. The spring provides force against the rod portion and the cap section. A first and second cap can be included to seat the spring between the cap section and the rod portion within the float tree.
US11661729B2

An electronic faucet including a body, a capacitive sensor, a controller and a capacitive sensitivity adjustment device operably coupled to the controller to change the magnitude of an output signal of the capacitive sensor.
US11661728B2

A faucet having a pressure-sensitive surface for dynamically adjusting the faucet's water flow rate and/or temperature based on an amount of pressure applied to the surface of the faucet is disclosed. A pressure sensor may be electronically connected to one or more electronic valves of the faucet to control the flow of water through either the cold or hot water lines, thereby controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of water coming from the faucet.
US11661727B2

A wear member for earth working equipment and a wear assembly including a plurality of such wear members. The wear member defines a longitudinal axis and comprises: a body defining a rearward opening cavity dimensioned to receive a base; first and second lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the body and defining a front edge for engaging earth. The first lateral portion defines a complementary formation to the second lateral formation to enable axial insertion and removal of a wear member mounted between adjacent wear members due to the open removal path defined by the complementary formations. The complementary formations also resist rotational movement of the wear member about the longitudinal axis.
US11661721B2

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and method for seabed resources collection. The apparatus comprises a main module and a plurality of seabed resources collecting devices releasably attached to the main module, wherein the main module and the plurality of collecting devices are configured to be launched from a surface vessel towards a seabed; the main module includes a control module which is configured to determine a mining path for each of the collecting devices based on characteristics of the seabed, control each of the collecting devices to collect seabed resources along the determined mining path and control transfer of the seabed resources collected by the collecting devices, wherein each collecting device is configured to be released from the main module after the apparatus is launched, and to collect seabed resources along the mining path determined by the main module after being released.
US11661719B2

A budding element for coupling with other budding elements to erect a retaining wall. Exemplary building elements have receiving spaces for receiving increased weight of fill material to provide increased stability. Optionally, each building element can have an enlarged face profile that provides efficiency in the shipping and assembly process. Optionally, each building element can define alignment voids that receive portions of alignment posts for ensuring vertical alignment between adjacent building elements or portions of building elements.
US11661718B2

A concrete pier foundation having a plurality of sleeved tower anchor bolts embedded therein and a spiral loop encasement providing lateral shear reinforcement is provided. The spiral loop encasement surrounds at least a lower portion of the concrete pier and is formed by hoop steel wrapped around the perimeter of the tower anchor bolt cage. In proper soils or rock the spiral loop encasement can eliminate the need for corrugated metal pipes, reducing the cost and complexity of construction.
US11661711B1

A flexible pavement structure comprises a surface layer, a base layer, a sub-base layer, and a subgrade layer. Herein, the surface layer is adjacent to and above the base layer, and the sub-base layer is adjacent to and above the subgrade layer. The flexible pavement structure further comprises a layered system composed of first, second, and third materials different from each other, and is disposed as an interface layer between the base layer and the sub-base layer. The first material is a geotextile fabric selected from a group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene, providing ground stabilization or reinforcement properties. The second material is a waterproof heat insulation material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene foam and laminated aluminum foil, providing waterproofing or impermeability properties. The third material is a glass foamed insulation material.
US11661709B1

A flexible pavement structure comprises a surface layer, a base layer, a sub-base layer, and a subgrade layer. Herein, the surface layer is adjacent to and above the base layer, and the sub-base layer is adjacent to and above the subgrade layer. The flexible pavement structure further comprises a layered system composed of first, second, and third materials different from each other, and is disposed as an interface layer between the base layer and the sub-base layer. The first material is a geotextile fabric selected from a group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene, providing ground stabilization or reinforcement properties. The second material is a waterproof heat insulation material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene foam and laminated aluminum foil, providing waterproofing or impermeability properties. The third material is a glass foamed insulation material.
US11661704B2

This disclosure relates to methods of making novel dissolving wood pulps by processes comprising acid prehydrolysis, pulping, and a multi-stage bleaching process comprising oxidation with a catalyst and peroxide under acidic conditions, as well as to products made therefrom having a combination of medium-purity, low viscosity, and improved reactivity, filterability, and/or clogging that can be used as a substitute for traditional high-purity dissolving pulps in a wide variety of applications.
US11661698B2

Devices for dewatering washed laundry have a pressing membrane. The pressing membrane is releasably fastened below a ram plate of the device by way of a fastening ring. This connection is very complex by virtue of the heavy weight of the pressing membrane which has a diameter of approximately 1 m. In order for the fastening of the pressing membrane by way of the fastening ring below the ram plate to be facilitated, it is provided that the pressing membrane on the membrane collar thereof has at least one internal-side protrusion which while assembling the pressing membrane below the ram plate forms a bearing for the fastening ring. On account thereof, the fastening ring is temporarily supported below the ram plate while assembling the pressing membrane, this permitting easier assembling of the pressing membrane below the ram plate.
US11661684B2

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for producing and using a plaited fabric comprising a low-melt yarn for adhering the fabric without a glue adhesive. According to one embodiment, a knitted fabric can comprise a first polymeric yarn of a first material, the first polymeric yarn forming a base of the knitted fabric, and a second polymeric yarn of a second material. The second material can be different from the first material and can have a lower melting temperature than the first material. The first polymeric yarn can be knitted with the second polymeric yarn to form the fabric. Upon an application of heat to the knitted fabric, the second polymeric yarn can form an adhesive and cohesive mechanical attachment to itself and form a tight-knit structural bond within the fabric without the use of a glue adhesive.
US11661678B2

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DRfluid=DRsp*DRag of at least 150, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp being greater than 1 and DRag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.
US11661677B2

A method of manufacturing a graphene fiber is provided. The method includes preparing a source solution including graphene oxide, supplying the source solution into a coagulation solution to form a graphene oxide fiber, reducing the graphene oxide fiber to form a primary graphene fiber, and Joule-heating the primary graphene fiber to form a secondary graphene fiber.
US11661664B1

A thin-walled metal part, and a method to fabricate such a part out of various alloys. A plurality of layers are formed, each of the layers being formed on a polymer template or on a previously formed layer. A homogenizing heat treatment is used to cause chemical elements in the layers to interdiffuse, to form a single continuous layer with a substantially uniform alloy composition.
US11661661B2

Disclosed is a method for synthesizing β-cyano ketone compound, including steps of (1) adding a α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide to a separator-free electrolytic cell, adding acetonitrile thereto, and dissolving the α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide in acetonitrile by stirring to be uniform, to obtain a dissolution solution; (2) adding an alkene or a derivative thereof, cyanobenziodoxolone, and an electrolyte to the dissolution solution, to obtain a mixed solution; (3) subjecting the mixed solution to an electrochemical reaction by electrifying a cathode of a platinum sheet, and an anode of a graphite electrode to obtain a reacted solution; and (4) after the electrochemical reaction, collecting the reacted solution, adding water thereto and stirring to obtain a mixture, subjecting the mixture to an extraction to obtain an organic phase, drying the organic phase and purifying, to obtain the β-cyano ketone compound.
US11661654B2

A gas delivery system includes a 2-port valve including a first valve located between a first port and a second port. A 4-port valve includes a first node connected to a first port and a second port. A bypass path is located between the third port and the fourth port. A second node is located along the bypass path. A second valve is located between the first node and the second node. A manifold block defines gas flow channels configured to connect the first port of the 4-port valve to a first inlet, configured to connect the second port of the 4-port valve to the first port of the 2-port valve, the third port of the 4-port valve to a second inlet, the second port of the 2-port valve to a first outlet, and the fourth port of the 4-port valve to a second outlet.
US11661645B2

A method of producing a case hardened workpiece of a Group IV metal including: placing a workpiece of a Group IV metal in a vessel, creating a low pressure environment in the vessel in which the pressure, pvac, is less than or equal to 10-5 bar, providing oxygen to the vessel to create a reactive atmosphere in the vessel, the reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen at a partial pressure, pO2, in the range of 10 5 bar to 0.01 bar, heating the workpiece to a hardening temperature in the range of 650° C. to 800° C. in the reactive atmosphere or before the reactive atmosphere is created, maintaining the workpiece in the reactive atmosphere at the hardening temperature for a reactive period of at least 5 hours, cooling the workpiece from the hardening temperature to ambient temperature in the reactive atmosphere or in an inert atmosphere.
US11661642B2

A high-strength steel sheet includes a steel structure with: ferrite being 35% to 80%, martensite being 5% to 35%, and tempered martensite being 0% to 5% in terms of area fraction; retained austenite being 8% or more in terms of volume fraction; an average grain size of: the ferrite being 6 μm or less; and the retained austenite being 3 μm or less; a value obtained by dividing an area fraction of blocky austenite by a sum of area fractions of lath-like austenite and the blocky austenite being 0.6 or more; a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average Mn content in the retained austenite by an average Mn content in the ferrite being 1.5 or more; and a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average C content in the retained austenite by an average C content in the ferrite being 3.0 or more.
US11661631B2

Disclosed herein include systems, methods, compositions, and kits for determining protein expression and gene expression simultaneously and for sample indexing. In some embodiments, an oligonucleotide associated with a cellular component-binding reagent (e.g., an antibody) comprises one or more of a unique molecular label sequence, a primer adapter, antibody-specific barcode sequence, an alignment sequence, and/or a poly(A) sequence. In some embodiments, the oligonucleotide is associated with the cellular component-binding reagent via a linker (e.g., 5AmMC12).
US11661629B2

Methods, assays, compositions and kits for the ligation of short polynucleotides are presented herein. The short polynucleotides are optionally no more than 7 nucleotides in length, and can be as short as 3 or 4 nucleotides in length. The ligation is optionally performed by CV ligase.
US11661627B2

An example method includes reacting a first solution and a different, second solution on a flow cell by flowing the first solution over amplification sites on the flow cell and subsequently flowing the second solution over the amplification sites. The first solution includes target nucleic acids and a first reagent mixture that comprises nucleoside triphosphates and replication enzymes. The target nucleic acids in the first solution transport to and bind to the amplification sites at a transport rate. The first reagent mixture amplifies the target nucleic acids that are bound to the amplification sites to produce clonal populations of amplicons originating from corresponding target nucleic acids. The amplicons are produced at an amplification rate that exceeds the transport rate. The second solution includes a second reagent mixture and lacks the target nucleic acids. The second solution is to increase a number of the amplicons at the amplification sites.
US11661623B2

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified luciferase polypeptide and substrates. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to an amino acid in SEQ ID NO: 1. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least one of enhanced luminescence, enhanced signal stability, and enhanced protein stability relative to the corresponding polypeptide of the wild-type Oplophorus luciferase.
US11661622B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a blood analysis method and a blood test kit, which are for performing quantitative analysis of components by precisely obtaining a dilution factor. According to the present invention, provided is a blood analysis method including a step of diluting a collected blood sample with a diluent solution; a step of determining a dilution factor by using a normal value of a normal component which is homeostatically present in blood; and a step of analyzing a concentration of a target component in the blood sample, in which the blood analysis method uses a member selected from the group consisting of a first storing instrument for storing a diluent solution, a separation instrument for separating and recovering blood plasma from the blood sample diluted with the diluent solution, a holding instrument for holding the separation instrument, a second storing instrument for storing the recovered blood plasma, and a sealing instrument for keeping the stored blood plasma within the second storing instrument, in which the diluent solution defines an amount of the normal component which is derived from the diluent solution and/or the members and may be contained in the diluent solution, and in which a volume of the blood sample is 50 μL or less, and a dilution factor of a blood plasma component in the blood sample is 14 times or more.
US11661619B2

Embodiments disclose apparatus, methods and software for performing biological screening and analysis implemented using an instrument platform capable of detecting a wide variety of cell-based secretions, expressed proteins, and other cellular components. The platform may be configured for simultaneous multiplexed detection of a plurality biological components such that a large number of discrete samples may be individually sequestered and evaluated to detect or identify constituents from the samples in a highly parallelized and scalable manner.
US11661616B2

The present disclosure relates to a microorganism having increased glycine productivity and a method for producing a fermented composition using the microorganism, and more specifically, to a microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium having increased glycine productivity due to the introduction of a mutation in HisG, a method for preparing a fermented composition comprising glycine and glutamic acid using the microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium, and the fermented composition.
US11661605B2

Provided is a method for intracellularly producing a large amount of a Cry protein in a Bacillus bacterium. A method for producing a Cry protein or a culture product comprising the Cry protein, comprising transforming a Bacillus bacterium with an expression plasmid incorporating a gene encoding the Cry protein operably linked to a regulatory region comprising a σA-dependent promoter or a σH-dependent promoter, and culturing the transformed cell, wherein the expression plasmid comprises a polynucleotide encoding a replication protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9 or a protein having an identity of 80% or more or more with the amino acid sequence of the replication protein and involved in replication initiation.
US11661602B2

The invention relates to antisense molecules and methods for modulating splicing of polyomavirus T antigen pre-mRNA. In one aspect the invention relates to an antisense oligonucleotide 12 to 30, preferably 17, 18, 19 or 20 to 30 nucleobases in length which comprises a sequence that is the reverse complement of a contiguous stretch of at least 12 nucleobases of a polyomavirus T-antigen pre-mRNA and which antisense oligonucleotide can modulate splicing of said T-antigen pre-mRNA in a cell.
US11661600B2

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modified transfer RNA (tRNA) comprising a T-arm, a D-arm, and anticodon-arm and an acceptor arm, wherein the T-arm comprises nucleotides that interact with the elongation factor 1 alpha protein, and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modified transfer RNA (tRNA) comprising a T-arm, a D-arm, and anticodon-arm and an acceptor arm, (a) wherein the anticodon-arm comprises a tri-nucleotide anticodon, wherein the anticodon is 5′-UCA-3′ and recognizes TGA stop codons, and wherein the acceptor arm is operably linked to a arginine, tryptophan or glycine; (b) wherein the anticodon-arm comprises a tri-nucleotide anticodon, wherein the anticodon is 5′-UUA-3′ and recognizes TAA stop codons, and wherein the acceptor arm is operably linked to a glutamine or, glutamate; or (c) wherein the anticodon-arm comprises a tri-nucleotide anticodon, wherein the anticodon is 5′-CUA-3′ and recognizes TAG stop codons, and wherein the acceptor arm is operably linked to a tryptophan, glutamate or glutamine.
US11661590B2

Some aspects of this disclosure provide a fusion protein comprising a guide nucleotide sequence-programmable DNA binding protein domain (e.g., a nuclease-inactive variant of Cas9 such as dCas9), an optional linker, and a recombinase catalytic domain (e.g., a tyrosine recombinase catalytic domain or a serine recombinase catalytic domain such as a Gin recombinase catalytic domain). This fusion protein can recombine DNA sites containing a minimal recombinase core site flanked by guide RNA-specified sequences. The instant disclosure represents a step toward programmable, scarless genome editing in unmodified cells that is independent of endogenous cellular machinery or cell state.
US11661578B2

A centrifugal piston according to an embodiment comprises: a piston body defining a path which extends from the front of the piston to the rear of the piston, and through which substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston; and a valve disposed on the path and configured to selectively open or block the path, wherein, during centrifugation in which centrifugal force acts on the piston, the substances at the front of the piston are centrifuged while the valve is blocking the path, and, when an external force is applied to the piston while the centrifugal force does not act on the piston, the valve moves freely relative to the piston body, and when the valve opens the path, at least a portion of the substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston.
US11661575B2

Provided is a cell culture device that has a simple structure and ensures sufficient nutrient supply to cells and oxygenation of the cells to thereby enable mass cell culture. The cell culture device comprises: a cell culture container which is an approximately cylindrical body provided with a flat bottom part at the lower end; a dish-shaped body having an approximately disc shape which is provided with a plurality of magnetic attraction members, said magnetic attraction members being positioned in the circumferential part at equal intervals, and horizontally disposed in a non-contact state within a hollow space inside the cell culture container; and a cyclic body which is provided with a plurality of magnetic attraction members and positioned outside the cell culture container so that the cell culture container is located within the cycle thereof. The cyclic body and the dish-shaped body move vertically in magnetic conjunction to thereby agitate a medium and supply nutrients to cells.
US11661574B2

A fluidic device for culturing cells includes a microplate and plate lid. The microplate includes multiple wells and channels, the channels extending between the wells such that the channels interconnect the wells. The plate lid releasably engages the microplate to thereby enclose the wells and the channels. The wells include a culture surface such that a cell culture medium received therein is deposited over the culture surface. At least one channel that extends between adjacent ones of the wells is spaced from the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells defining a gap between the at least one channel and the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells for collection of the cell culture medium.
US11661566B2

A wax composition is disclosed, comprising a hydrogenated natural oil with (i) at least about 50 wt % of a triacylglycerol component having a fatty acid composition from about 14 to about 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acid, about 45 to about 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acid and about 20 to about 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acid, (ii) a nickel content of less than 1 ppm, and (iii) a melt point of about 49° C. to about 57° C. The hydrogenated natural oil is filtered and/or bleached to obtain a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm. A candle is also disclosed, comprising a wick and the above described wax.
US11661552B2

A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.
US11661545B2

Release of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and fluoroboric acid into a well may be controlled by introducing into the well an aqueous fluid containing ammonium chloride, ammonium bifluoride, ammonium fluoroborate, ammonium tetrafluoroborate or a mixture thereof and a breaker. After being introduced into the well, the ammonium salt reacts with the breaker and the acid is released into the well.
US11661544B1

A breaker composition comprising (i) a first acid precursor, (ii) a second acid precursor and (iii) an aqueous fluid wherein the first acid precursor has an effective operating temperature of from about 15° C. to about 120° C. and the second acid precursor has an effective operating temperature of from about 30° C. to about 180° C.
US11661543B2

Methods can include introducing a cleaning fluid into a near-wellbore zone of an injection well penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the cleaning fluid includes: 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid; and dispersing a hydrocarbon from the near-wellbore zone in the cleaning fluid. Compositions for cleaning a near-wellbore zone of a subterranean formation can include 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid.
US11661542B2

Provided is a method for mitigating a lost circulation zone. The method may include providing a lost circulation treatment composition that may include an acid responsive polymer that may include at least one monomer, at least one comonomer, and at least one crosslinker; a carbonate-based solvent; and a carrier fluid that may include water. The method may also include introducing the lost circulation treatment composition into a wellbore within a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation may include the lost circulation zone; placing the lost circulation treatment composition into the lost circulation zone, hydrolyzing the carbonate-based solvent to generate carbon dioxide, and causing the swelling (change of shape) of acid responsive polymer to mitigate the losses.
US11661541B1

In wellbore abandonment operations using recycled tire rubber, a quantity of shredded rubber obtained by shredding waste tires is mixed with a quantity of a wellbore fluid to form a wellbore abandonment fluid. A first plug of cement is flowed into a wellbore to be abandoned. After the first plug of cement has set, the wellbore abandonment fluid is flowed into the wellbore such that the wellbore abandonment fluid contacts and is uphole of the first plug of cement within the wellbore. After flowing the wellbore abandonment fluid into the wellbore, a second plug of cement is flowed into the wellbore such that the second plug of cement contacts and is uphole of the wellbore abandonment fluid.
US11661539B2

The present invention is polishing particles for polishing a synthetic quartz glass substrate. The polishing particles contain cerium-based polishing particles and have a breaking strength, which is measured by a compression tester, of 30 MPa or more. This provides polishing particles for polishing a synthetic quartz glass substrate while sufficiently reducing generation of defects due to polishing.
US11661538B2

The present disclosure relates to a two-component polyurethane adhesive, based on a polyol component A and a polyisocyanate component B. The two-component polyurethane adhesive exhibits fast cure speed, good adhesion properties and good durability. The two-component polyurethane adhesive is developed for the adhesion adhesion of substrates, wherein the substrates are preferably selected from the group comprising sheet molding compounds (SMCs) and plastic substrates.
US11661534B2

This invention relates to a hot melt adhesive composition. The hot melt adhesive composition according to the present invention comprises at least one hydrogenated thermoplastic block copolymer with a melt index greater than or equal to 30 grams per 10 minutes at 190° C./2.16 kg; and at least one polyolefin with a melt viscosity less than or equal to 2000 cPs at 190° C. The hot melt adhesive composition according to the present invention can be applied at low temperature, has excellent T peel strength and low odor after being applied in the disposable products.
US11661528B2

Methods of producing colored and superhydrophobic surfaces, objects, and coatings using a colored paint that imparts a superhydrophobic surface on an object is a suspension of hydrophobic particles in a polymeric binder and a plasticizer in a solvent or mixed solvent, wherein at least a portion of the hydrophobic particles are colored particles. Colored particles can be ultramarine, iron oxide, chromium oxide, or any other colored metal oxide. The hydrophobic particles can be metal oxide particles that are surface functionalized with a fluorinated alkyl silane or an alkyl silane. The binder is a mixture of PDVF and PMMA in a ratio of 3:1 to 10:1. The plasticizer is a mixture of triethyl phosphate and perfluoro(butyltetrahydrofuran) or other perfluorinated hydrocarbon. Surfaces coated using this paint display contact angles in excess of 150° and resist abrasion.
US11661524B2

Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.
US11661517B2

The present application is directed to methods for solvent-free preparation of polymers and their subsequent processing into activated carbon materials. These methods unexpectedly demonstrate ability to tune pore structure in the polymer gel and carbon produced there from, while also providing distinct advantages over the current art.
US11661515B2

A curable silicone composition encapsulates, coats, or adheres an optical semiconductor element. The curable silicone composition can form a cured product with sufficiently low gas-permeability, and with little weight decrease and little change in hardness even on long-term exposure to high temperatures. The curable silicone composition comprises resinous organopolysiloxane that contains at least one (Ar2SiO2/2) unit, wherein Ar denotes an aryl group.
US11661500B2

This invention relates to a rubber composition containing filler reinforcement comprised of precipitated silica with silica coupling agent therefore and conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains end-chain functionalization with multi-functional groups. The groups functionalizing the elastomer are multi-functional in the sense of containing one group reactive with at least one of said precipitated silica and silica coupling agent and another different group reactive with diene-based elastomers through sulfur cure of the rubber composition. A sulfur cured rubber composition containing said end-chain functionalization is provided. A tire is provided having a component comprised of said rubber composition. Representative of said tire component is a tire tread.
US11661496B2

A method of reducing the fouling in a process for the production of styrene, the method comprising: introducing an additive into a stream comprising styrene and byproduct divinyl benzene (DVB), wherein the additive comprises: at least one chemical compound comprising one or more functional groups selected from amines, alcohols, amino-alcohols, labile C—C, esters, carbamates, aldehydes, ketones, acids, acetates, benzoates, labile hydrogen, and combinations thereof, and having a boiling point greater than or equal to 170° C. and within 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60° C. of the boiling point of divinyl benzene (DVB) (which is 195° C.), wherein the at least one chemical compound is active to inhibit divinyl benzene (DVB) crosslinking. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.
US11661489B2

This disclosure relates to a foamable resin composition containing a nitrogen gas-generating compound and methods of using the composition for loss circulation control.
US11661485B2

The invention relates to a composite sheet, and a ballistic resistant article, comprising unidirectionally aligned high performance polyethylene (HPPE) fibers and a polymeric resin, wherein said polymeric resin comprises a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene and wherein said polymeric resin has a density as measured according to ISO1183 of between 930 and 980 kg/m3, and a peak melting temperature of from 115 to 140° C.; and said polymeric resin is present in an amount of from 5 to 25% by weight based on the total weight of the composite sheet. It further relates to a method for manufacturing a composite sheet comprising assembling HPPE fibers to a sheet, applying an aqueous suspension of a polymeric resin to the HPPE fibers, partially drying the aqueous suspension, optionally applying a temperature and/or a pressure treatment to the composite sheet.
US11661480B2

A poly(amide-imide) is provided. The poly(amide-imide) is represented by formula (1), wherein R is a C6 aryl group, a C7-C8 aralkyl group, a C2-C6 alkoxyalkyl group, or a C3-C18 alkyl group; and 0.02≤X≤0.5.
US11661470B2

Butadiene-isoprene diblock copolymer formed by a block of crystalline polybutadiene (hard block) and by a block of amorphous polyisoprene (soft block). Said butadiene-isoprene diblock copolymer can be advantageously used both in the footwear industry (for example, in the production of shoe soles), and in the production of tires for motor vehicles and/or trucks.
US11661469B2

Disclosed is a method of preparing polymer film-metal composites and uses of such composites. The metal can be in the form of a nanoparticle or a film. The methods comprise depositing on a surface, a composition comprising: a cationic metal precursor; a polymer film precursor that comprises a plurality of photopolymerizable groups; and a photoreducer-photoinitiator; then irradiating the composition under conditions to simultaneously reduce the cationic metal and polymerize the photopolymerizable groups to obtain the composite on the surface.
US11661447B2

Provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for expressing a peptide of interest, such as Apolipoprotein H (ApoH), also known as β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI), at increased levels using a non-ApoH signal peptide (e.g., a signal peptide that permits increased protein export from cells). Also provided herein are compositions, systems, kits, and methods for employing such recombinant ApoH with a non-ApoH signal peptide to detect subject Apolipoprotein H antibodies in a sample from a subject (e.g., to diagnose antiphospholipid syndrome in a subject).
US11661444B2

The present invention relates to a recombinant vaccine against Lawsonia intracellularis, based on a recombinant synthetic chimeric variant of membrane proteins and invasins of said bacteria. In addition, the invention discloses synthetic nucleotide sequences encoding said protein variants, recombinant proteins as such, an expression cassette of said synthetic protein antigens, a transformed cell, and a method for producing said antigens, demonstrating the antigenicity and protective potential thereof against the pathogen Lawsonia intracellularis.
US11661441B2

In some aspects, the present invention provides cell-reactive compstatin analogs and compositions comprising cell-reactive compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using cell-reactive compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ. In some aspects, the invention provides long-acting compstatin analogs and compositions comprising long-acting compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using long-acting compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ. In some aspects, the invention provides targeted compstatin analogs and compositions comprising targeted compstatin analogs. In some aspects, the invention further provides methods of using targeted compstatin analogs, e.g., to inhibit complement-mediated damage to a cell, tissue, or organ.
US11661438B2

Methods of removing high molecular weight species, in particular aggregates, from antibody drug conjugate preparations, by contacting preparations of the antibody drug conjugate reaction mixture with a hydroxyapatite resin and selectively eluting the ADC from the resin using a gradient comprising sodium phosphate.
US11661424B2

Methods for preparing the Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (“BTK”) inhibitor compound 2-{3′-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-[5-((S)-2-methyl-4-oxetan-3-yl-piperazin-1-yl)-pyridin-2-ylamino]-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-[3,4′]bipyridinyl-2′-yl}-7,7-dimethyl-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-2H,6H-cyclopenta[4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-1-one are provided. Methods for preparing tricyclic lactam compounds are also provided.
US11661406B2

A method of preparing an intermediate useful for the synthesis of a diphenylmethane derivative that can be used as an SGLT inhibitor is described. A method of synthesizing a compound of Formula 7 can address problems of existing synthesis processes requiring the synthesis of the Grignard reagent and management of related substances. In addition, the method can minimize the generation of related substances, and thus does not require reprocessing of reaction products, thereby simplifying the process. Accordingly, the production yield of a diphenylmethane derivative can be maximized.
US11661405B2

Polymorphic forms of tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-3-furanmethanamine hydrochloride (ANAVEX2-73) and a metabolite of tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-3-furanmethanamine hydrochloride (ANAVEX2-73) are disclosed and characterized. Compositions and method for treatment of Alzheimer's disease that includes the polymorphic forms and metabolite of tetrahydro-N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenyl-3-furanmethanamine hydrochloride (ANAVEX2-73).
US11661401B2

The present disclosure is directed to inhibitors of SHP2, such as pyrazine compounds, and their use in the treatment of disease associated with SHP2 modulation, such as Noonan Syndrome, Leopard Syndrome, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemias, neuroblastoma, melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia and cancers of the breast, lung and colon. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.
US11661394B2

The present invention relates to a 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1): HOCH2CH2CH═CHCH2CH2OCH2OCH2R′ (1), R1 representing a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; and also relates to a process for preparing a 3,13-octadecadien-1-ol compound of the following formula (6): CH3(CH2)3CH═CH(CH2)8CH═CHCH2CH2OH (6) from the 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (1).
US11661380B2

A coated article including an article having a surface; an oxidation resistant bond coat layer deposited on the surface, the oxidation resistant bond coat layer comprising a metal silicide phase, a crystalline ceramic phase and an amorphous ceramic phase, wherein the metal silicide phase has an aspect ratio greater than 1:1 but less than 50:1.
US11661378B2

Provided is a boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate is of a multi-stage structure formed by arranging flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles in three-dimensional directions through adhesion of an inorganic binder. Further provided is a method for preparing the boron nitride agglomerate. The method comprises: mixing flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles with an inorganic binder, and controlling the mass of the inorganic binder to account for 0.02-20% of the mass of the flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles, so as to obtain the boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate provided can be added to thermosetting resin compositions, and resin sheets, resin composite metal foil, prepregs, laminates, metal foil-covered laminates, and printed wiring boards prepared using the same have higher boron nitride addition, high thermal conductivity, and high peel strength.
US11661375B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods that provide coats on a glass optical fiber including of an inner layer and an outer layer. The method includes two steps. First, a conductive polymer coating is applied to the optical fiber as it is being produced. Second, a protective coating is applied to that conductive polymer coating. The conductive polymer coating is applied immediately after the fiber is drawn from preform to fiber.
US11661373B2

To provide a method for recycling a solar cell module glass, which enables development of other novel applications of a waste glass of a solar cell module while controlling an elution amount of Sb from the waste glass into water. Disclosed is a method for recycling a solar cell module glass, the method comprising: grinding a solar cell module glass into a glass powder; adding at least one foaming agent selected from SiC, CaCO3 and a seashell, and a particular inhibitor to the glass powder to produce a mixture; and heating the mixture to 700 to 1,100° C. to produce a foam glass.
US11661364B2

Water treatment compositions useful to decrease surface tension of cooling tower waters are provided as are treated cooling tower waters. The compositions increase the transfer of heat from metal surfaces in contact with the treated cooling water. The increased heat transfer can decrease energy use, for example, in water-cooled HVAC and refrigeration compressors, and can enable increased production rates in many industrial processes, including, for example, plastics molding, metal billet production, petroleum refining, power plants, and condensers for steam turbines. Also provided are cooling tower water compositions formulated to control corrosion, scale, and deposition in a cooling tower and in treated cooling tower water.
US11661359B2

Fluid treatment systems and components are provided for a removal of solid matter from water or other fluids in which a chemical or chemicals may be introduced into the fluid under pressure to coagulate and/or conglomerate the solid materials and cause them to be dropped out of the treatment system and be removed. The fluid treatment system can include: an equalization chamber receiving a wastewater; a clarification chamber receiving a partially separated water from the equalization chamber; a mixing tube having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a sludge detector.
US11661358B2

Plasma discharges and electromagnetic fields may be applied to a liquid, such as water, for desalinization purposes and to treat unwanted material in the liquid.
US11661356B2

A method and device for removing chloride ions in desulfurized wastewater by electrochemical coupling in which the device comprises: an electrolyte tank having a top and a bottom wherein the tank is used as a separator in a separation process and as an electrode regenerator in an electrode regeneration process; two electrodes comprising a hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis function electrode and an electrochemically switched ion exchange (ESIX) function electrode respectively, wherein the electrodes are connected with each other by a wire; two DC circuits having opposite electric field directions and used alternately in the separation process and the electrode regeneration process respectively; the bottom of the electrolyte tank is provided with a purified high-concentration chloride ion wastewater inlet and a flocculation product outlet; the top of the tank is provided with a dechlorination treatment water outlet and a hydrogen collecting port; and, in the electrode regeneration process, the electrolyte tank is connected to an electrode regeneration liquid storage tank through a pump and a pipeline.
US11661351B2

A structuring assembly for structuring water in a water treatment system. The structuring assembly comprising a body portion, a tubular first layer defining an interior channel for passage of water, a plurality of structuring bodies positioned in the channel and a dampening layer positioned about the first tubular layer. In application in the water treatment system, as water passes through the channel and over the structuring bodies, dissolved oxygen content of the water is increased.
US11661350B2

A near-infrared absorbing material fine particle dispersion, a near-infrared absorber laminate, and a laminated structure for near-infrared absorption can exhibit higher near-infrared absorption property, compared to near-infrared fine particle dispersions, near-infrared absorber laminates, and laminated structures for near-infrared absorption, containing tungsten oxides or composite tungsten oxides according to the conventional art. Also, a near-infrared absorbing material fine particle dispersion in which composite tungsten oxide fine particles, each particle containing a hexagonal crystal structure, and a polymer compound with maleic anhydride introduced therein are contained in the polypropylene resin, and the near-infrared absorber laminate and the laminated structure for near-infrared absorption using the dispersion.
US11661344B2

The present invention proposes a process for purifying raw carbon nanotubes to obtain an content in metallic impurities comprised between 5 ppm and 200 ppm. The process includes an increase in the bulk density of the raw carbon nanotubes via compacting to produce compacted carbon nanotubes. The process further includes sintering the compacted carbon nanotubes by undergoing thermal treatment under gaseous atmosphere in order to remove at least a portion of the metallic impurities contained in the raw carbon nanotubes, and consequently producing purified carbon nanotubes. These purified carbon nanotubes are directly usable as electronic conductors serving as basis additive to an electrode material without requiring any subsequent purification step. The electrode material can then be used to manufacture an electrode destined to a lithium-ion battery.
US11661339B1

Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, methods, and devices for generating high-pressure gas such as hydrogen and oxygen. In one aspect, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reactor which includes a pressure vessel containing a metal compound configured to react with a liquid to generate the high-pressure gas when the liquid is available in the vessel. The reactor includes an outlet configured to pass the generated high-pressure gas out of the vessel. The apparatus also includes a receiver configured to store the generated high-pressure gas generated in the vessel and passed to a receiver via the outlet or passed directly to fuel cell or vehicle tank.
US11661336B2

A method for manufacturing an electroacoustic transducer includes a frame; an element moveable with respect to the frame, the moveable element including a membrane and a structure for rigidifying the membrane; a first transmission arm, the moveable element being coupled to an end of the first transmission arm; wherein a shield is used to protect the rigidification structure during a step of etching a substrate, the etching of the substrate making it possible to delimit the first transmission arm and to lighten the moveable element.
US11661327B2

A smart inventory management system is described for a dispensing and blend-in-cup beverage platform including a container having an information tag that is configured to store unique information specific to a particular product, a reader configured to read the stored information from the information tag, a control board configured to host a software based decision engine which is configured to interpret the information specific to a particular product and to control one or more system components based at least in part on the information, a pump controlled by the control board and configured to pump beverage concentrates out of the containers in order to dispense the beverage concentrate into a beverage holder, and a check valve located between an opening on the container and the pump, the check valve configured to provide backflush prevention of foreign solutions into the container.
US11661321B2

A lifting device includes a drive, a speed change gear device arranged above the drive and configured to be rotatable by means of the drive, a transmission device connected to the speed change gear device and a lifting mechanism fixed in the transmission device, and the speed change gear device is fixed to a side wall of the transmission device. Under an action of the drive and a speed change of speed change gear device, a gravity of a weight suspended on the lifting device is converted, so that the weight is lifted under a small force. The lifting device can also be driven via an electric hand tool. In addition, a first transmission device and a second transmission device are provided with a safety device to lock the lifting device when reaching a top, so as to prevent the lifting device from slipping to cause injuries.
US11661320B2

A small, portable, powered winch that may employ a power drill or socket wrench.
US11661309B2

The present invention relates to the guidance for a passenger to enter a correct elevator car, belonging to the field of elevator intelligent control technologies. In a method for guiding a passenger to enter a correct elevator car provided in the present invention, the movement of the passenger relative to one of a plurality of elevator cars is determined based on a change in the signal strength of a received first wireless signal; and whether the movement is a movement corresponding to entering a correct elevator car is judged based on a recognition result. The present invention can realize that a passenger is automatically guided to enter a correct elevator car by means of the change in a vibration signal and/or a voice prompt signal.
US11661308B2

The invention relates to a system for generating inspection information of a plurality of signalization elements of an elevator system. The system comprises: an elevator control unit configured to control the plurality of the signalization elements of the elevator system, and a mobile terminal device communicatively coupled to the elevator control unit. The mobile terminal device is configured to generate to the elevator control unit at least one control signal comprising an instruction to activate the plurality of the signalization elements according to a predetermined activation pattern. The elevator control unit is configured to activate the plurality of the signalization elements according to the predetermined activation pattern for generating inspection information in response to receiving the at least one control signal. The invention relates also to for generating inspection information of a plurality of signalization elements of an elevator system.
US11661307B2

An aspect includes capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system. A dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is adjusted based on the crowd data. A notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule is output.
US11661301B2

A method for providing a nonlinear line of weakness on a web material including providing: a base, a support, a blade, and a driving means. The base may comprise at least one counter component having a length (LCC) where the counter component comprises a nonlinear shape having a shape width (W). The support may be operatively engaged with the base. The blade may have a length (LB) and may be disposed on the support so as to either contact or to come in close proximity with the counter component. At least one of the counter component and the blade may have a nonlinear shape. The driving means may be associated with one of the support or the base to reciprocally shift the one of the support or the base with respect to the other of the base or the support for a distance (D) in a shifting direction.
US11661296B2

The invention relates to a method to unwind a sheet of material wound in a bobbin, the method comprising: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet, the bobbin defining an outer surface and comprising a free portion of the sheet unwound from the bobbin; arranging a compressing element on the outer surface of the bobbin, so as to define a contact line, the contact line being the line separating the free portion of the sheet from the rest of the bobbin; pressing by means of the compressing element the outer surface of the coiled sheet at the contact line with a force comprised between about (4) Newton and about (16) Newton; and unwinding the sheet from the bobbin pulling the sheet in the unwinding direction.
US11661284B2

A carrier roller for a conveyor belt may be configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and may include a roll element with a rolling support region that is configured to provide rolling support for the conveyor belt. The rolling support region is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation of the carrier roller and has different diameters along its axial extension, including a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter. The minimum diameter of the rolling support region is at least 95% and at most 99.8% of the maximum diameter of the rolling support region. Carrier roller stations and belt conveyor systems may employ such carrier rollers.
US11661277B2

An automated pharmaceutical dispensing system includes: a tablet dispensing station comprising a plurality of cells for dispensing pills, each of the cells mounted in a dispensing location, each of the cells including a channel for dispensing pills into a container and an inlet configured to be adjustable so that pills in the cell are conveyed through the inlet and into the channel in single file; and an autocalibration station, the autocalibration station comprising a mechanism for automatically adjusting the inlet of a cell based on the dimensions of the pills to be contained in the cell. The autocalibration station is configured and located to also provide a dispensing location, such that a cell docked therein may function to dispense pills.
US11661276B2

A distribution site and a distribution method are provided. The distribution site includes: a building having a storage space configured to store goods and a distribution interface area configured to park an unmanned ground distribution vehicle that is capable of performing goods distribution; and a goods sorting device arranged in the building and configured to load the goods in the storage space onto the unmanned ground distribution vehicle.
US11661273B2

Recyclable identification systems and methods are disclosed. A recyclable identification system, for example, may include a collection vehicle having a container and an imaging system disposed on the collection vehicle and positioned on the collection vehicle to image objects as the objects pass into the container. The recyclable identification system may also include a transceiver and a controller communicatively coupled with the imaging system and the transceiver. The controller may receive a plurality of images from the imaging system, the plurality of images includes images of objects that have been dumped into the container; determine a location associated with the plurality of images; combine the video or the plurality of images with the location; select an image or images of interest from frames of the plurality of images that include images of recyclables; and transmit the image of interest to a cloud computing system via the transceiver.
US11661263B2

Unitary blank for forming a cup sleeve is provided having a central body portion, a first side body portion, and a second side body portion, a central flap extending from the central body portion, a first flap extending from the first side body portion, the first flap including a first tab, and a second flap extending from the second side body portion, the second flap including a second tab. In addition, at least a selected surface area of the blank has a pattern of raised features. Raised pattern areas of inner fold-over flaps can overlay corresponding raised pattern areas of sleeve outer body panels thereby increasing a size or volume of air gap pockets created between inner flaps and outer body panels. A multi-layer cup sleeve and a method for forming a cup sleeve are also provided.
US11661261B2

A self-contained meal assembly comprises a heating bag, a food pouch, and a heating element. In operation, a heating element is placed along a bottom portion of a heating bag, a food pouch is placed inside proximate the heating element, a predetermined amount of water or other nonflammable aqueous liquid is added, and the heating bag is resealed thereby allowing an exothermic reaction to occur within the heating bag. One or more steam vents formed through a heating bag allow steam to discharge from the interior of the heating bag during operation. The configuration of the steam vent(s) allows a controlled release of high temperature steam from the heating bag as it circulates within the heating bag to the steam vent(s) at a safe discharge angle relative to the sides of the heating bag.
US11661257B2

A double door assembly bottom restraining device and method provide stability to the double door assembly during manufacturing and shipping. The double door assembly bottom restraining device may be installed on the bottom of a double door assembly.
US11661256B2

A packaging system includes first and second caps, each cap having a main panel, first and second side panel assemblies extending from and substantially perpendicular to the main panel, a plurality of stacking protuberances, and a plurality of stacking sockets. The cap is stackable with an identical cap by mating the protuberances of the cap with the sockets of the identical cap. The packaging system further includes an elongated post; an elongated brace; and a packaging block fixed to the main panel of the first cap. The side panel assemblies of the first cap are adjacent to one another and together with the packaging block define a post socket that receives an end portion of the post and inhibits lateral movement of the post. Moreover, the side panel assemblies of the second cap are opposed to one another and respectively support first and second ends of the brace.
US11661255B1

The bottle safety seal may comprise a safety seal that covers the top of a bottle. The safety seal may prevent contaminants from collecting on exposed non-vertical surfaces of the bottle. As non-limiting examples, the contaminants may be from storing the bottle in a warehouse or other storage area where the bottle may be exposed to dust, dirt, spilled liquids, and other substances. The safety seal may be separable from the bottle such that the safety seal may be removed from the bottle prior to pouring or drinking from the bottle. As non-limiting examples, the bottle may be a water bottle, a wine bottle, a soda bottle, or a juice bottle. The bottle safety seal may be particularly suitable for use on 5 gallon water cooler bottles which may present larger exposed surface areas and may spend longer periods of time in storage before being used.
US11661252B2

A closure for a container is described where the container has an open end and a closed end, the closure engaging the open end of the container, wherein the closure comprises: a collar engaging the container; a lid connected to the collar by at least one hinge; wherein to facilitate engagement the collar extends over and surrounds the open end of the container such that an inner surface impinges on, or is immediately adjacent to, an outer surface of the open end of the container; wherein a plurality of beads extend outwardly from the inner surface of the collar to fixedly hold the collar in engagement with the container, wherein said beads are located substantially uniformly relative to each other and occupy less than 50% of the inner surface of the collar.
US11661251B2

A nozzle, such as a nozzle for use as a part of a beverage preparation package. The nozzle may include a nozzle body with a conduit, the conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end. The nozzle may also include a plug that is connected to the nozzle body in a detachable manner. The plug and the conduit may be configured such that, when the plug is detached from the nozzle body, the plug is adapted to travel along the conduit and be retained within the conduit at the outlet end such that fluid can flow through the conduit from the inlet end towards the outlet end.
US11661225B2

Heat shrink wrap product packaging oven or tunnel apparatus and processing methods are provided which incorporate or utilize a central divider mechanism. The central divider moves over a conveyor between a vertical, dual track position, and a retracted, single track position. The divider can additionally include a curved deflector that focuses and/or smooths air flow from the divider laterally across the dual track conveyance path.
US11661216B2

The invention relates to a separation device for a spacecraft or launcher. The separation device includes an inner housing divided into at least two portions locked to each other by a locking device in a locking position. The locking device is arranged to move between a locking position and a releasing position. The separation device includes an initiator including means for providing high pressure fluid to an expansion chamber when the separation device is switched from a locked state to a released state. The high pressure fluid in an expansion chamber moves the locking device from the locking position to the releasing position when the separation device is switched from the locked state to the released state. The separation device includes a dampening arrangement arranged to attenuate a peak load when the separation device is switched from the locked state to the released state.
US11661213B2

Systems and methods are described herein for mounting a thruster onto a vehicle. A thruster mounting structure may comprise a first, second, and third rotational joint, a boom, and thruster pallet, and a thruster attached to the thruster pallet. The first rotational joint may be attached to the vehicle and configured to rotate in a first axis. The first rotational joint may be connected to the boom and configured to pivot the boom about the first axis. The boom may be connected to the second rotational joint, which is connected to the third rotational joint and configured to rotate the third rotational joint in the first axis. The third rotational joint may be connected to the thruster pallet and configured to pivot the thruster pallet in a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.
US11661212B2

Provided is an embodiment for a method for performing prognostics and health monitoring. The method includes detecting operational usage data for a line replaceable unit (LRU), and aggregating the operational usage data with previous operational usage data during a period of time. The method also includes determining a total value for the aggregated operational usage data for the period of time, and generating a histogram to track the operational usage data, wherein the histogram comprises a plurality of buckets, each bucket corresponding to a range of values for the operational usage data. The method includes responsive to expiration of the period of time, adding a count to a bucket of the plurality of buckets corresponding to the total value for the aggregated operational data for the period of time. Also provided is an embodiment for a system for performing prognostics and health monitoring.
US11661206B2

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft on an aircraft display. A fuel distribution in the aircraft fuel tanks is determined. A lateral center of gravity of the aircraft is determined based on the fuel distribution. The lateral center of gravity is sent to the aircraft display. The present disclosure further provides an aircraft display for displaying the lateral center of gravity of an aircraft.
US11661205B2

A method for supplying air to an engine of an aircraft via an air supply system of the aircraft. A dynamic air intake vent of the system can be closed by a closure member that is movable between a closed position and an open position. A static air intake vent is equipped with a filter medium. During flight, the method comprises an unfiltered operating mode that comprises the following steps: positioning of the closure member in the open position, and, during a phase of forward travel of the aircraft, dynamic intake of a flow of air, then transfer of a first portion of the flow of air to the engine and a second portion of the flow of air to the filter medium in order to clean the filter medium.
US11661204B2

A takeoff location and a landing location are received for an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle that includes a plurality of rotors. An autonomous and noise-reduced flight trajectory for the autonomous VTOL vehicle is determined based at least in part on the takeoff location, the landing location, a jerk function, and a noise function, including by minimizing the jerk function and minimizing the noise function. A set of one or more desired forces or moments is determined for the autonomous VTOL vehicle based at least in part on autonomous and noise-reduced flight trajectory. A plurality of motor control signals is determined for the plurality of rotors based at least in part on the set of one or more desired forces or moments.
US11661192B2

Drones with propulsions systems supported in a housing are provided where the orientation of the housing is independent from the orientation of the propulsion system. Drones are provided where a propulsion system is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the propulsion system to assume substantially any position with a sphere. Drones are provided where a bladeless inner tube is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the inner tube to assume substantially any position within a sphere. Drone systems are provided with connectable unit drones. An unmanned land vehicle is provided having a wheel assembly that is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the wheel assembly to assume substantially any position with a sphere.
US11661191B2

UAV configurations and battery augmentation for UAV internal combustion engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative configuration includes a fuselage, first and second wings coupled to and pivotable relative to the fuselage, and a plurality of lift rotors carried by the fuselage. A representative battery augmentation arrangement includes a DC-powered motor, an electronic speed controller, and a genset subsystem coupled to the electronic speed controller. The genset subsystem can include a battery set, an alternator, and a motor-gen controller having a phase control circuit configurable to rectify multiphase AC output from the alternator to produce rectified DC feed to the DC-powered motor. The motor-gen controller is configurable to draw DC power from the battery set to produce the rectified DC feed.
US11661187B2

In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle, an exit geometry sensor for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry.
US11661184B2

A method of designing a morphable aerodynamic surface includes discretizing and parameterizing a model of a morphable surface to create a function to optimize; utilizing finite element analysis to solve for displacements and associated errors at an initialization point; and iteratively calculating a gradient cost function, define step size and search direction, step according to defined step size and search direction, and recalculate displacements and associated errors to converge on final thickness vector.
US11661183B2

An aircraft having a frame assembly that supports a compressor having an outer shell that defines front and rear nozzle ports with rotatable nozzles for selectable vertical or horizontal thrust. The inner shell and the outer shell define an intake gap therebetween such as an annulus. A first fan unit within the inner shell and is configured to exhaust air through the front nozzle ports. A second fan unit within the outer shell intakes air through the intake gap and exhausts air through the rear nozzle ports. The fan units are preferably connected to one another via a drive shaft that is surrounded by a streamlining tube. The fan units each include a plurality of fans having stators therebetween. The stators have a plurality of stator arms with a wing structure pivotally attached to the trailing edge for angling air flow from a front to a rear fan.
US11661179B2

A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a wing body, a duct, a rotary wing, upper-surface hinges, and upper-surface covers. The upper-surface hinges are provided at an upper-surface opening of the duct. The upper-surface covers are pivotally supported by the upper-surface hinges, and configured to cause the upper-surface opening to be open and closed. The upper-surface covers are configured to pivot, upon forward moving of the aircraft, in a closing direction by negative pressure generated on an upper surface side of the wing body, to cause the upper-surface opening to be closed. The upper-surface covers are configured to pivot, upon hovering of the aircraft, in an opening direction by pressure of an airflow flowing in the duct from the upper side to a lower side in accordance with rotation of the rotary wing, own weights of the upper-surface covers, or both, to cause the upper-surface opening to be open.
US11661173B2

An aircraft nacelle air intake includes sectors each having a lip forming portion, an outer panel forming portion and an inner panel forming portion. The outer panel forming portions and lip forming portions are formed by a continuous one-piece wall. At at least one junction between two adjacent sectors, an opening and a hatch are provided between the outer panel forming portions of the sectors. The inner panel forming portions and the lip forming portions of the sectors are edge to edge and fixed to each other by fixing devices accessible from the inside of the sectors and invisible from outside of the sectors. A maintenance method in which, when a zone of a sector is damaged, the sector concerned is removed as a whole and is replaced by a new of “recycled” sector is also described.
US11661163B1

An outboard motor has a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing; and a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft. The lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead.
US11661155B2

An improved support for a fin extending downwardly from the undersurface of a water sport board provides detented rotational positioning of the fin at a selected one of a plurality of angular positions including a vertical position for use, a right side position and a left side position both of which protect the fin from damage during periods of nonuse, transport and storage and which avoid the need for removal and reattachment of the fin between periods of use and periods of nonuse, transport and storage.
US11661153B1

A release system for a tether line includes a housing having a side that is at least partially open. A tether lead within the housing is adjacent to the side of the housing. A release mechanism in the housing includes a shackle having a closed end and an open end. The shackle is disposed in the housing at a portion therein that is lower than that of the tether lead. The release mechanism also includes a hinge for mounting the shackle within the housing. In a tether-retention mode, the open end of the shackle faces the top of the housing and the shackle is prevented from rotation about the hinge. In a tether-release mode, the shackle is free to rotate about the hinge under gravity wherein the open end of the shackle rotates to face the side of the housing.
US11661145B2

A control device for controlling a transmission ratio between a traction means and a sprocket set rotatable about an axle may include at least two sprockets alternatively wrapped around by the traction means. At least one of the sprockets may include several independently adjustable rim segments. Adjustment of the rim segments in relation to a fixed plane may be effected by a control device in a direction substantially transverse to the plane. The control device includes at least one electrically actuatable control element, e.g., a servomotor. The at least one control element is configured to rotate with the sprockets.
US11661144B2

The present invention relates to a chain guide for a bicycle rear derailleur comprising a cage, a guide pulley rotatably mounted to the cage, a circular tension pulley rotatably mounted to the cage, and means for connecting the chain guide to a movable member of a rear derailleur so as to move the chain guide with respect to a bicycle cassette, wherein the guide pulley and the tension pulley are adapted to be engageable with a bicycle chain and wherein the tension pulley is rotatably mounted to the cage by mounting means and an interposed bearing, wherein the mounting means of the tension pulley are arranged so as to be spaced from the center of rotation of the tension pulley and wherein the mounting means are stationary in respect to the cage in the mounted state of the chain guide.
US11661138B2

A drive train for a human-powered vehicle comprises a drive unit, a sprocket arrangement, and a total gear range quotient. The drive unit includes a motor configured to impart propulsion to the human-powered vehicle. The sprocket arrangement is operatively coupled to the drive unit. The sprocket arrangement comprises a plurality of rear sprockets and a plurality of gear ratios respectively corresponding to the plurality of rear sprockets. The plurality of gear ratios includes a largest gear ratio and a smallest gear ratio. The total gear range quotient is obtained by dividing the largest gear ratio by the smallest gear ratio. The total gear range quotient is larger than 5.
US11661136B1

A foldable pedal includes a connection member, a shaft, a pedal body, and an engagement device. The connection member includes a first and a second connection ends along a first axis. The shaft includes a first and a second ends. The first end is pivotally connected with the second connection end along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so that the shaft pivots with respect to the connection member. The pedal body includes a shaft bore receiving the second end. The engagement device is on the connection member and switches between engagement and release positions. At the engagement position, the engagement device is engaged with the first end, and the shaft is coaxial with the first axis. At the release position, the pedal body is foldable to the crank, preventing direct effect of pedaling force and reducing distance between the pedal and the crank.
US11661134B2

A bicycle can include a forward frame triangle that can include a top tube, a bottom tube, a bottom bracket, a structural seat tube, a compliant seat tube, and a pair of seat stays. The top tube can have a first end connected to a head tube and a second end. The bottom tube can have a first end connected to the head tube. The bottom bracket can be connected to the bottom tube. The structural seat tube can be connected to the bottom bracket and the top tube. The compliant seat tube can extend in an upward direction from the bottom bracket to the top tube and within the structural seat tube. The compliant seat tube can be coupled to the forward frame triangle such that the compliant seat post can bend within the structural seat tube.
US11661133B2

A front two-wheel leaning vehicle, including a handle, a steering shaft, a linkage mechanism and a load transfer mechanism. The load transfer mechanism includes a left-foot-placing part and a right-foot-placing part located between the left front wheel and the rear wheel, for left and right feet of the driver to be respectively placed thereon. The load transfer mechanism transfers a load to the left and right portions of the linkage mechanism through the left-foot-placing part and the right-foot-placing part, or through the right-foot-placing part and the left-foot-placing part, respectively. The steering shaft includes a handle adjusting mechanism configured to adjust, with respect to the left-foot-placing part and the right-foot-placing part, at least one of a handle height, which is a distance from a midpoint between the left and right front wheels to the grip, or an offset amount of the handle with respect to a rotation axis of the steering shaft.
US11661131B1

A headlight horizontal lighting pattern adjustment system includes an inclination angle sensor connected to a vehicle to sense an inclination angle value of the vehicle. A processing unit receives the inclination angle value and processes the inclination angle value into a driving value. A driving module drives a lighting device. The driving module commands the driving device to driving and rotate the lighting device according the driving value. The headlight horizontal lighting pattern adjustment system is equipped to a motorbike or an electric motorbike. When the motorbike turns and tilt, the processing unit adjusts the light of the lighting device by the driving module and the driving device to eliminate dark corners in the dark zone and maintains the full scale of light pattern to enhance safety to all the road users.
US11661110B2

A front portion of a vehicle body includes front side frames, a subframe, and a vehicle compartment front structure body. The subframe has a subframe body, a front fastening portion fastened to the front side frame in a front region of the subframe body, and a rear fastening portion fastened and fixed to the vehicle compartment front structure body in a rear region of the subframe body. The rear fastening portion has a first convex portion protruding toward a vehicle rear side. A part of a steering gear box constitutes a second convex portion protruding upward from the subframe body. The front fastening portion has a third convex portion protruding upward from the front region of the subframe body. The vehicle compartment front structure body has a first inclined guide portion, a second inclined guide portion, and a third inclined guide portion having front surfaces to contact the convex portions.
US11661108B2

The driving assistance device includes a movement detecting unit detecting an attitude changing movement for changing the attitude of a driver seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle capable of traveling in an automated driving mode in which a driver need not perform driving operations during traveling, a hold detecting unit detecting whether or not the steering wheel is held by the driver, and a hold requesting unit starting a holding request asking the driver to hold the steering wheel if the movement detecting unit has detected the attitude changing movement in the automated driving mode and if the hold detecting unit has not detected hold of the steering wheel.
US11661106B2

A steering system includes a rotary shaft to which an operation member is coupled; a first actuator; a second actuator; a control unit; and a moving unit configured to move the operation member between a normal position and a storage area. The control unit is configured to switch between a manual drive mode and an autonomous drive mode. The control unit is configured to, when moving the operation member from the storage area to the normal position, start synchronous control when the operation member satisfies a predetermined condition before the operation member reaches the normal position, the synchronous control being control in which the control unit controls the first actuator to change a rotation angle of the rotary shaft to an angle corresponding to a steered angle of steered wheels driven by the second actuator.
US11661104B2

A steering device according to one aspect of the disclosure includes: a speed reducer configured to decelerate a rotational power input from one surface side while increasing a torque and output rotation from an output section disposed on the other surface side; a motor provided on the one surface side and configured to input the rotational power to the speed reducer; and a control device for controlling the motor. The motor includes a rotor for generating the rotational power. The rotor includes a rotor output shaft disposed coaxially with an output axis of the output section. The motor inputs the rotational power from one end side of the rotor output shaft to the speed reducer. The control device is disposed on the other end side of the rotor output shaft coaxially with the rotor output shaft and includes a sensing unit for sensing rotation of the rotor.
US11661098B2

A fixed bearing for a steering gear includes a bearing sleeve, and ball bearing having an inner bearing shell and outer bearing shell. The inner shell is configured to hold a pinion shaft of the steering gear. The outer shell is held in the sleeve. Each shell respectively has at least one guide groove to hold and guide bearing balls, and a pivot ring with an outer ring and inner ring pivotably connected via at least one torsion web. The inner ring is connected to the sleeve. The outer ring is configured to mount the fixed bearing in a steering gear housing. At least one shell is formed from partial shells, each partial shell defining at least a portion of the respective guide groove. The multi-part design enables relatively large guide groove shoulders and a correspondingly relatively high ball bearing load-bearing capacity even under a relatively high tilting load during steering gear operation.
US11661097B1

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes a strap having a stationary leg and a moveable leg, the moveable leg extending from a first strap end region to a curved portion, the stationary leg extending from the curved portion to a second strap end region, wherein the second strap end region forms a U-shape defined by a radially outer segment, a radially inner segment and a connecting segment to join the radially outer segment and the radially inner segment. The energy absorbing strap assembly also includes a pin extending through the radially inner segment of the stationary leg and the moveable leg.
US11661089B2

A remote support system facilitates assignment of vehicles to remote support agents for providing teleoperation or other remote support services. The remote support system may generate assignments based on a mapping function that optimizes various parameters based on sensed data associated with the vehicle, a requested service mode of the vehicle, or other factors. In some situations, the remote support server assigns a redundant set of remote support agents to a vehicle that provide similar command streams. The vehicle selects between the command streams to minimize latency or another performance parameter. Alternatively, the remote support server assigns multiple diverse remote support agents to a vehicle that generate diverse command streams. A proxy agent then generates a consensus command stream for providing to the vehicle.
US11661085B2

Embodiments is disclosed to detect a locked heading direction of a pedestrian and to predict a path for the pedestrian using the locked heading direction. According to one embodiment, a system perceives an environment of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) using one or more image capturing devices. The system detects a pedestrian in the perceived environment. The system determines a facing direction of the pedestrian relative to the ADV as one of left/right side, front, or back. If the facing direction of the pedestrian is determined to be front or back facing, the system determines a lane nearest to the pedestrian. The system projects the pedestrian onto the nearest lane to determine a lane direction at the projection. The system determines a heading direction for the pedestrian locking to the lane direction of the nearest lane based on a predetermined condition.
US11661076B1

Techniques and methods for determining a distance between a point within an environment and a reference line are discussed herein. For instance, a vehicle may be navigating. While navigating, the vehicle may receive a reference line that represents a road segment and determine various regions relative to the reference line. Additionally, the vehicle may generate sensor data representing the environment and identify an object using the sensor data. The vehicle may then determine that a location of the object corresponds to a region from the regions. Based on the region, the vehicle may determine a rule for identifying the distance between the vehicle and the reference line. The vehicle may then determine the distance using the rule, the location of the object, and the reference line. Additionally, the vehicle may determine an action for the vehicle to perform that is based on the distance.
US11661064B2

A travel control apparatus is configured to control a travel of a vehicle so as to travel along a target path. The travel control apparatus is configured to perform: acquiring a change schedule information of a traffic light installed over each of a plurality of merge lanes that merge with a main line and configured to be able to change an indication form between a first indication form permitting the vehicle to merge with the main line and a second indication form instructing the vehicle to stop before a stop line; determining a merge lane on which the vehicle travels among the plurality of merge lanes, based on the change schedule information of a traffic light located in a travel direction of the vehicle; and generating a target path of the vehicle leading to the stop line of the merge lane.
US11661062B2

A driving assist method executes a lane change assist based on a generated target travel route. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a road having several lanes, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a first area where an autonomous lane change can be executed. Next, upon determining that the host vehicle is traveling in the first area, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from an area border, which is a boundary between the first area and a second area where the autonomous lane change cannot be executed. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from the area border, a control for the autonomous lane change is performed so that the host vehicle travels in a traveling lane.
US11661061B2

Assisting a driver in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an environment sensor system for acquiring environment data of an environment surrounding the vehicle and a controller for determining a current traffic status from the acquired environment data. A current overtaking maneuver status is determined, wherein each overtaking maneuver status includes one of a plurality of successive situations during an overtaking maneuver, making available at least one assistance information item on the basis of the determined current traffic status, wherein the assistance information is made available in accordance with the determined current overtaking maneuver status, and outputting the assistance information which is made available.
US11661056B2

A lane keeping assist apparatus of a vehicle with a trailer, a system having the same, and a method thereof include a processor to request an advancing vehicle to control partial braking over the trailer of the advancing vehicle based on a lane departure amount of the advancing vehicle when the advancing vehicle departs from a lane.
US11661048B2

A second electrohydraulic brake control device for a motor vehicle comprises a pressure control valve assembly, an controllable pressure source and a reservoir connection. For a group of wheel brakes, the second electrohydraulic brake control device is connected in series between the associated output pressure connections of a first or main brake control device and the vehicle wheel brakes.
US11661045B2

A simulator valve includes a housing having a pedal simulator passage and a master cylinder passage extending therethrough. The master cylinder passage is located longitudinally between the first housing surface and the pedal simulator passage. An armature is located at least partially within the housing for selective longitudinally reciprocating motion with respect thereto between first and second armature positions. A poppet is located within the housing for selective longitudinally reciprocating motion with respect thereto between first and second poppet positions. The poppet defines a first valve and a second valve the poppet includes a poppet bore extending longitudinally therethrough and selectively occluded by the first valve. A damped flow fluid path selectively permits fluid communication therethrough from the master cylinder passage to the pedal simulator passage. A free flow fluid path selectively permits fluid communication therethrough from the pedal simulator passage to the master cylinder passage.
US11661033B2

In a system that enables a person who possesses a portable device in which enablement data as data that permits operation of a vehicle is stored, to operate the vehicle, a relay device is provided for relaying the enablement data from a center server that issues the enablement data of the vehicle, to a portable device of a person scheduled to operate the vehicle. The relay device includes an obtaining unit that obtains the enablement data of the vehicle from the center server, a temporarily storing unit that temporarily stores the enablement data obtained by the obtaining unit, in a storage device, and a transmitting unit that sends the enablement data stored in the storage device, to a portable device used by a person in charge of operation of the vehicle.
US11661029B2

Embodiments include methods for a battery management system (BMS) for a battery pack configured to operate with a host platform (e.g., vehicle, charging station, diagnostic station, etc.). Such methods include authenticating the host platform based on communication between a first short-range wireless transceiver (SRWT) in the BMS and a compatible second SRWT in the host platform. Such methods include, based on the result of the authentication, regulating the following between the host platform and the battery pack: flow of energy, and communication of control and status information via the first SRWT. Other embodiments include BMS having a first SWRT and a controller configured to perform operations corresponding to the exemplary methods.
US11661028B2

A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
US11661026B2

A center side airbag configured to reduce spacing between an airbag cushion and a passenger in a front passenger seat to safely restrict transverse movement of the passenger in the front passenger seat. The center side airbag includes an airbag cushion configured to be unfolded between a driver seat and a front passenger seat, and a protruding chamber configured to be unfolded by a front passenger seat-side portion of the airbag cushion protruding toward a passenger in the front passenger seat.
US11661021B2

A vehicle body front structure includes front frames, first and second bumper beams, sub-frames, gussets, and load transmission members. The front frames extend in a front-rear direction. The first bumper beam is disposed in front of the front frames. The first bumper beam extends in a vehicle width direction. The sub-frames are disposed below the front frames. The sub-frames extend in the front-rear direction. The second bumper beam is coupled to front ends of the sub-frames. Ends of the second bumper beam protrude further outward than the first bumper beam. Each gusset is coupled to a corresponding one of ends of the second bumper beam and a corresponding one of intermediate portions of the sub-frames. The gussets transmit an impact load to the intermediate portions. The load transmission members are coupled to the sub-frames. The load transmission members are disposed on outer side surfaces of the front frame.
US11661015B2

A holding mechanism prevents a device at a back side of a held object from being hidden by the object. Even if a large smartphone is held, clamping with a fixed clamping part and a movable clamping part prevents the fixed part from being moved, wherein a device located back of the smartphone and at the side of the fixed clamping part cannot be hidden by the smartphone. Due to the movable clamping part being movable farther from a rotation axis than the fixed clamping part, a middle portion of the smartphone in the clamping direction substantially coincides with the rotation axis when holding a smartphone with a specified width, wherein the smartphone cannot be easily moved in a Y- and Z-direction when rotating a holding part to change orientation, and also at the back side, a device located at the side of the clamp cannot be easily hidden.
US11661013B2

To provide a light-blocking member that can be easily folded. Wire 12 is bendable and deformable, and is attached to sheet member 11 so as to surround an outer peripheral part of substantially rectangular sheet member 11. Handle members 14 and 15 are attached to both ends of one side of sheet member 11, and are fixed to wire 12.
US11661009B2

A vehicle side-view mirror display assemblage including a display body and a display member is provided. The body includes upper and lower portions. The upper portion has an elongate structure with an upward facing surface and a downward facing surface, the upward facing surface being configured for mounting to an object. The lower portion protrudes outward from the downward facing surface of the upper portion, and includes a first face, a second face, and a cavity having an open end on the first face and a closed end defined by a cylindrical threaded cavity body protruding from the second face about the lateral axis. The display member includes a reciprocal threaded member on a first end configured to be inserted into the open end of the cavity on the first face and rotatably secured to the threaded cavity body, and a second end having a surface configured to display indicia.
US11661005B2

An apparatus for providing an around view comprises: first and second cameras for acquiring first and second image information; and a processor. The processor can generate an around view image including a first area including a subject overlapping area and a second area excluding the subject overlapping area, on the basis of first and second images. The subject overlapping area is disposed between first and second boundary lines in the first and second images. The first boundary line is located in the first area, and the second boundary line adjoins the second area. If it is predicted that a first object will pass through the second boundary line due to the first object approaching within a predetermined distance thereto, the processor can generate an around view image in which the second area is changed so that the second area includes the subject overlapping area.
US11660997B2

Disclosed herein are embodiments of roof top tent systems that can have an upper portion and a lower portion attached to the upper portion along a first end portion of the upper and lower portions, at least one hinge that can extend along a length of a first end of the tent system, and a first structural panel in the lower portion of the tent system. In some embodiments, the at least one hinge can hingedly attach the upper portion to the lower portion of the tent system and/or can comprise a flap or web of material that extends from the upper portion of the tent system to the lower portion of the tent system. The at least one hinge can include and/or be made from a fabric material.
US11660993B2

The invention relates to a device for influencing a backward movement of a seat, in particular a backrest part of the seat, with at least one deformation element arranged in a hinged area of the seating part of the seat, the deformation element being configured such that the deformation element can be deformed due to a force acting on the seating part and/or the back part at a predefined torque curve. The invention also relates to a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, comprising a seating part, a backrest part and the type of device.
US11660989B2

An extendible protective element (10) for use in a child safety seat is disclosed. The extendible protective element comprises a first thread component comprising a first external thread and a first internal thread, and a second thread component comprising a second external thread, wherein the first thread component is rotatably connected to the second thread component via the first internal thread of the first thread component and the second external thread of the second thread component.
US11660988B2

A support base for a child safety seat includes a shell, a belt clamp and a latching mechanism. The shell is adapted to receive a child seat thereon, and has a panel at an end thereof and a belt anchoring region adjacent to the panel, the belt anchoring region including a first and a second surface, the second surface being supported by the panel and connected with the first surface. The belt clamp is pivotally connected with the shell, and is operable to clamp a first and a second belt portion respectively adjacent to the first and second surface. The latching mechanism is operable to lock the belt clamp in a clamping state.
US11660979B2

A method and system for estimating state of charge of a lithium battery cell of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a non-linear function of the lithium battery cell, a normalized lithium surface density and an actual voltage at a current of the lithium battery cell having an internal resistance. The method further comprises determining an actual lithium surface density based on the actual voltage relative to an inverse of the non-linear function. The method further comprises determining a varying parameter based on the actual lithium surface density relative to a first diffusion model. The method further comprises determining a predicted lithium surface density based on the varying parameter relative to a second diffusion model. The method further comprises determining an estimated state of charge of the lithium battery cell when a difference between the predicted and actual lithium surface densities is less than a first threshold.
US11660976B2

A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path and at least one auxiliary electrical power path; a power distribution unit having a motive current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the motive current protection circuit including a fuse; an auxiliary current protection circuit disposed in each of the at least one auxiliary electrical power path, each auxiliary current protection circuit including an auxiliary fuse; a motive current sensor electrically coupled to the motive electrical power path, where the motive current sensor is configured to provide a motive current value; and at least one auxiliary current sensor, each auxiliary current sensor electrically coupled to one of the at least one auxiliary electrical power path, each auxiliary current sensor configured to provide a corresponding auxiliary current value.
US11660973B2

A charging system of an electrically powered vehicle includes a power storage device, a charging device that performs external charging for charging the power storage device with power received from an external power supply, a DCM that outputs information for informing a user of information about charging by the charging device, and an ECU that controls the charging device and the DCM. The ECU controls the charging device to perform the external charging, controls the charging device to limit charging power when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the charging, and controls the DCM to output information for informing the user of a remaining charging time calculated using charging power immediately before limitation while the charging power is limited. The user's feeling of strangeness can be reduced.
US11660970B2

Embodiments of a liquid-cooled charging cable are described. The charging cable includes one or more electrically conductive cables having a first end and a second end. Each cable has a set of one or more cooling tubes. Each cooling tube includes an inlet and an outlet, both at the first end of the cable, a forward part in thermal contact with the cable, the forward part beginning at the inlet and extending from the first end to the second end, and a reverse part in thermal contact with the cable, the reverse part extending from the second end to the first end and ending at the outlet. The forward and reverse parts together form a continuous fluid path between the inlet and the outlet, so that a working fluid can flow through each cooling tube from the inlet through the forward part and the reverse part to the outlet.
US11660967B2

Systems, methods, and vehicles for closed-loop control of regenerative braking. The system includes, in one implementation, a regenerative braking subsystem and a vehicle controller. The vehicle controller is configured to command the regenerative braking subsystem to apply a first amount of regenerative braking torque. The vehicle controller is also configured to determine a current vehicle deceleration while the first amount of regenerative braking torque is applied. The vehicle controller is further configured to determine a difference between the current vehicle deceleration and a target vehicle deceleration. The vehicle controller is also configured to set a second amount of regenerative braking torque to reduce the difference between the current vehicle deceleration and the target vehicle deceleration. The vehicle controller is further configured to command the regenerative braking subsystem to apply the second amount of regenerative braking torque.
US11660965B2

A vehicle includes a battery, an electric power acquirer, a relay, a power supply unit, and a controller. The controller is able to switch a mode of electric power transmission to a direct transmission mode on the first condition that electric power is transmitted from the electric power acquirer to the battery and the power supply unit is in continuous operation or starts up. The direct transmission mode includes that the relay is in a disconnected state and electric power is transmitted from the electric power acquirer to the power supply unit.
US11660946B2

A seal assembly including a seal element which has at least one seal portion for sealing a vertically movable window pane of a vehicle door against a vertical window frame limb. The seal element additionally has a seal portion for forming a gap which is formed between a center that borders the vehicle door and a vertical window pane edge side facing the center.
US11660933B2

A mounting assembly for a silencer of an exhauster assembly includes a mounting plate. The mounting plate has an opening configured to receive an exhauster of the exhauster assembly while the exhauster is coupled to a structure of a vehicle at least partially separately from the mounting plate. In addition, the mounting plate has a first side configured to face the structure of the vehicle and a second side configured to face the silencer. The mounting assembly also includes at least one exhauster mounting feature configured to couple the mounting plate to the exhauster. Furthermore, the mounting assembly includes a silencer mounting feature configured to couple the silencer to the mounting plate.
US11660926B2

A variable rate leaf spring vehicle suspension system includes a vehicle frame. The suspension system also includes a single leaf spring extending from a first end to a second end. The suspension system further includes a tension shackle pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame about an axis, the tension shackle defining a channel, the second end of the leaf spring disposed within the channel of the tension shackle, wherein the axis about which the tension shackle is pivotable is below the second end of the leaf spring.
US11660917B2

A king pin adaptor is provided for allowing a king pin, intended to connect to a fifth wheel hitch, to be attachable to a ball hitch assembly. A hitch assembly is provided having a plurality of vertical and longitudinal positions for securing a ball member to allow for greater flexibility in attaching to various towed structures. The king pin adaptor and hitch assembly may be used alone or together as components of a towing system for towing a trailer with a king pin or ball mount.
US11660913B2

A method includes receiving a first input that indicates an aspect of a tire and capturing a first image of the tire. The method also includes communicating, to a remotely located server, the first image of the tire and receiving, from the server, at least one of a brand of the tire, a model of the tire, and a size of the tire. The method also includes capturing a baseline measurement of a tread depth of the tire and calculating an actual tread depth of the tire. The method also includes calculating, using information stored in a database and based on the actual tread depth of the tire and the at least one of the brand of the tire, the model of the tire, and the size of the tire, a value of the tire.
US11660912B2

A tire configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the tire comprising a tread block forming at least a part of a tread of the tire and a circuit comprising a primary capacitive component, wherein at least a part of the primary capacitive component is arranged a first distance apart from the tread and inside the tread block and a primary inductive component of which at least a part is arranged a second distance towards the interior of the tire from the tread. The tire further comprises an interrogator comprising an electric source, a communication circuit, and a secondary inductive component. The secondary inductive component is arranged on the same side of the tread as the primary inductive component and at least a part of the secondary inductive component is arranged a third distance apart from the tread, the third distance being greater than the second distance. A method for arranging a wear indicator to a tire.
US11660908B2

A roller-type applicator cleaning apparatus includes a lid, a housing, a water inlet valve, a base, a plurality of radial openings, and a central axis. The base includes a platform and an applicator holder. The lid, the housing, and the base are concentrically positioned along the central axis. The applicator holder is adjacently connected onto the platform and function as a storage space for the roller-type applicator. The plurality of radial openings laterally traverses through the applicator holder so that a flow of water can discharge into the applicator holder as the flow of water is entered into the housing through the water inlet. The lid and the base are oppositely positioned of each other about the housing and threadedly attached to the housing. The applicator holder is encircled by the housing so that the flow of water can fully engaged with the inserted applicator that needs to be cleaned.
US11660904B2

A device for filling cartridges for a writing implement, the device including at least two separate connectors, a system for metering inks and a system for filling a cartridge, each connector being configured to connect a reservoir containing an ink to the cartridge. The invention also concerns an assembly comprising a device as previously defined and a plurality of ink reservoirs, each ink reservoir being connected to a connector of the device and a method for filling a cartridge using such an assembly.
US11660903B2

Provided is a writing instrument including a pen cap, a pen tip and a pen barrel, wherein the pen tip is arranged at one end of the pen barrel, an ink cartridge configured to store ink is formed at the other end of the pen barrel, and the pen cap able to be removed is provided on the pen barrel for covering the pen tip; wherein the writing instrument further includes: an ink delivery assembly including a first tube body, a second tube body, a liquid guiding column and liquid absorbent cotton, wherein the second tube body is inserted into the first tube body, the liquid guiding column is inserted into the second tube body, the liquid absorbent cotton is arranged inside the first tube body, an inner end of the pen tip is inserted into the first tube body, and an end of the first tube body which is away from the pen tip is opened with a first vent and an end of the second tube body which is close to the pen tip is opened with a second vent; the first tube body is arranged in the pen barrel; an air flow channel is formed between an inner wall of the pen barrel and the first tube body; the second tube body is in communication with the ink cartridge; a part of the pen barrel corresponding to where the pen tip is arranged is provided with a plurality of ribs, and an air inlet is enclosed by the pen tip and any two adjacent ribs, and the air inlet is in communication with the air flow channel. The writing instrument could increase ink storage capacity and avoid ink leakage, thereby improving user experience.
US11660896B2

A digitally printed security document includes: a security document substrate; a first digitally printed print working on a first surface of the substrate in a first region, the first print working including a first array of printed elements arranged according to a first grid of lattice points having a first pitch; and a second digitally printed print working on the first surface of the substrate in a second region, the second print working including a second array of printed elements arranged across a second grid of lattice points having a second pitch different from the first pitch.
US11660893B2

A liquid discharging apparatus includes a drive signal output circuit outputting a drive signal, a drive portion including a discharging head that discharges a liquid onto a medium based on the drive signal, a solid-state battery supplying electric power to the drive signal output circuit, a supporting portion supporting the drive signal output circuit, and a housing accommodating the drive signal output circuit, the drive portion, the solid-state battery, and the supporting portion, in which the housing includes a first housing surface that intersects a discharging direction, which is a direction in which the liquid is discharged from the discharging head, and the solid-state battery is positioned between the first housing surface and the supporting portion.
US11660891B2

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support having a metal support surface; a print assembly with a dispenser having ejection nozzles facing the support surface; a gas source fluidly coupled to the gas cushion substrate support by a gas conduit; and a thermal control system coupled to the gas conduit.
US11660879B2

A printer includes a first guide disposed downstream of a platen in a sub-scanning direction to guide movement of a recording medium, a second guide disposed below the first guide and downstream of the first guide in the sub-scanning direction to guide movement of the recording medium, and a dryer facing the first guide and the second guide to send air toward the recording medium. The dryer includes a body case including an outlet port that is open toward the second guide, a fan to send air toward the recording medium through the outlet port, and a heater to heat air sent by the fan. The first guide has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the second guide.
US11660874B2

A printing device includes a main control board, a resin vat, a vibration generating assembly, a detection assembly and a support plate. The vibration generating assembly includes a drive component and a paddle. A drive end of the drive component is connected to the paddle, and the drive end is configured to drive the paddle to vibrate. The detection assembly includes an elastic sheet, a resistance strain gage and a detection circuit. The resistance strain gage is attached to the elastic sheet, a first end of the elastic sheet is arranged on the first face of the support plate, and a second end of the elastic sheet extends into the liquid to be detected. The detection circuit is configured to determine an output voltage according to a resistance value of the resistance strain gage. Automatic detection of the liquid level depth of the liquid to be detected is achieving.
US11660869B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The liquid ejecting unit includes a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged and an ejection surface on which the nozzle opens. The acquisition unit obtains distance information that indicates a distance between the ejection surface and a surface of a medium on which the liquid discharged through the nozzle is to land. The controller varies a flushing amount in accordance with the distance information obtained, the flushing amount being an amount of the liquid discharged during a flushing operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid through the nozzle as a maintenance operation.
US11660863B2

A manifold component for a droplet ejection head, the manifold component comprising: a mount for receiving an actuator component that provides one or more rows of fluid chambers, each chamber being provided with a respective at least one actuating element and a respective at least one nozzle, the at least one actuating element for each chamber being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid in an ejection direction through the corresponding at least one nozzle, each row extending in a row direction; a manifold chamber, which extends from a first end to a second end, and widens from said first end to said second end, the second end providing fluidic connection, in parallel, to at least a group of chambers within said one or more rows and being located adjacent said mount; and at least one port, each port opening into the manifold chamber at the first end thereof; wherein at least one portion between the first end and second end of the manifold chamber is shaped as a hyperbolic acoustic horn.
US11660858B2

In an example, there is provided a method and apparatus for controlling spit on page operation, the method comprising receiving at least one image to be printed, for each row of a plurality of rows of the image: identifying two or more pixels of the row of the image to be printed by a nozzle of a printhead, determining if a spacing between two consecutive pixels of the two or more pixels is greater than a threshold distance, and in response to a determination that the spacing between the two consecutive pixels is greater than the threshold distance, providing an indication that spit on page dots should be provided when printing the image.
US11660851B2

An apparatus and method for leveling a bonding device and anvil in an assembly via a closed-loop control system is provided. The assembly includes an anvil, a bonding device positioned adjacent the anvil and configured to interact with the anvil to form the bonds on the web, and an actuator that enables adjustment of an orientation between the bonding device and the anvil. The assembly also includes a closed-loop control system configured to control operation of the actuator, with the closed-loop control system configured to monitor an operational parameter of the assembly indicative of interaction of the bonding device with the anvil, determine whether the bonding device is parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil based on the operational parameter, and when the bonding device is not parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil, cause the actuator to adjust the orientation between the bonding device and the anvil.
US11660844B2

A composite film includes a) a self-supporting layer of a polymer film (such as a polyester), b) an optional primer layer on the polymer film layer, wherein the primer layer includes a PVdX (X being halo), acrylic or vinyl resin; and c) a layer of heat seal composition on the primer layer, wherein the heat seal composition includes a polyolefin plastomer (POP) resin and a tackifier that constitutes at least 20 wt % of the heat seal composition. The composite film may be formed by applying a coating composition including the heat seal composition in a solvent to a primer layer on the polymer film or directly on the polymer film in absence of the optional primer layer, and then evaporating the solvent. The composite film may be heat-sealed to a surface of a container or a self-supporting film.
US11660838B2

A thermal insulation component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a matrix, a crosslinking precursor, and a crosslinking initiator. The matrix includes a thermal insulation material having a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to about 5 W/mK. The crosslinking precursor is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking precursor includes at least one of an acrylate functional group or a methacrylate functional group. The crosslinking initiator is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking initiator is configured to decompose to initiate crosslinking of the crosslinking precursor. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides an electronics assembly including an electronic component and a thermal insulation material in thermal communication with the electronic component. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of manufacturing the thermal insulation component.
US11660831B2

A lamination head for laying up a composite laminate includes a material supply drum supporting roll of layup material backed by a backing layer, a first and second separation device respectively having a first and second horn, and a first and second compaction device. When the first separation device is extended, the first horn is in close proximity to the first compaction device, causing a layup material to separate from the backing layer and move underneath the first compaction device as the lamination head moves along a first direction of travel. When the second separation device is extended, the second horn is in close proximity to the second compaction device, causing the layup material to separate from the backing layer and move underneath the second compaction device as the lamination head moves along a second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.
US11660823B2

According to examples, a three-dimensional (3D) fabrication system may include a controller that may control an agent delivery system to deposit a fusing agent onto a fusing area of a layer of particles of build material. The controller may also control the agent delivery system to deposit an energy absorbing agent onto an unfused thermal support area of the layer of particles, the unfused thermal support area being located adjacent to the fusing area. The controller may further control an energy supply system to supply energy, in which supply of the energy is to cause the particles on which the fusing agent has been deposited to melt and a temperature of the particles in the unfused thermal support area to be raised to a level that is below a melting point temperature of the particles.
US11660821B2

A system for manipulating a 3D object for a computing device is provided. A computer device identifies one or more sensors worn by a user, wherein the one or more sensors track the user's hand and finger movements. The computing device monitors during production of a three dimensional (3D) object, the one or more sensors for modification to a holographic projection representing the 3D object, wherein the user's hand and finger movements modify the holographic projection representing the 3D object. A computing device identifies a modification to the 3D object represented by the holographic projection. A computing device generates a modification request based, at least in part, on the identified modification. The computing device updates production of the 3D object, based, at least in part, on the modification request.
US11660820B2

Provided is a three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing method. The manufacturing method includes a first step of generating intermediate data including (i) path data indicating, by a plurality of partial paths, a path through which the discharge unit discharges a shaping material while being moved and (ii) discharge control data including at least one of discharge amount information indicating a discharge amount of the shaping material in each of the partial paths and moving speed information indicating a moving speed of the discharge unit in each of the partial path, a second step of analyzing the intermediate data to specify a gap portion interposed between a first partial path and a second partial path, a third step of generating shaping data from the intermediate data by changing the discharge control data corresponding to the second partial path so as to increase, in the second partial path, a width of the shaping material stacked on a stage or on a layer that is previously formed, and a fourth step of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object by controlling the discharge unit according to the shaping data.
US11660816B2

A feeding device and a 3D printer are provided. The feeding device includes a first connecting pipe, a second connecting pipe, a feeding power unit, a temperature adjusting device and a resin vat containing a resin liquid. The temperature adjusting device includes a heat exchange pipeline, a liquid intake end of the heat exchange pipeline is connected to a first end of the first connecting pipe, a liquid output end of the heat exchange pipeline is connected to a first end of the second connecting pipe, a second end of the first connecting pipe and a second end of the second connecting pipe are both located in the resin vat, and at least one of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe is provided with the feeding power unit.
US11660814B2

A device comprising; a controller arranged to receive data for an article to print; a sub-device comprising a resin source arranged to provide material for printing the article; a radiation source arranged to direct radiation for the printing of said article; a plurality of stations, said stations including a printing tank in which the article is printed, at least one cleaning station for cleaning the printed article and a curing station arranged to at least partially complete the curing of the printed article; a build surface upon which the article is arranged to be printed; wherein controller is arranged to move the build surface and the plurality of stations relative to each other.
US11660813B2

A galactic extrusion manufacturing (GEM) system for performing an extrusion process includes an extruder assembly for extruding building material during the extrusion process, and a connection system including a robotic arm-tether-crimper for attachment of the GEM system to space bound vehicles and/or structures in space or on orbit. The extrusion assembly includes an extruder head outfitted with multiple different heads for shaping the building material during the extrusion process, at least one power cartridge, and at least one building material cartridge containing the building material, wherein the power cartridge and the building material cartridge are removable and replaceable. Also provided are a building material cartridge for use with a GEM system or a dispensing control unit (DCU) to perform an extrusion process, and a smart extrusion system including a building material cartridge and a DCU.
US11660809B2

Apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, the apparatus (1) comprising: a build bed (201) having a build area (190), wherein successive layers of said three-dimensional object are formed in the build bed (201); a powder distribution sled (300) operable to distribute a layer of powder within the build area (190), the powder distribution sled (300) being driveable in a first direction along a first axis, across the build area (190), and driveable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the first axis; and a print sled (350) operable to deposit a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder within the build area (190) to define the cross section of said object in said layer, the print sled (350) being driveable in the first direction along a second axis across the build area, and driveable in the second direction along the second axis; wherein the first axis is parallel to, or coaxial with, the second axis; wherein the print sled (350) comprises one or more droplet deposition heads (370) for depositing the fluid, a first radiation source assembly (L1), and a second radiation source assembly (L2); wherein the powder distribution sled (300) comprises a powder distribution device (320) for distributing the powder, a third radiation source assembly (L3) and a fourth radiation source assembly (L4); and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth radiation source assemblies is operable to both preheat and sinter powder within the build area (190). A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder using such apparatus is also provided.
US11660808B2

In example implementations, a powder level sensor is provided. The powder level sensor includes a capacitive sensor, a processor, and a cleaning mechanism. The processor is communicatively coupled to the capacitive sensor. The processor interprets a measurement of the capacitive sensor to detect a layer of residual build material on a surface of the powder level sensor. The cleaning mechanism may be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor activates the cleaning mechanism to remove the layer of residual build material on the surface of the powder level sensor.
US11660807B2

A layer-by layer method for additive manufacturing that includes: photocuring a first volume of resin to form a layer of a build at an upper surface of a separation membrane laminated over a build window; injecting a fluid into an interstitial region between the separation membrane and the build window; retracting the build from the build window; evacuating the fluid from the interstitial region; and photocuring a second volume of liquid resin to form a subsequent layer of the build between an upper surface of a separation membrane and the previous layer of the build.
US11660793B2

A conductive member module has a pair of conductive members formed in a plate shape and facing each other, and a sealing part for sealing the pair of conductive members. The conductive member module is produced by performing an accommodation step, a sealing step, and an extraction step. In the sealing step, the conductive members are sealed with a resin injected into a die while a force is applied by the resin to the individual conductive members in directions to approach each other in a facing orientation of the pair of conductive members.
US11660786B2

A leveler table includes a plate with a flat top work surface that is level in all planes, by locating a circular level recessed within the center of the plate, so that the level indicator of the circular level is in horizontal alignment with the top work surface. By locating the circular level in the middle of the plate, at the same horizontal level as the work surface, this leveler table provides accuracy and repeatability for use of the flat top work surface in manufacturing steps, particularly the forming of parts where repeatability is necessary, such as the in situ forming of an automotive windshield sensor pad in an open ended package supported on the flat top surface.
US11660784B2

A resin supply unit of a manufacturing apparatus supplies a resin to a roller surface of an impregnated roller which is capable of rotating at a constant speed. A transport mechanism brings the fiber bundle into contact with the resin on the roller surface and thereby forms a tow prepreg while the fiber bundle is being transported. A fineness acquisition unit acquires as a fineness acquisition value a fineness, which is defined by a mass per unit length of the fiber bundle during conveyance thereof before being brought into contact with the resin. A resin supply amount control unit controls the resin supply amount based on the fineness acquisition value, in a manner so that a resin content of the tow prepreg becomes a target resin content.
US11660778B2

A moulded part (1) for a mould (100). The moulded part (1) comprises at least one shell (11) for casting a product. A flange (12) is arranged on a frame of the moulded part (1) for sealing against abutment a sealing surface (13). The shell (11) has a first permeability for a fluid and the flange (12) has a second permeability for the fluid. The second permeability is less than the first permeability.
US11660777B2

Gypsum panels and methods of making the same are provided. A method of making a gypsum panel includes forming a first gypsum slurry by combining stucco, water, a siliconate, and a phosphate salt or polymer, and setting the first gypsum slurry to form at least part of a core of the gypsum panel, wherein the gypsum panel displays a 2-hour water absorption test weight increase of at least 10 weight percent less than an otherwise identical comparative panel containing no phosphate salt or polymer in its core.
US11660772B2

A system comprising a mandrel, a winding device for helically winding strips around the mandrel to form a base tube moving away from the mandrel at a tube speed, a strip suppling device for supplying the strips to the winding device, and a cutting device for cutting the base tube at a predetermined length to form the lengths of tube while the base tube is moving in a tube direction at the tube speed, and a method.
US11660771B2

A cutting device and a method for cutting paper are provided. The cutting device includes a cutting blade and a counter-member. The cutting device is further provided with a first guide and a second guide extending in or parallel to the driving direction for linearly guiding a holder that holds the cutting blade. Each of the guides includes a guide body. The guide bodies of the first guide and the second guide, when released, are arranged to be rotatable relative to the frame about a first adjustment axis and a second adjustment axis, respectively. Each guide body includes an eccentric section that moves eccentrically about the respective adjustment axis and that is arranged to convert the rotational movement of the guides about the respective adjustment axes into a linear movement of the holder in the adjustment direction.
US11660766B2

The invention relates to a handling device for handling objects, including a base unit which extends overall in an elongate manner along a base axis from a first end to a second end, wherein a flange portion is arranged at the first end for fastening the handling device to a robot arm and wherein a pivot unit having a pivot portion is arranged at the second end, wherein the pivot portion is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis by a pivot joint, wherein the base unit has a pneumatic cylinder which is designed to pivot the pivot portion about the pivot axis, and including a couplable or coupled, pneumatically operated end effector for gripping an object.
US11660762B2

A waste sorting robot can include a manipulator comprising a suction gripper for interacting with one or more waste objects to be sorted within a working area, and wherein the manipulator is moveable within the working area. There is a controller configured to send control instructions to the manipulator. At least one pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the suction gripper and configured to generate a pressure signal in dependence on a fluid pressure in the suction gripper. The controller is configured to receive the pressure signal and to determine manipulator instructions in dependence on the pressure signal.
US11660759B2

Exemplary embodiments relate to user-assisted robotic control systems, user interfaces for remote control of robotic systems, vision systems in robotic control systems, and modular grippers for use by robotic systems. The systems, methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media instructions described interact with and control robotic systems, in particular pick and place systems using soft robotic actuators to grasp, move and release target objects.
US11660756B2

A system includes a first robotic machine having a first set of capabilities for interacting with a target object on stationary equipment; a second robotic machine having a second set of capabilities for interacting with the target object; and a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks. The task manager can assign a first sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and a second sequence of sub-tasks for performance by the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities. The first and second robotic machines can coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.
US11660744B2

The present disclosure relates to a module-type robot control system comprising: a robot platform including a driving unit which is driven by a control signal, at least one function block which is assemblable and disassemblable on the robot platform and configured to perform a specific function, and a user terminal capable of wirelessly communicating with the robot platform and the function block. According to the system. The user may remotely control the module-type robot through a smart device, or receive related content by receiving data from the robot through the terminal. The user may easily control the robot or receive more diverse customized contents by connection between the smart device and the module-type robot system.
US11660741B2

A robot includes a housing, a body frame disposed inside the housing, a driving motor provided at lower portion of the body frame, a driving wheel rotated by the driving motor and protruding downward of the housing, a control rack mounted to the body frame and positioned above the driving motor, an opening defined in the housing and positioned at a rear side of the control rack, the control rack being insertable into the opening, and a back cover covering the opening.
US11660737B2

A clinch nailer tool system. The system includes a clinch nailer tool body, coil magazine disposed in a bottom of the clinch nailer tool body and configured to hold a coil of nails, clinch arm pivotally connected to the clinch nailer tool body at a proximal end of the clinch arm, clinch nailer tool nose disposed in a front portion of the clinch nailer tool body, wherein the clinch nailer tool nose includes an opening in a lower portion thereof for receiving a nail from the coil magazine; and clinch plate disposed on a distal end of the clinch arm, wherein the clinch plate is configured to bend a nail from the clinch nailer tool nose.
US11660727B2

A skate blade sharpening tool that has a cylindrical sharpening stone that is positioned directly over the blade and adjusting the slot width in the sharpener using thumb screws to match the blade width. When tightening the thumb screws, the two halves of the tool handle will decrease the slot width onto the blade. This pressure on the blade will force the through shaft and cylindrical stone to be centered over the blade. The sharpening stone will remove metal to match the shape of the stone each time the sharpener is moved back and forth along the blade. The sharpening stone has gears on each end of the stone that match the gears inside the two-piece body. As the tool is moved along the skate blade, the sharpening stone will incrementally rotate within the body when the direction is changed in the reciprocating motion by the user's back and forth movement. The sharpener also has a deburring stone mounted to the black of the handheld sharpener.
US11660723B2

In an automatic polishing system configured such that under control of a polishing robot and/or a polishing tool by a polishing controller, the polishing tool provides a polishing action on a polishing subject face, a color intensity measurement instrument is provided for measuring an intensity of a specified color in the polishing subject face. Based on the intensity of the specified color measured by this color intensity measurement instrument, the polishing controller controls the polishing robot and/or the polishing tool, so that an amount of polishing work by the polishing tool onto the polishing subject face is adjusted according to the intensity of the specified color.
US11660721B2

A substrate carrier configured to be attached to a polishing system for polishing a substrate is described herein. The substrate carrier includes a housing including a plurality of load couplings and a retaining ring coupled to the housing. The retaining ring can include an annular body having a central axis, an inner edge facing the central axis of the annular body, the inner edge having a diameter configured to surround a substrate, and an outer edge opposite the inner edge, wherein the plurality of load couplings contact the retaining ring at different radial distances measured from the central axis, and wherein the plurality of load couplings are configured to apply a radially differential force to the retaining ring.
US11660718B2

The present disclosure provides an adjustable device for removing burrs of a back cavity of a wheel. The adjustable device for removing the burrs of the back cavity of the wheel includes a frame provided with a rotary table inside, a support frame is fixedly connected to the rotary table, and a left rotary table and a right rotary table are arranged on the support frame. The device is ingenious in design, novel in conception, high in universality, short in cycle time and high in efficiency, and is suitable for removing burrs of wheels in different specifications.
US11660713B2

A fastening device for fastening a bolt to a fastening target object, wherein the bolt has a bolt head female screw section in an inner circumferential surface of a recess provided in an upper surface of a bolt head section. The fastening device includes a tension rod having a rod male screw section engaging the bolt head female screw section; a drive socket circumferentially surrounding the tension rod and having a lower end section with a grasper for laterally grasping the bolt head section; a supporter circumferentially surrounding the drive socket and having a lower end section protruding downward beyond a lower end section of the drive socket; a sensor for sensing compression force acting on the supporter in the upward/downward direction; a first motor for rotating the tension rod around an axis extending in the upward/downward direction; and a second motor for rotating the drive socket around the axis.
US11660705B2

A laser welding method is provided to ensure a sufficient joining strength between metal plates by increasing the area of a joining region while preventing “burn through” of a molten metal. In the laser welding method by applying a laser beam to a surface of multiple metal plates superimposed on each other, a scanning locus with the laser beam is sequentially shifted from an inner circular scanning locus to an outer one in a predetermined joining region on the metal plates, and an emission interval is provided to temporally stop the metal-plate-surface irradiation when the scanning locus is shifted. Thus, every time the scanning locus is shifted, the molten metal due to the previous irradiation is cooled and increases its viscosity. Accordingly, the “burn through” is prevented regardless of increase of the area of the joining region, which results in a sufficient joining strength between the metal plates.
US11660696B2

A welding current source for providing a welding current and a welding voltage at an output in order to carry out an arc welding process includes an input-side rectifier, an inverter, which is operated with a switching frequency, a transformer having a primary winding and at least two secondary windings, at least two rectifiers arranged between the secondary windings and the output, and at least one capacitor and one load resistor at the output. At least one current-limiting reactor is arranged on the second secondary winding and the load resistor for discharging the capacitor, which can be charged by the current-limiting reactor, the current-limiting reactor, and the capacitor are dimensioned in such a way that the maximum value of the no-load voltage at the output is greater than the voltage corresponding to the transmission ratio of the primary winding to the secondary winding of the transformer.
US11660695B2

Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to measure a weld cable voltage drop are disclosed. Example welding-type power supplies include a power converter configured to convert input power to output welding-type power to a remote device via a weld cable; a reference conductor connected between the power supply and the remote device; a voltage monitor configured to determine a first voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor while substantially zero current is being conducted through the reference conductor; and a receiver circuit configured to receive a second voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor from the remote device.
US11660693B2

An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.
US11660692B2

A thermal displacement compensator measures a temperature of an environment in which a machine is installed and a temperature of each part of the machine, and calculates a temperature difference between at least two temperatures among measured temperatures. Furthermore, the thermal displacement amount of the machine is acquired. Then, based on teacher data using the measured temperatures and the calculated temperature difference as input data and using the acquired thermal displacement amount as output data, a thermal displacement compensation model that estimates the output data from the input data is created by machine learning.
US11660689B2

A portable sawmill which has an elongate central portion, at least one hinged foldable extension portion, laminated rails, detachable axle/wheel combinations, a tow bar, and adjustable legs. Spacers are received between each rail and the respective support structure for both the central portion and the extension portion, including one spacer a first portion of which is disposed between and attached to each rail and support structure of one of the central portion and the extension portion and a second portion of which is slidingly receivable between each rail and support structure of the other of the central portion and the extension portion as the extension is unfolded for use. A pull cable, when an actuation lever is engaged, effects pivotal movement of a cam to which another pull cable is attached for actuating the engine throttle for cutting wood. At least one other pull cable or other actuation member is attached to the cam to actuate at least one other device upon the actuation of the throttle.
US11660683B2

The device (1) for restraining/locking mechanical parts on machines tools comprises: a hydraulic cylinder (2); a first piston (9) comprising a head (10) which projects from the hydraulic cylinder (2), the first piston (9) being slidable along a main line (B1); at least two self-centring locking elements (19) joined to the head (10) in such a way that they are movable along lines of sliding (B2) which are substantially transversal to the main line (B1); and movement means (21, 22) for moving the self-centring locking elements (19) between a retracted position and an extracted position, wherein the movement means (21, 22) comprise: a hydraulic chamber (21) made in the first piston (9); a second piston (22) which is slidable along the main line (B1) between a starting position and an arrival position and which comprises an operating portion (23) joined to the self-centring locking elements (19).
US11660682B2

A chuck (10) is provided that includes a plurality of jaws (20) and a body (30) configured to rotate with a drive spindle of a power driver. The chuck (10) may also include a nut (80) comprising nut teeth (82). The nut (80) may be operably coupled to the jaws (20) and configured to move the jaws (20) relative to the body (30) in the opening or closing direction. The chuck (10) may also include a clutch (100) comprising clutch teeth (102). The clutch (100) may be configured to move between a working position and a jaw actuating position. In the working position, the clutch teeth (102) may be engaged with the nut teeth (82) to prevent movement of the nut (80) relative to the body (30), and, in the jaw actuating position, the clutch teeth (102) need not be engaged with the nut teeth (82) and the nut (80) may be free to move relative to the body (30).
US11660680B2

A quick-release tool connecting rod is provided, including: a rod body, a quick-release mechanism and a second sleeve member. The rod body includes an inner space extending in an axial direction and a through hole communicated with the inner space. The quick-release mechanism includes a push rod received within the inner space, a locking member disposed within the through hole and a first sleeve member sleeved to the rod body. The first sleeve member is movable relative to the rod body in the axial direction to drive the push rod to move. The second sleeve member is co-movably sleeved to the first sleeve member, and the first sleeve member is partially embedded within an inner peripheral wall of the second sleeve member. The first sleeve member has a first hardness, and the second sleeve member has a second hardness which is smaller than the first hardness.
US11660679B2

A tool body to which a replaceable cutting insert is fixed includes: a holder: an insert mounting seat that is provided on a first surface of the holder; a clamp member that constrains the cutting insert placed on the insert mounting seat; and an operating member that presses a pressure receiving surface of the clamp member. The clamp member has the pressure receiving surface, a spherical head portion that is formed into a spherical crown shape, and a hook portion that protrudes to a side opposite to a side of the spherical head portion when seen from a side of the first surface. The insert mounting seat supports the clamp member to be swingable with the spherical head portion as a fulcrum, and the hook portion contacts a diameter reducing portion that is formed on an inner peripheral surface of an mounting hole for the cutting insert in a state in which the pressure receiving surface is pressed.
US11660677B2

A tooling assembly for a lathe machine includes a tool platform configured to be mounted on the lathe machine, a milling tool holder fixedly secured to the tool platform and workable to releasably secure a thread milling tool therein, and a milling tool drive. The milling tool drive is operatively connected to the milling tool holder and operable to rotate the milling tool holder independently of a work holder to mill threads on the workpiece when a pipe thread milling tool is secured in the milling tool holder. Computer numerical control threading lathes and methods of milling threads in tubular workpieces are also described.
US11660672B2

A 3D-printed reflective optic providing very high specific stiffness through the utilization of a hollow shelled design, with closed back, filled with high-stiffness internal volumetric space-filling open-cell lattice structures. High-stiffness, structurally-integrated, sacrificial structures are also included for the purposes of reduction or elimination of tooling during post-processing operations.
US11660664B2

A mold molding apparatus can successively mold casting molds having the necessary casting mold strength, and a method for controlling the mold molding apparatus. A molding sensor measures a pressure of molding sand exerted on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze foot, or on a surface of one or both of a pattern plate and a squeeze board; and a control device that controls operation of the mold molding apparatus based on outputs from the molding sensors.
US11660661B2

The disclosure relates to a method for producing of refiner disc segments. The method for producing of the invention allows for forming a multitude of refiner segments with only one forming process of a first die which may be lightweight and has reduced cost while at the same time a surface structure with high hardness which reduces wear of the die's surface. The method for producing a disc-type refiner segment for refining lignocellulosic material includes 3D printing a first model; forming a first die part using investment casting; 3D printing a second model; combining the first die part and the second model to create a first die model; using the first die model to generate for forming a sand model by compressing molding sand between the first die and the second die; and casting a refiner disc segment by casting a metal material using the sand model.
US11660656B2

A method manufactures a vehicle wheel that includes a wheel rim having a cylindrical shape and a wheel disc provided on an inner peripheral side of the wheel rim. The method includes forming a workpiece of the vehicle wheel by casting or forging, the workpiece being a metal alloy workpiece; cutting a part of the workpiece to form a cut surface; coating, with a colored paint, the cut surface, an edge where the cut surface intersects a surface of the workpiece, and at least a portion around the edge in the surface of the workpiece; and chamfering the edge to form a bright surface where the workpiece is exposed, after coating the cut surface, the edge, and at least the portion around the edge.
US11660655B2

A crimping system for crimping fittings on hoses is disclosed and include an interface and a crimper machine. The crimper machine is configured to analyze collected information based on identified hose and fitting properties; perform a crimping operation based on the collected information and the identified hose and fitting properties; measure crimping characteristics for the crimping operation; generate an alert based on the measured crimping characteristics and the collected information; and provide the alert to the interface.
US11660630B2

A control device includes: a first generator generating a first command position of a control object on a plane in each control cycle based on a target trajectory; a first control part generating a first operation amount by model predictive control using a first dynamic characteristic model and the first command position; a second generator generating a second command position of the control object on an orthogonal axis in each control cycle; and a second control part generating a second operation amount by model predictive control using a second dynamic characteristic model and the second command position. Based on shape data indicating a surface shape of an object and the first command position, the second generator generates the second command position so that a distance between the control object and a surface of the object is constant.
US11660624B2

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, Flair® based aerosol-type devices can be provided. Such devices utilize a combination of Flair® technology, pre-compression valves and aerosol like pressurization of the dispensed liquid. Such a dispensing device has a main body comprising a pressure chamber, the latter being provided with a pressure piston and a pressure spring. The device further has a piston and a piston chamber which draws liquid from a reservoir and fills the pressure chamber with that liquid as a user operates the trigger in various compression and release strokes. The piston chamber has both an inlet valve and an outlet valve. In a dispensing head a valve is provided to regulate the strength of the flow and preclude leakage. Once the liquid is sufficiently pressurized, it can be dispensed by a user opening an activation valve, such as by pressing on an activation button, and spray can be abruptly stopped by a user ceasing to push on such button. Or, for example, in alternate embodiments without an activation button, once the liquid is sufficiently pressurized, continuous spray occurs until the pressure chamber is emptied. By repeatedly pumping the trigger before the pressure chamber is fully emptied, continuous spray can be achieved. By designing the input volume to be amply greater than the volume of the pressure chamber, continuous spray with fewer pumping strokes can be implemented.
US11660623B2

A showerhead assembly is provided which includes a conduit, a gear train and oscillating nozzle chamber. The gear train includes a propeller, toothed pinion, and large toothed gear. Water flows from the conduit into an internal chamber within the showerhead housing. Specifically, water enters the propeller thereby causing it to rotate, the rotation of which causes the pinion to rotate, and consequently, the large gear to revolve. Additionally, a pin seated on the large gear engages with the pin slot located on the nozzle chamber and causes the chamber to pivot, thereby restricting chamber movement as the pin oscillates with rotation of the large gear. Further, the chamber's horizontal movement is hindered by two shoulder arms. As water exits the large gear, it travels through the left shoulder arm's central channel and into the oscillating chamber, whereby it expels through the nozzle outlet in a reciprocating spray pattern.
US11660599B2

The presently disclosed subject matter provides devices and methods for sample extraction from a swab during biological sample processing. In particular embodiments, the devices and methods are configured for use in conjunction with microfluidic devices for sample processing.
US11660596B2

The present invention provides a medical analysis device and a cell analysis method, which can capture specific cells such as many types of cancer cells including cancer cells not expressing EpCAM and stem cells. Provided is a medical analysis device including a well portion, the well portion having a hydrophilic silane compound layer formed at least partly on the inner surface thereof.
US11660588B2

Disclosed are a catalyst and a preparation method therefor, the catalyst being able to maintain a high production yield of C8 aromatic hydrocarbons in the process of converting a feedstock containing alkyl aromatics to C8 aromatic hydrocarbons such as mixed xylene through disproportionation/transalkylation/dealkylation while reducing a content of ethylbenzene in the products.
US11660586B2

A process for preparing a catalyst comprising a zeolitic material comprising copper, the process comprising (i) preparing an aqueous mixture comprising water, a zeolitic material comprising copper, a source of copper other than the zeolitic material comprising copper, and a non-zeolitic oxidic material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, ceria, a mixed oxide comprising one or more of Al, Si, Ti, Zr, and Ce and a mixture of two or more thereof; (ii) disposing the mixture obtained in (i) on the surface of the internal walls of a substrate comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, a substrate axial length extending from the inlet end to the outlet end and a plurality of passages defined by internal walls of the substrate extending therethrough; and optionally drying the substrate comprising the mixture disposed thereon; (iii) calcining the substrate obtained in (ii).
US11660579B2

An air lance for removing pellets from tubes includes a conduit body having an inlet end and a bottommost discharge opening, and a poker fixed relative to the conduit body and projecting beyond the bottommost discharge opening to serve as a spacer and poker; wherein a rigid member extends along said conduit body, such that that a hammering force applied to said rigid member where it extends outside of the tube will be transmitted through said rigid member to said poker for dislodging and breaking pellets.
US11660565B2

A device for separating a gas, such as air, into components, includes a plurality of modules, each module having one or more polymeric membranes capable of gas separation. A set of valves, pipes, and manifolds together arrange the modules in one of two possible configurations. In a first configuration, the modules are arranged in parallel. In a second configuration, the modules are divided into two groups which are arranged in series. The device can be switched from parallel to series, or from series to parallel, simply by changing the positions of a small number of valves, typically three valves. The device can therefore produce gas either of higher purity, or moderate purity, depending on the settings of the valves. The device also includes improved structures for connecting the modules to inlet and outlet manifolds, and also includes devices for temporarily isolating one or more modules from the system.
US11660559B2

A method to predict the lifespan of an air filter including providing pressure sensors in a device having an air filter and a fan to drive air through the air filter, one pressure sensor located on an intake side of the fan and one pressure sensor located on an outflow side of the fan, periodically calculating a static pressure drop across the fan, storing the static pressure drop daily; calculating an average pressure drop, calculating a cumulative particle loading on the filter, comparing the cumulative particle loading with a pre-determined maximum particle loading for the filter, and determining if the filter needs to be changed is provided.
US11660555B2

A depth filtration device for the clarification of biological fluids including a composite depth filter media having a nonwoven first layer integral with a second layer containing a polyaeryionitrile (PAN) fibers, a filter aid, and a wet-strength resin. The depth filter media exhibits increased creased binding capacity for soluble impurities such as DNA and host eel! proteins from biological/cell culture feed-streams during secondary clarification and low-level impurity clearance of harvested cell culture fluids, such as those used for the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies. The depth filter media additionally exhibits significantly lower flushing requirements, resulting in lower levels of organic, inorganic and bioburden extractables released, high dirt holding capacities and good chemical and/or radiation resistance.
US11660554B2

A water filter cartridge is provided. The water filter cartridge includes a filter housing enclosing a filtration material therein. A port shield is connected at one end of the filter housing and disposed between the filter housing and a connector part adapted for securing the water filter cartridge to a refrigerator filter part. The port shield is provided for at least partially covering a water inlet port and a water outlet port extending at least between the connector part through the port shield and at least partially through the filter housing. The port shield at least partially encloses the water inlet and/or water outlet port therebetween and also separates the filtration material and unfiltered water within the filter housing from the portions of the water inlet and outlet port within the port shield.
US11660553B2

Methods and systems for recovering retained filtered fluid are provided.
US11660545B2

A game apparatus that functions as a non-limiting example information processing apparatus includes a CPU. If execution of an auto-play game is instructed, the CPU makes, from a start to an end of the auto-play game, cause a plurality of player characters, i.e., available characters used by a player and a plurality of enemy characters to play battles with each other at predetermined time intervals. For example, in halfway until the auto-play game is cleared or rendered as a game over, the player sets the available characters or sets arrangement of the available characters by referring to results of battles at every predetermined time intervals, thereby to start the auto-play game again. That is, the available character to be played against the enemy character is re-set.
US11660542B2

Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media are provided for fraud detection within an interactive media system such as a computer-based game. In some implementations, fraud in online subscription payments can be detected. The fraud detection can be used to adjust virtual currency revenue sharing payouts to developers associated with the computer-based game.
US11660537B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gaming console having a controller to receive a request to decrease or increase at least one of a plurality of sounds generated by a gaming application to enhance at least one condition in the gaming application, and modify sound produced by the gaming application according to the request. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US11660535B2

The disclosure provides features or schemes that improve a user's experience with an interactive computer product by reducing latency through late latching and late warping. The late warping can be applied by imaging hardware based on late latch inputs and is applicable for both local and cloud computing environments. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of operating an imaging system employing late latching and late warping. In one example the method of operating an imaging system includes: (1) rendering a rendered image based on a user input from an input device and scene data from an application engine, (2) obtaining a late latch input from the input device, (3) rendering, employing imaging hardware, a warped image by late warping at least a portion of the rendered image based on the late latch input, and (4) updating state information in the application engine with late latch and warp information.
US11660532B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an accessory having a plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source emits a controllable spectrum of light through a corresponding one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, and a controller coupled to the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, and the plurality of light sources. The controller can be operable to detect tactile contact of each of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, receive status information associated with a video game, and adjust the spectrum of light emitted by at least a portion of the plurality of light sources according to the status information to indicate one or more aspects of the video game. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US11660528B2

A technique for implementing computerized games includes providing multiple gameplay spaces of a computerized game and receiving a model of a physical environment in which the game is to be played. The technique proceeds by fitting the gameplay spaces of the game to the model, such as by placing the gameplay spaces and their respective virtual objects into respective portions of the model, thus actualizing the game to the particular environment in which the game is to be played.
US11660524B2

A bowling enhancement system is for a bowling lane, and may include a mobile device, an image sensor arranged over the bowling lane and configured to generate image data of the bowling lane, projectors arranged over the bowling lane and configured to generate a set of projected images onto the bowling lane, and a server. The server may be configured to cause a given projector to project a pairing token onto the bowling lane, when receiving the pairing token from the mobile device, establish a communication link with the mobile device to receive a given game characteristic from the mobile wireless communications device, determine a tracking path of a bowling ball traveling on the bowling lane based upon the image data, and selectively change the set of projected images based upon the tracking path of the bowling ball and the given game characteristic.
US11660522B2

A system for providing golf information, the system which includes a green photographing unit for photographing an image of an area including a green on a golf course and communicatively connected to a communication network to transmit green image data to an outside, a golfer terminal that is carried by a golfer on the golf course and communicatively connected to a communication network to transmit golfer position data to the outside, and an information providing server that is communicatively connected to the communication network to generate golf information using the green image data and the golfer position data and transmit the generated golf information to the golfer terminal.
US11660515B1

A hockey puck is formed as two mating subcomponents encapsulating an internal signal transmitter. The hockey puck includes holes extending from an external surface of the hockey puck into an internal void formed between the two mating subcomponents. The internal signal transmitter includes protrusions extending into the holes, each including a surface-mounted diode. The surface-mounted diodes include no lens cap, allowing the diodes to be positioned closer to the external surface of the puck than existing pucks. For improved visibility, the diode is positioned less than 5 mm from the external surface of the puck, but greater than 1 mm from the external surface of the puck, in order to prevent the diodes from being externally visible. Preferably, the diodes are positioned between approximately 2 mm and approximately 3 mm from the external surface of the hockey puck.
US11660514B1

Disclosed is an interactive projectile game system that collects projectiles launched by a user toward a target and that returns the launched projectiles to the user. The system includes an actuator, a launcher assembly, a projectile, one or more targets, and a projectile collection system proximal to the targets. A user selects the actuator to activate the launcher assembly to propel the projectile to the user. The user receives or retrieves the projectile and propels the projectile toward the targets in an effort to score points by striking a target. The projectile collection system receives the projectile after being launched by the user, and the projectile collection system transfers the projectile back to the launcher assembly.
US11660510B2

This disclosure relates to an alignment aid for a golf club. The alignment aid provides a golf club with one or more markings on or adjacent the hosel of the golf club, and can be used by the golfer to achieve a proper alignment. In particular, the alignment aid may include at least two markings, each of which can be used by the golfer to assist the golfer in achieving the proper alignment corresponding to a desired type of golf shot. As an example, the golfer may use one marking to achieve a proper alignment for a pitch shot, and the golfer may use another marking to achieve a proper alignment for a bunker shot.
US11660506B1

A method for forming a golf ball core with a nanofiller masterbatch is disclosed herein. The method includes mixing the nanofiller masterbatch, a graphene masterbatch material with other materials to form a core mixture, wherein the masterbatch preferably comprises 1-80% by weight of nanofillers and 20-99% by weight of a carrier polymer.
US11660498B2

A device for exercising upper leg portions and hips which includes a frame, an arm pivotably connected to the frame, and a leg pad pivotably connected to the arm and configured to contact the user's leg during use. The frame having an arm strut and a seat strut. The seat strut having a seat location fixing unit defined by a seat location fixing rod and a seat location fixing place. The seat location fixing place is connected to the frame having laterally spaced apart vertical holes therein for insertion of the seat location fixing rod which attaches to an underside of the seat and is configured as a support post between the seat and the holes within the seat location fixing place. The holes are configured for the user to locate said seat location fixing rod at varying distances and locations from the arm strut.
US11660479B2

An internal pressure adjustment system includes a gas supply line that supplies incombustible gas to a housing space of a robot, and an exhaust line that exhausts gas from the housing space. The internal pressure adjustment system further includes an on-off valve of a gas pressure driven type that switches between opening and closing of the exhaust line in accordance with the gas supply pressure. The exhaust line is opened in response to an increase in the gas supply pressure and the exhaust line is closed in response to a decrease in the gas supply pressure.
US11660477B2

A fall protection system includes an elevation mechanism including a base end and an elevated end, and that is configured to permit a user to scale the elevation mechanism. The first channel is disposed at a first side of the elevation mechanism and extends between the base end and the elevated end, and is configured to anchor a first shuttle to the elevation mechanism and permit the first shuttle to transition between the base end and the elevated end of the elevation mechanism. The second channel is disposed at a second side of the elevation mechanism and extends between the base end and the elevated end, and is configured to anchor a second shuttle to the elevation mechanism and permit the second shuttle to transition between the base end and the elevated end of the elevation mechanism.
US11660475B2

A high load descender for rope access and rescue has a ratcheting sheave mounted to a pivoting arm, which translate with rope tension against a fixed shoe. The ratcheting sheave has a groove that grips rope during descent while allowing free rotation for ascent and progress capture. An adaptive release linkage enhances ease of operation and control while maintaining convenient handle position in a variety of conditions.
US11660470B2

The invention provides a charged particle irradiation apparatus including: a collimator apparatus provided in an irradiation nozzle that emits a charged particle beam to an irradiation target; and a collimator control unit that controls the collimator apparatus. The collimator apparatus includes a collimator mechanism having one or more arm-shape collimators extending from a base part and a drive mechanism that moves the collimator mechanism on a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of a charged particle beam. The arm-shape collimator includes one or more movable leaves that rotate independently of each other on the perpendicular plane. By moving the collimator mechanism and/or rotating the movable leaves so that the arm-shape collimators are arranged along a shape of an edge of an irradiation target on the perpendicular plane, the collimator control unit causes the arm-shape collimators to block a charged particle beam that would otherwise irradiate outside of the edge of the irradiation target.
US11660468B2

An optical therapeutic device comprising a front body portion, a light source provided in said front body portion, a spherical, translucent quartz lens provided in front of said light source, a bezel provided on said front body portion and configured to hold said spherical, translucent quartz lens such that a portion of the quartz lens protrudes outside the rim of the bezel. Also described is a method of using the device to apply light stimulation to acupuncture points of a human or animal body and a method for manufacturing the device.
US11660461B2

A tissue stimulation device comprising: a source; a control unit; a decoupled output stage circuit connected to the source and the control unit; a signal generator connected to the input of the decoupled output stage circuit and the control unit; an analog demultiplexer connected to the output stage circuit decoupled by a PE signal and an out signal, the analog demultiplexer is connected to the control unit, and a transducer array is connected to the output of the analog demultiplexer; wherein the control unit selects the output of the analog demultiplexer that allows switching of the PE and out signals to activate the transducers in the transducer array to stimulate tissue.
US11660459B2

In a treatment arrangement for treating a surface, with a planar electrode array (2,2′), to which an electrical voltage can be fed, and with a planar shielding layer (1) which is made of an insulating plastic and which ate least partially surrounds the electrode array (2,2′), a reliable and fixed connection between the electrode array (2,2′) and shielding layer (1) is achieved by the fact that electrode array (2,2′) is made of a pourable plastic provided with plastic additives and that, in the region of a boundary layer (22) between electrode array (2,2′) and shielding layer (1), the plastics of the electrode array (2,2′) and of the shielding layer (1) are connected to each other by material bonding.
US11660457B2

A leadless cardiac pacemaker device is configured to provide HIS bundle pacing and contains a housing having a tip, a first electrode arranged on the housing in the vicinity of the tip, the first electrode being configured to engage with intra-cardiac tissue, and a second electrode arranged on the housing at a distance from the tip of the housing. A processor is enclosed in the housing and operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. The processor is configured to process a reception signal received by at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode and to generate a pacing signal to be emitted using at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US11660455B2

A device, such as an IMD, having a tissue conductance communication (TCC) transmitter controls a drive signal circuit and a polarity switching circuit by a controller of the TCC transmitter to generate an alternating current (AC) ramp on signal having a peak amplitude that is stepped up from a starting peak-to-peak amplitude to an ending peak-to-peak amplitude according to a step increment and step up interval. The TCC transmitter is further controlled to transmit the AC ramp on signal from the drive signal circuit and the polarity switching circuit via a coupling capacitor coupled to a transmitting electrode vector coupleable to the IMD. After the AC ramp on signal, the TCC transmitter transmits at least one TCC signal to a receiving device.
US11660450B2

A method of reducing stimulation signal interference with an electrical monitoring device includes sensing an electrical interference signal at a first location in a body resulting from delivery of an electrical muscle stimulation signal at a second location in the body, and delivering an electrical counter signal to the patient that destructively interferes with the electrical interference signal to prevent interference with the electrical monitoring device.
US11660447B2

A magnetic system for a medical implant system is described. A planar implant receiver coil is configured to lie underneath and parallel to overlying skin of an implanted patient for transcutaneous communication of an implant communications signal. A planar ring-shaped attachment magnet also is configured to lie underneath and parallel to the overlying skin and radially surrounds the receiver coil. The attachment magnet is characterized by a magnetic field configured to avoid creating torque on the attachment magnet in the presence of an external magnetic field.
US11660446B2

Delivery devices, systems, and methods for delivering implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example delivery device may an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member. A distal holding section may extend distally of a distal end of the inner tubular member and define a cavity therein for receiving an implantable leadless pacing device. The device may further include a hub portion including at least a first hub portion affixed adjacent to the proximal end of the outer tubular member and a second hub portion affixed adjacent to the proximal end of the inner tubular member. A first locking mechanism configured to releasably couple the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member may be disposed within the hub portion.
US11660445B2

An apparatus, including a sterilely sealed package, and an electrode assembly sterilely sealed in the package, wherein the apparatus is configured to enable testing for an open circuit between two electrodes of the electrode assembly with the electrode assembly sterilely sealed in the package.
US11660442B2

A peripheral device for regulating neural correlates of arousal and emotion regulation to be worn or held against the body is disclosed. The device can be triggered by either physiological signs or manual intervention and produces cutaneous signals such as vibration or electricity using novel combinations of physiologically reactive frequencies without effort on the part of the user. One embodiment includes combining sensors that measure changes in physiological signals of stress such as speech rate and pitch, galvanic skin response, or heart rate variability, and, using a machine learning algorithm on personalized data, can determine whether these changes are likely to benefit from regulation. If they are outside an idiosyncratic predetermined range, the device produces stimulation and the person will feel regulated if they are touching/wearing the device, or can choose to use the device if it is not currently being touched or worn.
US11660437B2

A hemostasis valve for use with catheters in intravascular procedures. The hemostasis valve comprising a sealable fluid channel that bifurcates from a single distal lumen to two proximal lumens. An upper proximal lumen may include a funnel shaped opening to improve aspiration potential. Rotating locking mechanisms are attachable at the ends of the hemostasis valve to interlock coaxial devices or to form seals around coaxial devices. Injection molding may be used to manufacture a hemostasis valve and its components. A mold and core pins may impart external and internal shapes to a molten polymer. Once the polymer has cooled, the molded component is separated from any pins or molds and attached to other molded components to form an assembled hemostasis valve.
US11660436B1

A device includes a capsule sized to pass through a lumen of a gastrointestinal tract; an enteric coating surround at least a portion of the capsule and configured to protect the capsule form stomach acid while allowing degradation of the capsule in the small intestine of the gastrointestinal tract; a plurality of functionalized particles disposed within the capsule, a plurality of tissue penetrating members configured to puncture a wall of the lumen of the intestinal tract; and an actuator having a first configuration and a second configuration. The actuator is configured to retain the plurality of functionalized particles within the capsule in the first configuration. The actuator is further configured to advance the plurality of functionalized particles from the capsule into a wall of the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract via the plurality of tissue penetrating members by the actuator transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration.
US11660435B2

The devices, assemblies, and methods described herein utilize photoacoustic principals to create a jet of fluid using a ultrasonic resonance member and a pulsed laser light beam. The ultrasonic resonance member is a treated substrate having an liquid interface surface in contact with a fluid. When a pulsed laser light beam is applied to the treated substrate, pressure is generated via induced ultrasonic waves to urge the fluid into a jet stream.
US11660425B2

This patent document discloses perfusion catheters and related methods for treating complications related to CTO interventions or dilating a vessel occlusion while maintaining a passage through the treated vessel segment. A perfusion catheter can include an inflatable balloon coiled in a helical manner around a central axis into a series of windings. An inner surface of the series of windings, when inflated, can define a passage through the inflatable balloon. A catheter can also include an elongate shaft extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion, having an inner surface that defines a lumen for providing inflation fluid to, or withdrawing inflation fluid from, a distal end of the inflatable balloon. A catheter can further include a guidewire support tube including a lumen, separate from the lumen from the elongate shaft and the passage through the inflatable balloon, for receiving a guidewire.
US11660424B2

A system for traversing an arterial occlusion in an artery includes a housing sized to fit in a palm of a user, an elongate drive tube configured to be rotated by the housing, the drive tube including an axially extending passage, a cylindrical member, configured to be rotationally coupled to the drive tube, such that a distal tip of the cylindrical member may be delivered to a location adjacent the arterial occlusion when the cylindrical member is coupled to the drive tube, and wherein grasping and activating the housing such that the drive tube is rotated, thereby causes the distal tip of the cylindrical member to be rotated, the rotation of the distal tip including at least a component of linear oscillation.
US11660422B2

A medical instrument includes first and second knobs. The first knob is fitted on a handle of the medical instrument, and is movable along a longitudinal axis of the medical instrument to control a deflection of a medical device coupled to a distal end of the medical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis. The second knob is fitted on the handle of the medical instrument, and is movable along the longitudinal axis to control a shape of the medical device.
US11660415B2

A patient interface for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a nasal prong assembly including a pair of nasal prongs structured to sealingly communicate with nasal passages of a patient's nose in use and headgear to maintain the nasal prong assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. The headgear includes side straps and rigidizers provided to respective side straps. Each rigidizer includes a first end portion that provides a connector structured to engage a respective end of the nasal prong assembly and an inwardly curved protrusion in the form of a cheek support that curves inwardly of the connector. The cheek support is adapted to follow the contour of the patient's cheek and guide a respective end portion of the side strap into engagement with the patient's cheek to provide a stable cheek support.
US11660414B2

A retention assembly is for a patient interface device. The patient interface device includes a cushion member structured to engage a face of a patient. The retention assembly includes: a retention member structured to be coupled to the cushion member; a headgear member; a first interconnect member removably coupled to the retention member; and a second interconnect member removably coupled to the headgear member. The second interconnect member is removably coupled to the first interconnect member in order to couple the headgear member to the retention member.
US11660413B2

A breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed, for use with delivery of respiratory gases to a patient. The breathing assistance apparatus includes a patient interface, having a body section adapted to cover the nose, or nose and mouth of a patient and a sealing interface. The sealing interface includes at least an outer sealing member. The outer sealing member is adapted to attach to the body section in a sealing manner and has a substantially thin section in at least its nasal bridge region. The thin section is substantially thinner than the rest of the outer sealing member. The patient interface comprises a mask body and a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a flexible seal, and a rigid seal clip, the seal assembly being removably attached to the mask body via the rigid seal clip. The mask body and rigid seal clip are profiled to match the contours of a user's face so that the seal has a substantially constant wall depth.
US11660412B2

Disclosed embodiments of an endotracheal tube (ETT) guard system help to hinder self-extubation of the ETT of an awake patient who may reflexively attempt removal, but also allow early mobilization and exercise necessary for preservation of muscle strength. Embodiments may include an ETT holder, which may be generic ETT holders offered by various medical device companies, or a specially configured ETT holder as described herein. Embodiments also may include a sensor that alarms when the ETT guard is moved beyond pre-set motion thresholds.
US11660411B2

A respiratory device having a respiratory gas source, a control unit and a connecting device for connecting to a respiratory mask. The control unit is connected to a sensor for detecting a measurement parameter. The control unit has a step generator for specifying a stepped modification of the pressure that is generated by the respiratory gas source. The sensor measures a signal that corresponds to the pressure distribution and is coupled to an analyzer that evaluates the temporal distribution of an analysis signal that is dependent on the measuring signal. The step generator increases the pressure by a pressure step in a respiratory cycle that follows the measuring evaluation, if the analyzer determines a deviation of the analysis signal from a limit value after a predeterminable time limit has elapsed following the pressure increase. The deviation must exceed a predeterminable minimum differential in order to trigger a pressure increase.
US11660410B2

Gas mixture used for ventilation of passengers and crew in emergency situations. Depending on the density altitude, it has 7±5% CO2 at 15,000 ft flying altitude increasing to 17±5% CO2 at 30,000 ft flying altitude. The carbon dioxide improves the bioavailability of oxygen in the body. The gas mixture is produced by additive dosage of CO2 to either pure O2 or to a gas mixture having a fraction of N2 and a fraction of O2. The method for ensuring good ventilation in case of loss of cabin pressure, or generally in case of hyperventilation, involves making the gas mixture above available via respiration masks. The use of such a gas mixture also for ensuring good ventilation of people with limited mobility, if such ventilation is required. The prescribed amount of onboard oxygen for aircraft can thus be reduced and flight routes leading directly over high-altitude terrain may be taken.
US11660406B2

A mist inhaler device (200) for generating a mist including a therapeutic for inhalation by a user. The device includes a mist generator device (201) and a driver device (202). The driver device (202) is configured to drive the mist generator device (201) at an optimum frequency to maximise the efficiency of mist generation by the mist generator device (201).
US11660401B2

A drug delivery device includes a magnet assembly, a coil assembly and processing circuitry. The magnet assembly has a plurality of magnets arranged in a ring. The coil assembly has one or more coils. The magnet assembly and the coil assembly are arranged to rotate relative to each other during ejection of medicament from the drug delivery device such that a voltage signal is produced in the coil assembly when a unit of dose is ejected. The processing circuitry is arranged to: receive the voltage signal; increment a counter in response to receipt of the voltage signal; and store information indicative of the number of units of dose ejected during a medicament ejection.
US11660390B2

The present solution provides trans-round window membrane (RWM) drug delivery. As an overview, the system can include a micropump that is connected to a flexible cannula. The cannula can include a stiffened and sharpened tip to facilitate insertion through the RWM. The cannula can be inserted through the RWM to improve the distribution of the delivered drug throughout the inner ear. The present solution can function as a small implantable or wearable device that can be used for both chronic and acute trans-RWM drug delivery. With this configuration, the micropump can constantly or intermittently deliver, over a period of days to months, small volumes of drugs from an internal reservoir.
US11660385B1

Packages comprising a film surrounding the medical device are described and including a tear-enabling feature and a gripping feature enabling a user to use a finger, a thumb or an end of a tool to apply a sufficient tearing force to cause the tear-enabling feature to tear and move the first end of the package away from the second end of the package using only one hand and to expose the medical device to be accessed for use. Also described are methods of packaging a medical device.
US11660376B2

The growth factor profile, connective tissue matrix constituents, and immunoprivileged status of urodele extracellular matrix (ECM) and accompanying cutaneous tissue, plus the presence of antimicrobial peptides there, render urodele-derived tissue an ideal source for biological scaffolds for xenotransplantation. In particular, a biological scaffold biomaterial can be obtained by a process that entails (A) obtaining a tissue sample from a urodele, where the tissue comprises ECM, inclusive of the basement membrane, and (B) subjecting the tissue sample to a decellularization process that maintains the structural and functional integrity of the extracellular matrix, by virtue of retaining its fibrous and on-fibrous proteins, glycoaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans, while removing sufficient cellular components of the sample to reduce or eliminate antigenicity and immunogenicity for xenograft purposes. The resultant urodele-derived biomaterial can be used to enhance restoration of skin homeostasis, to reduce the severity, durations and associated damage caused by post-surgical inflammation, and to promote progression of natural healing and regeneration processes. In addition, the biomaterial promotes the formation of remodeled tissue that is comparable in quality, function, and compliance to undamaged human tissue.
US11660374B2

The present invention discloses a braided silk scaffold with adjustable mechanical and degradation properties, and a preparation method and use thereof, belonging to the field of three-dimensional scaffold materials for tendon/ligament repair. The preparation method includes braiding at least one silk strand to form a silk core; placing 1-6 bundles of silk cores in a braiding machine, and braiding at least one layer of silk cladding on the surface of the silk cores to form a silk base frame; removing sericin from the silk base frame; soaking the silk base frame in a collagen solution with a concentration of 3-20 mg/ml, and cross-linking the silk base frame in a vacuum thermal cross-linking machine to obtain the silk scaffold. The braided silk scaffold with adjustable mechanical and degradation properties according to the present invention has good mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
US11660371B2

Negative pressure wound dressings comprising pressure-sensitive adhesives with enhanced adhesion to wet surfaces, obtained from crosslinking a pre-adhesive composition comprising poly(meth)acrylate macromolecules that comprise a number-average molecular weight of from about 25000 to about 200000, and methods of using such dressings.
US11660367B2

The present invention provides for a system for disinfecting air circulated in an HVAC system. The system includes a multi-phase system, wherein the multi-phase system comprises at least six segments, with at least one segment representing each of at lease one air intake, at least one air handler, and at least one connecting ductwork. The system has at least one interchangeable filter, wherein each filter in said at least one interchangeable filter is an elongate three-dimensional grid with a series of openings to allow circulated are to flow over the air filter's elongate surfaces. The system also has a plurality of ultraviolet lights, and an airborne disinfecting system with at least one spray nozzle mounted to said at least one connecting duct, wherein a supply hose connects said at least one spray nozzle to at least one reservoir of disinfectant.
US11660356B2

The application provides polypeptides comprising or essentially consisting of at least one heavy chain variable domain of a heavy chain antibody (VHH) or a functional fragment thereof, wherein said VHH or a functional fragment thereof specifically binds to a target protein that is present on and/or specific for a solid tumor, e.g. HER2. The application further provides nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides; methods for preparing such polypeptides; host cells expressing or capable of expressing such polypeptides; compositions, and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or host cells. The application further provides such polypeptides, nucleic acids, host cells and/or compositions, for use in methods for detection, imaging, prognosis and diagnosis of cancer as well as for predicting patient response(s) to therapeutics.
US11660351B2

The invention relates to novel binder-drug conjugates (ADCs) having improved properties, to active metabolites of these ADCs and to processes for their preparation. The present invention furthermore relates to the use of these conjugates for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and to the use of these conjugates for preparing medicaments for treatment and/or prevention of diseases, in particular hyperproliferative and/or angiogenic disorders such as, for example, cancer diseases.
US11660345B2

The invention provides a method for enhancing the delivery of an anti-platelet drug for the treatment of acute stroke, comprising delivering a composition comprising an anti-platelet drug and a vehicle that can reduce the binding rate of plasma proteins, so that the anti-platelet drug can achieve the effect of treating acute stroke at a low dose. By use of the neuro-protective efficacy of anti-platelet drug, the invention allows the drug to release slowly to the site of treatment by combining anti-platelet drugs with a vehicle that can reduce the binding rate of plasma proteins to effectively reduce the dose of the anti-platelet drug and consequently reduce the side effects such as hypotension caused by administration of a high dose of the anti-platelet drugs. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for enhancing treatment of acute stroke and a method for treating acute stroke using the pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
US11660339B2

Described herein are methods, formulations and kits for treating a patient with cancer with anti-VEGF antibodies and albumin-bound chemotherapeutic/anti-VEGF antibody nanoparticle complexes.
US11660331B2

An improved heroin conjugate vaccine is detailed; to accomplish this task the systematic exploration of twenty vaccine formulations with varying combinations of carrier proteins and adjuvants were undertaken. In regard to adjuvants, a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist and a TLR3 agonist in the presence of alum were explored. The vaccine formulations containing TLR3 or TLR9 agonist alone-elicited strong anti-heroin antibody titers and blockade of heroin-induced antinociception when formulated with alum; however, a combination of TLR3 and 9 adjuvants did not result in improved efficacy. Investigation of stability of the two lead formulations revealed that the TLR9 but not the TLR3 formulation was stable when stored over 30 days. Furthermore, mice immunized with the TLR9+alum heroin vaccine gained significant protection from lethal heroin doses, suggesting that this vaccine formulation is suitable for mitigating the lethal effects of heroin, even following long-term storage at room temperature.
US11660323B2

The present invention describes a method of killing or inactivating microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of contacting the microorganisms with a composition comprising an extract of Polygonum cuspidatum and an excipient; and irradiating the microorganisms with a source of light; wherein the radiant exposure of the light is between 1 and 300 J cm−2, and the surface power density of the light is between 0.001 and 0.25 W cm−2.
US11660321B2

A particular Bifidobacterium spp. strain or particular Lactobacillus spp. strain according to the present invention is isolated from excrement of a human or cabbage kimchi, and thus is highly safe and has physiological activities such as an immunity regulatory effect and an inflammation reaction inhibiting effect. Therefore, the particular Bifidobacterium spp. strain or particular Lactobacillus spp. strain according to the present invention may be used as a material for regulating immunity and inhibiting inflammation reactions, and may be also used as a functional food and drug material useful for preventing, alleviating or treating rhinitis, atopy, asthma, etc. which are allergic diseases.
US11660315B2

The present invention provides a method of identifying a target for preparing an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor (iCAR) or a protective chimeric antigen receptor (pCAR) capable of preventing or attenuating undesired activation of an effector immune cell. Also provided are a list of iCAR targets, as well as vectors and transduced effector immune cells comprising the nucleic acid molecule and methods for treatment of cancer comprising administering the transduced effector immune cells are further provided.
US11660314B2

A device intended to be implanted in a human or animal body, in order to produce hydrogen in situ from molecules present in the body medium in which the device is implanted, this device having an anode and a cathode, which are each electrically connected to a pole of an electrical energy source, and having a semi-permeable material separating the electrodes from the body medium, in which device, when the connection to the electrical energy source is effective in situ, in the presence of body fluid, a closed electrical circuit is formed, with production of hydrogen at the cathode, the semi-permeable material having a cutoff threshold of between 50 and 500 Da.
US11660308B2

The present invention relates to solid oral pharmaceutical compositions comprising amorphous dapagliflozin. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of the said pharmaceutical compositions. The said compositions are administered orally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The said compositions provide the desired immediate release of dapagliflozin and were found to be stable under accelerated conditions.
US11660306B2

The present invention relates to agents and methods for treating autism spectrum disorders, such as Rett Syndrome.
US11660292B2

Provided herein are solid dispersions comprising rifaximin and pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof.
US11660283B2

The invention relates to compositions comprising complexes of α-cyclodextrin and cannabinoids and/or complexes of α-cyclodextrin and terpenes, methods of making these α-cyclodextrin and cannabinoid complex-containing compositions, and methods of using the α-cyclodextrin and cannabinoid complex-containing compositions. The invention also relates to food products comprising the α-cyclodextrin and cannabinoid complex-containing compositions of this invention.
US11660282B2

The present invention relates to a treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) associated with Sickle cell disease by administering a therapeutically effective amount of 4-(nitrooxy)butyl-(2S)-2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) propanoate.
US11660271B2

A system and method of isolating extracellular vesicles. The method includes loading one or more of blood or bone marrow into an input port of a concentration system and centrifuging one or more of the blood or bone marrow to separate one or more of red blood cells, platelet poor plasma, or platelet rich plasma/bone marrow concentrate fractions via a centrifuge device. The method further includes pumping one or more of bone marrow/platelet rich plasma fractions and platelet poor plasma fractions into a receptacle of the concentration system and adding a concentrated aqueous two-phase solution to one or more of the bone marrow concentrate/platelet rich plasma fractions and platelet poor plasma fractions. The method also includes drawing the concentrated aqueous two-phase solution and one or more of the bone marrow concentrate/platelet rich plasma fractions or platelet poor plasma fractions back into the centrifuge device to isolate one or more of extracellular vesicles and platelet rich plasma/bone marrow concentrate fractions.
US11660267B2

Disclosed is sublingual administration of riluzole. In particular, a method for treating a neuropsychiatric disorder or symptom by administering a sublingual formulation of riluzole is provided. In addition, a method of relieving or reducing oral pain using the sublingual formulation of riluzole is disclosed.
US11660255B1

A liquid medication dispenser is provided having a dispenser housing with a housing interior. A plurality of syringe openings may be provided in the dispenser housing. A housing lid may be carried by the dispenser housing. A plurality of medication container seats may be provided in the housing lid. A plurality of medication dispensing openings may be provided in the plurality of medication container seats, respectively. A face plate may be carried by the dispenser housing. A plurality of syringe barrel cavities may be provided in the face plate and disposed in aligned or registering relationship with respect to the plurality of syringe openings, respectively. The syringe barrel cavities may have different sizes. A plurality of medication distribution assemblies may establish fluid communication between the plurality of medication dispensing openings, respectively, and the plurality of syringe openings, respectively.
US11660251B2

A cap assembly includes an access member including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a connection portion that is attachable to an extraction device that extracts contents of a reservoir. The connection portion includes a first opening. The second section includes a second opening in fluid communication with the contents of the reservoir when the access member is secured to the reservoir. The cap assembly includes a valve member insertable into the access member so as to be in fluid communication with the first opening and the second opening and such that the valve member i) seals the contents of the reservoir at the first opening when the connection portion is not attached the extraction device, and ii) provides access to the contents of the reservoir through the first opening when the connection portion is attached to the extraction device.
US11660250B2

A handheld therapeutic apparatus and method of treatment are disclosed. In one example, the apparatus includes a valve system, a detachable gas cartridge housing unit that houses a gas cartridge or gas delivery from an outside gas cylinder in fluid communication with said valve system, a detachable treatment receptacle for the delivery of gas therapies is in fluid communication with said valve system, and a detachable nozzle in fluid communication with said valve system.
US11660240B2

Systems and methods of wheelchair systems enabling fine manual motion control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wheelchair system includes a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine a wheel torque on the one or more wheels, determine a compensation value, and actuate the at least one actuator applying the compensation value to the one or more wheels to remove at least a portion of the wheel torque such that less external force is required to physically move the powered wheelchair than when the compensation value is not applied.
US11660228B2

An obstructive sleep apnea detection device including an optical engagement surface adapted to engage a user's skin; a light source adapted to emit light from the optical engagement surface; a photodetector adapted to detect light at the optical engagement surface and to generate a detected light signal; a position sensor adapted to determine patient sleeping position; a controller adapted to determine and record in memory blood oxygen saturation values computed from the detected light signal and user position information from the position sensor; and a housing supporting the optical engagement surface, the photodetector, the light source, the position sensor, and the controller.
US11660219B2

A prosthesis includes a tube with a proximal and distal flange around the tube. The distal and proximal flanges have a radial position, projecting radially outward to clamp tissue between the flanges. The flanges include distal flange feet and proximal flange feet. The distal and proximal flange feet bend from the radial position, against a pre-tension of the memory material, to an extended position, in which the distal and proximal flange feet extend in the longitudinal direction of the tube and are fixable there, returning when released to the radial position urged by the pre-tension. The flange feet have on inner sides a filling to increase the clamping force. The flange feet have a concave-curved part extending from the fixed ends of the flange feet. The hollow side of the concave faces the proximal and/or distal flange and the filling is provided in the hollow side of the concave.
US11660206B2

An adjustable spinal fusion intervertebral implant is provided that can comprise upper and lower body portions that can each have proximal and distal wedge surf aces disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof. An actuator shaft disposed intermediate the upper and lower body portions can be actuated to cause proximal and distal protrusions to converge towards each other and contact the respective ones of the proximal and distal wedge surfaces. Such contact can thereby transfer the longitudinal movement of the proximal and distal protrusions against the proximal and distal wedge surfaces to cause the separation of the upper and lower body portions, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant. The upper and lower body portions can have side portions that help facilitate linear translational movement of the upper body portion relative to the lower body portion.
US11660192B2

The present teachings provide systems, devices, and methods for reshaping the heart and reducing valve regurgitation. A device can be positioned proximate the heart and have a delivery profile and an inflated profile. The device can have a primary cavity and a secondary cavity, and an adhesive inside the secondary cavity. An injectable medium can be injected to the primary cavity of the device. As the primary cavity is filled, the adhesive is forced out of the secondary cavity to adhere the device. The inflated device can exert pressure on the heart, change the shape of a valve annulus, and allow a better coaptation of the valve leaflets.
US11660191B2

A distal end of a guide catheter is transvascularly advanced into a left ventricle of a heart of a subject. While the distal end of the guide catheter remains disposed in the left ventricle, a first tissue anchor of an implant is deployed from the distal end of the guide catheter. Subsequently, the guide catheter is retracted while progressively exposing the implant. Subsequently, a second tissue anchor of the implant is anchored to a posterior annulus of a mitral valve of the heart by deploying at least part of the second anchor within a left atrium of the heart, such that the implant extends from the first tissue anchor, over an atrial side of a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and to the second tissue anchor. Other embodiments are also described.
US11660190B2

Systems, devices and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems, devices and methods may employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.
US11660189B2

Fixation device for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve includes a central assembly and at least one arm moveably coupled to the central assembly. The at least one arm includes a body portion having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween, the second end being moveable between a closed position and an open position, the body portion having opposing body lateral sides, each body lateral side extending between the first end and the second end, the body portion having a body portion width defined between the opposing body lateral sides. The at least one arm further includes first and second nondeformable wing extensions, each wing extension extending laterally from a respective lateral side, each wing extension having a lateral outer edge, wherein a maximum arm width is defined between the outer lateral edge of the first wing extension and the outer lateral edge of the second wing extension. The fixation device further includes at least one gripping element moveable relative to the at least one arm to capture a native leaflet therebetween.
US11660185B2

A prosthetic spacer assembly includes a spacer body, a first anchor, and a second anchor. The first anchor and the second anchor are each connected to the spacer body. The first anchor is configured to capture a first native valve leaflet between the first anchor and the spacer body. The second anchor is configured to capture a second native valve leaflet between the second anchor and the spacer body.
US11660181B2

The invention relates to an intraocular lens comprising an optics body and a haptic which has a first component with a latching protrusion and a second component with a latching recess, the latching protrusion and the latching recess being arranged at a distance from one another when the haptic is arranged in a relaxed state and being configured to engage with one another when, proceeding from the relaxed state, the haptic is moved in the direction of the optics body into a completely compressed state of the haptic via a partially compressed state of the haptic, the haptic being formed by a single piece and having a haptic cutout which is delimited by the first component and the second component.
US11660180B2

An intraocular implant device includes: (1) a lens portion; and (2) a peripheral portion surrounding the lens portion, wherein the peripheral portion includes multiple fiducials including a first fiducial, a second fiducial, and a third fiducial, the first fiducial, the second fiducial, and the third fiducial are positioned in the peripheral portion so that the third fiducial is displaced from a line segment connecting the first fiducial and the second fiducial.
US11660174B2

Dental devices and systems and methods for making the same are provided. In at least one embodiment, a computer readable medium containing instructions for fabricating an arch-shaped device for coupling to a patient's mouth is provided. The instructions can include using a denture form device to obtain an impression of a patient's mouth. The instructions can also include selecting an arch device and adapting that arch device to conform to a model of a patient's mouth, such that the adapted arch device may be used to ultimately form a denture.
US11660172B2

The present disclosure relates to a dental cutting zirconia blank having high relative density for preparing a dental restoration. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a dental cutting zirconia blank which consists of a zirconia ceramics used for the cutting with the CAD/CAM system in the dental field, a semi-sinter zirconia blank (pre-sintered body) of which has high relative density, and which can provide a prosthesis device having high aesthetics after sintering. There is provided a dental cutting zirconia blank wherein the dental cutting zirconia blank has at least one layer consisting of zirconia powder containing 4 to 15 mol % of yttria or erbium oxide as a stabilizer, a relationship among pre-sintering density, final-sintering density and relative density satisfies the following relation: 54≤Relative density(%)={(Pre-sintering density)/(Perfect-sintering density)}×100≤70.
US11660168B2

A dental implant adapted for implanting within a jaw bone, the implant comprising a horizontally-oriented body having a length extending in the mesial-distal direction of the jaw bone, the body having a threaded cavity dimensioned for receiving a prosthetic abutment, and wherein the cavity comprises an opening that is located wholly within a buccolingual width of the body.
US11660166B2

A device including one or more preformed or customized eruption guidance appliances placed in an individual's mouth. The preformed appliances are vibrated with a pulsation device to encourage tooth eruption by increasing the force and efficiency of the eruption toward a preferred location and a preferred alignment as well as providing increased blood flow and blood oxygen flow to the muscles and tissues in and around the oral cavity of the individual. The preformed guidance appliance driven by the pulsation device is selected from a range of guidance appliances, each of which is selected by size and shape to fit an individual based on the individuals anticipated tooth and jaw size as well as the growth profile. The pulsation can increase the blood and oxygen flow to the many muscles that surround the appliances outside surfaces that can alter mouth breathing, prevent impingment of the oropharynx from the abnormal distalizatin of the tongue and mandible during sleep, the proper resting posture of the tongue, increased nasal breathing, prevent snoring, improve abnormal swallowing, correct thumb sucking and various abnormalities of speech.
US11660157B2

A medical navigation system is provided for controlling medical equipment during a medical procedure. The medical navigation system includes a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an RFID sensor for detecting the passive RFID tag, a controller coupled to the RFID sensor, and a robotic arm having an end effector and controlled by the controller. The RFID sensor provides a signal to the controller indicating presence of an activated passive RFID tag. The passive RFID tag has an antenna, an RFID circuit, and a switching device coupled to the RFID circuit for activating the passive RFID tag. The passive RFID tag is used to control a payload attached to the end effector.
US11660147B2

Techniques for aligning a medical instrument for percutaneous access to a location within the human anatomy can include determining an orientation of the medical instrument, determining a target location within the human anatomy, and determining a plane that includes the target location. Further, the techniques can include determining a projected position of the medical instrument on the plane and generating interface data indicating a distance between the projected position and the target location on the plane.
US11660145B2

Systems and methods for attaching a reference marker to a patient in a computer-assisted image-guided surgery system. An apparatus for attaching a reference marker to a patient includes an elongated member extending between a first end and a second end, a sharp tip located proximate to the first end of the elongated member that is configured to break through a cortical surface of a bone of the patient to enable the elongated member to be advanced into the bone, an anchoring device that is extendable from the elongated member in order to anchor the apparatus within the bone and inhibit relative movement of the apparatus and the bone, and a reference marker device comprising at least one optical marker configured to enable the apparatus to be tracked using a motion tracking system.
US11660144B2

A fiducial marker includes a fastener and a feedback component to provide a registration signal when engaged by a probe. The feedback component includes light-up cap, a conducting component, a magnetic component and an RFID tag. A cap for registering fiducial markers with robotic surgical systems includes a housing, a socket in the housing for coupling to a fastener, an access port in the housing, a switch disposed in the housing proximate the access port, and a sensory indicator device coupled to the switch, wherein the sensory indicator device produces a signal when activated through the access port to confirm marker contact. Methods of registering a fiducial marker fastener, such as with robotic surgical systems, include manipulating a probe to align with a signal-producing feedback component attached to or integrated with the fastener, and engaging the feedback component with the probe to activate a sensory feedback indicator.
US11660141B2

A method including generating a 3-D model of an unstenosed geometry of a blood vessel responsive to a 3-D model of an actual geometry of the blood vessel, establishing a parametric description of a stent that is expanded from a collapsed configuration to a final configuration that apposes the unstenosed geometry, developing a design for the stent by varying parameters of the parametric description responsive to a design heuristic that includes risk of stent strut breakage during a plastic deformation between the collapsed configuration and the final configuration, embodying the stent according to the design for the stent, inserting the stent into a blood vessel in its collapsed configuration, maneuvering the stent through the blood vessel to a stenosis, and expanding the stent to its final configuration.
US11660139B2

An electroporation probe that includes an injection means, allowing a single electroporation probe to be used for both the electroporation of cells and the injection of a fluid. The electroporation probe having (a) a probe body having an interior channel, a first end, and a second end; (b) a plurality of perforations in the probe body proximal the second end; (c) a sleeve positioned within the interior channel, wherein the sleeve is moveable between a first position sealing the perforations and a second position opening the perforations; (d) a connection between the probe body and an electroporation machine, wherein the probe body is in electrical communication with the electroporation machine; and (e) a tubing in fluid communication with the interior channel, wherein fluid injected into a proximal end of the tubing is exitable through the perforations when the sleeve is in the second position.
US11660137B2

An electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue comprises an electrically conductive elongate member which is capable of force transmission from a distal portion of the electrosurgical device to a proximal portion of the electrosurgical device to thereby provide tactile feedback to a user. The proximal portion comprises a handle or hub which includes an electrical connector configured to receive, in a releasable manner, an electrically conductive component operable to be electrically coupled to an energy source.
US11660122B2

A universal clamp apparatus for orthopedic external fixators is disclosed. Preferably, the universal clamp apparatus has two pin/rod clamps, each having seating grooves for attaching to a frame rod associated with a frame of the fixator and/or a bone pin for implantation in a bone fragment. A clamp screw extends through and connects the first and second pin/rod clamps. An ergonomically designed knob having at least one collapsible or non-collapsible turn lever acts as a torque amplifier when rotated by hand without tools to tighten and untighten the pin/rod clamps to the frame rod and/or bone pin by movement along the clamp screw. The pin/rod clamps have planar sides that are contiguous and have radial ratchet grooves that are in mating engagement and provide a ratcheting mechanism so that the rotation of the pin/rod clamps relative to each other occurs in incremental rotational steps.
US11660121B2

A transseptal insertion device is provided including device housing, a pusher slidably disposed in the device housing and a guide element extending from the pusher. The device housing is configured to be inserted into the right atrium of a patient's heart and the guide element can then be advanced from the device housing and against the cardiac septum to facilitate stable puncturing of the cardiac septum by a needle carried by a catheter inserted through the device housing, to provide access to the left atrium. The guide element can be formed as a webbing or ring. The pusher and/or guide element can optionally be inflatable.
US11660116B2

A trocar assembly for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument includes a trocar mechanism that includes a trocar member that is at least one of rotatable or articulable relative to a housing of the trocar assembly.
US11660112B2

A system and method for reducing the risk of contamination of interior regions of a needle guide which is disposed on an endocavity transducer, which system includes an elastic membrane forming a pocket which covers a needle exit hole in the needle guide. The pocket is disposed on a sheath which is both; disposed around the endocavity transducer and between the endocavity transducer and the needle guide.
US11660110B2

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising an elongate channel, a clamping member pivotably connected to the channel, and a moveable cutting instrument for traversing the channel to cut an object clamped in the end effector by the clamping member when the clamping member is in a clamped position. The instrument may also comprise a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, and a motor for actuating the gear drive train. The instrument may also includes a closure trigger and a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. Also, the instrument may comprise a mechanical closure system connected to the closure trigger and to the clamping member for causing the clamping member to pivot to the clamped position when the closure trigger is retracted.
US11660101B2

A surgical instrument including an articulating region. An outer tube and an inner tube are axially fixed to one another distal to the articulating region and axially movable relative to one another proximal to the articulating region. Relative movement of the inner and outer tubes provides for articulation of the articulating tube assembly to a curved configuration. A working tool may be removably directed through a central cannula defined by the inner tube. The working tool may include a shaft having a flexible region configured to be arranged within the articulating region. The shaft may rotate within the inner tube with the articulating tube assembly in the curved configuration. The working tool may include a housing hub configured to be coupled with a handle to removably position the flexible region within the articulating region. Multiple working tools may be interchangeably directed through the central cannula.
US11660099B2

In at least one embodiment, a medical device can comprise an elongate outer sheath that extends along a sheath longitudinal axis and defines a central lumen extending therethrough, the elongate outer sheath can comprise a proximal sheath portion and a distal sheath portion. A first guidewire can comprise a first guidewire end and a second guidewire end, the first guidewire can extend from the first and second guidewire ends through the central lumen and can form a distal looped portion. An occlusion device can be disposed at a distal end of an elongate flexible shaft. The elongate flexible shaft can extend from the proximal sheath portion through the central lumen. The occlusion device can include a guide lumen through which the first guide wire passes.
US11660098B2

A hand tool has a pivot connection pivotally attaching a first arm to a second arm, with the pivot connection fixed relative to the first arm and movable to first and second positions relative to the second arm. A spring urges the pivot connection into the first position. When jaws on the front ends of the arms clamp tissue with force greater than a pre-set threshold, the spring force is overcome and the jaws may move linearly apart, allowing for more uniform clamping of the tissue. The first arm may have an arm spring extending between a front segment pivotally attached to a rear segment of the first arm.
US11660087B2

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.
US11660081B2

A surgical instrument retainer can include a proximal component and a distal component. The proximal component can include a head, a first body, and a proximal plurality of projections. The distal component can define a second instrument bore and a body bore and can include a distal plurality of projections. The can head engageable with the end effector coupler to position the instrument retainer within the end effector coupler.
US11660079B2

Urinary tract infections UTI may be over-diagnosed in very young children because of contamination of a urine specimen by external bacteria when using a conventional catheter. The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a coaxial catheter system and methods for its use, comprising an outer catheter that shields the distal collection opening of an inner catheter during insertion of the system through the meatus. Once the system has been deployed, the distal opening of the inner catheter is exposed in order to collect uncontaminated urine. The system may include a variety of mechanisms to advance the inner catheter relative to the outer, or to retract the outer catheter relative to the inner, a halting mechanism to limit distal movement of the outer catheter, a stopping mechanism to limit distal movement of the inner catheter, and a stabilization mechanism to hold the deployed system in place in male patients.
US11660078B2

A sample collection device including a collection tube at least partially defining a storage volume therein, a mouthpiece coupled to the collection tube, the mouthpiece defining a channel providing access to the storage volume, and a filter at least partially positioned within the channel, where the filter is configured to filter a sample as it passes through the channel and into the storage volume.
US11660075B2

According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmission beam former and a transmitting circuit. The transmission beam former generates a transmission pulse. The transmitting circuit supplies an ultrasound transducer with the transmission pulse received from the transmission beam former as a drive signal. The supply of a clock necessary for the generation of the transmission pulse is stopped during a substantial reception period of echo signals from the ultrasound transducer.
US11660054B2

Embodiments related to methods and wearable medical detecting systems for detecting disease states and/or treatment states of a subject are described. In one embodiment, a wearable structure may include one or more radiation detectors use to detect a time varying radiation signal emitted from a labeled compound within a body portion of interest. The radiation signal may be analyzed to determine one or more signal characteristics that may be compared to one or more predetermined standard characteristics associated with known disease and/or treatment states to determine a current disease and/or treatment state of a subject.
US11660053B2

An apparatus and a method for monitoring a bio-signal measuring condition are disclosed. The apparatus includes a bio-signal receiver configured to receive a bio-signal that is measured from a user, and a processor configured to extract any one or any combination of a waveform feature, a period feature, and an amplitude feature, from the received bio-signal, determine whether the extracted any one or any combination of the waveform feature, the period feature, and the amplitude feature are normal, using at least one predetermined determination reference corresponding to the extracted any one or any combination of the waveform feature, the period feature, and the amplitude features, and monitor a measuring condition of the received bio-signal, based on whether the extracted any one or any combination of the waveform feature, the period feature, and the amplitude feature are determined to be normal.
US11660042B2

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a coil configured to receive a magnetic resonance signal emitted from a subject due to influence of a radio frequency magnetic field; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to detect at least one tissue from among a femoral head, the pelvis, an articular labrum, the pubic symphysis, the urethra, and the apex of the prostate of the subject, from a locator image based on the magnetic resonance signal and corresponding to a range including the prostate of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a region to be imaged of the prostate of the subject, on the basis of the detected tissue.
US11660038B2

A system and method for improving reading ability simultaneously utilizing a distinctive protocol of multi-sensory learning and EEG biofeedback. The present invention more particularly relates to an EEG biofeedback system comprising a biofeedback apparatus in the form of a head-mountable device including an electrode array for measuring bioelectrical signals generated by a cerebral cortex of a user's brain and a computer device receiving and analyzing data collected by said biofeedback apparatus and providing audiovisual feedback to the user.
US11660033B2

A data transmission system for transmitting an electrical data to a nerve cell. A data receiving system for receiving an electrical data from a nerve cell has at least two phototransistor crystals that is stimulated by light to form an electrical signal; an image source that allows the light to be sent to the phototransistor crystals and allows controlling the amount of light transmitted to each phototransistor crystal independently of each other, and at least one control unit that is connected to the image source that controls the amount of light transmitted from the image source to each of the phototransistor crystals.
US11660020B2

A gas analyzing module includes a first connector, which includes a connection detection mechanism (CDM), and is connectable to a gas sampling line via a second connector. The gas analyzing module also includes a pump, a pressure sensor and a controller. The controller controls operation of the pump and receives a signal from the CDM. When the pump is on/active, the controller measures the CDM output signal, and if the CDM output signal indicates misconnection between the first connector and the second connector, the controller switches the pump off only if a pressure measured in the gas sampling line corroborates the CDM's misconnection indication, or, if the measured pressure refutes the CDM's misconnection indication, the controller maintains the pump's on state. The gas analyzing module may be a capnography module configured for capnography. Also provided is a gas analyzing system that includes the gas analyzing module and a gas analyzer.
US11660015B2

An imaging compatible device for applying a plurality of different loads to a foot for evaluating the Lisfranc joint of a patient is configured to move the ball of the foot in an axial direction, a lateral direction, and a torsional direction to assess a state of the Lisfranc joint.
US11660012B2

Systems, methods and apparatuses for performing wound analysis using THz imaging are provided. Due to the large complex component of water's dielectric constant in the THz regime, and the relative frequency invariance of non-aqueous tissue constituents, this modality is highly sensitive to the water content of tissue. It has been found that using THz imaging turns the presence of edema into a contrast mechanism, and allows for the use of the spatial distributions of edema to assess wound status immediately. Apparatus and methods enable earlier diagnosis of wound status which could result in accelerated treatment and shorter overall hospital stays.
US11660009B2

Provided is an apparatus for non-invasively estimating bio-information by analyzing a pulse waveform. The apparatus for estimating bio-information according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a processor configured to obtain a first characteristic point from a first pulse wave signal measured by a pulse wave sensor at a calibration time, obtain a second characteristic point from a second pulse wave signal measured by the pulse wave sensor at a bio-information estimation time, based on time information of the obtained first characteristic point, and estimate the bio-information of an object based on the obtained second characteristic point.
US11660006B2

A wearable device includes a housing with a window and an electronic module supported by the housing. The electronic module includes a photoplethysmography sensor, a motion sensor, and a signal processor that processes signals from the motion sensor and signals from the photoplethysmography sensor. The signal processor is configured to remove frequency bands from the photoplethysmography sensor signals that are outside of a range of interest using a band-pass filter to produce pre-conditioned signals, and to further process the pre-conditioned signals using the motion sensor signals to reduce motion artifacts from footsteps during subject running. The device includes non-air light transmissive material in optical communication with the photoplethysmography sensor and the window that serves as a light guide for the photoplethysmography sensor. The window optically exposes the photoplethysmography sensor to a body of a subject wearing the device via the non-air light transmissive material.
US11660000B2

A method for detecting fluid injection in a patient, the method including the steps of providing a fluid storage tank; providing fluid for use in machinery and adding said fluid to the fluid storage tank; and providing a fluorescent dye and adding the fluorescent dye to the fluid such that the fluid fluoresces in the presence of ultraviolet light.
US11659984B2

A medical endoscope including: an elongated shaft with a distal end region having a non-circular cross-section and a shaft main section arranged proximally from the distal end region, an at least one light guide having a plurality of individual fibres disposed longitudinally through the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of individual fibres in the distal end region are bonded over a length of at least 50% of the distal end region with an inflexible adhesive.
US11659983B2

An endoscope having a camera and a tubular enclosure. A distal end of the camera may be movable from a first position in line with a longitudinal axis of the tubular enclosure to a second position lateral of the longitudinal axis of the tubular enclosure. Some embodiments are configured such that no portion of the endoscope obstructs a view from the distal end of the camera as the distal end of the camera is moved from the first position to the second position.
US11659980B2

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for positioning electrodes within a body. In an illustrative embodiment, a control handle is selectively engageable with primary and secondary actuators respectively coupled with primary and secondary electrodes. At a first position, the primary and secondary actuators are movably engaged to move in concert to a second position where distal ends of the electrodes extend into a target region. At the second position, the control handle is engaged with the secondary actuator and movable independently of the primary actuator in a first direction to a third position where the distal end of the secondary electrode extends beyond the distal end of the primary electrode. At the third position, the control handle is movably engaged with the primary actuator and movable independently of the secondary actuator in a second direction to a fourth position to partially retract the distal end of the primary electrode.
US11659974B2

A method for cleaning dishes in a warewasher is provided: It may include filling a sump with hot water, dispensing detergent into the sump, running a wash cycle, draining the used hot water and detergent from the sump after the wash cycle, flushing the sump, filling the sump with the aqueous ozone solution, and running a rinse cycle with the aqueous ozone solution. A warewasher is provided: It may include a timer, a wash chamber, a sump, a hot water fill solenoid configured to direct hot water into the sump, a chemical dispenser, at least one spray arm, a circulation pump, an ozone generator assembly configured to provide aqueous ozone solution to the sump, and a drain assembly. The timer may control the hot water fill solenoid, the chemical dispenser, the circulation pump, the ozone generator assembly, and the drain assembly to effectuate a cleaning sequence.
US11659969B2

A floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner has a housing, and a base on the housing constructed for sliding in a working direction on a floor and formed with a downwardly open slot-shaped port delimited relative to the direction between a transversely extending front port edge and a transversely extending rear port edge. The base has, extending forward from the front port edge, a part-cylindrical and downwardly convex front surface with a front radius of curvature and centered on a transversely extending symmetry axis and, extending rearward from the rear port edge, a part-cylindrical and downwardly convex rear surface having a rear radius of curvature also centered on the symmetry axis. The housing is constructed for movement of air upward through the port.
US11659967B2

The Potty Training Tool introduces a heat-activated, detachable plastic tool containing drawings that appear when urinated on. The plastic tool is placed on the bottom of a potty toilet. The ‘magically appearing’ drawings will not only motivate the toddler to use the bathroom, but will also create a consistent reward system that has been previously proven to help children learn how to use their training potty. The disclosed potty training tool includes a portable potty comprising an inside bottom catch surface configured for receiving urine and a defecation from a child user. A detachable and removable catch and tool comprise a top surface visible to the child user designed to fit inside the potty and to catch a urine and to reveal a drawing message based on body temperature heat from the urine.
US11659959B2

A handheld injector is provided for injecting liquid, such as flavoring or basting material, into meat or poultry. The injector includes a pistol-shaped housing which encloses a battery-powered motor for constant-rate delivery of liquid from a peristaltic pump. The injector also includes a fluid conduit within the housing through which liquid is pumped from a reservoir of liquid to a needle for injection into the meat.
US11659957B2

The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of the working medium (11) is in the liquid state and has expanded and is in thermally conductive contact both with the outer wall (6) and with the inner wall (5). The invention also provides a method for controlling the temperature of food or of a beverage in a portable hand-held device.
US11659948B2

The disclosure provides an innovative delivery receptacle for receiving objects (such as parcels and mail) deposited into the receptacle and securely storing them once deposited. The receptacle allows for the orientation of the position of an input opening and delivery door for a delivering party, such as a courier, to deposit the objects in the receptacle to be changeable with respect to the orientation of an access opening and access door for a receiving party to remove the objects. In one embodiment, the delivery door also restricts access to the deposited objects while they are deposited into the receptacle. The receptacle may be a stand-alone receptacle or it may be a structure-mounted unit, such as installed in a wall or other structure. The receptacle may comprise a separate first and second sections that may be shipped separately and assembled with the desired orientation.
US11659941B2

An infant support pad assembly has a body of resilient material, a generally planar bottom surface and a top surface that is inclined relative to the bottom surface between a proximal end and a distal end of the body such that the infant is in an inclined position when placed on the body. The top surface has an opening in a distal portion of the body and curved surface configured to receive and support at least a portion of an infant's head. The support pad assembly also has a pair of raised side members on either side of the top surface configured to generally maintain the infant on the body and inhibit movement of the infant out of the body. The support pad assembly also has an outer padding to at least partially surround the body to generally maintain the infant on the body.
US11659939B2

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.
US11659924B2

A multi-level cabinet storage system includes a multi-level storage container that includes a number of shelves, each with horizontal planar surfaces, coupled between the vertical opposing members. The horizontal planar surfaces of respective shelves may be aligned vertically in parallel planes. The vertical opposing members may include a rear vertical member and a front vertical member. The multi-level cabinet storage system also includes a first slide member coupled with a base of the multi-level storage container and a second slide member coupled at a first end with the rear vertical member and extending parallel with, and along, a horizontal planar surface of an upper shelf included among the shelves. The multi-level cabinet storage system also includes an external frame formed as a contiguous rigid structure coupled with the first slide member and the second slide member.
US11659920B2

Improvements in a carrying handle cushion for a wire to provide a handle or grip for a wire handle of a bucket to increase the tactile surface area. The grip uses two gates on opposite sides of the handle where the wire handle (from the bucket) passes through the grip. The wire passes through a one-way lock that retains the handle to prevent the grip from being accidentally dislodged from the bucket wire. Lifting the handle on the wire will engage the handle using only the weight of a filled bucket. While a low amount of force can be applied to engage the grip onto the wire, the handle is not removed with an inverse force. Upon engagement of the grip there is an audible and tactile indication that the grip has been completely engaged on to the bucket wire.
US11659915B2

A collapsible, reusable drinking container is provided having a first opening suitable for pouring and filling, a second opening for accessing the interior of the container for cleaning, and a flexible straw for drinking the contents while the container is held in an upright position. The first opening is reversibly sealed with a cap, the second opening with an interlocking ridge and groove fastener, and the straw is reversibly sealed using a plug, a cap, a push-pull cap, a reversibly discontinuous portion of the straw, or an element for reversibly kinking the straw. The straw is attached to the container wall, to the cap for sealing the first opening, or to the fastener for sealing the second opening.
US11659912B2

A sunscreen dosing device comprises a cup and a structured elongation which is an integral part of the cup. A first ear and a second ear are integral parts of the cup. For attaching the sunscreen dosing device to a body of a sunscreen bottle a free end of the structured elongation can be inserted in the first or the second ear.
US11659902B2

Disclosed herein is a low profile expandable ring structure comprising a plurality of coupled blocks that each have a certain degree of translational movement with respect to each other. Each block has one or more downward curved loops or tubes protruding on the front side of the block which are inserted into openings on an adjacent block. A tensioned spring, passed through an internal channel of the coupled blocks, maintains the ring structure in a closed appearance but allows for expansion of the expandable ring structure through the translational movement of the blocks. The low-profile nature allows the expandable ring structure to be comfortable for the wearer.
US11659901B2

A ring with a rotation and a lock function to display multiple anniversaries, the ring comprising: a main ring including engagement areas and distant areas between the engagement areas; a sub ring rotatably engaged with the main ring, and engagement members positioned between the main ring and the sub ring, wherein the subring includes a receiver receiving the engagement member and including a first to fourth side with an opening area; wherein a length of the opening area is shorter than that of the first side; wherein the engagement member is made of elastic materials and positioned in the receiver; wherein when the opening area is aligned with the engagement groove area, the engagement member is protruded from the receiver and engaged with the engagement groove; wherein when the opening area is aligned with the distant area, the engagement member is inserted in the receiver.
US11659897B2

The invention describes a belt buckle (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a belt buckle housing (12) as well as a lighting unit (20) present in the area of a tongue insertion opening (36) and including a lamp (22) and a light conductor (16). A front panel (14) surrounding the tongue insertion opening (36) is provided which limits the belt buckle (10) on the end face. The front panel (14) is coupled to the belt buckle housing (12) via at least one detent mechanism (24, 30) such that the light conductor (16) provided at least partially between the front panel (14) and the belt buckle housing (12) is aligned. The invention further describes a method for manufacturing a belt buckle (10).
US11659892B2

A lightweight, breathable, translucent and high-strength upper formed from a half-gauge knit, at least in part from a high tenacity yarn and a fusible yarn, is described. The upper may include a knit heel structure. Methods of manufacture, including exposing the upper to steam while in a tensioned state to at least partially melt the fusible yarn to adjacent yarns is also described. Subsequent cooling of the fusible yarn retains the upper in a stretched condition.
US11659890B2

An article of footwear having a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid is described, along with a method of making the article. The chamber may include a tensile member extending between a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer. The tensile member may include a first tensile member layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer, a second tensile member layer bonded to the second chamber barrier layer, and a plurality of tethers connecting the first tensile member layer to the second tensile member layer. The second tensile member layer may include a first section and a second section separate from the first section. In addition, a portion of the second chamber barrier layer may extend toward the first tensile member layer between the first section and the second section, the portion being joined to the first tensile member layer.
US11659889B2

A midsole for an article of footwear including a three dimensional mesh including interconnected unit cells and methods of making the same. The interconnected unit cells each include a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape. The interconnected unit cells are connected at nodes having a valence number defined by the number of struts connected at that node. The valence number of the nodes may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The plurality of interconnected unit cells may be organized in a warped cubic lattice structure. The warped cubic lattice structure and the size/shape of interconnected unit cells may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The three dimensional mesh may be customized based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. The midsole may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.
US11659887B2

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes an outsole, a plate disposed between the outsole and the upper, and a first cushioning layer. The plate includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region of the sole structure than the anterior-most point, and a concave portion extending between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point. The concave portion includes a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure. The MTP point opposes the MTP joint of a foot during use. The first cushioning layer is disposed between the concave portion and the upper.
US11659882B2

Helmet padding systems are disclosed. One helmet padding system includes a rigid shell configured to cover a top of a user's head and be worn under a piece of headgear. The rigid shell includes a first pair of slots configured to extend in a direction from a back of the user's head toward a front of the user's head when the rigid shell is worn on the user's head. The first pair of slots define a central portion and opposed side portions of the rigid shell. The central portion includes at least one flap extending from the central portion across one of the first pair of slots and covering a first region of one of the opposed side portions of the rigid shell. A spacing pad is positioned within the rigid shell.
US11659880B2

A utility belt is disclosed. The utility belt comprises a belt track, a ball bearing assembly, and an extender assembly. The belt track includes a first belt section having a first male locking mechanism and a first female locking mechanism, and a second belt section having a second male locking mechanism and a second female locking mechanism. The first male locking mechanism connects to the second female locking mechanism. The second male locking mechanism connects to the first female locking mechanism. The first belt section and the second belt section each comprises an outer sheath and an inner tube. The inner tube includes a plurality of C-shaped rings. The ball bearing assembly has a ball bearing and a joint. The ball bearing rotates about the belt track. An extender assembly is coupled to the belt track and includes at least one connector and at least one spacer.
US11659878B2

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel layer system configured to provide variable levels of insulation, warming, or air permeability. The apparel layer system comprises a first layer of material and a second layer of material both extending in a first planar direction. A third layer of material is positioned between the first and the second layers of material and is selectively affixed thereto. An adjustment mechanism coupled to the second layer of material can be mechanically manipulated to shift the second layer of material between different positions or states to achieve variable levels of offset between the first and second layers of material in the first planar direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first planar direction.
US11659868B2

The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.
US11659864B2

An electronic cigarette burner element has a heating wire, a porous ceramic matrix, and outer cover, holes in the outer cover, and a ventilation air passage through the porous ceramic matrix. The heating wire is configured to heat and atomize vape oil. The heating wire is formed with a coil and a pair of leads including a first lead and a second lead. A porous ceramic matrix encapsulates the coil of the heating wire. A heating body is formed when the heating wire is encapsulated by the porous ceramic matrix. An outer cover can be made of metal and can fit over the heating body. A hole is formed on the outer covet to receive vape oil. The vape oil wicks through the porous ceramic matrix like a sponge receiving water. A ventilation air passage is formed along a surface of the porous ceramic matrix.
US11659853B2

An acid-oil dispersion composition for use in coating a cereal piece. The acid-oil dispersion composition comprising an edible acid particles dispersed in an edible oil component, wherein the acid particles are in a range of about 1 wt % to about 25 wt % of the acid-oil dispersion composition; and wherein the edible oil component is at an amount that is in a range of about 75 wt % to about 99 wt % of the acid-oil dispersion composition.
US11659845B2

A method of packaging a fresh meat product in a low oxygen environment is provided. The method comprises applying a natural plant component to a surface of the fresh meat product and sealing the fresh meat product in a package that contains a low oxygen environment. The natural plant component includes a sufficient amount of nitrites to convert myoglobin in the fresh meat product to nitrosomyoglobin and thereby improve the color of the fresh meat product. A meat color improvement solution and a pre-packaged food product are also provided.
US11659837B2

Described herein are mixtures including as active components at least one specific nitrification inhibitor (compound I) and at least one urease inhibitor (compound II). Also described herein are a method for improving the nitrification-inhibiting effect, or for increasing the health of a plant using mixtures of at least one compound I and at least one compound II and a method of using the mixtures comprising compounds I and compounds II for increasing the health of a plant. Also described herein are agrochemical compositions including these mixtures. Also described herein is plant propagation material including these mixtures or these agrochemical compositions.
US11659836B2

An apparatus, a system, and methods for receiving, perfusing and maintaining and assessing excised donor heart physiological functionality. The system generally comprises an apparatus for receiving and holding an excised heart that is interconnected with: (i) a perfusate-processing system, (ii) a bi-directional perfusate pumping system, (iii) flow sensors for monitoring the flow of perfusate to and from an installed heart's aorta, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, and vena cava, (iv) an ECG apparatus interconnectable with the installed heart, and (v) probes interconnecting the installed heart with instruments for monitoring the heart's physiological functionality using load independent indices and load dependent indices.
US11659833B2

Provided are a vehicle body assembling method and a vehicle body assembling apparatus which allow a simple configuration in the vicinity of the connecting portion between an upper jig and a lower jig and allow an increase in the efficiency of assembling work (welding work). A vehicle body assembling apparatus is equipped with a jig for supporting vehicle body components in a preassembled position, the jig comprising an upper jig and a lower jig which are connected to each other in at least two places. Each of the connection places is provided with a connecting means for fixing a three-dimensional coordinate position while allowing uniaxial turning. The vehicle body assembling apparatus is also equipped with a conveying means for conveying the upper jig which supports the vehicle body components, and reduces the load applied to the lower jig from the upper jig when connecting the upper jig to the lower jig.
US11659827B2

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a boom suspension system that mitigates roll of respective booms as an associated vehicle rolls from side to side. The exemplary system can comprise a stabilizer bar that couples a left boom to a right boom, by coupling to respective booms' tilt cylinders. The stabilizer bar can be engaged with a central frame, which is fixedly engaged with the vehicle's chassis, through a stabilizer link. The stabilizer link allows the stabilizer bar to move horizontally left and right independently of the left and right movement of the central frame, caused by the vehicle roll. In this way, the inertia of the respective booms allows the stabilizer bar to remain in a substantially neutral position while the central frame, and vehicle, roll from side to side.
US11659823B2

A fishing net support system includes a boat mount configured to be mounted onto a boat hull. A linkage is attached to the boat mount. A receiver can receive a pole of a fishing net. The receiver is mounted on the linkage, such that the linkage allows pivoting between the boat mount and the receiver within a vertical plane.
US11659822B2

An energy-saving paddlewheel aerator is provided. A power supply system of the paddlewheel aerator includes a switching power supply converting main power to direct current, the switching power supply being connected with two terminals of a power mechanism of the paddlewheel aerator and supplying power to the paddlewheel aerator; and a solar power supply module, two ends of the solar power supply module being connected in parallel with a large-capacity capacitor, and two ends of the large-capacity capacitor being connected with the two terminals of the power mechanism of the paddlewheel aerator respectively to supply power to the paddlewheel aerator. A rated output voltage of a solar panel with sufficient power is higher than an output voltage of the switching power supply, and the rated output voltage of the solar panel with insufficient power is lower than the output voltage of the switching power supply.
US11659810B2

The present invention is related to the type of milking machines with milk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine used for milk production mainly in small-medium scaled animal breeding enterprises. The invention is particularly related to an automatic washing method which is used for washing the milking machine with milk bucket after milking automatically and also both increases the quality of the milk and prevents damage to the udder, comprises pre-rinsing, washing, final-rinsing process steps and to a milking machine with a milk bucket having an automatic washing system which comprises detergent dosing unit, washing boiler, milk can, milking cluster, washing jetter, washing line, liquid drafting line in the milk bucket, milk bucket vacuum connection, washing boiler vacuum connection, boiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valve, boiler and milk bucket interim valve, washing line valve, drainage valve, drainage line, heating element, cold water intake valve, hot water intake valve, float bottom level sensor, float upper level sensor.
US11659809B2

Methods and apparatus for milking a milk-producing animal, in particular a cow, that set a target milk quantity which is lower than a possible expected milk quantity, carry out the milking process, determine the milked quantity and compares the milked quantity with the target milk quantity, and terminate milking when the milked quantity corresponds substantially to the target milk quantity.
US11659804B1

A novel maize variety designated PH4C6B and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH4C6B with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH4C6B through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH4C6B or a locus conversion of PH4C6B with another maize variety.
US11659803B1

A novel maize variety designated 1PFLQ21 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety 1PFLQ21 with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 1PFLQ21 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety 1PFLQ21 or a locus conversion of 1PFLQ21 with another maize variety.
US11659800B1

A novel maize variety designated 1PVWV38 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety 1PVWV38 with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 1PVWV38 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety 1PVWV38 or a locus conversion of 1PVWV38 with another maize variety.
US11659789B1

An ecological restoration method for a lake wetland against effects of water level rise in a dry season includes: collecting basic data of a lake; determining wetland phytoremediation species of the lake; determining characteristic water levels of the lake under a baseline scenario and under different water level rise scenarios; determining a restoration range based on wetland types corresponding to different characteristic water levels; selecting an experimental restoration area from the restoration range, and performing ecological restoration; and monitoring a plant community state and waterbird biodiversity, judging whether the restoration reaches a preset goal, and adjusting the method if the restoration does not reach the preset goal. According to the method, the effects of water level rise in the dry season on wetland habitat, biodiversity, ecosystem services and the like can be relieved to the greatest extent, so that an ecological restoration effect of the lake wetland is improved.
US11659788B2

A vehicle automated unloading system may include a fill model and an unloading controller. The fill model is a model of a fill characteristic of a container as a function of variables comprising material unloading times, material unloading rates and material unloading locations. The unloading controller is to (a) determine a current model-based fill characteristic of the container using the dynamic fill model and (b) output control signals to adjust at least one of a material unloading time, a material unloading rate and a material unloading location based upon the current model-based fill characteristic of the container.
US11659784B1

A system provided for use with a lawn mower includes a processor in communication with the lawn mower. The processor is configured to acquire geographic location data of the lawn mower and mapping data for the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land. The processor is configured to acquire performance data of the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land according to a first path and generate a map of the plot of land at least partially based on the geographic location data and the mapping data. The processor is configured to determine an operational efficiency of the lawn mower according to the first path and determine a second path for the lawn mower that increases the operational efficiency of the lawn mower for operating on the plot of land.
US11665981B2

A method of producing a quantum circuit includes forming a mask on a substrate to cover a first portion of the substrate, implanting a second portion of the substrate with ions, and removing the mask, thereby providing a nanowire. The method further includes forming a first lead and a second lead, the first lead and the second lead each partially overlapping the nanowire. In operation, a portion of the nanowire between the first and second leads forms a quantum dot, thereby providing a quantum dot Josephson junction. The method further includes forming a third lead and a fourth lead, one of the third and fourth leads partially overlapping the nanowire, wherein the third lead is separated from the fourth lead by a dielectric layer, thereby providing a Dolan bridge Josephson junction. The nanowire is configured to connect the quantum dot Josephson junction and the Dolan bridge Josephson junction in series.
US11665980B2

Processor elements are disclosed herein. A processor element comprises a silicon layer. The processor element further comprises a dielectric layer disposed upon and forming an interface with the silicon layer. The processor element further comprises a conductive via in contact with the dielectric layer, the conductive via comprising a metallic portion having an interface end closest to the dielectric layer and a distal end. A cross-sectional area of the interface end of the metallic portion of the conductive via is less than or equal to 100 nm by 100 nm. In use, the application of a bias potential to the distal end of the conductive via induces a quantum dot at the interface between the dielectric layer and the silicon layer, the quantum dot for confining one or more electrons or holes in the silicon layer. Methods are also described herein.
US11665979B2

A method for providing a magnetic device and the magnetic device so provided are described. The magnetic device includes a magnetic layer having a surface. In some aspects, the magnetic layer is a free layer, a reference layer, or a top layer thereof. A tunneling barrier layer is deposited on the magnetic layer. At least a portion of the tunneling barrier layer adjacent to the magnetic layer is deposited at a deposition angle of at least thirty degrees from a normal to the surface of the magnetic layer. In some aspects, the deposition angle is at least fifty degrees.
US11665976B2

A reservoir element of the first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a spin conduction layer containing a non-magnetic conductor; ferromagnetic layers positioned in a first direction with respect to the spin conduction layer and spaced apart from each other in a plan view from the first direction; and via wirings electrically connected to spin conduction layer on a surface opposite to a surface with the ferromagnetic layers.
US11665971B2

A method of forming integrated circuits includes forming Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) stack layers, depositing a conductive etch stop layer over the MTJ stack layers, depositing a conductive hard mask over the conductive etch stop layer, and patterning the conductive hard mask to form etching masks. The patterning is stopped by the conductive etch stop layer. The method further includes etching the conducive etch stop layer using the etching masks to define patterns, and etching the MTJ stack layers to form MTJ stacks.
US11665963B1

A waste heat capture system that can be used with at least a gas turbine engine. The system includes: an air scoop connected to a first component, the air scoop configured to direct air from a first duct to an interior compartment of the first component; a second duct along an exterior of the first component; and a thermoelectric material connected to an interior surface of the first component. The interior compartment of the first component is on a first side of the thermoelectric material and the exterior of the first component is on a second side of the thermoelectric material. The first duct is configured to receive air having a first temperature range, and the second duct is configured to receive air having a second temperature range, wherein the second temperature range is an order of magnitude higher than the first temperature range.
US11665950B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of achieving both an effect of preventing reflection of external light and improvement in utilization efficiency of light emitted from a light emitting element. An electroluminescent display device includes a substrate having a plurality of light emitting elements using electroluminescence, a λ/4 wavelength plate, and a polarizing plate including a patterned polarizing layer in this order, in which the patterned polarizing layer has a region A having a polarization degree of less than 80% and a region B having a polarization degree of 80% or more, and further, a position of the region A of the patterned polarizing layer corresponds to a position of the light emitting element of the electroluminescent substrate.
US11665948B2

A display panel includes a base substrate; and a light-emitting device layer, disposed on the base substrate and including sub-pixels. A sub-pixel includes light-emitting regions and a non-light-emitting regions located between adjacent light-emitting regions. The display panel includes a light-shielding layer, disposed on the side of the light-emitting device layer away from the base substrate and including a light-shielding structure located in the non-light-emitting region; and a polarizer, disposed on the side of the light-shielding layer away from the base substrate and having an absorption axis in a first direction. In each sub-pixel, along the first direction, the minimum distance between the boundary of the light-emitting region and the light-shielding structure is a first distance B; along a second direction intersected with the first direction, the minimum distance between the boundary of the light-emitting region and the light-shielding structure is a second distance A; and B>A.
US11665946B2

A display panel, a display device, and a method for manufacturing the display panel are provided. The display panel includes two electrode layers and a luminous functional layer stacked between the two electrode layers. Each electrode layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction thereof. The first surface of each electrode layer is attached to and in contact with the luminous functional layer. Each electrode layer includes at least one insulation section and at least one electrode section integrated as a single body. A material of the electrode section is a conductively modified form of a material of the insulation section. The electrode section is in contact with the luminous functional layer and is in a conductive state at least at the first surface. The electrode layer in the present disclosure has no conductive pattern and will not cause optical disturbance.
US11665943B1

A display panel is disclosed that includes a substrate, a first initialization voltage line, and a second initialization voltage line. The substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area. The first initialization voltage line is arranged in the display area and includes a first vertical voltage line and a first horizontal voltage line. The second initialization voltage line includes a second vertical voltage line and a second horizontal voltage line overlapping the first horizontal voltage line in a plan view. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a first sub-pixel configured to emit light of a first color, and a second sub-pixel configured to emit light of a second color. The first initialization voltage line is configured to transmit a first initialization voltage to one electrode of a light-emitting diode of the first sub-pixel. The second initialization voltage line is configured to transmit a second initialization voltage to one electrode of a light-emitting diode of the second sub-pixel.